How to install your high-definition TiVo® box in 4 easy steps

Installing a high-definition TiVo box is easier than you might think. In fact, it comes down to four basic steps: connecting to your TV signal source (cable or antenna), to your TV, and to your home network, and then completing on-screen Guided Setup.

When you purchase your TiVo box, look for the Start Here poster inside the carton. It guides you through the installation steps in greater detail than you see here, making setup even easier. You can also find Start Here posters for all TiVo boxes at tivo.com/manuals.

This installation process can be used for:

  • Series3
  • TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL
  • All TiVo Premiere boxes

Step 1: Connecting to your TV source

Your TV source is where your HD TV programming comes from. For most people, this means digital cable or antenna. (Did you know that you can receive free HD broadcasts over the air with an antenna?) That's where we'll start.See it

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  1. If you have an antenna (indoor or rooftop), connect the Coaxial cable coming from the wall to the ANTENNA IN jack on the back of the HD TiVo box.See it
  2. If you have basic or digital cable, connect the Coaxial cable coming from the wall to the CABLE IN jack on the back of the TiVo box.See it

Note: If you have a digital cable box, the Coaxial cable from the wall is probably connected to it. Disconnect the digital cable box and set it aside. You'll need to replace your digital cable box with CableCARD decoder(s) from your cable company. Instructions for this are included in the TiVo box's carton.

Once you've connected your TV source, you're ready for step 2.

Step 2: Connecting to your TV

Make sure you use an HD video cable (HDMI or Component Video) to connect your HD TiVo box to your TV. If you don't use an HD video cable, you won't see an HD picture.

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  1. Choose the HD video cable you want to use: HDMI (recommended) or Component video. Both give you a true HD picture. (The HDMI cable may be sold separately.)

    The advantage of HDMI is that it creates a digital connection between the TiVo box and the TV, providing digital audio as well as additional data such as digital closed captioning.See it
  2. If you choose the HDMI cable, connect it from the TiVo box's HDMI jack to your TV's HDMI jack. Since HDMI carries both HD video and digital audio, you're all set.

    If you want to connect audio to a home theater system instead, use the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable for stereo audio, or upgrade to an optical digital audio cable (sold separately). See it
  3. If you choose the Component Video cable, connect it from the red, green & blue Component Video OUT jacks on the TiVo box to the corresponding Component Video IN jacks on your TV.

    Since a Component Video cable carries video only, you'll also need to connect the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable for stereo audio. You can connect audio directly to your TV, or to a home theater system. If you connect it to the TV, make sure you use the same input that you used for video.See it

Note: Always connect the OUT jacks of one device to the IN jacks of the next. Never connect an IN to an IN or an OUT to an OUT.

Once you've connected audio and video, you're ready for step 3.

Step 3: Connecting to your home network

To get the most out of your HD TiVo box, and to get features like Amazon Instant Video, YouTube videos, Internet radio, podcasts, and more, your box needs to be broadband-connected. This means connecting your box to your home network.See it

Show the steps
  1. If your home network is wired (Ethernet), connect an Ethernet cable (sold separately) from the TiVo box's Ethernet jack to your home network. (If you are using the Series 2 Single Tuner TiVo box, you'll need the TiVo Ethernet Network Adapter to do this.)See it
  2. If your home network is wireless, do one of the followingSee it
    • If you use a wireless B/G network, connect the TiVo USB Wireless Network adapter (sold separately) to one of the HD TiVo box’s USB ports. Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm your home network settings during Guided Setup (see below)
    • If you use a wireless N network with a WPS-enabled router, connect the TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter (sold separately) to the Ethernet port on the back of the HD TiVo box. (If you are using the Series 2 Single Tuner TiVo box, you'll need the TiVo Ethernet Network Adapter to do this.) Follow the instructions included with your TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter to connect to your network.See it
    • If you use a wireless N network without a WPS-enabled router, you will need to configure the TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter before connecting it to your TiVo box. Instructions are included with your TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter.
    • If you use a wireless B/G network but would like to get the benefit of wireless N download speeds to your TiVo box, you can use two TiVo Wireless N Network Adapters (one connected to your TiVo box and one connected to your B/G router) to create a wireless N link. Instructions are included with your TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter.

Note: For more on connecting to a home network, see how to connect your TiVo box to your network and the Internet.

Note: If you don't have a home network, you'll need to connect your TiVo box to your home phone line. (A phone line adapter is required for TiVo Premiere and Premiere XL.) This allows the TiVo box to download program listings and other information from the TiVo service. But with a phone line connection, you won't be able to enjoy the broadband-connected features mentioned above.

Step 4: Completing Guided Setup

Congratulations!

Once your HD TiVo box is connected to your program source, your TV, and your home network, you're ready to connect the TiVo box's power cord. Turn on your TV and tune it to the input you used to connect the TiVo box.See it

After the TiVo box powers on, you'll see the Welcome screen, and you're ready to complete on-screen Guided Setup. This customizes the TiVo box to your home and your TV channel lineup.

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