(See more cartoons at Noise to Signal)
Update: This post is now 12 years old, and I have no idea how current the information is in it. So please take it with a grain of salt.
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So — now that the service is available in Canada — you succumbed to Travis’s blandishments, headed to the States and returned with a brand new TiVo.
(You’ve probably said one of two things at this point: either “TiVo service is available in Canada?! Saddle up the moose, Shania — we’re headin’ to Detroit!” or “TiVo… that’s those sandals that were so big in the 90s, right?” If the latter, here’s the scoop: TiVo is a box you hook up to your TV. Inside is a big hard drive and various electronic wizardry that allows you to scope through the next two weeks of TV schedule, point and click on the shows you want to record, and then watch them at your leisure. With a few clicks, you can record the entire season of Grey’s Anatomy with the amazing Sandra Oh. Better yet, you can pause, fast-forward and rewind… ahem… live TV. Yeah, I’ll wait while you bring the moose around front.)
But now you’re starting to have problems. You’ve checked out the Canadian instructions, but they don’t really spell out what you do after the first few steps.
Please: let me spare you our pain, and tell you how we finally figured it all out on our Shaw-powered TV. Make yourself comfortable, though; this process is straightforward, but it takes a while.
- Follow instructions, up to the point where TiVo starts asking pointed questions about your TV connection.
- When you’re asked what kind of connection you have, answer “Antenna.”
- Enter the 82327 Wyoming ZIP code and carry through the next few steps, up to and including its phone call.
- TiVo asks if you want it to scan for stations. Sure, let it.
- You’ll see a screen of stations you don’t recognize and can’t receive; don’t sweat it. Choose one, then click “Done”.
- TiVo will make another phone call. Let it.
- A cool animated fanfare announces you’re “done”. Ha. Once TiVo says so, press the TiVo button at the top of your remote.
- From the main TiVo menu, choose “Messages and Setup”, “Phone and Network Setup,” Connect to the TiVo service now”.
- TiVo will connect for about an hour, downloading new software that will let you enter a good old Canadian postal code. Your Canadian postal code. Everything you have done so far has been leading up to this point… because you’re about to start alllllll over again.
- Once it’s finished, choose “Messages and Setup”, “Restart or Reset System”, “Restart the TiVo DVR”.
- TiVo will take a while to chug through the new software (about 10 minutes in our case). Then it runs its fanfare again, and dumps you to the main menu.
- Choose “Restart or Reset System”, “Repeat Guided Setup.” This time, when you’re asked for your ZIP code, press “Enter” (on the lower right of your remote). You now get to key in a Canadian-style postal code. (We left out the space in the middle. It worked fine.)
To recap: completely set up TiVo as though you were living in Wyoming. (Yeah, really.) Connect to the TiVo service, which downloads new software. Restart TiVo. Redo the setup process, this time entering your real Canuckoid postal code. And you’re home free.
(Still having trouble? Check out this thread on the absolutely invaluable TiVo Community for help.)
Rob, one can use 00000 as a zip code during the initial process in order to get the 7.2 software. 00000 is known as TinyTivo and it downloads a very small amount of data as opposed to full guide data from Wyoming.
It’s much faster, I understand.
Curtis, a belated but heartfelt thanks.
Bob, yes you do need the service and it will work with Rogers. The TiVo service is the programming info (as well as a slew of other offerings, some useful, some… well…). And now that it’s offered in Canada, they’re including the information for the various Canadian cable, satellite and broadcast services.
As far as I’m concerned, by the way, TiVo’s huge advantage is the onscreen programming interface. It’s probably the single easiest, most intuitive interface I’ve ever used, with the possible exceptions of the iPod and the pencil.
I found this article very helpful. I have one question, do you still subscribe to the TIVO service? Would it also work within the Rogers cable world? Thanks in advance for the footwork.
Just wanted to add another piece of info I recently discovered. You can now buy Tivo in Canada! There is an e-tailer out of Calgary called The PVR Source. Website is http://www.thepvrsource.com if anyone is interested. Prices seem to be reasonable. I bought one and love it! Tivo ROCKS!
