Stupid me, I reset both of them so now I can't record at all. It has been 7 hours and the clock hasn't returned.

So now I'm stuck not being able to record anything. Any other ideas before I cut my losses and dump them on eBay?

For the clock to return - YOU HAVE TO SHUT THEM OFF.

They have both been off for 7 hours! I turned them off after the warm reset. I powered cycled them again just now and they both say 2:41PM (at 10:34PM) instead of --:--

They are both off again.

Hey everyone. Is anyone else having problems with their listings (or failing the VBI test in the G* Factory test)?

My local station is having technical difficulties receiving the data (my clock won't set either). I am failing the G* test on that channel.

Is this a national thing, or local?

Thanks,
Jeff

That's what I am dealing with here in Austin Texas. I wrote the local station Manager and here's the response that I received.... Not very encouraging.. I wondered when I checked the host channel in the service menu why it was pointing to CBS but I guess I know why now.. I guess I'm out of luck until CBS decides to start broadcasting the VBI data locally in Austin.. Any suggestions?

"PBS had been distributing the Gemstar/TV Guide data, but a new national level agreement with CBS was announced last year. We spoke with an engineer at KEYE and he said they were in the process of implementing the service, but it was not operational yet. It had been delayed because the new owners of KEYE wanted to review the contract before starting the service. "

:mad:They have both been off for 7 hours! I turned them off after the warm reset. I powered cycled them again just now and they both say 2:41PM (at 10:34PM) instead of --:--

They are both off again.

Sivartk-No need to give up on your Sony just yet.. check out my previous post regarding this.. If you live in or around the Austin TX Metro area, CBS (KEYE) is not fulfulling their part of the contract yet and PBS has stopped broadcasting the TVGOS data.. This is not good.. The PBS station Manager reached out to the engineers for an update on this... Cross your fingers and hope that this is not a long term delay...:mad:

They have both been off for 7 hours! I turned them off after the warm reset. I powered cycled them again just now and they both say 2:41PM (at 10:34PM) instead of --:--

They are both off again.

If they are OFF and no clock comes back.

I would say you have a local problem - with your
PBS station not sending out the TVGOS. As identified
in the ABOVE post.

"PBS had been distributing the Gemstar/TV Guide data, but a new national level agreement with CBS was announced last year. We spoke with an engineer at KEYE and he said they were in the process of implementing the service, but it was not operational yet. It had been delayed because the new owners of KEYE wanted to review the contract before starting the service. "

Stupid me reset the clock, so I'm screwed....guess one these will go on ebay this week to get some money out of them while I can. Actually looking at what they are going for, I may be able to sell one for more than I paid for my pair :D One has to stay to use on the projector.

I own 5 of these Sony DVRs.

I have never experienced any drop-out.

Occasionally, I get drop-out but I attribute them to the signal source. At least once I recorded on both the Sony and cable company dvr and thereby was able to confirm problem was with the tv station since both recordings had the same dropout. Also, very unlikely that two units would have the same defect.

Ray

Occasionally, I get drop-out but I attribute them to the signal source. At least once I recorded on both the Sony and cable company dvr and thereby was able to confirm problem was with the tv station since both recordings had the same dropout. Also, very unlikely that two units would have the same defect.

Ray

I have seen network drop outs and they are obviously
the Network and not the SONY DVR.

Well, I up and did it and sold one. Took 3 hours and got $450 (for a 250GB). Almost makes me want to run down to Fry's and buy the last one they have for $250 :) I'll probably get the TR-50 when it is released this summer and then not have to worry about 2009. The one I still have will work fine for a TV tuner in the theater room for sporting events, etc. It worked today fine...my team on the other hand.....

Well, I up and did it and sold one. Took 3 hours and got $450 (for a 250GB). Almost makes me want to run down to Fry's and buy the last one they have for $250 :) I'll probably get the TR-50 when it is released this summer and then not have to worry about 2009. The one I still have will work fine for a TV tuner in the theater room for sporting events, etc. It worked today fine...my team on the other hand.....

Wow!! that's awesome.. I noticed that they are very few on sale but the minimum selling prices is $399.. Good sell!:) I'll post the response I get from the local KEYE engineers as soon as I get something.. If it's going to be a while before they start broadcasting the VBI data again, I will most likely do the same with my box. Like yours, it is in mint condition, very well taken care of so somebody is going to get a sweet deal!

Thanks!

My question is: "Is KEYE (or any new CBS station carrying this data) required to broadcast the data in analog?" and follow up,

If no, "Will the DHG-HDD250/500 be able to use the digital feed?"

I guess I will find out in 2009...one unit remains...

Although the consistent audio drop outs, even during live viewing, are annoying...about 6 times during the 3 hour football game and it wasn't between commericials, just in the middle of plays.

Three weeks ago, I reset / refomatted the unit hoping that would help with the dropouts but it didn't. I know it is the unit because if you back up the live / recorded feed, the audio is there and the drop out won't occur in the same place.

Sometimes with digital tuners the signal can be just weak enough that the audio will dropout occasionally but the video won't even stutter.

Is your signal strength on those particular channels consistent and strong?

(By the way, I get dropouts all the time during certain shows. "Smallville" seems to always have that problem a lot.)

My question is: "Is KEYE (or any new CBS station carrying this data) required to broadcast the data in analog?" and follow up,

If no, "Will the DHG-HDD250/500 be able to use the digital feed?"

I guess I will find out in 2009...one unit remains...

Although the consistent audio drop outs, even during live viewing, are annoying...about 6 times during the 3 hour football game and it wasn't between commericials, just in the middle of plays.

Three weeks ago, I reset / refomatted the unit hoping that would help with the dropouts but it didn't. I know it is the unit because if you back up the live / recorded feed, the audio is there and the drop out won't occur in the same place.

Great question! I don't know but I'm hoping that someone here can clarify this (re: CBS required to broadcast the data in analog).. Also, in regards to being able to use the digital feed, I've seen multiple takes on this but not really a concrete answer yet.. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here...

In regards to the audio drop outs, if you are doing OTA, depending on your signal strength I wouldn't think this is uncommon.. Hope this helps..

Is your signal strength on those particular channels consistent and strong?


It is every channel, cable QAM or OTA. Distant OTA (60%) and local OTA (88-95%). The audio is there when you back up the video, so I'm pretty sure it isn't the signal. It was not as noticeable on my TV, but through optical to my receiver it is really noticeable.

I had my first serious failure of a program last night. The recording of 'Terminator' series on Sunday was nothing but artifacts. (I use an OTA signal.) I think a few minutes of a commercial actually got transmitted and recorded correctly. I noticed it about 3/4 of the way through the program. Did anybody in the L.A. area notice a similar problem? The analog version showed up okay, but the HD version was a waste.

Great question! I don't know but I'm hoping that someone here can clarify this (re: CBS required to broadcast the data in analog).. Also, in regards to being able to use the digital feed, I've seen multiple takes on this but not really a concrete answer yet.. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here...

In regards to the audio drop outs, if you are doing OTA, depending on your signal strength I wouldn't think this is uncommon.. Hope this helps..

I emailed KEYE last night and got this response

"We will be hosting the TV Guide data very soon. In fact we were to have the person in house today to get the system set up but because of the snow storm in Boston he was unable to catch his flight. I expect him to arrive now on Wednesday. Hopefully the set up will be simple and we will be able to start including the data in our digital stream by the end of the week. "

Interesting part in bold. Maybe no analog at all.

................Although the consistent audio drop outs, even during live viewing, are annoying....

I'm not convinced that there IS such a thing as "live viewing" with these Sony's.

The reason I say this is that if I turn my DHG500 on, tune to an OTA HD channel, never touching a "record" button, then go to an adjacent room and tune a different HDTV to the same OTA HD channel, the image and sound on the TV attached to the DHG500 always lags the other HDTV by a second or two. Can anyone confirm that these units can actually be used as an HDTV tuner if the hard drive is non-functional?

I was wondering if anyone had any settings for using this with a Slingbox.

I used the earlier recommendation back in this thread but can't seem to find a way to access recorded content.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I asked riffjim4069 this question, as he has used it with a slingbox. I considered, but didn't purchase the slingbox (at least not yet!), so I don't have firsthand experience. Here is riffjim4069's reply

"The Slingbox controls the HDD500 just fine using the standard Sony DVR remote. The only problem I had (and probably still have) is entering a "." for digital OTA chanenels (i.e. 4.1, 7.1, etc.). I bypassed the problem by just entering the analog channels or selecting them using the Guide button. I have not been using the Sling with a Dish Network 622 for the past year...not sure if the folks at Slingmedia added a remote with the "."

Anyway, I am not sure if it will help but check out this threat, and my posts, at Slingcommunity.

http://www.slingcommunity.com/forum/...HDD500-HD-DVR/ "

I'm not convinced that there IS such a thing as "live viewing" with these Sony's.

There isn't. You're always watching playback from the HDD. That's what enables the seamless pausing, slow-motion play, and rewinding of "live" video. Tivos work the same way, I think.

anyone tried this adapter connected to usb port yet? http://www.newertech.com/products/usb2_adapt.php

I've tried a few different external USB disks with no luck. These DVRs seem to only pay attention to USB drives if they are FAT format with a special volume label and firmware upgrade files present (documented earlier in this thread).

Yup - Time to HACK my NEW TiVo HD :D

It is much easier

I'm not convinced that there IS such a thing as "live viewing" with these Sony's.

The reason I say this is that if I turn my DHG500 on, tune to an OTA HD channel, never touching a "record" button, then go to an adjacent room and tune a different HDTV to the same OTA HD channel, the image and sound on the TV attached to the DHG500 always lags the other HDTV by a second or two. Can anyone confirm that these units can actually be used as an HDTV tuner if the hard drive is non-functional?

That's strange, I can turn on the HDD250 in the theater room and the TV in the living room (both OTA) and there is about a 1/8th of a second difference in audio. Not even enough time to hear it once and hear it again. Maybe my machines are just strange.

You can clearly hear the lag between OTA and clear QAM. The DVR doesn't have this lag...at least mine.

Just in case someone is looking for a HDD250, I just listed one on ebay, item # 320207833775 With extended warranty.

I'm in Austin too, with 2 HDD500s. No Listings, now I know why.
PBS stopped broadcasting the VBI data.

these have been phenomenal machines.

I'll go manual recording before I'll rent a TimeWarner DVR.

I'm in Austin too, with 2 HDD500s. No Listings, now I know why.
PBS stopped broadcasting the VBI data.

these have been phenomenal machines.

I'll go manual recording before I'll rent a TimeWarner DVR.

Somewhere in this thread is a LINK to an FCC
Letter which will FORCE TW to turn things back
on.

"We will be hosting the TV Guide data very soon. In fact we were to have the person in house today to get the system set up but because of the snow storm in Boston he was unable to catch his flight. I expect him to arrive now on Wednesday. Hopefully the set up will be simple and we will be able to start including the data in our digital stream by the end of the week. "


We will have to see what these units do with an all digital stream in a week or so. In the meantime, don't do a reset and hope that you don't lose power, or bye-bye clock and any easy way of doing a manual recording.

We will have to see what these units do with an all digital stream in a week or so. In the meantime, don't do a reset and hope that you don't lose power, or bye-bye clock and any easy way of doing a manual recording.

Thanks for the follow-up response. Lets hope that indeed it'll take a couple of days longer and that it'll work with the digital stream.. crossing my fingers..:cool:

The oddest thing is happening. It happened once on one unit (I have two) a few months ago with Nip/Tuck. It happened with Brothers and Sisters, Sunday night on one unit, and happened again on Monday night with a show on the second unit.

At first I questioned myself. Maybe I entered something in error. I did not.

I programed it for one recording- NOT REGULARLY. NOT WEEKLY.

This is what is happening.

Last Thursday I programed one unit to record B&S on Sunday night for the 13th. I could not program it to record the show on the 20th, because last Thursday the 20th did not even appear on the grid. Again, I need to repeat, I recorded it for one time-NOT REGULARLY. NOT WEEKLY.

On its own, it decided for some reason not to record the show on Sunday night. OK, that happens, even if rarely, to some of us. But here's the kicker. On its own, it has decided to schedule a recording of the show at its next airing on the 20th. I did nothing to schedule a recording for the 20th.

This occurred also Monday on the other unit with the show October Road. It didn't record last might but is shown to be scheduled to record next week.

It only happened once before several months ago- it decided on its own not to record Nip/Tuck on Tuesday, and scheduled itself to record the next airing on Friday. At that time I thought I had made a mistake. But it happened again the following week when I'm certain I didn't make a mistake. I thought it was due to Nip/Tuck starting a few minutes after the grid stated time.

But I can't think of any reason for what occurred Sunday and Monday nights. And this is on two different units.

I am anxiously awaiting tonight, particularly because both days the shows were on ABC. I have Boston Legal scheduled to be recorded tonight only. Will it record? Will it not record and schedule itself for next week?

Hope I articulated clearly what happened. Has it occurred to anyone else?

Sometimes with digital tuners the signal can be just weak enough that the audio will dropout occasionally but the video won't even stutter.

Is your signal strength on those particular channels consistent and strong?

(By the way, I get dropouts all the time during certain shows. "Smallville" seems to always have that problem a lot.)

Yeah, I've seen that same issue!! Seems to me it's usually during smallville, and I've noticed that if I rewind that the audio is actually there. I use ota, and my signal strength usually shows 93 or so percent, if I remember correctly.

...and I've noticed that if I rewind that the audio is actually there...

Unfortunately, that's a "feature" we all have. It's a quirk of these devices.

The audio is there when you back up the video, so I'm pretty sure it isn't the signal. It was not as noticeable on my TV, but through optical to my receiver it is really noticeable.

Yes, this is a known problem with the Sony DVRs. I realize this is a huge thread, but it was discussed more than a year ago. I have just gotten used to it, and just rewind a few seconds and replay the lost bit. I seem to remember that it is most likely to happen (or only happens) when using the TOSLINK audio output. The two channel stereo output doesn't seem to have this problem. It only affects playback of recorded material, not "live" viewing. A secondary problem is that the picture (during playback) will become jerky and the audio will get out of synch. This problem is fixed the same way (rewind and replay). I seem to remember that the Sony manual even documents this behavior (pg 82).

My host channel contact replied to my email saying that their insertion equipment is OK, but that the problem is with PBS (I interpret this to mean that the problem is with Gemstar - I don't think she realizes where the information is orginated).

She said she would update me when they have more info. I reset the unit to factory defaults, and it has been blank for about a week now.

My clock still refuses to set itself too. (I told her this too, perhaps this is what she is claiming is "PBS's issue"). Does anyone know if the clock signals are actually part of the TVGOS/Gemstar data EXCLUSIVELY? I have noticed that my DVD recorder's auto clock set feature isn't working either.

I believe that the clock is part of the TVGOS/Gemstar data.

My theory is because in the Austin, TX are they recently moved the data stream from PBS to CBS. PBS turned the data off, CBS hasn't turned it on yet.

Well now that I checked, my clock is back, my guide data is populated for days 1,2,5,8 (as expected). Can someone point me to the way to check the host channel again, and I'll check it out. Seems we are back in business, but I don't know if is still an analog or digital data stream that is doing the updating.

Woohoo, I have program listings today in Austin. I was not optimistic about it. Hope it's not a fluke. yea!!

I don't think it is a fluke as the engineer emailed me and asked if I was receiving the guide data to confirm that their setups were correct.

I asked him to confirm for me whether or not this is a digital only or a digital and analog data stream. This answer to this may put to rest the question of whether or not these will work after Feb 2009.

I'll report back when I hear back. I am very impressed with KEYE and their responsiveness to their customers.

Now....off to set up my scheduled recordings again :D

I think it's a fluke. I'm getting data from PBS still, not CBS. I did the 9012 Menu, and the 753... menu. Data is coming in on 1.00.9 PBS.
Is CBS supposed to be the host channel. I'll check the CBS digital. PBS analog channel 9 is showing data coming in on mine.
i checked - CBS digital and analog both failed the VBI test.

I wouldn't rush into resetting channels too fast. I'll get listngs for a few days and then they disappear for a few days. I'm glad CBS is telling you they are sending out the data but I don't see evidence of it on mine here. I'm seeing 200+ VBI points a minute on PBS channel 9, all 3 tests passing. I'm using Time warner cable.

I switch my tuner to 42.1 (CBS OTA Channel) and did the G* test, I am getting the following:

VBI: PASS
Then under VBI I'm getting the data count number (increasing as time passes)

I get the same result when trying the PBS analog channel (18.0)

When I try the 753...it shows the host channel as 0:0-18 ...hmmmm

I guess I will email back the engineer.

I'll get listngs for a few days and then they disappear for a few days. I'm glad CBS is telling you they are sending out the data but I don't see evidence of it on mine here. I'm seeing 200+ VBI points a minute on PBS channel 9, all 3 tests passing. I'm using Time warner cable.

I'm in CT and I have two of my three DVRs getting sporadic "No Listings" over the last couple of weeks. Not sure why one of them (in separate room) has not lost any listings but the two right next to each other have the identical no listings days. Haven't missed anything yet but I have to check every day to set up programs of late.

I switch my tuner to 42.1 (CBS OTA Channel) and did the G* test, I am getting the following:

VBI: PASS
Then under VBI I'm getting the data count number (increasing as time passes)

I get the same result when trying the PBS analog channel (18.0)

When I try the 753...it shows the host channel as 0:0-18 ...hmmmm

I guess I will email back the engineer.

