This is still slow but wayyyy fasted than any other method that I know of.

That's exactly what I ended up doing. Still can't understand how the channels turned themselves off.

Last night when again Saturday Night Live was recording- it was recording on my 500- again, the unit didn't freeze. Didn't try the 250.

If the units resume to freeze, I will go nuts trying to understand why there is no freezing but only around midnight on Sat night.

I'm not crazy, honest.

............................................................ ...

Addendum- My 500 is recording The Apprentice right now. And as always since the new firmware, the unit is frozen. For two weekends in a row the only time it didn't freeze was Saturday night around midnight.

Can anyone even venture a guess?

The person at Sony is full of it. WCET-DT in Cincinnati has been sending TVGOS data for (at least) the last six months. My Sony unit can NOT get TVGOS data from that channel (it gets it from the analog version of the same station). I talked to an engineer at the PBS station and he said MOST devices will need a software upgrade before they can use the TVGOS sent by the digital stations. The data from the digital station is in a different format than the data from the analog station.
This could simply be because the TVGOS software that is downloaded to the Sony over the air has to be updated. Let's hope so. Otherwise, we have to hope that Sony/Gemstar will provide firmware updates prior to the termination of the analog broadcasts.

To those who had freezing issues and reset to factory default, how is it working out? Is the issue resolved for everyone?

I am waiting to do the reset. I am concerned that you will all have to do it again because your clock will get screwed when it passes what was supposed to be the (original) DayLight Savings Time date- this coming Saturday night.

There seem to be two menu items to do a Factory Reset. Going into 9012, one of the choices is a Factory Reset. Another choice is TV Guide. Entering the TV Guide (I'm writing from memory) menu, again there is a choice for Factory Reset. Do they both accomplish the same thing- restoring unit to out of box status. TIA.

To those who had freezing issues and reset to factory default, how is it working out? Is the issue resolved for everyone?
It is for me.

I am waiting to do the reset. I am concerned that you will all have to do it again because your clock will get screwed when it passes what was supposed to be the (original) DayLight Savings Time date- this coming Saturday night. So in the mean time, I just won't record anything I want to save long term on the 250 - I'll record it on my HTPC instead.

There seem to be two menu items to do a Factory Reset. Going into 9012, one of the choices is a Factory Reset. Another choice is TV Guide. Entering the TV Guide (I'm writing from memory) menu, again there is a choice for Factory Reset. Do they both accomplish the same thing- restoring unit to out of box status. TIA.
I did both, TV Guide reset first then Factory Reset.

The person at Sony is full of it. WCET-DT in Cincinnati has been sending TVGOS data for (at least) the last six months. My Sony unit can NOT get TVGOS data from that channel (it gets it from the analog version of the same station). I talked to an engineer at the PBS station and he said MOST devices will need a software upgrade before they can use the TVGOS sent by the digital stations. The data from the digital station is in a different format than the data from the analog station.

I think you're correct. Currently the Sony uses the TVP5147P video decoder that has an integrated VBI data processor (which includes Gemstar in it's formats). This chip is analog input only (read, NTSC). Any fix would probably have to be a combination of Sony firmware and Gemstar code depending on where the Gemstar info is inserted (VANC, PSIP, MPEG2 stream, whatever). I'm guessing the MPEG decoder daughter board in the unit would have to be redesigned to do this. If Sony believes they wouldn't take a hit financially, (think exploding Pinto's) they have no incentive to mount a software/hardware project on a discontinued product with zero return.

I was talking to Sony Service Center today(he was inquiring the issues that I am having with the guide) and I asked him about replacing the harddrive (say the warranty was over and wanted to replace it), he told me that it is a standard drive but they run a diagnostic software to set it up for the DVR, now if someone could get that piece of software, a lot of people would be happy. While I was on the phone with him, I asked what would happen when the analog is shut off and only digital was being broadcasted, he told me that ONE analog station would always be broadcasted to send the guide, I do not know if this is true, but I figured that I would relay this info.

...he told me that ONE analog station would always be broadcasted to send the guide, I do not know if this is true, but I figured that I would relay this info.He was likely referring to cable going all digital which is already happening.

Come early 2009, even that remaining *analog* cable channel will be be modulated from digital. Which (apparently with current demod hardware) means no TVGOS in VBI for us. :(

I was talking to Sony Service Center today(he was inquiring the issues that I am having with the guide) and I asked him about replacing the harddrive (say the warranty was over and wanted to replace it), he told me that it is a standard drive but they run a diagnostic software to set it up for the DVR, now if someone could get that piece of software, a lot of people would be happy.

That is *very* interesting information, if true. If all they are doing is running software to bless the drive, then maybe there is no drive firmware kung fu involved. :D

I still haven't had time to mess with my new drives...too many other projects going on right now...but this encourages me.

The Sony PVR isn't the only TVGOS-enabled device that will be affected by the '09 shutoff. I wonder if there might end up being a third-party solution -- say, a box that receives the digital TVGOS info and rebroadcasts as analog. I guess the engineering costs for such an item would be too expensive to be worthwhile...

If there's no solution forthcoming, well, I've made my peace with '09 being the end of the line: if my box survives until then, I'll be well under what I would have paid in monthly rental/subscription fees.

If there's no solution forthcoming, well, I've made my peace with '09 being the end of the line: if my box survives until then, I'll be well under what I would have paid in monthly rental/subscription fees.

The box will still perform as a HDTV tuner (which are still around $200) and you will be able to manually (ie. physically pressing the start and stop button) record shows that you may want to archive (I.e. sporting events) and you will still be able to pause live TV. A lot more than many of the current HDTV tuners enable you to do now.

jstefans,

To be a little more clear on the problems you described above; are the exact same ones I have.

Best I can recall, the problems all started about the time they started putting stuff in the "advertising window(s)". That was about 2 or 3 weeks ago? (hard to remember)

I have discoverd that the "only" way for me to get correct recordings is to place the cursor in a field that has the full program discription. If it does not it will not record correctly, and end up conflicting with another program you record.

I have talked with the Gemstar people and a ticket number has been assigned. They tell me they are working with Sony to resolve the problem. But I think it is clear (an assumption on my part), that the nightly downloads have changed in someway (programming) so that the "on-screen" data is not functioning correctly.

I will also venture to guess, it could be a while (maybe a long while) before it gets fixed? I hope not, because my wife now can not figure out how to make it record and before she could, by just putting the red dot on it.

HoustonPerson,

Yes, I also noticed the ads started appearing 2 or 3 weeks ago. I can't remember if they started before or after the time change? As a side note, I do remember immediately thinking that the ads slightly slowed down the speed of moving through menus and setting recordings.

One thing helping me to try and understand the source of the problems a little more is that I also have the TVGOS built in to my tv (so I actually have two separate TV Guides...only the Sony has the ability to record though). I noticed the ads started about a month earlier on my tv's TV Guide compared to the DVR's TV Guide. And my tv's TV Guide listings don't have the "no listing" issues and the search is still working fine. Adding to that, I've never had the "lock up while recording" issues that so many others are talking about.

That all tells me the OTA updates from TVGOS are not even designed to have the exact same effect on every TV Guide out there. So even the intended changes as well as the unfortunate unintended changes are dependent on the original version of the hardware you bought. Otherwise, why wouldn't the OTA updates bring everyone to the exact same point? I think our problem (as well as the "lock up while recording" issue) was created with the recent update when some part of their update had unanticipated effects on certain original hardware versions. Hopefully, that means it can also be fixed by a future update but who knows how long that will be? I have heard folks performing "9012" factory resets which may very well fix our problem but I'll watch the thread a bit more before doing that.

For now I'll continue to keep my eyes and ears open!

It is for me.


I did both, TV Guide reset first then Factory Reset.

It just occurred to me to ask you, and anyone else who did a total reset, do you still get ads?

Many have associated the ads with our current problems. We assume the new firmware download was to address the changing date for DST and to allow ads.

If you reset to the factory default, and are not running with the new firmware, should you be seeing ads? Are you seeing ads?

It just occurred to me to ask you, and anyone else who did a total reset, do you still get ads?

Many have associated the ads with our current problems. We assume the new firmware download was to address the changing date for DST and to allow ads.

If you reset to the factory default, and are not running with the new firmware, should you be seeing ads? Are you seeing ads?
Yes, I see adds (somehow saying that makes me feel like I'm saying 'I see dead people')

After doing the TVGOS and Factory resets, and, waiting for the TVGOS to redownload, I now have the TVGOS updated version and see the ads - but - I no longer have the recording lockup problems.

I no longer have the recording lockup problems.

I'll give them about a week from Sat night (original DST date) to download new firmware that fixes our issues before I do the resets.

Means a lot of TV watching if we want to see all that will be wiped out with the resets.

Hope to have your luck in results.

I no longer have the recording lockup problems.

I'd give it a week before saying that definitively. Seems some people had the problem develop after a bit of time.

I'd give it a week before saying that definitively. Seems some people had the problem develop after a bit of time.
Right - if it redevelops, I'll post that fact. I can't say what will be, only what is, and, at this point - three days after doing the reset and having reestablished my preferences - I'm not having recording lock-ups.

The Sony PVR isn't the only TVGOS-enabled device that will be affected by the '09 shutoff. I wonder if there might end up being a third-party solution -- say, a box that receives the digital TVGOS info and rebroadcasts as analog. I guess the engineering costs for such an item would be too expensive to be worthwhile...This idea has been brought up and discussed in length COUNTLESS times before in this thread.

It's highly possible, but nobody knows anything for sure.

This idea has been brought up and discussed in length COUNTLESS times before in this thread.

It's highly possible, but nobody knows anything for sure.
my 62" DLP has TVGOS, but if it stops working in '09, i'm sure i'll be happy to put it in my kids room so he can watch cartoon network on it :rolleyes:

There seem to be two menu items to do a Factory Reset. Going into 9012, one of the choices is a Factory Reset. Another choice is TV Guide. Entering the TV Guide (I'm writing from memory) menu, again there is a choice for Factory Reset. Do they both accomplish the same thing- restoring unit to out of box status. TIA.

The factory reset in the TV Guide submenu resets only the TV Guide. The factory reset in the main 9012 menu resets everything and reformats your hard disk, erasing all your recorded programs.

A related item is "Reset User Preferences" (or something similar) which resets everything except the TV Guide, and does not reformat the hard disk. It does ask you to confirm your TV Guide settings the next time you turn the unit on, and re-initializes the TV Guide if you change those settings. If you don't change the TV Guide settings, your program listings remain intact. I use this when I want to clear my channel list and scan for channels from scratch.

We had our first reported "freeze". Unfortuneatly, I wasn't home to witness it, so I am going by what my wife told me. She's not a techie by any means, so the details may be lost forever...

Anyways, the Sony was set to record the Backyardigans and the Wonderpets. It's on Nik, back to back. I have it set to record "regularly". Anyways, while it was recording, my wife turned the Sony on to watch some stuff that we have recorded.

--- assumed detail point ---

We have our Sony connected via HDMI. Because of this, it always reverts back to Auto HDMI. Since Nickelodeon is a 480i channel, I'm wondering if it had anything to do with the screen format. I'm not sure if my wife pressed the Format button, but she normally doesn't

--- back ---

At this point (when wife tries to play a recorded show), the device freezes up. She proceeds to turn the Sony off, and when she does, the clock goes to "--:--". OH CRAP! The record light is not on at this point. Some time later (can't say whether it's a couple of minutes or more), the clock comes back.

OK, so when I check the recording list, it looks like the entire episode of Backyardigans got recorded, however, the recording is only 27 minutes long (starts at 10:30). There's a second recording of the Backyardigans, that's listed as starting 10:41, however, it's actually the beginning of the Wonderpets. The Wonderpets episode that's recorded starts about 15 minutes in.

So it looks like that when the clock was lost and then refound, it was off by several minutes. I guess that's to be expected.

Now, here's the strange part. When I was checking the recording list tonight, I noticed something new. On the list, it tells you how many % a particular show (or series of shows) is using. For example, I have 3 episodes of Lost recorded (no time to catch up) and it says "this show takes 8% of the hard drive space" or something like that. I'm almost 100% certain that it wasn't there before.

I'm guessing that something got updated in the TVGOS software and that cause the freezing.

I did just check it for freezing since we currently have Dancing with the Stars recording. Playback of pre-recorded material was fine. I did, however, switch the format to 1080i before playing the recorded stuff.

ft

On the list, it tells you how many % a particular show (or series of shows) is using. For example, I have 3 episodes of Lost recorded (no time to catch up) and it says "this show takes 8% of the hard drive space" or something like that. I'm almost 100% certain that it wasn't there before.

It's been there all along on my two units, going back to when I bought them over a year ago.

We had our first reported "freeze".

Now, here's the strange part. When I was checking the recording list tonight, I noticed something new. On the list, it tells you how many % a particular show (or series of shows) is using. For example, I have 3 episodes of Lost recorded (no time to catch up) and it says "this show takes 8% of the hard drive space" or something like that. I'm almost 100% certain that it wasn't there before.
ft

While you may have had your first freeze, last night my 250- for some reason- while recording Letterman, did not freeze. Were able to watch something else, fast and skip forward and delete it when finished, without any problem. This is just nuts. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for when it freezes, almost always, and the rare instances that it doesn't.

What you reported that happened during your freeze is exactly what frequently- but not always- happens. Several times, I had the recording complete. At other times, exactly like you, it started and stopped at odd times. A telltale sign is that when the recording was damaged in that way, it ends in the recordings list named as "unknown".

About the disk usage, it's always been there.

About the disk usage, it's always been there.
I'm pretty sure that mine didn't have it until recently. I was running low on space, so I was trying to figure out how much space each show took. I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed that information, since it was exactly what I was looking for.

Or maybe I was just so taken in on being able to record HD, that I overlooked it.

ft

I'm pretty sure that mine didn't have it until recently. I was running low on space, so I was trying to figure out how much space each show took. I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed that information, since it was exactly what I was looking for.

Or maybe I was just so taken in on being able to record HD, that I overlooked it.

ft
I think you were taken with the new HD experience. Those percentages have been shown as long as I can recall. But they are only shown when you have the sort by group set in the menu. If you set to sort by list, then the percent used does not show up. I just verified this on my system
Michael

I noticed that mine too had not locked up while recording the past couple days...

Until today that is. Good grief.

It was recording something so I turned it on to see if it would lock up. Nope. I then tried to play a previously recorded program while it was recording. It worked. Well, sort of. The picture was playing in the preview window in the upper left side of the screen only. The rest of the screen was black. Bizarre. After a few minutes of this the unit reset itself. The clock set after a few minutes and it started recording again.

:rolleyes:

..last night my 250- for some reason- while recording Letterman, did not freeze.Yeah, but how 'bout those lip-synch issues on his show the last couple of nights - pretty bad, huh :rolleyes:?

Last night's broadcast of House started at 9:10 and ended at 10:10 but the recording started at 9 and ended at 10 so i missed the last 10 minutes. So it looks like the recorder can't handle this on it's own. In the future I will extend the end time, and leave the start time along, in case they fix the problem.

Actually, i didn't miss the end since I anticipated a problem and also recorded the show on my cable DVR, which did the right thing.

Ray

Hi guys, this is my 1st post to this thread.

I am possibly interested in getting my hands on one of these units...but not because of its intended dvr function.

Really want that CableCARD slot for my second HDTV, and I want to stick it to my cable company by saving some substantial cash. It is much cheaper to lease a CC then it is to be forced to rent a clunky receiver you're not permitted to ever own.

Already aware of the limitations (no ppv, other interactive features blah, blah, blah...yeah, yeah I don't care).

Besides the high-end TiVos, are there and other set-top devices besides these Sonys that come equipped with a CC slot?

Thanks for your time. Ken

Yeah, but how 'bout those lip-synch issues on his show the last couple of nights - pretty bad, huh :rolleyes:?

Not noticed here.

House started at 9:10 and ended at 10:10

Ray

Strange. It means that the TV Guide -show information and time- is not uniform across the country.

Here the House time was adjusted in the Guide and you would have recorded the show in full. I specifically noticed it because when wanting to record both House and Dirt, had to use both units one for each show, because House overlapped the beginning of Dirt.

Strange. It means that the TV Guide -show information and time- is not uniform across the country.

Here the House time was adjusted in the Guide and you would have recorded the show in full. I specifically noticed it because when wanting to record both House and Dirt, had to use both units one for each show, because House overlapped the beginning of Dirt.


In my guide House was listed twice, once with the normal start/stop times and once with the offsets.

I've gotten into the habit of checking the guide every week and manually setting up most of the network shows (like House) I want to record, mainly because they seem to change time and/or go on hiatus fairly regularly. An exception to that is the Daily Show/Colbert Report on Comedy Central, which is on like clockwork every Monday-Thursday at the same time. I use the "R" feature to record that show and except for a time a year or so ago when the name of the show was slightly altered in the guide (to include Jon Stewart's name), it has always worked.

Hi guys, this is my 1st post to this thread.

I am possibly interested in getting my hands on one of these units...but not because of its intended dvr function.