Scott, I’m glad to see a Canadian source for TiVo. I’d be a lot happier if these guys had any contact information on their web site; I’ve had enough trouble with returns and defects that I want to see, at the very least, a phone number and the names of some human beings at any company I deal with.
The list of customer testimonials is good. But it isn’t helpful to see that their domain name is registered anonymously. Do you have any more information on who these folks are?
You’re a lifesaver… I almost didn’t move back to Canada because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to use my TiVo.
One note… some of the menu selections are slightly different than stated above.
– If you use zip code 00000 choose TinyTivo as your provider (as outlines above)
– Use the “Info” button to select to use Canadian postal codes (instead of “enter”)
Good luck!
Why in the world would anyone order a Tivo from Canada at $365 cdn. plus tax, when you can buy them either Direct from Tivo for $99 (ship free to U.S. address) or locally across the border for under $125? Nice to have a canadian supplier but do you think that kind of markup is fair? With the Canadian dollar higher than the U.S. currently, this really doesn’t make any sense to me.
Just guessing, Bill, but I’m guessing there may be a chunk of duty to pay on a TiVo box that could account for that markup. You do have to get the beast back across the border…
I have been looking into buying the Tivo to replace my Scientific Atlanta dual tuner PVR that I am renting from Rogers Cable. I pay $21 per month for it so would only save about $8 per month having to subscribe to the Tivo service. It will take 2 years to pay for itself providing I don’t have to rent a digital box from rogers. I have read that Tivo only recieves the “basic” cable channels and not the the ones higher than 29. Is this true. The info is scarce. Would I have to get a basic digital cable box from Rogers when I turn in my PVR to them or will the Tivo replace my current unit entirely? I am looking at the series 3 unit but don’t have a High def TV as yet. Can
I use the series 3? Are all the outputs of the Series 3 Tivo active at the same time so I could output to a digital converter and from there into my computer?
Tiger Direct lists a TiVo HD box TS10-1006 for $365.99 on its Canadian site.
Hey guys i need massive help…I would like to get tivo but l’m not sure it can do high def in canada..I currently have high def with rogers and i have there PVR(which l think is crap) anyone have any input????I would like one unit to do it all…please help…
Is the Tivo Receiver functionally the equivalent of the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 currently used by Rogers Cable?
Will it access the supplimental digital channels to which I am subscribed on my Rogers Cable service?
How does the Tivo physically receive it’s guide data? Telephone?
I used to have a subscription to Tivo on a old Tivo unit that I still have. It was actually a one-time payment “lifetime” subscription which they stopped offering shortly after I purchased it. Can I use it to access their guide?
Bought a series 2 on ebay and just paid another ebay seller to activate lifetime service. Now I go to set it up for Canada (it has 9.2 software) and my non-original remote doesn’t have an info button – so I can’t get to the Canadian postal code screen. Is there anything I can do (other than buying a new remote)?
i am located in southern Ontario Canada. Have an outside roof mounted HDTV Multi directional Antenna gain is 14-20 db.Will TiVo work with my set up? There are no other costs other than the purchase of the TiVo box.?
Thank you. Steve
Hi, Steve —
Unfortunately, it’s been several years not just since I wrote this, but since I’ve even owned a TiVo. I hope one of the folks who come by this post can help you; otherwise, check TiVo’s support pages or an online forum. Good luck!
Unfortunately as of this year (2016), cable and satellite providers are allowed to somehow block access to the TIVO service if they wish, in Ontario at least, so I assume it’s across Canada. I don’t know why CRTC alllows this, but Rogers, Bell and Shaw all make it impossible to use TIVO. Apparently it does work on Cogeco, but I’m unaware of any others. I’m very sad that my TIVO is gathering dust….the Shaw PVR we have to use now is far inferior (as was the Rogers one we tried before that, and the Bell one my sister is required to use now).