If your cable provider sent you a notice that you will need a DTA or cable box to continue to view certain channels, it means that some or all of your analog cable channels will soon be broadcast in digital format only.

Choose your model below to learn if your TiVo box will be affected by the change from analog to digital cable. If you are affected, we will tell you what you need to do to continue to receive all the channels you currently enjoy on your TiVo box.

NOTE: If your cable provider notified you that they are introducing switched digital technology, or that you will need an adapter to view new channels because your box is a "one-way device", see Switched Digital Video - Will it impact you? to learn about this technology and how you may be impacted.

 

TiVo Premiere and Series3 boxes

TiVo Premiere and Series3 boxes require the use of a CableCARD to receive digital channels.

Use the table below to identify what kind of CableCARD your box needs to view digital channels:

What do I need from my cable provider?
Platform	CableCARD(s) required
All Premiere, Premiere XL, & Premiere XL4 / Elite	1 M-Card
TiVo HD & TiVo HD XL	1 M-Card (slot1) or 2 S-Cards
TiVo Series3 HD	2 M-Cards or 2 S-Cards

 

Series2 Dual Tuner box

 

Series2 Dual Tuner box with a digital cable box

Will these changes affect my TV viewing?

No. If you have already been using a digital cable box, you will not lose any of your TV channels.

 

Will these changes affect my box's recording ability?

Maybe. Your TiVo box can record one digital channel and one analog channel or two analog channels at the same time. That does not change. However, since your cable provider is changing the format of some of your channels from analog to digital, you may see more recording conflicts and some of your scheduled Season Pass recordings may be affected.

 

What do I do after the switch to digital channels?

After the switch, you will see the message “Searching for signal” or a blank screen when you tune to channels that used to be broadcast in analog but are now broadcast only in digital. This can be easily fixed by updating your channel list so that your TiVo box can find the new digital channels.

Cable providers who are making these changes usually continue to broadcast their Basic Cable channels in analog format (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX stations, for example). If you suddenly see "Searching for signal" messages on these channels, too, it may mean that all channels have been switched over to digital format. For more information, go to How do I set up my Series2 Dual Tuner when all my channels are digital?

 

How do I update my channel list?

1. Go to TiVo Central > Messages & Settings > Settings > Channels > Channel List. The channel list screen appears.

2. Update your digital and analog channel selections.

Some channels in your channel list appear twice because they may be broadcast in both analog and digital. The analog version of the channel is marked by “cbl” while the digital version is marked by “box.”

• For the channels that are still broadcast in analog, check the “cbl” version of each channel, and uncheck the corresponding “box” version of the channel.
• For the channels broadcast only in digital, check the “box” version of each channel you receive and uncheck the corresponding “cbl” version.

3. Update your Season Pass list.

If you have a Season Pass for a channel that was broadcast in analog, but now is digital only, you may need to delete the old Season Pass and create a new one to record the digital version of the program. For instructions, go to How do I replace a Season Pass for the same show?

 

Series 2 Dual Tuner box without a digital cable box (basic cable)

Will these changes affect my TV viewing?

Yes. You will need to get a digital cable box from your cable provider and connect it to your TiVo box to tune to your new digital channels.

IMPORTANT: Your cable company may offer you a Digital Transport Adapter (DTA), but this device does not have the connectors you need to set up dual tuning on your Series2 Dual Tuner box. Make sure you request a digital cable box instead. Most cable providers who are making these changes offer at least one digital cable box in place of a DTA. Once you get your cable box, go to How do I set up my Dual Tuner box with a cable box? for setup instructions.

 

Series1 or Series2 Single Tuner boxes

Series1 or Series2 Single Tuner box with a digital cable box

Good news! You will not lose any of your TV channels. Because you already have a cable box, your box will be able to tune to any new digital channels in your lineup.

 

Series1 or Series2 Single Tuner box without a digital cable box (basic cable)

Will these changes affect my TV viewing?

Yes. You will need to get a digital cable box or Digital Transport Adapter (DTA) from your cable provider to continue receiving all of your channels. Once you hook up the digital cable box or DTA to your box, you must repeat Guided Setup to update your box settings. In Guided Setup, cable boxes and DTAs appear in the same list, so make sure you choose Cable with box as your signal source when you hook up either device, and then follow the prompts to complete the setup.

NOTE: Many cable providers are offering cable boxes to their Basic and Extended Basic customers who previously received only analog channels. Comcast, for example, is distributing cable boxes and DTAs. For more information on DTAs, visit their website at http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow/.

• For instructions on how to hook up your Series2 box with a DTA, go to How do I set up my Series2 box with a Digital Transport Adapter?.
• For instructions on how to hook up your Series2 box with a digital cable box, go to How do I set up my Single Tuner box with a Cable Box or Satellite Receiver and a VCR? or see the Start Here poster packaged with your TiVo box.
• If you have a Series1 box, please contact your manufacturer for hookup instructions and technical support.

 

Will these changes affect my box's recording ability?

No. Your TiVo box will still be able to record programs from all your channels. However, if you have a Season Pass for any show on a channel that has changed to digital format, you should select the Season Pass in the Season Pass Manager and make sure the channel number and call letters (68 BravoP, for example) are listed on the screen that appears. If this information is missing, you will need to replace the Season Pass. For instructions, go to How do I replace a Season Pass for the same show?