Samsung TV records Freeview, but misses end.

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Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#105078 26-Jun-2012 22:02

Having bought a new Samsung TV (40" D6600 model), I was pleased to see that it is capable of recording to a HDD connected to one of the USB ports.

And, it works well EXCEPT.... that many of the programmes I set to to record a cut off a minute or two early. Very frustrating indeed.

I tried setting up recordings manually, with a few extra minutes added to the end time, and this works, but you can't set up recording to regularly record every week this way. Just one off recordings. Hardly satisfactory if you want to see the same show every week.

Recordings set via the Freeview EPG can be set to record a whole series - but these recordings often stop prematurely. There is no option to add a few extra minutes.

I even tried setting the clock a few minutes slow, but no, that didn't work either.

So, why is it that when you set up a programme to record from the Freeview EPG, it doesn't quite get the whole programme every time? The actual recording time varies from show to show. Does Freeview send a "stop recording" signal, which isn't in sync with the actual programme? Or maybe Samsung's recording options are too limited, as you can't manually set recordings to happen manually every week, and there is no "add 5 mins" type control to ensure recording finish after the programmes end.

So, either Samsung, or Freeview are making an otherwise good feature - useless!

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8853 posts

Uber Geek

#646774 27-Jun-2012 07:31

The TV broadcasters don't run to the times they actually advertise.

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Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#646785 27-Jun-2012 08:05

Yes, I understand that, however, the recordings are never exactly 30 mins long - they vary a little, sometimes 26 mins, somtimes maybe 28 mins long etc. So something independent of the TV's internal clock is either starting or stopping the recording.

And another thing... If I set up to record every episode of say "TV3's TARGET programme" on Tuesday, it actually ends up recording the TV3 repeat version of TARGET on Sunday as well!

On the plus side, when Coronation St started playing on three times a week, on Saturdays ( as well as Thu and Fri), the Saturday version was added automatically to the series, so that's a good thing. There is clearly some intelligence in the setup - pity it doesn't extend to actually making a full copy of the programmes :(

sbiddle

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#646798 27-Jun-2012 08:33

While it's slightly OT I really wish broadcasters in NZ would implement CRID in their EPG data. This is available in Australia and allows broadcasters to transmit realtime start/stop times for their shows so you never miss the end of a show.

Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#646816 27-Jun-2012 09:00

Yes, that's exactly what we need.

Jaxson

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#646829 27-Jun-2012 09:09

They broadcast EIT data on the terrestrial service so the TV can easily display the name and description info of the now/next show. I had hoped initially that this data would also send a realtime start/stop command as sbiddle describes above, but this was not the case. All the EPG booking does is enter a fixed start/stop time, rather than anything clever.

Only option is to hope there's a hidden setting to put more time on the end of the show. The likes of TIVO offer this, but I'm not sure if there is a similar setting on an official freeview unit?

wellygary

8171 posts

Uber Geek

#646839 27-Jun-2012 09:37

Jaxson:
Only option is to hope there's a hidden setting to put more time on the end of the show. The likes of TIVO offer this, but I'm not sure if there is a similar setting on an official freeview unit?

The Panasonic MyFreeview HD boxes have an overrun setting that can be manually adjusted,

I suspect that the setting is not even part of the freeview spec and is left up to individual box builders to decide whether they allow the user to do this....

sbiddle

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#646843 27-Jun-2012 09:43

I just still don't know in this day in age where stations are fully computerised that shows can possibly run "late". Schedules are known well in advance as is the exact timings of shows and ads. Surely broadcasters could just update their EPG's.

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#646944 27-Jun-2012 12:44

There appears to be a constraint, where times can only be expressed in 5 min intervals in the EPG.

I don't think there is an "end" time, only a transition time which is the start time of the next programme.

Broadcasters don't want you missing the start of their programme - or more importantly the station promos which precede it, so the emphasis is going to be on getting the start time right.

Also live events like news and sport can sometimes be given "extra" time causing a ripple effect through the rest of the schedule.

You have to rely on your PVR to offer the extended out time facility to catch the end of your show. All the decent recorders do this. TiVo even enables individual adjustment for each scheduled event.

Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#646984 27-Jun-2012 13:18

PimpMyMagic: All the decent recorders do this.

Sadly, it seems that Samsung is not one of these. Maybe in a future firmware update - but i wont hold my breath!

Jaxson

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#647014 27-Jun-2012 14:13

Hiamie:
PimpMyMagic: All the decent recorders do this.

Sadly, it seems that Samsung is not one of these. Maybe in a future firmware update - but i wont hold my breath!

You could try emailing Samsung and Freeview in the same email. I did this for a JC Matthews box I had that did just plain stupid stuff, like recording an event up to Lotto but not continuing after Lotto etc. I had Freeview up about it because they approved the unit and the unit had their logo splashed across the front panel and the advertising etc.

If Freeview want to position themselves as they have, and insist on a common interface such as their MHEG5 EPG (not broadcasting EIT data so companies can do what they want with this info) then they should take some interest in crap products with their branding on it.

Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#647024 27-Jun-2012 14:29

A good suggestion, however, I have decided to bite the bullet, and have arranged to upgrade to MySky as there is a deal on now with no installation charges. And somebody to call if it doesn't work!!

Jaxson

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#647031 27-Jun-2012 14:51

Yep that ought to drive change from Samsung for sure...

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#647064 27-Jun-2012 15:55

Hiamie:

Sadly, it seems that Samsung is not one of these. Maybe in a future firmware update - but i wont hold my breath!

I have a Samsung BR player which also includes a 500GB HD Freeview recorder. According to the manual while a programmed recording is in progress you can press the record button and then edit the record duration to add extra time if you wish. Maybe your unit will do the same thing,

Not much of a solution but maybe helpful. I couldn't find any other way to add time to an EPG programmed recording.

Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#647105 27-Jun-2012 16:38

Thanks for that. I can start a recording manually, and select a timed duration, but I really needed the whole thing to be automated. MySky should do the trick - at an additional cost :(

mattwnz

20003 posts

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#647109 27-Jun-2012 16:50

Hiamie: Thanks for that. I can start a recording manually, and select a timed duration, but I really needed the whole thing to be automated. MySky should do the trick - at an additional cost :(

The problem is with samsung. You could say that it isn't performing the function it was purchased for properly, and get a refund on it. If it can't record a whole program with season pass, then it is pretty useless. The other thing you could try is recording the show after it too, so you can watch the end of the first one.

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