A trip to the U.S. brining back some merchandise

[rob2000007]

I'm hoping that some of you can help me.

I live in Canada and am planning to take a short vacation in the U.S. I currently watch DirecTV and would like to upgrade my reciever to to a TIVO unit. I have read many, many, many, forms, posts, and how-to's and feel very comfortable that I can hack it to work in Canada.

My problem is, that I am not a dealer. I have never brought a DTV unit across the boarder.

Is it legal for me to bring a couple of DTV tivo's back with me across the boarder?

[gunsmoke2]

Yes it is



GS2

[iamcanadian4ever]

i brought a single system back yesterday, they never even asked what i bought. just a buncha intimidating questions about guns and hitchhikers and stuff. so in closing, yes you can bring the stuff back.

[rob2000007]

That's good that it's leagal...and still easy to get across the boarder if you don't look like a drug dealer.

Here's the next problem in my trip:

How / Where can I get a couple of tivo units around buffalo? I don't care if they have the access cards with them (although ofcourse I would like it if they did).

I'd suspect that I have to give somewhere like circuit city a fake address?

I'm really unsure about this and the directv dealer here just laughed at me when I asked him about it. I'd really appreciate the help.

[gunsmoke2]

A Directv dealer in Canada ? didn't think they still existed. Are you planning on buying a Tivo stand alone unit or a DSS/Tivo combo ?


GS2

[rob2000007]

There aren't many DirecTV dealers left in Canada?

It really doesn't matter to me if I get a stand alone unit or a DirecTV / Tivo combo unit.

I think that the stand alone ones would be cheaper, so preferably one of those.

[gunsmoke2]

The reason I asked which one is because the stand alone contains no DSS and there should not be any commitment for programming or giving your credit card to be backcharged if you don't take programming. The combo would be treated as a DSS unit and it might be more difficult for you providing extra information when you purchase.


GS2

[rob2000007]

Thanks for your reply. The information your helping me with is greatly appreciated.

I suspose you're right, they wouldn't require any additional information if it was just a tivo unit.

If I was to get a DTV/tivo combo, any idea what other information they would ask for, and what (if any) validation is done to ensure the accuracy of whatever information I gave out?

[gunsmoke2]

They may ask for your SSN and they might do an address verication where as the Tivo stand alone would be more like cash and carry as there is no DSS programming involved.


You might also want to check with Empire Satellite a banner advertizer here on this site that might carry them ?


GS2

[Jeet]

If you buy a stand alone unit, it will be cash and carry.

If you buy a combo unit then they will want to make sure you activate the HU card, this would be particularly true if you bought the unit at Circuit City, Best Buy, Good Guys, etc. They would charge your credit card $200 if you did not activate.

Tivo units work great in Canada, local numbers for many of the Canadian cities. I have two going at home, one for DTV and one for Dish.

The drawback might be that you will have to subscribe the unit unless of course you can find someone to hack it for you (don't really know if that is possible).

However you might also want to look on ebay for units that have upgraded hard drives. You can get three times the storage space for the same price you would pay retail.

[rob2000007]

Thanks alot for your help. I really appreciate it. I'll do a little more research into it, but it sounds like the basic tivo unit is going to be the way to go. I'll read some more, and likely have a couple of more questions.

Thanks very much for answering the questions I've had so far, it's helped a lot.

- Rob

[tvsandy]

I purchased a stand alone TIVO unit in Buffalo just before Christmas.
I purchased it at Sears, using my Canadian Sears card, and paid $199 US for it. It was last year's model. No questions asked. If any of last year's models are still available, they are considerably cheaper than the current model.
I asked at Circuit City about the combined DTV and TIVO unit. It was $99 then, however, you had to give a US address and use a US credit card. If you did not set up programming, your credit card would be charged $250 later on.