 FWIW, I have Comcast & Series 0 Tivo. Called Comcast to ak about the serial port--confused the life out of them. Let it go for awhile but really hated the IR Blaster. Then remembered how ignorant the installer had been and hooked up the serial. Redid setup and all has worked wonderfully since. Hey mojoTivo--I also then went in triumph to my spouse--you didn't say--did your's actually give a crap at all? (My wife has many wonderful qualities, but the one made work hard not to yawn.)  