Does anyone notice here that new posters just love the great job Sony does? First post praising Sony bolony and gets a grid overnight? Busted!!!!
I have had my share of problems out of my two machines over the last 4 years, but all in all they have been working fine. I have had resets and had to reformat the drives once. But from what I see, the problems that come up are mostly due to getting bad packets/TVGOS data. Since these units are interactive, they/we are at the mercy of the programmers, data transmission interference, poor signals,bad encoders, etc... So I think Sony did make a good DVR, it's just that with so many variables it hard to lay all the blame on them. Many thought that these would be door stops after the analog cutoff, but that has not happen. Even the Sony techs thought so, but was proved wrong. And Sony, to their credit, has put out an ungrade even though it may be a couple of years old. Most manufacturers would not even bother.
As far as your grid, perhaps the host station still has problems in that some of the data you need is not getting sent or is sending bad data that can not be used to reset the grid. Or you have a faulty splitter to that unit?
(ota,cable, or both?) Not sure how you receive your host.
Michael
PS: IF you look aver at the DTVPAL dvr thread, you can see all the issues they have been having. So I am pleased thus far with what I have. My only real complaint is too much TV. What did we do before.

Although I have been following this forum for some time now, this is the first time I have posted anything.
My 250 is both OTA (LA) and TWC (no cable card / Glendora/Monrovia), and has had 7 days of listing most of the time. Both the host and time were from LA’s OTA PBS 28. Since I performed the upgrade to .21 I now have the 8th day of grids but never have listings for it. The 7th days gets some listings mostly OTA, with the 6th mostly filled in. The host channel has changed to the cable channel 28 (same PBS station), and the time to OTA 2.1 which is the local CBS station. I suppose that I should be happy that I get any grids and listing at all, but I am curious why the delays for the 7th and 8th days. Could it be the digital/analog mismatch between the time channel and the host channel.

Although I have been following this forum for some time now, this is the first time I have posted anything.
My 250 is both OTA (LA) and TWC (no cable card / Glendora/Monrovia), and has had 7 days of listing most of the time. Both the host and time were from LA’s OTA PBS 28. Since I performed the upgrade to .21 I now have the 8th day of grids but never have listings for it. The 7th days gets some listings mostly OTA, with the 6th mostly filled in. The host channel has changed to the cable channel 28 (same PBS station), and the time to OTA 2.1 which is the local CBS station. I suppose that I should be happy that I get any grids and listing at all, but I am curious why the delays for the 7th and 8th days. Could it be the digital/analog mismatch between the time channel and the host channel.

I'm in Glendora, 2 DHGs OTA only and both use analog FOX 11 as host. I've not had any missing day 8 listings for quite some time now, but I haven't installed the .21 upgrade yet. Your result is interesting. :eek: Figured I'd just wait and see what they do on their own after 6/12. On one unit I did a G* test a while ago so it does clock sets and gets listings from 2.1 when turned on.

I have had my share of problems out of my two machines over the last 4 years, but all in all they have been working fine. I have had resets and had to reformat the drives once. But from what I see, the problems that come up are mostly due to getting bad packets/TVGOS data. Since these units are interactive, they/we are at the mercy of the programmers, data transmission interference, poor signals,bad encoders, etc... So I think Sony did make a good DVR, it's just that with so many variables it hard to lay all the blame on them. Many thought that these would be door stops after the analog cutoff, but that has not happen. Even the Sony techs thought so, but was proved wrong. And Sony, to their credit, has put out an ungrade even though it may be a couple of years old. Most manufacturers would not even bother.
As far as your grid, perhaps the host station still has problems in that some of the data you need is not getting sent or is sending bad data that can not be used to reset the grid. Or you have a faulty splitter to that unit?
(ota,cable, or both?) Not sure how you receive your host.
Michael
PS: IF you look aver at the DTVPAL dvr thread, you can see all the issues they have been having. So I am pleased thus far with what I have. My only real complaint is too much TV. What did we do before.

Mike I just didn't get off the boat . I'm ota with two dhg 250's At one time I has the head tech at a cable co, so I know my way aroung coax. My signal is fine. I have changed all splitters and replaced coax but never thought that was a prob. The one unit that has the grid is getting listings. Sony keeps on referring these as old units. They were very expensive when and new and were expected to last more that 4 yeards. The one that don't have the grid is less than 2 years old. Purchased as unsold stock with a full warrenty and sold at full price.What possible reason is Sony fighting against giving us the latest firmware from MV ? This don't make good business sence. I just bought a new lcd tv this week. My last 2 new ones were Sony but I just got a Samsung. I'm still on the fight trying get Sony to reverse their decision of not providing dhg owners with the proper working firmware from MV. Sony has admitted that the .21 firmware was relewased untested. After a lab test it took them 228 hrs to aquire a grid. In the real world it maybe double. I'm over 300 hours and counting. I'm not sure if it will evev work at all. Others think that it is working in there market but that has not been proven. I can't get two data cbs stations here ,so I must get all data from one source. There is no catv in my neighborhood either. If my anger toward Sony is rubbing you wrong I'm sorry but I'm doing this so all of us with dhg's will have working units for many years. It would be nice if others here at least supported VideoBruce and I on trying to get Sony to release a newer firmware.................SS Stingray

Mike I just didn't get off the boat . I'm ota with two dhg 250's At one time I has the head tech at a cable co, so I know my way aroung coax. My signal is fine. I have changed all splitters and replaced coax but never thought that was a prob. The one unit that has the grid is getting listings. Sony keeps on referring these as old units. They were very expensive when and new and were expected to last more that 4 yeards. The one that don't have the grid is less than 2 years old. Purchased as unsold stock with a full warrenty and sold at full price.What possible reason is Sony fighting against giving us the latest firmware from MV ? This don't make good business sence. I just bought a new lcd tv this week. My last 2 new ones were Sony but I just got a Samsung. I'm still on the fight trying get Sony to reverse their decision of not providing dhg owners with the proper working firmware from MV. Sony has admitted that the .21 firmware was relewased untested. After a lab test it took them 228 hrs to aquire a grid. In the real world it maybe double. I'm over 300 hours and counting. I'm not sure if it will evev work at all. Others think that it is working in there market but that has not been proven. I can't get two data cbs stations here ,so I must get all data from one source. There is no catv in my neighborhood either. If my anger toward Sony is rubbing you wrong I'm sorry but I'm doing this so all of us with dhg's will have working units for many years. It would be nice if others here at least supported VideoBruce and I on trying to get Sony to release a newer firmware.................SS Stingray

We can not first hand see what another member has done, unless they supply pictures, then when that new member has a positive result and posts it, don't be so quick to jump on them because you are having problems.
Your anger does not bother me, but if you piss off people at Sony, then we are all out in the cold if indeed the firmware fix really does not work. I don't think Sony is fighting us, it is just typical of our times. No one seems to want to commit themselves. Just look at how the upgrade to .21 was handled. If you remember, we were all told that these units would not work in a digital environment and no upgrades would be forth coming. Even up to a day before the upgrade was posted at their site, techs were saying there was not an upgrade. I have to think that somebody at Sony must read our comments. Or maybe not. Ranting on about Sony techs does not help to resolve this problem. Just as I wrote in my post, which here I need to make a correction to and that is: It has been proved that thses units work in a digital environment by others here in this forum.
I tend to look at things in a logical manner. Why are some areas of the country having little or no problems with .21 and others do not? It is easy to overlook the little things and blame someone or something else. That is of no use.
I know that with tack, measured patience, and gentle persistance you can get what you want. All that abuse gets you is more anger, headaches and little chance of a solution.
Well perhaps there is a bug with some of the digital encoding? Or with the new firmware? But why are some getting results and others are not?
Can you not reset back to the old firmware as has been reported on before? Then you should be able to re-acquire the same host as you had before. As for me, upgrading now will not help/work until the analog host is gone. I am too close to its tower. So I will keep reading this forum to learn of what not to do when and if the time ever comes.
Michael

I don't know how most of you feel but I'm very dissapointed in what Sony did on the new firmware. Sony just took old firmware dated Sept.22 2006 and passed it on to us and advertised it as the solution to getting the digital guide. In reality it helps but won't build a channel line up aka grid. I have called Sony three time and been on the phone for hours to get them just to relize that this won't work. I'm sure Sony already has the firmware that will work. Does anybody know if Sony Tv's or any other product has the 9 version firmware? It seems to me that looking at the .21 file if someone deleted the cfs file and placed in the file for the v9 MV firmware we all would be happy. I don't think this would be no different that upgrading you computer from windows 98 to xp if you had the room on the hard drive. I'm by far not an expert but if anyone has access to the v9 software it maybe worth a try. Looking at Macrovisions web page they show a photo of the latest firmware on a tv with a couple sitting on a couch. Sony tells me they are waithing for MV to get back to them to tell them why .21 won't load the grid. Sony spies if you are reading this then get off you asses and get this fixed asap!!! Hell I would even be willing to pay for the firmware version 9 if that helps, but It maybe hard for you to charge your customers for something that you will get for free . Any way I just had to vent some today..........Stingray

Sony is just playing games with us! We already know our dhg's are up gradeable. Instead of giving us the latest new firmware from MV we get an old firmware from sept. 2006. They have the newest 9 v firmware in the KDL xbr tv's. Lets see you have to push this buttom and spin around on one leg then leave unit off on this channel. Bull crap!! If your dhg is working good for you . You won't feel so lucky after June 12 if you ever do a reset and you can't get analog. I have made a point of calling Sony every week and bitching . We will Never get the new firmware unless lots of people keep the pressure on Sony. Tomorrow I plan on calling MV and I will try to get a straight answer on why no one is getting the channel line up with the 8.1.71 firmware. I will also ask if MV will be adding a new patch to fix this. However I believe the real solution is to get the 9v firmware. What reason can Sony justify not giving us the latest firwware? I could see them holding back If Sony had a new dvr in the works but have said that none is planned. How about some help from others here on the fourm? Call Sony and demand the latest firmware. Remember if enough peps keep bitching than it just may get done.