Really want that CableCARD slot for my second HDTV, and I want to stick it to my cable company by saving some substantial cash. It is much cheaper to lease a CC then it is to be forced to rent a clunky receiver you're not permitted to ever own.

Already aware of the limitations (no ppv, other interactive features blah, blah, blah...yeah, yeah I don't care).

Besides the high-end TiVos, are there and other set-top devices besides these Sonys that come equipped with a CC slot?

Thanks for your time. Ken


Yeah, there's the Mitsubishi HD-6000 DVR/HD receiver that has a cable-card slot but the internal hard drive is only 120GB.

I've gotten into the habit of checking the guide every week and manually setting up most of the network shows

I find I've got to do that quite often. Many shows now go one minute late, followed by a show that starts one minute late. TVGOS doesn't acknowledge that but the printed edition of TV Guide does.

Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, some of the NBC shows on Thursday night, for example.

In freezing news, for the second consecutive night, neither recorder froze.

Strange. It means that the TV Guide -show information and time- is not uniform across the country.

Here the House time was adjusted in the Guide and you would have recorded the show in full. I specifically noticed it because when wanting to record both House and Dirt, had to use both units one for each show, because House overlapped the beginning of Dirt.

In my case the over run was 6 minutes with idol running long before House. This happened once before on another channel and in both cases with a preceding show running over the guide start time of the next show the record red ball indicator would not show in the guide. Both shows were shown in the schedule (although if you held the rec button down to long in the guide, the schedule would show it as a regular or weekly recording). In the case of House the recording vanished from the schedule and I had to re-enter it, this time the indicator showed and recording proceeded normally. I'm just guessing but I think the guide responds to last minute network change information transmitted with the broadcast, and they don't handle it gracefully. A software build like this would never make it out the door at most companies (well, maybe microsoft).

.....In freezing news, for the second consecutive night, neither recorder froze.

And we'll be right back with tomorrow's forecast right after this word from our sponsor . . .



:D :D :D

I find I've got to do that quite often. Many shows now go one minute late, followed by a show that starts one minute late. TVGOS doesn't acknowledge that but the printed edition of TV Guide does.

They do this to frustrate people using DVRs. Besides making the whole show into a bunch of paid advertising placements the networks haven't really figured out how to make money when their audience skips the ads.

They do this to frustrate people using DVRs. Besides making the whole show into a bunch of paid advertising placements the networks haven't really figured out how to make money when their audience skips the ads.
Except for the superbowl when people use the DVR to skip the game and watch the ads :D

Besides the high-end TiVos, are there and other set-top devices besides these Sonys that come equipped with a CC slot?
Motorola and Scientific Atlanta are making boxes with CableCARD slots.

news article: Motorola, SA Gear Up for FCC Ban (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6407249.html)

I wonder if those boxes will be sold to end users also, or only to cable companies.

Yeah, there's the Mitsubishi HD-6000 DVR/HD receiver that has a cable-card slot but the internal hard drive is only 120GB.

Wow...thanks for that info. I just looked up the specs on that Mitsu and was extremely impressed.

The thing has hdmi, component, vga, firewire, s-video and composite INPUTS, yes INPUTS!!! AWESOME!!!!! :D

What do the Sonys give?...dittley squat (how thoughtful).

Motorola and Scientific Atlanta are making boxes with CableCARD slots.

news article: Motorola, SA Gear Up for FCC Ban (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6407249.html)

I wonder if those boxes will be sold to end users also, or only to cable companies.

Thanks for the input Erik. ;)

Wow...thanks for that info. I just looked up the specs on that Mitsu and was extremely impressed.

The thing has hdmi, component, vga, firewire, s-video and composite INPUTS, yes INPUTS!!! AWESOME!!!!! :D

What do the Sonys give?...dittley squat (how thoughtful).
There's an AVS thread about the Mitsubishi: Building my HD recorder network with a Mits HD-6000 as the main hub for BR & HD DVD (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=805786)

Here's a link to the owner's guide: HD6000.zip (http://www.gregroz.com/HD6000/HD6000.zip)

By the way, it was mentioned in the thread that the HD-6000 does not support TVGOS. So all recordings are manually scheduled.

There's an AVS thread about the Mitsubishi: Building my HD recorder network with a Mits HD-6000 as the main hub for BR & HD DVD (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=805786)

Here's a link to the owner's guide: HD6000.zip (http://www.gregroz.com/HD6000/HD6000.zip)

By the way, it was mentioned in the thread that the HD-6000 does not support TVGOS. So all recordings are manually scheduled.

That's interesting because the specs on the model and the website specifically state TVOSG 8 day guide, but I don't have one so I don't know for sure.

There's an AVS thread about the Mitsubishi: Building my HD recorder network with a Mits HD-6000 as the main hub for BR & HD DVD (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=805786)

Here's a link to the owner's guide: HD6000.zip (http://www.gregroz.com/HD6000/HD6000.zip)

By the way, it was mentioned in the thread that the HD-6000 does not support TVGOS. So all recordings are manually scheduled.

Very interesting. Networking my second entertainment setup through the HD-6000 would help me out big time.

Both of my HDMI ports are currently used by an HD-A2 and PS3...and I only have just one more 1080p component input available (yes, the new Aquos line supports 1080p via component!). This device does have the potential to free everything up.

The downside is that I can't find the Mitsu anywhere cheap, while the Sonys are now easily had. I ask myself...do I absolutely need all those generous inputs? They certainly would be well appreciated but not at all mandatory for its primary purpose (essentially just being used as a replacement cable stb).

BTW, recently bought my own cable modem to save even more. My cable provider is already thrilled my cost cutting tactics...just wait until I go to dual CableCARD setups and return their rip-off leased junk. I definitely will not be one of their favorite customers. :p

hmmm...cable modems here are free...or maybe part of the monthly fee, but either way they are not broken out on the invoice.

hmmm...cable modems here are free...or maybe part of the monthly fee, but either way they are not broken out on the invoice.

It depends on your provider. Time Warner charges a $3 (plus state tax) monthly lease fee. My new Motorola will pay for itself in a year.

Their provided modem was a p.o.s. Scientific Atlanta. The new modem is better at data compression and much more responsive.

It depends on your provider. Time Warner charges a $3 (plus state tax) monthly lease fee. My new Motorola will pay for itself in a year.

Their provided modem was a p.o.s. Scientific Atlanta. The new modem is better at data compression and much more responsive.


P.S. Edit:

Thought I'd mention that in addition to the former modem fee they are currently charging me over $10 a month for what I refer to as the "forced lease" of two STBs.

Now I'm jealous of Canadians for one perk that they enjoy: They are permitted to buy their own cable STBs! (just like satellite customers) Cable companies are not allowed to con their subscribers by forcing them to lease units until infinity. This should be the law down here as well.

Hence, my CableCARD gameplan. The most they can get me for is hopefully $2...perhaps $4 a month (if charged $2 per card). The acquired savings will really add up over time.

P.S. Edit:

Thought I'd mention that in addition to the former modem fee they are currently charging me over $10 a month for what I refer to as the "forced lease" of two STBs.

Now I'm jealous of Canadians for one perk that they enjoy: They are permitted to buy their own cable STBs! (just like satellite customers) Cable companies are not allowed to con their subscribers by forcing them to lease units until infinity. This should be the law down here as well.

Hence, my CableCARD gameplan. The most they can get me for is hopefully $2...perhaps $4 a month (if charged $2 per card). The acquired savings will really add up over time.
plus when the cablecard keeps taking a dive, it gives you a good excuse to use all those four letter words on the csr's and tech's

plus when the cablecard keeps taking a dive, it gives you a good excuse to use all those four letter words on the csr's and tech's

Do you know from personal experience? I'm aware of a few reports that COX subscribers occasionally have some problems. It's rumored that COX knows how to remotely cause electrical damage to the cards. If true, the FCC should investigate that one.

There are three certified card manufacturers (Cisco, Motorola and NDS Group), NDS are the most common troublemakers.

I know a guy who has had his original Motorola card for well over a year now. Not even a hiccup in service. Just have to try it for myself.

The downside is that I can't find the Mitsu anywhere cheap, while the Sonys are now easily had.
The cheapest I have seen is $600 or $700 at Walt's (http://www.walts.com/products/HDTV+RECEIVER/HD-6000.html). They sometimes show up on eBay too.

Now I'm jealous of Canadians for one perk that they enjoy: They are permitted to buy their own cable STBs! (just like satellite customers) Cable companies are not allowed to con their subscribers by forcing them to lease units until infinity. This should be the law down here as well.

It's even worse for some of us basic cable subscribers. I currently pay $14.95 for local channels. However, in order to get an HD-DVR I need to up my subscription to standard cable. This means $29.99/mo + $25.99/mo for the DVR. I dread the day when my Sony dies and I have to go from paying $15/mo to $55/mo just to have an HD-DVR for local channels (don't have time to watch anything beyond network TV). I just hope some other unit like the Sony comes on the market. I might just buy a Series 3 TIVO if nothing else comes along, but I still don't look forward to paying an extra $15 a month for the guide.

I use my Sony strictly for OTA...no paid TV at all here, and I want to stay that way. If it turns out that the Sony becomes a glorified paper weight in 2009, I'd be glad to pay pretty significant bucks for something equivelent, but I'm wonderring if anyone's going to offer anything like it. I see that HD-6000 does have an ATSC tuner, but 120GB for HD recording just doesn't cut it after having 500.

Being quite Linux savy, I'm getting more and more tempted to persue building a Myth box.

Tom

snip.

I see that HD-6000 does have an ATSC tuner, but 120GB for HD recording just doesn't cut it after having 500.


Speaking of HD space, I have a 250 and because of my work schedule, we continually run into not having enough space. Is it possible to put in a second 250GB drive into the HDD-250 to get to 500GB? I realize that I would have to get my hands on an "official" Sony drive, but I figure that I might be able to get one directly from Sony. Or maybe I could get one off of eBay.

If it works, I would double my storage and won't have to worry about catching up until the summer.

ft

Is it possible to put in a second 250GB drive into the HDD-250 to get to 500GB? I realize that I would have to get my hands on an "official" Sony drive, but I figure that I might be able to get one directly from Sony.
I don't think anyone has successfully added a drive, but I think Sony has replaced defective drives.

I wonder if you could remove the drive, tell Sony that you misplaced the drive, ship the unit to Sony (without the drive), and pay for a new drive to be installed. When the unit is returned to you (with a new drive), you find the old drive, and now you have two drives.

Check out the USB devices for Macs. http://www.usb-ware.com/mac-hdtv-miglia-tvmini-hd.htm

Works for ATSC OTA and QAM (sorry, no cable card slot) gets its guide info over the internet.

It almost makes putting up with the Snooty Mac store's teachers making extra money/sound technicians trying to make a living because no one will pay him for setting up microphones, mixing and making recordings types in the stores. Not to mention the trendy overpriced Mac computer with the "I know better" user interface.

There are three certified card manufacturers (Cisco, Motorola and NDS Group), NDS are the most common troublemakers.

Scientific Atlanta also makes cable cards (unless SA is part of NDS Group???). My local Comcast franchise uses a legacy SA system at the head end (and SA cards at the customer end), and they seem to be having all sorts problems with it.

Recently, this franchise has started taking cable card problems much more seriously. This may have something to do with the new FCC regulations (mentioned in a post below) that take effect this summer, mandating that cableco STBs can no longer use internal decryption circuits. New STBs will thus have to use cable cards.

It seems all the problems I've been having with loss of TVGOS (mostly in my Panasonic plasma) and missing channels in my Sony DHG are due to hardware & software issues at the head end, and not (to my relief) hardware problems on my end.

I wonder if you could remove the drive, tell Sony that you misplaced the drive, ship the unit to Sony (without the drive), and pay for a new drive to be installed. When the unit is returned to you (with a new drive), you find the old drive, and now you have two drives.

Hmm, let's see; I was taking the hard drive out to dust it, I put it down someplace and just plain forgot where. Can I buy a new one please? :rolleyes:

I don't think anyone has successfully added a drive, but I think Sony has replaced defective drives.

I wonder if you could remove the drive, tell Sony that you misplaced the drive, ship the unit to Sony (without the drive), and pay for a new drive to be installed. When the unit is returned to you (with a new drive), you find the old drive, and now you have two drives.
That's exactly what I'm thinking. However, before I go and pull a stunt like that, I'd like to see if anyone's actually done it before (adding a drive in a 250, not scamming Sony).

So, to anyone out there that has a 2-250's, or a 250 and a 500, and has no problem in messing around on the insides, could you check if a spare Sony drive will work in the extra slot of the 250?

ft

Hmm, let's see; I was taking the hard drive out to dust it, I put it down someplace and just plain forgot where. Can I buy a new one please? :rolleyes:
I guess if you knew a repair guy, he could order the part directly from Sony. Are these units only serviced by Sony or do they have independent service places that are authorized to work on them?

ft

One acronym: DRM, That is all you have to know about why Sony does all repair work at their repair center. If Sony were not in the content business they would probably be a little less annoying to deal with, but then again, maybe not.

So, to anyone out there that has a 2-250's, or a 250 and a 500, and has no problem in messing around on the insides, could you check if a spare Sony drive will work in the extra slot of the 250?

This did not work (neither with a cloned drive of the exact make and model nor with the drive from another unit). The unit will not boot with any drives attached that were not original to the specific unit. It seems that, like TiVo units, these DVRs require the drives to be blessed.

I did the above tests before finding the tools to remove the host protected area of the drives. It is worth repeating the tests using spare drives cloned with both the source and dest's HPA removed and then added back afterwards. I'll try and make time to try that on my 250. The 500 is full of LOST episodes and other content I'd rather not risk losing.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. However, before I go and pull a stunt like that, I'd like to see if anyone's actually done it before (adding a drive in a 250, not scamming Sony).
Sony seems to be making it very difficult to add or replace a drive, which happens to be one of the parts that are most likely to fail.

Who's scamming whom?

:)

Sony seems to be making it very difficult to add or replace a drive, which happens to be one of the parts that are most likely to fail.

Who's scamming whom?

:)

Forgive me for not researching this subject further, but just why is it that the drives on these are considered so proprietary?

Is it IDE, SCSI, SATA, firewire? ....FAT, FAT32, NTSC, EXT2, EXT3 partitioning?

I have never run into a situation where I couldn't mirror an exact copy of any hard drive or storage device of any type...no matter the file system.

With a fully functional original drive...I suggest ripping the boot sector containing the Sony-specific os device system files, then copy that partition to your desired backup replacement. When the old drive fails, your new one will be ready to replace it.

What exactly is so difficult here guys?! Easy.

Scientific Atlanta also makes cable cards (unless SA is part of NDS Group???). My local Comcast franchise uses a legacy SA system at the head end (and SA cards at the customer end), and they seem to be having all sorts problems with it.

Recently, this franchise has started taking cable card problems much more seriously. This may have something to do with the new FCC regulations (mentioned in a post below) that take effect this summer, mandating that cableco STBs can no longer use internal decryption circuits. New STBs will thus have to use cable cards.

It seems all the problems I've been having with loss of TVGOS (mostly in my Panasonic plasma) and missing channels in my Sony DHG are due to hardware & software issues at the head end, and not (to my relief) hardware problems on my end.

Scientific Atlanta is a division of Cisco, not NDS. They better take the problems seriously, mandatory card support is ordered by federal law.

Your problems are entirely the head-end's fault, not your equipment. There is a very specific complex decryption standard that this newer technology adheres to. If they don't operate their system exactly by the book there will be problems.

It's even worse for some of us basic cable subscribers. I currently pay $14.95 for local channels. However, in order to get an HD-DVR I need to up my subscription to standard cable. This means $29.99/mo + $25.99/mo for the DVR. I dread the day when my Sony dies and I have to go from paying $15/mo to $55/mo just to have an HD-DVR for local channels (don't have time to watch anything beyond network TV). I just hope some other unit like the Sony comes on the market. I might just buy a Series 3 TIVO if nothing else comes along, but I still don't look forward to paying an extra $15 a month for the guide.

TiVo is a complete scam. That rip-off hoard will -never- get my business.

I highly suggest not resorting to their service, but do what you will.

This did not work (neither with a cloned drive of the exact make and model nor with the drive from another unit). The unit will not boot with any drives attached that were not original to the specific unit. It seems that, like TiVo units, these DVRs require the drives to be blessed.

I did the above tests before finding the tools to remove the host protected area of the drives. It is worth repeating the tests using spare drives cloned with both the source and dest's HPA removed and then added back afterwards. I'll try and make time to try that on my 250. The 500 is full of LOST episodes and other content I'd rather not risk losing.

Hi Mark, almost missed your post. What file system did Sony apply to the drive and what interface standard does the drive use?

Thanks,

Ken

This did not work (neither with a cloned drive of the exact make and model nor with the drive from another unit). The unit will not boot with any drives attached that were not original to the specific unit. It seems that, like TiVo units, these DVRs require the drives to be blessed.

I did the above tests before finding the tools to remove the host protected area of the drives. It is worth repeating the tests using spare drives cloned with both the source and dest's HPA removed and then added back afterwards. I'll try and make time to try that on my 250. The 500 is full of LOST episodes and other content I'd rather not risk losing.

