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View Full Version : PVR 501/508 Record bug/quirk?


dtcarson
07-22-03, 11:16 AM
My understanding of the PVR units is that there are a couple of ways to tell it you want to record something.
1. Manually-select channel, type indate/time, duration, frequency. Least useful.
2. Search--search for something, then hit Record on the search results page, confirm duration/frequency, etc.
3. Current--hit Record when the program you want to record is on.
4. Guide--find something in the guide, and hit Record, at which point it should ask you to confirm frequency, etc. Does hitting Select also work? I thought it used to.

Sometimes when using the Guide or even the Search method, when I hit either Record or Select on a future program, it will black the screen out, then kick me back to the channel I was watching live, and it didn't take the timer. I first noticed this when I wanted to record something that was on in a week. So I tried recording something, same channel, same time, 6 days from now, then 5, then 4, etc, until it stopped kicking me out, and actually took the timer. I could then choose the original thing I wanted to record. Obviously that's a pain. Has anyone else run into this, or know of a cause/solution?

Also: sometimes my receiver will get 'stuck' on Record. it did this last Fri, in fact. I was PVRing something on at 0900-0930. When I got home @ 1730, the Record light was still on. Turning the TV on, I saw what was currently being broadcast, but going to PVR menu, it said 'Clifford 0900-0930 REC' like it was still recording that. None of the other PVR controls would work, the screen just said 'Recording is in progress, do you wish to cancel?' and nothing I chose would cancel it. I eventually had to power button reset about three times to clear it out, and needless to say, nothing I had set to PVR after 0900 was recorded. Again, is this a known issue, and does anyone have any info about it?

DarrellP
07-22-03, 01:41 PM
It happens to me once in awhile, too. It used to happen much more frequently, but since whatever the last software upgrade was, it happens a lot less often. Keeping the POS rebooted weekly helps as well. Loss of signal has never been an issue for me.

dtcarson
07-22-03, 01:48 PM
Hmm, we did have a pretty good storm last weekend; I don't recall if it was raining/cloudy Friday AM, but it might have been.
Do you just take out the card while the unit is still on? Doesn't that hurt it?
My signal, unfortunately, has gone out about four times since I got Dish in January. But three of those times, we also lost power, so obviously it didn't really matter.
DarrellP: What do you mean by keeping the POS rebooted? Are you using the 'street' meaning of POS? And how should I reboot it; do what cj9788 said, remove the card, or is there another method?

dmodemd
07-23-03, 10:44 AM
You can also soft reset by holding down the power button about 4 seconds.

music_beans
07-23-03, 11:25 AM
'Clifford 0900-0930 REC'

Sounds like it tried to record Clifford the Big Red Dog! (PBS toon)

DarrellP
07-23-03, 12:49 PM
DarrellP: What do you mean by keeping the POS rebooted? Are you using the 'street' meaning of POS? And how should I reboot it; do what cj9788 said, remove the card, or is there another method?
Yes, POS means "Piece Of Sh*t", and the reboot is holding in the power button till you see the Red Record light come on.

If I don't reboot mine at least once a week, it exhibits all kind of strange behaviour.

snagel
07-29-03, 06:47 AM
When you do a soft reboot by holding in the power button is the red record light supposed to flash or not. I just purchased two 508 receivers. The hard drive is very quiet on both of the receivers. Just for ****s and giggles I rebooted the receivers and the red record light did not flash. I then tried it several more times on both receivers the red record light did not flash. The tv screen did go blue for a short bit and then the receiver was searching for signal. Is this normal. my first 508 does flash the red and green light momentarily together and then the screen goes blue. One thing I did notice is that when I went into the Customer service app and then try to exit by pushing the guide button it went back to the guide but the picture in the guide was not there instantly and the screen said something about trying to receive satellite signal. this is why I did start to try the soft reboot (for ****s and giggles). I am curious if anyone elses 501 508's do reset without flashing the red light.