In case anyone cares, Mitch

I care... :)


So, I called my guy at the cable company to ask what the status is. He had been waiting for a call from channel 2 and gemstar and hadn't received one yet (it's been about a week). So, I gave him the contact information I had for channel 2. Anything I can do to help. :)

Then I called the Gemstar number posted above. I selected the tech option (even though I'm not a cable or host channel operator :)) and spoke to a technician. I have to tell you if the Gemstar service was as good as the tech customer service, we wouldn't have these problems. I expected some gruff about being an end-user and not an operator, but he was more than willing to talk about the problem and see what could be done.
Since I was at work, he said he would email me the trouble ticket so that I could run the applicable diagnostics and reply with the results.
I also gave him the phone number of the cable guy and he made it seem like he was definitely gonna call the cable guy.

So, as is the norm lately, I wait ....


Mitch

Thank you for all the work. Hopefully WOW will start to be a bit more aggressive in their troubleshooting. I am seriously rethinking my cable provider...

To find out if TVGOS is transmitted you could ask employees at a local AV store (it could happen!), call cable provider, post the question in the "Local HD" forum for your city here at AVS.

and to Nashguy - NO, I don't think this HD Tivo-like device with no fees is too good to be true, Both of mine are truly good! But I know it can be frustrating. Most problems stem from the providers' sending out the TVGOS signal improperly IMO. I think my 2 machines just get better and better, I notice TVGOS improves all the time. I used to see no actor names in listings, now it seems common.

I have to second your thoughts. Although, TVGOS is not perfect, it still is VERYD DAMN GOOD!!! Compared, to getting my program information for free vs paying a monthly fee to a company that has yet to make a profit, and at this rate may go bankrupt!, I'd rather stay with TVGOS Gemstar, and it's quirks. ;)

Bobbie

Yes, I only have data for 48 hours ahead and on the 8th day I have data only up to 3:30am and no data after that. Supposedly GEMSTAR is working this issue with HDNET channel 770 not updating correctly. They have been working this issue since June of this year.

I got a call from the cable guy. He said that he finally heard from Gemstar regarding which VBI channel the information is sent on - he wasn't sure if it changed so he contacted them to find out. I think my call to Gemstar helped close this loop.

Well, he is not seeing any info on that channel at the head-end office on either the channel 11 or channel 2 feeds. So, he said he'll send someone out to the satellite farm tomorrow to see if they are receiving it there. If they are, then they're losing the channel somewhere between the farm and the head-end. If they don't see the info at the farm, then it means there's a problem with the host channels.

I also got the email from TVGOS and they were simply asking for some data from the 753... screen. Specifically:

Time and data including number in brackets [x]
Version (something like 08.01.65/ 08.01.76
Host Ch
Host ID

And the Since Cold, Host CH, Current CH data for
Starts
Ends
Drops
TypeB
BCorr
BErrs
TypeC
CCorr
CErrs
CBad

It may be worth noting that when looking at this screen with the host channel tuned in, the data changes as packets appear to be received.



Mitch

To find out if TVGOS is transmitted you could ask employees at a local AV store (it could happen!), call cable provider, post the question in the "Local HD" forum for your city here at AVS.

The chance that one of the three people that are active on my local HD forum thread has a TVGOS capable device or owns a Sony DHG-HDD is minute. I want to go OTA only, so I don't think the cable co would know. I'll try a few "experts" at CC or BB.

I got a call from the cable guy. He said that he finally heard from Gemstar regarding which VBI channel the information is sent on - he wasn't sure if it changed so he contacted them to find out. I think my call to Gemstar helped close this loop.

Well, he is not seeing any info on that channel at the head-end office on either the channel 11 or channel 2 feeds. So, he said he'll send someone out to the satellite farm tomorrow to see if they are receiving it there. If they are, then they're losing the channel somewhere between the farm and the head-end. If they don't see the info at the farm, then it means there's a problem with the host channels.

I also got the email from TVGOS and they were simply asking for some data from the 753... screen. Specifically:

Time and data including number in brackets [x]
Version (something like 08.01.65/ 08.01.76
Host Ch
Host ID

And the Since Cold, Host CH, Current CH data for
Starts
Ends
Drops
TypeB
BCorr
BErrs
TypeC
CCorr
CErrs
CBad

It may be worth noting that when looking at this screen with the host channel tuned in, the data changes as packets appear to be received.



Mitch


I spoke with a tech at Sony today and he asked for that exact same info. He will turn the info over to Gemstar/TVGOS and then wait to hear something back from them as to whether the problem might be with Gemstar or the Nashville host station. He said Gemstar usually gets back to him in 48 hours but right now they are 200 requests behind, so he is not sure when Gemstar will get back to him regarding my case! Apparently there are a lot of problems going on with TVGOS right now. He said he has received lots of reports of problems with TVGOS in Florida and Texas lately, but no others in my area.

And for those who think TVGOS is absolutely great, hey, I used to think the same. Until it stopped working! For some individuals who never or rarely have problems, yeah, it's a great free service. But on the whole, it is ridiculous to think that TVGOS compares to Tivo. It just doesn't. I guess I can't complain too much though, as I'm not paying $13 a month...

Was anyone able to record the high def broadcast of Monday night football tonight? I got the message recording not allow by provider under recording history.

Was anyone able to record the high def broadcast of Monday night football tonight? I got the message recording not allow by provider under recording history.

Recorded it with no problem. Live in Fairfax, Virginia and have Cox Cable.

Was anyone able to record the high def broadcast of Monday night football tonight? I got the message recording not allow by provider under recording history.

In some cases, if you change channels away from ESPN, and then change back, you might be able to record. This assumes, of course, that you are there to notice that it isn't recording.

I am with Time Warner maybe that is the problem.

Charter Cable Cards. I always thought the cc was tied to the unit. I recently upgraded to the 500 and simply switched the cc to that unit. Surprised it works. Now maybe at some point in the future when they routinely check the unit address this will bomb out, but right now all the encrypted channels work.

FWIW

HDaddiction

Charter Cable Cards. I always thought the cc was tied to the unit. I recently upgraded to the 500 and simply switched the cc to that unit. Surprised it works. Now maybe at some point in the future when they routinely check the unit address this will bomb out, but right now all the encrypted channels work.
HDaddiction

It is on Comcast - when my 500 died - I swapped the CC into a
new unit and the technician had to make a service call to get
the Network Operations Center to turn it back on.

Since they are one-way only - I think they only hit the card
maybe every 48 hours. So in my case initially it worked and
then STOPPED, Therefore requiring the technician to call in
the numbers. Even though I could read all the numbers off
the diagnostic screen - Comcast said only a Tech could access
the NOC for Cable Cards.

Why are the prices so crazy on the HDD250's ? Most of them are going for $500+ on Ebay.

Why are the prices so crazy on the HDD250's ? Most of them are going for $500+ on Ebay.

What other choice do you have?

You can't buy them from Sony!

I think Marketing folks call this supply and demand!

Ugh! Well, I got off the phone with the cable company. The guy who said he wasn't seeing a signal yesterdat in the head-end was apparently wrong. Given the nature of the signal and their instruments (basically spectrum analyzers from what I can tell), he was not reading the display correctly.

So, the cable company says everything is hunky dory.

Spoke to the Gemstar guy, and he's not sure what the problem is either. He says the data I sent him yesterday indicates the unit is receiving data. He also explained some stuff about TVGOS versions. The Sony DVR is TVGOS Version 8. Version 1-7 are called "legacy" versions. Version 8 and later are called G4 versions. Channel 2 (WBBM) in my area is a G4 TVGOS host channel. Channel 11 (WTTW) in my area is a "both" host channel - meaning they support both legacy and G4 TVGOS devices.

So, I'm going to try a few more things - not sure exactly what yet or in what order.
But, either there's some weird Y2K type bug in the DVR that is causing a few of us to suddenly have problems, or Gemstar is sending out messed up data that's affecting a few of us.


Mitch

Ugh! Well, I got off the phone with the cable company. The guy who said he wasn't seeing a signal yesterdat in the head-end was apparently wrong. Given the nature of the signal and their instruments (basically spectrum analyzers from what I can tell), he was not reading the display correctly.

So, the cable company says everything is hunky dory.

Spoke to the Gemstar guy, and he's not sure what the problem is either. He says the data I sent him yesterday indicates the unit is receiving data.

Mitch


Just because we are receiving data does not mean that it is "good" data. I have always suspected that the data stream was there. That's how the clock gets set and after entering our zip code we get a choice of cable providers. These things seem to work well. The problem seems to be that the listing data is not properly received. I have suspected the source as being the problem, since both you and I have what seems to be the same problem and we seem to be the only two using WOW cable. (Also, you had the successful OTA data d/l and people using Comcast do not seem to be having this problem.) Using a spectrum analyzer only proves the existence of a signal, it does not prove that it is the correct data.

Seeing as two different machines are receiving data from the same source and not working, I would find it hard to believe that there is no problem with the source, without the verification of at least one working HDD500.

My DHG-HDD500 receives data from Channel 2 (WBBM) via Comcast analog cable and is working fine.

TwinBrook: You've hinted at my next test.

As Chris implies as well, I suspect that possibly Gemstar is sending garbage data for Wideopenwest (at least in Naperville).

So, I'm going to pretend I have RCN in Chicago since I know Robin's works.
I could also pretend to be in your neck of the woods and using Comcast.
If these provide listings, then I'm going to try to be Comcast in my zip code.
If this works, then I'll try being Wideopenwest again in my zip code and that should point pretty well to the problem.
(Although, Chris, if you want to try one of these scenarios to save time, let me know.)

If none of those provide listings, then I'm going to square one and forcing cable-11 - just for the heck of it.


Mitch

So, I'm going to pretend I have RCN in Chicago since I know Robin's works.I could also pretend to be in your neck of the woods and using Comcast.
If these provide listings, then I'm going to try to be Comcast in my zip code.
If this works, then I'll try being Wideopenwest again in my zip code and that should point pretty well to the problem.

You can pretend all you want, but you can only get guide data via an appropriate channel that you get from YOUR cableco. Your cableco simply passes the signal from the local broadcast station. Gemstar isn't sending anything to WOW. The data is generated at the local PBS station (or CBS or whatever) and sent out OTA and to the various cablecos.

You can pretend all you want, but you can only get guide data via an appropriate channel that you get from YOUR cableco. Your cableco simply passes the signal from the local broadcast station. Gemstar isn't sending anything to WOW. The data is generated at the local PBS station (or CBS or whatever) and sent out OTA and to the various cablecos.

Gemstar provides the line up data to WBBM (CBS). WBBM pumps out that data OTA and via direct digital connections to cable companies. I'm 95% sure that WBBM passes along the same information to everyone. In fact, the cable guy said he would be willing to switch their feed from the optical feed from WBBM to an OTA feed just to test things out.

So, if I get good data for a different zipcode and/or cable company line up that would tell me that Gemstar is sending out bad data for my zipcode and/or cable company. BTW, I think I'm actually gonna pretend to be Twinbrook's neighbor who also subscribes to comcast since he gets his data on cable-2 like I'm supposed to.



Mitch

Ah, I see. You think PART of the data is bad --- the part for your zip code and/or the part for your particular cableco lineup. An interesting experiment.

I think my situation may be similar to what ChrisS5 suspects: that I'm receiving TVGOS data but that it's somehow corrupted. My clock will set itself OK and I get the proper cable channel line-up but I'm not receiving listings on a regular basis. When I do get them, it's nearly always preceded now the day before with a big message in place of the listings grid saying that listings will return in 24 hours and are currently being rebuilt based on my new settings. Except that I didn't enter any new settings! The next day I'll have listings for days 1, 2, and 8 but then it won't download anything else for several days, when it "rebuilds" itself again. Is anyone else getting this message about the listings grid being rebuilt?

By the way, I'm on Comcast in Nashville, not on WideOpenWest cable. I haven't tried assigning my host channel to OTA rather than cable but I may do that soon and see if it happens to make a difference if I get the station with an antenna rather than through Comcast.

I've been having issues here in the Hamilton, Canada area as well since Sep 15 when we added cable to supplement our OTA. The unit used to use OTA 9 CFTO as its host station but has switched to Cable 13 CFTO (Cogeco Cable). Now..I get listings for Days 1,2,8 on initial setup but then it never updates again. Very frustrating since it takes me 1-2 hours to set up channels the way the wife & I like them. I could use a US zipcode and feed off OTA 17 WNED..but then we lose listings for the Canadian cable channels.

So..I just went into ch +/- and deleted every channel except OTA 9 & 17 (since we mostly tune using the TV Guide and rarely with the +/- buttons). Will see what happens.

Hello neighbor;
You can force a host channel. Look through the thread or use spiffs' FAQ. Do you have both OTA and cable setup on the DVR?

CFTO is the host channel for the GTA (I think that is it)?

Great to be in WNY!! Wish all the other low power channels from the CN tower would up their power. :)

As Chris implies as well, I suspect that possibly Gemstar is sending garbage data for Wideopenwest (at least in Naperville).

Mitch


I do not think that Gemstar is sending garbage data. I think that the data is being corrupted somewhere in the WOW system. When receiving data via WOW, none of the channel listings are working correctly, OTA or WOW cable listings. A couple of days ago I changed the zip code to 60707 (Elmwood Park - Comcast) and still had "no listings" or "no title" for OTA and cable stations.

Last night I reset the HDD500 once again. This time I disconnected cable, and told the system that it only had an OTA input with my zipcode. This morning I have full listings for all OTA channels for days 1,2, and 8. The host channel is OTA CBS 2.

I do not know the format that Gemstar uses for their data transmission. It would seem to be a waste of bandwidth if they were to transmit the same OTA channel information multiple times for each cable system configuration in a given area. With that in mind changing the zipcode, or even OTA vs. cable as source, should make no difference to the listings for OTA listings. Yet when I use WOW as the source for my guide data, the guide data, OTA and cable, is very rarely being received.

This problem started at the same time for the both Mitch G and I. I know of no other Sony DHG-HDD users who have WOW in the Chicago/Naperville area. I have not been able to find any users of TVGOS who are connecting through WOW in the Chicagoland area. What does this mean? As far as I know, there are no WOW subscribers who are not having this problem. WOW needs to do more than just verify a signal, they need to verify the data. To my knowledge Mitch G and I have the only two pieces of equipment on the Chicago/Naperville system able to verify the data, and they are indicating that it is bad.

I think my situation may be similar to what ChrisS5 suspects: that I'm receiving TVGOS data but that it's somehow corrupted. My clock will set itself OK and I get the proper cable channel line-up but I'm not receiving listings on a regular basis. When I do get them, it's nearly always preceded now the day before with a big message in place of the listings grid saying that listings will return in 24 hours and are currently being rebuilt based on my new settings. Except that I didn't enter any new settings! The next day I'll have listings for days 1, 2, and 8 but then it won't download anything else for several days, when it "rebuilds" itself again. Is anyone else getting this message about the listings grid being rebuilt?


Not sure if this will help, but just in case...

I recently had a couple of days (not consecutive) with the 'no listings ... new settings' also. But I am OTA only. Interestingly, when the listings did reappear, there were no gaps in the eight days. Is it possible this particular problem is an internal glitch in the Sony?

I think my situation may be similar to what ChrisS5 suspects: that I'm receiving TVGOS data but that it's somehow corrupted. My clock will set itself OK and I get the proper cable channel line-up but I'm not receiving listings on a regular basis. When I do get them, it's nearly always preceded now the day before with a big message in place of the listings grid saying that listings will return in 24 hours and are currently being rebuilt based on my new settings. Except that I didn't enter any new settings! The next day I'll have listings for days 1, 2, and 8 but then it won't download anything else for several days, when it "rebuilds" itself again. Is anyone else getting this message about the listings grid being rebuilt?



This is a perfect description of the situation that I experienced last week. The only difference is that the was no second rebuilding message, just no further listings. I have only excerienced this once as I've been actively looking for a consistant solution for d/l guide data and making changes.

Last night I reset the HDD500 once again. This time I disconnected cable, and told the system that it only had an OTA input with my zipcode. This morning I have full listings for all OTA channels for days 1,2, and 8. The host channel is OTA CBS 2.

Then the problem is with WOW. The signal has to pass through many pieces of equipment at the cableco, several of which can destroy the Gemstar data if not maintained properly. If they have the right equipment and your problem is intermittent, it may be difficult to find. Someone at WOW will have to take responsibility to investigate the situation instead of denying it.

Blaming WOW is still high on the list. :)
But, the thing that bothers me is that I was able to force the host channel to be OTA-11 and like Chris I disconnected the cable and I got data. Then I re-connected cable and told it I had cable (WOW-cable ready) and I'm pretty sure it stuck to using OTA-11, but I stopped getting listings. That's why I think the Gemstar data for "WOW cable-ready" may be the source of the problem.

Anyway, right now, I'm waiting the obligatory day to see if I get any listings for "Wheaton Comcast cable-ready."
If not, then it really seems to be pointing the finger at WOW.
If I do get the listings, then Gemstar sure seems to be the cause of the problem.