They fixed it!!!! Here's what happened.. I can confirm that as of 11AM CST today my DVR is back to life with full guide and recording shows like it has always done.
Response from PBS engineer:
"It turns out the information I had was incorrect. KLRU (PBS) will continue to provide the Gemstar/TVGuide info until the analog shutoff on Feb. 17,2009. The CBS contract is for the ATSC (digital channel) service only.
I found that, somehow, a key device in our analog chain had been turned off. You should be receiving TVGuide data now. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. "
I'm a happy camper again!!!

Well, my units that were getting the data from analog PBS switched over to CBS a few weeks back (Chicago). Whether or not it's digital, I can't say for sure. I thought at first it might be digital, but a couple of people in the DVD Recorders forum tried to tell me that since it's not a digital tuner, that it's impossible. It is listed as 0:0-2.

Makes sense, thanks PBS Austin, I guess we all make mistakes, please keep us switched ON! jeez. this has been going on for about 2 weeks with my 2 DVRs and my DVD recorder.

Well, my units that were getting the data from analog PBS switched over to CBS a few weeks back (Chicago). Whether or not it's digital, I can't say for sure. I thought at first it might be digital, but a couple of people in the DVD Recorders forum tried to tell me that since it's not a digital tuner, that it's impossible. It is listed as 0:0-2.

Was that an automatic switch? I did not make any changes, and still get the guide data.

Thanks.

Mark

Was that an automatic switch?Yes. I'm not aware of anything I did to cause it.

The response I received from the engineer at CBS.

PBS will broadcast the analog data until February 2009. We started hosting the digital broadcast service now and will be the source of the data after the analog shutdown. [PBS] had some confusion on our start and somehow their analog service was terminated. It should remain active until next year. You should start investigating your options for next February. I discussed this with the TV Guide engineer that was here yesterday. They are working on a transition plan for users like you. I suggest you open a dialog with TV Guide and keep an eye on what they will offer. I am sorry but right now I don't know their final plan for the transition.

Hmmm...I know no more than I did 6 months ago :) I will wait it out and look into the HR-50. At this point, no big deal as I paid $300 for both of my Sony's (August 2006) and sold one for $450 and still have the other....so it is basically 2 1/2 free years of use and $150 :D

So does that mean I'm getting it in analog or digital here? I know for sure it's from CBS.

It is possible that the PBS stream was shut down, and it just switched over to CBS analog. Now that I think of it, CBS analog was one of the maybe 5 channels here that were carrying it, because one or two people from this area in the LG 3410a thread said that they were getting it from them quite awhile back. I think the channels that were carrying it were WBBM (CBS), WLS (ABC), WTTW (PBS), WYCC (PBS) & WFLD (FOX).

I always got it from either of the two PBS channels, but I did briefly get it from WLS once, and I have heard of others getting it from any one of the five here.

Has anyone else seen this news release posted on the Gemstar website. It says Sony signed an agreement with Gemstar to include TVGOS in it's TVs. Does that mean there is hope that Sony will provide a software/firmware upgrade to the HDD500 so that TVGOS will continue to work after Feb 2009?

I have read back through the threads and see that many areas of the country have had recent problems. I don't know if what has happened elsewhere is now happening here.

This morning the entire schedule showed "no listing" but the channel line up was still present so I decided to try a warm reboot. Now, the TVGOS screen is completely blank. It just says "no data".

Is this what others experienced around 12/31 elsewhere or do I have a likely unit failure?

audioxcel,

It seems to have happened all over. A warm reboot should fix your listings, give it at least a day to start re-populating. Make sure your unit is turned off overnight so the listings download can occur.

Has anyone in the Los Angeles area with OTA service noticed a problem with signal strength? for me, only channel 11.1, FOX, is having difficulty. Most of the other channels have a signal strength range greater than 90, but FOX-HD is fluctuating between 5 and 77. We have ahd big winds lately, but I checked the roof antenna and it seems to be okay, unmoving, where I left it, etc. I hadn't noticed any problems with the channel until Sunday when I tried to record Terminator. I just wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing anything before I go to the trouble of raising the antenna or shifting it.

audioxcel,

It seems to have happened all over. A warm reboot should fix your listings, give it at least a day to start re-populating. Make sure your unit is turned off overnight so the listings download can occur.

I have 2 HDDs that have lost all guide data while the 3rd has all guide data. I tried the recommended reset of the system that you can find as one of the "ads" in the guide screen where it says to re-initialize the guide setup with zip code '00000', turn off the DVR for 5 minutes, then reset the guide with the correct zip. I did this about 8 this morning but still have no guide data. Do I need to wait overnight? I believe there are a couple of guide downloads during the day so I figured it would get something if the reset worked. I do have the correct time on both of the offending units. Any other ideas?

I have 2 HDDs that have lost all guide data while the 3rd has all guide data. I tried the recommended reset of the system that you can find as one of the "ads" in the guide screen where it says to re-initialize the guide setup with zip code '00000', turn off the DVR for 5 minutes, then reset the guide with the correct zip. I did this about 8 this morning but still have no guide data. Do I need to wait overnight? I believe there are a couple of guide downloads during the day so I figured it would get something if the reset worked. I do have the correct time on both of the offending units. Any other ideas?

I recommend doing the front panel soft reset.

Has anyone in the Los Angeles area with OTA service noticed a problem with signal strength? for me, only channel 11.1, FOX, is having difficulty. Most of the other channels have a signal strength range greater than 90, but FOX-HD is fluctuating between 5 and 77. We have ahd big winds lately, but I checked the roof antenna and it seems to be okay, unmoving, where I left it, etc. I hadn't noticed any problems with the channel until Sunday when I tried to record Terminator. I just wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing anything before I go to the trouble of raising the antenna or shifting it.

I watched the Sunday and Monday episodes of the Terminator show via OTA tuning channel 11.1 in LA. No issues. May want to take a closer look at your antenna orientation...

So does that mean I'm getting it in analog or digital here? I know for sure it's from CBS.

It is possible that the PBS stream was shut down, and it just switched over to CBS analog. Now that I think of it, CBS analog was one of the maybe 5 channels here that were carrying it, because one or two people from this area in the LG 3410a thread said that they were getting it from them quite awhile back. I think the channels that were carrying it were WBBM (CBS), WLS (ABC), WTTW (PBS), WYCC (PBS) & WFLD (FOX).

I always got it from either of the two PBS channels, but I did briefly get it from WLS once, and I have heard of others getting it from any one of the five here.

It surely is receiving the guide from an analog channel. If it doesn't receive updates after a certain amount of time, the DVR scans for another channel with guide info.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, these DVR's do NOT receive the TV Guide on any digital channel. They are not capable of it.

Unless some type of external box is developed that actually works with these all will be dead by Feb 2009 - in some cases it's likely to be earlier since there is no way every TV station is going to be able to turn off analog on the same day since in some cities other channels will be taking over the same frequency for their digital transmissions. This kind of stuff take days, weeks, months, years of planning and testing.

And those thinking their cable company will continue to transmit an analog station with the guide - where do you think that analog station is coming from? Very likely the cable company is receiving it OTA. So when OTA is gone, so is the analog cable channel.

...............Regardless of what anyone thinks, these DVR's do NOT receive the TV Guide on any digital channel. They are not capable of it....................

I'm not in a position to dispute your statement, but if possible could you please provide some documentation to support it?

Originally Posted by cheneyp
I have 2 HDDs that have lost all guide data while the 3rd has all guide data. I tried the recommended reset of the system that you can find as one of the "ads" in the guide screen where it says to re-initialize the guide setup with zip code '00000', turn off the DVR for 5 minutes, then reset the guide with the correct zip. I did this about 8 this morning but still have no guide data. Do I need to wait overnight? I believe there are a couple of guide downloads during the day so I figured it would get something if the reset worked. I do have the correct time on both of the offending units. Any other ideas?.

I recommend doing the front panel soft reset.

Agreed. Make sure that your zip code info is set properly, too. Definitely give it at least one overnight cycle to start populating the listings. Occasionally, I've seen listings come in during the day, but this is hit-or-miss. As long as you clock resets, you should be fine.

Agreed. Make sure that your zip code info is set properly, too. Definitely give it at least one overnight cycle to start populating the listings. Occasionally, I've seen listings come in during the day, but this is hit-or-miss. As long as you clock resets, you should be fine.

Thanks for the help guys. I did the soft reset this morning and waited about 20 minutes with no clock. I then turned on the DVR and the clock came on showing a time a little more than an hour slow. What I did NOT do was go back into the Guide setup to check the zip code. Does the soft reset wipe out the zip code from the last setup?

Thanks for the help guys. I did the soft reset this morning and waited about 20 minutes with no clock. I then turned on the DVR and the clock came on showing a time a little more than an hour slow. What I did NOT do was go back into the Guide setup to check the zip code. Does the soft reset wipe out the zip code from the last setup?

What I did is the following:

Warm reset.
Double-check/update zip code.
Turn off and check listings the next day.

I *think* that a warm reset retains your zip code, but am not positive. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Are you connected via OTA or Cable? In my personal experience, I've noticed that the clock data comes back almost immediately when connected via cable. When I was connected via OTA only, I remember it took a little longer. YMMV.

What I did is the following:

Warm reset.
Double-check/update zip code.
Turn off and check listings the next day.

I *think* that a warm reset retains your zip code, but am not positive. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Are you connected via OTA or Cable? In my personal experience, I've noticed that the clock data comes back almost immediately when connected via cable. When I was connected via OTA only, I remember it took a little longer. YMMV.

I have both OTA and cable connected but my PBS host channel comes from cable. In the past when I've had to unplug the unit to move it the (correct) time comes back within minutes - not so after this reset. I'll check the zip code when I get home to make sure it didn't get hosed during the reset.

Does the soft reset wipe out the zip code from the last setup?

Everything is retained with a warm reset.

Usually you will find all your guide data is actually
there after the warm reset. In some cases it is not.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, these DVR's do NOT receive the TV Guide on any digital channel. They are not capable of it.

I'm also interested in the basis for this statement. They certainly "receive" the data since it is part of the digital data stream that also contains the video and audio data. The question is whether the Sony firmware will extract the TVGOS data and pass it on to the TVGOS software. I've heard statements (supposedly from Sony) on both sides of this issue.

I'm certainly not optimistic about it but I can't say for sure that's it's not an existing capability of the firmware or that a firmware upgrade would provide the capability.

I think what possibly happened is that the local PBS station has been messing with their system. They have added several digital channels recently including one that has identical programming as the analog channel.

In any case, the problem has resolved for now.

I have another question though. My TV tuner picks up 4 PBS digital channels and displays them all nicely. 10.1 is all HD, 10.2 is the digital channel with the same programming as 10 analog, 10.3 is CREATE and 10.4 is mixed programming.

The Sony DVR only picks up 10 (analog), 10.1 which the guide gives correct info for and 10.2 which the gude gives CREATE's info for but when I click on the guide it tunes to the digital clone of 10 analog.

If I manually tune to 10.3 (the actual CREATE channel), I get a "no signal" blank screen on the display. I did an "auto add from antenna" and the Sony did not find 10.3 or 10.4. The signal strength is strong on my TV tuner so why won't the Sony find those channels? Any guesses or fixes?

Since the CES, my understanding is that Panasonic, Sony, Phillips, and Samsung have will be incorporating the new TV Guide-Digital system into their products by the end of 2008, perhaps as early as September? I understand that those 4 companies have already entered into signed contracts for the new system. For example most of you have already read about the Panasonic 2Way stuff (not like the old one way cable card that everyone hates).

I think you are able to really do some fancy stuff with the new TV Guide, much like a computer screen. Do such things like select font size, and a little flexibility of where you want things on the screen. One of the things I have noticed is that you will be able to have 5 columns across, instead of the 3 we have now in the Sony Box. For 50" sets and bigger, I consider that a big plus.

It is also my understanding is that Gemstar is attempting to figure out how to get the "new" TV Guide into legacy boxes and maybe that includes the Sony HDD. With that said, it still appears unlikely it can be done. But maybe there is some type of magical digital download or some other method yet to be annouced to get that done?

Of course Sony has been making HD DVR with dual digital tuners for other markets for 1 or 2 years now. Those units use different EPGs (not TV Guide).

Assuming that the current HDD Sony boxes can not be upgraded, then I think there will an upgrade path to a new Sony Dual All Digital Tuner HDD box with the new TV Guide system in it.

All of the above stuff is of course hear say...........but you can google and get the same information I did.

So I aint worried yet.

I'm not in a position to dispute your statement, but if possible could you please provide some documentation to support it?

The above is referencing "these DVR's do NOT receive the TV Guide on any digital channel. They are not capable of it...................."

I could not find anything in the ATSC spec. on VBI data. It describes Caption data and two other data types. See part 4.

http://www.atsc.org/standards/a53.html

I did find a spec that mentions inserting VBI data into the digital stream. It is dated 2007 and may be a proposal. It is for cable, not Over the Air.

http://www.scte.org/documents/standards/approved/SCTE1272007.pdf

Actually, a google search for VBI DTV yields quite a few hits.

... If I manually tune to 10.3 (the actual CREATE channel), I get a "no signal" blank screen on the display. I did an "auto add from antenna" and the Sony did not find 10.3 or 10.4. The signal strength is strong on my TV tuner so why won't the Sony find those channels? Any guesses or fixes?

I have the same question in the San Francisco Bay area. I can not get my DVR to pick up 9.4 (VMe) and it is receiving guide data, but my LG 4200a Digital Tuner does pick it up with a strong signal.

The above is referencing "these DVR's do NOT receive the TV Guide on any digital channel. They are not capable of it...................."

I could not find anything in the ATSC spec. on VBI data. It describes Caption data and two other data types. See part 4.

http://www.atsc.org/standards/a53.html

I did find a spec that mentions inserting VBI data into the digital stream. It is dated 2007 and may be a proposal. It is for cable, not Over the Air.

http://www.scte.org/documents/standards/approved/SCTE1272007.pdf

Actually, a google search for VBI DTV yields quite a few hits.

All of this is really not the issue. The ATSC spec (through the underlying MPEG spec) already allows for "private" data. This means that anybody can put their data into the digital stream (in any format they choose) as long as they conform to the basic packet arrangement and the carrying station agrees to give up the bandwidth required. TVGOS is already inserting their data in digital streams and has been testing it for some time.

Note that calling this "VBI data" can be somewhat confusing since there is no such thing as a Vertical Blanking Interval in digital TV. It is merely referring to data that WAS carried in the VBI on analog TV. While the data that finally appears on the TV screen may be the same, the way it gets there is totally different.

The point is whether the Sony DVR can handle that data via it's firmware and whether TVGOS will download the proper software to handle it in their implementation for the Sony DVR. I have seen pronouncements (attributed to Sony people) on both sides of this issue.

All of this is really not the issue. The ATSC spec (through the underlying MPEG spec) already allows for "private" data. This means that anybody can put their data into the digital stream (in any format they choose) as long as they conform to the basic packet arrangement and the carrying station agrees to give up the bandwidth required. TVGOS is already inserting their data in digital streams and has been testing it for some time.

Note that calling this "VBI data" can be somewhat confusing since there is no such thing as a Vertical Blanking Interval in digital TV. It is merely referring to data that WAS carried in the VBI on analog TV. While the data that finally appears on the TV screen may be the same, the way it gets there is totally different.

The point is whether the Sony DVR can handle that data via it's firmware and whether TVGOS will download the proper software to handle it in their implementation for the Sony DVR. I have seen pronouncements (attributed to Sony people) on both sides of this issue.

Problem solved with Echostar's TR-40 converter.

Problem solved with Echostar's TR-40 converter.

And how does this solve the problem again? Are you saying that in the process of converting the digital broadcast to analog, the TR-40 will actually convert the digital TVGOS stream and insert it into the analog VBI? If so where is this documented? Not that I doubt you, I just haven't seen the details explained anywhere.

Well, the problems that I was having are apparently happening somewhere between the host channel and Charter. I heard that Charter is picking up the digital feed from the host rather than the analog. Obviously this is a problem. I called TVGOS to reopen my year old trouble ticket. They said that there were other complaints in my area. I also mentioned the fact that I maintain an FAQ web site for the Sony DVR, and they asked me if I was "Spiffspace"! I found it amusing that they were aware of my site.

In the meantime, I attached a bowtie antenna this morning and reset the unit again. Now it passes the VBI test on the OTA version of the host channel, and it found the host channel, and it is populating the guide. This is OK for me temporarily, but when I move it back to the basement TV (which is currently broken), antenna won't be an option anymore).

I am hoping Charter and WGVU can straighten this out.

Well, the problems that I was having are apparently happening somewhere between the host channel and Charter. I heard that Charter is picking up the digital feed from the host rather than the analog. Obviously this is a problem. I called TVGOS to reopen my year old trouble ticket. They said that there were other complaints in my area. I also mentioned the fact that I maintain an FAQ web site for the Sony DVR, and they asked me if I was "Spiffspace"! I found it amusing that they were aware of my site. I think this is the problem on FiOS as well. That is, they get digital SD and HD feeds via fiber -- neither of which has the TVGOS information -- and they downconvert the SD feed for analog users without a STB.

I think what possibly happened is that the local PBS station has been messing with their system. They have added several digital channels recently including one that has identical programming as the analog channel.

In any case, the problem has resolved for now.

I have another question though. My TV tuner picks up 4 PBS digital channels and displays them all nicely. 10.1 is all HD, 10.2 is the digital channel with the same programming as 10 analog, 10.3 is CREATE and 10.4 is mixed programming.

