Cannot view live tv while recording

rbyers said:

Started the 622 this afternoon while it was recording a program. The 622 started in the channel that was being recorded. I attempted to switch to another channel and the 622 informed me that "To change channels I must stop the recording and switch to the live mode". I checked the system and confirmed that I was only recording one program. I could switch to an OTA channel, however. That means that the 622 would only let me use one of its two tuners. I have recently recorded simultaneous shows, so the box still has two usable tuners.

This problem has occurred at least once before. Any ideas?

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I assume you are running in Single Mode??

If you are in Dual mode, then you can't do it... Only one SAT tuner per location, or also OTA for the primary location.

IF you are in Single mode, then you can press the "Swap" button on the remote to switch to the other tuner not in use OR you can press the "Guide" button and change to a channel from the EPG screen.

Trying to change the current channel is what prompts the "you must stop the recording to do this" warning since that is what the receiver thinks you mean to do.

I know what HDMe is trying to say, but he wrote the modes backward. If you are in Dual mode, then you can't do it...

If you are in Single mode, then you can press the "Swap" button....

ChuckA said:

I know what HDMe is trying to say, but he wrote the modes backward. If you are in Dual mode, then you can't do it...

If you are in Single mode, then you can press the "Swap" button....

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Yes. also, if you are in Single Mode and have but one timer in progress you simply need to change the channel and you will do so. The other possibility that I see is that you are in Single mode and are recording on one tuner and have paused or otherwise buffered that event on the other tuner.

I'm in single mode, and have always been able to just change the channel when I blundered upon a channel with a recording in process. But,at least twice, both recently, I wasn't able to switch channels. Next time I'll try swap, but I've never needed to before. I'ts always possible that I've paused and restarted the channel ... but I really don't think so.

The other problem could be that your other 'receiver' has lost it's signal. Try the swap button and see if you have a signal on receiver 2. I had this same issue and that was the cause. Turns out the installer had bent my DISH 1000.2 antenna when it was installed.

Could you have been in OTA? Only 1 OTA is available.

Definitely feels like when you are on a channel and you are not current at the live moment, you get that warning message. Next time it happens, press jump to live or skip forward and try it. Also check your DVR show list and make sure only one thing is being recorded. That should help in narrowing down what you are experiencing and ruling out some possibilities.

whatchel1 said:

Could you have been in OTA? Only 1 OTA is available.

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Yes, it sounds like he was recording an OTA station and then trying to go to another OTA station. You can't do that since there is only one OTA tuner. Next time you're recording OTA, use the guide to switch to a satellite channel.

ChuckA said:

I know what HDMe is trying to say, but he wrote the modes backward. If you are in Dual mode, then you can't do it...

If you are in Single mode, then you can press the "Swap" button....

Click to expand...

Thanks for catching that.. I should know better than to post when I'm not fully awake! I went back and edited and noted that you had caught an error.

Sorry for the big reversal of single/dual mode terms there!

lujan said:

Yes, it sounds like he was recording an OTA station and then trying to go to another OTA station. You can't do that since there is only one OTA tuner. Next time you're recording OTA, use the guide to switch to a satellite channel.

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You should note that (in the OP) I said that I could switch to an OTA channel. The problem is with satellite channels. Please read more carefully, it confuses the thread when you go off on a tangent.

dmspen said:

The other problem could be that your other 'receiver' has lost it's signal. Try the swap button and see if you have a signal on receiver 2. I had this same issue and that was the cause. Turns out the installer had bent my DISH 1000.2 antenna when it was installed.

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You may have the answer. I am having problems with signal loss. This particular problem could be related. I have some significant LNB Drift and Dish is sending a guy out tomorrow. I should have put two and two together.

I do not know if the anomaly I noticed for the first time yesterday is the same as the one reported at the head of this thread:

While watching one program (I believe OTA, but not sure), a "count down" clock suddenly appeared in the lower left side of screen --- it was counting down from 1:00 (minutes). When the clock reached "00," the DVR started up and the channel I was viewing automatically changed to that of the scheduled recording (satellite).

I've never before witnessed this behavior. Normally, however, I've never before had any difficulty in recording one program while recording another.

Regrettably, without attempting to change viewing to another channel, I just turned everything off and allowed the scheduled recording to continue.

I'm using a 622 with 512 software.

rbyers said:

You may have the answer. I am having problems with signal loss. This particular problem could be related. I have some significant LNB Drift and Dish is sending a guy out tomorrow. I should have put two and two together.

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It could be a tuner going bad.

Well, here's the embarrassing result of the Dish visit to replace the LNB. I had, in fact, serious signal problems. When the tech ran the check switch and saved the results, I lost two satellites. However, it wasn't the LNB. It was a small branch from the nearby oak tree. And, I mean a small branch. I'd even looked at the tree, just because the system suggested that I do so. I should have taken a picture. The tip of the branch went from the back of the dish, and extended only a couple of inches beyond the front plane of the dish. That's it. I guess it was just in exactly the right position to cause the maximum problem. The LNB Drift result is, apparently, also an early warning of encroaching vegetation.