One thing that bothers me for my experiment is that when I checked my host channel this morning (after telling it I was "Wheaton Comcast cable-ready"), it showed Cable-11 as the host channel and TwinBrook uses cable-2. So, this throws in a variable in the experiment. (I was on Cable-2 when I last checked a couple of days ago.)

So, if I don't get any listings, I may try forcing OTA-11 again but tell it I have cable-ready and see if it'll stick with OTA-11 for the host channel. If I get listings - it's definitely WOW. If I don't get listings - it's Gemstar.
Or, maybe I'll take the cable guy up on his offer to come out with some equipment and check things out. However, I don't think his equipment will provide any definitive proof since I don't think he can tell if the data is valid or not. (Recall, that the Gemstar guy told me the information I sent him indicates that I am receiving data.)



Mitch

So, if I don't get any listings, I may try forcing OTA-11 again but tell it I have cable-ready and see if it'll stick with OTA-11 for the host channel. If I get listings - it's definitely WOW. If I don't get listings - it's Gemstar.
Or, maybe I'll take the cable guy up on his offer to come out with some equipment and check things out. However, I don't think his equipment will provide any definitive proof since I don't think he can tell if the data is valid or not. (Recall, that the Gemstar guy told me the information I sent him indicates that I am receiving data.)



Mitch

Another thought...

In the past when you forced the host to OTA-11, it worked when you told the system that it was OTA only. But it didn't work when you told it that it had cable as well. Do you think that forcing an OTA host could create an internal conflict in the equipment if cable is also specified?

Has anyone successfully forced an OTA host channel while also using the cable input?

I suspect that the main difference between the listings for the different cable companies would be the channel offerings and their assignments. The listing data would be the same for the channel no matter where you are located. (i.e. USA or TNT are not showing different programming on Comcast vs. WOW)

Another thought...

In the past when you forced the host to OTA-11, it worked when you told the system that it was OTA only. But it didn't work when you told it that it had cable as well. Do you think that forcing an OTA host could create an internal conflict in the equipment if cable is also specified?

Has anyone successfully forced an OTA host channel while also using the cable input?

I suspect that the main difference between the listings for the different cable companies would be the channel offerings and their assignments. The listing data would be the same for the channel no matter where you are located. (i.e. USA or TNT are not showing different programming on Comcast vs. WOW)This is what I was thinking I did to my unit when I had my SD satellite feed hooked up to the cable input. It's like I screwed something up and it never fully reverted back to it's normal operation, because it still (somwhat) acts the way it did when I had it set up that way (on and off).

I thought of a really weird theory, at least for my situation. I've got so many things hooked up in my system that I wonder if something is causing interference electronically on the VBI data line (17?) somehow. I do have the Sony plugged into a line-conditioner, but there are a few stray things that I don't have running into to it. Crazy, I know, but I've been thinking of everything.

Another thought...

In the past when you forced the host to OTA-11, it worked when you told the system that it was OTA only. But it didn't work when you told it that it had cable as well. Do you think that forcing an OTA host could create an internal conflict in the equipment if cable is also specified?

Has anyone successfully forced an OTA host channel while also using the cable input?

I suspect that the main difference between the listings for the different cable companies would be the channel offerings and their assignments. The listing data would be the same for the channel no matter where you are located. (i.e. USA or TNT are not showing different programming on Comcast vs. WOW)

Chris,

It's possible. Heck, anything's possible at this point. And it might explain why when I tried to force OTA-2 why it selected Cable-2 instead.


Mitch

<snip>
I thought of a really weird theory, at least for my situation. I've got so many things hooked up in my system that I wonder if something is causing interference electronically on the VBI data line (17?) somehow. I do have the Sony plugged into a line-conditioner, but there are a few stray things that I don't have running into to it. Crazy, I know, but I've been thinking of everything.

This was one of my earliest theories about the problem. Right before the problem started, I "cleaned" up some of the cabling behind the TV - stuff like cable-tying coax cables, etc. So, one of the first things I did was uncable-tie the cable coax. But, then Chris with the identical setup is having the same problem.
Chris, you didn't reconfigure any of your cables just before this started, did you?


Mitch

TVGOS : My cleaning out the channel list to only include OTA 9 + OTA 17 worked! - even though the host channel is still listed as cable 13. (That might not necessarily mean it used cable 13 as in the past when the host was listed as OTA 9, it occasionally used OTA 17 instead - I know this for sure because when this happened, some lesser American stations showed up that aren't available on the OTA 9 group - and the Canadian cable channels were No Listing).

We'll see what happens overnight.

Chris, you didn't reconfigure any of your cables just before this started, did you?


Mitch


Nope, nothing was changed. Just stopped receiveing listings, the same time as you. Even received listings on the same Tuseday as you did. (When you thought that WOW may have fixed the problem. They had not responded to you yet.)

No listings for my "Wheaton Comcast" experiment.
I'm doing a basic OTA experiment currently where I say I don't have cable just to prove the unit can receive data OTA and it works.

So, there are two possiblities:

1) WOW is doing something to the data.
2) The Sony box is suddenly having trouble with cable lineups.

Since Chris has the same problem, the odds of #2 being the case is extremely unlikely (other than some date-related bug in the Sony software).

Once I re-prove to myself that I can get listings OTA, I'm calling the guy at WOW to see what we can do.


Mitch

Ready the past dozen or so post.
Recalling one particular pertient post. "99% of the Guide problems is due to cable CO provisioning of the cable card and guide channel.

This is none of my concern, but I doubt if all of a sudden the sony is glitching.

HDADDICTION

2) The Sony box is suddenly having trouble with cable lineups.

Mitch

I do not think it is #2!

I know I am not in your area - but I just installed my 3rd
Sony DVR - this one is Cable ONLY - Comcast.

Within 5 minutes of turning the box on - the TVGOS started
to populate itself even while the box was on. Then I shut
it off and within 8 hours I had 300 cable channels populated.

So I think you need to find the source of your problem in
your local Cable provider.

I included possibility #2 for completeness.
I agree it's WOW. Like I said once I reprove to myself that OTA works, the cable company is getting a call.
The reason I want to take this repeated extra step is because last time I was playing with OTA stuff, I did some host-channel forcing. This time, I'm letting the box do what it wants so as to avoid any uncertainty there.


Mitch

Well, the guy from WOW called me (somewhat out of the blue).
He told me he just got off the phone with the guy at WBBM (CBS/Channel 2).
The guy at WBBM said he just reset the Gemstar machine because it may have been sending out corrupted data.
This doesn't explain everything (e.g. why have some people have been getting data fine), but it's promising.

So, I'll be resetting tonight and letting the box go back to "normal" looking for stuff on cable-2.
If it still doesn't work, the WOW guy made it clear that he would work with me to diagnose the problem all the way to my door.
It even sounded like he talked to the WBBM guy about the possibility of borrowing some test equipment.


Mitch

No listings for my "Wheaton Comcast" experiment.
I'm doing a basic OTA experiment currently where I say I don't have cable just to prove the unit can receive data OTA and it works.

So, there are two possiblities:

1) WOW is doing something to the data.
2) The Sony box is suddenly having trouble with cable lineups.

Since Chris has the same problem, the odds of #2 being the case is extremely unlikely (other than some date-related bug in the Sony software).

Once I re-prove to myself that I can get listings OTA, I'm calling the guy at WOW to see what we can do.


MitchIf by that you mean "can the info for the cable channels be obtained OTA", the answer (at least in our area) is definitely yes. I get it over both 11 and 20 on my DVR's. Of course, I have to turn those channels on first for them to fill in.

In fact, that's why I decided to try hooking up my SD satellite feed to see if I could record from it using the guide. It would start out getting info, and would work (after I set all of the cable/satellite channel numbers to 3) - but eventually the guide would go blank after switching itself over to receive data from that (cable) input. I could still use the empty guide blocks if I wanted, but that wasn't (obviously) a desired or acceptable setup.

Actually, I still have a few of those channels turned on (for the data). They are CSN, ESPN 1 & 2, and TBS. I just left those on for the baseball game info during the season. Now that the regular season's about over, I'm gonna turn those off and just go strictly with the OTA stations that I receive. Having those on still could very well have something to do with my occasional glitches, even though the satellite feed is no longer hooked up. In fact, I think I'll just turn them off for good tonight and see if the glitches clear up once and for all. The funny thing, though, is that my SD DVR's which get the cable channel info OTA (from channel 20), have never had any problems with the overall listings when I've had any of them on. In fact, the Sony (from ch. 11) never did either, until I screwed with putting the satellite feed into the cable input.

If it doesn't clear up for good, then I'll try one of those "harder" resets.

Well, my OTA-only (with the cable connected - I just didn't say I had cable) worked great. Listings for day 1, 2 and 8 were there. AND, it was using OTA-2!

So, I told it I had cable, and it immediately showed me my options (i.e. Comcast, Wideopenwest). I selected my Wideopenwest Cable Ready and turned it off.
If this doesn't work, I'm having the WOW guy come to the house and check the signal.


Mitch

If this doesn't work, I'm having the WOW guy come to the house and check the signal.
Mitch

I do not know about the WOW signal. But I do know about the
Digital Cable Signal. If you PRESS the Following Buttons.
Menu
Preferences
System Menu
System

It will show you the digital cable signal strength or the analog
signal strength for whatever HOST channel is appropriate in
your area - if you are tuned to that channel when you go to
check the signal strength.

My LOWEST Signal strength is 77% - and all is good here in
Comcast Territory.

I think my situation may be similar to what ChrisS5 suspects: that I'm receiving TVGOS data but that it's somehow corrupted. My clock will set itself OK and I get the proper cable channel line-up but I'm not receiving listings on a regular basis. When I do get them, it's nearly always preceded now the day before with a big message in place of the listings grid saying that listings will return in 24 hours and are currently being rebuilt based on my new settings. Except that I didn't enter any new settings! The next day I'll have listings for days 1, 2, and 8 but then it won't download anything else for several days, when it "rebuilds" itself again. Is anyone else getting this message about the listings grid being rebuilt?



Hey there....

I'm kind of an ex-pat, having defected happily to the S3...

But in suburban Washington, DC, I'm having the exact same issues with my two HDD250's, which are now used just for the kids' cartoons.

I'll leave the unit alone...no adjustments, no settings changed...and one morning it'll say the "listings will be available within 24 hours due to your changed settings" thing.

Then, "No listings" for days.

Then, finally, maybe 2 days out of 7...full listings.

Then it all happens all over again.

That's why I defected to the Tivo. And yes, a simple internet or phone connection? and 99% of the troubles in this thread would never have happened.

Well, my OTA-only (with the cable connected - I just didn't say I had cable) worked great. Listings for day 1, 2 and 8 were there. AND, it was using OTA-2!

So, I told it I had cable, and it immediately showed me my options (i.e. Comcast, Wideopenwest). I selected my Wideopenwest Cable Ready and turned it off.
If this doesn't work, I'm having the WOW guy come to the house and check the signal.


MitchJust thought I'd let you know that the "Facilities Supervisor" from WBBM's engineering department is currently posting in the LG 3410A thread if you'd like to toss any questions his way.

I'm not having a problem of getting the guide data.

But....I have 2 500's. On one of them I can't seem to get the TV Guide screen to save the info when I edit the positions of channels in the guide line up. The other 500 saves the changes just fine.

What could be the problem? Is there something special you have to do before exiting the edit screen?

Thanks.

What could be the problem? Is there something special you have to do before exiting the edit screen?

Thanks.

It might be the rev level of the Operating System in the DVR.

I have 4 Sony DVRs. I just got one back from Sony SERVICE.
They updated my OS on that unit to 1.2.13.

Before I sent the unit in for a Hard Drive CRASH - that unit
would only remember my channel line up as long as there was
never a power glitch. I even had it on a UPS to prevent loosing
the lineup. Some of my other ones seem to remember the
lineup better. JUST MAYBE - you had a minor power glitch
and it FORGOT you lineup. Is that possible?

Probably not a big surprise (if you've been following this trip down the DVR rabbit-hole), but it's gotta be that my cable company is messing up the VBI channel.

As stated above, when I told the unit I had OTA only, it used OTA-2 for the host channel and got the data fine.
Last night I told it I also had cable.
This morning, other than the left over listings from the OTA-only scenario, I have no listings.

This plus the fact that I couldn't get listings for other areas really says that the cable company is trashing the data somehow. I'll be calling the guy at WOW to see what we can do.


Mitch

I'll be calling the guy at WOW to see what we can do.


Mitch

You certainly have gone the EXTRA mile to pinpoint the problem.

But it is always still hard to get the Cable Co's to admit anything
they do might be the problem. Everyone is trained to point the
finger at EITHER the END USER or the Equipment at the End
User.

Yes, I only have data for 48 hours ahead and on the 8th day I have data only up to 3:30am and no data after that. Supposedly GEMSTAR is working this issue with HDNET channel 770 not updating correctly. They have been working this issue since June of this year.

Joe,

Are you sure you are going to the 8th day to see if the guide data is there? Every day you get day 1,2 and 8. So after 7 days of uninterrupted daily updates you have a fully loaded guide. This is covered every 30 posts or so. There is never any info on day 3,4,5,6,7 of the guide until the updating has been running multiple days.
Yes, I only have data for 48 hours ahead and on the 8th day I have data only up to 3:30am and no data after that. Supposedly GEMSTAR is working this issue with HDNET channel 770 not updating correctly. They have been working this issue since June of this year.

You certainly have gone the EXTRA mile to pinpoint the problem.

But it is always still hard to get the Cable Co's to admit anything
they do might be the problem. Everyone is trained to point the
finger at EITHER the END USER or the Equipment at the End
User.

In all fairness, I must say that Wideopenwest has been very open minded in my discussions with them. They seem to be trying to understand where the problem lies - even if it is in their system.


Mitch

In all fairness, I must say that Wideopenwest has been very open minded in my discussions with them. They seem to be trying to understand where the problem lies - even if it is in their system.


Mitch


Then Lets APPLAUD them - because I know in my area if the problem
was with Comcast - they would not be so cooperative.

It might be the rev level of the Operating System in the DVR.

I have 4 Sony DVRs. I just got one back from Sony SERVICE.
They updated my OS on that unit to 1.2.13.

Before I sent the unit in for a Hard Drive CRASH - that unit
would only remember my channel line up as long as there was
never a power glitch. I even had it on a UPS to prevent loosing
the lineup. Some of my other ones seem to remember the
lineup better. JUST MAYBE - you had a minor power glitch
and it FORGOT you lineup. Is that possible?
Both units have 1.2.05 software.

I've had no other problem with the unit. There have been no power failures or glitches.

The problem is that as soon as I make a channel line up change in the TV guide edit area, exit out, and then hit guide, it doesn't save the changes. So I don't think its a software or power issue.

Is there a certain way you're suppose to exit out when you get done making changes? I don't think there is, as the other unit I just hit exit and it saved the changes.

Would some sort of reset help, maybe unplugging it? I don't want to lose the shows on the hard drive.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

You can search the forum as another user had this issue. If I remember correctly a reset of the unit fixed it (exit button and guide button pressed together) unplugging would also reset it. You only lose the clock setting with this reset. You can reset your clock by turning to your host channel and entering the guide test screen and it should set in a minute or 2 (see FAQ for rapid clock set.)

Both units have 1.2.05 software.
The problem is that as soon as I make a channel line up change in the TV guide edit area, exit out, and then hit guide, it doesn't save the changes. So I don't think its a software or power issue.

Would some sort of reset help, maybe unplugging it? I don't want to lose the shows on the hard drive.

The problem is that as soon as I make a channel line up change in the TV guide edit area, exit out, and then hit guide, it doesn't save the changes. So I don't think its a software or power issue.

This happened to me once a long time ago. The cure was to do a front panel reset: <EXIT> and <TV GUIDE>. The problem went away and never returned. You should not lose anything in the process except the clock, although some people have reported losing guide info. Normally, you will retain everything including the host channel. My FW is also 1.2.05.

The FAQ should probally have the channel order glitch added. It has been reported by Turkeybird, PhiliyC, VideoBruce, and now theratpatrol.

I am assume the reset fixes it in all cases since VideoBruce never posted otherwise.

Hey that worked! I didn't lose anything, not even guide date, and the clock already reset itself.

I was getting 3-4 listings for the same channels.

OTA SD
OTA HD
cable SD
cable HD

So I rearanged it so I only see the OTA HD local channels in the top 10 channels when I hit guide.

I really do love these units (and this forum)!! :D

Thanks again to everyone who posted!

Take care.

If this doesn't work, I'm having the WOW guy come to the house and check the signal.

Mitch

If you can get him out to the house, make sure that he does more than verify the signal,....make sure he can verify the data!

You have been very lucky in your dealings with Wide Open West. You must have happened to get the right person, on the right day. I have only gotten people who deny a problem, and try to redirect the issue back to my equipment.

Mitch, thanks for all the hard work. I know that WOW is only working on it because of your efforts, and when resolved, I will also benefit.

I've been a bit quiet here in the forum because I've been on a trip since Wednesday evening. I left my equipment receiving the guide via OTA-2. I will be back in town Sunday evening, and I fully expect to find that I have a weeks worth of listings when I return.

