Rec Series: Same show/time - different channels

914 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by videojanitor, Jan 4, 2007

videojanitor

Discussion Starter · Jan 1, 2007

Here's one I don't think his been asked -- at least if it has, I haven't seen it.

I happen to be in an area where I can get MPEG-4 locals from one city, but also pick up OTA from another. I want to set a few "Record Series" (ie: Series Link) to record the same show from two channels simultaneously, in order to have a backup in case one of the stations has a problem.

I've tried to program these recordings, but the HR20 seems to get confused by this. For instance, I set two "Series Records" for "My Name Is Earl" on Thursday -- one on a satellite channel, and one OTA. For this week, the "To Do" list shows that it is going to record them both, and they both have the "R)))" symbol -- but looking ahead to next week, only one of them shows up. If I go into the guide and go to the show that's "missing," I can press "R" to add it to the list, though interestingly, it will only let me toggle the "R" on and off -- pressing "R" twice does not change it to a "Series Record" icon.

Before I knock my head into the wall too hard trying to beat this thing into submission, has anyone else tried this, and if so, is there a trick to it?

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NYSmoker

· #2 · Jan 1, 2007

I have two Scrubs Series Link's set to record, one is on my local NBC and the other is on Comedy Central. It works fine, however the NBC Scrubs does say HD after the title so I don't know if the HR20 considers it a different show or not.

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videojanitor

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 1, 2007

I haven't tried that, but as long as the shows are not on at the same time, it's probably OK. My HR10 works the same way -- if I try to set a Season Pass for the same show, at the same time on two channels, it will always blow one of them out. I figured the HR20 would do the same thing, but was surprised to find that it says it WILL record them both this week, but not next. I have a feeling it might just be hit or miss.

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Tom Robertson

· #4 · Jan 1, 2007

Videojanitor,

I ran a test last night, adding two SLs to record a daily talk show something both on a sat. delivered channel and an OTA at the same time. They were the same local broadcaster, as I couldn't easily find two shows on two channels that wouldn't run into conflicts with my other recordings at night.

I found them the show in the guide and did double "REC" on both of them. I then actually turned off (put into "standby") my HR20 to more quickly build the todo list.

Both appear in the prioritizer list, and today they both recorded...But the first one in the prioritizer list has all the next episodes lists to record, the second has none. So the one that was specifically told to record via the record button in the guide did record, but subsequent likely will not. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Also, there was only one history item for the two recordings!

One other thought--perhaps if someone played with the padding and padded the two SLs differently--say one to start a minute early and one to start on time, what would that do? hmmmm...

Cheers,
Tom

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Milominderbinder2

· #5 · Jan 2, 2007

The TiVo feature that did this was a Title Wishlist. TiVo was smart enough to only record each show only once no matter how many different channels were showing a series.

The HR20 shows this in the manual that you can Autorecord after a Title Search! The problem is that this is a known bug in the HR20 and has made number 19 in the Wishlist Survey (link below):

#19 Allow Autorecord after a Search by Title as described in the manual on pp. 20 & 31

Please take the survey if you haven't recently.

Networks often have mutliple channels and move their shows around so this is a major issue.

The workaround is in the Tips & Tricks link below. Autorecord using a keyword search. But you run into several other bugs in the HR20.

#3 Display only the channels that are in your current subscription package" p. 33 does not work so it records the wrong channels.

Another key bug is number 30 in the Wishlist countdown:

#30 More functional search (ignore "The" and "A" at start of title, better search logic - AND, OR, NOT, include at sign (@) and colon : character)

Because it can't do this, you can't keyword search for CSI: NY or [email protected]

One other major bug in the HR20:

#2 Provide accurate repeat/first run & HD info so the right shows can be recorded p. 47

Because the HR20 so often has it's information wrong, you may miss a new first run episode of your show. The only safe thing until they fix this bug is to record both first run and repeats.

Someday when they get the bugs out and the HR20 can do what the manual says, it will be quite the DVR!

- Craig

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videojanitor

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 2, 2007

tibber said:
Both appear in the prioritizer list, and today they both recorded...But the first one in the prioritizer list has all the next episodes lists to record, the second has none. So the one that was specifically told to record via the record button in the guide did record, but subsequent likely will not. I'll let you know tomorrow.

I'll be awaiting the results of your tests. So far, it sounds like the same thing that I'm experiencing -- not that I am complaining about it, as I realize that what I'm asking it to do is a bit unorthodox ...

Now for an usual twist -- I just checked my "To Do" list, and now next week's "My Name Is Earl" *is* showing up as scheduled to record on both channels! Yesterday it was not. Weird.

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Tom Robertson

· #7 · Jan 2, 2007

This morning, only 1 recorded. The other item in the prioritizer is still showing "no episodes" even tho I moved it up in the list AND took padding off the other one. So even tho they no longer have the same start times, only one recorded.

Let you know if I come up with anything else,
Tom

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Tom Robertson

· #8 · Jan 4, 2007

Still can't get two channels with the same show to record as two SL. Deleted the one that had no episodes, and put it back in via the guide. This time drastically different padding. Only recorded the one day from the first record button push, but no episodes after that. Also was high in the prioritizer list.

So, as the mythbusters would say, this one is busted. Sorry.

Cheers,
Tom

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videojanitor

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 4, 2007

No problem! I will be interested to see what happens tonight, as my "To Do" list is still convinced that it will record "Earl" simultaneously on two channels ...

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