The Sony DVR only picks up 10 (analog), 10.1 which the guide gives correct info for and 10.2 which the gude gives CREATE's info for but when I click on the guide it tunes to the digital clone of 10 analog.

If I manually tune to 10.3 (the actual CREATE channel), I get a "no signal" blank screen on the display. I did an "auto add from antenna" and the Sony did not find 10.3 or 10.4. The signal strength is strong on my TV tuner so why won't the Sony find those channels? Any guesses or fixes?

I suggest you do a completely new auto scan instead of add. I seem to recall that this was the fix to the same problem that was posted early in this thread.
Ray

And how does this solve the problem again? Are you saying that in the process of converting the digital broadcast to analog, the TR-40 will actually convert the digital TVGOS stream and insert it into the analog VBI? If so where is this documented? Not that I doubt you, I just haven't seen the details explained anywhere.

If the TR-40 can provide guide data via digital to analog conversion, we're home free. I too have not read this anywhere. :confused: You'd think it would since doesn't the VBI carry other data as well, such as Closed Captioning?

If the TR-40 can provide guide data via digital to analog conversion, we're home free. I too have not read this anywhere. :confused: You'd think it would since doesn't the VBI carry other data as well, such as Closed Captioning?

Here's a clue for you.....read the second paragraph.
http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/tv%20guide/

You'd think it would since doesn't the VBI carry other data as well, such as Closed Captioning?
Maybe the TR-40 itself will show the CC overlay, but not send CC data in the VBI. Similarly, maybe the TR-40 itself will show the TVGOS interface, but not send TVGOS data in the VBI.

Everything is retained with a warm reset.

Usually you will find all your guide data is actually
there after the warm reset. In some cases it is not.

Thanks - all set now. Did a guide setup again and the listings are filling in!

I have the same question in the San Francisco Bay area. I can not get my DVR to pick up 9.4 (VMe) and it is receiving guide data, but my LG 4200a Digital Tuner does pick it up with a strong signal.

The add scan function will not rescan channels that have already been previously scanned. It will only scan channels found to not contain any signal from previous scans looking for new channels. To get the new subchannels on an existing scanned channel you must do a full channel scan again. If you don't want to do that, you can still tune them in without the new channel scan, by directly tuning the "broadcast" channel number. For example, in my area my Sony scanned in KCET-HD (28.1) and KCET-DT (28.2) some time ago. Since then, KCET has added two more subchannels (28.3, 28.4). To tune these without rescanning, I tune to channels 59.3 and 59.4. Channel 59 is the actual broadcast channel for KCET digital.

The oddest thing is happening.

For anyone who's curious and to prevent it happening to you, I think I found out what is occurring.

On Friday, I set a recording of the show October Road for tonight. It was set to start at 10PM according to the guide.

By chance I checked it last night and in the recording list the show was grayed out with ?????????. I'm sure some of you have seen that before- it usually occurs if a show was cancelled.

But the show wasn't cancelled. It is now scheduled to begin at 10:01. The Sony considers that a different show. It would not have recorded it. Instead, with the recording still in its memory, it decides to schedule the next recording of the show that it finds.

It's odd. It's not "smart" enough to realize it's the same show tonight- with the same title and all- just starting a minute later and shorter by a minute. But it does, Tivo like, figure that it should record the next broadcast of the show- on the designated channel and time but a different date.

From my previous experience I assume that had I not changed anything, it would not have recorded October Road tonight but would have recorded it next week- although I did not set a weekly recording- provided October Road began next Monday at 10PM.

With the networks screwing around at the last minute with start and end times, I suggest you check on your recording schedules periodically.

It's odd. It's not "smart" enough to realize it's the same show tonight- with the same title and all-.

It is smart enough to do that if you have the RECORD "R" option selected.
Even if it shows up on a different night it will find it.

It is smart enough to do that if you have the RECORD "R" option selected.
Even if it shows up on a different night it will find it.

I'll try that. I've only used the "R" option on daily shows.

Some shows are repeated, Friday night and Sat night. If you set a show, lets say, Tuesday, with "R" and it's repeated Friday, will it record both nights? And possibly troublesome, what if it causes a conflict on the second night?

I don't believe many of the buyers are reacting to the echostar. If they were that in the know, they would factor in the 2009 risk in their purchase prices.I agree. These boxes do analog and digital cable, too, remember. I'm keeping mine at least 'till 2/'09.

I'm sure a lot of cable users will still want it after that if I decide to sell it then.

If it somehow still timer or guide records with OTA, I'll probably just get the TR-50 anyway and relegate this to my 2nd TV, which doesn't have an HD DVR.

Either way, I'm not gonna decide anything 'till the TR-50 is actually out, and I hear some reviews. For all we know, it could turn out to be a piece of crap. When Echostar is used to getting so much money for such a thing, I'm still a little leary that they're not going to make this as good as their pay-for DVR's. If the features are at least as good as TVGOS's traditionally have been though, I'll be satisfied.

I'll try that. I've only used the "R" option on daily shows.

Some shows are repeated, Friday night and Sat night. If you set a show, lets say, Tuesday, with "R" and it's repeated Friday, will it record both nights? And possibly troublesome, what if it causes a conflict on the second night?

There are always pros and cons with every option.

My Solution is (3) DVRs per Theater :)

No data for next Monday and Tuesday on Cablevision in NJ

For anyone who's curious and to prevent it happening to you, I think I found out what is occurring.


I have been having similar problems lately too, but not for the same reason. I setup a recording (one time) for a program on the next day. Then on the next day, before the recording is to begin, I check the scheduled recordings and it is not there at all. I go into the listings and the program is still listed exactly as before. I then schedule the recording again (one time), and it shows up in the listings (and schedule) with the 'W' (weekly) icon next to it. It is as if the DVR remembered that it was already scheduled once, and the second scheduling moved it to weekly, yet it wasn't listed in the scheduled programs. This is becoming a bit annoying. It also seems to always happen with recordings on the same channel, but that might just be coincidence.

About a week week ago I lost the TV Guide on my Sony HDD250. It had been working flawlessly for over two years up to that point. I checked the Host Channel and as near as I can tell it is Comcast Cable channel 16 (PBS WEDH) which I am receiving. I did a hard reset, (pulled the plug )over the weekend and the next day it was back. I looked the following day and it was gone again. Just reads "No Listing" in half hour increments. I did a soft reset Monday evening (1/21/08) and checked today, Tuesday at 4:30PM and I still don't have the guide. Anyone else in CT having problems? I live in East Hampton and get limited cable from Middletown Comcast. I am using ATSC OTA digital and OTA analog also.

About a week week ago I lost the TV Guide on my Sony HDD250. It had been working flawlessly for over two years up to that point. I checked the Host Channel and as near as I can tell it is Comcast Cable channel 16 (PBS WEDH) which I am receiving. I did a hard reset, (pulled the plug )over the weekend and the next day it was back. I looked the following day and it was gone again. Just reads "No Listing" in half hour increments. I did a soft reset Monday evening (1/21/08) and checked today, Tuesday at 4:30PM and I still don't have the guide. Anyone else in CT having problems? I live in East Hampton and get limited cable from Middletown Comcast. I am using ATSC OTA digital and OTA analog also.

I've been having problems with two of my 3 HDDs. I did the soft reset a few days ago and listings returned for a day but no more have filled in since then (on 2 units). The third unit (in a different room) has not lost ANY listings. Have not checked the host channel but it has been cable channel 7 (WEDH) in the past. I have Comcast Hartford.

I found that when I recorded with the "W" setting it would shift by a minute or two when the network shifted its schedule. An example of this is when NBC was "supersizing" its thursday night stuff and the office/30 rock would go from 30 min to 45. I never had to change anything in my scheduling to accomodate this...the sony just did it automatically. I've never recorded with the "R" setting.

For anyone who's curious and to prevent it happening to you, I think I found out what is occurring.

On Friday, I set a recording of the show October Road for tonight. It was set to start at 10PM according to the guide.

By chance I checked it last night and in the recording list the show was grayed out with ?????????. I'm sure some of you have seen that before- it usually occurs if a show was cancelled.

But the show wasn't cancelled. It is now scheduled to begin at 10:01. The Sony considers that a different show. It would not have recorded it. Instead, with the recording still in its memory, it decides to schedule the next recording of the show that it finds.

It's odd. It's not "smart" enough to realize it's the same show tonight- with the same title and all- just starting a minute later and shorter by a minute. But it does, Tivo like, figure that it should record the next broadcast of the show- on the designated channel and time but a different date.

From my previous experience I assume that had I not changed anything, it would not have recorded October Road tonight but would have recorded it next week- although I did not set a weekly recording- provided October Road began next Monday at 10PM.

With the networks screwing around at the last minute with start and end times, I suggest you check on your recording schedules periodically.

For anyone who's curious and to prevent it happening to you, I think I found out what is occurring.

On Friday, I set a recording of the show October Road for tonight. It was set to start at 10PM according to the guide.

By chance I checked it last night and in the recording list the show was grayed out with ?????????. I'm sure some of you have seen that before- it usually occurs if a show was cancelled.

But the show wasn't cancelled. It is now scheduled to begin at 10:01. The Sony considers that a different show. It would not have recorded it. Instead, with the recording still in its memory, it decides to schedule the next recording of the show that it finds.

It's odd. It's not "smart" enough to realize it's the same show tonight- with the same title and all- just starting a minute later and shorter by a minute. But it does, Tivo like, figure that it should record the next broadcast of the show- on the designated channel and time but a different date.

From my previous experience I assume that had I not changed anything, it would not have recorded October Road tonight but would have recorded it next week- although I did not set a weekly recording- provided October Road began next Monday at 10PM.

With the networks screwing around at the last minute with start and end times, I suggest you check on your recording schedules periodically.

My recorder was set for weekly recording of October Road and the recording occurred. I was out of town when I read the posting so I had no way of checking in advance. However, if I am home, I make it a practice to check the scheduled recordings ahead of time since the recorder is prone to dropping programs from the schedule.
Ray

Cheneyp,
After may last post, late Tuesday afternoon, I performed an auto scan for all my OTA channels and my limited cable (Basic) channels. When I checked the guide at about 6:00 AM this morning (Wednesday), it had beem populated. I didn't have time to see how far out it went. Hopefully it won't go away after a day like it did a few days earlier.

The add scan function will not rescan channels that have already been previously scanned. It will only scan channels found to not contain any signal from previous scans looking for new channels. To get the new subchannels on an existing scanned channel you must do a full channel scan again. If you don't want to do that, you can still tune them in without the new channel scan, by directly tuning the "broadcast" channel number. For example, in my area my Sony scanned in KCET-HD (28.1) and KCET-DT (28.2) some time ago. Since then, KCET has added two more subchannels (28.3, 28.4). To tune these without rescanning, I tune to channels 59.3 and 59.4. Channel 59 is the actual broadcast channel for KCET digital.

Thanks, Jay, you have explained something that I somehow did not glean from the user manual. I knew that I could add channels directly if I entered the "broadcast frequency assignment" number (which I would get from the CEA antenna web info) but I did not know why I was having to do that. I never thought of the new channels as "subchannels".

I did a complete auto scan last night and, voila, all of the digital channels in the Portland metro area appeared in the list with their correct "channel IDs". I had to go back into the TVGOS "setup" menu to correct them there to get them to tune from the guide screen.

The good news is that I did not loss any of the guide schedule in the process.

Thanks again.

Here's a clue for you.....read the second paragraph.
http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/tv%20guide/

C&P from the above referenced article: "Also, while we were there we asked them about all those old analog TVs that depend on analog signals for TV Guide data, and they explained that they've deployed a solution to this problem years ago and everyone with a digital to analog converter box will have no problem continuing to receive guide data after the analog shutoff."

This is reassuring but it still leaves a bit of a problem that I think most people who are planning to use a DA converter box are overlooking. A switch box
will have to be integrated if you are receiving the TVGOS via antenna (OTA).

If a switch box were not used, ALL of the input signal to the DHG would be analog. In order to input digital, the DA converter would have to be switched out. At night the DA converter would have to be switched in to receive the TVGOS programming info.

This might even apply if if you are receiving the TVGOS via cable depending on how the providers implement the TVGOS after the analog cutoff.

I am going to looking for a high quality switch box now. A manual one would probably give the most bang for the buck quality wise.

A remote controlled switch box could be used in conjunction with a programmable remote though, and a macro could be programed to make the switch whenever the DHG is turned off. This would prevent having to remember to make the switch every night. I already use macros on my programmable remote to turn everything on and off but usually use the DHG remote while watching TV cause I love that little wheel.

Sorry to derail the thread from 2/17/09 issues but I have a question concerning using this with a CableCard.

Previously I had been able to get my locals and TNT in HD via QAM and OTA. I decided it was worth spending a little bit more on a CableCard and the HD tier to enjoy a few new channels. Once I got the card activated I was able to get 2 new hd channels but I was still missing about 6 other HD channels. The cable company (Everest Communications - Local company) checked all the connections from my outside box and the line levels and said everything looked okay on their end. He tried swapping out the existing card but after it authorized it was the same situation - getting about only half of the HD channels I was paying for. He suggested that it might be a firmware issue.

I checked my version and I have firmware 1.2.09 I believe I have seen elsewhere that the version is up to 1.2.14. Is it worth contacting Sony to get this updated? I tried calling their tech support but the CSR kept insisting that A) the DHG HDD-250 was a Blu-Ray player and B) that it never needs to have the firmware updated and eventually hung up on me

I am curious if others have been able to get their firmware updated and how they went about it.

I have used a cable card successfully on my 1.2.0.6 and 1.2.0.9 units. Comcast Seattle.

The only time I had any troubles was when I had both HBO and Showtime. My timer recordings of the HD premium channels resulted in audio but NO video. As soon as I dropped Showtime (3 month special was over), and only had HBO, all my timer recording problems vanished!
Go figure?

Comcast Seattle. I have guide info for today through Sunday AND Tuesday through Thursday... but not for Monday.:confused:

Sorry to derail the thread from 2/17/09 issues but I have a question concerning using this with a CableCard.

Previously I had been able to get my locals and TNT in HD via QAM and OTA. I decided it was worth spending a little bit more on a CableCard and the HD tier to enjoy a few new channels. Once I got the card activated I was able to get 2 new hd channels but I was still missing about 6 other HD channels. The cable company (Everest Communications - Local company) checked all the connections from my outside box and the line levels and said everything looked okay on their end. He tried swapping out the existing card but after it authorized it was the same situation - getting about only half of the HD channels I was paying for. He suggested that it might be a firmware issue.


It is not your firmware. My cablecard was installed in December and I went through 2 dispatchers and 2 CSR and a tech trying to authorize the cablecard and it was missing premium HD channels. Then a different day and Dispatcher and in 5 min all was working. Cable companies have very few people that know how to use their headend equipment correctly and the customer suffers. I had a new HD DVR from the cable company installed the week prior and that had a cable card and they had the same issue trying to get PPV working. It took 8 authorizations and nothing changed then a tech called a different dispatcher and told them to right order to setup the system and in 5 min it was all working. Note the previous Dispatchers and CSR said that my cable card was defective and that a tech would have to come out. I think that changing cable cards is just a way that they randomly setup the new one correctly (the old CC worked after the RIGHT person ran the Head End equipment).

My co-worker's roommate works for the cable company I use as an installer/onsite tech so I am going to reach out to him as well and see if maybe he might have some insight. I hope it is as simple as having the right people do the authorizations in the right order and not having to pay for a firmware upgrade.

EDIT: I guess I should have searched this thread a little more thoroughly. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6913132#post6913132 I have gotten error 161-6 so I may have send it in after all.

Well, it was fun while it lasted but just shipped out my last HDD250 today, I now can export all my recordings, add more hard drive space etc with my new Tivo's and my favorite function "Season ticket". Thanks for all the help and to all, take care.

Jim

[I]

This is reassuring but it still leaves a bit of a problem that I think most people who are planning to use a DA converter box are overlooking. A switch box
will have to be integrated if you are receiving the TVGOS via antenna (OTA).

If a switch box were not used, ALL of the input signal to the DHG would be analog. In order to input digital, the DA converter would have to be switched out. At night the DA converter would have to be switched in to receive the TVGOS programming info.

This might even apply if if you are receiving the TVGOS via cable depending on how the providers implement the TVGOS after the analog cutoff.

I am going to looking for a high quality switch box now. A manual one would probably give the most bang for the buck quality wise.

A remote controlled switch box could be used in conjunction with a programmable remote though, and a macro could be programed to make the switch whenever the DHG is turned off. This would prevent having to remember to make the switch every night. I already use macros on my programmable remote to turn everything on and off but usually use the DHG remote while watching TV cause I love that little wheel.

If I were you I wouldn't rush out to buy that switchbox. Those who use only cable or ota, can connect the converter box to the unused input. For those who use both, a simple signal splitter used as a signal combiner provides simple way to insert analog signal into either cable or antenna input.

Ray

Cheneyp,
After may last post, late Tuesday afternoon, I performed an auto scan for all my OTA channels and my limited cable (Basic) channels. When I checked the guide at about 6:00 AM this morning (Wednesday), it had beem populated. I didn't have time to see how far out it went. Hopefully it won't go away after a day like it did a few days earlier.

Since nothing else has worked reliably so far, I've done the same thing. We'll see how it goes...

If I were you I wouldn't rush out to buy that switchbox. Those who use only cable or ota, can connect the converter box to the unused input. For those who use both, a simple signal splitter used as a signal combiner provides simple way to insert analog signal into either cable or antenna input.