A localized heads-up for Adelphia Cable subscribers in the Westminster, MD area: Adelphia has added the following to the basic cable lineup:

31.1 WMAR-HD
31.2 WBAL-HD
31.3 WJZ-HD

111.1 Maryland Public TV DT
111.2 MPT-HD
111.3 MPT-Kids
111.4 MPT Square
111.5 MPT Learner


They've been there for a couple weeks but I have seen no mention of it.

Have you added that to your local OTA thread in your area??

Curiouser and curiouser.

The TVGOS guy suggested I try setting up the DVR to tell it I only have cable - no antenna connected.
Before I did that, though I was waiting for my experiement with Cable-11 forced as the host channel. The force worked, but I only had sporadic listings - 99% were "No Listing."

So, then I used the Setup menu to tell it I only had cable and no antenna. This resulted in host channel Cable-2 being used and the data being populated perfectly well (days 1, 2 and 8).

This implies that WOW is not the culprit here. Cable-2 was used and data was received just fine. I don't know. I'm a bit baffled here.

Anyway, I just told the DVR that I do have both OTA and Cable (again) to see what happens.


Mitch

Hey, Mitch.

I finally did a "reset to factory defaults" on my TVGOS last night, and when I got up today, everything looked good. I had to do some re-arranging, and turning on and re-entering of channel numbers, but it appears promising. (It's still using 11 analog as the host.)

Hopefully, this was all I needed.

Rammitinski: That's OTA-11 and you're only using it for OTA, right?
If so, that's consistent with my experience last week. In fact, when I did OTA only it filled in within the day - no waiting overnight.
(In fact, this morning's cable-only experiment filled in within the day as well.)


Mitch

Please help me with these 2 questions:

1) Does this DVR pass through RF signal (like a VCR)? i.e. when you connect cable line in to Sony DHG-HDD250, and RF cable out to TV, if you turn (power) off the DVR, can you still watch (analog channels) TV normally?
2) Anyone knows where to buy this DVR now?

Thanks!

Please help me with these 2 questions:

1) Does this DVR pass through RF signal (like a VCR)? i.e. when you connect cable line in to Sony DHG-HDD250, and RF cable out to TV, if you turn (power) off the DVR, can you still watch (analog channels) TV normally?
2) Anyone knows where to buy this DVR now?

Thanks!
1) No, there is no RF output on this DVR.

2) They are no longer available, as they have been discontinued. However, you might find them on Ebay or at Best Buy or Circuit City as open box specials. Frys Electronics still has them for full price, the 500 for $999 and the 250 for $799.

Rammitinski: That's OTA-11 and you're only using it for OTA, right?
If so, that's consistent with my experience last week. In fact, when I did OTA only it filled in within the day - no waiting overnight.
(In fact, this morning's cable-only experiment filled in within the day as well.)


MitchYes, that is correct. I'm only OTA.

So, then I used the Setup menu to tell it I only had cable and no antenna. This resulted in host channel Cable-2 being used and the data being populated perfectly well (days 1, 2 and 8).

This implies that WOW is not the culprit here. Cable-2 was used and data was received just fine. I don't know. I'm a bit baffled here.

Anyway, I just told the DVR that I do have both OTA and Cable (again) to see what happens.

Mitch

When I returned home last night, I had eight days of perfect listings. (The DVR was set to OTA only, using OTA-2 as the host.) I have now put the DVR back to OTA and cable, selected WOW as my cable company, the host channel is currently blank, and I have been told to wait 24. We will see what happens.

Mitch, WOW has passed data in the past. When I was sitting waiting for the problem to resolve itself, I did experience a couple of 1,2,8 downloads. Unfortunately they were followed by many days of nothing. Since I was on OTA when your download occured, I can not confirm if I also received the data via WOW.

I experienced the same problem with my DHG-500 (.13). I re-arranged the channel lineup three times. Each time I exited the menu and went back to the listings menu, it always reverted to the previous settings. Then a couple of days later the DVR crashed and rebooted. When it came back up, the listing menu was now the way I had been trying to change it. I would suggest trying a power cycle after configuring the menus to see if this helps.

Same thing happened to me, channel editing didn't 'stick'. I had to power down and back up to make it work.

I'm about to purchase a DHG-HDD250, but it doesn't have a remote. I'm also picking up a Harmony remote. Does it matter which model I buy, or should I get a specific one to ensure complete compatibility?

Yesterday my 250 completely lost all TVGOS data and custom channel info that I programmed.

Previously recorded programs were all intact. I live in Salt Lake City.

Do any of you out there had/have this problem recently? What's causing it?

The unit was humming along perfectly until yesterday. Yesterday night, the unit did download a couple days succesfully..

Thanks for a GREAT thread guys . . .

Yesterday my 250 completely lost all TVGOS data and custom channel info that I programmed.

Previously recorded programs were all intact. I live in Salt Lake City.

Do any of you out there had/have this problem recently? What's causing it?

The unit was humming along perfectly until yesterday. Yesterday night, the unit did download a couple days succesfully..

Thanks for a GREAT thread guys . . .

I'm GUESSING here - but I think you had a POWER LINE Glitch.
I have 4 SONY DVRs - I put them all on a UPS to prevent this
kind of thing. Even the Shortest Power Line Glitch will wipe
everything out.

Hi all,

Is anyone in the greater Los Angeles area, using OTA, having, or not having, TVGOS problems; i.e. "no listing"?

From spiff72's FAQ it should be coming over KCET - 28; which I confirmed in the TVGOS service menu.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers...

I'm GUESSING here - but I think you had a POWER LINE Glitch.
I have 4 SONY DVRs - I put them all on a UPS to prevent this
kind of thing. Even the Shortest Power Line Glitch will wipe
everything out.

What do you define as a "Power Line Glitch"? We had several brownouts/power outs (<1 min) during the summer here in CT and I never lost any TVGOS data on either of my units.

When I returned home last night, I had eight days of perfect listings. (The DVR was set to OTA only, using OTA-2 as the host.) I have now put the DVR back to OTA and cable, selected WOW as my cable company, the host channel is currently blank, and I have been told to wait 24. We will see what happens.


Well last night before I went to bed, I checked the DVR and it had set OTA-2 as the host channel. I thought that this was promising since, I had received 7 days of listings using this host. But, this afternoon when I check the DVR after three download periods, listings had not updated. (As you predicted Mitch...) the host channel was still on OTA-2. I entered the service menu and performed a TV Guide reset. The system quickly reset the host to Cable-2. I'm hoping it was in time for the fourth download period. (1:46pm est) Maybe there will be some listing tonight. If not, I'll let it sit over night. If no results in the morning, I think that I'll try and recreate Mitch's cable only "success".

I'm back to about a weeks worth of all "no listings" until the info appears again in the guide.

I'm about ready to chuck this thing into Lake Michigan. If it wasn't such a great tuner, I probably wouldv'e gotten rid of it by now.

It's like the only way I can keep it reasonably populated is to reset it every night before bed. I can't even use the damn guide to schedule any recordings anymore.

I guess I'll try a complete TVGOS reset again.

I'm about to purchase a DHG-HDD250, but it doesn't have a remote. I'm also picking up a Harmony remote. Does it matter which model I buy, or should I get a specific one to ensure complete compatibility?

What do you define as a "Power Line Glitch"? We had several brownouts/power outs (<1 min) during the summer here in CT and I never lost any TVGOS data on either of my units.

We had brownouts here in NH during July. It made it
through those.

I'm not sure how long the power has to be out - but unplug
your unit and watch them go away.

If they do not go away - then maybe SONY fixed the problem
with one of the 13 versions of OS that are in the field. I know
I told Sony Tech support over a year ago that was a feature
they should add.

MY GOD - it is not like they don't have a Hard Disk drive in the
machine to store the info [GRIN]!

I'm back to about a weeks worth of all "no listings" until the info appears again in the guide.

I'm about ready to chuck this thing into Lake Michigan. If it wasn't such a great tuner, I probably wouldv'e gotten rid of it by now.

It's like the only way I can keep it reasonably populated is to reset it every night before bed. I can't even use the damn guide to schedule any recordings anymore.

I guess I'll try a complete TVGOS reset again.

I have 2 units, 250 and 500 and have had some of the problems listed in here. But, I beleive that the guide list problem of no listing is from/through the TVGOS service more so than that of the machine. I have seen the same on my Panasonic unit that lasted for a couple of weeks, and then it all came back without a reset. I have never reset my machines, just waited for the service to clear up. Two weeks ago Friday, I had some strange listing for the 8 and 9 o'clock CBS time slots. Some programs I never heard of in place of GW and CTH. This happen only on OTA HD channel, not the NSTC channel. It appeared mid- week and by Friday was corrected. So that tells me that human error or whatever from TVGOS can screw things up a bit. I have not had any problems recently, as in dropped schedules.
I am, though, buying a signal level meter so I can get a better fix on all my HD channels with my antenna as I tend to get some breakup now and then on certian channels. This meter will as check true error bit rate, mber,vber, power, snr, and such, plus can be setup to check at specefied times with a log of the performance of the digital signal. So I am hoping to pinpoint any guide problems and where they come from.
Michael

Well last night before I went to bed, I checked the DVR and it had set OTA-2 as the host channel. I thought that this was promising since, I had received 7 days of listings using this host. But, this afternoon when I check the DVR after three download periods, listings had not updated. (As you predicted Mitch...) the host channel was still on OTA-2. I entered the service menu and performed a TV Guide reset. The system quickly reset the host to Cable-2. I'm hoping it was in time for the fourth download period. (1:46pm est) Maybe there will be some listing tonight. If not, I'll let it sit over night. If no results in the morning, I think that I'll try and recreate Mitch's cable only "success".

This is the great mystery.
It works OTA-only (using an OTA host channel, naturally).
It works Cable-only (using a cable host channel).
But, when both are selected, listings are missing.
It really points to the machine.

The only way it's not the machine's fault is if Gemstar has different ways of sending data for every possible combination of OTA and/or cable. But I doubt that. Data is probably tagged according to which lineup it belongs to (OTA, CR, etc.) and then collated by the machine.

But, if it is the machine then why did my unit and Chris' unit start acting up at the same time? Unless ....

Does TVGOS software get updated via the download mechanism, too? Does anyone know? Is it possible some new software modules (or whatever) were downloaded to the box a few weeks ago that screwed up its ability to handle dual-mode (e.g. OTA+Cable) scenarios? I'll ask the TVGOS guy I've been working with about this.

Ahhhh, the mysteries of little boxes in one's family room.



Mitch

I'm back to about a weeks worth of all "no listings" until the info appears again in the guide.

I'm about ready to chuck this thing into Lake Michigan. If it wasn't such a great tuner, I probably wouldv'e gotten rid of it by now.

It's like the only way I can keep it reasonably populated is to reset it every night before bed. I can't even use the damn guide to schedule any recordings anymore.

I guess I'll try a complete TVGOS reset again.

Until the guide returns why not set recordings manually, just like a VCR? I just returned from a two week plus vacation and set up most of the scheduled recordings manually. Since fall season was just beginning, the guide was useless for most programs. Just got back on Sunday and all programs I scheduled were recorded - no failures.

Ray

Hi all,

Is anyone in the greater Los Angeles area, using OTA, having, or not having, TVGOS problems; i.e. "no listing"?

From spiff72's FAQ it should be coming over KCET - 28; which I confirmed in the TVGOS service menu.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers...

My guide data appears to be ok, except the guide dropped my record settings for Gilmore and Veronica Mars.

We had brownouts here in NH during July. It made it
through those.

I'm not sure how long the power has to be out - but unplug
your unit and watch them go away.

If they do not go away - then maybe SONY fixed the problem
with one of the 13 versions of OS that are in the field. I know
I told Sony Tech support over a year ago that was a feature
they should add.

MY GOD - it is not like they don't have a Hard Disk drive in the
machine to store the info [GRIN]!

We lost power last week for 45 min and neither of my units lost TVGOS data. I have a 250 and 500, one with .05 firmware, the other with .06.....

We lost power last week for 45 min and neither of my units lost TVGOS data. I have a 250 and 500, one with .05 firmware, the other with .06.....

Maybe we need to be more specific.

It doesn't drop Guide Data.

It Drops the CUSTOM Channel ordering most of us do when we have
400+ channels and only watch 20 or so of them.

This is the great mystery.
It works OTA-only (using an OTA host channel, naturally).
It works Cable-only (using a cable host channel).
But, when both are selected, listings are missing.
It really points to the machine.

The only way it's not the machine's fault is if Gemstar has different ways of sending data for every possible combination of OTA and/or cable. But I doubt that. Data is probably tagged according to which lineup it belongs to (OTA, CR, etc.) and then collated by the machine.

But, if it is the machine then why did my unit and Chris' unit start acting up at the same time? Unless ....

Does TVGOS software get updated via the download mechanism, too? Does anyone know? Is it possible some new software modules (or whatever) were downloaded to the box a few weeks ago that screwed up its ability to handle dual-mode (e.g. OTA+Cable) scenarios? I'll ask the TVGOS guy I've been working with about this.

Mitch

Can't see how it's the machine, unless you're saying it's a specific problem with your unit. My unit integrates OTA and Cable quite seamlessly and I believe many others use it in the same way. I have heard that the TVGOS software is periodically updated via download. I believe there is something in the FAQ that tells you how to check the version.

Maybe we need to be more specific.

It doesn't drop Guide Data.

It Drops the CUSTOM Channel ordering most of us do when we have
400+ channels and only watch 20 or so of them.

Did not lose these either. THAT would be a pain - spent a lot of time getting those right on both units. If that happened during a power outage, I'd be looking into a UPS...

Maybe we need to be more specific.

It doesn't drop Guide Data.

It Drops the CUSTOM Channel ordering most of us do when we have
400+ channels and only watch 20 or so of them.
I had the same issue *I think*. Try doing a reset.

Originally Posted by theratpatrol
The problem is that as soon as I make a channel line up change in the TV guide edit area, exit out, and then hit guide, it doesn't save the changes. So I don't think its a software or power issue.


This happened to me once a long time ago. The cure was to do a front panel reset: <EXIT> and <TV GUIDE>. The problem went away and never returned. You should not lose anything in the process except the clock, although some people have reported losing guide info. Normally, you will retain everything including the host channel. My FW is also 1.2.05.

Thanks for you help about the Harmony remotes, dc_pilgrim.

My guide data appears to be ok, except the guide dropped my record settings for Gilmore and Veronica Mars.
Hi Ray1938,

Thanks for the reply.

I had no listings when I last checked on Saturday for about the last 2 weeks but when I checked last night (Tuesday) they were back.

Have you had any problems in the last month? I'm thinking that I am not getting as good a signal on KCET's analog channel as I am on their digital channels.

Cheers...

Until the guide returns why not set recordings manually, just like a VCR? I just returned from a two week plus vacation and set up most of the scheduled recordings manually. Since fall season was just beginning, the guide was useless for most programs. Just got back on Sunday and all programs I scheduled were recorded - no failures.

RayYeah, I have been doing that some. But everytime I do a reset, it seems to lose those schedulings also. Plus, I would like the full 8 days of data in advance to do it adequately anyway. I've got Dish, but the guide is only 2 days worth. And of course, it doesn't include most of the subchannels.

Anyhow, I did a reset after I noticed the empty guide yesterday, and by evening (when I turned the unit on again), it was full.

I think I'll just try leaving it alone (like AtlantisMichael said), rather than resetting constantly, and let it take it's own, unimpeded course.

(I just checked it and it's full today still. But I noticed it added a couple of stations to the end of the list on it's own. It did this yesterday, too. Actually, that's probably a good thing, because it would do that often WAAAY back when it WAS working well. Since my full reset the other day, I noticed that there were some changes to the channels that were made on their end, so maybe it really IS something they did that's affecting the guide.)

The saga continues....

Last night the DVR was using Cable-2 as the host and set for Cable input only. I checked the DVR a little after noon today and there are only partial listings. I would say that over half of the listings are "No Title". It is the same for days 1,2, and 8.

The different set-ups tried, have had the following results:

OTA-2 Host - OTA only input: Listings work great (one week)
OTA-2 Host - OTA and Cable input: No listings
Cable - 2 Host - OTA and Cable input: No / partial listings
Cable - 2 Host - Cable only input: Partial listings

Things to note:

1) The DVR worked flawlessly for 9 months set to Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input. Nothing was changed on this end. The problem started to occur in early September.
2) Cable-2 host, Cable only input - tested only one day.
3) OTA-2 host, OTA and Cable input - tested only one day.
4) Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input - tested many days. No listings and partial listing most days. A full download of listings 1,2,+8 occured twice.

The saga continues....

Last night the DVR was using Cable-2 as the host and set for Cable input only. I checked the DVR a little after noon today and there are only partial listings. I would say that over half of the listings are "No Title". It is the same for days 1,2, and 8.

The different set-ups tried, have had the following results:

OTA-2 Host - OTA only input: Listings work great (one week)
OTA-2 Host - OTA and Cable input: No listings
Cable - 2 Host - OTA and Cable input: No / partial listings
Cable - 2 Host - Cable only input: Partial listings

Things to note:

1) The DVR worked flawlessly for 9 months set to Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input. Nothing was changed on this end. The problem started to occur in early September.
2) Cable-2 host, Cable only input - tested only one day.
3) OTA-2 host, OTA and Cable input - tested only one day.
4) Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input - tested many days. No listings and partial listing most days. A full download of listings 1,2,+8 occured twice.


