[pappasbike]

Well this is a new one for me. I was watching a live broadcast on one of the local HD channels which was also being recorded at the same time. Now I've done that before with no issues but this time I paused the program then tried to bring it out of pause and catch back up to live. No go, wouldn't come out of pause, wouldn't play and no functions would work. The only thing that I could do was change to another channel which it did. Then I switched it back to the original channel and it came in at the live broadcast point. To experiment I tried pausing again, same thing wouldn't come out of pause, had to switch channels again and switch back. The yellow recording light was on the entire time. I gave up doing anything else and left the house.

When I got back home I cut the unit and tv on, it was still on that same channel, yellow light off, nothing scheduled to record at that time. I experimented by pausing the live program then tried to start it again. No go, it was just like before, would not start playing. I switched channels and was able to switch back. Live program playing again. Experimented with other channels and no problems pausing and restarting, just that original channel. Then when I went into the list neither the program that I was recording nor a program that was recorded later would play. Got the delete now or don't delete options. After I gave up trying some things I just deleted both programs, at that point the pause function worked properly on that channel. It appears that if you try anything with the live show while it's being recorded it will lock up and not even record properly. One thing I've not yet done since getting this unit is going into the list and starting a program that's still currently recording; after today's experience and from some other posts I've read I'll never do this on a show that I really want to be recorded properly.

Except for this it's recorded and played everything it's been set for. But I definitely won't mess around with it while it's recording - I'll be afraid to even change the channel, might make it mad:lol:

John

 

[DblD_Indy]

Ours has been doing this too! For us this has been one of the many issues I have had since D****TV installed it 5 days ago. I am wondering if I need to request the unit be replaced? It does seem to get very angry when pausing the recorded item and any live item....

When I first went to watch the recorded program it even showed as all back with and the player would not allow me to FF the content.

 

[pappasbike]

Ours has been doing this too! For us this has been one of the many issues I have had since D****TV installed it 5 days ago. I am wondering if I need to request the unit be replaced? It does seem to get very angry when pausing the recorded item and any live item.... .

My unit is a brand new, not refurb, replacement unit which I've had for almost two months now. I believe this issue is a software one possibly caused by the latest update although it could have occurred prior to this one and I just didn't see it. Unless you're having a lot of other issues that you haven't seen reported here I don't think a replacement will change anything.
John

 

[DblD_Indy]

John,

Why was your original unit replaced, as mentioned my unit is 5 days old and brand new also.... I checked and the only update was the one installed the day it was delivered. Channel changing has been sluggish and the hard drive seems to click continuously. I honestly have been very disappointed by the performance so far and have been scouring the blogs for some sense of hope that this unit will some day be close to the two other systems I have in performance and functionality.

Do you have any words of hope?

DblD_Indy
DVR2 / R10 / HR20

 

[Meklos]

If I am correct, the FIRST thing you should do when you lose DVR functions like rewind/FF is to reset.

This is the first indication of the dreaded unwatchable bug. I haven't had it yet, luckily. But each and every time I see anyone talking about the unwatchable bug, the one constant thing is that every recording made will be unwatchable until a reset occurs.

[edit] My other suggestion is based on "why I think the unit is doing this". If it won't be too painful to recreate all your SLs, doing a full format of the unit immediately (if it is upgraded to current code). I have a theory that the upgrade process leaves the unit in a state where it is prone to the unwatchable bug. When I got my unit, I let it upgrade then I did a full format. I have had 0 problems.

 

[DblD_Indy]

Ah, the ever popular shut-up and reboot... I may try the reformat tonight as I only have a few set SLs. Would you think I should try to do the auto update as listed HR20 Tips and tricks first and then the auto format? I just am feeling hooked for two years on this unit and really am willing to do anything to make it work.

 

[pappasbike]

John,

Why was your original unit replaced, as mentioned my unit is 5 days old and brand new also.... I checked and the only update was the one installed the day it was delivered. Channel changing has been sluggish and the hard drive seems to click continuously. I honestly have been very disappointed by the performance so far and have been scouring the blogs for some sense of hope that this unit will some day be close to the two other systems I have in performance and functionality.

Do you have any words of hope?

My original unit had an audio problem on the mpeg 2 HD channels - the HD package ones, Showtime HD, etc. There was a very loud, constant crackling and audio dropouts on those channels only. The replacement one has been fine except for some minor annoyances. The hard drive clicking is normal, you will hear it when it's silent in the room. You'll notice that the clicking picks up when you fast forward or use some of the other functions. I don't hear it when the audio is on. My first one did this as well - I liken it to a laptop I once had! The channel changing became slow a few updates ago. Mine goes to a grey and sometimes a black screen before the picture comes in. This is definitely not an Ultimate TV or Tivo. And I do believe there is a major issue if you do some things while the unit is recording, this is the first time it messed up my recordings and only the one's that were on the channel I was pausing.

I did unplug the unit for a few minutes and then restarted it because I was still having a problem when pausing a live broadcast. That seems to have corrected it.
John

 

[Meklos]

Ah, the ever popular shut-up and reboot... I may try the reformat tonight as I only have a few set SLs. Would you think I should try to do the auto update as listed HR20 Tips and tricks first and then the auto format? I just am feeling hooked for two years on this unit and really am willing to do anything to make it work.

Didn't say shut-up. In fact, if you check out my postings, I'm not your typical 'everything is OK, the unit is perfect' people. Kinda the opposite.

However, I've been reading enough that I think I've pieced together what is going on when the unit goes into the 'unwatchable bug' mode. I haven't seen one post from someone who has reported the bug that has said anything other than "I lost all my recordings tonight" or something similar. Once it starts with the unwatchable, the only thing that brings it back is a reboot.

So basically if you don't reboot, you'll think it's recording when it's not. That was my only goal. I know how frustrating it can be to find out later that you might have been able to do something about it.

Now I can't tell you for sure that the format will keep you from having problems, but that was the first thing I did after lurking here before my unit got here. I let it upgrade, formatted, then started inputting SLs. Let it upgrade then format. As long as it's running the current code, my theory says you should be OK.

Of course, there are other bugs like manual or timed recordings, or autorecords. Those have been reported as bugs as well...