Ray

I already use a splitter for my TV and DHG so I can ocassionally watch one show on the TV while I record another on the DHG. I could just add another splitter but I wonder if I would get too much loss. I suppose I could use an amplifier if that happens or just give up lead to the TV.

So, you are saying that the analog signal from the DA converter could be set to tune to say "cable" channel 10 and the the OTA digital signal could be set to "antenna" channel 10.1.

I guess I could test that by splitting the signal now and plugging both leads into the DHG. I could turn channel 10 analog off on the antenna side and everything but channel 10 off on the cable side and see if I still get the guide.

That would be great if it works that way. It kind of makes sense since analog sets will still have to be able to use their NTSC tuner dialed to to channel 10 to receive the signal from the DA converter.

I have always wondered how the DHG uses only one input for both ATSC and NTSC tuners since my TV uses two inputs like TVs that have separate inputs for VHF and UHF.

I have always wondered how the DHG uses only one input for both ATSC and NTSC tuners since my TV uses two inputs like TVs that have separate inputs for VHF and UHF.

My TV only has one input for ATSC and NTSC. I'm probably wrong but I think the way it works is that since all ATSC channels are received in the xx.x format and NTSC channels are simply XX the TV or in this case the DHG just switches to the appropriate tuner based on the channel selected. On my DHG if I had the analog turned on it would tune to Cable channel 4, then NTSC 4, then NTSC 4.1 if I was using the channel up buttons. Like I said I'm probably wrong but that's how I like to think it works. At the very least it's better than saying "it's magic!" :)

My TV only has one input for ATSC and NTSC. I'm probably wrong but I think the way it works is that since all ATSC channels are received in the xx.x format and NTSC channels are simply XX the TV or in this case the DHG just switches to the appropriate tuner based on the channel selected. On my DHG if I had the analog turned on it would tune to Cable channel 4, then NTSC 4, then NTSC 4.1 if I was using the channel up buttons. Like I said I'm probably wrong but that's how I like to think it works. At the very least it's better than saying "it's magic!" :)

The DHG uses a mechanical relay to select between cable and antenna signals. I can hear the switch as I move through the channels. Electronic switches are probably used to select between analog and digital tuners since I don't hear any sound when I tune from an analog to a digital channel. By the way, channel 4.1 is ATSC, not NTSC.

Ray

So, you are saying that the analog signal from the DA converter could be set to tune to say "cable" channel 10 and the the OTA digital signal could be set to "antenna" channel 10.1.

I guess I could test that by splitting the signal now and plugging both leads into the DHG. I could turn channel 10 analog off on the antenna side and everything but channel 10 off on the cable side and see if I still get the guide.



Please see my post regarding testing an antenna connection to the Cable input to make sure this would work:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12634014#post12634014

-phil

By the way, channel 4.1 is ATSC, not NTSC.

Ray

Yeah that was a typo on my part. Typed NTSC twice. Sorry for the confusion.

I already use a splitter for my TV and DHG so I can ocassionally watch one show on the TV while I record another on the DHG. I could just add another splitter but I wonder if I would get too much loss. I suppose I could use an amplifier if that happens or just give up lead to the TV.

So, you are saying that the analog signal from the DA converter could be set

The set top box will likely require the user to select the digital channel (ack- another remote!) and transmit the analog signal + TVGOS info out on Channel 2 or 3. Best bet to minimize all losses will be to get a jointennna tuned for the appropriate frequency. A normal splitter used as a combiner introduces signal loss on both inputs.

I've been reading the posts these last few days about using a TR-40 to convert the digital signal to analog to pass the TVGOS data to the HDD250/500 (after Feb 2009). Has anyone confirmed with Gemstar (TVGOS) people that the guide data in a digital transmission CAN be converted into the VBI of an analog signal (using the TR-40 or any other device). If they say it is not possible, then everyone's HDD will be useless in Feb/2009. Does anyone in this forum have a source at Gemstar he/she can contact to confirm if the TVGOS data can be converted from digital to analog.

I've been reading the posts these last few days about using a TR-40 to convert the digital signal to analog to pass the TVGOS data to the HDD250/500 (after Feb 2009). Has anyone confirmed with Gemstar (TVGOS) people that the guide data in a digital transmission CAN be converted into the VBI of an analog signal (using the TR-40 or any other device). If they say it is not possible, then everyone's HDD will be useless in Feb/2009. Does anyone in this forum have a source at Gemstar he/she can contact to confirm if the TVGOS data can be converted from digital to analog.
It certainly is possible if one knows the format of the Gemstar data in the ATSC stream and the format of the data in the VBI of the NTSC stream. I think it's very unlikely that this will be done unless Gemstar is paying for it as there is little incentive for manufacturers to include this in a box that they are trying to sell for as little as possible (in Echostar's case $40).

-phil

It certainly is possible if one knows the format of the Gemstar data in the ATSC stream and the format of the data in the VBI of the NTSC stream. I think it's very unlikely that this will be done unless Gemstar is paying for it as there is little incentive for manufacturers to include this in a box that they are trying to sell for as little as possible (in Echostar's case $40).

-phil

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am betting on the info in this post by FOX200:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12866460&postcount=11110

In any case, I have sent for my $40 coupon and so it will cost me nothing to buy the Echostar DA converter if it actually comes out on schedule and at the prerelease MSRP. :)

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am betting on the info in this post by FOX200:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12866460&postcount=11110

In any case, I have sent for my $40 coupon and so it will cost me nothing to buy the Echostar DA converter if it actually comes out on schedule and at the prerelease MSRP. :)

One question that needs to be asked is: Are all converters required to conform to the same specifications? I looked at the specifications posted on several of these boxes and they are not identical. Could be that not every feature is being listed. On the other hand, perhaps only certain ones will provide clock and guide data. Seems to me that the converter doesn't need to be designed for guide data, only to format the VBI data from a digital sub channel. I'm not going to buy one of these boxes until I find out more about them.

Ray

Is there such thing as a "ATSC Slicer" menu in the diagnostics menu of the Sony DHG? The reason I ask is because in my Toshiba TV(62HM15A) that has TVGOS, has that option; which may lead to a possibility for decoding Digital TVGOS signals when they become available.

Are all converters required to conform to the same specifications?

No. There is a set of features that all the "coupon boxes" have to have. There is another set that they are forbidden to have (e.g. HDMI output). Other features are optional. Translating Gemstar EPG data is optional. As far as I know, only the Echostar TR-40 will do it.

No. There is a set of features that all the "coupon boxes" have to have. There is another set that they are forbidden to have (e.g. HDMI output). Other features are optional. Translating Gemstar EPG data is optional. As far as I know, only the Echostar TR-40 will do it.

Seems to me that we need the box to reformat the data; it doesn't need to know what the data contains. That a box provides an on screen program guide doesn't insure that the Sony DVR can use it.

Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by anderdea
Cheneyp,
After may last post, late Tuesday afternoon, I performed an auto scan for all my OTA channels and my limited cable (Basic) channels. When I checked the guide at about 6:00 AM this morning (Wednesday), it had beem populated. I didn't have time to see how far out it went. Hopefully it won't go away after a day like it did a few days earlier.

Since nothing else has worked reliably so far, I've done the same thing. We'll see how it goes...

Well, I think I've done everything so far to reset the guide on two of my Sonys. I've done soft resets, hard resets (unplugging), the TVGOS-recommended method of setting your zip to 00000, and then putting back your zip code after a 5 min power down as well as re-scanning all of my channels (last thing I tried). Whatever I do I get the first download overnite (Day 1, 2, 5, 8) but it never updates after that. I have a third Sony that has never stopped getting the guide. All three have the same host channel (local PBS on cable).

The only common thread is the two that are having trouble are right next to each other and using the same source (split). The third unit is in another room. I thought perhaps it was a signal strength issue but I have a TV with the previous version of TVGOS right next to the two Sonys in question (split off the same cable input) that has no guide issues. Any other suggestions?

Anderdea - did your guide keep updating?

Quote:
The only common thread is the two that are having trouble are right next to each other and using the same source (split). The third unit is in another room. I thought perhaps it was a signal strength issue but I have a TV with the previous version of TVGOS right next to the two Sonys in question (split off the same cable input) that has no guide issues. Any other suggestions?


Don't assume it can't be a signal strength issue. The tuner in the Sony is not good at all at pulling in medium or weak signals (mine isn't anyway). I have my TV and Sony split off the same lead and the TV locks in channels that the Sony doesn't even register a signal on. It's a PITA at times......

I would still take the split off the lead and see if you can get data without the split on one machine.

Cheneyp / Mike LS,
Well I am also still have issues. When I performed a soft reboot on Friday night it gave me a guide through 4:30 AM on Monday 1/28/08. Not days 1 2 5 8 etc. Although, I didn't look past day 4. It also didn't update again. So last night I did a soft reboot again and I'll check when I get home tonight to see if it updated at all. Don't know what the issue is. I am recieving the PBS TVguide feed on my comcast cable (Middletown) channel 16 (at least that what the drill down info menu says)

In regards to the tuner sensitivity issue, I had very little trouble getting it to bring in some distant channels. Also my setup hasn't changed in two years. It's being fed with an OTA distribution amp that is driving 3 other ATSC tunners. My dish network receiver, an ATSC tuner card in my HTPC and a second Sony TV with a built in ATSC Tuner (no guide).

It's strange that we are having the same issue. Does anyone know if there is a button battery in the unit that maintains info that my be getting old. However, if so, these are usually 10 year lithium batteries.

cheneyp,
Well I checked when I got home and I have data from Wednesday at 0400 to Thursday at 0400. Then Saturday at 0400 to Sunday at 0400. It stops scrolling forward on Monday at 2330. Wish I knew what was going on. This is really frustrating. It's really strange that one of your 3 units is working fine.:confused:

I would like to either gain access to the video files stored on my DHG-HDD250 or output them to a computer or some other media so I put the file on a DVD.

Basically I have a TV show that I recorded and I want to be able to give it to a friend. Does anyone know of anyway to do this?

The USB port doesn't seem like it is operational

Sadly, there is no simple way to do the transfer.

All you can do is get an analog capture card for your computer or hook up a DVD recorder (which is what I do).

This means no HD (unless you have a REALLY expensive component or DVI/HDMI capture card or equipment).

Sorry.

I would like to either gain access to the video files stored on my DHG-HDD250 or output them to a computer or some other media so I put the file on a DVD.

Basically I have a TV show that I recorded and I want to be able to give it to a friend. Does anyone know of anyway to do this?

The USB port doesn't seem like it is operational

Did you consider transferring it to VCR tape, assuming both you and your friend have VCRs?
Ray

My VCR has been collecting dust. I stop using it when I got my sony about 2 years ago.

I'm actually very surprised the sony has kept its value. I got it on sale for $400 brand new from bestbuy

I make copies all the time. I have a DVD recorder connected to the svideo out. It's not HD but I get great copies. If you find a better way please let us know.

The only better way is probably if you have copy protection issues, using a computer you already have and video software that can break the CP willbe cheaper than going out and buying a DVD recorder and a separate "video enhancer" to do it.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am betting on the info in this post by FOX200:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12866460&postcount=11110

In any case, I have sent for my $40 coupon and so it will cost me nothing to buy the Echostar DA converter if it actually comes out on schedule and at the prerelease MSRP. :)

Well, that comment was based on the quote below which can also be taken to mean anyone with a digital to analog converter box will continue to receive TV Guide data simply because the digital to analog converter box itself has the TV Guide EPG built-in NOT because it will convert the guide data to digital and output it for use with DVRs like our Sonys. I sincerely doubt that is the case in fact.

"Also, while we were there we asked them about all those old analog TVs that depend on analog signals for TV Guide data, and they explained that they've deployed a solution to this problem years ago and everyone with a digital to analog converter box will have no problem continuing to receive guide data after the analog shutoff."

Well I screwed up , it apperars big time.
I've been having problems receiving program updates. So per the "TVGOS Training Manual" I rebooted the TVGOS using the code 653274147.
Well I guess it didn't reboot. I get the time on the front of the display but when I turn the unit on, it displays on my TV, "Tunning" then "no signal". I have soft reset it, and unplugged it but that's all I get. No video at all, just a blank screen with the "no signal" text indicated. I let it sit overnight (unit off) but this morning, no change. The display on the unit, when turned on, displays the time, Power and a big "2" under the power. I unplugged it when I left for work this morning to let it sit unpowered for a while. Don't know if that will help.

Anyone know how I can reset this unit DHG-HDD250 to come back to life?
The Cable and OTA input coax cables are still hooked up the the DDVR.
Thanks, Don

The only better way is probably if you have copy protection issues, using a computer you already have and video software that can break the CP willbe cheaper than going out and buying a DVD recorder and a separate "video enhancer" to do it.

Please set this up and get back to us on how it works. (Good luck!!!)
What are you exactly talking about "using a computer you already have"?

Are you one of those guy that thinks that because you downloaded software to Decrypt DVDs you can just spend a little while longer searching the Internet and you will find a program to decrypt SONY DVRs? Look as long as you want you wont find anything. The DVD decryption keys have to be shared will all manufactures of players (including software players) and some of these manufactures didn't protect them well so it allowed the scheme to be cracked (Just like how HDDVD was broken for current disks). SONY was probably developed in Japan and SONY has no reason to share its keys with anyone so unless you speak Japanese and are a good programmer and move to Japan and work for SONY, I don't think you will find a crack to get the raw MPEG off the SONY DVR. SONY Engineer probably can't even take your SONY's HDD and decrypt it. The key was probably randomly created during manufacturing and stored in a protected flash sector for your unit. For a rouge Sony engineer to get your raw MPEG off your HDD they would probably need to download special firmware to decrypt it and send it some where like to a USB attached HDD. And the release tool that needs to sign SONY's signature for a firmware that your retail unit would load is probably only in Japan. So the rouge Engineer couldn't make new software versions on their home computers and send them out to a news group for people with retail SONY HDD to use.

I would like to either gain access to the video files stored on my DHG-HDD250 or output them to a computer or some other media so I put the file on a DVD.

Basically I have a TV show that I recorded and I want to be able to give it to a friend. Does anyone know of anyway to do this?

The USB port doesn't seem like it is operationalYou have several options if you are looking at just SD.

1. Use a DV bridge and import the material to a computer in DV format. A miniDV camcorder will work (as long as it has A/D pass-thru) as will a dedicated DV bridge (Canopus, Pinnacle make devices).

2. Use a Device like the EyeTV or some sort of USB tuner that has composite/s-video inputs. These typically encode in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 format.

3. Use a DVD recorder (s-video) if possible and record straight to DVD. The downside is that you don't get a chance to edit (i.e. cutting commercials, etc) unless the device has a hard drive.

4. VCR (as mentioned)

If you want to retain HD recordings, you're options are much more limited. Current HD component capture devices are pricey. However, this may be changing. Hauppauge announced a device at CES that has Component inputs (at up to 1080p) and I think optical audio inputs that record onto a computer (via USB2). I believe that it encodes to h264 (or perhaps AVCHD) on the fly. Pricing is stated at $250.

ft

Has anyone noticed the clock to be off by about 7 minutes in the Dallas, TX area? This appears to have happened on Monday, January 28. It was accurate as of Sunday night. It still has not corrected itself as of Wednesday morning.

Well I screwed up , it apperars big time.
I've been having problems receiving program updates. So per the "TVGOS Training Manual" I rebooted the TVGOS using the code 653274147.
Well I guess it didn't reboot. I get the time on the front of the display but when I turn the unit on, it displays on my TV, "Tunning" then "no signal". I have soft reset it, and unplugged it but that's all I get. No video at all, just a blank screen with the "no signal" text indicated. I let it sit overnight (unit off) but this morning, no change. The display on the unit, when turned on, displays the time, Power and a big "2" under the power. I unplugged it when I left for work this morning to let it sit unpowered for a while. Don't know if that will help.

Anyone know how I can reset this unit DHG-HDD250 to come back to life?
The Cable and OTA input coax cables are still hooked up the the DDVR.
Thanks, Don

I suggest you do a channel rescan.

Ray

Don't assume it can't be a signal strength issue. The tuner in the Sony is not good at all at pulling in medium or weak signals (mine isn't anyway). I have my TV and Sony split off the same lead and the TV locks in channels that the Sony doesn't even register a signal on. It's a PITA at times......

I would still take the split off the lead and see if you can get data without the split on one machine.

OK, I checked the signal strength on the 2 Sonys that are not getting guide data and they were both reading 77% on a digital channel; about what they were reading all along. These are both fed by the same cable splitter (1 to 4). The Sony I have in the other room which has never lost guide data gets 83% on the same digital cable channel. I then took the cable input right from the wall and into one of the Sonys that isn't getting the data and got 83% signal. Seems unlikely to me that the 6% difference will be what fixes the problem but I'm willing to experiment.

I will try this configuration overnight to see if it helps get guide data. If it does, any suggestions for improving the signal from the splitter? I've used amps before but they usually seem to amplify the noise more than the signal.

Has anyone noticed the clock to be off by about 7 minutes in the Dallas, TX area? This appears to have happened on Monday, January 28. It was accurate as of Sunday night. It still has not corrected itself as of Wednesday morning.

Yes - I saw that also. I fixed it by doing a reboot - unplug, wait a while and plug it back in. the clock reset correctly.

I have been having to do this reboot all too frequently - because my unit just dies every once in a while. The reboot seems to be the only thing that fixes it. I've read elsewhere that I need to get a firmware update to version 1.2.13 (mine is 1.2.09). Has anyone gotten Sony to do a firmware update?