Yeah, my cable-only with Cable-11 test yesterday only populated partially. I set it up in the morning and checked after the 1:46PM EST download and then had to reenable OTA to tape Gilmore Girls for the wife (and me :)).
(But, cable only with cable-2 host populated quite well last week when I ran that test).

Right now, I've got OTA-2 forced with Cable and OTA setup - just for the heck of it. I'm waiting to hear back from the TVGOS guy about what the next steps are and whether or not they are going to send test equipment to the WOW guy.

The TVGOS guy did confirm that they send down software updates, but didn't say whether there was a recent update as such.


Mitch


MItch

Yeah, my cable-only with Cable-11 test yesterday only populated partially. I set it up in the morning and checked after the 1:46PM EST download and then had to reenable OTA to tape Gilmore Girls for the wife (and me :)).
(But, cable only with cable-2 host populated quite well last week when I ran that test).

Right now, I've got OTA-2 forced with Cable and OTA setup - just for the heck of it. I'm waiting to hear back from the TVGOS guy about what the next steps are and whether or not they are going to send test equipment to the WOW guy.

The TVGOS guy did confirm that they send down software updates, but didn't say whether there was a recent update as such.


Mitch


MItch


I know this is going to sound negative, but....

I don't think that we can trust anything that works, when it's only been tried for one day. In the case of Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input, I have seen it work twice. It's just not consistent. If I tried that combo for only one day, and hit the right day, I might have been left with the impression that it worked.

After working on this for over a month, this process is starting to break me down. (The new season is here, and my DVR is not working! ;) ) I am starting to question if your success of Cable host and Cable only input was a fluke. If it was a fluke, it would make our problem a lot less mysterious.

So far the only success that I have personally experienced, with any sort of longevity, is an OTA host and OTA only input. All other combinations have not been successful.

I have performed a front panel reset, and have selected my cable provider. I think that I will sit on the standard set-up for a while, and see what happens. (These would be the settings that have worked for over 9 months)

I think we need to set up a bullentin board/spread sheet? where we can all post missed updates/ no listings or dropped scheduled recordings in a logical and scientific process. It would have to have your location, OTA,cable or both, host(s) station/id,day,time happen or first noticed, any action you took before or afterward. If the unit was on or off. And any thing else that might have an effect on these problems , such as weather, power, signal strength..etc... If anyone can add to this, feel free to do so. If we could somehow gather enough information and be able to sift it down, then we should be able to pinpoint the source of these problems, instead of just doing resets all the time, of guessing. If we could show to TVGOS that in a certian area many people are having a listing problem or such, then it might be easier to get them to fix it on their end. Same applies for multiple locations, being that if data is not properly sent to the locals, then it would affect more people. Any ideas on how to accomplish this? Would this be too time comsuming? Comments, suggestions please.
Thanks, Michael

Hi Ray1938,

Thanks for the reply.

I had no listings when I last checked on Saturday for about the last 2 weeks but when I checked last night (Tuesday) they were back.

Have you had any problems in the last month? I'm thinking that I am not getting as good a signal on KCET's analog channel as I am on their digital channels.

Cheers...

Sorry, I was away from home for over two weeks, and came home to find filled in guides on my two Sonys. This year I haven't had much success in getting the guide OTA. Before I left, I kept changing zip codes, which seemed to produce one time guide download. In my experience you don't need a very strong signal to get the guide. I got the guide both with a simple inside loop antenna, and with outside UHF roof mounted one. With regard to signal quality, HDTV will always look great if you have enough signal. Otherwise you won't receive it.

Is your antenna pointed in the correct direction? You can get that information on the web.

Ray

I know this is going to sound negative, but....

I don't think that we can trust anything that works, when it's only been tried for one day. In the case of Cable-2 host, OTA and Cable input, I have seen it work twice. It's just not consistent. If I tried that combo for only one day, and hit the right day, I might have been left with the impression that it worked.

After working on this for over a month, this process is starting to break me down. (The new season is here, and my DVR is not working! ;) ) I am starting to question if your success of Cable host and Cable only input was a fluke. If it was a fluke, it would make our problem a lot less mysterious.

So far the only success that I have personally experienced, with any sort of longevity, is an OTA host and OTA only input. All other combinations have not been successful.

I have performed a front panel reset, and have selected my cable provider. I think that I will sit on the standard set-up for a while, and see what happens. (These would be the settings that have worked for over 9 months)

I hear you and I agree. It's definitely getting old.
I'm going to leave mine setup for OTA+Cable and OTA-2 as the host.
You leave yours in the default mode (presumably with cable-2 as the host) and let's see what happens after a few days.

I believe the TVGOS guy said he was escalating the issue to "engineering" which I think means they'll check a bit deeper. As far as the last TVGOS software update is concerned, he said he thought it was around 8/28 which is at least a week before I started seeing the problems. So, I don't know.


Mitch

As far as the last TVGOS software update is concerned, he said he thought it was around 8/28 which is at least a week before I started seeing the problems.

I don't beleive that update was for the SONY units Guide system. My TVGOS version is still 08.01.42/08.06.30. This version was available early this year.

The 08.06.30 is the part that updates via the VBI download. You can view the FAQ to check this version http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html

My Sony and my 2 SD DVR's, which use a different host channel, were updated with some new channels right around that time.

So, at least in my area (Chicago - OTA), the Sony got an update.

Bad news - my listings were starting to be interspersed with "no titles" and "no listings" again this evening. I'm just gonna leave it alone and see what it looks like in the am.

I hear you and I agree. It's definitely getting old.
I'm going to leave mine setup for OTA+Cable and OTA-2 as the host.
You leave yours in the default mode (presumably with cable-2 as the host) and let's see what happens after a few days.

I believe the TVGOS guy said he was escalating the issue to "engineering" which I think means they'll check a bit deeper. As far as the last TVGOS software update is concerned, he said he thought it was around 8/28 which is at least a week before I started seeing the problems. So, I don't know.


Mitch

Mine setup with Cable-2 Host last night. This morning I still have no listings.


I agree with Rammitinski about the new channels being added about that time. But, I do not think that adding additional channels would require a software update. Unless, the software needed to be updated in order to extend the listings to include more information such as actors.

My Sony and my 2 SD DVR's, which use a different host channel, were updated with some new channels right around that time.

So, at least in my area (Chicago - OTA), the Sony got an update.


WTF - If you unit is working it gets updates every night for all the channels/shows (A new channel showing up is just gemstar adding to their database and tagging your zipcode to included and specifing its channel assignment) for days 2, 3 & 8. That is the data base side of things. The version number I pointed out is the online firmware that runs the guide (the part of the firmware that is dynmaically updatable).

Sorry, I was away from home for over two weeks, and came home to find filled in guides on my two Sonys. This year I haven't had much success in getting the guide OTA. Before I left, I kept changing zip codes, which seemed to produce one time guide download. In my experience you don't need a very strong signal to get the guide. I got the guide both with a simple inside loop antenna, and with outside UHF roof mounted one. With regard to signal quality, HDTV will always look great if you have enough signal. Otherwise you won't receive it.

Is your antenna pointed in the correct direction? You can get that information on the web.

Ray
Hi Ray,

I believe I am getting an 88 for signal strength on channel 28.1 (I'll verify). I did use antennaweb.org to orient my antenna and according to it I am generally 39 miles away from the transmitters on Mt. Wilson.

By the way, I checked my listings again yesterday (Wednesday evening) and it does not look like I got updated because my Thursday listings are blank.

According to some of the posts that I have read, sometimes it might be that you can get a decent video signal but the VBI section might nonetheless be corrupted and so if you have been getting the listings but I have not then it is something on my end that needs tweaking. But if we both have recently not been getting the listings then it might be something on KCET's end.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), I do not trust TVGOS and lately I have been using the LA Times TV Guide, or TV Guide on the web, to get my program listings and I have been making manual scheduled recordings. The downside of this is that the recordings are all part of the "Unknown" group.

Cheers...

I have had my DVR for almost 3 weeks and have talked to Sony 3 times and Comcast 2 times. Last night Comcast told me that the vbi signal for Knoxville was either on channel 2 (PBS) or 44, which is the TV guide channel and I don't get it anyway, or 98, which i don't know what that is. Anyway, I don't know what's wrong. I need someone to tell me how to determine what channel the vbi signal comes in on so I can set my HOST channel to be that one, I think. Please help...I can't live without a TV Guide!

I have had my DVR for almost 3 weeks and have talked to Sony 3 times and Comcast 2 times. Last night Comcast told me that the vbi signal for Knoxville was either on channel 2 (PBS) or 44, which is the TV guide channel and I don't get it anyway, or 98, which i don't know what that is. Anyway, I don't know what's wrong. I need someone to tell me how to determine what channel the vbi signal comes in on so I can set my HOST channel to be that one, I think. Please help...I can't live without a TV Guide!

Are you saying you let the unit pick a host channel and it didn't work and so now you want to force a host channel? Or, do you think you need to select a host channel - because you don't. If it's the latter, just do the TVGOS setup and let it figure things out. (If you know this already, then I apologize for saying the bloody obvious - it just wasn't clear from your post what the deal was.)


Mitch

Or if you want to take the cableco out of the equation, get a $10 antenna at BB or Radioshack and try Over-the-Air mode. This will show you if the problem is the HDD or the cable co not sending the data over cable correctly.

Reading all the thread about Guide problems and with my experience, I think its TV GOS as it was here in Beaufort, SC. I switched zip codes and reset my channel listing. I haven't any problems since. Try different zip for awhile and see what happens. :)

Okay, let me be more specific. I have setup the TV Guide using the normal setup process twice. I have then gone in with the service code and reset the TV guide and then did the setup again. 24 hours later...two days later...one week later...NOTHING. I tried different zip codes in Knoxville and they don't do it either. Oh, I forgot to mention I have a CableCard in order to get HD.

When I remove the CableCard from my DVR, I don't get any programming, but upstairs on my other TV I get programming just fine (no CableCard). So I know that something is wrong. Other users take out their CableCard and then are able to get the TV Guide. I can't. Should I remove the Card and reset the whole box?

And, is it possible that the DVR is unable to find the signal to download...if so, can I point it to a channel?

Oh, I tried the G*Test and this is what it said:
FLASH: PASS, VBI: FAIL, ATSC: PASS, SERIAL: FAIL, IR: FAIL

Of course, now I know that it only scans the channel I'm on and not every channel, so I've got to go back and do that on every channel to see if any of them pass. Right?

Some cablecard brands have known compatibility issues with the Sony HDD. but you would usually get an error message onscreen.

In my town we get the 5 or 6 network HD channels over-the-air or via basic cable, no cablecard or cablebox needed. Cablecard does allow the blocked/premium channels thru. You probably know that but just in case.

<snip>

And, is it possible that the DVR is unable to find the signal to download...if so, can I point it to a channel?

Oh, I tried the G*Test and this is what it said:
FLASH: PASS, VBI: FAIL, ATSC: PASS, SERIAL: FAIL, IR: FAIL

Of course, now I know that it only scans the channel I'm on and not every channel, so I've got to go back and do that on every channel to see if any of them pass. Right?

The G*Test will show VBI: PASS on a non-host channel since VBI is used for other things like closed captioning. But, the idea is that if you do tune to a host channel and VBI test fails, then you have a problem.

And, you can force a host channel. Tune to the channel that is a host channel in your area, go to Guide->Setup hit down arrow once, and then enter 963 214 785.



Mitch

Hi Ray,

I believe I am getting an 88 for signal strength on channel 28.1 (I'll verify). I did use antennaweb.org to orient my antenna and according to it I am generally 39 miles away from the transmitters on Mt. Wilson.

By the way, I checked my listings again yesterday (Wednesday evening) and it does not look like I got updated because my Thursday listings are blank.

According to some of the posts that I have read, sometimes it might be that you can get a decent video signal but the VBI section might nonetheless be corrupted and so if you have been getting the listings but I have not then it is something on my end that needs tweaking. But if we both have recently not been getting the listings then it might be something on KCET's end.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), I do not trust TVGOS and lately I have been using the LA Times TV Guide, or TV Guide on the web, to get my program listings and I have been making manual scheduled recordings. The downside of this is that the recordings are all part of the "Unknown" group.

Cheers...
With regard to the Sony, only the program name is Unknown.
I suggest you list the unknown programs on a spreadsheet. List by date and time, and include program name. With spreadsheet it is very easy to find recordings. Moreover, even with the guide it is a good idea to first set recordings manually since sometimes programs scheduled with the guide are dropped. With that method, the recorder will warn you that you already have program scheduled for that time. You just ignore it and set recording with the guide. Then if the guide drops it, program will still be recorder - as unknown.

Anyone in Austin TX using cablecard with TimeWarner cable, I'd like to talk to you.
I'm getting a CC for my Sony 500 firmware 2.13, on Oct 14.
Any special firmware card I should ask about?
What brand CC does TW Austin use?
Do they charge $60 service to install 2 Cablecards? (I only ordered 1).
Any other notes?
It should be a lot of fun :confused:
PMs welcomed.

In Japan, Sony announced their new HD recorders that feature a 250 or 500 GB HDD combined with Blu-Ray recording.

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/BD/product/

When will we get versions of these? I see they support G-GUIDE aka Gemstar-TV Guide International. Hmmmm...

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/BD/product/




I wish I could read Japenese!

In Japan, Sony announced their new HD recorders that feature a 250 or 500 GB HDD combined with Blu-Ray recording.

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/BD/product/

When will we get versions of these? I see they support G-GUIDE aka Gemstar-TV Guide International. Hmmmm...

Don't get your hopes up just yet:

All three companies [Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic] said they don't have current plans to bring these products to the states.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/14054

I would insist to install the card myself even if it would mean a deposit.
If they refuse I would then go to your local town governments' cable commission (whatever it is called) and complain about the service call, then go to your states cable commission and file a complaint with them. Of course there is always the FCC as a last resort.

Or at least threaten to do so. Those MSOs' don't like complaints to the 'powers to be'. IOW's, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. ;)
Even if there isn't a restriction on a service call and it is allowed, make some noise.

So I found that channel 13 passes the VBI test. It's ABC. Nothing else 2-15 passed. My VBI Host in the service menu is 1:0-13. The HOST CHAN is blank. Nothing there at all. Is this bad? I tried to force channel 13 last night and this morning the HOST CHAN was still blank.

I am receiving the VBI pass with my cable card. Doesn't that mean that any VBI data can come through? Shouldn't I be able to receive the TVGOS now?

With regard to the Sony, only the program name is Unknown.
I suggest you list the unknown programs on a spreadsheet. List by date and time, and include program name. With spreadsheet it is very easy to find recordings. Moreover, even with the guide it is a good idea to first set recordings manually since sometimes programs scheduled with the guide are dropped. With that method, the recorder will warn you that you already have program scheduled for that time. You just ignore it and set recording with the guide. Then if the guide drops it, program will still be recorder - as unknown.
Hi Ray,

Yeah, I do understand how their "Unknown" title works, I was just griping.

However, I did verify that my HDD250 was getting an 88 on signal strength from 28.1, and my 40XBR2 is getting an 89 from the same channel. I ran the G* Test and my VBI passed.

However, it looks like I got nothing from the Wed night/Thurs morning transmissions. Did you get anything?

I think I'll fire off an email to the KCET programming director and see if they have anything to add to this.

Cheers...

Don't get your hopes up just yet:

All three companies [Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic] said they don't have current plans to bring these products to the states.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/14054
Thanks for the link. I read the articles and find it funny that there is not a demand for the recorders here. How do they expect to sell a product if they do not advertise and market it. I only found out about the Sony DHG-HDD by checking their web site for new products. I never saw these units advertised, much less any marketing of the same. I had to search around once I found out they were available. I bought mine at HiFi Buys during a store closing. No one there knew much, if anything about these units. So I fault Sony for sitting on their hindsides and not marketing these units. I bought 4, two for me (OTA only) and two for my girlfriend (cable only). While I had a few problems early on, and have not since, I am happy with them,being that I am not shelling out 50, 75, 100 dollars a month for TIvo or dish like a of of people are. If I were to change anything with these, it would be additional inputs from other sources( HDMI, Component, satellite, etc..) Plus, perhaps a second tuner along with some type of memory write buffer between when a show recording ends and the next begins so you do not lose any of the show ending, even if it is only previews. I hate that pause, especially when the network show runs a few seconds long.

2 comments-
HD DVD recorders - Are they really going to allow unlimited COPYING of HD CONTENT to a HD-DVD? I'd be surprised.

As far as cable card 'service call install' fee of $30 -
That's why I've hesitated to order CC. I know in some markets there is no fee, you just go pick them up at the cable office like we do the cable boxes here. But I really want to see how it works in my Sony DVR and if SD PQ is improved. Plus I want a few more HD channels and hate using cable co boxes and their remotes.