The CPRM ID should be generated from the unit serial number (if it's similar to the process used on the pioneer DVRs) Both drives would seem to have to have the same id to do decryption on a recording spanning the drives. On a CD the CPRM ID is in the burst cutting zone, on a HDD it should be on the disk so manufacturers can swap in different vendors, but I don't know enough about the ATA controllers to know if there is a standard nonvolatile storage area in the spec. so it could be in flash or eeprom. From what I read about the disk forensic tools you can set the end address to the true end of the disk and then image the drive, when you power cycle it it should reset to it's factory default setting (no guarantees) this is all pretty much of an educated guess that sony is using CPRM and not some strange homegrown DRM of their own. I would suppose not though as CPRM is pretty much of a standard.

Hi Mark, almost missed your post. What file system did Sony apply to the drive and what interface standard does the drive use?

Thanks,

Ken

Not Mark, but it's a hacked xfs (where the video files are stored.). There are also a couple of small ext2 partitions.

Scientific Atlanta is a division of Cisco, not NDS. They better take the problems seriously, mandatory card support is ordered by federal law.

Your problems are entirely the head-end's fault, not your equipment. There is a very specific complex decryption standard that this newer technology adheres to. If they don't operate their system exactly by the book there will be problems.
Thanks for the insight.

Do you know from personal experience? I'm aware of a few reports that COX subscribers occasionally have some problems. It's rumored that COX knows how to remotely cause electrical damage to the cards. If true, the FCC should investigate that one.

There are three certified card manufacturers (Cisco, Motorola and NDS Group), NDS are the most common troublemakers.

I know a guy who has had his original Motorola card for well over a year now. Not even a hiccup in service. Just have to try it for myself.
I have TW in LA, and when my cablecard was initially installed, it wouldn't tune KCAL-9-HD (it's a sister station of KCBS), it would display a "You need a digital tuner to view this station screen" even though i could tune the station through clear-qam without the card, after arguing with TW for over a week i had heard several different lies as to why it didn't work, the whole time everyone i talked to made sure to mention that cablecards are unreliable and that i should really get a box, the worst excuse i heard was second hand from a tech who was on the phone with someone at the TW office, he told me that they had said that cablecard customers were not supposed to receive this local channel, at which point i almost crapped my pants, since CC customers should be able to receive all channels (except maybe for VOD if they only have a one way host), and also since this local station won't come through on the cablecard that TW is basically encrypting it, after playing the "i'm going to the franchise board and FCC" card the problem was fixed in a couple of days...since then i just had to keep reauthorizing the card about once a week (not too much of a pain because they have an automated #, but the first time i called the csr said the automated # wouldn't work for the CC, even though it does), i've since turned my CC in and cancelled my cabletv service (i only have HSI), i get extended-analog catv through my apartment complex for free, and the local-HD's are unencrypted too, so when i had my own digital cable service, i was basically paying 50/month just to get espnhd and the infrequent offering on FSN-HD, yes i still don't have espn2hd (otherwise i might have kept the service), the CC was saving me 13.25/month though (tw charges 15 for the HD-DVR, but the CC costs 1.75), since i have an RCA-DVR2160 (although it's a bit flaky, it would record encrypted cable channels), and the unencrypted channels i just record with my htpc, once football season comes around i'll probably set up new catv service and get a CC again (if my TW has added espn2hd), otherwise i'll probably just switch to D* or E*(although my LOS is really iffy, under a tree and over a roofline just barely i think, and after the MLB-EI fiasco i really don't want to give any money to rupert murdoch and his ilk)

TiVo is a complete scam. That rip-off hoard will -never- get my business. I highly suggest not resorting to their service, but do what you will.

I can't imagine TiVo being any worse than a cable company...

I can't imagine TiVo being any worse than a cable company...

Agreed, sorry! ...I was just on a negative rant, lettin' off some steam. :rolleyes:

I have TW in LA, and when my cablecard was initially installed, it wouldn't tune KCAL-9-HD (it's a sister station of KCBS), it would display a "You need a digital tuner to view this station screen" even though i could tune the station through clear-qam without the card, after arguing with TW for over a week i had heard several different lies as to why it didn't work, the whole time everyone i talked to made sure to mention that cablecards are unreliable and that i should really get a box, the worst excuse i heard was second hand from a tech who was on the phone with someone at the TW office, he told me that they had said that cablecard customers were not supposed to receive this local channel, at which point i almost crapped my pants, since CC customers should be able to receive all channels (except maybe for VOD if they only have a one way host), and also since this local station won't come through on the cablecard that TW is basically encrypting it, after playing the "i'm going to the franchise board and FCC" card the problem was fixed in a couple of days...since then i just had to keep reauthorizing the card about once a week (not too much of a pain because they have an automated #, but the first time i called the csr said the automated # wouldn't work for the CC, even though it does), i've since turned my CC in and cancelled my cabletv service (i only have HSI), i get extended-analog catv through my apartment complex for free, and the local-HD's are unencrypted too, so when i had my own digital cable service, i was basically paying 50/month just to get espnhd and the infrequent offering on FSN-HD, yes i still don't have espn2hd (otherwise i might have kept the service), the CC was saving me 13.25/month though (tw charges 15 for the HD-DVR, but the CC costs 1.75), since i have an RCA-DVR2160 (although it's a bit flaky, it would record encrypted cable channels), and the unencrypted channels i just record with my htpc, once football season comes around i'll probably set up new catv service and get a CC again (if my TW has added espn2hd), otherwise i'll probably just switch to D* or E*(although my LOS is really iffy, under a tree and over a roofline just barely i think, and after the MLB-EI fiasco i really don't want to give any money to rupert murdoch and his ilk)

What a horrible experience, I admit that it did make me percolate.

The scary thing is that KCAL-9-HD is _not_ an encrypted channel since your ATSC tuner could decode it fine without the card. It disturbs me that they were able to block the channel with the use of the card...did not want to be informed of that!

Could you imagine if they now have the ability to randomly drop basic cable channels through the card as well? Now that's a wretched thought....

What I'm really curious about is hidden fees. See, right now I have basic digital with no dvr service. (did I mention I was cheap ;) ) I am afraid that by going to the card, TW will force me to upgrade to a more expensive package such as adding $6 for the HD package? Did they pull any similar tricks on you?

What do you think? All I'm trying to say is that I hope they won't find a way to rattle even more money in spite of my budgeting attempts. As of now I'm still willing to try the card, just have to give it a shot.

Not Mark, but it's a hacked xfs (where the video files are stored.). There are also a couple of small ext2 partitions.

Thanks, and from other posts it's obvious that the drive is standard ATA/IDE.

The CPRM ID should be generated from the unit serial number (if it's similar to the process used on the pioneer DVRs) Both drives would seem to have to have the same id to do decryption on a recording spanning the drives. On a CD the CPRM ID is in the burst cutting zone, on a HDD it should be on the disk so manufacturers can swap in different vendors, but I don't know enough about the ATA controllers to know if there is a standard nonvolatile storage area in the spec. so it could be in flash or eeprom. From what I read about the disk forensic tools you can set the end address to the true end of the disk and then image the drive, when you power cycle it it should reset to it's factory default setting (no guarantees) this is all pretty much of an educated guess that sony is using CPRM and not some strange homegrown DRM of their own. I would suppose not though as CPRM is pretty much of a standard.

More bad news...what a day. :(

Ridiculous to have such aggressive protection on a dvr hdd. Hey, it's not like people would even bother to exchange drives in order to share or copy recorded programming. Absolutely unnecessary, paranoid tactics. Absolutely crazy.

Ok I am new here so take it easy. I have s[ent housrs looking at this thread and just reset my DVR to factory sdefaults to stop this freexing issue. Now I have to go in a remap all my channels and set up all my recordings again.

Question- I saw that people were talking about a digital VBI channel. Does Dallas have one of these?

It's past the old daylight savings date and the lockup problems on my 500 unit continue.

FYI, I took someones advice and bought the 500gig version for $700. I took it back to the store following week. I love Sony products and I can almost understand how this MSRP'd for $1000 when it was introduced, but I can honestly say I would not give more than $200 for that thing today. The dvrs that the cable companies are giving out are far more advanced. I'm considering a tivo, but if its anything similar to the dhg-hhd250/500 it just going to be a waste of time and money learning its functions.

For of you that own the DHG-HDDXXX, I am glad your happy and have a dedicated forum to help out those that own it. Maybe, if I had learned of this device sooner, who knows I may would have bought it. But with the new cable transport stream coming, the box is going to be render to just ATSC only, no cable card and no NTSC.

Lock up problems still here as well. Anyone heard anything from Gemstar or anyone about any fix now that the old Daylight Savings Time day has passed?

... but I can honestly say I would not give more than $200 for that thing today. The dvrs that the cable companies are giving out are far more advanced.

So I can call the cable company and get a HD DVR for free!?! I don't have cable, but that would be a great deal as long as it has a digital tuner. Where do I sign up?

Oh, so they don't give them away?? You have to pay an extra $60+ a month to get a more advanced machine? No, thanks. I've had this since August, so the unit has already paid for itself (I only paid $300 for mine) :D

It almost seems the lockup problems are worse for me. Sunday I turned on the HDD, tuned to a station, and pressed record. It showed me the menu about the record specifics, and when I pressed "Start record", it froze up. The record light on the front display never even turned on. Some time after the record was over, I noticed that the unit had turned off (one of the last buttons I had pushed), but I never went back to see if the recording took place or not.

The unit still probably needs a reset of some flavor. I have too many recordings that I don't want to lose, which is preventing me from a full factory reset, but I may have to bite the bullet and do it anyway. I need it to be reliable (and useful) again.

It's past the old daylight savings date and the lockup problems on my 500 unit continue.
The lock-up problems I had due to the TVGOS update for the new daylight savings time date were cured by doing a full factory reset. Now that we're past the old date, my 250 is still working fine - no recording lock-ups.

HoustonPerson,

Yes, I also noticed the ads started appearing 2 or 3 weeks ago. I can't remember if they started before or after the time change? As a side note, I do remember immediately thinking that the ads slightly slowed down the speed of moving through menus and setting recordings.

One thing helping me to try and understand the source of the problems a little more is that I also have the TVGOS built in to my tv (so I actually have two separate TV Guides...only the Sony has the ability to record though). I noticed the ads started about a month earlier on my tv's TV Guide compared to the DVR's TV Guide. And my tv's TV Guide listings don't have the "no listing" issues and the search is still working fine. Adding to that, I've never had the "lock up while recording" issues that so many others are talking about.

That all tells me the OTA updates from TVGOS are not even designed to have the exact same effect on every TV Guide out there. So even the intended changes as well as the unfortunate unintended changes are dependent on the original version of the hardware you bought. Otherwise, why wouldn't the OTA updates bring everyone to the exact same point? I think our problem (as well as the "lock up while recording" issue) was created with the recent update when some part of their update had unanticipated effects on certain original hardware versions. Hopefully, that means it can also be fixed by a future update but who knows how long that will be? I have heard folks performing "9012" factory resets which may very well fix our problem but I'll watch the thread a bit more before doing that.

For now I'll continue to keep my eyes and ears open!


jstefans,

Ok, I hear what you say. Different hardware (like the TV set vs. the Sony Box) could all respond differently to the latest TV Guide downloads.

I just got off the phone with Sony. They admitted people are reporting problems, and that suppossedly TVGuide people are working on it, to make the Sony Boxes work correctly again. But basically, Sony is pushing the problem off on TVGuide.

Well if both companies are in bed together you get Kooties. I just hope they get rid of the Kooties soon!

While I can figure out how to make the recordings work now, my wife does not. Before it was so simple for her.

Is there anyone else in the Houston area that is having problems with their TVGuide and Sony DVR? If some Sony boxes in Houston work, then maybe my Sony box needs an update from Sony?

jstefans,

I just got off the phone with Sony. They admitted people are reporting problems, and that suppossedly TVGuide people are working on it, to make the Sony Boxes work correctly again. But basically, Sony is pushing the problem off on TVGuide.

While I can figure out how to make the recordings work now, my wife does not. Before it was so simple for her.

Have you tried doing a full factory reset? Since I did everything is working great. Yes, I have the ads, and, I have no recording lock-ups, and single button record from the TVGOS schedule works fine.

It's past the old daylight savings date and the lockup problems on my 500 unit continue.
Lock up problems still here as well. Anyone heard anything from Gemstar or anyone about any fix now that the old Daylight Savings Time day has passed?
It almost seems the lockup problems are worse for me. Sunday I turned on the HDD, tuned to a station, and pressed record. It showed me the menu about the record specifics, and when I pressed "Start record", it froze up. The record light on the front display never even turned on.

I just checked and my guide firmware hasn't changed (08.06.44). That means Gemstar hasn't done anything yet. If mine doesn't change tonight I'm going to call them tomorrow. They had indicated to me that after the old daylight savings time date they were going to revert to an older firmware version.

By the way rayliner...I've had my unit lock up before it actually was able to start recording as you described...but only of course if I try to start recording with the unit on. It must all have to do with the timing of the lockup, and how quickly it occurs. I think that, for those experiencing this bug, the only sure fire way to record is scheduling ahead of time and shutting the unit off.

Tom

Have you tried doing a full factory reset? Since I did everything is working great. Yes, I have the ads, and, I have no recording lock-ups, and single button record from the TVGOS schedule works fine.
Question: Does the factory reset in any way revert to old guide firmware, or do you still have 08.06.44?

Tom

Have you tried doing a full factory reset? Since I did everything is working great. Yes, I have the ads, and, I have no recording lock-ups, and single button record from the TVGOS schedule works fine.

I may be trying something like that soon. We still have a ton of programs to watch.

I think maybe part of the "strange problems" this last month may also have something to do with the "new channel listings" overlapping the old ones from the original TV Guide listings...........and that may be why the box has gone "stupid". It added about 100 new channels (mostly cable), and I notice about 6-8 or duplicate OTA channels now. That maybe why we have so many "no listings" showing up on the "30 minute" markers (8:30, 9:30, 10:30 etc)?

Well...I decided to just go ahead and call Gemstar to see what's up.

They claim to have no record, or any recollection of the plan to revert to older guide firmware as a temporary fix that I was told of previously. They say they are waiting for a shipment of these units from Sony with different firmware from the one they currently have in order to try and reproduce the problem. Quite the disappointment.

That factory reset's sounding better all the time.

Sorry to deliver crappy news.

Tom

Question: Does the factory reset in any way revert to old guide firmware, or do you still have 08.06.44?

Tom
When I did it, I first did a TVGOS reset, then immediately after a factory reset. At that point, when I powered it up if I'd checked, I'm sure the TVGOS would have been the default pre-loaded one 8.01.42. I didn't check though. I just went thru the set-up and by using a slightly different zip code got it to use CH9 rather than CH5 (I'd previously checked both and 5 was having lots of VBI errors and 9 wasn't having any), then let it sit and update itself for 24 hours. After which it shows the TVGOS as 8.06.44 and everything works fine.

I just went thru the set-up and by using a slightly different zip code got it to use CH9 rather than CH5 (I'd previously checked both and 5 was having lots of VBI errors and 9 wasn't having any), then let it sit and update itself for 24 hours. After which it shows the TVGOS as 8.06.44 and everything works fine.
Thanks for the reply. Sounds promising. The only thing I'm wondering is whether or not the different host station might be a factor.

If anyone else has had luck fixing the issue with the factory reset without changing host stations, I'd like to hear about it.

Tom

Thanks for the reply. Sounds promising. The only thing I'm wondering is whether or not the different host station might be a factor.

If anyone else has had luck fixing the issue with the factory reset without changing host stations, I'd like to hear about it.

Tom
Try running the TVGOS test and see if your host station is giving you VBI errors or not. If not, I'd think it would be fine. If it is you may want to check for other host stations in your area.

So I can call the cable company and get a HD DVR for free!?! I don't have cable, but that would be a great deal as long as it has a digital tuner. Where do I sign up?

Oh, so they don't give them away?? You have to pay an extra $60+ a month to get a more advanced machine? No, thanks. I've had this since August, so the unit has already paid for itself (I only paid $300 for mine) :D

Well, the cable company here (Carmel, IN) does pretty much give them away for free. I pay $6.95 per month for the HD DVR (It's a Scientific Atlanta 8300 based box). I also have my Sony HDD-500, with a cable card, and the cable card service is $3.95 per month.

So, the DVR only costs $3 per month relative to the a cable card. That's close enough to free to qualify. In my case I'm already paying for cable premium services so the whole "free OTA reception issue" is not significant; half of what I record is from channels not broadcast terrestrially.

Now, I hate the interface of the cable DVR, but basically it works OK, and if I were in the market for an HD DVR de novo at this time, there's no way I would pay Sony or Tivo or anyone else hundreds of dollars when I can accomplish the overall objective for a relative cost of $3 per month with no outlay, no risk of sending it in for service, etc..

That said, I love my HDD-500 and hope for many years of service (but I'm not counting on a solution past 2009).

