TiVo Roamio 500 GB DVR (Old Version) - Digital Video Recorder and Streaming Media Player

Now that I've finally got this working, I love it (I needed this older TiVo to support an older television, so couldn't get a Bolt), but getting it working was so bad an experience, that I had been planning to return it. The problem is that it ships with firmware that was new when it was manufactured, but is now so old, that it can't upgrade via standard mechanisms. Out of the box, I had to set it up, get it provisioned with both TiVo and Comcast, etc. Once that was done, it couldn't download a cable lineup, and without that, couldn't access any content (no TV whatsoever). I kept getting an error message that "No cable providers were found for ZIP Code 98122". Given that this is in the city of Seattle, that was obviously an erroneous error message. But after many calls to Comcast, and many calls to TiVo, no-one knew what was going on. Finally, I got one TiVo support guy who was able to explain that the firmware was so old that it couldn't talk to TiVo's server's to get it's own firmware update, nor could it read the new format of the channel line-up. Without an update, it was as useful as a brick. He wasn't able to help me download the update - nothing we tried worked. I made arrangements to return it to the seller, and Amazon was going to refund my money as soon as it arrived back at their facility. One final check of the web, and I found an obscure site on the web that had the installer codes (not just the way to run diagnostics, but the way to override all the protections) - and only after that was I able to do a full factory reset (not a partial reset), and get it to start downloading firmware. It then rebooted about 6 times (several minutes each) before finally doing all the upgrades it needed. And now it works. My beef is this - the "user friendly" documentation from TiVo didn't address how to fix it, nor did Comcast or TiVo support. The seller didn't provide any indication or documentation that this extraordinary procedure was needed in order to make this functional (and it's not something for the faint of heart or the technically challenged). In other words, even though the unit now works well, they really shouldn't be selling it in this condition. At an absolute minimum, the seller should include detailed instructions about how to run diagnostics and use the "installer code" (enabling the nuclear option) - because without it, this would have been a brick. The seller was willing to take it back, but really, the firmware should be upgraded before it is shipped.

I cut the cable and put an antenna on the roof in San Francisco. I get clear channels OTA so i am lucky not to have to pay Comcast or UVERSE or something for cable and can get great internet from Monkey Brains. I wanted the DVR and guide capabilities so I got the Roamio Basic.The machine works (though the first one was defective). Tivo customer service was great in finding the problem. Amazon Prime was great in returning/replacing the product.The user interface is pretty good though it seems less good than the Tivo interface I remember from when Directv had Tivo 15 years ago. on the other hand, my memory might be inflating the cosmicness of the old interface.Services for streaming on the internet are weak with Amazon being the best example of one where false advertising is a kind way of describing the problem. Amazon Instant is supported (pay, download, not streaming) while Amazon Prime (already paid, streaming) is not. Hulu Plus is supported but free Hulu is just the adverts... not the same free stuff you can watch on the internet.Youtube actually does stream so we know streaming is technically possible with this machine. BTW, Youtube lets you cast from your computer, tablet or phone to the screen plugged into the Tivo (this is like Chromecast but is not called Chromecast). Nice!You cannot browse the web to find a site with streaming built in (18footerstv.com, comedycentral, etc)... if you want to catch John Oliver you have to wait until they come up on elsewhere.So, the machine lets you time offset record/watch live TV (OTA, and with a cable card if you have cable) but it does not substitute for a good streaming machine.The $14.99 a month for the guide is too high... but the main question is whether it continues to be of value as it learns what we actually record and watch on the regular tv. We will go for 6 months to see whether we end up watching everything online or if there is any value at all in watching/recording OTA shows. Our viewing habits are not high volume and we don't have to see HBO or Netflix shows the minute they come out.Pro:Customer support was goodvideo quality is very goodbasic guide is good for OTAYoutube casting built inCon:Amazon Prime is missingAnother monthly feeregular hulu missingRequires another streaming box (ROKU, sony Blu Ray players, chromecast, etc)