Aapostle and every one that doesn't understand TVGOS:

Any analog channel that has closed captioning will pass the VBI test. This has nothing to do with it being a host channel. TVGOS has no function to tell you whether a channel is a host channel. I you are lucky enough to talk with some one a Gemstar they will tell you the host channels for you area that are sending the correct information for your version of TVGOS equipment. Not all host channels send the same version of guide data. So a host channel that works for an older unit may not work for the SONY unit.

If you go back and read history in this thread you will see that it was strongly recomended that the unit be run without the Cable card and the operation of the TVGOS verified along with the host channel information written down. Then add the Cable card and that way if the unit quits working you know that it is your Cable companies issue. (If you Cable company is using all digital tranmission for its channels you might have to switch to their analog cable service for a month to see if the guide system works.)


So I found that channel 13 passes the VBI test. It's ABC. Nothing else 2-15 passed. My VBI Host in the service menu is 1:0-13. The HOST CHAN is blank. Nothing there at all. Is this bad? I tried to force channel 13 last night and this morning the HOST CHAN was still blank.

I am receiving the VBI pass with my cable card. Doesn't that mean that any VBI data can come through? Shouldn't I be able to receive the TVGOS now?

However, I did verify that my HDD250 was getting an 88 on signal strength from 28.1, and my 40XBR2 is getting an 89 from the same channel. I ran the G* Test and my VBI passed.


Signal strength and VBI have nothing to do with each other. VBI is only for analog channel which have no receive quality indicators. If you think that you can receive the guide from 28.1 then you are the first user in the history of TVGOS to receive their new guide information over ATSC digital transmission. We have heard in the future that they are going to add this buy only one persion on this thread reported being able to receive a digital station that seemed to send this information. His unit would reset if he would set this ATSC channel as his host (reset would happen during the evening download attempt).

If you are trying to receive the guide information over the air you need a VHF antenna that picks up the host channel with a desent picture (not extremely ghosted or filled with high frequency noise.) If your PBS is on Channel 2, that is the worst channel to receive without day time interference. I have a PBS channel on channel 13 which works well.

Signal strength and VBI have nothing to do with each other. VBI is only for analog channel which have no receive quality indicators. If you think that you can receive the guide from 28.1 then you are the first user in the history of TVGOS to receive their new guide information over ATSC digital transmission. We have heard in the future that they are going to add this buy only one persion on this thread reported being able to receive a digital station that seemed to send this information. His unit would reset if he would set this ATSC channel as his host (reset would happen during the evening download attempt).

If you are trying to receive the guide information over the air you need a VHF antenna that picks up the host channel with a desent picture (not extremely ghosted or filled with high frequency noise.) If your PBS is on Channel 2, that is the worst channel to receive without day time interference. I have a PBS channel on channel 13 which works well.
Hi WhatHappened,

I think that there is a misunderstanding here.

KCET broadcasts on UHF channel 28 for its analog signal.

I am quite aware that TVGOS is being transmitted within the analog signal and not within KCET's digital channel.

I provided the signal strength measurements working on the hopeful assumption that KCET is using the same tower to transmit both its analog and digital signal and I was trying to show that perhaps by looking at the signal strength of the digital signal that there could be some inference that I am also receiving a "good" analog signal. I realize that this might be wishful thinking but these are the only bits of raw data that I can provide from my equipment.

I am also aware that the VBI test only seeks to say that "yes I do see the data coming through" without regard for what is actually being sent whether it be TVGOS or Closed Caption.

I did send off an email to KCET's programming director this morning and I have not yet received a reply.

Cheers...

Hi WhatHappened,
I think that there is a misunderstanding here.


Thanks for the clarification. I am worried more about others that may have read your post and used it as a basis for how things work. The analog and digital channels for a station are on different frequency and ussally differnt bands UHF vs VHF. Some times the digital signal are on different towers due to FCC issues. You cant corrlate teh signal strenght to your OTA analog reception at all. The best indicator is to look at the quality of the analog signal received on teh SONY unit. Do this inspection at various times of the day. Do you have a VHF antenna installed?

Thanks for the clarification. I am worried more about others that may have read your post and used it as a basis for how things work. The analog and digital channels for a station are on different frequency and ussally differnt bands UHF vs VHF. Some times the digital signal are on different towers due to FCC issues. You cant corrlate teh signal strenght to your OTA analog reception at all. The best indicator is to look at the quality of the analog signal received on teh SONY unit. Do this inspection at various times of the day. Do you have a VHF antenna installed?
Hi WhatHappened,

Yes, I do have a rooftop and an indoor rabbit ears VHF, but I disconnected the rooftop and I no longer have any interest in VHF as I can get all of the VHF station programming via their associated digital transmissions.

I am not dependent on TVGOS as I get the L.A. Times TV Guide anyway and I am using it to make my scheduled recordings manually, but TVGOS is a nice feature.

I have been discussing this matter with Ray1938 since he lives in West L.A. and all I am trying right now is to determine whether I am not getting my listings because of something on my end or because of something on KCET's end (which is entirely possible what with the past postings in this section).

If I can confirm that it is something on my end then I'll know that I will definitely have to futz around with my antenna if I want to get the listings. If it's not on my end, then I'll have a little more weight should I try to pursue the matter further with KCET.

Cheers...

Hi Ray,

Yeah, I do understand how their "Unknown" title works, I was just griping.

However, I did verify that my HDD250 was getting an 88 on signal strength from 28.1, and my 40XBR2 is getting an 89 from the same channel. I ran the G* Test and my VBI passed.

However, it looks like I got nothing from the Wed night/Thurs morning transmissions. Did you get anything?

I think I'll fire off an email to the KCET programming director and see if they have anything to add to this.

Cheers...

I just checked my two Sonys and both have the full eight days of guide information. it's nice to have the guide. This has been the case since I returned from my vacation on Monday, the first time the guide has filled in on both units, and I haven't done anything to make that happen. Perhaps not fiddling with the units for three weeks allowed the recorder software do its job. Other possibility is atmosphic changes with time of year.

Ray

I have been discussing this matter with Ray1938 since he lives in West L.A. and all I am trying right now is to determine whether I am not getting my listings because of something on my end or because of something on KCET's end (which is entirely possible what with the past postings in this section).

If I can confirm that it is something on my end then I'll know that I will definitely have to futz around with my antenna if I want to get the listings. If it's not on my end, then I'll have a little more weight should I try to pursue the matter further with KCET.

Cheers...

I would think it's unlikely that the problem is with KCET. I'm in Torrance and I've been receiving the listings (OTA) without a single glitch for over 6 months.

Well, I've got full listings for two days now and counting. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If it starts losing them, I'm just gonna wait it out and not jump in there with another reset so quickly.

Also gonna be getting a rooftop antenna soon, so hope that makes a difference, too.

Hi Ray1938 and jmonier,

Thanks for the info.

I guess the problem is on my end. I did get a download Thursday night but it failed Friday night.

Oh well...

Thanks again very much for your kind assistance.

Cheers...

Well, I've got full listings for two days now and counting. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If it starts losing them, I'm just gonna wait it out and not jump in there with another reset so quickly.

Also gonna be getting a rooftop antenna soon, so hope that makes a difference, too.

Shhhh, you'll jinx it. ;)
I'm not saying anything until it's all filled in. :)


Mitch

FWIW. I was in Nebraska Furnitue Mart in KC today and they had several HDD500 for $499NIB. They also had an openbox HDD250 for $279. I had them check it and it appeared to work fine but they don't allow return of clearanced openbox items so I decided to pass.

They have now dropped the price of the HDD500 to $399NIB. I believe you can order these over the phone but not certain. I don't need another one but at this price it is difficult to pass up.

Hi Ray1938 and jmonier,

Thanks for the info.

I guess the problem is on my end. I did get a download Thursday night but it failed Friday night.

Oh well...

Thanks again very much for your kind assistance.

Cheers...

If your recorder shows the correct time, you really don't have a real problem. If you reset the recorder and you don't get the time back - then you have a problem. That happened to me last November when I reset my recorder and the guide station was down and I wasn't able to record a program for many days.

We have spent much too much time trying to get the guide show up daily. From postings on this thread, seems like lack of guide is usually not the recorder's fauit. Obviously that is not the situation with your recorder since it is receiving guide data. As I mentioned in a previous posting, I also was receiving guide data but my recorders rarely showed it, and nothing I did ever got it to appear for more than one download - three days worth. I changed zip codes numerous times, installed a new outdoor antenna, and replaced my old coax cable with RG6 but none of these things got the guide working. Since the Sony is a software driven device, perhaps it will eventually display the guide on its own, as it has for me - for at least eight days. Hopefully my recorders will continue to do so.

Ray

Shhhh, you'll jinx it. ;)
I'm not saying anything until it's all filled in. :)


Mitch


Are you implying that you are also getting listings???

Hello,
I live in SF Bay Area, and when I receive the weekly KQED HD (local PBS) programming by email, I schedule a bunch of stuff on my Sony DHG-HDD500.
Recently though, when I search for some programs in TVGOS, I find all kind of broadcasts only the morning, like EXPLORING SPACE: THE QUEST FOR LIFE, but then it records a still image "KQED-HD will resume programming @ 5pm". It happened to me many times last week w/ other shows like NOVA, etc...
Is TVGOS and KQED-HD programming out of sync? Is PBS feeding the comcast 24/7 schedule by mistake??
Or do I need to do something to "re-align" my channel and get daytime broadcasting on 9.1?
Anyone have a clue what's going on?

Are you implying that you are also getting listings???

Yes, except I apparently jinxed it. :(
Yesterday I had generally full (~90%) listings for days 1, 2, and 8.
This morning when I checked, days 2 and 8 (i.e. tomorrow and next Sunday) are blank.


Mitch

well... picked up one of the 500's at the local Sony outlet earlier this week. just set it up last night, and it's already picked up the time, but the TVGOS is still empy... though its not been 24hrs yet. using my analog/digital comcast feed for now, but i may hook up my rooftop OTA antenna, if you all think that would be beneficial. with the OTA antenna, used to easily receive local programming in both analog and digital (including locaol pbs both ways)

assuming everything works, I'll get a CC for it. can't wait to ditch the Moto box...

and btw, the outlet had both 250's and 500's.... as refurbs with all cables, etc... 250's were 300, and 500's were 389.... no tax in DE either....

I'm guessing you're using OTA (over the air) rather than cable - note that KQED HD (DT9.1) is available OTA 5pm-6am, while it is available 24/7 on Comcast. So the TVGOS info is accurate for cable, but you have to ignore anything between 6am & 5pm for OTA.

until recently, OTA did not begin broadcasting until 8pm, so we now have an extra 3 hours - though it's all repeats anyway... and if I really want to see something in the daytime, it's usually on the Encore or one of the other SD digital stations.

If you're not aware of it, there is a Yahoo group for HD in the SF Bay Area - HDTV-in-SFbay - it's a good resource to learn about things like Sutro Tower repair work.

I also should mention that KQED (channel 9 analog OTA) is the local TVGOS host channel, and they're doing a pretty good job - after reading all the horror stories on this board about folks having problems receiving TVGOS, I feel lucky - I've had had my Sony since last December, and I think there's been 3 times in the 10 months where I failed to receive program guide info. One of those times I received an acknowledgedment from KQED engineering about a problem; the other 2 times may have been my signal reception (antenna misplaced).

Yes, except I apparently jinxed it. :(
Yesterday I had generally full (~90%) listings for days 1, 2, and 8.
This morning when I checked, days 2 and 8 (i.e. tomorrow and next Sunday) are blank.


Mitch


I'm thinking about sending my unit in for "repair". I purchased the extended warranty from Tweeter. I'm thinking that if I send the unit in and it gets a check-up that proves it's working,...The ball is really back in WOW's court. (I just really do not like the idea of shipping the unit around, and being without it.)

Is it worth the time and effort? Or, do you think that there is currently something in the works to prove the validity of the data on the WOW end?

Signal strength and VBI have nothing to do with each other. VBI is only for analog channel which have no receive quality indicators. If you think that you can receive the guide from 28.1 then you are the first user in the history of TVGOS to receive their new guide information over ATSC digital transmission. We have heard in the future that they are going to add this buy only one persion on this thread reported being able to receive a digital station that seemed to send this information. His unit would reset if he would set this ATSC channel as his host (reset would happen during the evening download attempt).

If you are trying to receive the guide information over the air you need a VHF antenna that picks up the host channel with a desent picture (not extremely ghosted or filled with high frequency noise.) If your PBS is on Channel 2, that is the worst channel to receive without day time interference. I have a PBS channel on channel 13 which works well.

(not extremely ghosted or filled with high frequency noise.) Whoa!! Hold on there! My host channel WTTW 11 in Chicago, at it's best has a picture, that's looks like a sandstorm mixed in with a blizzard. At least for me, it doesn't seem to be that quality of reception is the issue. As long as the unit can lock in on the signal, that seems to be all it needs for downloading the guide.

I'm guessing you're using OTA (over the air) rather than cable - note that KQED HD (DT9.1) is available OTA 5pm-6am, while it is available 24/7 on Comcast. So the TVGOS info is accurate for cable, but you have to ignore anything between 6am & 5pm for OTA.
until recently, OTA did not begin broadcasting until 8pm, so we now have an extra 3 hours - though it's all repeats anyway... and if I really want to see something in the daytime, it's usually on the Encore or one of the other SD digital stations.
If you're not aware of it, there is a Yahoo group for HD in the SF Bay Area - HDTV-in-SFbay - it's a good resource to learn about things like Sutro Tower repair work.


Thanks! I'm indeed using OTA reception now. I didn't realize the same TVGOS channel was used for OTA and cable though. I see now. I guess I was lucky enough to catch shows during primetime until now.
I did try to check for other broadcasts during primetime or on other DTV channels, but it appears some new shows like EXPLORING SPACE, TODAY FAMILIES, etc. are only on 9.1 during the day... that's not nice. :(
Anyway I'll join this Yahoo! Group, thanks again!

I'm thinking about sending my unit in for "repair". I purchased the extended warranty from Tweeter. I'm thinking that if I send the unit in and it gets a check-up that proves it's working,...The ball is really back in WOW's court. (I just really do not like the idea of shipping the unit around, and being without it.)

Is it worth the time and effort? Or, do you think that there is currently something in the works to prove the validity of the data on the WOW end?

Well, I was going to tell you that it's not WOW since mine is having problems and it's using OTA-2. BUT, i just checked and it's now using cable-2!
Damn, it's gotta be WOW.

So, I'm gonna shoot another email to the TVGOS folks and find out if they are sending test equipment to WOW or not, etc.

Personally, Chris, unless I could walk the unit to Tweeter and get a replacement, I would be weary of mailing a big box like this off someplace. If it was the size of an MP3 player, sure mail it off. But, not a big ole DVR. But, that's just me.


Mitch

Personally, Chris, unless I could walk the unit to Tweeter and get a replacement, I would be weary of mailing a big box like this off someplace. If it was the size of an MP3 player, sure mail it off. But, not a big ole DVR. But, that's just me.


Mitch

I had to send one of my four Sony DVR's in for repair - bad disk.
The turn-around was faster than I could believe. If something
is actually wrong with your Sony DVR - I highly recommend
Sony's Repair facility. But my two cent opinion is --- WOW!

Personally, Chris, unless I could walk the unit to Tweeter and get a replacement, I would be weary of mailing a big box like this off someplace. If it was the size of an MP3 player, sure mail it off. But, not a big ole DVR. But, that's just me.


Mitch
I sent my DHG-500 back to Sony Repair in PA three times (~$30.00 per trip). They finally sent me a new one. Each time it took about 3 weeks to get it back (2 weeks of this was pure shipping time). If cost is your primary concern, I would hand carry it to the local Tweeters, but if turn around time is your primary concern, then I would ship it directly to Sony. The local Tweeter is just going to ship it there anyway.

I would think it's unlikely that the problem is with KCET. I'm in Torrance and I've been receiving the listings (OTA) without a single glitch for over 6 months.
Has someone confirmed that KCET is the host channel? I live in San Diego, and have three different DVRs that use the TVGOS guide data. They each get their data from three different host channels (FOX, CBS, ABC), none of which are the local PBS station. They do, however, use the local PBS station for the time setting. The Sony is using the local ABC station for the host channel.

The Sony engineer I talked to said they remove the drive and put it in a jig connected to a special PC that can re-image the drive and handle the CPRM stuff.

For applicable repairs, I wonder if Sony would let us send just the drives through the mail instead of the whole DVR?

Has someone confirmed that KCET is the host channel? I live in San Diego, and have three different DVRs that use the TVGOS guide data. They each get their data from three different host channels (FOX, CBS, ABC), none of which are the local PBS station. They do, however, use the local PBS station for the time setting. The Sony is using the local ABC station for the host channel.

In Los Angeles, the Sony receives the guide only from channel 28 but may pick up the time from one of the other channels. Other channels may provide the guide for earlier versions.

Ray

(not extremely ghosted or filled with high frequency noise.) Whoa!! Hold on there! My host channel WTTW 11 in Chicago, at it's best has a picture, that's looks like a sandstorm mixed in with a blizzard. At least for me, it doesn't seem to be that quality of reception is the issue. As long as the unit can lock in on the signal, that seems to be all it needs for downloading the guide.Same experience here with all of my (3) units with TVGOS - although the power was out because a line went down nearby this morning, and my guide says "no data" right now. It should come back on in awhile.