This is Sony Bull again. Our DHG's have a hard drive like a computer. The 9 v firmware will work if Sony wanted us to have it. Televisions don't have the hard drive so they put the firmware on a chip to use in the tv. If you want look at the macrovision web page and see how nice the 9 v looks with small pictures of the comming program in the area wher you can set up the record ........Stingray

Mike I just didn't get off the boat . I'm ota with two dhg 250's At one time I has the head tech at a cable co, so I know my way aroung coax. My signal is fine. I have changed all splitters and replaced coax but never thought that was a prob. The one unit that has the grid is getting listings. Sony keeps on referring these as old units. They were very expensive when and new and were expected to last more that 4 yeards. The one that don't have the grid is less than 2 years old. Purchased as unsold stock with a full warrenty and sold at full price.What possible reason is Sony fighting against giving us the latest firmware from MV ? This don't make good business sence. I just bought a new lcd tv this week. My last 2 new ones were Sony but I just got a Samsung. I'm still on the fight trying get Sony to reverse their decision of not providing dhg owners with the proper working firmware from MV. Sony has admitted that the .21 firmware was relewased untested. After a lab test it took them 228 hrs to aquire a grid. In the real world it maybe double. I'm over 300 hours and counting. I'm not sure if it will evev work at all. Others think that it is working in there market but that has not been proven. I can't get two data cbs stations here ,so I must get all data from one source. There is no catv in my neighborhood either. If my anger toward Sony is rubbing you wrong I'm sorry but I'm doing this so all of us with dhg's will have working units for many years. It would be nice if others here at least supported VideoBruce and I on trying to get Sony to release a newer firmware.................SS Stingray

Stingray -

The Mayor of the close-by 'big' city to me used to be the Head Honcho at Cox Cable. The city is New Orleans. Ever heard of Ray Nagin? Ever seen him make a fool of himself and my metro area on national TV? Saying you're a 'head' anything at a cable company means absolutely nothing to me.

Now, I've seen you rant a good bit over the past week or so about "running TVGOS version 9 software on the DHG's, and why Sony didn't give us V9". I sincerely doubt that running V9 on the DHG's is even within the realm of possiblity. Why can't I run a Mac OS on my PC? Different hardware...... It ain't gonna happen.

Why don't you quiz your contact a Macrovision before you spout off against Sony. Ask your contact if a device designed to run TVGOS V8.x software can simply be made to run TVGOS V9.x software. I'll buy you dinner the next time I'm in Florida if he says "Sure, no problem".

Due to the fact we get lots of lightning and temporary power outages in our area I have put a UPS Battery backup on my units. It works great and I never have to lose the clock or reset the channel guide. You can get a modest UPS for about $50 that will keep your unit powered for about 30 minutes to an hour if it is off.

You are a wise person. I have a 1400va UPS for my system that should supply me with 24 hours of power with everything turned off. But I also have a 2500w inverter hooked to a marine battery. So, unless my cars run out of gas, power is never a problem. I can run my oil heat, UPS and refrigerator if needed off the inverter. Due to the really bad power here, I think of my house as an RV without wheels. And when the power does fail, it may take me a while to notice. But you know, it's not the clock so much as reconfiguration of the guide and channels that makes a UPS worth its cost. I guess I'm a CE survivalist.

Regarding the trouble that some people are having and the lack of trouble for others, I'd suggest that we not get upset with each other. I for one have been anxiously awaiting things, trying things myself, and participating actively in this and other threads for more than a year because I REALLY want to continue to use the two units (below) that I paid a lot for and that I REALLY like.

I do think that for virtually this entire period both Gemstar/Macrovision and Sony (and LG) have been extremely opaque and unhelpful, not to mention frequently being grossly misleading...the fact that Sony actually came through with an upgrade represented a modest change in that behavior, but only if it works sensibly in a digital environment and NOT if they act as evidently described by Macrovision...but I will say that if Macrovision is right about Sony, it's only a case of black pots and kettles (if you get my drift)...(Macrovision's behavior as exemplified recently in the LG thread is quite unbelievable...)

However, I think things will be much clearer one way or another a month from now, so we should try to take it easy on one another...if things are bad, at least we'll have most of the summer to straighten things out (or try), at least for those of us who depend on OTA TVGOS reception and who are clearly vulnerable to screwups on the part of Sony or MV...

Meanwhile, as I mentioned in a post yesterday, I (among others) am working to understand how or whether the DTVPal may solve our problem with the OTHER TVGOS high-def receiver/recorder (the LG) - and if it proves necessary, the Sony - and it turns out that yesterday MV turned on the legacy data stream in the SF Bay area, and I think I have verified that the Pal is delivering converted TVGOS packets to my 3410a (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16425937#post16425937).

I have, however, NOT yet tried to push my 3410a to using the Pal-converted analog "channel 3" as its host channel...I think I will wait until I understand the Pal behavior a little better AND probably until after a lot of my favorite programs finish their seasons in a week or two...

I may also think about splitting the DTVPal output to provide the converted analog 3 to my Sony...

Tony

Stingray -

The Mayor of the close-by 'big' city to me used to be the Head Honcho at Cox Cable. The city is New Orleans. Ever heard of Ray Nagin? Ever seen him make a fool of himself and my metro area on national TV? Saying you're a 'head' anything at a cable company means absolutely nothing to me.

Now, I've seen you rant a good bit over the past week or so about "running TVGOS version 9 software on the DHG's, and why Sony didn't give us V9". I sincerely doubt that running V9 on the DHG's is even within the realm of possiblity. Why can't I run a Mac OS on my PC? Different hardware...... It ain't gonna happen.

Why don't you quiz your contact a Macrovision before you spout off against Sony. Ask your contact if a device designed to run TVGOS V8.x software can simply be made to run TVGOS V9.x software. I'll buy you dinner the next time I'm in Florida if he says "Sure, no problem".

Well said. The "running Mac OS on a PC" analogy is the same one I thought of when they were suggesting that Sony make V9 work for us. A better analogy might be for me to go to Dell, and tell them that they should give me Mac OS to run on my Dell computer that I bought from them.

I sympathize with every one who is having problems, but I feel that macrovision may be the bigger culprit here. They were the ones who said you need base version xx.yy.zz, for the DHG to work. Sony gave us the latest V8.x software, and it still doesn't work. So now we are blaming Sony because they gave us what Macrovision said we needed, and it still doesn't work?

Mark

Stingray -

The Mayor of the close-by 'big' city to me used to be the Head Honcho at Cox Cable. The city is New Orleans. Ever heard of Ray Nagin? Ever seen him make a fool of himself and my metro area on national TV? Saying you're a 'head' anything at a cable company means absolutely nothing to me.

What that's got to do with this? You questioned my hook up,and I built catv head ends years ago. My dhg signal is 94% on the host ch.


Now, I've seen you rant a good bit over the past week or so about "running TVGOS version 9 software on the DHG's, and why Sony didn't give us V9". I sincerely doubt that running V9 on the DHG's is even within the realm of possiblity. Why can't I run a Mac OS on my PC? Different hardware...... It ain't gonna happen.

I don't know if v9 will run on our dhg's but I do know that they are both linex and the 9v is using the same 7531 menu. I still think it will work.


Why don't you quiz your contact a Macrovision before you spout off against Sony. Ask your contact if a device designed to run TVGOS V8.x software can simply be made to run TVGOS V9.x software. I'll buy you dinner the next time I'm in Florida if he says "Sure, no problem".

I'm still waiting for answers at MV and I do have a contact but haven't talked to him,but plan on trying to get real answers. I too love my dhg's and only want to get them working like they did on analog. If you can still get analog than record me a vcr tape so I can get back up.Once I'm back up I will gladly leave the fourm since I seem to be getting you so upset. I will gladly pay for the tape and shipping.......

I'm in Glendora, 2 DHGs OTA only and both use analog FOX 11 as host. I've not had any missing day 8 listings for quite some time now, but I haven't installed the .21 upgrade yet. Your result is interesting. :eek: Figured I'd just wait and see what they do on their own after 6/12. On one unit I did a G* test a while ago so it does clock sets and gets listings from 2.1 when turned on.

Possumgirl, sounds like your environment is the same as mine; both analogue and digital both available and both working correctly? If so then the .21 should work fine even before June 12.

But you are correct, if it aint broke dont fix it. I guess the power outage, and "no grid" back on April 17, made me upgrade to .21; at least that is my excuse LOL

I don't know why; but if I turn the unit on before 7AM it seems to interrupt the downloads. Was not here yesterday (except in the AM). So wife got to "run things" all by herself. This is very scary.

Plus it is the weekend again (times when MV often goes goofy anyway HA!)

Wife/Weekend - Oh this mean trouble

ok, 40 min to go to 7AM

Waiting

Still full 8 days.

Pic 7146 This page has always been blank zeros (except first line); since the .21 upgrade (I recall it being mostly full during the analogue times?) This is the first time I have seen “Channel MapID” and it has a version 40. I do not know if it is related to the next picture or not?

Pic 7147 The only reason I post this pic is because of the version 40. Version number(s) will often appear and disappear in that location from time to time?

So the questions are back to picture 7146: If you box is currently operating correctly on analogue is that screen mostly filled in? If it is operating digital – is it blank or filled in?

Any comments?

Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?

Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?
I have the same problem, 11.3 showed up on my Sony plasma, but can not get it on the DRVs.

Stingray seems to be missing the point. I am not upset with him and do not think anyone else here is at least not from what I see posted.
The point is: They are a lot of hands and equipment involved with TVGOS. All it takes is one mistake/bad equipment in the chain to cause problems. To blame only MV or Sony does not help in locating the broken link. We know markets where they are all digital and have few if any real problems and other markets where this is not the case. What is different? Why is Stingray getting no grid data on one and the other is OK? How does another in a different zip get from a reset to up and running under .21 in a digital only market? My logical guess is something to do with the market and its chain, not so much with MV and Sony. Unless you have a bad dhg, This is where I would focus my time.
Michael

Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?

You can remap any other nbc channel to 11.3 . Try that

So the questions are back to picture 7146: If you box is currently operating correctly on analogue is that screen mostly filled in? If it is operating digital – is it blank or filled in?

Any comments?

I'm analog and my screen looks just like yours, including the version 40.

I appreciate all of your input here, but if you are studying that screen buried more than a dozen into the Section VBI area, I think you have WAY too much time on your hands. ;)

Of course, I just looked too, didn't I?

