Foolproof way of watching 721 time delayed?

[larrydj]

I'm looking for suggestions.

I have friends coming over Sunday to watch some sports (the Tour de France on OLN). A pre-race show starts at 5:30. The race starts at 6pm. (Separate events)

I'm thinking of serving some food once people arrive before 5:30 while recording the shows. Then we can watch time delayed, while skipping the commercials. However, I'm really concerned that an inadvertant tap of the STOP button will stop the recording or go to LIVE with the buffer erased. :(

Is there a FOOLPROOF method of recording this event to the end while watching it time delayed?

[gwynnebaer]

I could think of two more or less sillier ideas:

1. If you're going to watch it *after* the entire show is recorded, then you could send the whole thing to VCR too just to be very paranoid.
-or-
2. If you want to start the whole thing delayed but still running, you could record the same channel twice:

Record the show on Tuner 1
Record the show on Tuner 2

Then watch the show delayed on Tuner 1 (delayed, which is now a third buffer, mind you), then if you screw up Tuner 1 (stop or flub it), then you can still wait for Tuner 2 to finish, then pick up where you left off.

The assumption here is that you'd rather wait for the end and replay it offline than to lose any bit of the show...

Third idea: (most silly):
Record it on both tuners, then go the local sports bar and watch it there, and then go back home to watch the hilights later... :-)

-matt

PS: Since the "stop" function pops up a warning, you should be ok as long as you control the remote (don't let a rookie friend touch it).

[UpOnTheMountain]

gwynnebaer ,
Excellent cheat for us paranoids ! I'll remember the double record safety net on my next, just can't miss recording !!! Thanks!

[larrydj]

Thanks for the ideas. I was almost resigned to watching the event live to avoid any of these catastrophic situations. (And believe me, dumping the buffer or stopping the recording when I've invited friends over for this party would be catastrophic!)


Unfortunately, I can't wait for the end of the show, due to the timing of my party. But the triple redundancy idea seems very safe. So, how can I force a recording on Tuner 2? If I go to the Guide (red dot already there) and hit record, won't it just adjust the recording I already have set up?

But, assuming that is solved, I would set up 2 tuners, and then the buffer. I assume that I could go to OLN, and hit pause, in order to set up the buffer. Here's a question: can I play something I already have recorded while the buffer is being filled, or does that dump the buffer? I could then play the previous day's race while I gain enough times to avoid commericals.

Finally, is the STOP button the only command that can stop the recording? One thought for the really paranoid: I have a Pronto, and I could eliminate the STOP button from the panel display. Is there any other way that operator error could stop the recording from being recorded or clear the buffer (changing channels could dump the buffer, so I could eliminate the numeric keypad too). Others?

Thanks for all your ideas!

[larrydj]

I'm answering paqrt of my own question. To use the buffer as a third redundant method, I would have to view the program in buffered delay mode, while the two tuners are recording. I tried playing something else, and the buffer is dumped. Oh well.

However, I'm still trying to figure out how to set up Tuner 2. Maybe set up a manual recording at the same time?

Finally, if I do flub one channel, do I really have to wait until the end of the other one to record? Can't I go to the still recording channel and advance to the place where I left off?

[gwynnebaer]

Finally, if I do flub one channel, do I really have to wait until the end of the other one to record? Can't I go to the still recording channel and advance to the place where I left off?

I think it would be safe (I'll try it tonite and see), but the real question is your paranoia factor. If you've screwed up Tuner 1 already, why mess around with Tuner 2 and befall the same fate.

You could get really corny and do this:

1. Set up Tuner 1 and Tuner 2 to record
2. If you mess up Tuner 1, reset it to record from now till the end of the show (plus fudge for the ending)
3. Swap over to Tuner 2, run amok. If you blow it, reset it to record from now till the end of the show (plus fudge for the ending).
4. Swap over to Tuner 1, run amok.....

Rinse and repeat.

=====

Another idea: practice "good remote skills". :-)

I will check out what things will jeopardize a recording and see what exactly you're trying to avoid.

[gwynnebaer]

Well, bad news. I didn't confirm previously that stop will give you a warning or not. Turns out that "stop" drops you back to live without warning.

Some other things to consider:
I tried recording the same channel twice (once per tuner). This seems to work well, survives off/on, and allows for rewind to the beginning on either tuner. So this sounds like your best bet.
You can pause one channel, swap the channels, and watch the other; but if you close the PIP feature, then the paused channel unpauses for you. If you leave both tuners on screen within PIP, then you can pause both or either, and swap between them (while pausing).

My idea about a third buffer is wrong, and now I see why: in order to record two tuners at once, you also have to "watch" one of the channels, so the buffers are all used up by the recorded channels. That seems right now that I have tried it.

[larrydj]

gwynnebaer, thanks for all your tips.

I think setting up both tuners to record ahead of time is my best solution, while being careful with the remote. I may even remove the STOP button from my Pronto.

I'm still figuring out how can I record the same program twice. Here's what I'm thinking: I set up the race to record normally. Then I set a manual timer to do the same thing at the same time. Will this work? Otherwise, I really don't know how to program two events to occur at the same time.

I guess I could use the PIP technique to set up the recordings if I wait for the beginning of the race and quickly execute it, and then turn PIP off. I don't care if the 2nd program is paused or not, it is just for backup. Just as long as I can enter into it and have it go back to the beginning.

[gwynnebaer]

I'm still figuring out how can I record the same program twice. Here's what I'm thinking: I set up the race to record normally. Then I set a manual timer to do the same thing at the same time. Will this work? Otherwise, I really don't know how to program two events to occur at the same time.

I tried it; it works like you'd expect. You set up the first tuner no problem, then set up a manual tuner. It took them both, and it fired them fine. It helps to already be watching the channel you are recording before the recodings fire off, so you don't get the warning about having to switch or cancel one of the recordings.

[larrydj]

SUCCESS!

I did as we discussed: Set up one timer by program, and another through manual timers. I did get the warning (if I hadn't told it to continue, would it have? I think so). I also did a special edition of the remote control without the STOP button. I then let a guest "drive" it without a problem. Perfect.

It is interesting that you can do just about anything without the STOP button, except screw up the recording. I may leave it that way!

[BobMurdoch]

gwynnebaer ,
Excellent cheat for us paranoids ! I'll remember the double record safety net on my next, just can't miss recording !!! Thanks!

Will this work if I record Channel 5 off the guide AND the same channel in the 8000s?

Hmmmm. Never thought about this but could be cheap insurance for shows I really don't want to miss.

[gwynnebaer]

Will this work if I record Channel 5 off the guide AND the same channel in the 8000s?

Hmmmm. Never thought about this but could be cheap insurance for shows I really don't want to miss.

I can't see a reason why this wouldn't work. The PVR doesn't understand the content of the feeds/channels, just that they are storable. A great idea (except I programmed out all the duplicate channels inmy Favorites to keep the list down).