Anyhow, since my last reset, I did something differently and everything is now working perfectly. Even getting all of the info for the cable channels again (although I actually have E*- I just like to have the info for some of the channels on there).

I won't get into the details of what I did differently, unless anyone's really interested, because the ones having problems (I think) have cable, and it probably wouldn't apply. I'm just OTA.

I just received today a HDD250 refurb unit. Unit works great, but doesn't play well with my Westinghouse 32" LCD (LTV-32W6). Some of the strange things that the sony remote does:

Power - powers off TV and DVR
Scroll Wheel up - changes input of the TV to "VIDEO" (from HDMI)
Stop - brings up the General Settings - Backlight menu on the TV
Info - Brings up info for the TV's input source
Volume - adjusts volume of LCD TV (only good thing)

Anyone else with this same set and similar problems? Is there a way to get around it? It seems that Westinghouse and Sony share a lot of codes.

First off let me say, I've been a member here since the first of this year, not long after buying my 250. This is my first post but I have read every single post made in this thread. I use my 250 OTA only and don't have cable. I do have my Directv sat hooked up to it so I can record off it.

When I bought the 250, everything worked flawlessly, up until around a month and a half ago. I noticed the guide started loosing info and not updating regularly like it had been. Then it stopped updating altogether. For the last month I've had no guide at all. Everytime I hit the guide button it would come up with a blank page with the infamous "there is no data for this screen" page. I tried everything there is to do to get it back. Resetting back to default, resetting just the guide, formatting the hard drive, etc. I also tried forcing the host channel. All this to no avail.

When doing resets, it would take the clock 12 hours or so to set correctly. It would come up pretty quickly but would be off 3 1/2 hours or so. I am in North Carolina, about 45 miles northwest of Charlotte. My zip is 28021, for Cherryville. My host channel had been channel 58, WUNG-TV, which is a UNC-TV channel. I called UNC-TV and talked with the chief engineer about my problem. He told me they were having no problems at all but did say I was the second person who had called complaining.

I had just about given up hope thinking maybe the 250 was messed up somehow. Since I did have the correct time on the clock I could set up recording manually but this really erked me. I was outside last week and looked up at my roof top antenna and noticed some of the elements were missing. The day before I noticed my antenna rotor was not moving the antenna any longer. So, I thought I would buy a new antenna and rotor as a last ditch effort to get my guide back. Guess what? It worked.

One thing though is I no longer get my guide data from channel 58. I checked my host channel and it is now channel 17, WUNE-TV, which is still a UNC-TV channel. The only thing I can figure out is I could no longer get the data from 58, with my old antenna, even though I could still get a signal and picture. I guess with the new and better/bigger rooftop antenna, I could get a signal from channel 17 and thus get the data. Either this or some very strange stroke of luck. Either way I am as tickled as a kid in a candy store.

We all know these things are not much fun without the guide. Maybe this can help someone who may be having some of the same problems. Anyway, sorry for the long post. I felt I had to go into detail in order to tell my saga.

Mike

Yet another post that shows the Sony DVR was not at fault, (Not even the TVGOS transmitting station in this case either). It's usually not the Sony box's fault IMO.

I just received today a HDD250 refurb unit. Unit works great, but doesn't play well with my Westinghouse 32" LCD (LTV-32W6). Some of the strange things that the sony remote does:

Power - powers off TV and DVR
Scroll Wheel up - changes input of the TV to "VIDEO" (from HDMI)
Stop - brings up the General Settings - Backlight menu on the TV
Info - Brings up info for the TV's input source
Volume - adjusts volume of LCD TV (only good thing)

Anyone else with this same set and similar problems? Is there a way to get around it? It seems that Westinghouse and Sony share a lot of codes.

Dumb question...

Is the switch at the top of the remote set on "DVR"?

Dumb question...

Is the switch at the top of the remote set on "DVR"?


If the switch is set to DVR, I suggest you set the remote for the alternate code, which is intended for people who have two DVR's. Refer to the manual for procedure.


Ray

If the switch is set to DVR, I suggest you set the remote for the alternate code, which is intended for people who have two DVR's. Refer to the manual for procedure.


Ray

Thanks, the switch is set to DVR. Same phenomenon happens with my Sony 5-disc changer remote (Power button for DVD player powers on/off both DVD player and TV).

I will look in the user's manual to see how to switch the code.

Anyone that has TW (or other MSO) that is using a cable card, that is also using OTA, can they co-exist or does the insertion of the CC defeat the OTA tuner?

I just received today a HDD250 refurb unit. Unit works great, but doesn't play well with my Westinghouse 32" LCD (LTV-32W6). Some of the strange things that the sony remote does:

Power - powers off TV and DVR
Scroll Wheel up - changes input of the TV to "VIDEO" (from HDMI)
Stop - brings up the General Settings - Backlight menu on the TV
Info - Brings up info for the TV's input source
Volume - adjusts volume of LCD TV (only good thing)

Anyone else with this same set and similar problems? Is there a way to get around it? It seems that Westinghouse and Sony share a lot of codes.

I have switched to the alternate remote code with no success in the way the remote behaves. I have looked to see if I can change the code on my TV remote and that is not an option.

Anyone else have any ideas (short of getting a new TV....mine is only 4 months old).

I have switched to the alternate remote code with no success in the way the remote behaves. I have looked to see if I can change the code on my TV remote and that is not an option.

Anyone else have any ideas (short of getting a new TV....mine is only 4 months old).

Does the power button on the TV remote do the same thing when you use the power button (does the DVR turn on/off with the TV)?

I have switched to the alternate remote code with no success in the way the remote behaves. I have looked to see if I can change the code on my TV remote and that is not an option.

Anyone else have any ideas (short of getting a new TV....mine is only 4 months old).

So, does your TV remote make the analogous things happen on the DVR or DVD player? I guess I'm trying to confirm that the TV seems to be using some of the same codes as the Sony units.
Or, it might be that the sony remotes are "over powering" the TV or something?
(I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what I'm talking about here. :))

But, if the TV remote doesn't affect the sony units, then maybe getting a programmable remote and using that for the sony units might "fix" the problem.



Mitch

Does the power button on the TV remote do the same thing when you use the power button (does the DVR turn on/off with the TV)?

The TV remote only controls the TV and has no effect on the DVR.
The DVR remote has adverse effects on the operation of the TV

So, pressing the power button on the TV only powers on/off the TV. Pressing the power button on the DVR (not the AUX power) powers on/off the TV and DVR.

Has anybody had a problem with a faulty remote? When transversing a list on the screen using the jog dial, the selected item on the screen does not scroll smoothly. This problem occurs most frequently when scrolling downward - it always seems to jump back upwards 2-3 selections after scrolling. I haven't yet tested this with a programmable remote to rule out a problem with the HDD-500 but I'm pretty sure it's the remote.

I don't have a service contract but the unit is less than one year old. Anybody ever return a remote to Sony?

bluecar

I actually emailed Westinghouse to see if there was anyway to change the code on the TV remote. They actually responded within a couple of hours :eek:

Here is their response:

Sony doesn't make our units, but we have found that Sony remotes and our remotes run on a very close frequency, which can sometimes cause what you are experiencing to happen. We do not have a way of "reprogramming" the Westinghouse remote control, it is not a universal remote so there are no codes for it that we have available. The only thing you could try is whats called a "learning remote," which learns all the funtions of the remotes you currently have, and this might solve your problem. Other than that, there really isn't anything else that can be done. We apologize for any trouble.


I guess I will try a Harmony remote (borrow my brother's) to see if that helps. Looks like I'm stuck. :confused:

Glad you got an answer. It's amazing when you get great customer service like that. Something like that from Sony? never...
But I wonder how a learning remote would improve it since it's the same (similar) codes just coming out of a different remote?

I actually emailed Westinghouse to see if there was anyway to change the code on the TV remote. They actually responded within a couple of hours :eek:

Here is their response:


I guess I will try a Harmony remote (borrow my brother's) to see if that helps. Looks like I'm stuck. :confused:

One thing you might try is to cover the IR pickup window on the TV so it doesn't respond to the DVR remote.

But then he would have no remote control of the TV, no TV volume, switching inputs, etc. I wonder if returning the Westy is an option, 2 of your Sony component's remotes interfere with it (so far).

It's good to know tho, I shopped the Westy TVs but found a cheap Sony 32XBR1 at BB that I really wanted instead.

But then he would have no remote control of the TV, no TV volume, switching inputs, etc. I wonder if returning the Westy is an option, 2 of your Sony component's remotes interfere with it (so far).

It's good to know tho, I shopped the Westy TVs but found a cheap Sony 32XBR1 at BB that I really wanted instead.

Bought it at Best Buy back in the middle of June, so I think I have passed my 30 day Window...guess I should of looked at Costco :p

The most annoying is the "stop" function. The others I can live with or in the case of the scroll up, I can just use the arrow up.

Well, imo, a quality universal remote is a critical piece of any home theater - so this was just speeding up the inevitable. :)

BTW, apparently there's a new Harmony 770 or something like that only available through Costco and Walmart that fits in between the 880 and the 720 (or whatever). It's supposed to have easier to find-without-looking buttons.

Personally, I use a Home Theater Master mx-700 and really like it.


Sorry, OT,


Mitch

BTW, apparently there's a new Harmony 720 or something like that only available through Costco and Walmart that fits in between the 880 and the 720 (or whatever). It's supposed to have easier to find-without-looking buttons.


Funny thing is I just saw that remote at Wal-Mart last night...on Clearance for MSRP :confused: Original price was $40 over MSRP

Funny thing is I just saw that remote at Wal-Mart last night...on Clearance for MSRP :confused: Original price was $40 over MSRP

I guess that's how they're able to "fall back" on prices. :)


Mitch

Well, imo, a quality universal remote is a critical piece of any home theater - so this was just speeding up the inevitable. :)

BTW, apparently there's a new Harmony 770 or something like that only available through Costco and Walmart that fits in between the 880 and the 720 (or whatever). It's supposed to have easier to find-without-looking buttons.

Personally, I use a Home Theater Master mx-700 and really like it.


Sorry, OT,


MitchNot sure if that's the same one I noticed at Sam's, too.

Don't recall the model # - I just know that it's a "peanut-shaped" model, not "rectangular", like the 2 models I've seen at Walmart. It was under $100.00 though. It had a couple of additional, different-colored snap-on covers.

Was thinking about getting it myself. Noticed it used regular, common AA or AAA user-changable batteries, too, which is the only type I would even consider.

Bought it at Best Buy back in the middle of June, so I think I have passed my 30 day Window...guess I should of looked at Costco :p

The most annoying is the "stop" function. The others I can live with or in the case of the scroll up, I can just use the arrow up.

Does the Stop function on both Sony remote settings cause the same action? If yes, I suggest you make sure you really changed the code because each setting should cause the remote to output two different sets of signals.

I believe you don't need stop to stop playback. Instead you can press the right navigation arrow and choose view TV.

Sorry but no remote control is going to solve your problem if both your TV and Sony share the same remote codes. If you play your sound thru a separate amplifier and use only the Sony or other external source for program viewing, you should be able to live without the TV remote. Believe it or not there was a time when Televisions didn't come with remote controls.

yes, I double checked again and it did change the remote code. My receiver is in my home theater, so I just use the TV for weekly viewing and not major sports / movies.

I do remember the day of TV's without remotes. I actually still have a TV that I bought back in 1986 - 13" B&W with no cable ready tuner and two dials....actually still works....also remember our families first cable box with a wired remote...thought that was great :)

yes, I double checked again and it did change the remote code. My receiver is in my home theater, so I just use the TV for weekly viewing and not major sports / movies.

I do remember the day of TV's without remotes. I actually still have a TV that I bought back in 1986 - 13" B&W with no cable ready tuner and two dials....actually still works....also remember our families first cable box with a wired remote...thought that was great :)

If both settings cause the tv to respond to the DVR remote, perhaps you can place the DVR so that only one of the units see the remote beam.

Ray

If both settings cause the TV to respond to the DVR remote, perhaps you can place the DVR so that only one of the units see the remote beam.

Ray

I guess I could place it behind me in the breakfast and just run a 25 foot HDMI cable through the attic :p Not sure how else to place it so that the TV remote (which is a PITA with the TV and is sluggish to respond) seems to respond brilliantly with the Sony remote.

Discovered tonight (after a recording) that the "replay" button activates the PIP on the TV. The Fast forward activates the "zoom" function on the TV.

Is there a way to set the Sony to only accept RF signals? Then I could get an RF universal remote that wouldn't interfere with the TV.

Maybe I should see if I can sell mine and get the KD-34XBR970, but who is going to help me lift that monster? :)

well, with the guide data not filling in, but the time and channels being correct, i went ahead and hooked up the antenna to my 500, and by this am the guide data appeared! seems like this is going to send the moto box packing.... paid $389 refurb's direct from the sony outlet... unit is updated with current firmware, etc....

I've seen the following bad behavior from my 500 a few times recently. When watching a recorded program, the picture will freeze. The DVR is then unresponsive to any buttons that I push on the remote. After a minute or two, the DVR unfreezes and then executes all of the associated actions to the button presses made while it was hung. So it appears that while the DVR is hung, it is still queuing the button command requests. After I regain control of the DVR, I can go back and rewatch the recorded program and it plays back fine (no problem with the recording). Anyone else see this problem?

jay, mine is doing the same thing lately, on occasion, screen will freeze and not respond and then the commands that I pushed all execute at once. I thought it might need a reset or something or was getting hot. But it has been cooler here and I only keep the drives about half full.
It's pretty annoying cause when it happens I fear it is really broken and will need repair or at least a reformat. But it seems to always 'catch' up and work fine.
I'm think it mostly does this when it is recording and I'm watching either a recorded program or the current recorded program, I'll have to determine that. THis seems to be happneing more in the last week, rarely ever happened before, could it be TVGOS feed somehow?
I have noticed I lose commands when it is either starting a recording or ending one. this seems to interfere with playback control temprarily when automatic recordings are starting or stopping.

I'm think it mostly does this when it is recording and I'm watching either a recorded program or the current recorded program, I'll have to determine that.

This used to happen to me quite often. Usually while recording something, I allow it to record for 20 minutes, and then start watching from the beginning. This is the situation I usually get this bad behavior in.

The problem is, while the unit is frozen, it doesn't seem to record anything. In other words, when/if it resumes playback, you will eventually get to a point where there is a skip in time, equal to the length of time it was frozen for.

Sometimes, my unit will spontaneously reboot when it freezes like this. The more common response, though, is to just start playing back again.

I have wondered in the past if this might be a glitch resulting from a weak signal or a momentary signal dropout.

Same experience here with all of my (3) units with TVGOS - although the power was out because a line went down nearby this morning, and my guide says "no data" right now. It should come back on in awhile.

Anyhow, since my last reset, I did something differently and everything is now working perfectly. Even getting all of the info for the cable channels again (although I actually have E*- I just like to have the info for some of the channels on there).

I won't get into the details of what I did differently, unless anyone's really interested, because the ones having problems (I think) have cable, and it probably wouldn't apply. I'm just OTA.Update: Damn thing's been giving me trouble again ever since the power went out.

I've had to reset it countless times, and I've been getting some "no listings" and "no titles" again in the guide. I had a h*ll of a time just getting the clock to stop resetting to the wrong time. I'll just see if it's filled in better by tonight.

I finally get the thing working flawlessly again, and something beyond my (or the station's) control has to louse things up all over again. I think I should consider investing in a UPS.

I think I should consider investing in a UPS.

I have 5 of these DVRs and I have UPS's on every one.

I learned after the first week of owning my first one that this
was the way to get CONSISTENT Behavior. Some may say
you don't need them - but for me - I SLEEP at night with
everything working great on all 5 DVRs.

Guys,

It has been a while since I ask a question in this forum. I did some searches and I didn't find anything specific. Can someone tell me if they had any luck finding the correct channel code or name for HDNET? This is the only channel that I'm not able to get a listing from. Since I got the unit, I've been doing manual recordings. I'm able to get HDNET Movies but not HDNET. I have tried every different cable provider around my area but unfortunately I have Atlantic Broadband which has a different line up from all others. I live in South Florida (Miami Area)

Any suggestions.

Thanks in advance !

Guys,

It has been a while since I ask a question in this forum. I did some searches and I didn't find anything specific. Can someone tell me if they had any luck finding the correct channel code or name for HDNET? This is the only channel that I'm not able to get a listing from. Since I got the unit, I've been doing manual recordings. I'm able to get HDNET Movies but not HDNET. I have tried every different cable provider around my area but unfortunately I have Atlantic Broadband which has a different line up from all others. I live in South Florida (Miami Area)

Any suggestions.

Thanks in advance !

I think that is a function of your cable provider. HDNET shows up in my
Comcast Guide - but COMCAST does not carry HDNET - therefore there
is no Channel number. If you cable provider carries HDNET - then you
can enter the channel code yourself.