Let me try to explain why you folks are confused... For OTA reception, the host channel (if reported, which it often is not) or clock set channel may appear in 3 formats. They look very similar, so you need to look carefully to tell what you're dealing with. I'll use channel 22 as an example:

Format 1) 0:0-22
This means your host is an analog TVGOS station (with listing data embedded within the NTSC Vertical Blanking Interval - VBI) that transmits on UHF channel 22.

Format 2) 0:22-0
This means your host is a digital TVGOS station (with listing data embedded as digital packets within the MPEG stream) that transmits on UHF channel 22. If you were to actually tune to channel 22 with an analog TV set, all you would see is snow or a "NO SIGNAL" indication or a blue screen. Nonetheless, the digital TV programming and TVGOS data is there - it is the snow.

Format 3) 0:4-1
This means your host is a digital TVGOS station (as with format 2) that still transmits on UHF channel 22, but has a PSIP-mapped channel number (i.e.: the channel and subchannel you normally select with your remote) of 4.1. This format designates the same host channel as format 2, but sometimes the Sony displays it in format 3, sometimes in format 2.

In the case of FanofHD, your host channel is the digital CBS station you know as 4.1, but that transmits on UHF channel 22.

In the case of AarDee, your clock channel is the digital station you know as (coincidentally) 4.1, but that transmits on UHF channel 30.

The blank host channel is sort of a 4th format that means the Sony feels like keeping the host a secret. Nobody knows (except some Sony engineer probably chuckling about this at a Karaoke bar right now) why the Sony chooses format 2, format 3, or blank rather arbitrarily. My host channel had been blank since I installed the firmware upgrade, then a couple of days ago it begain showing as 0:22-0, and this morning is back to blank. Before the upgrade, it went back and forth between 0:3-1 and 0:22-0 (both KYW-DT in Philly). Go figure!

Hope this clears things up a bit.



Frank, thank you for this post, I was brain dead for a moment with all this and your post has cleared this up for me. You are right, my host channel is the digital CBS station know as 4.1, but that transmits on UHF channel 22.

As mentioned before on my grid listings it showed 22 (air) but it was a black screen showing no signal. So I went to the set up screen channel line up and to the left side bar I changed 22 (air) to 22.1 (air) and low and behold the black screen with no signal changed to CBS digital with a signal. So I left the DVR off for a few days and turned it on today and I have complete 8 day listings. I checked my host ch in the 753 menu and the host is showing blank. I want to believe that since I changed the 22 (air) which was a black no signal screen to 22.1 on the channel line up set up that it mapped the DVR to CBS 4.1 digital and now I'm back to full 8 day listings. :)

So it appears to me that since I updated the firmware, I am now obtaining my host from digital CBS.

Quote:
Originally Posted by larrykabo
Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?

You can remap any other nbc channel to 11.3 . Try that



I have no idea How to remap, help me out, Thanks.

I'm analog and my screen looks just like yours, including the version 40.

I appreciate all of your input here, but if you are studying that screen buried more than a dozen into the Section VBI area, I think you have WAY too much time on your hands. ;)

Of course, I just looked too, didn't I?

yes very true way too much time LOL I have learned to fly through them quickly. BTW the version 40, change to "1" a couple of hours ago, and then back to blank.........but the second screen still shows "40" - so I guess the two screen are not related?

Oh well not a biggie, it still works. Just wondering about after June 12th Ha!

Quote:
Originally Posted by larrykabo
Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?

You can remap any other nbc channel to 11.3 . Try that

I have no idea How to remap, help me out, Thanks.

Hi Larrykabo,
In Atlanta (Decatur) myself and do not understand why the DHG will not find 11.3. Guess maybe the signal, multipath, or the old tuner is a problem. But mine you, I have had some problems getting just 11.1 since the leaves and such came out, so this may be why the re-scans/adds are not working. Plus, it is a VHF station and do not know if they are at full power with digital yet.
As far as remapping, if there is not an NBC channel which matches 11.3, in the change channel list( the second line down under setup that allows you to edit your channel list) then it will not help to try. Actually says "change channel display". All the remapping does is to allow you to change the order of the lineup, which channels you want in the lineup, and assign your channel numbers to a station. Plus to turn on or off channels. I have turned on some of the cable stations just to get the listings so I can remind my friends who have cable to record something for me. I am ota only so this is helpful to me.
Michael

Noticed on my samsung hdtv that nbc has added here in atlanta 11.3 a sports channel, now i get 11.1 and 11.2 on my sony hdd500 but cannot get it to pick up 11.3, did a channel scan and it failed to show up, its not in the guide as well. (neither is 11.2, weather) but it shows in channel list, but for the life of me cant figure out how to add 11.3, can anyone help?

I've found that to add additional sub-channels to a main channel that you're already receiving, you cannot do an "Auto Add", you have to do an "Auto Scan". "Auto Add" will add new main channels but does not check channels already in your list for new sub-channels. (That's dumb, I know, but that's the way it is.)

If you were already doing "Auto Scan", then I have no idea what might be wrong.

Note that this applies to the Sony channel list but not to the TVGOS grid. It will only appear in the TVGOS grid if TVGOS has put it there (and not all sub-channels are listed by TVGOS) or if you have mapped it to a channel that IS in the TVGOS grid (but, in that case, the listings will be wrong unless the channel you have mapped it to has the same program listings).

Mike in DC. My HDD500 has been stable since day one. I uploaded the new(er) firmware last week, and the grid is still there and my shows are still recording without a hiccup. Sorry some of you are having issues, but I agree with a previous post that the way TVGOS is broadcasted in some areas seems to be the core issue for those with problems. I hope after 6/12 that this all resolves itself.

under that menu you are changing tguide stuff, inotherwords these are the listings for channels of the TVGOS service for the zip code I've requested. When I press ch+/- on my remote the sequence of chanels it goes through for at at least my box has nothing too do with the listings or order I've selected for display (remapping) on the "tv guide" button. for example, my ch+/- button will in numerical sorted order (ie 0,1,2,3) take me from 2.1, 2.1,5.1,5.2,8.1,8.1,.8.2,8.3,11.1,11.2 and so on. these are channels resulting from a channel scan and the way I've deleted (unchecked) on the channel edit menu, which again seems to have nothing to do with the list in tvguide. 8.1, 11.1 are in my tvguide but these channels are in my avail channels to tune to but not in tvguide: 8.2,8.3,11.2. Its a mess as far as it goes, but since the upgrade to .21 I'm more than grateful to have most important tvguide listings to worry to much about the difference between the two.

Yep, the DHGs use an encrypted xfs filesystem that nobody's managed to get into yet, as far as I know. It does not seem like many people have been working on this sort of thing, even before interest in these DVRs started to decline. Probably the right approach to take would be to try and get one's own processes (busybox etc.) running alongside the Sony firmware in the DHG's native MonteVista Linux environment. But Sony took steps to make that hard by storing the firmware in a signed, encrypted cramfs. Nobody will get anywhere until they can make a cramfs that the bootloader is willing to trust (or hack the bootloader to load unencrypted, unsigned cramfs images).

A worthy goal assuming all of that can be done would be to export the contents of the video storage via a USB network adapter, but that would be a pretty huge project to take on given how tightly things are locked down, unless some Sony insider leaks critical details.

This is the last post I've seen regarding the DHG-HDDxxx hard drive replacement. I have tried everything under the sun, including making a sector by sector copy (which took forever and a day to do) of the Sony WD2500JB HD and transferring the output to a new WD2500JB (clone). The cloned drive comes up with the typical 0008000 error code. It's not clear from any of the posts whether a HD can be swapped between two DHG-HDD250's.

It's interesting to note that Mark's 250 has the .05 firmware stored on both EXT2's partition 1 and partition 2. My 250 only has it only on partition 2. I managed to copy all of the files off the Sony original HD onto a folder on my laptop (running XP) using Knoppix V5.3 DVD. The only item that exists on partition 1 is a folder named: lost+found. Knoppix did reveal an area at the beginning of the HD as (partition -1) 'hidden', it starts at 30.7K and the length is 31,250 bytes. The end point is at 62.0K and that point the 78.13MB partition 1 starts. Partition 2 contains the folder lost+found, files: sign.dat, target.cfs and upgRec.bin. Partition 3 contains the folders: core, live_cache_dmf and tvgos. Folder core is empty but live_cache_dmf and tvgos folders have several directories and files.

Here's what Linux's QTParted reveals:
Partition..Type...Status...Size.......Space Used
-1..........Free...Hidden...31.25KB..?
1...........Ext2...Primary..78.13MB..<1KB
2...........Ext2...Primary..78.13MB..<20MB
3...........Xfs....Primary...232.7GB..<1MB

The DVR HD replacement project has me stymied. All of the Sony partitions are currently set at 'Boot 00'. The next thing I'll try is to make partition 1 'hidden' 'Type 93' and partition 2 'active' 'Boot 80' and see what happens. It's possible that Sony initializes the HD in this fashion and then flips the bits when finished.

Hi Larrykabo,
In Atlanta (Decatur) myself and do not understand why the DHG will not find 11.3. Guess maybe the signal, multipath, or the old tuner is a problem. But mine you, I have had some problems getting just 11.1 since the leaves and such came out, so this may be why the re-scans/adds are not working. Plus, it is a VHF station and do not know if they are at full power with digital yet.
As far as remapping, if there is not an NBC channel which matches 11.3, in the change channel list( the second line down under setup that allows you to edit your channel list) then it will not help to try. Actually says "change channel display". All the remapping does is to allow you to change the order of the lineup, which channels you want in the lineup, and assign your channel numbers to a station. Plus to turn on or off channels. I have turned on some of the cable stations just to get the listings so I can remind my friends who have cable to record something for me. I am ota only so this is helpful to me.
Michael

I don't know if this has anything to do with your issue or not, but here goes....... Ever since my local Fox affiliate shut down their analog broadcast in January, my HDD500's refuses to tune the digital channel on it's correct subchannel. The proper Fox channel numbers are 8.1 (HD) and 8.2 (24hr newscast). That is how my 3 HDTV's tune them. The HDD500's however, will only tune them as 8.3 and 8.4 (I have no idea why). :confused: The HDD's tuned them properly prior to the analog channel (physical 8) going dead. The Fox digital channels do actually broadcast on physical VHF 8.1 and 8.2, but none of my 3 HDD's will tune them there. Again, the HDD's will tune these stations, but only as 8.3 and 8.4. :D

My suggestion to you guys is poke around and try other subchannel numbers (11.4, 11.5, 11.x) by entering the numbers directly. See if you can find one that works............. :)

Note: My HDD's found will not find 8.3 and 8.4 on a channel scan. I found these myself (by accident) in my frustration.

