On the other hand, you could use the coaxial connection on the back of the cable box then go into the TIVO.

But then,you would only have one wire going into the TIVO unit. preventing you from watching something and recording something else at the same time.

You couldn't split the cable before the cable box because then you would be missing channels on one side of the TIVO.

You couldn't split it after because you would only receive the signal(channel) the cable box is on. defeating the purpose of a TIVO.

What cable company do you have? Comcast?