Thanks DrHankz,

What do you mean exactly by entering the channel code myself? I'm able to watch the channel with no problem. I also labeled one random channel with the HDNET number. However, unless I have the correct channel code or name, I will not be able to obtain the TV guide for HDNET. Keep in mind that I have looked thru all of the channels (including "turning on" the channels that are off by default). However, nothing comes close to HDNET. Personally, I would not think this is a cable provider issue. I believe this is an issue with the TVGUIDE. In addition, I know individuals around my area who rent the HD-DVRs directly from the cable company and they do get the listing for HDNET.

Thanks DrHankz,

What do you mean exactly by entering the channel code myself? I'm able to watch the channel with no problem. I also labeled one random channel with the HDNET number. However, unless I have the correct channel code or name, I will not be able to obtain the TV guide for HDNET. Keep in mind that I have looked thru all of the channels (including "turning on" the channels that are off by default). However, nothing comes close to HDNET. Personally, I would not think this is a cable provider issue. I believe this is an issue with the TVGUIDE. In addition, I know individuals around my area who rent the HD-DVRs directly from the cable company and they do get the listing for HDNET.

I have HDNet in my lineup as well. It works just fine.

My only suggestion would be to go through the channel editor again (all the way from start to finish) and see if you can find HDNet. If it is turned off, turn it on, and assigne the correct channel number to it in the editor.

If it isn't in the editor, I am afraid that you are out of luck if you want listings for that channel.

I have HDNet in my lineup as well. It works just fine.

My only suggestion would be to go through the channel editor again (all the way from start to finish) and see if you can find HDNet. If it is turned off, turn it on, and assigne the correct channel number to it in the editor.

If it isn't in the editor, I am afraid that you are out of luck if you want listings for that channel.



Hi Spiff72,

Is yours labeled HDNET? Or is it a different odd name? I know my HDNet Movie channel is labeled a little different.

Thanks for the reply !

I have HDNet in my lineup as well. It works just fine.

My only suggestion would be to go through the channel editor again (all the way from start to finish) and see if you can find HDNet. If it is turned off, turn it on, and assigne the correct channel number to it in the editor.

If it isn't in the editor, I am afraid that you are out of luck if you want listings for that channel.

SPIFF72's Answer is CORRECT. If HDNET shows up in the GUIDE - you
can use the editor to tell the DVR what channel # to tune to. Once that
is assigned - the TVGOS should collect the data for the channel.

Comcast here does not support HDNET - so there is NO CHANNEL #
I can enter. Since you said you can watch HDNET - then you should
be able to use the Channel Editor to add the channel info.

jay, mine is doing the same thing lately, on occasion, screen will freeze and not respond and then the commands that I pushed all execute at once. I thought it might need a reset or something or was getting hot. But it has been cooler here and I only keep the drives about half full.
It's pretty annoying cause when it happens I fear it is really broken and will need repair or at least a reformat. But it seems to always 'catch' up and work fine.
I'm think it mostly does this when it is recording and I'm watching either a recorded program or the current recorded program, I'll have to determine that. THis seems to be happneing more in the last week, rarely ever happened before, could it be TVGOS feed somehow?
I have noticed I lose commands when it is either starting a recording or ending one. this seems to interfere with playback control temprarily when automatic recordings are starting or stopping.

This happened to me once, and I was beside myself. What corrected it, was to unplug it for about 15 minutes, and then plugging it back in. After going back through the setups it seems to correct all the freezing up. I theorize that what happens is akin to resetting the p-ram in a desktop. All kinds of fractured settings are erased and it restarts anew.

I had a similar problem with HDNET in the Fort Worth area. I had the HDNET and channel number in my guide line up and the listings would only go out to 48 hours. The guide never filled in completely for the 8 days (Only 48 hours). Each day when the guide updated only 48 hours of data was posted. I contacted TVGOS and after 3 months I am finally getting a full schedule (8 days) of HDNET data. I also have HDNETM (HDNET movies and that channel was never a problem. HDNTE & HDNETM channels are owned by Mark Cuban who is the owner of the Dallas Mavricks basketball team. As it turned out there was a problem with the TVGOS update software for this area. After about three months of them working this issue the problem was resolved. So I'll bet your problem might also be with TVGOS.

Guys,

It has been a while since I ask a question in this forum. I did some searches and I didn't find anything specific. Can someone tell me if they had any luck finding the correct channel code or name for HDNET? This is the only channel that I'm not able to get a listing from. Since I got the unit, I've been doing manual recordings. I'm able to get HDNET Movies but not HDNET. I have tried every different cable provider around my area but unfortunately I have Atlantic Broadband which has a different line up from all others. I live in South Florida (Miami Area)

Any suggestions.

Thanks in advance !
I had a similar problem with HDNET in the Fort Worth area. I had the HDNET and channel number in my guide line up and the listings would only go out to 48 hours. The guide never filled in completely for the 8 days (Only 48 hours). Each day when the guide updated only 48 hours of data was posted. I contacted TVGOS and after 3 months I am finally getting a full schedule (8 days) of HDNET data. I also have HDNETM (HDNET movies and that channel was never a problem. HDNTE & HDNETM channels are owned by Mark Cuban who is the owner of the Dallas Mavricks basketball team. As it turned out there was a problem with the TVGOS update software for this area. After about three months of them working this issue the problem was resolved. So I'll bet your problem might also be with TVGOS.

I just received today a HDD250 refurb unit. Unit works great, but doesn't play well with my Westinghouse 32" LCD (LTV-32W6). Some of the strange things that the sony remote does:

Power - powers off TV and DVR
Scroll Wheel up - changes input of the TV to "VIDEO" (from HDMI)
Stop - brings up the General Settings - Backlight menu on the TV
Info - Brings up info for the TV's input source
Volume - adjusts volume of LCD TV (only good thing)

Anyone else with this same set and similar problems? Is there a way to get around it? It seems that Westinghouse and Sony share a lot of codes.
I recommend you buy a Harmony 880 remote. That will simplify and solve most if not all your problems.

I recommend you buy a Harmony 880 remote. That will simplify and solve most if not all your problems.

How can different remote solve his problem since that device has to emit the same codes as his?
I wonder what response he gets with the alternate sony code? Obvious solution is to separate the units so they both don't see the remote beam. If he can attach baffles in front of the ir sensors, he might be able to limit the viewing angle, and thus reduce separation.

Ray

How can different remote solve his problem since that device has to emit the same codes as his?
I wonder what response he gets with the alternate sony code? Obvious solution is to separate the units so they both don't see the remote beam. If he can attach baffles in front of the ir sensors, he might be able to limit the viewing angle, and thus reduce separation.

Ray

Alternative remote code did not help any. At this point, no way to physically separate the devices.

The only solutions I see
1) Separate the devices
2) Buy a new TV
3) Somehow convert the TV from IR to RF and use an RF remote for the TV

As I understand it, though, the TV remote didn't affect the DVR.
So, it appears that the DVR remote is sending a signal that is a bit broader frequency-wise than necessary. So, a programmable remote may solve the problem. It's probably worth trying.


Mitch

well, with the guide data not filling in, but the time and channels being correct, i went ahead and hooked up the antenna to my 500, and by this am the guide data appeared! seems like this is going to send the moto box packing.... paid $389 refurb's direct from the sony outlet... unit is updated with current firmware, etc....

hooking up the antenna worked. the guide is now filling in flawlessly... looks like the Comcast DVR is on its way out....

I have 5 of these DVRs and I have UPS's on every one.
I'm curious to know, do you have all 5 in the same room? If so, how do you keep them from being operated at the same time with one remote?

As I understand it, though, the TV remote didn't affect the DVR.
So, it appears that the DVR remote is sending a signal that is a bit broader frequency-wise than necessary. So, a programmable remote may solve the problem. It's probably worth trying.


Mitch

My cousin has a Harmony 880, a Sony DVR (same as mine)....so trying it out should be pretty easy. I'll give it a shot.

Getting cablecard installed this weekend, if I get the error fault, will the DVR still work with reg cable or OTA okay without a repair?

I'm curious to know, do you have all 5 in the same room? If so, how do you keep them from being operated at the same time with one remote?

I have three theaters, small medium and large in three different rooms.

No more than two DVRs are in any one room. Therefore I have three Separate
UPS's - 1 in each room.

Argggh. I thought I had found a solution to my No Listing problems. I set up saying I had digital cable (instead of cable ready) figuring I could simply delete all the channels I don't get. Within the first day I got solid listings for days 1, 2, and 8. It was looking really good. But, then that was it. I'm now back to "No Listing" today. The only listings I have for the next 8 days are vestiges from that initial download.

The cable company is waiting for test equipment from TVGOS. But TVGOS doesn't think there is a problem with te cable company based on the data I've sent them. So, we are still debugging the problem.

At this point, I'm just sending emails to the TVGOS guy whenever I have something new to report. But, I don't have much in the way of optimism, here.

It's really too bad because when it was working, it was working simply great. I hate that I have so little recourse in all of this - this post being a therapeutic rant since that's all I have available to me. :)

Let's see, 9 months of enjoyable service for $500 equates to about $2/day. I guess if I smoked or drank Starbucks instead, I'm ahead of the game.
And, all is not lost, it does a fine job recording manually recorded programs.
So, it's now a VCR capable of HD recording and not having to worry about having an empty tape. That's still a decent amount of value being provided.

But, I really miss channel surfing using the guide. I'm back to using the TV Guide that comes with my Sunday newspaper. Oh well, I guess I should remind myself that is *only* TV, afterall and not solving world hunger or sudoku.


Mitch

My guide seems to be back on track now. Gotta get out and get me that UPS.

Mitch - what I had to do was the TVGOS reset in the 9012 menu AND the "exit" and "guide" a couple of times. Just wondering if you've tried this.

Also, what got it back working originally was that I discovered that I was taking the one WTTW analog listing that would come up after a reset and changing the channel number on that one to 11.2, the digital equivelent (because that one wouldn't be present, also - 11.3 either - only 11.1, the HD channel). Then I would take the other WTTW that was turned off in the channel list and assign 11 analog to that one (and turn it on, of course). They both got the same data, so I never thought it would matter. So, mostly just by chance, I decided to leave the original one at 11 and enter 11.2 into the one I had to turn on.

And voila! That's what did it! Seems that, for some reason, the Sony doesn't take too kindly to having the number changed on the originally appearing host channel, even if that channel number is assigned to another slot of the same channel in the guide. For some reason, it just never dawned on me before that that might make a difference.

I'm only OTA, but is there anything similar that you could be doing with your normal host channel?

I had a similar problem with HDNET in the Fort Worth area. I had the HDNET and channel number in my guide line up and the listings would only go out to 48 hours. The guide never filled in completely for the 8 days (Only 48 hours). Each day when the guide updated only 48 hours of data was posted. I contacted TVGOS and after 3 months I am finally getting a full schedule (8 days) of HDNET data. I also have HDNETM (HDNET movies and that channel was never a problem. HDNTE & HDNETM channels are owned by Mark Cuban who is the owner of the Dallas Mavricks basketball team. As it turned out there was a problem with the TVGOS update software for this area. After about three months of them working this issue the problem was resolved. So I'll bet your problem might also be with TVGOS.


Well,

I got in touch with TVGOS. They were very helpful. Unfortunately it appears that their server can only hold a certain amount of listings (aprox 250). They currently do not support HDNET. HDNET is apparently not too popular down here in Miami. Below is the response they gave me:

"Hello,

Sorry for the miss information. Miami appears to be full even for your newer device. Below is a list of channels we support for you. You will have to wait for the new server which is supposed to go online in December".

Thanks for all the replies !

Well,

I got in touch with TVGOS. They were very helpful. Unfortunately it appears that their server can only hold a certain amount of listings (aprox 250). They currently do not support HDNET. HDNET is apparently not too popular down here in Miami. Below is the response they gave me:

"Hello,

Sorry for the miss information. Miami appears to be full even for your newer device. Below is a list of channels we support for you. You will have to wait for the new server which is supposed to go online in December".

Thanks for all the replies !All I can suggest is keep reminding them every so often.

Jan here in Chicago over on the LG 3410a DVR thread kept bugging them to add "Oxygen", (supposedly for his wife - but we know the truth ;) ), and they finally did add it on their last update to the guide a couple of months back.

You might even want to check with him and see exactly how he went about it. He'd be more than happy to help, I'm sure.

Hello All,

I got one of these units at a local tweeter a while ago, but wasn't able to get it working with Service Electric cable service. Has anyone who has both this unit and this service been able to get this unit working? Can you please tell me how you did it? I'd be very interested to know. Thanks!

Geoff

Hello All,

I got one of these units at a local tweeter a while ago, but wasn't able to get it working with Service Electric cable service. Has anyone who has both this unit and this service been able to get this unit working? Can you please tell me how you did it? I'd be very interested to know. Thanks!

Geoff


Was it a cablecard issue or was it an issue with the channel listing?

All I can suggest is keep reminding them every so often.

Jan here in Chicago over on the LG 3410a DVR thread kept bugging them to add "Oxygen", (supposedly for his wife - but we know the truth ;) ), and they finally did add it on their last update to the guide a couple of months back.

You might even want to check with him and see exactly how he went about it. He'd be more than happy to help, I'm sure.


Thanks for the suggestion ! I actually think I annoyed them enough. Hopefully it will make a difference. I even had a chance to speak with actual engineer in charge of the channel listings. Unfortunately here in Miami the Spanish channels are very popular taking away from the other regular channels.

Thanks for the suggestion ! I actually think I annoyed them enough. Hopefully it will make a difference. I even had a chance to speak with actual engineer in charge of the channel listings. Unfortunately here in Miami the Spanish channels are very popular taking away from the other regular channels.

I get about 420 channels in my master list - not all are activated, of course. However, I think I have activated about 200+ of them (since I don't get digital cable most I don't get anyway). I'll have to check when I get home.

I have three theaters, small medium and large in three different rooms.

No more than two DVRs are in any one room. Therefore I have three Separate
UPS's - 1 in each room.

No problem having more than two units in one room - just manually power one unit at a time.

No problem having more than two units in one room - just manually power one unit at a time.

Where did it say I had any PROBLEM?

I have a problem, can anyone help me out? I just purchased two 500's from the sony outlet both with cablecards installed. sony firmware 05,and 13,and I have noticed that at the exact same time on both units I get black screens on encrypted channels. when I go to the cablecard menu i get a message saying something about there are no messages from cable company. Anyone else experience this?

Was it a cablecard issue or was it an issue with the channel listing?

The problem was getting the guide. I was never able to receive it. I even tried goes OTA to get it, but that didn't work either.

I have a problem, can anyone help me out? I just purchased two 500's from the sony outlet both with cablecards installed. sony firmware 05,and 13,and I have noticed that at the exact same time on both units I get black screens on encrypted channels. when I go to the cablecard menu i get a message saying something about there are no messages from cable company. Anyone else experience this?

Cable Cards are OWNED by the Cable Company and they need to
be PROVISIONED by the Cable Operations Center. You are better
off pulling them out for now - they will only cause you TROUBLE
unless you get your cable company to PROVISION then, and of
course that means they will COLLLECT MONEY from you.

I recently picked up my second hdd250. I've had my first one shortly after they were released and have had no problems at all. I mainly use it for OTA HD (Detroit) recording and it works like a charm. It has been a long time since I've had to play with the settings, but my new one is having problems picking up a digital off air signal. It's not the antenna because I'm using the same one as my other unit. Non-digital channel come in fine. The serial # is 8004545 and the firmware is 1.2.06. I've tried to do a search, but can't seem to find an answer. I was just wondering if somebody came across a solution, or any advice would really be appreciated.

Thanks

drhankz sorry for the confession the cablecards were installed for me by my cable co,cablevision. they were not in the units when i bought them. Both units say auth recieved in the cablecard info menu

drhankz sorry for the confession the cablecards were installed for me by my cable co,cablevision. they were not in the units when i bought them. Both units say auth recieved in the cablecard info menu

Oh Oh Oh - I thought they were in the units you picked up.

Then it sounds like you have done the right things.

I will say - I have 5 Sony DVRs with 5 Cable Cards.

As I added each one - I made sure the INSTALLER did not leave until they were
working correctly. Sometimes it took more than ONE cable card to make that
happen. I'm on Comcast and they use Motorola Cable Cards and the Installers
always bring TWO to every job because they are notorious for having problems.

do you think it could be related to the 161-6 problem I did get a 161-6 error on one unit.

Where did it say I had any PROBLEM?

I never said you had a problem. I was just suggesting that one could operate five DVRs in the same location by having only one powered on.

Ray

I have had my HDD500 for about 6 months, no real problems or complaints. Basically, it works better and faster (easier) than any HD recording device I have seen.

The only real problem are the listings for channel 39-1 (CW39). The shows that are "HD" are not flagged as such. None of the "HD" on that channel are flagged? Hence it will not include them in searching for "HD" shows? Our six other "HD" stations are flagged correctly as "HD". Of course the reason they are not flagged is because that slot in the channel list was just plain on 39 (analogue); because the "Guide" did not have the 39-1 in the list, so I had to renumber the "39" to "39-1" to be able to "tune" in the digital channel; hence no flag.

Is there a way to contact "TV Guide" to get this fixed? so they can add this "major" digital channel to the network list?