Hi Larrykabo,
In Atlanta (Decatur) myself and do not understand why the DHG will not find 11.3. Guess maybe the signal, multipath, or the old tuner is a problem. But l

According to RabbitEars.info, the RF physical channels for WXIA are 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 (= to virtual channels 11-1, 11-2, 11-3). The Sony accepts direct input of RF physical channels. So entering 10.5 on the remote will give you 11-3.

Can't tune 11.3 problem:

Previous reply was correct, ch auto ADD doesn't add sub channels, doing the complete auto scan (which tells you it's going to replace current channel set) did the job. Thanks.

I don't know if this has anything to do with your issue or not, but here goes....... Ever since my local Fox affiliate shut down their analog broadcast in January, my HDD500's refuses to tune the digital channel on it's correct subchannel. The proper Fox channel numbers are 8.1 (HD) and 8.2 (24hr newscast). That is how my 3 HDTV's tune them. The HDD500's however, will only tune them as 8.3 and 8.4 (I have no idea why). :confused: The HDD's tuned them properly prior to the analog channel (physical 8) going dead. The Fox digital channels do actually broadcast on physical VHF 8.1 and 8.2, but none of my 3 HDD's will tune them there. Again, the HDD's will tune these stations, but only as 8.3 and 8.4. :D

My suggestion to you guys is poke around and try other subchannel numbers (11.4, 11.5, 11.x) by entering the numbers directly. See if you can find one that works............. :)

Note: My HDD's found will not find 8.3 and 8.4 on a channel scan. I found these myself (by accident) in my frustration.Let me get this straight... Your HDD finds 8.1 and 8.2 during a channel scan, but then if you tune to either 8.1 or 8.2 you get nothing, you must tune to 8.3 or 8.4 instead? That is pretty bizarre. Are you SURE you've done a complete re-scan and not just an add? It is normal for the Sony to be able to tune a digital channel, regardless of what its PSIP mapped (virtual) channel number is, by tuning to its physical channel number and adding 2 to the subchannel number (usually 2, but not always.) But after a re-scan, I would have expected it to pick up 8.1 and 8.2 (virtual channel numbers) and allow you to use those to tune to those channels.

If what you are saying is true, we're all in for a big surprise on June 12 when a large number of stations will have PSIP mapped (virtual) channel numbers that are the same a their physical channel number.

OTOH, if you haven't done a complete re-scan, please do. Every time a station changes its physical channel, a complete re-scan is required. Otherwise, you'll confuse the hell out of the unit. Also, every time a digital channel adds a new subchannel, a complete re-scan is required.

I was wondering why this happens. If I go into search and find a weekly program and set up it up to record each day by clicking on that program every day of the week then it shows a red dot next to that day's program that it's set up to record. But why doesn't the red dot always show up when your in the listings. Sometimes I will scan the listings through all 8 days just to see if I am still getting listings for 8 days and when I come across that day I have previously set to record a show I can see it pass that day but there is no red dot and other times I will scan the listings across 8 days and I WILL see the red dot. That has always confused me. If you have it set to record on a certain day there should always be a red dot on that day's listing when your scanning across the listings. However for me there is not always a red dot. Sometimes I will think I forgot to set it to record that day and I will try it again from the listings and it will say do you want to overrite previous recording set up, that tells me I really did have it set to record but because the red dot didn't show on the listings schedule it fooled me.

Anyone else have this problem, guess it's not really a problem just an annoyance.

Can anyone who still has analog make me a 6 hour vcr tape? I have over 300 hours since .21 firmware and no grid yet. Some have suggested that my dhg is bad, but the dhg does not build the grid. I talked to the host channel engineer and said that MV replaced to stations data equipment in Feb. It's down to either MV isn't sending out the right data or the .21 firmware won't load a grid. One member made me a copy of a tape he had made but the copy must have degraded to much to work. It wouldn't even load up the 8.6.44 update from the coppied tape. I still believe that nobody has yet gotten a grid with .21 firmware in a digital situation only. I don't count cable because who knows what is on the system. I'm talking OTA only . I don't trust people ota that are inbetween two markets either because at night some far away channel may come in even though that channel normally don't come in. What I'm saying is lets say you live in Toledo Ohio and you get tvgos from Detroit. At times a Cleveland channel may come in but you would never know. The dhg finds that signal and builds a grid. Anyways I just want my dhg to work like the other that never got reset to factory. I will gladly pay for the tape and shipping. Everyone should make one for themself befor June 12 just as a precaution since I was told by Sony that no new firmware is comming.

Since 2-3 weeks ago when everything was working fine and TWC screwed around with my channels, my DHG has been acting screwy. I don't get digital TVGOS, but TWC had provided an analog feed.

I found a workaround.

Turns out on clear QAM, I can see the direct analog feed. With Cablecard, it is preempted by the Cablecard remap with the same name that doesn't have it.
I can get the guide data by pulling out the Cablecard but need to re-insert it to get my extra digital cable channels.

I've tried splitting the signal and going into both outputs, but really need to be able to do a remap of analog to analog AFAIK.

I have found from experience that one has to help the DHG with the guide channel, it seems to have a hard time finding it by itself.

I don't know who is responsible for the remapping algorithm, Macrovision, Sony or TWC. I can find enough fault to go around.

I'm thinking of going back to an early firmware version and starting from scratch to see if anything changes.

Does anyone notice here that new posters just love the great job Sony does? First post praising Sony bolony and gets a grid overnight? Busted!!!!

What I have noticed is that older posters love to slam first time posters. It is like a nasty ritual. My fist post announced Sony was releasing an update on Friday. Soon were the unapologetic nasty posts. Friday morning, new firmware was posted on Sony's site.

Stingray -

The Mayor of the close-by 'big' city to me used to be the Head Honcho at Cox Cable. The city is New Orleans. Ever heard of Ray Nagin? Ever seen him make a fool of himself and my metro area on national TV? Saying you're a 'head' anything at a cable company means absolutely nothing to me.

Now, I've seen you rant a good bit over the past week or so about "running TVGOS version 9 software on the DHG's, and why Sony didn't give us V9". I sincerely doubt that running V9 on the DHG's is even within the realm of possiblity. Why can't I run a Mac OS on my PC? Different hardware...... It ain't gonna happen.

Why don't you quiz your contact a Macrovision before you spout off against Sony. Ask your contact if a device designed to run TVGOS V8.x software can simply be made to run TVGOS V9.x software. I'll buy you dinner the next time I'm in Florida if he says "Sure, no problem".


Actually even if it is, technically possible you also need to find out about sony's legal ability to do so. When companies sign agreements to supply another companies software as part of their product, the have to specify a lot of details, like how it is done, how visible it has to be, which version will be included, which versions of the product it will be a part of, pricing, etc. My guess would be that Sony would have to pay more than it is worth to get TVGOS9 into the DHGs. And no I don't think you'd be willing to pay what Sony would have to charge you to break even. I don't believe that there would be enough of us that would pay for an upgrade of the TVGOS software.

Hi Fxstsb:

If you check my posts, and try some of my methods to get your grid back, you might have some success. I did get a thumbdrive from Sony Tech Center here in PA with the firmware, but had already downloaded and applied the f/w from the website. Just took a little longer to get all my guide data.
Still no thumb drive for me. As prior stated I did update to the new rev and verified it. Don't know why Sony can't understand that but I sill have Nothing. I have talked to the Jacksonville PBS and they think all is well but have no way to visibly verify that. They say what they do passes all test but have no decoder. I have seen no post from other viewers in the Jacksonville Fla area that have different finding than me..

I have a hunch that the digital only grid issue may be a TVGOS software issue.

Since I am eager to sell my 500, when it gets back from its 4th trip to Sony Service, I have a question. If I have a working grid, and if the buyer is in a new area, will the buyer changing zipcodes cause him to have the grid problem?

Is it only the factory reset that clears the grid causing the problem, or does the reset user configuration also create a grid problem situation? It would be nice to have the new user get prompted for zipcode info, when he plugs in the DVR, but I don't want to force him (or her) into a lost grid situation.

I'm thinking of make a VHS tape of my analog TVGOS stream, but I also have a DVD recorder. Can I use a DVD recorder to record the analog PBS station and use it in the future to get the analog TVGOS stream?

I assume I need a recording from Midnight to 6AM?

(I wonder if sell such recordings will become a hot ebay item.)

I have a hunch that the digital only grid issue may be a TVGOS software issue.

Since I am eager to sell my 500, when it gets back from its 4th trip to Sony Service, I have a question. If I have a working grid, and if the buyer is in a new area, will the buyer changing zipcodes cause him to have the grid problem?

Is it only the factory reset that clears the grid causing the problem, or does the reset user configuration also create a grid problem situation? It would be nice to have the new user get prompted for zipcode info, when he plugs in the DVR, but I don't want to force him (or her) into a lost grid situation.

Unless your buyer lives in your same (or nearby) zip code, the unit will need to rebuild a channel lineup for the new zip code, and that means it wipes out your existing grid. So the potential is there for the buyer to have a problem. None of us seem to know what is going on with enough certainty to predict what would happen. :(

Unless your buyer lives in your same (or nearby) zip code, the unit will need to rebuild a channel lineup for the new zip code, and that means it wipes out your existing grid. So the potential is there for the buyer to have a problem. None of us seem to know what is going on with enough certainty to predict what would happen. :(

When I bought mine on ebay, it had a grid. However, when I put in my zipcode I did lose the grid. Luckily I had analog TVGOS data in my area and had a full grid in 3 days. I did have to do a bunch of G tests.

I'm thinking of make a VHS tape of my analog TVGOS stream, but I also have a DVD recorder. Can I use a DVD recorder to record the analog PBS station and use it in the future to get the analog TVGOS stream?

I assume I need a recording from Midnight to 6AM?