Marc

I am using the host station that Jimmy was previously using and I have no lockups. So it is nothing that the host station is sending. The most it could be is that Jimmy's reception of the host station was poor and that might have contributed to a corrupted download that caused the issue. If Gemstar didn't account for various pieces of the download being missed then the erratic behavior could happen.

Poll: What is the VBI error count on the host channel for those having the lockup issue??

My results for host (chan 5) are VBI Good:100 Fixed:0 Bad:0 (took 3min 3sec for 100 packets)

Thanks for the reply. Sounds promising. The only thing I'm wondering is whether or not the different host station might be a factor.

If anyone else has had luck fixing the issue with the factory reset without changing host stations, I'd like to hear about it.

Tom

Well...I decided to just go ahead and call Gemstar to see what's up.

They claim to have no record, or any recollection of the plan to revert to older guide firmware as a temporary fix that I was told of previously. They say they are waiting for a shipment of these units from Sony with different firmware from the one they currently have in order to try and reproduce the problem. Quite the disappointment.

That factory reset's sounding better all the time.

Sorry to deliver crappy news.

Tom

I assume that neither Sony nor TVGOS engineers have read the accounts of lockup on this thread otherwise they would realize that firmware version doesn't play a roll, and neither does the tv station that supplies the guide. They would also try to borrow units that exhibit the problem.

On the other hand, Sony may not be sending any units to them. Instead, perhaps you were just told that to get you off their backs.

Ray

I assume that neither Sony nor TVGOS engineers have read the accounts of lockup on this thread otherwise they would realize that firmware version doesn't play a roll, and neither does the tv station that supplies the guide. They would also try to borrow units that exhibit the problem.

On the other hand, Sony may not be sending any units to them. Instead, perhaps you were just told that to get you off their backs.

Ray
Apparently they had a unit with firmware .07 I think, and I don't believe any with the issue here has that version...though I agree I don't think it makes a difference. I actually mentioned borrowing a unit but they need to be able to open up the unit and do whatever they want, which is why they're getting units from Sony.

Since I have another HD receiver, I can get by recording with the unit off for now.

Has anyone other than jimmyv here had success fixing this with the factory reset? Unless I'm missing it, I havn't seen anyone else.

Tom

I did both, TV Guide reset first then Factory Reset.
Do I remember correctly...I think the guide reset does nothing other than clearing the service menu statistics? I'm pretty sure that Gemstar had me do that when they first called me so they could get new data from me a few days later.

Tom

Has anyone other than jimmyv here had success fixing this with the factory reset? Unless I'm missing it, I havn't seen anyone else.



I'm also looking for an answer. For several days early last week, I wasn't locking up on both units. Another unit that is at my folk's home, and isn't used much, also seems not to be locking up.

But it was deceptive. Because toward the end of last week my units again were locking up with a passion.

Example of its passion. Something is recording. I try to play something else. It works. I'm recording and watching at the same time. Cool. Comes to a commercial on what I am watching. I press FF, unit is frozen. Can't stop watching. So continue to watch, even with commercials. After about 15 minutes, the recording comes to an end. As that occurs, my unit unfreezes. Before I can even move, what I was watching reacts to my hitting FF 20 minutes ago and starts rapidly Fast Forwarding. Before I can even pick up a remote to stop it, it runs through the show I was watching to its end.

This sucks.

Before I go through the trouble of a full factory reset, can anyone assure me that it actually fixes the problem.

Opinionated - that is exactly how it works with mine as well.

Tom - thanks for checking up with Gemstar, very unhappy to hear the news though.

With mine, if the unit is off it will record scheduled programs fine, but you cannot control the box in any way once the recording starts. Once the recording is over, full control is restored.

If the unit is on my scheduled recordings will start, the clock will then freeze and whatever pre-recorded show I am watching will continue playing but no control functions work. I cannot FF or RW, pause nothing. I cannot stop watching the show either and I cannot shut the unit off. The pre-recorded show will play until its conclusion when it will simply freeze on the end screen until the show that is being recorded is done when I will again gain control of the box.

Due to this I have a bunch of shows recorded and not watched because I cannot use the unit while it is recording. I am trying to clear the shows off, when I will endeavor the factory reset talked about in this thread. Although I too look forward to hearing about more people it has actually worked for before going through it.

MLKRI hit the nail on the head. I have 2 HDD500s and each is at least half full. Both units freeze during timer recording if you try to watch a recorded program. A factory reset deletes all recorded programs. This sort of defeats the idea of HD recording. Obviously if Sony had allowed the users the option of setting the time this trouble wouldn't have happened. Sony allows users to do a manual recording with time and date (but not channel that would allow for some identification) but what use is that if Gemstar screws up, since the user can't set the time. It is not suprising that the HDD250 and HDD500 are no longer produced.
By the way TIVO is great. I have one with DirecTV that records HD OTA or from satellite and it beats the crap out of my Sony HDD500s (just being reliable would do that). I would get the new TIVO model for OTA HD recording if the monthly cost was not so high (I only pay $5 a month for the one on DirecTV).
Right now the HDD500s are for recording 2nd and 3rd tier shows that I stockpile for later viewing. For shows I am anxious to watch (like 24) I use TIVO or my HP Z558 or new HP Vista. At least I can watch a show while its recording.
I hope Gemstar fixes the problem or a full reset this summer does the trick.

I have the same problems as MLK and Super.

My 250 began locking up daily a couple weeks ago. In the process of investigating I *think* I noticed that although I could do nothing with the remote control, I could navigate menus with the front panel. Can anyone confirm?

I did the factory reset and I am back in business after the drudgery of reconfiguring the channels again. Storing a config file would have been a great use of the USB port.

Still not having any freezups on my 3 Sony's here in northern CT. Looking through some of the things people have done to cause freezeups, I noticed that one cause was pressing the "Record" button on the remote while on a channel. I can't say that I've ever done that as I usually set up what I want to record on Sunday nite for the week - I'm almost afraid to try this! I regularly watch one show while another is recording and they do not freeze up when fast forwarding so perhaps it is the TVGOS source? Hard to say...

Paula - not here, when mine locks up that's it. No control via remote and no control via front panel. Can't even turn it off using front panel button.

Haven't had any freeze ups, but still have scheduled programs that disappear. Sometimes it happens with the overnight updates, other times when I am deleting or adding a program to the schedule. Happens to both units from time to time. I have manual backup times now on all my scheduled programs. Seems to work out so far. Also, last week I did not have Ghost Whisperer set because it was not listed in the guide (Atlanta, GA).,but when watching Shark last night from last week, it had a promo for it. Was it Ghost Whisperer on last week?
Also, I noticed that my Panasonic dvr is an hour ahead since this Sunday ( old DST date), as well as my alarm clock. Both had updated to the new DST date and now has updated again. My vcr did not update early, but has now. Anybody else had this?
Michael

Also, I noticed that my Panasonic dvr is an hour ahead since this Sunday ( old DST date), as well as my alarm clock. Both had updated to the new DST date and now has updated again. My vcr did not update early, but has now. Anybody else had this?
Michael

My kids have those clock radios that get the date and time signal from some radio source when they lose power. Had to manually update them last month for the time change and then overnite Saturday they advanced another hour on their own. Unplugging and repowering did not change the time - still one hour ahead of the correct time. Surprised as I would have thought a central time center would have the correct info - maybe your Panasonic and alarm clock use the same signal for the time?

Those clock radios probably receive UTC and implement the DST algorithm in the onboard firmware. In that case, you may be stuck dealing with the DST changes being out of sync on these clock radios from here on out (or until the government reverts to the old scheme).

I have one of the HDD250s. Have had it only ~3 months (since Christmas). It locked up on 3/22 when it was recording Grey's Anatomy, and I tried to do something else at the same time. I found this forum, and figured that since the symptoms I was seeing was close enough to what others here had seen, it was likely the same thing.

One key difference is that mine would not 'unlock' after the recording completed. I let it sit for a week, hoping for a firmware fix after original DST, not wanting to reprogram the entire TVGOS. Unfortunately, no dice. Still locked and won't let me do much of anything except change channels from the front panel, and a few limited functions. TVGOS is completely dead as far as I can tell.

Anyways, I thought finally after the bad news from Gemstar on the firmware, I'd bite the bullet and do a factory reset to get this back to being a useful product. Mine was so locked up, that I can't even get in to the 9012 menu to do a reset. I tried every way I could think of (after a soft reset on front panel, after unplugging power, etc...). No luck. Can't get into the 9012 menu.

Now here's where I should have stopped and asked for advice, but I didn't. Since I was already in the 'mode', I kept going w/ a harder reset. I did the hidden front panel reset, and wiped 'NVM', hoping it would get rid of whatever offending firmware had caused the problems in the first place. Well, after doing that, I got a msg that it completed successfully and "INF 0000009", whatever that means. Well after that it would power up and briefly show '1.2.06' before displaying the screen mode. No menus, no setup, no TV channels come through. So, what the heck, I might as well wipe the HDD too... So, I did. It still has no menus, or setup, or anything. It does have an odd feature in that it starts the clock at 9:41pm everytime I do a 'soft reset' on the front panel.

So, I suspect I've guaranteed my DVR a trip to Sony, but I thought I'd ask if anyone had any suggestions before I went to that. Sorry for the long post, but I've lurked too long and now gotten in too deep.

Those clock radios probably receive UTC and implement the DST algorithm in the onboard firmware. In that case, you may be stuck dealing with the DST changes being out of sync on these clock radios from here on out (or until the government reverts to the old scheme).
I have several clocks and a watch that use the radio time signal, and they all behaved properly for both the old and new time change dates. I did some research a while back on these devices, and the protocol deals properly with DST issues. If the device didn't work properly, then it isn't designed correctly to the protocol. The other possibility is that your clocks are not receiving the time signal reliably, and used the pre-programmed fallback algorithm for determining DST.

I also have a Panasonic DVR, and it too performed correctly (it received a TVGOS update the same week as the Sony's). I also researched the time signal protocol used in the VBI line 21 signal. The time data (XDS data, field 2) contains a flag to indicate DST, so I still don't see why my TV and my old VCR didn't get the time change correctly. Probably because they are not designed correctly to the protocol, or the TV station sending the signal didn't send the correct data.

EEAggie, if it's displaying the screen mode on the front panel, that's a good sign - the box is up and running. Maybe the menus ARE showing up but you don't have the screen mode configured properly for your attached display? For example, if the screen mode is set to 1080i then you won't get any menus on the composite output.

EEAggie, if it's displaying the screen mode on the front panel, that's a good sign - the box is up and running. Maybe the menus ARE showing up but you don't have the screen mode configured properly for your attached display? For example, if the screen mode is set to 1080i then you won't get any menus on the composite output.
Good point Mark - I believe the composite output would have something no matter what the display mode. If he hooked up thru that just to see the menus so he could get them set right... That might be worth trying before shipping it off for service.

That is not right jimmyv. The menu can only be on one of the outputs (HD (720p/1080i) output or LD (480i) output) at one time. So when the menu/guide overlay is on the HD output the LD output doesn't show it. The prevoius poster just has to press screen mode button until the correct resolution shows up on the display.

The neat feature with the auto-hdmi mode is that if you are on auto-HDMI and remove the HDMI cable the unit overlay displays goto the LD outputs when the SONY powers on. I used to have two tvs connected to the SONY and used a 35" TV when I wanted to watch 30min of programming at lunch and didn't want to power up the rear screen projection TV for such a short time.


Good point Mark - I believe the composite output would have something no matter what the display mode. If he hooked up thru that just to see the menus so he could get them set right... That might be worth trying before shipping it off for service.

EEAggie, if it's displaying the screen mode on the front panel, that's a good sign - the box is up and running. Maybe the menus ARE showing up but you don't have the screen mode configured properly for your attached display? For example, if the screen mode is set to 1080i then you won't get any menus on the composite output.

Good call, Mark! I have it wired through the composite output, and after I reset it the first time, it defaulted back to 1080i. I messed with a couple of different screen mode settings, but overlooked that the menus would not be displayed through the composite outputs in those HD settings.

Its back up and running now. I still have to reconfigure all those things I had set up, but its no longer locked up and I don't have to ship it in!

Hopefully, I'm past the lockup problem now... Probably too much to hope that it'll stop dropping Medium from the weekly recording schedule.

Interesting note to those with scheduled shows that keep dropping.....

I've noticed on my 250 that when I've got shows scheduled for "regular" they record fine (locking problems aside) but then the show is dropped from the schedule. When the shows are scheduled for "weekly", they record and then update and remain in the schedule.

Anyone else?

Good call, Mark! I have it wired through the composite output, and after I reset it the first time, it defaulted back to 1080i. I messed with a couple of different screen mode settings, but overlooked that the menus would not be displayed through the composite outputs in those HD settings.

Its back up and running now. I still have to reconfigure all those things I had set up, but its no longer locked up and I don't have to ship it in!

Hopefully, I'm past the lockup problem now... Probably too much to hope that it'll stop dropping Medium from the weekly recording schedule.

Please let us know if the factory reset fixed the lockup problems....
Wed night I turned on the Sony while it was recording, and it let me actually start up a previsouly recorded show, to my suprrise. It behaved normally, allowed me to FF/skip commercials, and even switched recordings at the top of the hour when it was supposed to. BUT, as soon as the recorded show I was watching was over, it froze on the last frame of the recorded show, and was hung again. It didn't clear up until the next recorded show was completed. sigh...

Please let us know if the factory reset fixed the lockup problems....


I bit the bullet and did a factory reset this morning on a 500.

Now we wait.

Interesting note to those with scheduled shows that keep dropping.....

I've noticed on my 250 that when I've got shows scheduled for "regular" they record fine (locking problems aside) but then the show is dropped from the schedule. When the shows are scheduled for "weekly", they record and then update and remain in the schedule.

Anyone else?

I typically set mine to 'weekly', and it was dropping Medium prior to recording it w/ frustrating regularity. I think I tried 'regular' too, but I can't swear by that. The typical cycle is I would miss the show till about the middle of it, and then I'd remember to set it up for weekly for the next week. Sometime during the week it would drop, but since I'd forget to check, I can't tell you when it dropped.

I typically set mine to 'weekly', and it was dropping Medium prior to recording it w/ frustrating regularity. I think I tried 'regular' too, but I can't swear by that. The typical cycle is I would miss the show till about the middle of it, and then I'd remember to set it up for weekly for the next week. Sometime during the week it would drop, but since I'd forget to check, I can't tell you when it dropped.


Same here. LOST got turned off last night, but I was fortunate enough to look at the schedule and turn it back on. Like I said earlier, the recorder had a moment of lucidity and I was able to 'do things' with the recorder while it had already started recording (no lockup for about an hour). But I do have Weekly recordings sporadically drop off the schedule. Since I only bother to check what is set to record later the same night, I don't know how soon the recording status gets dropped.

Just a thought on the dropped weekly recordings...I actually don't end up using them at all.

The manual specifically says that the weekly record is to record the show "each time it airs on the same day of the week on the same channel starting at the same time".

Is it possible the dropped recordings are occuring on nights when they pull that crap where the show starts 5 minutes after the hour or something...or that you set it record weekly on a night where they did that?

Tom

Just a thought on the dropped weekly recordings...I actually don't end up using them at all.

The manual specifically says that the weekly record is to record the show "each time it airs on the same day of the week on the same channel starting at the same time".

Is it possible the dropped recordings are occuring on nights when they pull that crap where the show starts 5 minutes after the hour or something...or that you set it record weekly on a night where they did that?

Tom

I've had this thing since nearly the beginning. I was an early adopter and paid the full $1000 for my HDD500. Anyway, this dropping recording problem has been going on since the very beginning. I doubt it's ever going to be fixed at this point. I've learned not to use it and have never had a program not record after that. Sure it takes a few minutes once a week to go through and pick the things you want to record and set them to record once, but it's worth it prevent frustration :) And btw, I don't have the locking problem and have the .05 firmware.

I've had this thing since nearly the beginning. I was an early adopter and paid the full $1000 for my HDD500. Anyway, this dropping recording problem has been going on since the very beginning. I doubt it's ever going to be fixed at this point. I've learned not to use it and have never had a program not record after that. Sure it takes a few minutes once a week to go through and pick the things you want to record and set them to record once, but it's worth it prevent frustration :) And btw, I don't have the locking problem and have the .05 firmware.

My HDD-500 used to always drop scheduled recordings from the schedule if they were set with the -R or -W options. But since the TVGOS update for the time change it hasn't dropped any scheduled recordings at all. My firmware is the .06 flavor. I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago but all the responses I got to my post indicated that "dropping items from the schedule was never an issue". Go figure . . .

I don't have the locking problem either. :D :D :D

Dave

In the first several months I had my 500 I had problems with dropping programs from the schedule and watching it record programs which subsequently were not in the recordings list when using -R or -W. I had a few spontaneous reboots and lockups in the latter half of Februrary and early March. But things have worked without issue since. Firmware is .06

Ok, perhaps the TV Guide problems in Houston are fixed?


About one week ago I did the following:

1. Soft reset – hold “exit” and “guide” buttons on the front of the unit while playing on a channel. The HDD500 turned off and did the soft reset.
2. Then I had the HDD500 do a complete tuner re-scan; set up all the channels again.
3. Then I told the system to set up the TV Guide again.

