I'm looking to purchase a PS3 Play TV. I've read that the EPG is limited to 2 hours ahead, so does this mean that I can't put a 'series link' on a programme or will it still manage?
Essentially, that is correct. For the moment, PlayTV relies on grabbing listing data from the EIT EPG table. On DVB-T, both MHEG-5 and EIT EPG listing formats are broadcast, however only the MHEG-5 data contains the fully fledged 7/8-day listings. On EIT EPG you are almost always limited to now and next (in contrast to EIT EPG on satellite/DVB-S showing the full 7/8-day EPG).
It may be useful to note that TV3, C4 (i.e. Mediaworks) appear to offer slightly more listings than just now/next. For example, TVNZ seem to strictly adhere to now/next listings.
TV3, C4 on the other hand will show 'now', 'next', and another listing after the 'next' listing. In fact, just had a quick look at the listings on PlayTV and TV3, C4 etc, are showing the timeslots for the whole 8-days, but it is only showing the title for 'now', 'next, and one listing after that.
It is possible for the broadcaster to broadcast the full listings on the EIT table (as illustrated partly by TV3, C4 etc), but they choose not to, citing "bandwidth conservation" as the reason. I'll admit, I don't know the technicalities behind how much more bandwidth it might take to broadcast full 8-day listings on both MHEG-5 and EIT, but surely it can't be much more. It would surely make it easier for everyone.
So, to answer you question: No, it is not possible to set-up a series link recording using the EPG. You could however just plug in a manual recording timeslot for a specific day (i.e. 8.30pm - 9.30pm, Tuesday), and then tell PlayTV to record it every week, for up to 25 weeks. Of course, you would have to hope that the 8.30pm - 9.30pm timeslot didn't differentiate across the weeks.
PlayTV works fine, but it does have some PlayTV specific quirks and it would pay to be aware of them.
Regarding series link etc, the above info is completely correct. You can set a manual on/off/channel/repeat number recording so you don't need the EPG. (Which is good as the EPG doesn't work because of the stupid decision not to broadcast enough EIT data on the terrestrial/UHF service, even though the infrastructure is already in place to do it, and they do do it on on the satellite service....)
If you do know the time slot you want to record, and it's on a non TVNZ channel then you can find the blank time slot and use this to set the timer from the EPG.
There is no series link function on PlayTV that I am aware of, even overseas where they have proper EPG data. I would put a lot of money on the EPG problem being the reason this has not formally been released here in NZ.
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