You can do the update yourself. The update and instructions are posted in this thread.

Are you one of those guy that thinks that because you downloaded software to Decrypt DVDs you can just spend a little while longer searching the Internet and you will find a program to decrypt SONY DVRs? Look as long as you want you wont find anything.First off, it should be made clear that I was responding to the poster immediately before me that asked about a better way to record from the Sony to DVD in SD.

And I was just mentioning copy protection, such as 5C or whatever, in case he had any problem with it from his provider.

I don't know how correct everything I said was, but I wasn't talking about HD, in case that's what you thought. Just simple analog composite or s-video out at 480i from the Sony.

I'm not sure if any of those DVD copying software programs that decrypt also work with all kinds of copy protection like the video filters do. I just thought they might.

Yes - I saw that also. I fixed it by doing a reboot - unplug, wait a while and plug it back in. the clock reset correctly.

I have been having to do this reboot all too frequently - because my unit just dies every once in a while. The reboot seems to be the only thing that fixes it. I've read elsewhere that I need to get a firmware update to version 1.2.13 (mine is 1.2.09). Has anyone gotten Sony to do a firmware update?

Don't waste your time. That update fixes only compatibility problems between the DVR and TV. My units have versions .05 and .06. Those units haven't had clock problems for at least a year. As I recall, when I had clock problems, they weren't the fault of the DVR.
Ray

I could be wrong on some or all accounts, but I just wanted to make it clear that I was responding to the poster before me about SD, which is what he was talking about. I've had the Sony myself for 2-3 years, and am well aware that there is no way to capture HD from it, in case you thought that's what I was talking about.

Yes, I thought that you were referring to the original posters request "I would like to either gain access to the video files stored on my DHG-HDD250 or output them to a computer" for capturing direct file. And the poster before yours was asking for a HD way (he was already doing SD) to archive recordings.

If the SONY outputs Macro Vision for Premium channels a PC is not a good solution to break Macro Vision. I have a friend that does alot of video capture on his PC and had to purchase a Timebase corrector (few hundred dollars) otherwise the video and audio would get out of sync. Has anybody ever had a premium program fail to record on a DVD-Recorder via SVIDEO. All commercial DVD-Recorders have Macro-Vision detection and disabled recording if its detected.

Well it wasn't as bad as I thought.
The TVGOS did reset and reboot but when it came back up, it was on a channel that I wasn't able to receive. When I punched in a channel number on the remote, everything came back up. I checked my Host channel (cable PBS 16) and it was back. The channel line up was wrong and sequence I had set up was gone. I rescanned all the channels. I let it alone last night and it had updated in it's normal manor. The trick will be if it updates tonight again and fills in the non updated days. That has been the problem lately, it updates once after a hard power reset but doesn't update after the initial TVGOS update. Live in Connecticut.

Cheneyp,
You seem to be having the same issues I am regarding the nightly updates. I don't think it's a signal strength issue. If it were, we wouldn't be getting the first guide update after a power reset and or channel scan. It seems to be consistant, updates once then stops. The other thing is, I don't know what your host channel is for the Hartford area but mine is a Comcast cable channel PBS 16 for the Middletown area. A cable channel shouldn't suffer form a low signal strength issue. As the instruction from this forum says if there is a "1" in front of the colon, of the channel designator (1:0-16) it is a cable channel that the TVGOS is coming in on. If it's a "0", it's an OTA channel. Mine had a "1" in front of it. The reason I did a TVGOS reset/reboot a couple of nights ago was that when I had verified my host channel in setup, using the remote control entered code 753159852, it had gone and was blank.

Yes - I saw that also. I fixed it by doing a reboot - unplug, wait a while and plug it back in. the clock reset correctly.

I have been having to do this reboot all too frequently - because my unit just dies every once in a while. The reboot seems to be the only thing that fixes it. I've read elsewhere that I need to get a firmware update to version 1.2.13 (mine is 1.2.09). Has anyone gotten Sony to do a firmware update?

Thanks for the reply. It actually had corrected itself by the time I got home Wednesday night.

As for the firmware updates, I haven't performed them myself, but I have two that are at .05 and one that is at .06. The only thing I can see that is different is channel mapping. For example, locally in Dallas, on the .05 machines, for digital ota channel 11, I have to enter 19.1 to get the correct metadata to show up in the guide, otherwise it just shows up as "Untitled." Also, you can't time shift unless you are on 19.1. This is also true for digital ota channel 27, has to be 36.3, and digital ota channel 13, has to be 14.3.

Hope this helps.

I've seen a couple cases this week (most recently during the Lost S3 season finale repeat last night) of that problem where the DVR stops responding to remote and front panel buttons while recording, but at the end of the recording, the DVR is back to normal as if nothing had happened.

My DVR just started exhibiting this behavior during the last week as well. I think that this may just be coincidence (I notice you're also located in MN).

I've had the unit well over a year w/o any problems. I used to have no problem watching a previously recorded show while a show was recording. During the last week on 3 occurances the DVR locked up while recording. No response from either my universal or DVR-dedicated remotes until the recording completed. Front panel controls also did not respond. However I was able to do a soft reset while the unit was "locked". After the soft reset, I noticed that the preview window in the TVGOS display shows "recording" even though nothing is recording...strange. This sudden change in behavior has me worried.

Thanks for the reply. It actually had corrected itself by the time I got home Wednesday night.

As for the firmware updates, I haven't performed them myself, but I have two that are at .05 and one that is at .06. The only thing I can see that is different is channel mapping. For example, locally in Dallas, on the .05 machines, for digital ota channel 11, I have to enter 19.1 to get the correct metadata to show up in the guide, otherwise it just shows up as "Untitled." Also, you can't time shift unless you are on 19.1. This is also true for digital ota channel 27, has to be 36.3, and digital ota channel 13, has to be 14.3.

Hope this helps.

I corrected that problem by rescanning the channels.
Ray

I've seen a couple cases this week (most recently during the Lost S3 season finale repeat last night) of that problem where the DVR stops responding to remote and front panel buttons while recording, but at the end of the recording, the DVR is back to normal as if nothing had happened.

I just went through that too. I noticed that this correlated to new HD channels showing up on the bottom of the TVGuide channel edit list. The soft reboot didn't fix it. The 3 step solution did nothing (soft reboot, scan, change zip code - even did the 00000 zip).

My final attempt worked though:
- I removed my cable card and both coax from the unit.
- Did a full scan (otherwise when the CC was removed it remembered all old Cable channels that were scanned before I added the CC.) This step takes a long time.
- Note after the scan I had zero channels.
- 9012 menu "Reset User Configuration" (maintains recorded shows)
- Rebooted (Caused by above action)
- replaced coax cables and inserted CC.
- Scanned OTA
- Did a 9012 menu TVGOS "Reset to Factory Default". (All scheduled future recordings are lost along with channel ordering)
- went through the TVGuide setup
- left the Device off over night to reacquire the guide.

Now I can use the trick controls, menus and guide screens during recording again.:):D

I just went through that too. I noticed that this correlated to new HD channels showing up on the bottom of the TVGuide channel edit list. The soft reboot didn't fix it. The 3 step solution did nothing (soft reboot, scan, change zip code - even did the 00000 zip).

My final attempt worked though:
-.....
- Did a 9012 menu TVGOS reset to default configuration.
- went through the TVGuide setup
- left the Device off over night to reacquire the guide.

Now I can use the trick controls, menus and guide screens during recording again.:):D
Do you know if the 9012 TVGOS reset is different than the 00000 zip fix? I'm still trying to get my listings back after the first day and am looking for another option...

Well, that comment was based on the quote below which can also be taken to mean anyone with a digital to analog converter box will continue to receive TV Guide data simply because the digital to analog converter box itself has the TV Guide EPG built-in NOT because it will convert the guide data to digital and output it for use with DVRs like our Sonys. I sincerely doubt that is the case in fact.

"Also, while we were there we asked them about all those old analog TVs that depend on analog signals for TV Guide data, and they explained that they've deployed a solution to this problem years ago and everyone with a digital to analog converter box will have no problem continuing to receive guide data after the analog shutoff."

Twinbrook,

None of the digital to analog converters advertise or say that they receive "TVGOS" or "TV Guide". However, most do receive a "EPG".
But if you call TVGOS support they will tell you that Echostar is working with them (TVGOS) to allow the guide data to "pass through" or convert to older t.v.'s and dvr's.

fox

Do you know if the 9012 TVGOS reset is different than the 00000 zip fix? I'm still trying to get my listings back after the first day and am looking for another option...


Yes it is different. When I was doing the 00000 zip code I would get the TVGOS setup next time entering the guide, but after entering all the information in, all my listings would return. So that means that the downloads were still on the HDD and it reloaded all the listing data from the stored HDD information (and I had the same crashes as before).

I also forgot a step and will edit my previous post. I also did a "Reset User Configuration" so I got the intial SONY setup wizard too.

Twinbrook,

None of the digital to analog converters advertise or say that they receive "TVGOS" or "TV Guide". However, most do receive a "EPG".
But if you call TVGOS support they will tell you that Echostar is working with them (TVGOS) to allow the guide data to "pass through" or convert to older t.v.'s and dvr's.

fox

Who else other than Gemstar is contracted to provide an EPG via digital OTA? I know of no other guide that can be received this way.

Can anyone direct me to a site that shows the digital to analog converter boxes that will be sold?

Thank You.
MissyQuick

Hello everyone! I love this forum. I have tried to read up on my newly acquired Sony HDD250 but there is WAY TOO MUCH to read to get up to speed.

If anyone can forward some links to help me get the most needed advice on getting my DVR up2speed and optimized, I would appreciate it!.

I use COMCAST basic cable- no cable card, no digital yet other than local OTA stations and a few free QUAM channels. I use the analog PBS staion for TVGUIDE (which I DO NOT LIKE). I am somewhat dissapointed with this dinosaur programing guide. I have briefly read about some other options but it is not clear to me what the alternatives are. I have had the unit for about 2weeks and I really like it. I have not had any real issues other than the programing guide.

So if anyone knows of things a newby should know about (like HOW will I get programing when everything is digital!) I would appreciate the info.

Thanks!

Who else other than Gemstar is contracted to provide an EPG via digital OTA? I know of no other guide that can be received this way.

I think the point he's making is that most (if not all) the boxes will display an EPG (presumably from TVGOS) on the screen but may not convert and pass on the TVGOS data in the analog VBI.

Yes it is different. When I was doing the 00000 zip code I would get the TVGOS setup next time entering the guide, but after entering all the information in, all my listings would return. So that means that the downloads were still on the HDD and it reloaded all the listing data from the stored HDD information (and I had the same crashes as before).

I also forgot a step and will edit my previous post. I also did a "Reset User Configuration" so I got the intial SONY setup wizard too.

OK, so in my case (and maybe anderdea's) perhaps this method will "cleanse" the "bad" listings that are preventing getting the second and subsequent days downloads. I assume that any stored recordings are not affected?

OK, so in my case (and maybe anderdea's) perhaps this method will "cleanse" the "bad" listings that are preventing getting the second and subsequent days downloads. I assume that any stored recordings are not affected?

Yes, stored recordings are not affected as long as you don't press any wrong options while you are in the hidden menus.

For new SONY DHG users and anybody trying a suggested proceedure!!!
Please read the FAQ here: http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html

Yes, stored recordings are not affected as long as you don't press any wrong options while you are in the hidden menus.

For new SONY DHG users and anybody trying a suggested proceedure!!!
Please read the FAQ here: http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html

Thanks for updating your procedure. I had forgotten about the channel re-ordering thing. Re-doing it will be painful but worth it if listings return.

My plan is to start from the 9012 TVGOS step of your procedure as my issue is not exactly the same as yours.

Well I just checked and after my initial TVGOS upload, it doesn't appear to be udating again. I need some clarity here. I have read conflicting info. It appears that my Host Channel is my Comcast cable PBS channel 16. This what I see in the service menu "1:0-16". From what I have read here, a "1" in front of the colon means cable and a "0" would mean OTA. Will the TVGOS work on cable as well as OTA antenna? Can't understand it, I never got this envolved in my HDD250 as it had worked flawlessly for 2.5 years. Within the last month, however I, along with, I believe (cheneyp) haven't been getting consistant guide updates.

Also how do I get into the 9012 menu "Reset User Configuration"? Just go to SETUP as I would do when entering 753159852 and enter 9012 instead?

Disregard the 9012 access question as I saw how after viewing the supplied link. Thanks.

My unit stopped responding to IR, and most of the buttons on the front panel. I am wondering if it is worth sending into Sony for repair. Of course it is out of warranty.

My unit stopped responding to IR, and most of the buttons on the front panel. I am wondering if it is worth sending into Sony for repair. Of course it is out of warranty.

What happens after you power up after a soft reboot? Did you have your TV-Guide set to display on power up?

What happens if you remove all coax cables then soft reboot? Can you access the 9012 menu and reset the TVGUIDE?

If the buttons still don't work after the previous steps, have you used the "Hidden Front Panel Menu"

* Exit to get Wipe Unit? (performs both a Clear NVM and Zero HDD in one operation)

You have nothing to lose if your unit is not functional. Read FAQ page if you need help accessing menus.

I have tried both soft and hard boots, with and without cables. The only button on the front panel that is responsive is the center jog lever, which allows changing the channel up and down.

The image is squished vertically on screen as it is not outputting SD, probably 480i, with no way to change it.

I looked through the facts in the first post of this thread for information on the hidden front panel menu, and didn't see anything. Is there another FAQ page I am missing?

Edit: Found it in the FAQ, I will try this later.

Thanks for the help.

Twinbrook,

None of the digital to analog converters advertise or say that they receive "TVGOS" or "TV Guide". However, most do receive a "EPG".
But if you call TVGOS support they will tell you that Echostar is working with them (TVGOS) to allow the guide data to "pass through" or convert to older t.v.'s and dvr's.

fox

I sent some questions about TVGOS to my local PBS station and here is his responses. From the answers I am presuming that D to A converters will not pass the TVGOS data into line 17 of VBI....

QUES: From what I have read my Sony unit can only process TVGOS data from an analog transmission. I have also read that the FCC is requiring cable companies (in my case Comcast) to continue to send analog signals thru their cable systems until 2012 even though all over-the-air broadcasts will be digital after Feb 19, 2009. Is this true?

ANS: Sort of. As I recall, the cable companies agreed to carry analog if the FCC didn't require it.


QUES: If so, I would presume then that your digital signal would be converted to analog by the cable company. Is this true?

ANS: At least one of our signals should be converted to analog for distribution. We have asked Comcast to carry the four digital signals that we broadcast.

23.1 WKARHD
23.2 WKAR23 (simulcast of our analog signal)
23.3 WKAR LIFE
23.4 WKAR WORLD

QUES: If so, will the TVGOS data still appear in the VBI on the analog channel WKAR on the cable system?

ANS: Most likely not.

I sent some questions about TVGOS to my local PBS station and here is his responses. From the answers I am presuming that D to A converters will not pass the TVGOS data into line 17 of VBI....

QUES: From what I have read my Sony unit can only process TVGOS data from an analog transmission. I have also read that the FCC is requiring cable companies (in my case Comcast) to continue to send analog signals thru their cable systems until 2012 even though all over-the-air broadcasts will be digital after Feb 19, 2009. Is this true?

ANS: Sort of. As I recall, the cable companies agreed to carry analog if the FCC didn't require it.


QUES: If so, I would presume then that your digital signal would be converted to analog by the cable company. Is this true?

ANS: At least one of our signals should be converted to analog for distribution. We have asked Comcast to carry the four digital signals that we broadcast.

23.1 WKARHD
23.2 WKAR23 (simulcast of our analog signal)
23.3 WKAR LIFE
23.4 WKAR WORLD

QUES: If so, will the TVGOS data still appear in the VBI on the analog channel WKAR on the cable system?

ANS: Most likely not.


Don,

You are barking up the wrong tree:)

1. PBS will not be transmitting TVGOS digital data.
For your info...http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435477.html

2. I talk about ota only here and not cable. I have never subscribed to cable.

fox

Don,

You are barking up the wrong tree:)

1. PBS will not be transmitting TVGOS digital data.
For your info...http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435477.html

2. I talk about ota only here and not cable. I have never subscribed to cable.

fox
Maybe not your PBS station, but mine will be!!
I guess I should have also included the other Q/A from my local PBS station. I did not mean PBS the network, but meant my LOCAL PBS station.....WKAR said they have an agreement to carry TVGOS on the their digital channel...
QUES: I've been reading that when Feb 19, 2009 comes and all analog broadcasting ceases, CBS (digital) stations will be broadcasting the TVGOS and that PBS stations will not.

ANSWER: I do not know what, if any, contractual relationship exists between
TVGuide/Gemstar and CBS or their affiliated stations. WKAR has agreed to carry TV Guide On Screen data in our digital television transport stream. We have not received any equipment to enable this, nor have I received any information about when to expect such equipment. It may well be that the recent acquisition of TV Guide/Gemstar by Macrovision may confound
the roll out.

Who else other than Gemstar is contracted to provide an EPG via digital OTA? I know of no other guide that can be received this way.
When I first put my system together in 2003, I used a Samsung tuner that picked up programming info from each OTA digital channel. At that time, not all the channels provided it, but over the next couple of years, more and more channels did. This was completely independent of the Gemstar system. My understanding is that the digital channels were required (perhaps by some date) to include this info in the data stream that characterized what they were transmitting, and what that channel WOULD be transmitting, e.g., for the next 2 weeks (though I'm not sure it was TWO weeks). (Maybe this was called PSIP data?)