Left the unit off for a couple of hours and turned it back on:

The “percentages” for recorded programs came back
The “search” function works without fault and does not lock up.

Program listings were still a mess at that point, missing data, incorrect program data, very tricky to get data on the screen to be able to record a program (done by moving the cursor back and forth – right and then left etc)

Then TV Guide has done a change in the last couple of days:

For Saturday at noon April 14th forward through including Monday the 16th all data is correct and “all” fields on the screen are correct and visible (no missing data).

Data for today Monday April 9th to next Saturday morning on the 14th is still a mess, so perhaps as the grid rolls forward it will correct itself?

I am guessing that in Houston anyway, when about 100 or so cable channels were added about a month ago, the data grid got all screwed up. I do know that some of the channel assignments became a mess.
----------------------------------------------------------------

There are two problems in items 2 and 3 above. The complete tuner reset (2) really does not clear out the check marks for active and non-active stations. The compete TVGuide re-set up does not delete the previous data grid (program listings) with defective data.

There needs to be a full 100% delete on the Tuner Set Up AND a complete 100% elimination of the TV Guide including all internal previous data; except the deletion of previous recoded programs.

It is unfortunate no one at Sony knows how to do that?

Summary:

It appears the soft reset has solved a couple of the problems and it appears that maybe TV Guide is now sending out correct data again, for the Houston area. Guess the next 8 days will be the test?

Please let us know if the factory reset fixed the lockup problems....
Wed night I turned on the Sony while it was recording, and it let me actually start up a previsouly recorded show, to my suprrise. It behaved normally, allowed me to FF/skip commercials, and even switched recordings at the top of the hour when it was supposed to. BUT, as soon as the recorded show I was watching was over, it froze on the last frame of the recorded show, and was hung again. It didn't clear up until the next recorded show was completed. sigh...

I did the 9012 deal the other day (factory default) and I don't have the remote/front panel lockup problems anymore whilst recording. I also have never lost a show. I don't understand the difference between R (regular) or W (weekly).

BTW I am in the NYC metro area so I get those channel listings.....

Has anyone other than jimmyv here had success fixing this with the factory reset? Unless I'm missing it, I havn't seen anyone else.

Last night I bit the bullet and did the factory reset. Today I successfully watched a recorded show while recording another show. No lockups. I have ads, and the next DST change is set to 11/4/07.

I still have TVGOS channel setup to complete; moving channels around, turning off the analog channels, enabling some digital channels that were missed. But having the lockups gone was worth it!

I don't understand the difference between R (regular) or W (weekly).



Weekly is for programs that are broadcast once a week, and regular are for programs that are broadcast more frequently, such as the nightly news.

Ray

running for a couple of weeks after doing the factory reset. no lock-ups as of yet...

Weekly is for programs that are broadcast once a week, and regular are for programs that are broadcast more frequently, such as the nightly news.

Ray
That is correct, but regular only works properly for programs that appear in the program guide. For example, I record a program M,T,W,Th,F each week, but must set up five separate manual weekly recordings, one for M, T, W, Th, and F, because the channel is not listed in the guide. Regular tries to match the program title with that in the guide data to know when to record that channel, but without guide data, this doesn't work.

That is correct, but regular only works properly for programs that appear in the program guide. For example, I record a program M,T,W,Th,F each week, but must set up five separate manual weekly recordings, one for M, T, W, Th, and F, because the channel is not listed in the guide. Regular tries to match the program title with that in the guide data to know when to record that channel, but without guide data, this doesn't work.

You can set one manual recording for daily, which works for weekday programs. On a different topic, I don't recall recent mention about record quality. I use SP to record non-HDTV, to save disk space. HDTV is automatically recorded in highest quality.

Now i recall not being able to use Regular for the channel 4 11pm news since the guide kept on changing the name of the program, but it never showed the right one. At that time I was able to speak to someone at TVGOS to discuss that problem.

Ray

Anyone want one. I was browsing around a Circuit City in Fredericksburg VA. They had HDD250 in stock. The damn prices was still original retail @ $799. I asked the sales guy to see if price was still $799 and it was. First he tells me it was originally $1k. I said Yeah Right, that was the price of the HD500 and these things are new Ebay specials for a lot less. I did not ask how many units.

Hi All:

Been following the ups and what appears to be - many of the downs of these two high def recorders. I am 2 months into ownership of a new 500 gb unit - and must say am very satisfied. It has it's quirky aspects - but for my present use of ota digital reception have no complaints. . The manual is not the most descriptive - and much of the learning curve comes through trial and error and basically learning the best way to get what you are looking for.
My question is - in channel editor - given that I am only set up for ota reception - there is a tremendous list of cable stations. So many - that I have not even been able to take the time to scroll through them all. Given the inclusion of the qam tuner - what actually happens if one subscribes to like basic cable - and runs the cable - cable into the connection on back of the hdd500? The cable company in my area - does not use a cable card. Would the most basic cable program offering exclude the digital cable stations? Will the QAM tuner, which I read is the equivalent in cable as the digital set top box is to ota transmission - allow reception of all but premium (extra cost cable stations)? For a non cable participant - guess you can see that long list of cable stations - coupled with my appreciation of how the 500 works for me - has got me interested.

Hi All:

Been following the ups and what appears to be - many of the downs of these two high def recorders. I am 2 months into ownership of a new 500 gb unit - and must say am very satisfied. It has it's quirky aspects - but for my present use of ota digital reception have no complaints. . The manual is not the most descriptive - and much of the learning curve comes through trial and error and basically learning the best way to get what you are looking for.
My question is - in channel editor - given that I am only set up for ota reception - there is a tremendous list of cable stations. So many - that I have not even been able to take the time to scroll through them all. Given the inclusion of the qam tuner - what actually happens if one subscribes to like basic cable - and runs the cable - cable into the connection on back of the hdd500? The cable company in my area - does not use a cable card. Would the most basic cable program offering exclude the digital cable stations? Will the QAM tuner, which I read is the equivalent in cable as the digital set top box is to ota transmission - allow reception of all but premium (extra cost cable stations)? For a non cable participant - guess you can see that long list of cable stations - coupled with my appreciation of how the 500 works for me - has got me interested.

I believe although I am not sure, it depends on the cable company. Where I live in the metro DC area, with Cox, if you pay for the basic channels, if you have a digital TV with a built-in hi-def tuner (QAM) or the Sony 500, when scanning for digital channels you are able to pick up the local hi-def, unencrypted channels with no cable card. Some other cable companies might require a person to have expanded basic service before this is possible.

It very much does depend on the cable company and the broadcaster. MOST local stations have agreements with the local cable company that includes both the analog and digital signal for that station. Some (like mine) go even further. They REQUIRE the cable company to carry all of the stations' digital channels unencrypted in the basic tier. Some stations (like the ones owned by Sinclair) want payment for their digital stations and many cable companies (like mine) told them that they won't pay and, therefore, don't carry the digital feed of the Sinclair station (a MyTV affiliate) on ANY tier. They do carry the analog feed of the station in their basic tier.

Many cable companies also carry a lot more (other than the locals) digital channels in their basic package that are unencrypted. Mine does not encrypt any of their music channels (DMX and Music Choice) so for $13.25 a month I get all the local digital channels (except for one) and the music channels. Oh yea, they have 25 analog channels in the package too; one of which I sometimes record something from. All the rest of the recordings are from the digital channels.

so does doing factory reset get rid of the freezing problem? if not, is there anyway to fix it?

Well, after 2 weeks at Sony repair center in PA, I now have a replacement unit. They offered me a refurbed unit with the remaining 4 yrs on my extended warranty. The big surprise was that I inserted my cablecard from my old Sony and it validated and all my subbed channels appeared without me calling my cable company, also, they sent me a model with the latest firmware (.13). I will hope that this unit will not lose it's guide like the old one.

I did a soft reset(exit and guide buttons on front panel) tonight just before my unit started recording at 8pm.I was able to watch recorded shows while the unit was recording other programs. No freezing at all.I watched 4 shows while recording 3.

Given the inclusion of the qam tuner - what actually happens if one subscribes to like basic cable - and runs the cable - cable into the connection on back of the hdd500?

You will get your analog cable channels as usual, with TV Guide listings turned on for them. You will also get whatever digital (QAM) channels that your cable company sends "in the clear" (unencrypted). As others have described, this usually includes the HD versions of your local broadcast stations, minus the ones that haven't come to an agreement with the cable company about carriage, plus maybe a few digital cable-only channels.

My understanding (I don't use cable myself) is that the local stations usually appear on QAM channel numbers that don't match either their broadcast channel numbers or the channel numbers on a cable box. So in order to get TV guide listings for them, you'd have to re-map the channel numbers shown in the TV guide, and turn those listings on by hand in the channel setup menu.

My understanding (I don't use cable myself) is that the local stations usually appear on QAM channel numbers that don't match either their broadcast channel numbers or the channel numbers on a cable box. So in order to get TV guide listings for them, you'd have to re-map the channel numbers shown in the TV guide, and turn those listings on by hand in the channel setup menu.
Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. My cable company actually has listings for the QAM channels. So I actually get 4 listings for the same channel, but I only use the HD set of listings.
SD cable
HD cable
SD OTA
HD OTA

I did the full factory reset (in two probably unneeded steps- first reset the guide then reset everything) last Thursday morning on one 500.

I was surprised by how quickly the hard drives formated. The entire reset process took just a few minutes. After entering the zipcode info I turned off the unit.

Twelve hours later I still had no clock.

I turned it on to be greeted by an unpleasant surprise. An error message. Something about a successfully recovered hard drive error. I entered OK.

The message was not entirely accurate. Whatever had happened has not recovered successfully. Some few things were responding but very slowly, others not at all. Couldn't change channels for example. Then I discovered I couldn't even turn the unit off.

So I did the soft reset from the front panel.

After it rebooted, it seemed to function properly. Turned it off overnight.

By the following morning the guide had populated. Reordering everything was a huge hassle. But.

The good news is that almost a week later, no issues, no freeze ups.

Now need to do the 250 and another 500 when everything on them is already watched.

For those asking, the answer- at this point- is that yes, a full factory reset fixed the lockup issue.

It may be that for those of us who got lockups, it wasn't the firmware itself (I have the same one again) but a corrupt initial installation.

As it has been less then a full week I am still anxious and hoping it stays without issues. Still I suggest to those suffering to just bite the bullet and do the full reset and hope for the best.

Actually, the soft reset, with all the corrections made by TV Guide for the Houston downloads, have so far solved all problems here. Then benefit being, unit works perfectly AND all previous recordings are retained.

It was the TV Guide grid pattern changes (new download formats) just over a month ago that created all the problems. The storm has now passed.

Thanks to all for those replies about cable without cable card. The array of cable stations listed in channel editor screen - is tempting after all these years being a non cable house.
Is there a reason to keep the ota and cable inputs seperate? ie. one on antenna 1 w other on antenna 2? My ota reception - for perhaps 25 digital stations is just beautiful - particularly the PBS HD stations - but, even those broadcast in sd - are crystal clear with great sound - and now recordable in same way with hdd dg500. Heard cable uses compression and pq (picture quality) not as good as ota. Sorry to be asking all these questions - thanks again to all.

Actually above kind of confusing. What I meant is keeping pure ota input - just that - seperate from whatever will happen with the cable feed. :)
Barry

Actually, the soft reset

Good luck. But.

Before being forced to do the full reset I did soft resets several times on all three units we use.

There were times when the freezing issues seemed to have gone away but in short order it returned at the worst possible time.

The two remaining units I have not yet done fully- but have done soft resets- continue to freeze- or not- at what seem like random times when the unit is otherwise recording.

Anyone want one. I was browsing around a Circuit City in Fredericksburg VA. They had HDD250 in stock. The damn prices was still original retail @ $799. I asked the sales guy to see if price was still $799 and it was. First he tells me it was originally $1k. I said Yeah Right, that was the price of the HD500 and these things are new Ebay specials for a lot less. I did not ask how many units.They have one "unopened" unit and one "display" unit which have been sitting on the shelf since December 2005. Nobody is going to pay full price for the HDD250. I picked up a couple of the Tweeter $249 "closeout" HDD500s last year (February) and use them to record "keeper" OTA events since I have Dish Network HD DVRs for day-to-day recording. I tried to negotiate a fair sales price with the store manager since early November to no avail; he would love to get them off of the shelf, but CC still wants full retail price for the unopened unit, and would only offer a 15% discount for the beat-up display unit.

Thanks to all for those replies about cable without cable card. The array of cable stations listed in channel editor screen - is tempting after all these years being a non cable house.
Is there a reason to keep the ota and cable inputs seperate? ie. one on antenna 1 w other on antenna 2? My ota reception - for perhaps 25 digital stations is just beautiful - particularly the PBS HD stations - but, even those broadcast in sd - are crystal clear with great sound - and now recordable in same way with hdd dg500. Heard cable uses compression and pq (picture quality) not as good as ota. Sorry to be asking all these questions - thanks again to all.

Actually above kind of confusing. What I meant is keeping pure ota input - just that - seperate from whatever will happen with the cable feed. :)
Barry
Your question is quite confusing. What do you mean by separate inputs for cable and air? The unit and most all sets with tuners will have a separate input for cable and antenna. Do you mean keeping the channel lineup separate? This is easily done by remapping channels in the channel setup guide.
Yes, the cable feed will not be as good as the off air feed. Not to go in to a full discussion, suffice it to say, even though cable can carry more, they generally will not. as it is a space issue. And they are rebroadcasting all the locals so you get some loss of quality because of that, meaning, the cable picture will not be as good as the off air. I know I can see a difference.
Michael

Hey Michael:
I always try to find 6 words where one will do. Seems like I am forgetting only have one recorder. If I enlist with the cable company - can the 500 be set up - so that I can keep the ota stations that I'm happy with - coming in via the antenna rather than through some kind of re-broadcast by cable? And this while also incorporating the cable channels in the guide as well? And this would be done by turning on and off stations based on their origination. ie. in N. East PBS - Boston is wgbh-dt = 2.1, wgbh-hd = 2.2 and with cable subscription there may also be a wgbh-dt but it would have a cable channel number and by turning on or off I will be choosing which will go into the channel list and guide. Is that right?

Good luck. But.

Before being forced to do the full reset I did soft resets several times on all three units we use.

There were times when the freezing issues seemed to have gone away but in short order it returned at the worst possible time.

The two remaining units I have not yet done fully- but have done soft resets- continue to freeze- or not- at what seem like random times when the unit is otherwise recording.

Each market may be different at different times (TV Guide does software updates to each market separately).

1. Do soft reset (exit and guide button on front panel) The unit is on when you start this, leave it off after completed for at least a couple of hours.
2. Do a complete tuner "rescan" all channels in the HDD250/500
3. Do a complete TV Guide "Re-SetUp" (answer "no" to that first question and start over). This should be completed just after doing step "2".

The soft reset will not correct the internal software problems with out completing items 2 and 3 above.


Once that is complete you will notice your listing grids are now different. In Houston the difference shows up with Saturday April 14th at noon forward.....the listing grids are defective prior to that date. Again each market will be different.

Even so, in different markets that still may not fix "freezing" because TV Guide for what ever reason is sending out a different download, or has not yet updated the download for your area to correct the problem(s).

Hey Michael:
I always try to find 6 words where one will do. Seems like I am forgetting only have one recorder. If I enlist with the cable company - can the 500 be set up - so that I can keep the ota stations that I'm happy with - coming in via the antenna rather than through some kind of re-broadcast by cable? And this while also incorporating the cable channels in the guide as well? And this would be done by turning on and off stations based on their origination. ie. in N. East PBS - Boston is wgbh-dt = 2.1, wgbh-hd = 2.2 and with cable subscription there may also be a wgbh-dt but it would have a cable channel number and by turning on or off I will be choosing which will go into the channel list and guide. Is that right?

You can activate/deactivate whatever you'd like in the guide. I have both an antenna and the cable input (no cablecard). I have both sets of local HDs active in my guide. I usually record off of the cable HD version as I sometimes have signal dropouts on some OTA stations due to trees (especially in the summer). If the Sony finds a channel during a scan it will assign what it believes is the right Guide data. For HD QAM channels, you will have to remap the channels from the cable company assigned numbers (unless you have a cablecard) to the QAM number like 88.1, 89.2, etc.

I did a soft reset(exit and guide buttons on front panel) tonight just before my unit started recording at 8pm.I was able to watch recorded shows while the unit was recording other programs. No freezing at all.I watched 4 shows while recording 3.


I have 2 500s both on cable with Cox, one with a cablecard and one without. I had the locking problem on both. I just did the soft reset on the one without a cablecard like you mentioned before my unit started to record , and I was also able to watch previously recorded shows while the unit was recording on 3 different channels over a 90 minute period switching between channels that were scheduled to record while watching any of my previous recordings. No lockups, no freezing! I was even able to do playback chasing even while it was still recording. All the buttons on the remote worked while unit was recording. I will now try it with my other unit that has the cable card in it and I'll report back. This is indeed great news!

May be something, may be nothing.

I have my 250 and 500 next to each other.

