Recording the Almighty Johnsons with MyFreeview

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Jaxson

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#78209 1-Mar-2011 09:52

I have a JC Matthews myfreeview PVR unit and have had big problems getting the Almighty Johnsons TV show to record from series link. I record the show in front of it fine but the Johnsons show never gets recorded, and at best I get a bit of it from the first show overrun.

The Almighty Johnsons did not start to record for me again last night.
At 7.30pm last night I deleted the series link for the show and then set it all up again.
I checked at 9.30 and it was recording still from the proceeding TV show.

Then I hit the info again as the Johnsons started actually screening and an error message came up.
It said something along the lines of

"Recording faild to start. Failed to receive PST (or CST? I forget) signal" something like that.

I can't test anything more with this. Everything else records fine.

Are others (with approved myfreeview PVR units) getting this show to record when they are recording the show in front as well?

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#444354 1-Mar-2011 10:17

No, it works fine for me. I am using a Magic TV and am recording CSI.

bazzer

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#444376 1-Mar-2011 10:59

Was it "PMT"? This is the usual problem that has been acknowledged by Freeview/JC Matthew but never fixed.

I haven't checked if mine recorded last night, but I doubt it. However, when you reset the recording, did you do it from the TV3 EPG? I mean, were you on TV3 at the time. That has made a difference for me in the past.

Also, this resolved itself with 24 back when it was on, so I suppose there is something they can do to the EPG that mitigates the problem, or I just started getting lucky.

At least the repeat screening records, right? It might sound like a small consolation and you may think "What if there wasn't a repeat?" but this problem only occurs when the episode is repeated later in the week.

Look for the old thread on here, I think I posted the email address for someone at Freeview and JC Matthew. They responded but never fixed anything that I'm aware of.

bazzer

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#444378 1-Mar-2011 11:01

tomgeeknz: No, it works fine for me. I am using a Magic TV and am recording CSI.

So, you're using a different PVR and recording a different show?

tomgeeknz

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#444380 1-Mar-2011 11:06

bazzer:
tomgeeknz: No, it works fine for me. I am using a Magic TV and am recording CSI.

So, you're using a different PVR and recording a different show?

No, I was responding to this question:

Are others (with approved myfreeview PVR units) getting this show to record when they are recording the show in front as well?

The Magic TV is an approved MyFreeview box and CSI was the program before The Almighty Johnsons

bazzer

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#444395 1-Mar-2011 11:48

tomgeeknz:
bazzer:
tomgeeknz: No, it works fine for me. I am using a Magic TV and am recording CSI.

So, you're using a different PVR and recording a different show?

No, I was responding to this question:
Are others (with approved myfreeview PVR units) getting this show to record when they are recording the show in front as well?

The Magic TV is an approved MyFreeview box and CSI was the program before The Almighty Johnsons

Oops!

(If you'd included the quote originally, I wouldn't have been so confused!)

Jaxson

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#444732 2-Mar-2011 11:57

Latest from JC themselves below.

I've explained again since that the Almighty Johnsons is NOT recording for me, though the encore screening does, nearly a week later. This means it is not recording all screenings as they try to suggest below.

Bazzer/others, can you confirm it is possible/or not to schedule a separate American Idol after lotto?
I was under the impression that there was only one MHEG5 EPG option for the show but I could be wrong.

Cheers.

-----------------------------

Hi Jackson

The issues are

If you choose “series record” for any program via EPG, then the DVT320 will record this program at “ ANY time “ the program is screened on the same channel as selected.

If an encore or repeat of that program is screened, then it will also be recorded.

Example

If you select to “ Series record” Shortland Street , it will record Mon to Fri at 7pm, but will also record when Shortland street is screened at other time ( it started screening the series again from the beginning during the day)

This is NOT a fault, It is designed that way.

The other issue regarding American Idol on Sat at 7:30pm

You must select American Idol at 7:30 pm, and then again at 8:05 pm ( it will not continue to record after lotto unless you do this)

Again NOT a fault, this is how the EPG is set up by Freeview.