The tuner did have a way of organizing this data, and it WAS called an EPG, but it wasn't nearly as convenient as the TVGOS system. I pretty much stopped using this data when I got my first hard-drive tuner/recorder (the LG 3410a), because the Gemstar data was presented in a much more convenient format, and all you had to do was push a button to set up a recording. So I started using the Samsung - and the digital VHS unit that it used for recording - as my secondary tuner/recorder system.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that that data would still be coming along with the digital stream, but I'm not aware of any unit nowadays that actually uses it. (Though every time I see a unit that mentions an EPG, but not Gemstar, I wonder if it's using that data.)

Well, I'm not sure the exact reason why it happened, but after two weeks of playing, the TVGOS finally populated the guide fully. No more "No Listing" messages. It could have been a number of things I did to make it happen. First, from the "TVGOS Training Manual", I rebooted the TVGOS using the code 653274147. I then rescanned in the OTA analog and digital channels and the basic cable channels. When I re-checked the Host Channel (which I had lost) it showed it back as a cable PBS channel 16. I then went into setup and arranged all the channels and made sure cable 16 was available and I also turned on all local OTA analog channels. Now to see if it continues to update OK. It actuall took 48+ hours for everything to update afer the TVGOS reboot.

Well, I'm not sure the exact reason why it happened, but after two weeks of playing, the TVGOS finally populated the guide fully. No more "No Listing" messages. It could have been a number of things I did to make it happen. First, from the "TVGOS Training Manual", I rebooted the TVGOS using the code 653274147. I then rescanned in the OTA analog and digital channels and the basic cable channels. When I re-checked the Host Channel (which I had lost) it showed it back as a cable PBS channel 16. I then went into setup and arranged all the channels and made sure cable 16 was available and I also turned on all local OTA analog channels. Now to see if it continues to update OK. It actuall took 48+ hours for everything to update afer the TVGOS reboot.

Any luck with getting continued listings? I did the 9012 reset and have not yet received any listings (been 2 overnites so far)....

cheneyp,
It's 9:45 on Sunday morning 2/3/08. I just checked the TVGOS guide and it's populated to next Sunday 2/10 at 11:30 AM. It seems to be updating properly. I'm not sure, as I said in my previous post, what the axact fix was. I would check what you host channel is and make sure you have it in your listing. Also assure that all your local OTA analog channels are turned on. You may also want to reboot your TVGOS using the 653274147.

Can anyone direct me to a site that shows the digital to analog converter boxes that will be sold?

Thank You.
MissyQuickTry this:

http://www.king-cart.com/18inch/product=Digital+to+Analog+Converter's/exact_match=exact

It's getting slowly populated, but no prices or availability yet.

Try this:

http://www.king-cart.com/18inch/product=Digital+to+Analog+Converter's/exact_match=exact

It's getting slowly populated, but no prices or availability yet.
Has it been confirmed that these work with the Sonys?

Thanks

Try this:

http://www.king-cart.com/18inch/product=Digital+to+Analog+Converter's/exact_match=exact

It's getting slowly populated, but no prices or availability yet.

Thank You.
MissyQuick

Has it been confirmed that these work with the Sonys?

ThanksNo. There's no actual confirmation of any box doing that yet, even the Echostar TR-40, which people are jumping the gun on into believing.

So I have had my Sony for half a year. My problem is that TVGOS show 1/3 of the listings as "no listings" then 1/3 of the listings are correct and 1/3 of the listings are incorrect. Like it will show that Full House is on BET. i live in Detroit now and lived in the metro Detroit area all with the same outcome on my Sony. I only use it with cable. I have tried redoing the set-up but I still get the same results. I am not sure if this issue has been addressed earlier, if so i am just looking to be pointed in the right direction.

Full House on BET?????

You must be makin' that up as an example.

I just went through that too. I noticed that this correlated to new HD channels showing up on the bottom of the TVGuide channel edit list. The soft reboot didn't fix it. The 3 step solution did nothing (soft reboot, scan, change zip code - even did the 00000 zip).

My final attempt worked though:
- I removed my cable card and both coax from the unit.
- Did a full scan (otherwise when the CC was removed it remembered all old Cable channels that were scanned before I added the CC.) This step takes a long time.
- Note after the scan I had zero channels.
- 9012 menu "Reset User Configuration" (maintains recorded shows)
- Rebooted (Caused by above action)
- replaced coax cables and inserted CC.
- Scanned OTA
- Did a 9012 menu TVGOS "Reset to Factory Default". (All scheduled future recordings are lost along with channel ordering)
- went through the TVGuide setup
- left the Device off over night to reacquire the guide.

Now I can use the trick controls, menus and guide screens during recording again.:):D
Hats off to you WhatHappened as this fix also cured my DVR woes! Given the number of people that have had this problem, this fix should be posted to the spiffspace.com site.

I love this forum!

Hats off to you WhatHappened as this fix also cured my DVR woes!

I'm glad it was useful to you :)

I've seen a couple cases this week (most recently during the Lost S3 season finale repeat last night) of that problem where the DVR stops responding to remote and front panel buttons while recording, but at the end of the recording, the DVR is back to normal as if nothing had happened.

Mark, Did you get your issue resolved? If not, you might want to try the proceedure I posted, since it has work for 2 of us in MN with the same symptoms.

Thanks- I'm doing it in phases to see whether it's really necessary to blow away the whole TVGOS configuration. Seems like when this happened in the past, rescanning the channels was usually enough to fix it.
I don't blame you. I went through multiple trys until I found something that worked (I didn't want to lose my scheduled recordings, but at least in MN getting your guide back is easy with multple networks carring TVGOS data). I did the scan and TVGuide zip code channge, but it didn't fix the issue. Let us know your results.

When I came home today I turned on the tv and had this ominous message on the TV:

"A Hard Disk Drive error has been detected.
Auto recovery is not possible. Recording
and playback of TV programming will not
be possible.
Contact your Sony service center to learn
about repair options.
Select OK to continue."

I had been having problems with the DVR locking up a few times recently. I had to do a hard reset last week when I was watching Smallville because the remote wouldn't work.

Now I don't have any channel listings or recordings.

Is it going to be prohibitively expensive to get it fixed?

edit: I did a soft reboot and the guide and recordings came back, at least temporarily.

My system is usually very stable, and I just have problems when there is a national issue going on, or when my local PBS station is having problems with the GEMSTAR feed.

But in the last week I've had I think 3 times when I was watching a recording and the system froze requiring a reboot. One time after the reboot the system was still only partially responsive (couldn't get the guide up etc.), though it was cured after another boot cycle. I think two of these three times, the problem happened during a recording, while playing back something previously recorded.

Any ideas if this is a national thing due to some software push or guide data issue?

Marc

My system is usually very stable, and I just have problems when there is a national issue going on, or when my local PBS station is having problems with the GEMSTAR feed.

Any ideas if this is a national thing due to some software push or guide data issue?
I am sure you are suffering the same thing I and 2 others from MN were suffering. I have posted steps to fix it that have worked for two of us so far.

The issue happened when TVGuide added new HD channels to the guide (in MN), so it appears that this caused the TVGuide data to get corrupted. The TVGOS version number was not changed, it still reads: 08.01.42/08.06.44. So as HD channels are rolled out by cable operators around the US to keep up with DirectTV this will probably happen in more and more locations. This fix has worked for over a week for me so I will gladly welcome more HD listings in the future for the little inconvenience of having to reset the TVGuide data on the SONY.

I am sure you are suffering the same thing I and 2 others from MN were suffering. I have posted steps to fix it that have worked for two of us so far.

I am in MN and have also had this issue. I ran through your steps last night and everything seems to be working fine.

When I came home today I turned on the tv and had this ominous message on the TV:

"A Hard Disk Drive error has been detected.
Auto recovery is not possible. Recording
and playback of TV programming will not
be possible.
Contact your Sony service center to learn
about repair options.
Select OK to continue."

I had been having problems with the DVR locking up a few times recently. I had to do a hard reset last week when I was watching Smallville because the remote wouldn't work.

Now I don't have any channel listings or recordings.

Is it going to be prohibitively expensive to get it fixed?

edit: I did a soft reboot and the guide and recordings came back, at least temporarily.

I had a similar experience last year. Eventually it did die; luckily I had purchased an extended warranty. I think the cost would have been around $150 to fix, without the warranty. Which was close to the cost of the warranty, so really the warranty won't have saved me any money unless it dies again under warranty. I would send it in if and when it dies, it's worth the cost of fixing imho.

When I came home today I turned on the tv and had this ominous message on the TV:

"A Hard Disk Drive error has been detected.
Auto recovery is not possible. Recording
and playback of TV programming will not
be possible.
Contact your Sony service center to learn
about repair options.
Select OK to continue."

I had been having problems with the DVR locking up a few times recently. I had to do a hard reset last week when I was watching Smallville because the remote wouldn't work.

Now I don't have any channel listings or recordings.

Is it going to be prohibitively expensive to get it fixed?

edit: I did a soft reboot and the guide and recordings came back, at least temporarily.

Have you tried the Format Procedure on the Spiff Space (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html) Page

If that does not work - then you will need to send it to Sony
for Service. I can speak 1st hand - the Sony Repair Center
does great very fast work.

Does anyone get listings for MHD on TVGOS? I can tune this station on QAM, but I haven't been able to find it in the TVGOS station list. :confused::confused::confused:

It's one of the recently added channels at the end of my channel list.

It used to be that I would get an occasional dropped recording, but for some time now it has been getting worse and worse.

I'd say that now 30 or 40% of my recordings are betting dropped, and I think it is not just those with w (weekly), or the r that I have been trying as a substitute. I think it's also just single recordings. I could take having an occasional dropped program, say once every couple of weeks, but since sometime last year, it's it's much worse.

As seems to have been reported here in the past, the scheduled recording disappears from the Guide on the day it's to be recorded, though the computer "remembers" it is scheduled, because - for a weekly recording - if I just press the record button ONCE, it reappears as a weekly recording. It's like the Guide we SEE is missing the recording, AND the recording is skipped, even though the info is still on the hard drive. Go figure...

So if I don't check the guide on a given day, a recording scheduled for that day has a good chance of disappearing. Even a $75 VCR retains regular recording, so this is really frustrating. It means that if I go on a trip, I lose recordings, and if I'm here, I'm tied to checking before prime time every day, which is a real pain, and I don't always remember, in any case.

Given the frequency that this problem has been reported here, and the fact that there appears to be no solution, have people given up on it?

No joy from Gemstar or Sony, I guess...

It used to be that I would get an occasional dropped recording, but for some time now it has been getting worse and worse.

I'd say that now 30 or 40% of my recordings are betting dropped, and I think it is not just those with w (weekly), or the r that I have been trying as a substitute. I think it's also just single recordings. I could take having an occasional dropped program, say once every couple of weeks, but since sometime last year, it's it's much worse.

As seems to have been reported here in the past, the scheduled recording disappears from the Guide on the day it's to be recorded, though the computer "remembers" it is scheduled, because - for a weekly recording - if I just press the record button ONCE, it reappears as a weekly recording. It's like the Guide we SEE is missing the recording, AND the recording is skipped, even though the info is still on the hard drive. Go figure...

So if I don't check the guide on a given day, a recording scheduled for that day has a good chance of disappearing. ..

Yesterday I almost missed Eli Stone. Earlier in the evening it was set to record but about 10:20 I noticed that there was no record light, and so I pushed record since the recorder was turned on and tuned to ABC. I should have done that from the tv guide matrix since program was listed as unknown. After recording started, I did that and got the recording of the last part with title. So the recording is split in two parts.

I wonder if the recording drop was due to shift in start time? As I've said many times, since the recorder has a tendency to drop scheduled recordings, it's a good practice to first set a manual recording, and then one with the guide, which over-rides the manual one. Then if the recorder drops this one from the schedule, you get the recording with unknown title, which I believe is much better than getting nothing.

Ray

Mark, Did you get your issue resolved? If not, you might want to try the proceedure I posted, since it has work for 2 of us in MN with the same symptoms.

Hi WhatHappend,

Thanks for your reply. I will try tomorrow to apply the process you described:

My final attempt worked though:
- I removed my cable card and both coax from the unit.
- Did a full scan (otherwise when the CC was removed it remembered all old Cable channels that were scanned before I added the CC.) This step takes a long time.
- Note after the scan I had zero channels.
- 9012 menu "Reset User Configuration" (maintains recorded shows)
- Rebooted (Caused by above action)
- replaced coax cables and inserted CC.
- Scanned OTA
- Did a 9012 menu TVGOS "Reset to Factory Default". (All scheduled future recordings are lost along with channel ordering)
- went through the TVGuide setup
- left the Device off over night to reacquire the guide.


When you removed cable card and coax, did you do it while the unit was off (this would be my assumption) or did you leave the unit on while doing this for some reason?

Marc

Hi WhatHappend,
When you removed cable card and coax, did you do it while the unit was off (this would be my assumption) or did you leave the unit on while doing this for some reason?
Marc

I turned it off (really standby mode). Cablecard are supposed to be Hot swappable, but I have had the SONY get strange when hot plugging and unplugging the cable card.

Would you mind skipping the coax and cable card removal steps (they are time consuming)? So you would start at the 9012 step. This proceedure has been added to the FAQ site (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html) and if those steps are not needed with the SONY reset user configuration step (from a software prospective if all the user configuration is reset it should wipe the channel list), it would make the proceedure cleaner/faster. I realize that if it doesn't work it could mean another day waiting for the guide to populate. (You might want to hold off on the guide sorting in case it doesn't work.)

I tried the procedure this evening omitting the antenna-disconnected scan (never had cable)... we'll see how it goes. I'm glad the recorded programs remain intact, but I noticed that the channel/date/time info displayed in the grey box when they begin playing (or when you press Info) is bogus after doing the user config and TVGOS resets. The correct date shows up in the recordings list, though. Not a big deal and other than that, the recordings seem to play OK.

I wonder if that is just temporary until you acquire the guide. My old shows all display the correct channel and show information when info is pressed during play-back and when looking in the recorded shows list. Maybe it is keyed to channel line-up information and requires valid guide information.

Did you think that your shows were going to be lost? (I guess if one were to press the wrong item in the hidden menus they would be lost.)

Does anyone get listings for MHD on TVGOS? I can tune this station on QAM, but I haven't been able to find it in the TVGOS station list. :confused::confused::confused:

It's one of the recently added channels at the end of my channel list.

Ramm -

How many channels do you have in your channel list? Do you know how MHD is designated in the list?

I turned it off (really standby mode). Cablecard are supposed to be Hot swappable, but I have had the SONY get strange when hot plugging and unplugging the cable card.

Would you mind skipping the coax and cable card removal steps (they are time consuming)? So you would start at the 9012 step. This proceedure has been added to the FAQ site (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html) and if those steps are not needed with the SONY reset user configuration step (from a software prospective if all the user configuration is reset it should wipe the channel list), it would make the proceedure cleaner/faster. I realize that if it doesn't work it could mean another day waiting for the guide to populate. (You might want to hold off on the guide sorting in case it doesn't work.)

OK, I'll give it a try, though it is a bit risky. I'm headed out of town for the week (returning Thursday) on Monday morning. Not much slack time to get scheduled recordings set up if I have to redo everything. But Let's see how she goes. Note that I'm not using OTA (just cable) so I'm not sure what the OTA scan would do...

OK, I'll give it a try, though it is a bit risky. I'm headed out of town for the week (returning Thursday) on Monday morning. Not much slack time to get scheduled recordings set up if I have to redo everything. But Let's see how she goes. Note that I'm not using OTA (just cable) so I'm not sure what the OTA scan would do...

Don't do a scan for OTA if you don't use it. Make sure when you setup TVGuide you say Cable only. Since you are using a cable card, don't do any scans.

Don't do a scan for OTA if you don't use it. Make sure when you setup TVGuide you say Cable only. Since you are using a cable card, don't do any scans.

Interesting... I'm in the process of resetting up now. I reset the user config, and it rebooted. Gave me the welcome screen, and I stepped through it. First time any input other than just "Next" came up, it asked if I wanted to scan the antenna or skip it. I chose Skip, but it started scanning it anyway. Weird.

It's at about 80% of the scan now, having found no channels so far. No surprise, there!

Marc

I was freaking out for a minute because I almost chose the 9012 first level reset (which would erase previously recorded content) but read in the spiffspace FAQ the note to go to the second level to get to the TVGOS reset... so I reset that.

It now didn't remember my zipcode, and after the TVGOS reset it didn't quickly find the time signal, so I'm guessing it pretty thoroughly cleared stuff out.

I entered my zip code and cable-only setting, told it not to control a VCR (what's a VCR? :-) ... then turned it off. I guess the morning will tell what the results are. PResumably then I will choose a service provider and it will sort out the channels. I haven't done this in a LONG time so I forget exactly how it goes.

Marc

I entered my zip code and cable-only setting, told it not to control a VCR (what's a VCR? :-) ... then turned it off. I guess the morning will tell what the results are. PResumably then I will choose a service provider and it will sort out the channels. I haven't done this in a LONG time so I forget exactly how it goes.
Marc

For me I have to select the right provider before I get the show listings the following update period. My old TVGOS device used to be able to figure the correct lineup based on the valid channels from the scan. Now I have too many choices with the same channel in their lineups so I have to select it. I ussally turn it on at around 10pm and see if it found the lineup choices so I can select it and get the show listings overnight.