If you've had the freeze while recording you may have noticed that frequently the clock stops when it freezes and catches up as soon as it unfreezes. I always has a hunch that the clock may be involved in the reason for the freeze.

The clock comes from the data stream, right, so two units side by side should have the identical time. And prior to the freezing starting they always seemed to to move together.

Well I noticed a funny thing after I did a full reset of the 500 (which now works well). While most of the time the clocks showed identically, changing minutes simultaneously, at other times they didn't.

In fact just moment ago, while each is recording - neither being watched- there was a 10 or so second delay when they switched minutes. I've seen the delay as long as 25 seconds.

Later they are synchronized again.

Is it anything? I won't know for sure until I reset the 250 and see if they remain synchronized all the time. I don't know when that will be.

Good luck. But.

Before being forced to do the full reset I did soft resets several times on all three units we use.

There were times when the freezing issues seemed to have gone away but in short order it returned at the worst possible time.

The two remaining units I have not yet done fully- but have done soft resets- continue to freeze- or not- at what seem like random times when the unit is otherwise recording.


How right you were! I spoke of my apparent success too quickly. Although my lockups disappeared while the unit was on and recording, and although I was indeed able to view previously recorded shows while the unit was recording other shows, after I finished viewing what I wanted, and turned off the machine while the red recording light continued to record, I could then not turn the machine back on with the remote and none of the buttons worked. It was indeed temporary as you said, and so like you I finally decided to do the full factory restore.

All went well with the restore, scanned my channels, put in my zip, and turned off the machine. The clock with the correct time came on in about 7 hours. Tomorrow, I'll choose my lineup and wait for it to repopulate. After probably spending the entire weekend sorting out the hundreds of channels, I'll let you know if it was a success for me regarding the lockup problem. Sorry for getting anyone's hopes up.

Well I finally cleared all the recorded programs I cared to watch and did the full factory reset.

It reset relatively quickly and I put in the zip code, rescanned channels etc. Then shut off for the night.

By morning the guide had repopulated and I spent some time reconfiguring my channel display etc. (I use OTA only in the Providence/New Bedford market, but the machine says Boston so Boston it is - I do get several Boston stations)

Set up 2 shows to schedule record last night. Unit off, and it did record them fine. Then the real test I set up a show to record this morning and was going to try to watch one of those prerecorded shows while recording the test show.

It began recording fine, I waited a couple minutes and turned on the unit via the remote. WOW it turned on to the channel it was recording and I was feeling like we might be back in business. Then I tried to get to the guide - nope. REW or Replay in the current show - nope. And the clock was again stopped. The frustration level was rising fast thinking I'd done all the resetting etc. for nothing.
THEN - I did the soft reset (Exit and Guide on front panel) The Machine turned off and reset. Came back up after some time with the show I had scheduled to record for testing recording again.

I tried to turn it on with the remote and voila! we have full function. I put it through some paces, it allowed me full remote go to the guide, choose a recorded show start skip, rew an the clock still updated and the show that was recoding still recorded!!!

So all this long windedness winds up at this moment to....

Full Factory Reset 9012
Then also a soft reset after configuration and repopulation of guide was necessary for me. But as of right now things are working again. I will report if things turn bad but I am very happy to have this machine running correctly again right now.

Now onto some computer problems.....

Does anyone know how long Sony will support the TV guide and where can I purchase one of these besides ebay in upstate NY. Thanks

It has been a while since I've visited this forum. My HDD500 continues to work very well, and I've had no problems with it for quite a while.

Recently, I purchased a Sharp Aquos 37" LCD HDTV, when our Panasonic 32" Tau HDTV-ready set bit the dust (we were watching a recording of Lost from the HDD500, and all of a sudden, the TV made a very rude noise, and stopped working - down for the count :eek: ). The new Sharp is the first unit I've had with HDMI, so I was very excited about the higher quality we would get - and I've not been disappointed on the HD output from the Sony. But, and here is where I need help, the picture is all broken up when the Sony is sending an SD or analog broadcast picture to the Sharp.

I'm not sure if it is the HDD500, the Aquos, some setting I've messed up, or what. :( Any ideas from anyone here?

Thanks,

Rick

... the picture is all broken up when the Sony is sending an SD or analog broadcast picture to the Sharp.What is the output format set to? If its Auto-HDMI, then I would try changing to 1080i or 720p, to see if the symptom changes.

It has been a while since I've visited this forum. My HDD500 continues to work very well, and I've had no problems with it for quite a while.

Recently, I purchased a Sharp Aquos 37" LCD HDTV, when our Panasonic 32" Tau HDTV-ready set bit the dust (we were watching a recording of Lost from the HDD500, and all of a sudden, the TV made a very rude noise, and stopped working - down for the count :eek: ). The new Sharp is the first unit I've had with HDMI, so I was very excited about the higher quality we would get - and I've not been disappointed on the HD output from the Sony. But, and here is where I need help, the picture is all broken up when the Sony is sending an SD or analog broadcast picture to the Sharp.

I'm not sure if it is the HDD500, the Aquos, some setting I've messed up, or what. :( Any ideas from anyone here?

Thanks,

Rick

1. Different brands/models of TV's respond and process HDMI differently.
2. The Sony can be directed to "put out" a specific kind of signal. I have mine set to "native mode"; but I do not use the HDMI because of the constant flicker when changing signal type (like from a 1080i OTA to a 480 SD OTA). Also the Sony and our Samsung have to "re-handshake" every now and then and that cause flicker and/or some jumping, when using HDMI. Therefore I use the component red/green/blue cables and have the Sony set to "native" as that is the way I like. I believe many, perhaps most, on this board use the HDMI; but set the Sony box to put out "only" 1080i signal.............but IMHO our Samsung did better at processing then the Sony did which is why I choose the way I did.

Does anyone know how long Sony will support the TV guide That's the "million dollar question" :).

Its been a week since I 'wiped the HDD' and 'cleared NVM'. After setting up the Guide and channels and preferences again, all seems to be running normally. I can watch previously recorded shows while recording, etc.

No lockups or problems since (knock on wood). It didn't even 'drop' a scheduled program this week.

I think these resets fixed my problems, but I wouldn't recommend going this extreme if the 9012 reset works to clear your lockup problem...

That's the "million dollar question" :).

It appears that most companies maybe pulling away from the TV Guide OnScreen; that is, I have not seen it in many (if any) of the newest TV models - but I have not looked at the latest models in any great detail.

It may be a question of how long TVGuide is able to maintain support in the field, and how long stations will carry it?

It certainly works a zillion times better than Time Warner or Comcast or Dish or Direct TV "show listings".............but just because something is maybe "great" does not mean it can overcome market conditions (big marketing dollars and payola).

The first year with our HDD500 had been great. I hope we get two more years out of it before the plug is pulled.

I saw that the LG Plasma's with the built in DVR's are using TVGOS, so hopefully it won't go away that soon...will these units work after 2009, that's still to be seen.

http://us.lge.com/dvr/

For those of you who power their DVRs through a UPS, I suggest you test them periodically, or at least before you leave for vacation.

Today our house power was interrupted for about a minute, probably caused by the high winds. Since my DVRs are powered through a UPS unit, I assumed that they would remain on. Instead, everything connected to the UPS shut down, and remained so when house power returned. I troubleshot the UPS and determined that one of the two 12VDC batteries had gone bad. Fortunately I was home when it happened instead of being away. Had this happened two weeks ago, I would have lost ten days of scheduled recordings since we just left town for that period.

Before I leave town next time, I plan to test the UPS by disconnecting its power source for a minute.

On a positive note, both my 250 and 500 units powered up normally in that they display the correct time. This isn't a surprise since I've had to remove power several times in recent months in order to remove my Toshiba DVR, which is stacked below them.

Ray

It's been a few days since I powered up my replacement 250 from Sony and all has been good so far, guide is up for 4 days out so far, I am happy. Seems like Sony will trust what you say when it comes to solving problems with these units, eventhough it may work OK when they are testing it out on their bench.

Also, the unit that they sent me does not have the "Void if removed" tag on it, I called Sony and they told me that there is no problem with warranty work in the future eventhough it does not have that tag on it.

Jim

It appears that most companies maybe pulling away from the TV Guide OnScreen; that is, I have not seen it in many (if any) of the newest TV models - but I have not looked at the latest models in any great detail.I have a feeling that it'll be popping back up again eventually, whenever TVGOS finally manages to adapt the service for digital. I imagine they can't be too far off with that, as the Panny E75H I just got (with the 9th generation TVGOS - our Sony's has the 8th) gets a signal to start recording from my SD 322 Dish receiver flawlessly (supposedly, exactly 5 minutes before the recording is to start). And it also is picks up the titles, so I know for sure that there's actually something being sent from the Dish tuner. No guide info yet, though - you have to still use the Dish tuner for that. And it's supposed to get it's guide info for Direct from their signal, too. I also noticed that the TVGOS website has been slowly adding satellite receiver models to their list of which ones it'll work with.

It also works with a digital cable box, but the manual doesn't really specify if it's getting the signal through a digital or (still from) an analog signal. There have been reports in past posts on this thread that they were starting to insert it into the digital stream (for cable and ATSC). Even if it's getting the info from an analog channel now, I think the 9th gen. TVGOS is supposed to be upgradeable to digital (which also has been mentioned by some earlier in this thread.)

Since they've always said all along that they intended to upgrade the feature for digital, I would expect it to show up in some kind of device or display.

Best Buy performance guarantee question:

I have the 4 year Best buy performance guarantee that runs through November 2009.

If TVGOS stops working in February 2009, will I be able to take it to Best Buy and say it does not work anymore!! Just wondering.

Best Buy performance guarantee question:

I have the 4 year Best buy performance guarantee that runs through November 2009.

If TVGOS stops working in February 2009, will I be able to take it to Best Buy and say it does not work anymore!! Just wondering.

Good luck with that. From what I hear about the BB warranties, you are doing good to get service if it truly fails, musch less just lose functionality because of an external source. I don't think that they will consider that a defect or failure due to the equipment breaking.

I saw that the LG Plasma's with the built in DVR's are using TVGOS, so hopefully it won't go away that soon...will these units work after 2009, that's still to be seen.

http://us.lge.com/dvr/

Looks like a kewl product hope we see more like it.

Notice the ad says "worlds first HDTV with built in HD DVR" and it has the TVGuide OnScreen. Of course Mit's had that just over two years ago.........theirs did not work very well because of defects in the "mit's turner" so the product was dropped.

As you can tell the LG TVGuide OnScreen is identical to the Sony Box (as well as the Mit's from a couple of years ago - we had one of those too lol).

I have only had personel experience with the following products with TV Guide OnScreen.

Sony - works
Samsung - works
Mit's - does not work.

1. Different brands/models of TV's respond and process HDMI differently.
2. The Sony can be directed to "put out" a specific kind of signal. I have mine set to "native mode"; but I do not use the HDMI because of the constant flicker when changing signal type (like from a 1080i OTA to a 480 SD OTA). Also the Sony and our Samsung have to "re-handshake" every now and then and that cause flicker and/or some jumping, when using HDMI. Therefore I use the component red/green/blue cables and have the Sony set to "native" as that is the way I like. I believe many, perhaps most, on this board use the HDMI; but set the Sony box to put out "only" 1080i signal.............but IMHO our Samsung did better at processing then the Sony did which is why I choose the way I did.

Thanks! What a simple solution, and I can't figure out why I couldn't figure it out :rolleyes: . I had set the format to "AutoHDMI", but when I went back and set it to 1080i, the pictures are perfect on the Sharp Aquos, no matter analog/SD/HD original source.

Looks like a kewl product hope we see more like it.... Notice the ad says "worlds first HDTV with built in HD DVR" and it has the TVGuide OnScreen.
The LCD models they have out now with DVR's I think are 1st generation. The plasmas they have with it are already on their 2nd or 3rd generation. They've actually been available for a few years now.

...As you can tell the LG TVGuide OnScreen is identical to the Sony Box (as well as the Mit's from a couple of years ago - we had one of those too lol).

I have only had personel experience with the following products with TV Guide OnScreen.

Sony - works
Samsung - works
Mit's - does not work.TVGOS in my new Mits WD-57831 (minus the DVR function) has worked very well in the handful of times I have used it to schedule recording, via firewire, to a media center PC running a D-VHS emulation program. Of course, I don't use it very often since I primarily use a Dish Network HD DVR and a HDD500.

I just hope my TVGOS devices are upgraded to work with ATSC...

Well I noticed a funny thing after I did a full reset of the 500 (which now works well). While most of the time the clocks showed identically, changing minutes simultaneously, at other times they didn't.

In fact just moment ago, while each is recording - neither being watched- there was a 10 or so second delay when they switched minutes. I've seen the delay as long as 25 seconds.

Later they are synchronized again.

Is it anything? I won't know for sure until I reset the 250 and see if they remain synchronized all the time. I don't know when that will be.
Ever since the start of the locking problem I've noticed that the clock on the front of my 500 is sometimes (but not always) as much as 55 seconds behind the clock in it's guide. Really strange. I'll bet that, when the times are off between your two units, you'll find that on at least one of them the time in the guide will change from one minute to the next before the clock on the front of the unit.

Tom

It's been a few days since I powered up my replacement 250 from Sony and all has been good so far, guide is up for 4 days out so far, I am happy. Seems like Sony will trust what you say when it comes to solving problems with these units, eventhough it may work OK when they are testing it out on their bench.

Also, the unit that they sent me does not have the "Void if removed" tag on it, I called Sony and they told me that there is no problem with warranty work in the future eventhough it does not have that tag on it.

Jim


Up to 8+ days out of guide without any problems, looks like my last unit was definitely defective.

In aa county MD (comcast) I've been using cablecard and getting guide data from channel 94. I just noticed that I have not had guide data for 6 days. I tested channel 94 and it is still analog and it passed the vbi test.

Has anyone else noticed this? It seems like it disappeared when I got a new software version on my moto stb but that may be coincidental.

Also - is it ok to force an ota host channel via 963214785? Has anyone had problems doing this? Thanks.

So has anyone as yet managed to successfully add a second HD to their 250?
I was wondering if making a forensic sector copy might work.

In aa county MD (comcast) I've been using cablecard and getting guide data from channel 94. I just noticed that I have not had guide data for 6 days. I tested channel 94 and it is still analog and it passed the vbi test.

Has anyone else noticed this? It seems like it disappeared when I got a new software version on my moto stb but that may be coincidental.

Also - is it ok to force an ota host channel via 963214785? Has anyone had problems doing this? Thanks.
I was getting guide data on my Sony DHG through 94 from Comcast\Alexandria with cablecard until about two months ago. 94 at that time was the analog re-feed of 26 (WETA). Then this local Comcast had hw/sw problems and stopped digital feeds below 90. My guide then reverted to getting data from analog 26. Now they've re-established digital feeds below 90. 94 is now the analog of 22 (WMPT). I'm getting good, consistent guide data, but here's the kicker: when I check the Host channel in the Setup service menu, IT'S BLANK, so I have no idea from where I'm getting it. A Comcast tech told me they're sending it on 97, but I'm not sure I believe that.

On my Panasonic plasma with TVGOS I now get no guide data whatever. I've tried factory resets, and forcing the host channel to 93 (analog of WJLA\ABC), 94, and 97 with no results. Go figure.

If you get a good OTA feed of WETA or WMPT, you could try forcing the host to one of those, but I don't know if the result will include all the channels in your Comcast subscription package.

TVGOS in my new Mits WD-57831 (minus the DVR function) has worked very well in the handful of times I have used it to schedule recording, via firewire, to a media center PC running a D-VHS emulation program. Of course, I don't use it very often since I primarily use a Dish Network HD DVR and a HDD500.

I just hope my TVGOS devices are upgraded to work with ATSC...

In Houston, I had tested Mit's for a full year at four locations (groups of them a Fry's store and Tweeter stores). About 50-60 different sets over a year, none of them worked. I have "not" tested them in the last 15 months or so, so it is possible they have corrected the turners so that they now work with TV Guide OnScreen. During the same time frame, they did not work in Dallas either (tested about 10 Mit's there). The issue was defective software in the Mit's tuners, kept adding bogus stations which prevented seamless integration with the "tuner" and the OnScreen. At some points there would be up to 20 or more bogus channel numbers set up, whick prevented tunning to the correct channel number and/or would lock up the tuner. Neither Sony nor Samsung had that defect (tested about 30 different models of those sets too).

For the most part it is "old" news. If Mit's has TV Guide in this years models I do not know if they work or not. I would think after a couple of years they have it finally resolved?

With corrected "listing grids" in place now, all rolled forward beyond the 8 day fill in, everything is working perfectly in this market.

1. No Lockups
2. Full Search functions now work - no lock ups
3. All Recordings are saved
4. "Percentages" of recordings are correct and displayed
5. All 3 columns on the "listings" yield full data with full programs descriptions and correct durations of programs; regardless of which fields you have the cursor.
6. 95% of "HD" flags are correct (a function of the displaying station reporting correct "info" to TV Guide)

Does anybody know if sony will provide you with a memory stick to update a .06 firmware load? If so does anybody know who to contact?

