I have a Tivo Series 2 with lifetime service. I am considering dropping my Comcast cable to just the limited basic at $17/mo. However, it sounds like I need a cablecard to it to work? Is that correct? Comcast charges $8/month for a cable card. Just trying to find the least expensive option. Thank you!
However, it sounds like I need a cable card to it to work? Is that correct? No. The series 2 cannot use cable card. You can use your series 2 however, your options are: If you still get analog channels, just hook your Tivo directly to the cable outlet. If they have switched their limited basic channels to digital, you can use an IR blaster to control a cable box/DTA adapter. All the series 2 Tivos shipped with an IR blaster cable so it could control cable/satellite boxes. (You can get one cheap if you lost it.) Just get whatever box Comcast gives to people with old analog TVs and use the IR Blaster to control it. Or get a special cable built just for that purpose. I should mention that it is Comcast who told me that I need a cablecard, but a friend of mine claims she doesn't use one with her limited basic. Try asking if you need a box to connect an old analog TV to the limited basic.
If limited basic is analog and not encrypted the tivo would work fine plugged in straight to cable outlet. If the channels are digital and/or encrypted you'd need a cable box in between tivo and cable outlet. Assuming you are in the USA. If limited basic is good enough for you, you could look at over the air programming.
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Your Series 2 is obsolete. It doesn't have a Cablecard slot. You will only be able to tune whatever small number of analog channels Comcast provides in your area. I sold my Series 2 with lifetime service on Craigslist and got all of $30 for it.
