Recording American Idol with MyFreeview

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#444368 1-Mar-2011 10:50

Thanks,

Yes I've forwarded these issues to JC Matthew and freeview in case it's an EPG issue with some boxes etc. (They approved these units afterall).

The Magic does seem nice though the thread on that is now some 44 pages long so you'd have to question how sorted that is too by the way.

bazzer

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#444379 1-Mar-2011 11:04

Jaxson:
bazzer: I have a JC Matthew DVR-320T. It seems unable to record Saturday night's episode of American Idol (the one that spans Lotto). Has anyone successfully recording this using a MyFreeview PVR? I'm trying to figure out if it's JC Matthew's issue or an EPG (i.e. all MyFreeview PVRs) thing?

Went back and checked last Saturdays Idol recording.
It runs for 41 minutes, but that includes a bit at the start from the proceeding show/ad break etc.
It just ends and it does not contain lotto.
This is scheduled on series record using the EPG.

Did you ever find out if this is a JC Matthew unit thing or common across the board?
The Zinwells were almost identical so would be keen to see what's going on there.

No Lotto? That's weird. Usually I'd expect 2 minutes pre, 30 minutes of Idol, 5 minutes of Lotto and then 5 more minutes of Idol (for a total of 10 minutes post padding).

I'm sure it's the interaction of the EPG info and the firmware of the box. No one else with the JC Matthew responded so it's hard to know. I'd expect the Zinwell to have the problem, but no one who has it mentioned.

It's a shame, because it's generally pretty solid. I'll email about it again.

Jimmy22

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#444383 1-Mar-2011 11:13

yes the magic is a power hog on standby and it complies with freeview rules those are the two basic beefs left , lots of people want to config skip forward and rip programs off the box but it wouldnt be compatable if that were possible, can't blame Magic TV for that one.
However its pulling 20w just to hold a live timer for the next program but then it runs at full power twin record + plus one playback at a very good 25w so i do hold them very accountable for that one.

if you turn off instant rewind then its probably the best box for my needs other than the much more costly Mysky HD option

Jaxson

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#444388 1-Mar-2011 11:23

bazzer: No Lotto? That's weird.

I'll check again, maybe I skipped right past it.

Jaxson

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#444733 2-Mar-2011 11:59

Checked an yeah I stuffed up on that one, -Lotto IS in there.

It records the start and then the overrun gets you lotto and a little big back into the 2nd part of idol. Shortly into which it abruptly ends.

bazzer

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#444874 2-Mar-2011 16:52

Jaxson: Checked an yeah I stuffed up on that one, -Lotto IS in there.

It records the start and then the overrun gets you lotto and a little big back into the 2nd part of idol. Shortly into which it abruptly ends.

Check my new post here for more info.

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Jaxson

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#473827 25-May-2011 10:26

A bit late but after some hounding I have been sent a new firmware file for the JC Matthews box.

It says Version 1.2.9 on the file and a quick check shows I'm running version 1.2.2 on my box.

Will install tonight and see if much is different.
(They would not provide a list of changes...)

butlerboy

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#473915 25-May-2011 13:42

let us know how you go with it. i'd be very interested on getting my hands on a copy of the update, where did you get it from?

Jaxson

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#474236 26-May-2011 08:10

Update done. All fairly painless via usb in the back and selecting menu, info and S/W upgrade option.

This one is a full year later than my original.
American Idol has finished on a Saturday now so I've booked in the next show that spans either side to test if it records the whole thing.

Re where I got this from:
For a while now I've been complaining to JC Matthew about 3 - 5 points that I've found wrong.
I've CC'd freeview in on this as it's a product with their brand on the front of it.
ie the product has been limited to their specs and designed to work with their EPG etc.
After my last prompt to them both I received and email from Tech Central, whoever they are.
They appear to be a service agent for many brands.
I asked what had changed in this firmware and they said they had no idea as freeview refused to mention any details.

butlerboy

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#474257 26-May-2011 09:02

cheers jaxson. i'll flick tech central an email and see if i can get a copy of the firmware.

bazzer

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#474297 26-May-2011 11:08

I never got around to installing the new firmware, because I didn't have time to go through a add all my recordings back. I'll be interested to hear how you go with it. I'll assume this is the same firmware I got, but I can't remember for sure.

The problem is that I have definitely been able to record programs over the lotto break before (in two parts) so if it works next Saturday, it's no guarantee the issue was fixed. Still, it would be a promising start.

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Jaxson

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#474301 26-May-2011 11:13

bazzer: I never got around to installing the new firmware, because I didn't have time to go through a add all my recordings back.

I'll double check again tonight but I'm 95% sure these remained untouched after the update.
My previous recordings were there but there were also many entries in the future recording list too.

It took about 3 mins all up.
Stuff USB in back.
Go to menu, system info and then there is a red button option to upgrade S/W.
It got a bit funny there as it took a while to load the disk but when it found it it was fine.
Navigate to the file, which means it didn't appear to have to be anywhere specific on the disk.
Hit ok, and yes I really do want to do this.
Then sit back while the bar goes across.
Watch it turn back on, that's it, job done.

What exactly has changed though, they plain and simply didn't know.
Apparently the file came from freeview though, but maybe he meant JC Matthew?

bazzer

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#474309 26-May-2011 11:24

Jaxson:
bazzer: I never got around to installing the new firmware, because I didn't have time to go through a add all my recordings back.

I'll double check again tonight but I'm 95% sure these remained untouched after the update.
My previous recordings were there but there were also many entries in the future recording list too.

It took about 3 mins all up.
Stuff USB in back.
Go to menu, system info and then there is a red button option to upgrade S/W.
It got a bit funny there as it took a while to load the disk but when it found it it was fine.
Navigate to the file, which means it didn't appear to have to be anywhere specific on the disk.
Hit ok, and yes I really do want to do this.
Then sit back while the bar goes across.
Watch it turn back on, that's it, job done.

What exactly has changed though, they plain and simply didn't know.
Apparently the file came from freeview though, but maybe he meant JC Matthew?

The whole thing's a bit mickey mouse. No one seems to know anything. The firmware comes from the techs in China I think, but no changelog as far as I could discover.

They told me it would be best to do a factory reset after the update, which is pretty standard. You might want to think about that. It wouldn't delete your recordings (apparently!) but you'd need to set everything up again. Probably it's just a precaution and there'd be nothing wrong with skipping that step.

butlerboy

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#474364 26-May-2011 12:48

Jaxson:
bazzer: I never got around to installing the new firmware, because I didn't have time to go through a add all my recordings back.

I'll double check again tonight but I'm 95% sure these remained untouched after the update.
My previous recordings were there but there were also many entries in the future recording list too.

that's good to know. i just got a copy of the new firmware and was wondering if it deleted the record and play lists.

butlerboy

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#474368 26-May-2011 12:50

bazzer:They told me it would be best to do a factory reset after the update, which is pretty standard. You might want to think about that. It wouldn't delete your recordings (apparently!) but you'd need to set everything up again. Probably it's just a precaution and there'd be nothing wrong with skipping that step.

i did a factory reset a while back as i was getting a few corruptions in my recordings and can confirm that it does delete all the recordings. well, it did when i did it anyway.

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