I am looking to buy this tivo tx20 (used). But want to make sure I
understand what it can do. I would like to record free tv shows from
my antenna to hard drive. I have been told that it can only record
in std deff. But my question is, does it have a atsc digital tuner,
which then converts it to std deff when recording, is this correct?
Now all the U.S. channels are digital only. I read this model has
free subscription, does that come through the air waves by means of
antenna?

Or is it more the case that this tivo has no tuner at all, so the only
tv you can get with it, is through the free subscription, and no
channels from local tv station (Buffalo and toronto).

Pardon my ignorance on the tivo, thanks for the help.

Sorry, the full model name is Toshiba rs-tx20 with tivo. I am still
not clear on how you get the free subscription, by way of an antenna,
it has to get to you somehow? Or does a subscription not mean tv
channels, but more of a tv guide, but not the actual tv program.
When you have a cable subscription, it comes to you through a physical
cable wire to your house. So how do you get the tivo free
subscription? I do have a external tuner box, that can convert to
std def. and the Tivo tv guide, I don't care about. I just want free
channels. This person is selling it for $30, but she does not know
how they work, so I can't as here about it. thanks again.

"lbbss" wrote in message
...
Sorry, the full model name is Toshiba rs-tx20 with tivo. I am still
not clear on how you get the free subscription, by way of an antenna,
it has to get to you somehow? Or does a subscription not mean tv
channels, but more of a tv guide, but not the actual tv program.
When you have a cable subscription, it comes to you through a physical
cable wire to your house. So how do you get the tivo free
subscription? I do have a external tuner box, that can convert to
std def. and the Tivo tv guide, I don't care about. I just want free
channels. This person is selling it for $30, but she does not know
how they work, so I can't as here about it. thanks again.


So you just want something to convert the HDTV signal to SD? You just need
to buy a converter box from wal-mart, best buy or target for about ~$50.

This is a SDTV "Tivo". If you want this "Tivo" to work you need to get
analog cable service or feed it with one of the above converter boxes.
Please note that this "Tivo" can't change the channel on the converter box
so the only way to use this thing will be to manually set up recording times
and set the channel yourself.

Brief Specs:
http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/toshiba-rs-tx20-140/4507-6463_7-30898709.html?tag=mncol;rnav


- Mike

"lbbss" wrote in message
...
Sorry, the full model name is Toshiba rs-tx20 with tivo. I am still
not clear on how you get the free subscription, by way of an antenna,
it has to get to you somehow? Or does a subscription not mean tv
channels, but more of a tv guide, but not the actual tv program.
When you have a cable subscription, it comes to you through a physical
cable wire to your house. So how do you get the tivo free
subscription? I do have a external tuner box, that can convert to
std def. and the Tivo tv guide, I don't care about. I just want free
channels. This person is selling it for $30, but she does not know
how they work, so I can't as here about it. thanks again.

The free subscription is just a subscription to the channel guide which you
use in turn to scheudle recordings. Without this you are stuck with a hard
drive equilivant of a vcr which you have to preset the chanel and also when
it should record. And like a VCR it will no longer get a signal because it
does not have a DTV tuner in it.. Never the less $30 is a steal for this..
Have you checked how much they are online? Somewhere from $170 - $250..
You'd be ahead just to buy the thing and sell it on eBay.

How can I test the unit to see if it works. The girl selling it,
knows nothing about technical stuff. If she has cable or satellite
tv, can I connect it with it from the cable to the tivo, and from the
tivo to the tv both with a coax cable? What do I do after that, just
plug the power and see if a menu comes up. Then it likely is ok?
She said it work when her ex last used it, but selling it as is, feel
free to test it out. Any advise on how to do a bare minimum test?
Thanks.

"lbbss" wrote in message
...
How can I test the unit to see if it works. The girl selling it,
knows nothing about technical stuff. If she has cable or satellite
tv, can I connect it with it from the cable to the tivo, and from the
tivo to the tv both with a coax cable? What do I do after that, just
plug the power and see if a menu comes up. Then it likely is ok?
She said it work when her ex last used it, but selling it as is, feel
free to test it out. Any advise on how to do a bare minimum test?
Thanks.

Well I would plug it into a TV and see if it comes up... Then try playing a
dvd.. Then try recording something if you can hook it up to a video source
such as cable tv... More than likely if it comes up the DVR part is
working.. If it were me I'd just gamble the $30 if turns on and gives a
menu.

On Nov 25, 6:47*pm, lbbss wrote:
Sorry, the full model name is *Toshiba rs-tx20 with tivo. * I am still
not clear on how you get the free subscription, by way of an antenna,

The subscriptions came in multiple varieties, one of which is
'product lifetime', i.e. prepaid. If this unit has that kind of
subscription already, you can use an IR sender glued to
the digital-converter to do the channel changing, after the
TiVo downloads any needed updates to know what
codes to send.

The 'updates' only happen if you have some kind of subscription
active.

On Nov 26, 6:55*pm, lbbss wrote:
* *Any advise on how to do a bare minimum test?

If it has the remote, connect it to a TV and look at 'messages
and settings' 'account and system info' 'System Info'
and find out what the TiVo account status is: if it's
'discontinued' you won't get free recording.

Product Lifetime is the best indication, but other statuses
leave open the possibility to record by time and set the
channel manually on your converter.