Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

6:21 PM

BEJ Smith: What is the problem with the EPG?

jb38

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

6:31 PM

Lindsay: Well, that certainly put the old recorder to good use! and indeed quite a good way of getting over the problem caused by the Sony's uncontrollable updating procedure being carried every few hours, but though was a typo for ? or did you find that the swamping effect of the VCR's modulator on C53 took the edge off Emley's COM5 whereby it wasn't recorded? e.g: the 4G effect!

As far as the Humax is concerned, yes! that can be a problem with these models if constantly kept in standby until actually required such as applies in the case of my two models, although I do have to say that on taking the device out of standby the channel required plus the one following it is nearly always seen in the guide, the problem mostly arises when you want to record a programme that's a few hours away or even on the next day, as this is when real patience is required as sometimes the remaining part of the guide can take at least 3 or 4 minutes to populate, of course this is a known problem with these type of Humax boxes, slow processors!

That said though, I generally do not miss the start of anything as I have both models adjusted to start 3 minutes in advance of the programme start time, this taking the recorder out of the mode whereby its being controlled by a broadcast , however should a programme be cancelled altogether then this cannot be catered for and usually resulting in me landing up recording some unwanted programme.

jb38's 7,179 posts

Briantist

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Owner

7:19 PM

Mike Kearey: Sorry to take issue, but the D-Book is quite clear about the EPG

"22.1.3.5.2 EPG Updating
When the user accesses the EPG, it shall be displayed regardless of the state of the ;s schedule database (for example, database is partially populated in the minutes after -on). In normal operation, the receiver shall maintain the full EPG up to date and be able to display the full EPG within 10 seconds of selection. The receiver shall display EPG information as soon as it is received without requiring user interaction to update the display."

I also take issue with the suggestion that "Arqiva made some changes to the EPG" because it is UK (who merged with DMOL) that operates the EPG.

They have very clear rules that changes happen on Wednesday, so that full support can be offered.

The fault is very clearly with a single manufacturer who wrote some code incorrectly. Sounds like a classic "time bomb" to me (and my decades of relevant experience).

Briantist's 38,844 posts

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

7:53 PM

jb38: No, was intentional, this being because COM4 is on and having the modulator on prevented of it.

Whilst I'm not a fan of it (and in particular its fan) running every few hours I can see that this has the advantage of keeping the EPG populated up-to-date. It is a pity that these devices don't let the user decide which approach to take.

vic
9:00 PM

: we have tried to re set our sony dvd as you have suggested but still cannot down load any do you have any suggestions we live in staffs

vic's 1 post

Monday, 22 July 2013

jb38

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

12:26 AM

Lindsay: Fully understand!, although I suppose that it could be said that you are confirming what I had mentioned in the first paragraph of my previous reply, insomuch >>> or did you find that the swamping effect of the VCR's modulator on C53 took the edge off Emley's COM5 whereby it wasn't recorded? e.g: the 4G effect! <<<

Although by the fact of the modulator being able to swamp the channel under which it was set on somewhat indicated that the same thing would happen if set on C52, i.e: swamping the channel that was required, namely C51.

As far as the VCR is concerned, although everything would appear to be OK now but if it hadn't I would have been inclined to open up the VCR and pull out the tape drum connector to stop it from running, as this in turn would have kept the heatsink temperatures down whereby the fan might not have came on quite so often, still that's in the past now!

jb38's 7,179 posts

Dominic Payer
2:28 PM

See Mass Sony DVR seppuku riddle: Freeview EPG update fingered The Register

Dominic Payer's 20 posts

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

10:38 PM

brian: Still working!

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

10:48 PM

jb38: I have tried it again.

I have a variable attenuator fitted in order to try and prevent it storing muxes from other transmitters.

On removal of the attenuator (i.e. allowing "full" from the into the VCR), works fine with 100% when the VCR is turned on with its modulator on .

Putting the attenuator inline with the input of the VCR allows adjustable attenuation. There appears to be a cliff edge of two or three turns whereby the quality of the signal on C52 drops off. Presumably because the attenuator is reducing the incoming signal, but not the signal from the VCR. It is thereby changing the ratio between the strength of the analogue modulator and digital signal.

The workaround with the VCR didn't last long because I subsequently discovered that they'd fixed the cause of the problem!

The head stops spinning after about 10 minutes, I seem to recall. It's a Philips VR630, by the way.

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

11:14 PM

If this was some erroneous EPG data then can and should there not be automatic validation for syntax and so on before it is allowed to take to the airwaves? If such validation is possible and if it was erroneous EPG data, the powers that be took a risk by not having any protection and got caught out.

It is one thing if one broadcaster causes only its own to stop (if that's possible), but when this affects the whole shooting match, as might be the case here, it is surely not on.

No doubt that the Sony legal team will be beavering away on this one...