(I wonder if sell such recordings will become a hot ebay item.)

I would think that the tvgos stream is the same nation wide. Your dhg may pull out the data that is important in that area from your zip code. If that's not the case than MV must send out hundreds of different feeds. Sending out hundreds don't make sence. I noticed that posters all over were experencing problems last weekend. So I'm leaning to everybody gets the same stream except maybe the analog version.

I'm thinking of make a VHS tape of my analog TVGOS stream, but I also have a DVD recorder. Can I use a DVD recorder to record the analog PBS station and use it in the future to get the analog TVGOS stream?

I assume I need a recording from Midnight to 6AM?

(I wonder if sell such recordings will become a hot ebay item.)

Although I'm no expert, I can see 2 potential problems with using a DVD to record the TVGOS data:

1) I'm not sure a DVD recorder would keep the VBI information intact, and may strip it out losing the TVGOS information.

2) You would have to have an RF modulator to convert the DVD video to an RF signal that you could feed into the DVR (on channel 3 or channel 4 presumably). This process could also alter the VBI information.

Edit:
Thinking about this a little more, for problem 2 you could record the DVD onto a video tape, and then play that back which would get around the RF modulator problem. The advantage of recording onto a DVD first would be that you could make an ISO file of the DVD, post it to the web, and then people could download it. Then they could create their own DVD, and record that DVD onto a video tape. This would avoid having to mail video tapes around the country.

Mark

What I have noticed is that older posters love to slam first time posters. It is like a nasty ritual.Only when they come across like brash, cocky upstarts.

Or, if the question has been asked and answered a million times (especially within that very thread), and the poster hasn't even attempted to search for the answer first.

Really depends more on the "older poster" and the particular sub-forum more than anything.

I have always had problems with reception on my Sony DVRs compared to what I receive on my TVs. This has led me to believe that Sony put low end tuners in these DVRs.

I recently sold one of my Sonys and one of my TVs to a relative. I set everything up at her house. I cannot get several channels on the Sony ("no signal") that come in fine on the TV's tuner.

All of the transmitters are in the same farm. They are within 4 degrees of each other, 174 -178 degrees from her house. The problem channels are 174 and 175 degrees azimuth. I have adjusted the antenna in tiny increments until I lost other channels with no luck on the problem channels.

I have considered telling her that a different antenna or an amplifier might be necessary but I am reluctant to have her spend money on something that might not fix the problem. It seems certain that replacing the tuner card in the Sony with a better one would work since the one in the TV is receiving all of the local channels fine.

I have finally solved the problem that I was having with the DHG HDD-250.

It turns out that the problem was not with the reception but actually with old data that was stored in the channel list. I had run numerous scans of the antenna and the results were the same each time. Some channels just did not show up or showed up but with the wrong station ID. However, the TVGOS data had always been correct.

Last week we went up to visit and I decided to play with the problem again. I did a scan of the antenna and got the same results as everytime before. But... while looking at the list, I began to wonder why there were still cable channels listed since the set-up was for antenna only and the unit was not hooked up to cable.

A light bulb came on. I had bought the unit used and it had been hooked up to cable by the previous owner. I decided to do a complete scan even though the unit was not hooked up to cable.

Voila! (well, not quite, because the scan took about one hour) When I looked at the list, all of the cable channels were gone and lo and behold all of the local OTA channels were present with their correct station IDs AND all of them came in when I clicked on the guide. :)

There is still a minor problem. One channel is coming in with poor reception but I am sure that should be fixable. I am going to wait to do that until the transition is complete though since that channel is moving to VHF.

Okay, I'll put on my stupid hat and ask :)

I thought a VCR's RF out was just a pass-through for RF in and that playback of a tape only went to the component or composite outputs on the VCR. Just for kicks, I made a short VHS recording and then connected RF out to the DHG's Ant in. The DHG does not see any signal. So what am I not doing? I've seen mention here of channel 3/4 and I vaguely recall that from equipment years ago, but my DVD-R/VCR combo does not seem to have any such thing. Does it have to be just a plain old VCR for this to work?

Does it have to be just a plain old VCR for this to work?Yes. DVD/VHS decks don't have that ability.

Yes. DVD/VHS decks don't have that ability.

Thanks Ramm. Guess I'll make a tape anyway and if worse really comes to worse, find a VCR to borrow. :)

Thanks Ramm. Guess I'll make a tape anyway and if worse really comes to worse, find a VCR to borrow. :)\

I better keep that old VHS VCR and make a tape. Any known S-video digitizers, digitizing formats(MP3,MPEG,etc) and players that keep the VBI intact?

If I ever sell the DHG maybe I can include a tape.

I would think that the tvgos stream is the same nation wide. Your dhg may pull out the data that is important in that area from your zip code. If that's not the case than MV must send out hundreds of different feeds. Sending out hundreds don't make sence. I noticed that posters all over were experiencing problems last weekend. So I'm leaning to everybody gets the same stream except maybe the analog version.
off hand, I doubt this...there are tens of thousand of zip codes, and multiple thousands with different channel lineups...I've always assumed that each metro area gets its own feed, so there are only hundreds of zip codes to deal with, not tens of thousands...

If you want to check, put in a zip code that's hundreds of miles away, and see if you get anything...

Okay, I'll put on my stupid hat and ask :)

I thought a VCR's RF out was just a pass-through for RF in and that playback of a tape only went to the component or composite outputs on the VCR. Just for kicks, I made a short VHS recording and then connected RF out to the DHG's Ant in. The DHG does not see any signal. So what am I not doing? I've seen mention here of channel 3/4 and I vaguely recall that from equipment years ago, but my DVD-R/VCR combo does not seem to have any such thing. Does it have to be just a plain old VCR for this to work?

Since your unit has an RF output, it should provide an output on channel 3/4. If the unit doesn't include a mechanical switch to make that selection, it probably is a menu item. Also, after you connect it to the antenna input of your DVR, you may need to do an antenna scan with signal present.

I've been thinking about recording channel 11 on my analog DVR, and using my VCR to convert the signal to RF channel 4 - without taping anything.

Ray

Okay, I'll put on my stupid hat and ask :)

I thought a VCR's RF out was just a pass-through for RF in and that playback of a tape only went to the component or composite outputs on the VCR. Just for kicks, I made a short VHS recording and then connected RF out to the DHG's Ant in. The DHG does not see any signal. So what am I not doing? I've seen mention here of channel 3/4 and I vaguely recall that from equipment years ago, but my DVD-R/VCR combo does not seem to have any such thing. Does it have to be just a plain old VCR for this to work?

I have a Samsung DVD/VCR combo, and it stills works the old fashioned way. If I connect the RF output to the ANT IN of the TV, tune the TV to channel 4 (some units may default to channel 3), then I see the VCR's tuner, and can use the VCR to change channels (there may be a TV/VCR switch that you have to press to see the VCR's output instead of the pass-through signal). If I then play a tape, I see it on the screen.

Mark

Since your unit has an RF output, it should provide an output on channel 3/4. If the unit doesn't include a mechanical switch to make that selection, it probably is a menu item. Also, after you connect it to the antenna input of your DVR, you may need to do an antenna scan with signal present.

I've been thinking about recording channel 11 on my analog DVR, and using my VCR to convert the signal to RF channel 4 - without taping anything.

Ray

I have a Samsung DVD/VCR combo, and it stills works the old fashioned way. If I connect the RF output to the ANT IN of the TV, tune the TV to channel 4 (some units may default to channel 3), then I see the VCR's tuner, and can use the VCR to change channels (there may be a TV/VCR switch that you have to press to see the VCR's output instead of the pass-through signal). If I then play a tape, I see it on the screen.

Mark

Thank you both for the additional input on this. When I get time, I'll play a bit more. The combo definitely doesn't have a mechanical switch. I even went so far as to open the manual :D, but I didn't think to check the menus for anything related.

off hand, I doubt this...there are tens of thousand of zip codes, and multiple thousands with different channel lineups...I've always assumed that each metro area gets its own feed, so there are only hundreds of zip codes to deal with, not tens of thousands...

If you want to check, put in a zip code that's hundreds of miles away, and see if you get anything...

I think the coverage area of one TVGOS data stream is bigger than just the metro areas. I live in Wichita, Kansas, and looking at the channel lineup, I see stations from Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, Lincoln, and Omaha. I presume there are also cities from Missouri, and Colorado represented, but I haven't specifically looked for those. The channel map covers a much larger area, but the zip code is used to determine which specific channels are turned on for my area.

Mark

Since April 17th Channel MapID has been blank and the unit has worked perfectly.

About 3 days ago Channel MapID has started up, and has changed about a half dozen times - version 0,44,1,8,46,44 etc. And it has a new date/time stamp each time it changes.

The box is still working perfectly - but I get the feeling MV is getting ready for more signifcant changes.

Are any other parts of the country getting those changes?

I'm curious if anyone else in my area is receiving the guide from Charter 13, because I wasn't aware that the TVGOS signal was being carried by any ABC network channels in this area.
The big question is why is my Panasonic DVR still receiving the TVGOS and the Sony isn't.? By-the-way, the Sony has been upgraded to April's new firmware, and I've even tried reloading some of the older firmware updates; still no clock, no guide, and Sony Tech support has no answers..
I have had the HDD250 for nearly 3 years, and has worked perfectly, getting its guide from our PBS station until around February, when both the guide and clock updates stopped; I also have a Panasonic DMR-EH50, which uses Version 7 of TVGOS and continues to work perfectly, getting its guide from WLOS here in Asheville via their cable channel. So I have had the same experience as you.

Sorry to take so long to respond to your request, but after purchasing a TiVo to replace my cable DVR in January, liking it so much that I purchased a 2nd TiVo to replace the Sony DVR in case it stopped working after the digital transition, I stopped stopped monitoring this thread. When I discovered the Sony firmware upgrade, I installed the new firmware, but that has made no difference. I'm waiting until after June 12 to see what happens; in the meantime, I couldn't feel better about buying the 2nd TiVo.