Thanks!!!
Marshall

Has anyone called and taken the TVGOS survey? I'm about to leave for work and won't have time today, but I'll take it soon. The posting in the ad section of the guide says it ends 5/31/2007. It also tells you to go to: http://www.tvgos.com/sweepsrules.asp
for official rules. Of course, the website is for an older contest that ended Oct. 22, 2006.

I think we should all make a good effort to particapte in this survey. The more people call, the more likely TVGOS will make a real effort to come up with a digital solution for our analog guide downloads. And, who knows, maybe you will win the video iPod.

-Doug

Does anybody know if sony will provide you with a memory stick to update a .06 firmware load? If so does anybody know who to contact?

Try putting the contents of this ZIP file (http://192.67.78.42/tmp/sony_dhg_fw_1.02.13.zip) on an empty, FAT-formatted USB flash drive and inserting it after the DVR is turned on and idle. I checked the files for version 1.02.13 on four different Sony-issued flash drives and they were all identical to these. If you've unpacked the ZIP correctly, the flash drive should have a SONY folder at the root level with three all-caps filenames inside.

If you try this (at your own risk, naturally), please follow up and let us know whether it worked. My unit running 1.02.05 will not take the update for some reason. I'm suspecting it may be necessary to use a particular volume label or model of flash drive, etc.

I was getting guide data on my Sony DHG through 94 from Comcast\Alexandria with cablecard until about two months ago. 94 at that time was the analog re-feed of 26 (WETA). Then this local Comcast had hw/sw problems and stopped digital feeds below 90. My guide then reverted to getting data from analog 26. Now they've re-established digital feeds below 90. 94 is now the analog of 22 (WMPT). I'm getting good, consistent guide data, but here's the kicker: when I check the Host channel in the Setup service menu, IT'S BLANK, so I have no idea from where I'm getting it. A Comcast tech told me they're sending it on 97, but I'm not sure I believe that.

On my Panasonic plasma with TVGOS I now get no guide data whatever. I've tried factory resets, and forcing the host channel to 93 (analog of WJLA\ABC), 94, and 97 with no results. Go figure.

If you get a good OTA feed of WETA or WMPT, you could try forcing the host to one of those, but I don't know if the result will include all the channels in your Comcast subscription package.

I'm not sure why but I had no listings even though channel 94 was sending data. I did the tvgos reset and I now have all my listings again and the host channel is once again channel 94.

I don't have ads anymore but I suspect they'll return when the guide fills completely.

I hope this doesn't become a common occurence as organizing the guide is a ROYAL PITA!!

Has anyone called and taken the TVGOS survey?I'd be more than glad to if you could give me the number to call :).

I checked the files for version 1.02.13 on four different Sony-issued flash drives and they were all identical to these.

Since you didn't quite answer the original question, Mark, let's ask the obvious follow-up... Where does one get four different Sony-issued flash drives? In other words, under what conditions does Sony issue these to the public?

Didn't work for me either. Pluggin it in once it's booted up elicits no response at all. Tried leaving it in and power cycling the DVR, this just causes the boot process to hang.

Try putting the contents of this ZIP file (http://192.67.78.42/tmp/sony_dhg_fw_1.02.13.zip) on an empty, FAT-formatted USB flash drive and inserting it after the DVR is turned on and idle.

Since you didn't quite answer the original question, Mark, let's ask the obvious follow-up... Where does one get four different Sony-issued flash drives? In other words, under what conditions does Sony issue these to the public?

You have to get your phone case sufficiently escalated (like by reporting an HDMI display compatibility problem that the .13 version is apparently needed to solve). They won't send you the update just for asking. I got the files from other users who each received their own flash drives from Sony (though the files on each were identical).

I'm not sure why but I had no listings even though channel 94 was sending data. I did the tvgos reset and I now have all my listings again and the host channel is once again channel 94.

I don't have ads anymore but I suspect they'll return when the guide fills completely.

I hope this doesn't become a common occurence as organizing the guide is a ROYAL PITA!!
Congratulations! You're right that this is a pita. How did you perform the tvgos reset? On my Panasonic TV I've tried the Setup code (653274147) which resets the slicing data, but that had no effect and I'm still getting no data.

Thanks.

I put the files on a 256Meg LEXAR Jump Drive with a volume Label of SONYHDD500 and when I insert the drive a firmware upgrade message box pops up. (I am not having any issues so I canceled the upgrade.)

My DVR is the HDD500 Factory firmware .05

Maybe these files are only for the HDD500 series?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b256/jlivdahl/HDD500_Upgrade.jpg

Didn't work for me either. Pluggin it in once it's booted up elicits no response at all. Tried leaving it in and power cycling the DVR, this just causes the boot process to hang.

I put the SONY folder on a 2GB Micro Cruzer (the usb drive has the U3 software on a CD ROM partition). This also caused the SONY to popup the upgrade message when inserted. This drive has alot of files and folders on it and has a different volume label.

I conclude from these tests that this firmware is only for the HDD500. Has anybody upgraded a HDD250 via USB drive? I don't have a HDD250 anymore, I returned it to BBY after I bought the Tweeters HDD500 special.......

I know Mark has a 250 (from his posts of trying to add a 2nd HD.) Has anybody had a failure on a HDD500?


I put the files on a 256Meg LEXAR Jump Drive with a volume Label of SONYHDD500 and when I insert the drive a firmware upgrade message box pops up. (I am not having any issues so I canceled the upgrade.)

My DVR is the HDD500 Factory firmware .05

Maybe these files are only for the HDD500 series?

With no problem, I was able to successfully upgrade BOTH a HDD250 (1.2.06) and 500 (1.2.05) using: a SANDISK 256MB drive, the files provided by Mark, AND labeling the USB key/flash drive SONYHDD500.
WITHOUT the disk label the drive did nothing for me; with the label everything was as described earlier (ie. I received the A NEW VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE prompt, acknowledged it as well as some additional prompts, and successfully completed BOTH upgrades).

I put the SONY folder on a 2GB Micro Cruzer (the usb drive has the U3 software on a CD ROM partition). This also caused the SONY to popup the upgrade message when inserted. This drive has alot of files and folders on it and has a different volume label.

I conclude from these tests that this firmware is only for the HDD500. Has anybody upgraded a HDD250 via USB drive? I don't have a HDD250 anymore, I returned it to BBY after I bought the Tweeters HDD500 special.......

I know Mark has a 250 (from his posts of trying to add a 2nd HD.) Has anybody had a failure on a HDD500?

About a year ago I upgraded my HDD250/.05 firmware with Sony flash drive but it revered back to .05 when I did a factory restore. I assume that those of you who upgraded their firmware and subsequently performed factory restore to solve freeze problem now have the same result.


Ray

I didn't see this in the manual, but if you are tuned to a particular channel (either antenna or cable), and you enter EXACTLY the same channel number, it switches to that same channel on the other input (i.e.: antenna->cable, or cable->antenna). So if you are watching, for example, ANTENNA channel 3 and you enter "3" on the remote control, it will switch to CABLE channel 3. Since I have nothing connected to the CABLE input, the first time it did this, I thought something was wrong, but if I listened carefully I could hear the relay between the two inputs click, and if you wait for it to time out, the info display then shows it was trying to tune cable. Pressing 3 again switches back to ANTENNA.

Ok, I've finally had enough of the TVGOS problems...my HDD500 is factory updated with software 1.2.13. Will I still have 1.2.13 post factory reset or will it revert to an older version? Also, where can I download 1.2.13...just in case?

THX

What are the chances that our TVGOS will be upgraded in the future to support getting program guide from ATSC signals instead of NTSC. What will happen once NTSC is shutoff?

With no problem, I was able to successfully upgrade BOTH a HDD250 (1.2.06) and 500 (1.2.05) using: a SANDISK 256MB drive, the files provided by Mark, AND labeling the USB key/flash drive SONYHDD500.
WITHOUT the disk label the drive did nothing for me; with the label everything was as described earlier (ie. I received the A NEW VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE prompt, acknowledged it as well as some additional prompts, and successfully completed BOTH upgrades).
I've got the update file on a usb drive with the volume lable set to SONYHDD500. Now the only question I have is what will doing the upgrade do for me? My 250 seems to work just fine with the 1.2.6 firmware it came with.

Nice, I'll try it again tonight. I'd think the firmware would be the same for both the 250 and the 500. They are the same exact hardware with the 500 just having a second drive if I remember right.

You could probably turn a 250 into a 500 if we could only figure out what Sony did to the @#^! drives!

I put the files on a 256Meg LEXAR Jump Drive with a volume Label of SONYHDD500 and when I insert the drive a firmware upgrade message box pops up.
Aha! I must not have tried that volume label. Did you figure it out by experimentation or by a different method? If you or anyone else manages to get inside the TARGET.CFS file (a Linux cramfs image - appears to be encrypted), that would be a major breakthrough.

The firmware IS the same for the HDD250 and 500. I have both models now, both with 1.02.05 as the original shipping firmware, and the files for each (on the hard drive) are identical.

Ok, I've finally had enough of the TVGOS problems...my HDD500 is factory updated with software 1.2.13. Will I still have 1.2.13 post factory reset or will it revert to an older version? Also, where can I download 1.2.13...just in case?

THX

Obviously you didn't read my posting, which is just a few above yours. Mine reverted back to .05 after reset so I assume yours will too. Since Firmware upgrade is only to fix problems with tv compatibility, don't be concerned with returning to .05 if it works for you.

Ray

I've got the update file on a usb drive with the volume lable set to SONYHDD500. Now the only question I have is what will doing the upgrade do for me? My 250 seems to work just fine with the 1.2.6 firmware it came with.Does anyone have an answer to this?

Wow...what's all this about the factory reset reverting the firmware?? I never heard that one here before. I've toyed with the idea of trying the facory reset to fix the locking problem, but I don't like the sound of that at all.

Can anyone verify that a factory upgraded (not user upgraded) 1.2.13 will do likewise? It would seem pretty strange for an upgrade that required shipment to the factory to be a simple flash upgrade that could be undone by a reset.

Tom

Can't get mine to update for anything. Used the volume label above, tried copying the files in the SONY folder as well as just putting them in the drive. Tried using SONYHDD250 as the volume label as mine is a 250. Even tried using my digital camera as the drive. No reaction whatsoever from the unit when I plug in the drive.

I don't have any particular need to the firmware, but I though it's update it as long as it was posted here. Oh well.

Congratulations! You're right that this is a pita. How did you perform the tvgos reset? On my Panasonic TV I've tried the Setup code (653274147) which resets the slicing data, but that had no effect and I'm still getting no data.

Thanks.

First I made sure all my analog pbs stations were turned on (OTA and cable).

In the setup screen I scrolled down and highlighted "change system settings" (highlight only - don't press select!) and entered the numbers 653274147. I then got a message saying the tvgos will reset automatically.

I then went back and checked the guide and there was no data including no channels (which freaked me out a little). I powered off and the next morning it prompted me to choose a region within my zip code. I then I had a complete guide.

The reset was very easy and all of my settings / recordings / season passes were in tact. I did have to organize the list again which took about an hour but at least I'm up and running again.

Hi folks,
I have a DHG-HDD250 I purchased used from someone, and did a factory reset when I received it.

It's successfully running on Cox cable with a Cablecard, but I have two behaviors that are really odd and frustrating with the unit.

The unit steadfastly refuses to delete recorded programs on demand. This is true whether I select the recording from the list and choose delete from the menu, or if I press the right arrow while playing one back and select delete from the options menu that pops up.

Has anyone experienced an inability to delete programs?

The unit also immediately begins to play recorded programs immediately upon being powered up. It's not immediately responsive to things like the guide button, though pause works.

I have f/w 1.2.13.

Just some HDMI compatibility fixes is all that SONY advertises. A long time ago in this thread there was talk about this firmware adding TVGOS reception over ATSC channels capability, but I doubt that is in the SONY firmware. It would seem that the ATSC guide reception would be in the TVGOS firmware which is updated with the guide data.

Does anyone have an answer to this?

pa28pilot, it sounds like your unit may be in demo mode (for running all day in retail stores, where it would be undesirable to let people delete the demo clips). There's a way to turn this off in the service menus - see the resource guide (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html) for details on how to get into them.

Sorry about that. I figured that most people had seen the ad on the TVGOS and had the phone #. If not, here it is: 1 888-873-2717.

I'd be more than glad to if you could give me the number to call :).
TVGOS Feedback Survey Contest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone called and taken the TVGOS survey? I'm about to leave for work and won't have time today, but I'll take it soon. The posting in the ad section of the guide says it ends 5/31/2007. It also tells you to go to: http://www.tvgos.com/sweepsrules.asp
for official rules. Of course, the website is for an older contest that ended Oct. 22, 2006.

I think we should all make a good effort to particapte in this survey. The more people call, the more likely TVGOS will make a real effort to come up with a digital solution for our analog guide downloads. And, who knows, maybe you will win the video iPod.

-Doug

With no problem, I was able to successfully upgrade BOTH a HDD250 (1.2.06) and 500 (1.2.05) using: a SANDISK 256MB drive, the files provided by Mark, AND labeling the USB key/flash drive SONYHDD500.
WITHOUT the disk label the drive did nothing for me; with the label everything was as described earlier (ie. I received the A NEW VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE prompt, acknowledged it as well as some additional prompts, and successfully completed BOTH upgrades).
Did the firmware upgrades do anything else similar to a 9012 factory reset, or where your channel lists and other preference settings unaffected?

What are the chances that our TVGOS will be upgraded in the future to support getting program guide from ATSC signals instead of NTSC. What will happen once NTSC is shutoff?

FCC eyes forcing cable TV to carry digital, analog

http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN1126014720070411

Did the firmware upgrades do anything else similar to a 9012 factory reset, or where your channel lists and other preference settings unaffected?

I just did the upgrade from 1.2.05 and none of the
channel listings or preferences where changed.

Try putting the contents of this ZIP file (http://192.67.78.42/tmp/sony_dhg_fw_1.02.13.zip) on an empty, FAT-formatted USB flash drive and inserting it after the DVR is turned on and idle..

Thanks Mark for posting the software.

I just updated my first of 5 SONY DVRs.

The first one went smoothly. It was at 1.02.05.

I just named the drive as SONYHDD50
and all went well with not listing of
preferences lost.

Another reason I love the sony - the 30 second skip works great for football games (almost perfect to skip time between snaps. Changing it to the 15 second skip is almost perfect for baseball (time between pitches). I can usually watch an entire football or baseball game in less than an hour without missing any action!! Very nice feature. The more I use the sony the more I love it (just wish it had 2 tuners though).

Obviously you didn't read my posting, which is just a few above yours. Mine reverted back to .05 after reset so I assume yours will too. Since Firmware upgrade is only to fix problems with tv compatibility, don't be concerned with returning to .05 if it works for you.

RayYour assumption would be incorrect since I did read your post. The difference is that you flashed your unit via USB vice mine being upgraded at the Sony Repair Center to repair Cablecard issues. I am not sure if there is a difference, but I do know that at least one of my units did not work well with .06 and Cablecard.

Are my choices do nothing and suffer or flash the unit and go back to .06 and Cablecard woes? Anyway, I would hope that .13 would be my new "factory default" software version after a trip to the SRC.

Anyway, I try it tonight and see what happens...

Not sure if anyone is keeping score but I just upgraded a HDD500 with 1.2.05.

I haven't been following this thread lately.
When did this firmware upgrade appear and how can you get it?

Just read back a dozen or so posts and there is the zip file. This firmware update is really old but the files have finally been shared from the once who were fortunate enough to get sony to send them the update flash drive.

I haven't been following this thread lately.
When did this firmware upgrade appear and how can you get it?

so what exactly does the new firmware do? TV compatibility? What does that mean?

Your assumption would be incorrect since I did read your post. The difference is that you flashed your unit via USB vice mine being upgraded at the Sony Repair Center to repair Cablecard issues. I am not sure if there is a difference, but I do know that at least one of my units did not work well with .06 and Cablecard.

Are my choices do nothing and suffer or flash the unit and go back to .06 and Cablecard woes? Anyway, I would hope that .13 would be my new "factory default" software version after a trip to the SRC.

Anyway, I try it tonight and see what happens...

Cablecard woes have nothing to do with the firmware. This tread contains lots of postings on cablecard problems - sometimes fix must be done at Sony. With regard to your firmware update at Sony, my bet is that it was done by USB input, and after factory reset your firmware version will roll back to .05, which is only a problem if you can't get the correct picture on your tv.

Ray

Another reason I love the sony - the 30 second skip works great for football games (almost perfect to skip time between snaps. Changing it to the 15 second skip is almost perfect for baseball (time between pitches).Good Lord!! Now I've heard everything!

We really HAVE become a "short attention span" society :rolleyes:.

so what exactly does the new firmware do? TV compatibility? What does that mean?Read post #9468.

That's it?
BFD

When you have a PRODUCT as Perfect as the Sony DVR,
there is not a lot you can add :p

When you have a PRODUCT as Perfect as the Sony DVR,
there is not a lot you can add :p Don't get me going................I could start a new thread.