Sometime TV networks make changes to the way they broadcast, and variations to programming of the EPG

RA team

Ground Floor, 60 Hugo Johnston Drive. Penrose , Auckland 1642

PO BOX 8054 Symonds St. Auckland 1150

Tel:+64 9 9484690

Fax:+64 9 5712410

Mobile:+64 21 1233906

www.jcmatthew.com

JCMatthew and JCMatthew Logo are trademarks registered in worldwide countries.

Copyright 2007 © JCMatthew

butlerboy

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#444815 2-Mar-2011 15:03

the almighty johnsons didn't record for me on monday night either. luckly i have a magic tv set up in the bedroom and it recorded on there for me. so i can confirm that it's an issue with the jc matthews. it's a pity we're still having the issues with it not recording a programme if it's repeated later in the week because other than that it's a really solid pvr.
jaxson - not sure if this is the same but i set up a movie to record on a sat night a while ago (before american idol started) and selected the part before lotto to record and it had an (r) beside it and the second part of the movie after lotto, only the first part recorded. hower my magic tv which i set up the same way to record the same movie got both parts.

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Jaxson

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#444833 2-Mar-2011 15:55

Thanks for the JC Matthew specific feedback.

Agreed with all above, this unit has been relatively rock solid.

If we could address this repeat screening problem, where it records the repeat and not the main, it would be good.

I'll also press them about problems with the over lapping period not being recorded to both files when recording 2 TV shows one after the other on the same channel.

butlerboy

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#444862 2-Mar-2011 16:43

not a problem. let us know how you get on.
if jc matthews want to speak to anyone else about the issues let me know and i'll give them a call, and i'm sure bazzer wouldn't mind giving them a hurry up as well if needed ;) not sure when i'll be back online as my pc at home is out of action and i can't get to my work pc as it's in the middle of the chch cbd cordon and who knows when i'll be able to get back to the shop.

bazzer

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#444873 2-Mar-2011 16:51

Jaxson: Latest from JC themselves below.

I've explained again since that the Almighty Johnsons is NOT recording for me, though the encore screening does, nearly a week later. This means it is not recording all screenings as they try to suggest below.

Bazzer/others, can you confirm it is possible/or not to schedule a separate American Idol after lotto?
I was under the impression that there was only one MHEG5 EPG option for the show but I could be wrong.

Cheers.

-----------------------------

Hi Jackson

The issues are

If you choose “series record” for any program via EPG, then the DVT320 will record this program at “ ANY time “ the program is screened on the same channel as selected.

If an encore or repeat of that program is screened, then it will also be recorded.

Example

If you select to “ Series record” Shortland Street , it will record Mon to Fri at 7pm, but will also record when Shortland street is screened at other time ( it started screening the series again from the beginning during the day)

This is NOT a fault, It is designed that way.

The other issue regarding American Idol on Sat at 7:30pm

You must select American Idol at 7:30 pm, and then again at 8:05 pm ( it will not continue to record after lotto unless you do this)

Again NOT a fault, this is how the EPG is set up by Freeview.

Sometime TV networks make changes to the way they broadcast, and variations to programming of the EPG

RA team

Ground Floor, 60 Hugo Johnston Drive. Penrose , Auckland 1642

PO BOX 8054 Symonds St. Auckland 1150

Tel:+64 9 9484690

Fax:+64 9 5712410

Mobile:+64 21 1233906

www.jcmatthew.com

JCMatthew and JCMatthew Logo are trademarks registered in worldwide countries.

Copyright 2007 © JCMatthew

I got the same response from JC Matthew. Luckily Tim at freeview is a bit more onto it, and told them they were wrong.

Certainly it doesn't record ALL episodes and it's borderline acceptable to say it will record ANY of them. I would say it should record the earliest screening if possible. Who wants to wait a whole week? My Almighty Johnsons did record this week, but off TV3+1 so no HD which sucks. Not sure why. I'll probably record the encore since that'll be HD.

As mentioned above, for American Idol if it's series recorded you get [S] beside everything anyway, but even if you record it one-off, it's impossible not to set both halves to record. You get an [R] next to each half and can't cancel either without cancelling the whole thing.

Anyway, I think they know there's a problem and I think freeview will follow this up since it's an approved unit. I actually have been sent updated software for testing, so I'll let you all know how it goes. Fingers crossed it solves more problems that it makes!