I was wondering why this happens. If I go into search and find a weekly program and set up it up to record each day by clicking on that program every day of the week then it shows a red dot next to that day's program that it's set up to record. But why doesn't the red dot always show up when your in the listings. Sometimes I will scan the listings through all 8 days just to see if I am still getting listings for 8 days and when I come across that day I have previously set to record a show I can see it pass that day but there is no red dot and other times I will scan the listings across 8 days and I WILL see the red dot. That has always confused me. If you have it set to record on a certain day there should always be a red dot on that day's listing when your scanning across the listings. However for me there is not always a red dot. Sometimes I will think I forgot to set it to record that day and I will try it again from the listings and it will say do you want to overrite previous recording set up, that tells me I really did have it set to record but because the red dot didn't show on the listings schedule it fooled me.

Anyone else have this problem, guess it's not really a problem just an annoyance.

I believe this hick-up is present in earlier versions of firmware. It happens on mine (firmware 1.2.09 and 08/06/44) Yes it is unsettling when you view the listings and don't see that red record icon on shows you know you have set to record. Maybe someone else can confirm if a newer firmware fixes this problem.

Regards
MK

howdy
sorry about this...I'm sure this question has been covered weeks ago.
I just tried to run the UPDATE as indicated way back around page 534
I used 3 different jump drives...all formatted to fat 32 and all with a folder called sony with the 4 files in them in the root...I even changed the volumn label to SONYHDD500 even tho I guess this is not required. I even used a cruzer micro 8G that someone here said worked great.
My problem is nothing happens. I expected the screen to change and sony message stating that a new version of the softeware is available. Nope. The tv is on. The HDD is on. I've tried different channels, tvguide on and off, menu on and off. Nada. I know that the usb is all the way in...the light comes on. Nothing happens...no message...nothing.
If someone would be kind enough to assume I'm an idiot and walk me through the process of installing the upgrade and perhaps add any experience pointers on what to expect once I get the stinkin thing to read the USB...I would greatly appreciate it.
thanks
jim

Since April 17th Channel MapID has been blank and the unit has worked perfectly.

About 3 days ago Channel MapID has started up, and has changed about a half dozen times - version 0,44,1,8,46,44 etc. And it has a new date/time stamp each time it changes.

The box is still working perfectly - but I get the feeling MV is getting ready for more signifcant changes.

Are any other parts of the country getting those changes?

HoustonPerson,

It must be an analog thing. The SetPMID line on my unit shows a count of 41, today's date, and version 0. However every other line on that screen (including the ChMapID line) shows as 0, N/A, and 0

Mark

HoustonPerson,

It must be an analog thing. The SetPMID line on my unit shows a count of 41, today's date, and version 0. However every other line on that screen (including the ChMapID line) shows as 0, N/A, and 0

Mark


Apparently a lot different here.

MV does appear to be making their traditional “pre-transition” changes. This entire page is blank, except the first line (count is huge) AND ChannelMapID which now version “matches” the DL schedule version (happens to be version 48 at the moment). With the rotation of numbers (versions) over the last 3 days – this appeared to be a “sync-up” process. Twice yesterday that line had going back to “0” for version. The rest of that page remains blank, NA, and “0”.

Aye, I see “24” and "CSI:Miami" are season final next week.

Let me get this straight... Your HDD finds 8.1 and 8.2 during a channel scan, but then if you tune to either 8.1 or 8.2 you get nothing, you must tune to 8.3 or 8.4 instead? That is pretty bizarre. Are you SURE you've done a complete re-scan and not just an add? It is normal for the Sony to be able to tune a digital channel, regardless of what its PSIP mapped (virtual) channel number is, by tuning to its physical channel number and adding 2 to the subchannel number (usually 2, but not always.) But after a re-scan, I would have expected it to pick up 8.1 and 8.2 (virtual channel numbers) and allow you to use those to tune to those channels.

If what you are saying is true, we're all in for a big surprise on June 12 when a large number of stations will have PSIP mapped (virtual) channel numbers that are the same a their physical channel number.

OTOH, if you haven't done a complete re-scan, please do. Every time a station changes its physical channel, a complete re-scan is required. Otherwise, you'll confuse the hell out of the unit. Also, every time a digital channel adds a new subchannel, a complete re-scan is required.

Frank -

YES, you understand correctly. A channel scan finds 8.1 and 8.2, but if I tune to them there is nothing (I don't recall if it says "no signal" or simply a blank screen). If I tune to 8.3 and 8.4 the channels are there and work fine. I simply put 8.3 and 8.4 in the channel lineup. My Fox digital channels used to be on UHF using virtual 8.1 and 8.2 until January (I think). Fox analog was on VHF channel 8. In January they shut down analog and moved the digitals to VHF channel 8. My HDD500's have exhibited this strange behaviour ever since. My three HDTVs see the channels normally. :confused:

Interesting links I just came across in my local HDTV thread......

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101310665&formid=911&fac_num=4149

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=756148&formid=911&q_num=5200

.

howdy

If someone would be kind enough to assume I'm an idiot and walk me through the process of installing the upgrade and perhaps add any experience pointers on what to expect once I get the stinkin thing to read the USB...I would greatly appreciate it.
thanks
jim

Jim,
I think someone posted that their dhg had to be powered off and back on with the usb in. Both of mine took it without doing this . Anyway give that a try.

Prior to the update release, I reset one of my 500s' by accident (TV Guide/Reset to Factory Default). I lost my grid! Well, after a complete Restore Factory Default, new channel scan then update (on Friday of the release) it has finally got "The Grid". I'm in Miami and only digital(0:4-1/0:22-0). I've been in contact with Sony throughout the process (they even walked me through the 753 screens last weak to gather information about my unit). I used my correct zip code. I didn't do anything else, just waited. I didn't expect anything to happen until a possible new/new update. So I was shocked this morning to find a grid.(YES!!). Now I just need to go through the guide setup to rearrange the order. I guess I'll move to a new project. I hope others find success w/this update (ALL DIGITAL).

If someone would be kind enough to assume I'm an idiot and walk me through the process of installing the upgrade and perhaps add any experience pointers on what to expect once I get the stinkin thing to read the USB...I would greatly appreciate it.
thanks
jim[/QUOTE]

Jim....I too had trouble. I finally downloaded the update directly to the thumb drive. I then unzipped it to the same drive and my HDD 250 responded immediately. I am not sure naming the drive as SONY is necessary.

Hi:

I updated the firmware on my 250 on April 18, 2009. I did not get guide data, so I called Sony on April 20th. I received a thumb drive with the firmware about a week later. By that time the guide had populated, and everything was working ok. This past Saturday, I was recording Saturday Night Live. I wanted to watch it from the beginning (it was 11:45pm), so I tried to hit the previous button to start the show from the beginning, but the system was not responding. About 12:10am, the system finally responded to the previous command, and started the show from the beginning.

Last night, at 9pm, my wife tried to change the channel from 53 to 13 – I got a black screen and the unit stayed on channel 53. No response to input from the remote or the front panel. I unplugged it for about 60 seconds, then plugged it back in. I received a message on the front panel: INF FFF80, then the Sony welcome screen, with no clock, and then it powered up and I was able to tune to 13 – but unable to record. Got another message about a Hard Disk Drive error and Auto Recovery not possible and to contact Sony for repair options. Looks like the hard disk is done. What does the INF FFF80message mean?

I brought the HDD 250 into work. Powered it up and plugged it into a Sharp Aquos LC32d62u in our lab. I was able to access the recordings on the hard drive with no problem. I am going to try to record something after a channel scan of the available cable channels here at work. Question - has anyone else seen this error, and would you send it in if this were yours? I don't have a lot of confidence in the hard disk..... Thanks.

Hi:

I updated the firmware on my 250 on April 18, 2009. I did not get guide data, so I called Sony on April 20th. I received a thumb drive with the firmware about a week later. By that time the guide had populated, and everything was working ok. This past Saturday, I was recording Saturday Night Live. I wanted to watch it from the beginning (it was 11:45pm), so I tried to hit the previous button to start the show from the beginning, but the system was not responding. About 12:10am, the system finally responded to the previous command, and started the show from the beginning.

Last night, at 9pm, my wife tried to change the channel from 53 to 13 – I got a black screen and the unit stayed on channel 53. No response to input from the remote or the front panel. I unplugged it for about 60 seconds, then plugged it back in. I received a message on the front panel: INF FFF80, then the Sony welcome screen, with no clock, and then it powered up and I was able to tune to 13 – but unable to record. Got another message about a Hard Disk Drive error and Auto Recovery not possible and to contact Sony for repair options. Looks like the hard disk is done. What does the INF FFF80message mean?

I brought the HDD 250 into work. Powered it up and plugged it into a Sharp Aquos LC32d62u in our lab. I was able to access the recordings on the hard drive with no problem. I am going to try to record something after a channel scan of the available cable channels here at work. Question - has anyone else seen this error, and would you send it in if this were yours? I don't have a lot of confidence in the hard disk..... Thanks.

The unplug and soft reset, are almost the same thing.

If it works now fine. If it is still locking up; then it could be The Full Factory Reset may resolve the hard disk errors without having to send it back to Sony.

If you do decide to the Full Factory Reset (which includes it reformating the hard drive). Then I suggest following these steps

1. Full Factory Reset (my do this twice to resolve hard disk errors - if it does not work send it to Sony). Mine corrected hard disk errors on the first try.

2. Install new Sony Software .21

3. Complete full channel scan and TVGOS set up

4. Wait a day or two and see what happens.

Frank -

YES, you understand correctly. A channel scan finds 8.1 and 8.2, but if I tune to them there is nothing (I don't recall if it says "no signal" or simply a blank screen). If I tune to 8.3 and 8.4 the channels are there and work fine. I simply put 8.3 and 8.4 in the channel lineup. My Fox digital channels used to be on UHF using virtual 8.1 and 8.2 until January (I think). Fox analog was on VHF channel 8. In January they shut down analog and moved the digitals to VHF channel 8. My HDD500's have exhibited this strange behaviour ever since. My three HDTVs see the channels normally. :confused:

Interesting links I just came across in my local HDTV thread......

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=756148&formid=911&q_num=5200

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=756148&formid=911&q_num=5200

.

For what it is worth we have one station here that is blank screen. 55-2 (I think). Both 55-1 and 55-3 come in fine. It's been that way for about 4 months I think; and started when they added 55-3. All the tuners in the house treat it that way.