By enlarge agree -

The only things I can think of are (in order of importance to me):

-a sense that the EPG will work after 2009.
-a way to repair/upgrade the hard drives
-a way archive content (e.g. firewire or BD/DVD recorder)
-a second tuner

AT VERY BEST - you might get the first - but
the rest are not achievable for a discontinued
product.

I have to think by 2009 - there will be alternative
DVR products. I have 5 SONY DVRs and if I have
to scrap all 5 in 2009 - OH WELL - they have served
their purpose for 3 years.

FCC eyes forcing cable TV to carry digital, analog

http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN1126014720070411
Well lets hope that they carry at least one analog channel that carries TVGOS data. :D

I've scanned the manual, but didn't see reference to this. Is there a way, when we do guide based recording, to manually add 5-10 minutes to the recording time to make sure we don't miss anything? Just curious. Thank you.

I've scanned the manual, but didn't see reference to this. Is there a way, when we do guide based recording, to manually add 5-10 minutes to the recording time to make sure we don't miss anything? Just curious. Thank you.
Yes. Rather than doing the 'one button' recording selection from the TV Guide, press the Menu button. This will give you a menu on the left which allows you to adjust the start/end times by x minutes as well as set it to record once, weekly, regularly and other options like how long to retain it, etc.

By the way, I've got a son lives across the river from you in Vancouver WA.

Yes. Rather than doing the 'one button' recording selection from the TV Guide, press the Menu button. This will give you a menu on the left which allows you to adjust the start/end times by x minutes as well as set it to record once, weekly, regularly and other options like how long to retain it, etc.

By the way, I've got a son lives across the river from you in Vancouver WA.

Thank you Jimmyv. I'll have to try that. I'm sure he's enjoying the rain as much as I am :)

CBS TO HANDLE GEMSTAR TVGOS

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435011.html.

(Unfortunately, it doesn't completely answer ALL of our questions.)

CBS TO HANDLE GEMSTAR TVGOS:

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435011.html.

(Unfortunately, it doesn't completely answer ALL of our questions.)

Cool Article.

Now if only Sony will provide software for the DHG-HDD
-- Then we would be GOLDEN [GRIN]!

CBS TO HANDLE GEMSTAR TVGOS (courtesy of "nextoo" from the DVD Recorder threads):

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435011.html.

(Unfortunately, it doesn't completely answer ALL of our questions - also, remember that WBBM will eventually be moving to hi-VHF 11.)
That's very encouraging. It may be that only the TVGOS firmware will need to be updated, hopefully Sony's agreement with them requires them to update old systems like the DHG-HDDs not just their then current products.

Has anyone seen a glitch in the program guide such that when you scroll left or right, the program title in a particular timeslot changes?

I was seeing this Wednesday evening when ABC decided to rerun an episode of LOST in the timeslot previously occupied by In Case Of Emergency. Scrolling left and right past this slot in the program guide, the show title would actually switch back and forth between these two titles. Very strange!

Has anyone seen a glitch in the program guide such that when you scroll left or right, the program title in a particular timeslot changes?

I was seeing this Wednesday evening when ABC decided to rerun an episode of LOST in the timeslot previously occupied by In Case Of Emergency. Scrolling left and right past this slot in the program guide, the show title would actually switch back and forth between these two titles. Very strange!
I saw that as well. Plus Meduim was listed as new, but was a repeat.
Michael

I saw that as well. Plus Meduim was listed as new, but was a repeat.
Michael

I know the TV Guide published edition tells if a show is new or a repeat but I've never seen that in TVGOS. At best I see HD listed with shows to show the show is in HiDef.

Is there some setting I'm missing?

when you look at the details of the episode, to the left of the rating will be a "New" symbol if the show isn't a repeat (first time airing).

Did the firmware upgrades do anything else similar to a 9012 factory reset, or where your channel lists and other preference settings unaffected?

No settings were effected on either unit.... ie. all scheduled items, channel listings, recorded items, and preferences remained unchanged.

Has anyone seen a glitch in the program guide such that when you scroll left or right, the program title in a particular timeslot changes?

I was seeing this Wednesday evening when ABC decided to rerun an episode of LOST in the timeslot previously occupied by In Case Of Emergency. Scrolling left and right past this slot in the program guide, the show title would actually switch back and forth between these two titles. Very strange!

I first noticed this a few weeks ago. I also noticed on some programming (HDNet comes to mind) that the program guide description would simply say "HDNet Programming", but then when you would scroll past the starting time slot and into the 2nd half-hour increment slot, the description would change and provide the name of the actual show that was on.

Has anyone seen a glitch in the program guide such that when you scroll left or right, the program title in a particular timeslot changes? Same here.

when you look at the details of the episode, to the left of the rating will be a "New" symbol if the show isn't a repeat (first time airing).

Thanks

Funny I never noticed it before (maybe because I never look at that line) but I don't know how reliable it is. Coincidently just as I was looking at it, I saw that this week's Sat Night Live is not rated as new but moments later I saw a plug on NBC to watch this week's NEW Sat Night Live.

Still good to have.

Same here.
That's what happened on Tuesday with Dancing with the Stars and George Lopez.

I think that happens when the networks make a last second change to the schedule and there is a 1/2 hour show that's being replaced.

For example, DWTS was added in the 8-9 slot. George Lopez was in the 8:30-9 slot. So when the listing got updated, the show that was scheduled for the 8-8:30 slot was replaced with DWTS. George Lopez didn't get fully deleted.

For what it's worth, DTWS got recorded fine.

ft

That's very encouraging. It may be that only the TVGOS firmware will need to be updated, hopefully Sony's agreement with them requires them to update old systems like the DHG-HDDs not just their then current products.

It's more than likely the proposed DVS-706 "VBI in MPEG" standard. It would be a hardware and firmware issue with the DHG's MPEG decoder. The number on the chip is hard to make out from the earlier photos uploaded. Read page 7 in the linked document.

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/comments/dtvcoupon_comment0082.pdf

With no problem, I was able to successfully upgrade BOTH a HDD250 (1.2.06) and 500 (1.2.05) using: a SANDISK 256MB drive, the files provided by Mark, AND labeling the USB key/flash drive SONYHDD500.
WITHOUT the disk label the drive did nothing for me; with the label everything was as described earlier (ie. I received the A NEW VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE prompt, acknowledged it as well as some additional prompts, and successfully completed BOTH upgrades).
Mark (or anyone else who's done this successfully):

I have a HDD250 with the .06 factory firmware. I've tried upgrading to .13 with both of the following: 1) Label a 64Mb USB flash drive as SONYHDD500 and copy the three extracted files to the root directory; turn DHG on, pop the cabel card, insert the flash drive - no response. 2) Same drive & label; copy the SONY folder containing the three files to the flash drive; rest of process the same - again, no response.

Am I not doing something correctly or perhaps simply not waiting long enough for the unit to recognize and respond to the USB drive?

Thanks.

Mark (or anyone else who's done this successfully):

I have a HDD250 with the .06 factory firmware. I've tried upgrading to .13 with both of the following: 1) Label a 64Mb USB flash drive as SONYHDD500 and copy the three extracted files to the root directory; turn DHG on, pop the cabel card, insert the flash drive - no response. 2) Same drive & label; copy the SONY folder containing the three files to the flash drive; rest of process the same - again, no response.

Am I not doing something correctly or perhaps simply not waiting long enough for the unit to recognize and respond to the USB drive?

Thanks.

Make sure the drive is formatted as FAT. If that doesn't work then try FAT32. I have not tried this but I think you need the files in the Sony sub folder. My .09 firmware has never given me any issues.

The files must be in the SONY folder, that folder must be in the root directory, and the volume label must be SONYHDD500.

Don't insert the flash drive until the unit is fully up and tuned to a channel.

Removing the cable card isn't necessary. In fact, doing this could be triggering an internal response to the change, indicating the unit is not idle enough to take a firmware update.

Mark F. & rcrach:

Thanks. Checked everything per your suggestions; still no response (sigh). Oh, well - upgrade would likely not solve my missing-channels problem through the cable card, anyway.

I had been having the same problem, finally got it to work today. Seems that it's picky to some extent about the flash drive as well. I had been using a generic drive that I had got free. Bought a Lexar 1GB drive today and it worked right away.

I also noticed it improved the front display with my cable card. It now shows the short name instead of always trying to display the too long full channel name.

Mark (or anyone else who's done this successfully):

turn DHG on, pop the cabel card, insert the flash drive - no response. 2) Same drive & label; copy the SONY folder containing the three files to the flash drive; rest of process the same - again, no response.

Having upgraded my HDD250 with the files supplied by Mark, THANKS MARK!!! I had a thought. We all know that you can't just do a bit copy of the drive because they must use and write the HD serial number (not the one stored on the drive but the one stored in the drive's firmware) into the firmware. I was wondering if you copied the drive and then did the update if it would read the drive's serial number and create a new image that had the new drives SN into the new firmware image.

Can anybody try this? I did the update already and nothing happens now when I insert the USB drive into the unit.

Thanks
Marshall

Cablecard woes have nothing to do with the firmware. This tread contains lots of postings on cablecard problems - sometimes fix must be done at Sony. With regard to your firmware update at Sony, my bet is that it was done by USB input, and after factory reset your firmware version will roll back to .05, which is only a problem if you can't get the correct picture on your tv.

Ray

I have a feeling you're wrong about that, but I think we can find out easily enough. In the system menu (Menu, press Screen Mode button, enter 1234) go into the 'Software Main' section. That appears to show the current firmware as well as a line that says: "Software Version (factory default)". My factory upgraded unit shows 2.1.13 there. I'm betting that yours has a lower version there.

I really think that the factory upgrade involved changing the rom that loads the default firmware.

Tom

Are my choices do nothing and suffer or flash the unit and go back to .06 and Cablecard woes? Anyway, I would hope that .13 would be my new "factory default" software version after a trip to the SRC.

Anyway, I try it tonight and see what happens...
Just wonderring if you ever tried this, and what firmware version you ended up with. As per my previous post, I'd suspect you'd still have 2.1.13.

Tom

With corrected "listing grids" in place now, all rolled forward beyond the 8 day fill in, everything is working perfectly in this market.

Today I'm trying to duplicate the locking problem, and to may amazement, I simply can't. My locking problem was 100% repeatable simply by recording with the unit on.

What exactly are you referring to regarding the "corrected listing grids"? I'm trying to figure out what might have changed to correct my locking problems, as the TVGOS firmware is still 8.06.44.

I'm wondering if it's simply from older guide data cycling out of the guide. Mine was so bad that I stopped even trying to record with the unit on some time ago. The last time I did I may have had old guide data.

In any case, I seem to be golden now. I can record with the unit on while watching other recordings...everything I couldn't do before. Anyone else seeing their locking issues mysteriously gone?

Tom

I have a feeling you're wrong about that, but I think we can find out easily enough. In the system menu (Menu, press Screen Mode button, enter 1234) go into the 'Software Main' section. That appears to show the current firmware as well as a line that says: "Software Version (factory default)". My factory upgraded unit shows 2.1.13 there. I'm betting that yours has a lower version there.

I really think that the factory upgrade involved changing the rom that loads the default firmware.

Tom

The flash drive upgraded my 250 to version .13 and after factory reset it now shows version .05. I can't imagine Sony replacing a soldered device when same can be accomplished with flash drive. Looking forward to seeing posting from someone who had the factory upgrade and subsequently performed a factory reset.

Ray

Today I'm trying to duplicate the locking problem, and to may amazement, I simply can't. My locking problem was 100% repeatable simply by recording with the unit on.

What exactly are you referring to regarding the "corrected listing grids"? I'm trying to figure out what might have changed to correct my locking problems, as the TVGOS firmware is still 8.06.44.

I'm wondering if it's simply from older guide data cycling out of the guide. Mine was so bad that I stopped even trying to record with the unit on some time ago. The last time I did I may have had old guide data.

In any case, I seem to be golden now. I can record with the unit on while watching other recordings...everything I couldn't do before. Anyone else seeing their locking issues mysteriously gone?

Tom

My locking problems only went away on the 500 unit on which I did a factory restore. On the other 500, I have, the locking problem remains. I am glad that your problems seem to be over, but I would test it a few more times over the next few days to feel relieved. At first , a soft reset for me fixed the locking temporarily, but then came back. I'm afraid that for those of us who experience the problem, only a factory restore eliminates it, and brings it back to what it was. Thus, my advice is to do the factory restore to get rid of the problem of locking if you have it, and only then do the upgrade if you feel you need to have it so as not to revert to an earlier firmware.

The flash drive upgraded my 250 to version .13 and after factory reset it now shows version .05. I can't imagine Sony replacing a soldered device when same can be accomplished with flash drive...I doubt that unsoldering/soldering a chip is needed. The onboard NV devices are probably flash, not ROM. I suspect that there is more to the firmware upgrade process than just loading from the USB drive. Consider the following special command codes:

352747373 Reset Flash Memory
352742666 Commit Flash Memory
352747283 Save To Flash Memory
352747378 Restore From Flash Memory

It may be that the unit reverts to the original version because the new load was not saved/committed to flash memory. Just a guess.

Just wonderring if you ever tried this, and what firmware version you ended up with. As per my previous post, I'd suspect you'd still have 2.1.13.

TomI performed a "Restore Factory Default" from the 9012 menu a few days ago and it was still at version 1.2.13. I later noticed 1.2.13 was the Factory Default software version in the software main menu. In any case, the unit has once again returned to operating normally. The only two things I have noticed is a) it takes a second of two longer for the TVGOS menu to appear after hitting the TV Guide or Rec List buttons and b) when viewing recording "Rec List" I noticed the hard disk percentage no longer displays. For example, I have a handful of of Everybody Loves Raymond and Jay Leno recordings. TVGOS used to tell me the percentage of hard disk space being used by all recordings in this group (very handy), but I cannot find this is any of the setup options. Anyway, other than these minor points, the unit has been working perfectly once again.

The factory default Sony firmware is stored on the hard drive. I know this for certain because I did experiments a while back in which I replaced the .05 files on the disk with the .13 versions and the unit did default to .13 when I did the front panel Wipe Unit procedure or the factory reset from the 9012 menu. If someone requires .13 to be the factory default, they could remove the drives and update the files there (as Sony apparently does as part of its service procedure). But after the rare use of "Restore Factory Default", it might be easier to just update to .13 from the flash drive again...

Personally, I think leaving the .05 files as the factory default is a good idea - it provides a way to revert to the earlier firmware in case .13 turns out to have problems or "features" we'd like to escape (such as (hypothetically) support for deleting certain recordings at the request of broadcasters etc.)

From what I have gathered, the TVGOS flash memory codes cosmicvoid mentioned are unrelated to the Sony firmware, common to all TVGOS-enabled products, and affect only the TVGOS subsystem of the DVR.

1. Today I'm trying to duplicate the locking problem, and to may amazement, I simply can't. My locking problem was 100% repeatable simply by recording with the unit on.

2. What exactly are you referring to regarding the "corrected listing grids"? I'm trying to figure out what might have changed to correct my locking problems, as the TVGOS firmware is still 8.06.44.

3. I'm wondering if it's simply from older guide data cycling out of the guide. Mine was so bad that I stopped even trying to record with the unit on some time ago. The last time I did I may have had old guide data.

4. In any case, I seem to be golden now. I can record with the unit on while watching other recordings...everything I couldn't do before. Anyone else seeing their locking issues mysteriously gone?

Tom

1. Good

2. "correct listing grids" is close to impossible to describe.

I gave a somewhat detail desciption of it a month ago? In this thread.

Basically, when TV Guide was overlaying the "new" grid "over" the "old" grid; A lot of things got messed up real bad. (including I believe the locking issues many had). At the time the "grids" were messed up. The easiest way to see this, was to be in "wide screen" listings. Review all 8 days basically, with 3 columns on the screen. as you moved your cursor from right to left and back again, you would notice sometimes program data was "correct" and other times it would be "wrong" (not just missing per se). I would venture to say that maybe 95% would not be aware of this just by glancing at their listing screen. Your eyes have got to be open to see it and you really have to be paying attention to see what was going on. Because "program times" would also be "wrong" depending on which field you were in...it would cause the Sony box to lock up at times (and there was a trick to prevent it from locking up on recordings (put the cursor in a field that did not have defective data in it)(again most will not see it) Besides a half dozen or so "errors" in the fields one of the most common was program length. For example let say the correct time for a program was from 8PM to 9PM............BUT depending on whether you move the cursor from left to right; or rigth to left, or was in the far right field of the the 3 column screen, or the middle, or the far left.......would therefore determine if the correct time of 8PM to 9PM was actually shown or not............and if it was NOT and you did not catch it and tried to record it would screw up the box (most often lock up) and drive you crazy. The grid may have incorrectly shown 8:30PM to 9PM and/or 8PM to 8:30PM and you not catch the error, until you tried to record it and then it locks up.

3. Yes, depending on your "market" with a new grid (listings) in place the problems should be gone. If not, do the resets I talked about above a few weeks ago and the problems will be gone IF and Only If, new listing grids are in place for your market.

4. Good, Yes - and it is 8.06.44 here too. with all grid data 100% perfect and still no lock ups.