508 - loss of live buffer after going to PVR menu

[jeffcarp]

Why do you loss the live buffer when you go to the PVR menu? I've tried to think logically about it, but can't seem to come up with a reason for this behavior. Is there a way to get considering for changing this?

[gcutler]

To me only reason would be going to a different transponder, perhaps there is something in the menu that automatically switches to a certain transponder. But if so why does it need to goto a different transponder. Maybe just a bug?

[Jacob S]

Does not seem right to me. I do not think it goes to a different transponder when you go to any menu other than a program guide which is stored on the hard drive anyways. It should still have the buffer on it to my knowledge. Does it have the buffer on the 721?

[Filip1]

Jeffcarp,
Unless there is something wrong with your 508, you don't lose the live buffer when you go into the pvr screen(menu). You only lose it if start watching one of the recordings in the pvr menu. This of course clears the buffer and always has. I just checked this several times before posting.

[firephoto]

What I don't like is if you are watching something that is recording, you're a little behind being "live", and when it's over the PVR menu pops up and it has stopped buffering the channel you were watching, so you miss the first part of the next program if it isn't on a timer. Why can't it always buffer the channel you were last on no matter what you are watching or doing in the PVR menu?

[bkosman]

Also along this line, when you are watching something in the buffer and an event fires off, you'll lose all that was in the buffer. Case in point last night, my wife and I were watching Law and Order about 10 minutes behind and an event fired off at 11pm. This caused the channel to change (which is what I expected) but also flushed the buffer.

I really think that the system should keep the buffer at all times and allow access to the buffer in the PVR Menu. What that will do is allow users to view the last hour (at the max) in the buffer regardless of channel change. When a PVR event fires and a user is watching the buffer and is not watching live, the system will change channels for the event and start recording. The user watches what is in the buffer which will end at the point the event fired.

Users should be able to do every thing to the buffer that they can do to a recorded event: start over, erase, protect, etc. Erasing the buffer will really just clear the buffer. Protecting the buffer may be more problematic but I can see the system saving the buffer as a new recording with a unique name.

Bottom line is that users need to have more control over the buffer.

Bob

[DoyleS]

This has been discussed before with some reasonable solutions. If you are watching a show slightly delayed as described by bkosman above, and see that you are coming up on a potential timer. You can hit pause, scan back to the beginning of the program and then hit record and you will essentially move the buffer into a saved recording. Now when the timer fires, you can continue to watch the saved recording while the Timer is doing its thing on the new recording. I think the scan back may be limited to the time in buffer but I am unsure as I have not used this often. If it is a good show and I am in a live/delay mode I normally hit record so that I don't have to depend on the buffer only.
As long as you do it before the Timer fires, I think you can do everything you have asked for.
..Doyle

[Jacob S]

Last two hours in the buffer for the 721. I think this would be a great idea for me to add to my website. Is this the kick to live problem that I thought had already been fixed.

[bkosman]

Doyle,

Thanks for the tip on how to get around losing the buffer before an event fires. I will definitely use it.

I still would like it if they dummy-proofed the buffer so I and my wife don't have to remember to take those steps.

Bob

[FullthrottleDave]

What about Firephoto's question????

I never have read the work around for that...  It bugs me to no end  :(

Is there a work around?

FullthrottleDave

[DarrellP]

You don't have to scan back unless you want to record further back. Just hit Pause/Record/Select to record to the end of the show in progress and all is well.

[Jacob S]

I wonder how come you can not select how far forward you want to record to but you can select how far back you can record to? Is it because it is just allowing you to select how much of the buffer you want to record? How would it be different taking out buffer from the end than from the beginning?

[BobaBird]

Firephoto's workaround is to watch the clock. If he won't be back to live viewing by the time the next show starts, use Browse or Guide to set a timer.

The solution to the problem, and the workaround, is to set a recurring timer for everything you watch. Saves you from missing part of the show and frees you from following someone else's schedule.

I agree though that buffering should continue during PVR playback. There have been times I've returned to live viewing in the middle of something interesting I didn't know was on and been unable to see what I missed.

[Filip1]

Jacob,
I assume you don't own a 50x. You can set a timer to extend as far as needed. If you want to record the show that is on, one of the options available is to extend the recording as far as you want to. Of course you can edit any timer to record any length.