Is there a way to contact "TV Guide" to get this fixed? so they can add this "major" digital channel to the network list?

Are you sure 39-1 is ENABLED in the channel list?

Is there a way to contact "TV Guide" to get this fixed? so they can add this "major" digital channel to the network list?

While TUNED to 39-1
While viewing a channel and no other menus are displayed, press
[right arrow] to display the options menu.

Select Add or Delete to edit the current channel from the CH+/-.

Maybe that will get 39-1 to show up in the TVGOS!

Of course the reason they are not flagged is because that slot in the channel list was just plain on 39 (analogue); because the "Guide" did not have the 39-1 in the list, so I had to renumber the "39" to "39-1" to be able to "tune" in the digital channel; hence no flag.
Did you scroll through the entire list to search for 39-1? In my case, the "Channel Editor" list contains almost 400 channels, and a few of the digital channels were near the very bottom of the list. You can use the Channel +/- buttons on the remote to go from one page to another, which is quicker than pressing the up/down arrows.

I have had my HDD500 for about 6 months, no real problems or complaints. Basically, it works better and faster (easier) than any HD recording device I have seen.

The only real problem are the listings for channel 39-1 (CW39). The shows that are "HD" are not flagged as such. None of the "HD" on that channel are flagged? Hence it will not include them in searching for "HD" shows? Our six other "HD" stations are flagged correctly as "HD". Of course the reason they are not flagged is because that slot in the channel list was just plain on 39 (analogue); because the "Guide" did not have the 39-1 in the list, so I had to renumber the "39" to "39-1" to be able to "tune" in the digital channel; hence no flag.

Is there a way to contact "TV Guide" to get this fixed? so they can add this "major" digital channel to the network list?Not sure I understand why it's such a big deal?

If you're looking it up in the "search" listings because you want to record it, just look under the "alphabetical" listings rather than the "HD" ones. That includes everything.

Or is it because you don't want to waste hard drive space on an SD program?

If it's just because you want to know if it's in HD ahead of time only because you want to watch it, can't your eyes tell the difference?

I haven't posted for awhile but I need help. I have the 250 and the 500. The 250 has been working perfectly and is hooked up in my family room using a Terk TV-5. The 500 is in the bedroom using the exact same antenna. I did a factory default on the 500, recently, because I could not get any data. The 250 shows the host station but the 500 is blank in that space. It does show the VBI host and it is the same as the 250. I tried the forced host station but that is just for the VBI which is ok on the 500. Anyway to get the 500 to show the host station and fill in that blank space? I have tried leaving the 500 unplugged for awhile but still no luck but I do get the correct time back without a problem. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi:

While at work, I started to restore a used dhg-hdd500. Someone unplugged it a few minutes later and moved it. There was not much on the hard disk - no recorded programs, just guide data from stations in Kentucky. Will unplugging the unit in the middle of a restore routine muck something up? When I plug it in here at home, the only light that appears is the power, then the welcome message appears, and in the upper part of the display, a counter counts up to 6, stays that way for a min, powers down. All I can see on the display is a blinking clock indicator with no time displayed. Also, when I power up, it flashed 1080i, then returns to the last channel it was tuned to. Still have no access to menu options. Not reponding at all....Is there a workaround for this issue? Thanks.

Hi:

While at work, I started to restore a used dhg-hdd500. Someone unplugged it a few minutes later and moved it. There was not much on the hard disk - no recorded programs, just guide data from stations in Kentucky. Will unplugging the unit in the middle of a restore routine muck something up? When I plug it in here at home, the only light that appears is the power, then the welcome message appears, and in the upper part of the display, a counter counts up to 6, stays that way for a min, powers down. All I can see on the display is a blinking clock indicator with no time displayed. Also, when I power up, it flashed 1080i, then returns to the last channel it was tuned to. Still have no access to menu options. Not reponding at all....Is there a workaround for this issue? Thanks.

Mine had a very similar fate. I needed to send it back to SONY for a NEW DRIVE.

I haven't posted for awhile but I need help. I have the 250 and the 500. The 250 has been working perfectly and is hooked up in my family room using a Terk TV-5. The 500 is in the bedroom using the exact same antenna. I did a factory default on the 500, recently, because I could not get any data. The 250 shows the host station but the 500 is blank in that space. It does show the VBI host and it is the same as the 250. I tried the forced host station but that is just for the VBI which is ok on the 500. Anyway to get the 500 to show the host station and fill in that blank space? I have tried leaving the 500 unplugged for awhile but still no luck but I do get the correct time back without a problem. Any help would be appreciated.

The VBI channel that is shown on the 753... screen is whatever channel you have tuned when you look.
The host channel should fill in automatically. Doing the "Force Host Channel" option does force the host channel - it says it's looking for a VBI channel because VBI is how the guide data is delivered.

So, the bottom line here is that for some reason the 500 is not finding a host channel - which is probably why you weren't getting any data to begin with. :)
Have you tried swapping the 500 and 250 to see if the problem follows the unit or the antenna? (Maybe there's something wrong with your antenna connection in the bedroom.)


Mitch

when I power up, it flashed 1080i, then returns to the last channel it was tuned to. Still have no access to menu options. Not reponding at all....Is there a workaround for this issue? Thanks.

Are you getting any picture at all on your TV, from the station that you're tuned to? Can you change channels?

Try cycling through the various output settings (1080i, 720p, etc.) with the FORMAT button on the remote. Press once to see the current setting on the front panel dislpay, then press again to change to the next setting, and hit the SELECT button or wait a few seconds for it to take effect.

HoustonPerson
What you have to do is find the OTA digital network call letters, such as WSBDT or WUPADT or such in the channel editor and assign the channel to it. Here in Atlanta UPN was WUPA channel 69 analog with WUPADT as channel 43.1, which now is the CW network. And I just use that (WUPADT and 43.1) to receive listing for the now CW network. It shows all their HD programs. Sorry, but I can not remember if HD shows up in the listings under an analog station or not, as I do not have any of the analog stations turned on in the channel editor.

Are you getting any picture at all on your TV, from the station that you're tuned to? Can you change channels?

Try cycling through the various output settings (1080i, 720p, etc.) with the FORMAT button on the remote. Press once to see the current setting on the front panel dislpay, then press again to change to the next setting, and hit the SELECT button or wait a few seconds for it to take effect.

Hi:

No picture at all to the screen-unit is connected via antenna for OTA use. Will try cycling through the format output setting. Thanks.

Hi:

No picture at all to the screen-unit is connected via antenna for OTA use. Will try cycling through the format output setting. Thanks.

I hate to be the bearer of BAD NEWS - but your experience sounds
like mine when the dick drive was out to lunch. I even got that same
COUNT up to 6 display when you power it on. I did occasionally get
some on-screen display that also confirmed the BAD DISK!

I would call Sony Tech support - they are much better than all of
us here and they will likely tell you to send it in for service.

I hate to be the bearer of BAD NEWS - but your experience sounds
like mine when the dick drive was out to lunch. I even got that same
COUNT up to 6 display when you power it on. I did occasionally get
some on-screen display that also confirmed the BAD DISK!

I would call Sony Tech support - they are much better than all of
us here and they will likely tell you to send it in for service.

For future reference, unplugging the unit is a BAD idea while it is restoring the hard drive! :rolleyes:

Also, I think the unit always shows the count-up sequence when it reboots. I think it counts from P1 up through P6 as it goes through the various stages of the process.

The VBI channel that is shown on the 753... screen is whatever channel you have tuned when you look.
The host channel should fill in automatically. Doing the "Force Host Channel" option does force the host channel - it says it's looking for a VBI channel because VBI is how the guide data is delivered.

So, the bottom line here is that for some reason the 500 is not finding a host channel - which is probably why you weren't getting any data to begin with. :)
Have you tried swapping the 500 and 250 to see if the problem follows the unit or the antenna? (Maybe there's something wrong with your antenna connection in the bedroom.)


Mitch

Appreciate the response. The antenna in the bedroom gets all my local digital channels without a problem. I was thinking the same thing about switching. May do that when reruns happen during the holidays. The 500 was working but seemed like about ever two weeks it would lose the data. The 250 has not lost the data once in 8 months. Problem with the 500? Maybe?

myoda, you might try the front panel service mode "Wipe Unit" procedure documented on Spiff72's FAQ page before sending the unit to Sony. I discovered this procedure by accident and it did successfully recover my unit when I screwed up the hard drive in a similar fashion. Unplugging the unit during this process would be a really bad move though.

Basically, it is just an oversight by the TV-Guide people that a major network is not listed for our area.

Of course the re-assignment of 39-0 to 39-1 is a partial solution, but it would be nice to have the "HD" flag for the HD shows.

If anyone knows of a way to contact TV Guide that would be nice. Oh well, thats life.

I have two 500's and I seem to be having a problem with my cablecards. I keep loosing encrypted channels on both units. When I power the unit on when i get home from work, 3 out 7 days it happens. When I access the cablecard menu I get a message "There are no CableCARD messages available from your service provider" Has anyone experienced this?
I have one unit in my livingroom and one in my bedroom, both have a splitter going to a Cablevision SA HD Cable Box and the sony.
I got the 161-6 error on one of the units could that be the problem?

Basically, it is just an oversight by the TV-Guide people that a major network is not listed for our area.

Of course the re-assignment of 39-0 to 39-1 is a partial solution, but it would be nice to have the "HD" flag for the HD shows.

If anyone knows of a way to contact TV Guide that would be nice. Oh well, thats life.
Have you gone through and looked to see if there is another station listing for KHCW, perhaps under their previous callsign KHWB? Or KHWBDT? I found several callsigns for TBS here that never gave me any listings. It took a little while, but I finally found a TBSHD callsign that worked. This may be the case as the channel number alone does not give you any listings, only with the callsign turned on and a channel number assigned to it. From my experience, I think it matters not what channel number you have assigned to the call sign, only that you have the right call sign turned on in the channel editor for you to get the proper listings. Here is a link for KC history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHCW
Hope this helps.
Michael

myoda, you might try the front panel service mode "Wipe Unit" procedure documented on Spiff72's FAQ page before sending the unit to Sony. I discovered this procedure by accident and it did successfully recover my unit when I screwed up the hard drive in a similar fashion. Unplugging the unit during this process would be a really bad move though.

Hi All- Thanks for the tips. Talked with Ted at Sony - and he asked me how I had the unit connected to the tv - was using svideo cable upstairs in my office. Did switch formats to sd video out and could see something. Connected it downstairs to the big screen via component, nothing. Connected with svideo - could see tvgos startup screen. Ran setup routine, then, reset to factory settings, and all is well. Had clock settings within one hour, and the guide is populating with data. It did tell me that it repaired something on the hard disk. The Sony support rep did offer me a chance to drop off the unit and wait for it. (the support center is not too far from Pittsburgh) Ted did tell me that he has printed up Spiff72's FAQ to use as an occasional quick reference. Thanks again.

I just noticed that Friday at 8:00, Ghost Whisperer is not there and some show about Rome is, this being a CBS station, 46.1 in Atlanta. Anybody else have this?
Also, no listings at all for Sunday.
Michael

...Ted did tell me that he has printed up Spiff72's FAQ to use as an occasional quick reference. Thanks again.

Wow! That is an interesting tidbit. :D

I would be curious whether there is anything in the FAQ that they would disagree with at Sony, or if there is anything that they would prefer wasn't available in the public domain...

Spiff, I hope you are not implying that you would remove info Sony doesn't like being public.

Have you gone through and looked to see if there is another station listing for KHCW, perhaps under their previous callsign KHWB? Or KHWBDT? I found several callsigns for TBS here that never gave me any listings. It took a little while, but I finally found a TBSHD callsign that worked. This may be the case as the channel number alone does not give you any listings, only with the callsign turned on and a channel number assigned to it. From my experience, I think it matters not what channel number you have assigned to the call sign, only that you have the right call sign turned on in the channel editor for you to get the proper listings. Here is a link for KC history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHCW
Hope this helps.
Michael

Ok, have gone through the lists several times there is only one KHCW and it is for the analogue 39-0. The TV Guide did automatically change that one from KHWB at the first of the year with the change of the station call letters. Also, I have noticed a about 3 new stations added to the end of the TV Guide list; but they are all analogue stations I do not watch.

Basically, it still looks like someone at TV Guide is just asleep at the switch not setting up a major prime time network digital station? Seems they would at least have a web site or toll free line to report such errors?

Sorry I didn't pay attention before, I just got cablecards, and Discover HD will not show up in the Guide, it is 1617. It's in the tuner ok. I see a similar named 1603 channel in the guide with no signal. Since it is 4 digit, there is no way to apply this channel to the guide? I do have other 4 digit channels that showed up in the guide and work fine.

I've been looking into getting one of these Sony units (or the similar LG) but it seems that all of them have been discontinued. Are there any current model replacements available (by these mfr's or others) or is this type of item just no longer being produced?

Dave

I've been looking into getting one of these Sony units (or the similar LG) but it seems that all of them have been discontinued. Are there any current model replacements available (by these mfr's or others) or is this type of item just no longer being produced?


You are correct, the only non-subsciption HD DVR's I could find were the Sony's mentioned in this thread and the LG LST-3410A. The next closest would be the TiVo Series III @ $800 and $14 a month.

I just bought a used DHG-HDD250 last week and it is working great (cross fingers)

I just noticed that Friday at 8:00, Ghost Whisperer is not there and some show about Rome is, this being a CBS station, 46.1 in Atlanta. Anybody else have this?
Also, no listings at all for Sunday.
Michael

Neither of my two DVRs in Los Angeles have listings for Sunday. I was concerned that my guide problem was back. However, since we both are missing Sunday listing, and my DVRs have next Monday's and Tuesday's listings, I assume that it was a tv guide problem. Please let us know if you get Sunday's listing. I will be on vacation so I won't be here to know if it does appear. I'm trying to back up all my recording schedule with manual settings so loss of guide shouldn't affect my recordings other than loss of program title.
Ray

I've been looking into getting one of these Sony units (or the similar LG) but it seems that all of them have been discontinued. Are there any current model replacements available (by these mfr's or others) or is this type of item just no longer being produced?

DaveYou might want to check out any Best Buy or Circuit City stores you have around your parts. They have been selling off their demo models that they were using with their Sony SXRD displays for discounted prices. They're usually DHG-HDD250's, I believe.

Other than that, all I can think of is e-bay or similar sites.

You can also check over on the TiVo S3 thread to see if any one is selling off their Sony after getting the new TiVo.

Spiff, I hope you are not implying that you would remove info Sony doesn't like being public.

Noooooooo! Not at all what I was implying!

Purely my curious mind at work - wondering what Sony/Gemstar don't want people screwing around with.

I really do wish that Sony would open up the firmware/software to the public (maybe under the GNU license) and encourage hackers to play with the software and make improvements. Even if they could do this and keep the encryption intact to prevent piracy, this could be BIG. (Assuming everyone doesn't brick their devices as they start messing around).

Is it worth upgrading to a DHG-HDD250 if I already have a SA8300HD?

Is it worth upgrading to a DHG-HDD250 if I already have a SA8300HD?

Never used the SA8300HD, but I would say probably not. The upgrade will probably cost you about $300-$400. If you are happy with the SA8300HD, stick with it. Assuming you are renting it for $5 a month, it will take years to break even. There will probably be something better in that time frame.

If you are going to dump cable all together and want to record OTA HD, the Sony would be worth it. That is what I did. Moved, didn't reconnect cable and only use OTA digital broadcast. The Sony does a great job.

I just noticed that Friday at 8:00, Ghost Whisperer is not there and some show about Rome is, this being a CBS station, 46.1 in Atlanta. Anybody else have this?


Same strange show in Austin, TX. I set it to record the show just in case. As CBS's website and TV Guide.com both show Ghost Whisperer airing this Friday.

I was just wondering. I have had a toshiba RD-XS34 Standard Def DVR for quite some time now. I wanted HD so I bought a DHG-hdd250. The HD is terrific. But the Standard Def is horrible. I have wavy lines, the contrast has totally dived. The tuner on the TOshiba was great. Can this be fixed? Am I totally hosed?

I was just wondering. I have had a toshiba RD-XS34 Standard Def DVR for quite some time now. I wanted HD so I bought a DHG-hdd250. The HD is terrific. But the Standard Def is horrible. I have wavy lines, the contrast has totally dived. The tuner on the TOshiba was great. Can this be fixed? Am I totally hosed?
Are you recording SD via cable or OTA?

Neither of my two DVRs in Los Angeles have listings for Sunday. I was concerned that my guide problem was back. However, since we both are missing Sunday listing, and my DVRs have next Monday's and Tuesday's listings, I assume that it was a tv guide problem. Please let us know if you get Sunday's listing. I will be on vacation so I won't be here to know if it does appear. I'm trying to back up all my recording schedule with manual settings so loss of guide shouldn't affect my recordings other than loss of program title.
Ray

I checked last night and I don't have any listings for Sunday either. Must be a system-wide TVGOS problem.....

Are you recording SD via cable or OTA?

I am recording analog cable and QAM over cable.

So I have not totally read through all the pages here yet. I was getting listings great for a few days and then I did not get any Monday or Tuesday nights. What gives?