To quell the subject on the Electronic Program Guide questions, here is the response to a letter our head of engineering received from our technical contact at Gemstar.

"January 21, 2008

Hello Michael - In reference to your inquiry, your customers utilizing both OTA and CATV will have no problems with FCC 03-273. As you are aware, the VBI signal carried by your station will cease and be picked up by your local CBS affiliate. VBI in its original form will no longer "natively" exist and all new EPG's and VBI 21's will be able to decode the digital format. As for legacy equipment, CATV operators will still transmit the VBI with their analog signal, mainly due to regulations regarding VBI 21. Additionally, NTIA requires all CECB's to decode “legacy VBI", again, mainly due to VBI 21 (see fcc. gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_converters .html for more information.) We have tested extensively with the RCA DTA800B and found it to pass VBI 10-21 encoding perfectly.
Other units complying with NTIA should produce similar results. Please let me know if you need any further information."

Ramm -

How many channels do you have in your channel list? Do you know how MHD is designated in the list?517 channels.

It has the traditional MTV logo and has MHD as the channel letters.

I'm set up for OTA-only.

To quell the subject on the Electronic Program Guide questions, here is the response to a letter our head of engineering received from our technical contact at Gemstar.

"January 21, 2008

Hello Michael - In reference to your inquiry, your customers utilizing both OTA and CATV will have no problems with FCC 03-273. As you are aware, the VBI signal carried by your station will cease and be picked up by your local CBS affiliate. VBI in its original form will no longer "natively" exist and all new EPG's and VBI 21's will be able to decode the digital format. As for legacy equipment, CATV operators will still transmit the VBI with their analog signal, mainly due to regulations regarding VBI 21. Additionally, NTIA requires all CECB's to decode “legacy VBI", again, mainly due to VBI 21 (see fcc. gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_converters .html for more information.) We have tested extensively with the RCA DTA800B and found it to pass VBI 10-21 encoding perfectly.
Other units complying with NTIA should produce similar results. Please let me know if you need any further information."

I guess the thing about NTIA is what's relevant to those of us who are OTA only, and refers to the digital to analog converters? Presumably whatever side info carries the closed captioning also carries TVGOS?

But I don't really see how this would work with the Sony (or the LG that I have). Don't these devices only pass one channel at a time, and produce only an analog signal? How would you use that with a device that you're using mainly to watch/record HD on OTA digital channels?

I GUESS you could split the signal, pass one branch through the converter (which would always be on CBS?), and then rejoin it? Would that work? I suppose it's all RG-whatever...though it would add one more kink into my already complicated system! But if it works, I guess that would be the way to go...at least it sounds like we'll be ok...

(Of course if my Sony keeps dropping so many recordings, I don't know if I'll want to keep using it, anyway!!!)

517 channels.

It has the traditional MTV logo and has MHD as the channel letters.

I'm set up for OTA-only.

Thanks Ramm. I guess that's why I haven't been able to find it. I only show about 460ish channels, and MHD is not among them. I'm set up for OTA and also Charter cable. Maybe MHD will show up on my list someday . . .:(:(:(

I guess the thing about NTIA is what's relevant to those of us who are OTA only, and refers to the digital to analog converters? Presumably whatever side info carries the closed captioning also carries TVGOS?

But I don't really see how this would work with the Sony (or the LG that I have). Don't these devices only pass one channel at a time, and produce only an analog signal? How would you use that with a device that you're using mainly to watch/record HD on OTA digital channels?

I GUESS you could split the signal, pass one branch through the converter (which would always be on CBS?), and then rejoin it? Would that work? I suppose it's all RG-whatever...though it would add one more kink into my already complicated system! But if it works, I guess that would be the way to go...at least it sounds like we'll be ok...

(Of course if my Sony keeps dropping so many recordings, I don't know if I'll want to keep using it, anyway!!!)
The vbi channel (actually channels) that DataChanEngr referenced are the channels that carry the guide AND closed captioning. Specifically, vbi channel 21 is what carries closed captioning. I use cable, so this is a good thing for me. Worst case scenario is that you would have to leave your converter on the cbs channel over night one or two times a week.

For OTA only, you could just buy 10 converters (or how ever many local stations you have), use a combiner, and voila. Some aluminum foil on the antenna might help as well.

avnstf -

Maybe the OTA only people like yourself could use the converter, and leave it always set to CBS as you suggest. Then set it to output on channel 3 or 4 and feed that into the CABLE input on the Sony. Then the Sony should automatically find it and go there for guide updates. Your normal OTA should then continue to function just as it does now.

Edit: Oops, I just realized that you have the LG. Maybe my idea won't work for you. Depends on if you have both a cable and an OTA input on the LG.

avnstf -

Maybe the OTA only people like yourself could use the converter, and leave it always set to CBS as you suggest. Then set it to output on channel 3 or 4 and feed that into the CABLE input on the Sony. Then the Sony should automatically find it and go there for guide updates. Your normal OTA should then continue to function just as it does now.

Edit: Oops, I just realized that you have the LG. Maybe my idea won't work for you. Depends on if you have both a cable and an OTA input on the LG.

Don't you think that my suggestion of splitting the signal from the antenna, then joining the converted signal back with the original digital from the antenna would work? ( I already split the antenna signal for multiple units, so I would put that stuff in front of my present 4-way splitter.)

As for my analog TV upstairs, I guess it would work with no trouble, except that I don't see any way to program a vcr with this converter, since it always outputs on 3 or 4...(of course I hardly ever use a conventional VCR any more, since it looks like pure junk compared with HD recording...)

Don't you think that my suggestion of splitting the signal from the antenna, then joining the converted signal back with the original digital from the antenna would work? ( I already split the antenna signal for multiple units, so I would put that stuff in front of my present 4-way splitter.)

Sure, that might work too. I don't have any personal experience with trying to combine a signal back into an antenna feed. I've always felt that doing that was kind of tricky to accomplish. But maybe someone else (with experience) can chime in about it.

Sure, that might work too. I don't have any personal experience with trying to combine a signal back into an antenna feed. I've always felt that doing that was kind of tricky to accomplish. But maybe someone else (with experience) can chime in about it.

Actually, I still have 2 antennas pointing in different directions, with their feeds joined before being split to go to different devices, and it works fine. (I say "still", because since the NBC stations in San Jose moved its antenna north toward San Francisco, I shouldn't need the second, smaller antenna that I put up earlier.) I assume that the output of the digital-to-analog converter is equivalent to an antenna signal, so it ought to work.

To quell the subject on the Electronic Program Guide questions, here is the response to a letter our head of engineering received from our technical contact at Gemstar.

"[...] Additionally, NTIA requires all CECB's to decode “legacy VBI", again, mainly due to VBI 21 (see fcc. gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_converters .html for more information.) We have tested extensively with the RCA DTA800B and found it to pass VBI 10-21 encoding perfectly.
Other units complying with NTIA should produce similar results."

Interesting. I was under the impression that only the forthcoming Echostar TR-40 was designed to convert Gemstar's digital EPG transmissions to the current analog VBI-based system.

This sounds like the actual data is the same with both digital and analog transmissions, and that Gemstar is using the same scheme under ATSC (digital) that is being used for transmitting closed captions. For maximum compatibility and ease of conversion, this makes sense. Of course, as we all know, things often get done in a way that doesn't really make sense. :rolleyes:

I'd better e-mail my local CBS station and ask them when they're going to start sending the Gemstar EPG data on their digital channel (if they aren't doing so already), so I can try some CECB's on my Sony -250 and -500 units when my coupons arrive.

I have a DHG-HDD250 and I am using it only for OTA, but all my channels say "No Listing". I tried to change the zip code and did what I can to make this work and I couldn't. It did work couple months ago for a short time but now it doesn't anymore.
I am wondering if anyone else in San Francisco is using this device and if they know on which channel the info is coming in, and what I can do to fix this.

Any help is appreciated to get this working.
Thanks in advance.

For the SF Bay Area, the channel listings (OTA analog) are coming in on KQED, ch 9. Except for when there has been a national outage, I've had no issues. Did you turn ch9 off in the channel list/listings?

Some time ago I found out that the guide data was on KGO ch.7 for the SF bay area,
it may have changed. In any event, when you first set up the guide the first chan.
listed is the one carring the data for the guide.

For me I have to select the right provider before I get the show listings the following update period. My old TVGOS device used to be able to figure the correct lineup based on the valid channels from the scan. Now I have too many choices with the same channel in their lineups so I have to select it. I ussally turn it on at around 10pm and see if it found the lineup choices so I can select it and get the show listings overnight.

Right, I did this last night and selected the appropriate provider. They had cleaned it up; last time there were lots of duplicates and it was non-intuitive about which to choose. This time, the choice was obvious. Yea.

I checked this morning and had the initial listing data (presumably days 1,2,5,8?) and in a little while I will try doing a recording while playing with the remote and seeing if the lockup problem re-asserts itself. Will post results later.

Marc

EDIT:

I set the unit to record something, then played around with the remote to see if it would lock up. I went about poking around some menus then taking a preliminary swipe at ordering the channels. So far no lockups. The preliminary verdict so far is that the "unhook cable, remove cablecard, scan..." gymnastics are not necessary. I will play with it some more and report any other findings but I will be away from town M-Th this week; it will be next weekend before I have substantial new feedback.

I really appreciate the help in (apparently) resolving this lockup issue.

Marc

This forum has been invaluable in troubleshooting this "difficult" device. :) I have been going round and round with Sony trying to figure out how to get my firm ware upgraded. (I have 1.2.09) on the 250.

Does anyone know if Sony is still doing the upgrade, and if so how to accomplish this?

Thank you in advance!

This forum has been invaluable in troubleshooting this "difficult" device. :) I have been going round and round with Sony trying to figure out how to get my firm ware upgraded. (I have 1.2.09) on the 250.

Does anyone know if Sony is still doing the upgrade, and if so how to accomplish this?

Thank you in advance!

Do it yourself.... FAQ now has the procedure listed....
Why do you want to upgrade? I don't think there are any useful fixes in the new version.

I was reading somewhere that 1.2.09 has some issues that causes sporadic errors. Is that true? I copied in the text from the reviewer at the botttom of this post.

Also I am sorry whose FAQ are you refering too? Sony's has zero on it, and I can't find anything on the FAQ on this site (unless I am looking in the wrong place, which NEVER happens!) :)

My DGG-HDD250 has to be reset like clockwork every February. I always have to wipe it and then spend a couple of hours re-organizing the channel guide.

Just trying to save myself the yearly aggravation.

Here is the post I got from a review:

"Unless you have firmware version 1.2.13 or later, you could incur some abnormalities that cannot be explained that can cause you to have to periodically reboot the unit by unplugging it for a while and powering it back up." (Haven't posted enough to be able to give credit yet.... came from epinions dot com)

You can do the firmware upgrade yourself. There is a post with a link to the firmware file and instructions in this thread. I believe it was posted in the last 6 months or so. Go to the very first post in this thread to find the FAQ. your quote about the firmware (less than 1.2.13) is not true. My DHG500 has the older firmware and I've never had to power down and reboot.

I was reading somewhere that 1.2.09 has some issues that causes sporadic errors. Is that true? I copied in the text from the reviewer at the botttom of this post.

Also I am sorry whose FAQ are you refering too? Sony's has zero on it, and I can't find anything on the FAQ on this site (unless I am looking in the wrong place, which NEVER happens!) :)

My DGG-HDD250 has to be reset like clockwork every February. I always have to wipe it and then spend a couple of hours re-organizing the channel guide.

Just trying to save myself the yearly aggravation.

Here is the post I got from a review:

"Unless you have firmware version 1.2.13 or later, you could incur some abnormalities that cannot be explained that can cause you to have to periodically reboot the unit by unplugging it for a while and powering it back up." (Haven't posted enough to be able to give credit yet.... came from epinions dot com)

A Sony engineer told me that firmware update was solely for TV interface compatibility so don't expect firmware update to solve your problem.
Ray

THANK YOU!

I have no problems using it with my flat screen so I guess I won't bother! Thank you all for the info.

I guess the thing about NTIA is what's relevant to those of us who are OTA only, and refers to the digital to analog converters? Presumably whatever side info carries the closed captioning also carries TVGOS?

But I don't really see how this would work with the Sony (or the LG that I have). Don't these devices only pass one channel at a time, and produce only an analog signal? How would you use that with a device that you're using mainly to watch/record HD on OTA digital channels?

I GUESS you could split the signal, pass one branch through the converter (which would always be on CBS?), and then rejoin it? Would that work? I suppose it's all RG-whatever...though it would add one more kink into my already complicated system! But if it works, I guess that would be the way to go...at least it sounds like we'll be ok...

(Of course if my Sony keeps dropping so many recordings, I don't know if I'll want to keep using it, anyway!!!)

As a followup to this possibility, I have a post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13071954#post13071954) in the LG 3410a thread speculating about whether or not the LG or Sony units will have trouble USING the converted signal for their TV Guide.

Others interested in this question for OTA users may want to check that post and any ensuing discussion.

why do you want to upgrade the firmware? I believe that the 'newer' firmware only fixed some HDMI / DVI compatibility issues. No new features or functionality (or even better stability for that matter)

I have two 250's, one I use all the time which I have it plugged into a APS and the other one I just started to use as a tuner. I notice that the clock never came up and the VBI test fail. I then tried the test on the main one which it also failed and there was no host channel listed on either DVR. I also have a TV with the same clock set and it never stopped on the PBS channel like it use to do. I let is search it never found that signal. I still get the TVGOS guide on the main one. I emailed the engineer at the local PBS station and he called me this morning. They are now feeding their digital video signal to their analog transmitter which strips the VBI and they still have the guide.

I've read on several post that this will be switched over to CBS. Has a date been set for this to happen or is February 2009 the date?

I would like to hear from you who are up to date on this issue. Thanks.

When you said:

They are now feeding their digital video signal to their analog transmitter which strips the VBI and they still have the guide.


Did he explain why they were doing this? I would suspect some other folks don't like this either, since this is likely stripping out any closed captions, too. Is this a temporary thing because they were having equipment problems?

When you said:



Did he explain why they were doing this? I would suspect some other folks don't like this either, since this is likely stripping out any closed captions, too. Is this a temporary thing because they were having equipment problems?
My understanding this is the way it is setup for the switch over next February. The guide is still up and running. Its just the clock. I have one DVR on a APS and as long as I keep the clock running I have the guide and close caption.

My understanding this is the way it is setup for the switch over next February. The guide is still up and running. Its just the clock. I have one DVR on a APS and as long as I keep the clock running I have the guide and close caption.

So your host channel is blank according to the TVGOS diagnostic info, but your guide still continues to populate? If you aren't familiar with the diagnostic page, it is accessed by doing the following:

Press <GUIDE>, then move the cursor up to the SETUP menu item on the top bar. Press <DOWN>, then 753159852. This gives you a series of screens that show info like Host Channel, VBI info, and numerous other pages of system info. One of the most useful screens is accessed by immediately pressing <RIGHT> after entering this "753..." menu. This page shows you the Host Channel (among other things).

I had to hook an antenna up to my DVR just so I could pull in my host channel OTA, since my cable provider and/or the host channel has munged up the analog cable feed so it fails the VBI test. I DON'T get guide info from this channel.

I find it strange that you are getting guide data from a channel that fails the VBI test.

So your host channel is blank according to the TVGOS diagnostic info, but your guide still continues to populate? If you aren't familiar with the diagnostic page, it is accessed by doing the following:

Press <GUIDE>, then move the cursor up to the SETUP menu item on the top bar. Press <DOWN>, then 753159852. This gives you a series of screens that show info like Host Channel, VBI info, and numerous other pages of system info. One of the most useful screens is accessed by immediately pressing <RIGHT> after entering this "753..." menu. This page shows you the Host Channel (among other things).

I had to hook an antenna up to my DVR just so I could pull in my host channel OTA, since my cable provider and/or the host channel has munged up the analog cable feed so it fails the VBI test. I DON'T get guide info from this channel.

I find it strange that you are getting guide data from a channel that fails the VBI test. If you would like to talk by phone I'll can give you my number. I do have free long distance if you would like to give me yours.

One thing that I just realized...

I am getting closed caption info on cable channel 12 here (my host channel analog cable feed). This channel is failing the VBI test right now. I am not sure how they can have CC info, but no guide info on this cable channel. I thought that the cableco was doing the same thing that you described above, where they are picking up the digital feed from the host channel (actually OTA), and rebroadcasting it as analog. I thought that this would strip out ALL VBI data, including both the VBI and guide packets, but I guess this isn't correct.

Are you getting your clock?

Are you getting your clock?

Nope, not on my other "auto clock set" devices. The only thing that does get the clock set is my DVR, since I have the antenna hooked up to it and it pulls in the host channel OTA (this one DOES pass the VBI test).

Nope, not on my other "auto clock set" devices. The only thing that does get the clock set is my DVR, since I have the antenna hooked up to it and it pulls in the host channel OTA (this one DOES pass the VBI test). I also did a VBI test and it failed.

Spiff,

Did you get my pm? I wish someone would come with a device that could connected in the antenna coax which would generate a setable clock.

I have TW cable, and two DVRs, one with a cable card. Both are also connected to the same UHF antenna. Yesterday I performed the VBI tests on channel 3, which is the PBS channel 28 broadcast. The DVR with the cable card failed and the other one passed so I assume that the cable card is blocking the VBI data. Both units get the guide from OTA but not certain that this channel also sets the clock.

