which cable provider will work best with tivo series 2?

The Series 2 boxes won't work with DirecTV. Those require a special box that DirecTV drifted away from years ago. Stick with Comcast if you want to use the Series 2 TiVo. Also, conside upgrading to a TiVo HD - much nicer.

I don't know about Direct TV. I think that the DVR box they give you is a TIVO box. If you choose to use the cable compnany they will have to come to your home and install a two way or multi-stream cable card into the back of your TIVO DVR. They may also have to attach a seperate tuner box in order to have to way communication. The added box will allow you to receive SDV (switched digital video), some channels will not show up without this added tuner. It also allows for PPV(pay per view) movies.

sequence 2 Tivos have not got a digital tuner in them. If Comcast on your section isn't additionally sending out the analog channels (in my section TWC nonetheless does), then you definately won't be in a position to %. up the channels. you may desire to get a Comcast tuner/container and synch it on your Tivo.

It will work with any provider that provides a box with RF or A/V out, and can be controlled by and IR remote.