[...]
This entire page is blank, except the first line (count is huge) AND ChannelMapID which now version “matches” the DL schedule version (happens to be version 48 at the moment).
[...]


I should explain the 41 counts. I just reset all the counts Saturday, so those counts are only for the last 2 days.

Mark

Prior to the update release, I reset one of my 500s' by accident (TV Guide/Reset to Factory Default). I lost my grid! Well, after a complete Restore Factory Default, new channel scan then update (on Friday of the release) it has finally got "The Grid". I'm in Miami and only digital(0:4-1/0:22-0). I've been in contact with Sony throughout the process (they even walked me through the 753 screens last weak to gather information about my unit). I used my correct zip code. I didn't do anything else, just waited. I didn't expect anything to happen until a possible new/new update. So I was shocked this morning to find a grid.(YES!!). Now I just need to go through the guide setup to rearrange the order. I guess I'll move to a new project. I hope others find success w/this update (ALL DIGITAL).

So if I understand you it took 24 days for you to get the grid? You stated that you did the update on Friday the day it was released. That was Friday April 17 , and today you woke up to have a grid. If this is true than you would be the first IMO that got a grid from a digital feed in the real world and not a lab. That would be 576 hours . Who knows maybe in a few more days or weeks I too will get a grid. I just hope the floor don't hurt too much when I fall off my chair.

............. Who knows maybe in a few more days or weeks I too will get a grid. I just hope the floor don't hurt too much when I fall off my chair.

Stingray -

I'm glad to see that you've mellowed a bit (and have at least developed a sense of humor). :D

Hi:

I updated the firmware on my 250 on April 18, 2009. I did not get guide data, so I called Sony on April 20th. I received a thumb drive with the firmware about a week later. By that time the guide had populated, and everything was working ok. This past Saturday, I was recording Saturday Night Live. I wanted to watch it from the beginning (it was 11:45pm), so I tried to hit the previous button to start the show from the beginning, but the system was not responding. About 12:10am, the system finally responded to the previous command, and started the show from the beginning.

Last night, at 9pm, my wife tried to change the channel from 53 to 13 – I got a black screen and the unit stayed on channel 53. No response to input from the remote or the front panel. I unplugged it for about 60 seconds, then plugged it back in. I received a message on the front panel: INF FFF80, then the Sony welcome screen, with no clock, and then it powered up and I was able to tune to 13 – but unable to record. Got another message about a Hard Disk Drive error and Auto Recovery not possible and to contact Sony for repair options. Looks like the hard disk is done. What does the INF FFF80message mean?

I brought the HDD 250 into work. Powered it up and plugged it into a Sharp Aquos LC32d62u in our lab. I was able to access the recordings on the hard drive with no problem. I am going to try to record something after a channel scan of the available cable channels here at work. Question - has anyone else seen this error, and would you send it in if this were yours? I don't have a lot of confidence in the hard disk..... Thanks.

I was able to recover from this same error by doing a Hard Drive Format in the G* 9012 menu. I did a soft reset (actually the unit did it itself). It took about 10 minutes and the next time I powered it on the TV screen said that it had successfully recovered from a hard drive error. Been fine ever since (6 weeks).

The unplug and soft reset, are almost the same thing.

If it works now fine. If it is still locking up; then it could be The Full Factory Reset may resolve the hard disk errors without having to send it back to Sony.

If you do decide to the Full Factory Reset (which includes it reformating the hard drive). Then I suggest following these steps

1. Full Factory Reset (my do this twice to resolve hard disk errors - if it does not work send it to Sony). Mine corrected hard disk errors on the first try.

2. Install new Sony Software .21

3. Complete full channel scan and TVGOS set up

4. Wait a day or two and see what happens.

Thanks Houston:

Quick update:
Unit did record :)- able to bring up list of recorded programs while recording..
will dump some programs to dvd before resetting and/or reformatting. Thanks again.

Frank -

YES, you understand correctly. A channel scan finds 8.1 and 8.2, but if I tune to them there is nothing (I don't recall if it says "no signal" or simply a blank screen). If I tune to 8.3 and 8.4 the channels are there and work fine. I simply put 8.3 and 8.4 in the channel lineup. My Fox digital channels used to be on UHF using virtual 8.1 and 8.2 until January (I think). Fox analog was on VHF channel 8. In January they shut down analog and moved the digitals to VHF channel 8. My HDD500's have exhibited this strange behaviour ever since. My three HDTVs see the channels normally. :confused:

Interesting links I just came across in my local HDTV thread......

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101310665&formid=911&fac_num=4149

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=756148&formid=911&q_num=5200

.Well if this is the case, then we're all going to experience some funky channel numbers when those stations that will be transitioning back to the physical-channel=virtual-channel situation come June. The broadcasters may fix this by aligning the physical subchannel numbers with the virtual subchannel numbers, but right now most of them, for some reason, purposely mis-align those by 2 (e.g.: virtual .1 mapped to physical .3, virtual .2 mapped to physical .4, etc.) In my area, more than half the stations use this strange mapping.

That fcc post you cited is about a digital channel that can't be received due to insufficient signal strength and propagation issues. What you're experiencing is clearly not that because you can tune 8.3 and get a good picture.

Assuming MV, does not completely stop TVGOS before June 12; my plans are:

1. Do full Sony Channel Rescan (via Sony Menu); about 60% of our channels will be on new RFs

2. Do a Full TVGOS re-setup (via TVGOS Set Up screens); this may include useing a different zip code within my same DMA (have more that 20 to choose from here) OR may try the "00000" zip and back to the original. Should yeild the same results.


Do not plan use of 9012 or "TVGUIDE Rain Dance" unless above methods fail.

.................... That fcc post you cited is about a digital channel that can't be received due to insufficient signal strength and propagation issues. What you're experiencing is clearly not that because you can tune 8.3 and get a good picture.

Yes, I understand that. But it also happens to be the same channel (my Fox affiliate) as the station I had mentioned in my initial post. Pure co-incidence, but interesting. They now want the FCC to allow them to go back to UHF ch-29, which is where they were for 2 or 3 years before moving to their "permanent" position at VHF ch-8, which had been their analog home for many years.

Yes, I understand that. But it also happens to be the same channel (my Fox affiliate) as the station I had mentioned in my initial post. Pure co-incidence, but interesting. They now want the FCC to allow them to go back to UHF ch-29, which is where they were for 2 or 3 years before moving to their "permanent" position at VHF ch-8, which had been their analog home for many years.Wouldn't it be a hoot if all the so-called experts they sent out to folks homes to see why they couldn't get the station came to the conclusion that signal strength was the problem, when in reality all they would have had to do is tune to 8-3!?

Frank -

YES, you understand correctly. A channel scan finds 8.1 and 8.2, but if I tune to them there is nothing (I don't recall if it says "no signal" or simply a blank screen). If I tune to 8.3 and 8.4 the channels are there and work fine. I simply put 8.3 and 8.4 in the channel lineup. My Fox digital channels used to be on UHF using virtual 8.1 and 8.2 until January (I think). Fox analog was on VHF channel 8. In January they shut down analog and moved the digitals to VHF channel 8. My HDD500's have exhibited this strange behaviour ever since. My three HDTVs see the channels normally. :confused:

Interesting links I just came across in my local HDTV thread......

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101310665&formid=911&fac_num=4149

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=756148&formid=911&q_num=5200

.

I had this same problem where 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 started showing up as 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5, after a scan. I fixed it by doing a reset user configuration in the 9012 menu, which clears out your channel list, and re-scans them.

Mark

Does anyone notice here that new posters just love the great job Sony does? First post praising Sony bolony and gets a grid overnight? Busted!!!!

I'm not quite sure what you are implying. I suspect the new user is quite genuine, but doesn't know the difference between "no grid" and an empty grid. Likewise, he doesn't know how to do a G* with pre-.21 firmware to find a digital host. When our new user applied the .21 firmware, his unit found his digital host automatically, which appears to be the big advantage of the .21 firmware. So, for him, everything started working again.

I had this same problem where 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 started showing up as 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5, after a scan. I fixed it by doing a reset user configuration in the 9012 menu, which clears out your channel list, and re-scans them.

Mark

Good to know, but for me it's not a big enough problem to risk doing any kind of reset. :eek: I just enter 8.3 to tune direct, and I have 8.3 in the TVGOS channel lineup.

If someone would be kind enough to assume I'm an idiot and walk me through the process of installing the upgrade and perhaps add any experience pointers on what to expect once I get the stinkin thing to read the USB...I would greatly appreciate it.
thanks
jim

Jim....I too had trouble. I finally downloaded the update directly to the thumb drive. I then unzipped it to the same drive and my HDD 250 responded immediately. I am not sure naming the drive as SONY is necessary.[/QUOTE]

I needed to do a soft reset before the update worked for me. After that, just follow the directions on the screen.

Sorry to post this under reply but I couldn't find a New Thread box to click on.

The HDMI output to my 250 just went dead, I tried a new cable but still no output.
On a hunch I checked the component output which was working ok.

Has anyone else had this problem ? And is there a fix without sending it back to Sony?
Thanks,

Larry

Good to know, but for me it's not a big enough problem to risk doing any kind of reset. :eek: I just enter 8.3 to tune direct, and I have 8.3 in the TVGOS channel lineup.

Reset user configuration is completely harmless. I have done this numerous times. It does take a few minutes for the clock to come back, but if you had a clock before, it will come back. When it is done it steps you through the channel scan, and then onto the TVGOS setup, which when you get there, you see that all your previous information is completely intact.

Mark

I'm not quite sure what you are implying. I suspect the new user is quite genuine, but doesn't know the difference between "no grid" and an empty grid. Likewise, he doesn't know how to do a G* with pre-.21 firmware to find a digital host. When our new user applied the .21 firmware, his unit found his digital host automatically, which appears to be the big advantage of the .21 firmware. So, for him, everything started working again.

I was implying the new user was a Sony employee. If in fact he just had no listing then he is right things would fill in overnight. If you reread his post he also said that the dhg's are old machines. I really don't call them old with many sold less than three years ago. One of mine is only two years old because it was sold as old store stock. Some people still have extended warrentees on them. If in fact the newbe only had no listings than I was wrong . If he still claims that he got grid overnight from a reset than I stick by what I said.