Ray

I have TW cable, and two DVRs, one with a cable card. Both are also connected to the same UHF antenna. Yesterday I performed the VBI tests on channel 3, which is the PBS channel 28 broadcast. The DVR with the cable card failed and the other one passed so I assume that the cable card is blocking the VBI data. Both units get the guide from OTA but not certain that this channel also sets the clock.

Ray

This may explain the lost of TVGOS data on Time Warner cable. Gemstar filed a petition with the FCC against TW removing the TVGOS data from the VBI on it's cable system. It appears that TW won and Gemstar lost.. http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2001/nrcb0118.txt

This may explain the lost of TVGOS data on Time Warner cable. Gemstar filed a petition with the FCC against TW removing the TVGOS data from the VBI on it's cable system. It appears that TW won and Gemstar lost.. http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2001/nrcb0118.txtThanks for that useful information.

It sounds like Gemstar is going to have to pay TWC if they want their information carried on those cable systems.

This may explain the lost of TVGOS data on Time Warner cable. Gemstar filed a petition with the FCC against TW removing the TVGOS data from the VBI on it's cable system. It appears that TW won and Gemstar lost.. http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2001/nrcb0118.txt

I don't know if TW is intentionally blocking it since in my area VBI test pasted on the unit that doesn't have a cable card. Also, Gemstar provides the guide for the TW and Comcast recorders.

Ray

This may explain the lost of TVGOS data on Time Warner cable. Gemstar filed a petition with the FCC against TW removing the TVGOS data from the VBI on it's cable system. It appears that TW won and Gemstar lost.. http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2001/nrcb0118.txt

This news release is rather old. It is dated December 6, 2001, so it would not explain any recent actions by Time Warner cable.

Just read the blurb on the "m-card" cable cards and was wondering if using one in the Sony DVR would somehow make it two tuner capable? I'm guessing not but figured I'd ask.

see this link:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2739/m-card-possible.html

Just read the blurb on the "m-card" cable cards and was wondering if using one in the Sony DVR would somehow make it two tuner capable? I'm guessing not but figured I'd ask.No.

The Sony only has a single, integrated ATSC/QAM tuner.

I stumble over a menu sometime ago that allowed me to change the power up preferences. I was able to change the tv guide from showing up on the screen at startup. I can't seem to find that menu again. I'm hoping someone can guide me in the right direction. Thanks.

To stop the program guide from popping up every time you turn on the DVR:

1. Go into the program guide
2. Go up to the top and select Setup
3. Select Change default options
4. Select General defaults
5. Along the left side, change auto guide to off

Thank you Mark for that info.

They are now feeding their digital video signal to their analog transmitter which strips the VBI and they still have the guide.


Well, a digital video signal doesn't have a VBI. Broadcast digital video (ATSC/QAM) has CC and other misc data, but is in a totally different format than the "trick" used to embed it into an analog video (NTSC) video signal's VBI.

If this station supports CC on their analog transmitter, it is because they are taking the CC data from the digital source, and converting it then adding it into the input of their analog transmitter. It would never just "come along for the ride" with the video itself.

Now, like CC, TVGOS data would need to be sent in an entirely different way in broadcast digital video (ATSC/QAM). Not that it could not be done, but any older equipment we have at home, would need to have the hardware (a ATSC/QAM tuner), and have new software to make use of the new format.

Just to complement things a bit, the ATSC standard has a provision for EPG info already, but each ATSC channel would send only its own EPG data. So, if (big "if" here) TVGOS switched to using that, TVGOS would need to constantly scan all digital channels to collect all the individual channel's EPG data.

Just to complement things a bit, the ATSC standard has a provision for EPG info already, but each ATSC channel would send only its own EPG data. So, if (big "if" here) TVGOS switched to using that, TVGOS would need to constantly scan all digital channels to collect all the individual channel's EPG data.

Since the station itself provides the ATSC PSIP EPG data there would be no value added for TVGOS to use it. On top of that it doesn't go out 8 days (I think it's a day in advance, if that) and it's rather unreliable. All these reasons change your "big if" to a "no chance".

Just a quick update here, directed at WhatHappened and anyone following the lockup resolution issue...

I'm back from my trip and watched a bunch of recorded TV last night while the DVR was busily recording new material. No lockups at all. When I did the reset procedure WhatHappened recommended, I did NOT remove the cablecard or disconnect the coax cable and rescan blank. I started at the first of the 9012 menu resets and took it from there.

Thanks for your help!

Marc

I'm back from my trip and watched a bunch of recorded TV last night while the DVR was busily recording new material. No lockups at all. When I did the reset procedure WhatHappened recommended, I did NOT remove the cablecard or disconnect the coax cable and rescan blank. I started at the first of the 9012 menu resets and took it from there.I have a theory regarding these lockups while recording, and according to that theory, what is required to fix it is to do nothing for anywhere from 1 to 8 days and it will fix itself - that is my experience. The theory goes like this: A set of listings for today and 8 days out comes in during the night, but has an inconsistency in it... for example show A on channel 6 from 8 to 10:02, and show B on channel 6 from 10 to 11. I have seen examples of this, where scrolling right and left causes a particular slot to list different shows. A thread of execution in the unit that is supposed to periodically invoke the TVGOS software goes in there and gets hung with TVGOS trying hopelessly to resolve the inconsistency. A separate thread still recognizes the remote until it's time to record a program, at which time it gets all tied up with the recording under the assumption that the other thread will handle requests from the remote. But the other thread is whirling around trying to resolve that inconsistency. As a day or more go by, the offending inconsistent listing either goes away because its day has passed or gets replaced with a consistent listing. The busy thread then finds everything OK and can go back to monitoring the remote, and you can once again control the unit either while it is recording or not.

So this theory proposes that the problem is not some permanent screw-up in the S/W that requires a reset, but just a temporarily unresolvable error in the TVGOS listings themselves. Resetting and wiping the listings of course cures it too, but it's like throwing out the baby with the bathwater, since you have to wait until they all come back; even then, the defective listing may still be being transmitted in the VBI and the problem may return temporarily.

Having never seen the S/W architecture of the Sony, I can't prove this, but it is a conceivable design that, in combination with a particular TVGOS version (probably 8.06.44) that is capable of getting hung, would explain the symptoms and the cure. So next time this happens to you, just try waiting up to 8 days to see if it goes away on its own; it may go away sooner if Gemstar discovers the inconsistency and transmits a corrected listing during one of those time slots reserved for ancillary updates.

I have a theory regarding these lockups while recording, and according to that theory, what is required to fix it is to do nothing for anywhere from 1 to 8 days and it will fix itself - that is my experience. The theory goes like this: A set of listings for today and 8 days out comes in during the night, but has an inconsistency in it... for example show A on channel 6 from 8 to 10:02, and show B on channel 6 from 10 to 11. I have seen examples of this, where scrolling right and left causes a particular slot to list different shows. A thread of execution in the unit that is supposed to periodically invoke the TVGOS software goes in there and gets hung with TVGOS trying hopelessly to resolve the inconsistency. A separate thread still recognizes the remote until it's time to record a program, at which time it gets all tied up with the recording under the assumption that the other thread will handle requests from the remote. But the other thread is whirling around trying to resolve that inconsistency. As a day or more go by, the offending inconsistent listing either goes away because its day has passed or gets replaced with a consistent listing. The busy thread then finds everything OK and can go back to monitoring the remote, and you can once again control the unit either while it is recording or not.

So this theory proposes that the problem is not some permanent screw-up in the S/W that requires a reset, but just a temporarily unresolvable error in the TVGOS listings themselves. Resetting and wiping the listings of course cures it too, but it's like throwing out the baby with the bathwater, since you have to wait until they all come back; even then, the defective listing may still be being transmitted in the VBI and the problem may return temporarily.

Having never seen the S/W architecture of the Sony, I can't prove this, but it is a conceivable design that, in combination with a particular TVGOS version (probably 8.06.44) that is capable of getting hung, would explain the symptoms and the cure. So next time this happens to you, just try waiting up to 8 days to see if it goes away on its own; it may go away sooner if Gemstar discovers the inconsistency and transmits a corrected listing during one of those time slots reserved for ancillary updates.

Sorry, that is not the issue. I waited over 8 days to fix mine (hoping it would resolve itself and I had another 2 tuner DVR to use). And now the full listings are updated in 3 days because they added day 5 to the rotation (Read FAQ).

The 3 weeks in between 3 of us from MN with the same guide sources disproves your theory. Mine was fixed immediately after my rebuilding the TVGuide data and other that waited multiple weeks more were still suffering the lockups.

Another theory: That the Bad data might be causing the TVGuide OS GUI thread to block on the recording thread and until the recording stops the main GUI is in a deadlock with the recording thread. The bad data is a link list pointer chain that is broken so it can't be fixed without deleting all the data and rebuilding the link list from scratch.


I would say "PEOPLE HELP YOUR SELFS AND DON'T CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE LOCKUPS".

I recently reported VBI test failure on unit with cable card tuned to PBS on channel 3. Last night I found the same PBS station on cable channel 95. The VBI test passed on that channel even thought the picture was very noisy. So TW is providing the VBI signal, and I assume the DVR would have found that channel if I didn't also have OTA reception.

Ray

Well, a digital video signal doesn't have a VBI. Broadcast digital video (ATSC/QAM) has CC and other misc data, but is in a totally different format than the "trick" used to embed it into an analog video (NTSC) video signal's VBI.

If this station supports CC on their analog transmitter, it is because they are taking the CC data from the digital source, and converting it then adding it into the input of their analog transmitter. It would never just "come along for the ride" with the video itself.

Now, like CC, TVGOS data would need to be sent in an entirely different way in broadcast digital video (ATSC/QAM). Not that it could not be done, but any older equipment we have at home, would need to have the hardware (a ATSC/QAM tuner), and have new software to make use of the new format.

Just to complement things a bit, the ATSC standard has a provision for EPG info already, but each ATSC channel would send only its own EPG data. So, if (big "if" here) TVGOS switched to using that, TVGOS would need to constantly scan all digital channels to collect all the individual channel's EPG data.

Gemstar is using 8-VSB for the digital version of their TV Guide EPG guide data and it is only broadcast on CBS and PBS stations. VBI was used for the analog version.

Stations can also include very basic EPG information in the PSIP which is separate from what Gemstar uses. It only shows the current and next program for a particular channel. So far all the coupon elegible DTV receivers reviewed so far are using this though we'll have to see what the Echostar/Sling TR-40 has in store since it is rumored to convert 8-VSB to VBI.

On the other hand the TR-50 DVR features 8 days of programming so it is undoubtedly using Gemstar's guide data instead.

Gemstar is using 8-VSB for the digital version of their TV Guide EPG guide data and it is only broadcast on CBS and PBS stations. VBI was used for the analog version.

Stations can also include very basic EPG information in the PSIP which is separate from what Gemstar uses. It only shows the current and next program for a particular channel. So far all the coupon elegible DTV receivers reviewed so far are using this though we'll have to see what the Echostar/Sling TR-40 has in store since it is rumored to convert 8-VSB to VBI.

On the other hand the TR-50 DVR features 8 days of programming so it is undoubtedly using Gemstar's guide data instead.

just out of curiosity, where did you see that the TR-50 will use Gemstar?

hmmm, as to the digital-analog converters, a Gemstar person was quoted in this thread a week or so ago saying that these converters were REQUIRED to pass over "legacy VBI" to the analog output, including the Gemstar data, and the first unit they had tested did so successfully...

Finally, my 2003 Samsung digital receiver showed the full days' programming from each channel from PSIP, AND contructed a guide for all the channels together (which I THOUGHT was for a week, though I'm not sure because I didn't really use it because so few channels then actually carried the data)

Sorry, that is not the issue. I waited over 8 days to fix mine (hoping it would resolve itself and I had another 2 tuner DVR to use). And now the full listings are updated in 3 days because they added day 5 to the rotation (Read FAQ).Well, there might be multiple causes, because I had exactly the symptom (could not control the Sony in any way until a scheduled recording completed), yet I did absolutely NOTHING other than pull the power plug (after the recording was done), then reboot (which, like any power failure, picks up the clock again within a minute and loses nothing), and the problem has not recurred.

Well, there might be multiple causes, because I had exactly the symptom (could not control the Sony in any way until a scheduled recording completed), yet I did absolutely NOTHING other than pull the power plug (after the recording was done), then reboot (which, like any power failure, picks up the clock again within a minute and loses nothing), and the problem has not recurred.


I got away with that for about a week or so but eventually it started locking up.

Resetting both the unit and the guide (without pulling the cablecard or cables) solved the problem.

The funny thing is even though both my sonys have the same OTA host channel, only one of them was affected by the problem.

Well, there might be multiple causes, because I had exactly the symptom (could not control the Sony in any way until a scheduled recording completed), yet I did absolutely NOTHING other than pull the power plug (after the recording was done), then reboot (which, like any power failure, picks up the clock again within a minute and loses nothing), and the problem has not recurred.

Yes, when the Daylight savings was updated (fixed via new TVGOS firmware) in early 2007 there were the same symptoms for a lot of people. I had it too then, and a soft reset fixed it. This time soft reboots and changing zip codes or channel scans did fix anything. I had been watching for new channels before it happened because I added the HD package and I had a ticket with SONY to get some missing HD channels added. The channels were added right when the lockups started.

It was also really interesting if you have read all my posts that when I did the 00000 zip code and then re-setup the guide (the old TVGOS FAQ way of fixing issues), all my guide information was immediately available and I didn't have to wait for a guide download. I would guess that the new firmware tries to always preserve the guide data so that after unexpected power offs and provider listing changes you don't lose all your guide data.

I have been using TVGOS for quite a while and the old Phillips DVR used to lose the guide and start from scratch at any unexpected lockup in the GUI. It would also lose the guide after power removal. TVGUIDE has been dealing with these guide lose customer complaints for a long time and I would guess that now we are seeing why they used to dump the data to avoid using corrupt data.

Finally, my 2003 Samsung digital receiver showed the full days' programming from each channel from PSIP, AND contructed a guide for all the channels together (which I THOUGHT was for a week, though I'm not sure because I didn't really use it because so few channels then actually carried the data)I have the DTB-H260F, and it does occassionally show a weeks worth for some channels, although a few days worth is probably more common.

Gemstar is using 8-VSB for the digital version of their TV Guide EPG guide data and it is only broadcast on CBS and PBS stations. VBI was used for the analog version.

Stations can also include very basic EPG information in the PSIP which is separate from what Gemstar uses. It only shows the current and next program for a particular channel. So far all the coupon elegible DTV receivers reviewed so far are using this though we'll have to see what the Echostar/Sling TR-40 has in store since it is rumored to convert 8-VSB to VBI.

On the other hand the TR-50 DVR features 8 days of programming so it is undoubtedly using Gemstar's guide data instead.

8-VSB is the underlying modulation scheme used for digital broadcasts. Thus, EVERYTHING in your digital broadcast is 8-VSB. It is not specific to TVGOS or anything else.

The incoming 8-VSB signal is demodulated into a digital stream that includes picture and sound information as well as things like the individual station EPG. TVGOS (digital) is just another part of that digital data.

I got away with that for about a week or so but eventually it started locking up.

Resetting both the unit and the guide (without pulling the cablecard or cables) solved the problem.

The funny thing is even though both my sonys have the same OTA host channel, only one of them was affected by the problem.

When did you do this? Was it back in Sept.? Did you use the same basic proceedure I posted (Sony default user configuration, TVGOS reset)?

When did you do this? Was it back in Sept.? Did you use the same basic proceedure I posted (Sony default user configuration, TVGOS reset)?


The lockups started happening a few weeks ago.

I switched from comcast to fios last year. Since then and prior to the locking up problem, the affected dvr rarely showed program info when channel surfing and was slower to respond to commands as compared to my other sony.

Since the reset, it is now faster and and program info has returned.

Thanks for posting your reset procedures. I almost did the hdd reformat and would have lost all my recordings.

Yes it's the Insignia brand, but it is a converter. In the SF area CBS is broadcasting the digital version of TVGOS. So any members here from the Bay Area want to go to Best Buy and give it a try and see if the Insignia can convert the digital TVGOS (besides myself)? Be sure to keep your receipt:)

fox

Yes it's the Insignia brand, but it is a converter. In the SF area CBS is broadcasting the digital version of TVGOS. So any members here from the Bay Area want to go to Best Buy and give it a try and see if the Insignia can convert the digital TVGOS (besides myself)? Be sure to keep your receipt:)

foxGreat question! I was going to test both the Best Buy Insignia and Wal-Mart Magnavox branded converter boxes, but I don't have a CBS O&O in my area. The good news is that we will be moving to the Dallas area (O&O) next month so I am eager to see which converter boxes actually pass VBI.

Great question! I was going to test both the Best Buy Insignia and Wal-Mart Magnavox branded converter boxes, but I don't have a CBS O&O in my area. The good news is that we will be moving to the Dallas area (O&O) next month so I am eager to see which converter boxes actually pass VBI.

UPDATE!

I bought the Magnavox and tried it. IT DOES NOT WORK! It will not convert the the digital TVGOS. The only hope is the TR-40 or kiss your Sony goodbye and say hello to the TR-50.

fox

It will not convert the the digital TVGOS.
Does it convert the clock data? (The clock data is separate from the proprietary TVGOS data.)

Does it convert the clock data? (The clock data is separate from the proprietary TVGOS data.)

Good question - can someone test this?