Jaxson

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#445071 3-Mar-2011 09:25

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes I checked lotto last night and you get and R or an S next to both halves no matter which half you start with. So they are blatantly wrong with this.

I checked and I don't have the NCIS show from a Monday or Tuesday, which ever one it is. Wife getting well sick of this.

Also Hawaii 50 had an S next to it in the guide and did not even start last night.

As mentioned above the unit is actually very stable. This software glitch where the main occurrence of a show is not recorded is one of the very few minor issues with the unit.

The other issue being the recording of sequential shows, ie one show after another on the same channel. I did some tests last night where I recorded 4 TV2 shows in a row. The recordings each finished a few minutes into the next the show. This means if you delete the first show you actually delete the start of the second.

The only time this worked properly was at the end of the last show, where there was nothing to follow it and the overrun could run on for 10 minutes or so extra. The real problem is therefore that the unit is not writing these buffers to both files.

bazzer

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#445093 3-Mar-2011 10:40

Jaxson: The other issue being the recording of sequential shows, ie one show after another on the same channel. I did some tests last night where I recorded 4 TV2 shows in a row. The recordings each finished a few minutes into the next the show. This means if you delete the first show you actually delete the start of the second.

The only time this worked properly was at the end of the last show, where there was nothing to follow it and the overrun could run on for 10 minutes or so extra. The real problem is therefore that the unit is not writing these buffers to both files.

While this would be great, I don't think any of the freeview PVRs do this. Ideally, the channel would send data indicating when a show is starting/ending and that would be the trigger. Failing that, your idea about writing to both files is good too. I don't see them implementing this as it's not that big a deal (i.e. you don't really lose anything). The worse thing (assuming you don't forget and accidentally delete the shows) is that you lose about a second in the transfer but I can live with that.

As for the other issue. I've told you how to resolve it, have you tried that? It's not much use if you're not home but if you're around in the early evening (5-6pm, maybe earlier?) you can see that the schedule was been reset (i.e. shifted to the repeat screening) and redo the booking from the particular channel's EPG. It will work, I managed to do it before I went out last night and recorded Hawaii 5-0. It's just no good if you're not around to change it (which would be most of the time, that's why we're recording things!).

I'm not going to get a chance to test the new firmware until the weekend, so we'll have to wait until Monday's Almighty Johnsons to see, I guess.

butlerboy

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#447170 10-Mar-2011 09:37

bazzer: I'm not going to get a chance to test the new firmware until the weekend, so we'll have to wait until Monday's Almighty Johnsons to see, I guess.

hey bazzer.
did you get a chance to test the new firmware? is it just a fix for the recording issues or is there anything else included?

bazzer

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#447209 10-Mar-2011 10:57

butlerboy:
bazzer: I'm not going to get a chance to test the new firmware until the weekend, so we'll have to wait until Monday's Almighty Johnsons to see, I guess.

hey bazzer.
did you get a chance to test the new firmware? is it just a fix for the recording issues or is there anything else included?

I've been too busy to test it (you need to factory reset and redo all recordings) and haven't heard anything from Freeview or JC Matthew. I'll update as soon as I can. In the meantime try contacting either of those guys and see if you can get hold of it. I forgot to redo Hawaii 5-0 last night, so I guess I'll have to wait until next week.

For me, the following programs exhibit this behaviour:
Hawaii 5-0
Almighty Johnsons
Masterchef

Jaxson

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#447226 10-Mar-2011 11:56

bazzer: I've told you how to resolve it, have you tried that?

At 7.30pm on Monday I tried taking the series off series link in the EPG. This then took away the S next to the item in the EPG. I then re booked it and it got the S back next to it.

That's 2 hours our from starting so surely that's close enough to work.

It only seems to be an issue on the shows with encore episodes. I went to watch some TV last night and found Hawaii 50 had recorded, just a week later. Some of the encore shows had even, get this, recorded an week later but on the TV3+1 channel so no HD or 5.1, AND obviously they didn't record the first/main instance of the show either. Awesome.

Actually I believe the magicTV box does do the signal sharing to record the buffer to both files. Could be wrong on that one, but hopefully someone with a magic box can share a little light on that?

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