Reset user configuration is completely harmless. I have done this numerous times. It does take a few minutes for the clock to come back, but if you had a clock before, it will come back. When it is done it steps you through the channel scan, and then onto the TVGOS setup, which when you get there, you see that all your previous information is completely intact.

Mark

But I believe you're OTA only, correct? I would have to go through and reconnect all of my proper QAM channels numbers to the corresponding cable "Channel Name", right? Next time I am forced to do something "major" I will do this reset too. But I don't need any "make-work" projects right now........ :D

Sorry to post this under reply but I couldn't find a New Thread box to click on.

The HDMI output to my 250 just went dead, I tried a new cable but still no output.
On a hunch I checked the component output which was working ok.

Has anyone else had this problem ? And is there a fix without sending it back to Sony?
Thanks,

Larry
My 500 had no audio on the HDMI, when it returned from Sony service. The RCA connections did have audio though.

Have you tried stepping through the HDMI formats from the "Format" button on the lower right of the DVR front panel?

Power cycled the HDTV?

... the difference between "no grid" and an empty grid. ...

I wondered what people meant by "no grid". Does that mean the screen is blank when you go to the Listings screen? -- As opposed to program names showing as "No listing"?

I wondered what people meant by "no grid". Does that mean the screen is blank when you go to the Listings screen? -- As opposed to program names showing as "No listing"?
yes, the screen is blank, except perhaps to say something like "no data for this screen"...

But I believe you're OTA only, correct? I would have to go through and reconnect all of my proper QAM channels numbers to the corresponding cable "Channel Name", right? Next time I am forced to do something "major" I will do this reset too. But I don't need any "make-work" projects right now........ :D

Yes, I am OTA. I have played with remapping the QAM channels on the cable side, and that is no fun, so I understand why you wouldn't want to have to go through that. However that is in the TVGOS channel lineup, and I'm pretty certain that isn't touched. Since I am only 'pretty certain', I understand why you wouldn't want to try it. Here is something else you can do. Disconnect the antenna, and re-scan the antenna with out it connected. This will clear your OTA scanned channel list. Then reconnect the antenna, and do another scan.

Mark

dmaster
thanks for the response
sorry....what is a soft reset? I'm assuming it is a way to reboot the gizmo without turning the power off (like cnt-alt-delete with computers). Shoult the jump drive be inserted when I do this?
thanks again
jim

I haven't used my Slingbox/SlingPlayer for a while (about a year or so), but I recently updated my Slingbox firmware and SlingPlayer and had to setup the Video Source for my DHG-HDD500. Anyway, I cannot get the SingPlayer remote to work with the HDD500 (old settings don't work) and I have tried just about every combo available. For anyone using a Slingbox with their 250/500...what are your SlingPlayer "Device Type", "Manufacturer", and "Model" settings to get the remote to work?

Thanks!

dmaster
thanks for the response
sorry....what is a soft reset? I'm assuming it is a way to reboot the gizmo without turning the power off (like cnt-alt-delete with computers). Shoult the jump drive be inserted when I do this?
thanks again
jim

Yes "soft reset" is the same as ctl-alt-delete on a computer. It reboots the operating system; and typically clears all sorts of gremlins.

with the Sony Box turned "on"

Push and hold at the same time the "tvGuide" and "exit" buttons on the front panel for about 3-5 seconds, and then let go.

The unit will turn itself "off" - the clock will go away - then it begins re-booting. after a min. or so a "Welcome" screen will appear.

Depending on your specific environment the clock could come back in just a couple of minutes or it could take as long as 24-36 hours.

I would think that the tvgos stream is the same nation wide. Your dhg may pull out the data that is important in that area from your zip code. If that's not the case than MV must send out hundreds of different feeds. Sending out hundreds don't make sence. I noticed that posters all over were experencing problems last weekend. So I'm leaning to everybody gets the same stream except maybe the analog version.

I thought I would see what happens in a 'simulated' a cross country move. I lived in San Mateo, CA for 15 years so I know it's zipcode and Comcast cable lineup pretty well. This morning I performed a TVGUIDE RESET from the 9012 menu. I didn't do a full factory restore. So I kept my firmware and update to 08.06.44 and lost my listings and lineup but not the recordings or front panel station call letters display.

It's been three hours and my clock is just incrementing since the reset. I have several clock packets. But no time zone packets. I figured this would happen because .....

My theory is that there is one MV distribution location. It sends out data to various hosts (and I use host in the logical and physical sense). At the host, in my case a cable company, the data needed for it's coverage area is filtered by the MV "black box" and then injected into the local output (OTA or cable) on whatever channel they feel like. I can also understand if the cable company gets its feed from a nearby broadcast channel rather than the internet, frame relay, ISDN, phone line, whatever. This could explain why Saturday my cable version of KYW was dead on both analog & digital channels and my listings stopped their updates since 3am Saturday. But that could be a coincidence. And why does this matter?

If you are planning to send someone a VHS tape or DVD recording of your host channel to allow someone to update their DHD, they better live nearby. I'm going to give my test a few more hours, then change to a closer zip code, probably 19020 since I lived there for 10 years. I'll let you know what happens.

I'm not in any way saying your theory is wrong, I'm just giving an alternative.

I haven't used my Slingbox/SlingPlayer for a while (about a year or so), but I recently updated my Slingbox firmware and SlingPlayer and had to setup the Video Source for my DHG-HDD500. Anyway, I cannot get the SingPlayer remote to work with the HDD500 (old settings don't work) and I have tried just about every combo available. For anyone using a Slingbox with their 250/500...what are your SlingPlayer "Device Type", "Manufacturer", and "Model" settings to get the remote to work?

Thanks!
It has been a while since I set mine up, but I do remember that the model you are looking for is on the bottom of the Sony remote: RM-Y823.

I have tried everything under the sun ...

Since you've tried everything, :), what were your results when you connected a 115 kbaud terminal to the G-Link port and entered the 963852741 File System Shell code into the Change System Settings screen? Were you able to get a command line prompt?

subako, when slotkar tried that, did he assume the G-Link port required TTL levels or RS232 levels?

subako, when slotkar tried that, did he assume the G-Link port required TTL levels or RS232 levels?

Just having a bit of fun here, right? It's been on my list of things I'd like to try except I never seem to have a box in "don't give a damn" state. I'm guessing RS232. It's been a while since anyone built anything with TTL. Sure I have my old box of parts, but everything turned to CMOS then NMOS before the seventies were over. Even RS232 seems to be kept alive only by someone who keeps churning out 1488 and 1489 chips.

Even RS232 seems to be kept alive only by someone who keeps churning out 1488 and 1489 chips.RS232 is not obsolete, but 1488 and 1489 are, most products use the Maxim MAX232 or similar I/F chips, or the RS232 converter is integrated into a LSI.

More info on G-Link... (http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6801966/description.html)

RS232 is not obsolete, but 1488 and 1489 are, most products use the Maxim MAX232 or similar I/F chips, or the RS232 converter is integrated into a LSI.

Note to self: No one understands hyperbole anymore.

Yes, of course, RS232 is alive and well. And, of course, the G-Link port is RS232 compatible since it is designed for compatibility with modems.

589632147 Glink Modem Support ON
741236985 Glink Modem Support OFF

Gack!

Just having a bit of fun here, right?

It has been a while since I set mine up, but I do remember that the model you are looking for is on the bottom of the Sony remote: RM-Y823.Thanks, but I still can't find a setting to support the HDD250/500 remote with the Slingbox Classic. I used it for almost 2-years without a problem using a generic Sony Standalone DVR (Code 1? -performed all of the YM-823 remote control functions). However, after having not used it in almost a year, I updated the Slingbox firmware and SlingPlayer and now it doesn't work.

According the SlingMedia support site, the Sling Pro HD supports the HDD250, but the Classic does not. I loaded an older version of SlingPlayer, but apparently the video support settings are in the Slingbox firmware. I sent an e-mail to Support requesting a firmware downgrade since the update actually degraded my Slingbox Classic to where I cannot use it for its intended purpose and given configuration, but they won't answer my question unless I pay them $30 for a support call..and I have a feeling they will tell me it is no longer a support device and that I should pay $250 for Sling PRO HD.

Not happy right now...I am looking for a way to reload old firmware on the Slingbox Classic so I can use it with the fully functional YM-Y823 remote prior to their breaking it with their firmware update.

I have some odd stuff going on my the channel grid line-up. Box is upgraded to .21, had no grid. After leaving it alone for 5-6 days, the grid got loaded, but with the Washington DC market stations turned on and most of the Baltimore stations off & buried way down the channel editor list. So I spent a while with the channel editor getting all the local station reordered with all the sub-channels and most of the analog channels turned off. For a week, all was fine was TVGOS data from WUSA-DT CBS 9 on 34-0.

Then on Sunday night, I turned the Sony DVR on and the channel order was back to the original messed up order with the analog stations ON and most of the Baltimore stations off. This caused it to miss scheduled recordings for WNUV-DT 54, a Baltimore station. So I made a few changes in the channel editor, turned WNUV-DT back on. On Monday, the guide data for WNUV-DT was there. Today, Tuesday, the channel guide order is back to the default order again with the editor changes gone. Is this caused by some sort of reset download of the grid data from the local TVGOS source or a glitch in the Sony? Has anyone had this particular problem happen to them in recent days?

Another question I have wondered about. Are the channel logos only stored in the Sony firmware, the root TVGOS software that does not get updated? My box had the .05 firmware. But the channel logos are old, says PAX for the Ion stations, no logos for CW or MyNetwork stations.

Another question I have wondered about. Are the channel logos only stored in the Sony firmware, the root TVGOS software that does not get updated? My box had the .05 firmware. But the channel logos are old, says PAX for the Ion stations, no logos for CW or MyNetwork stations.
you mentioned your host channel, but not where it's from...If it's from WASHINGTON and they are messing around, resulting in reset lineups, I guess that could be causing your problem...

As far as logos go, I just happened to be looking at and changing the order of the lineup on my unit (mostly because I noticed that virtually all my local HD stations were down at the BOTTOM of the lineup - I.e., BELOW the hundreds of cable channels, where I had never noticed them, so I had changed to analog numbers to the digital for the stations I watch), and I happened to see a number of PAX logos...so I have them, too (and none for CW)...I don't know where the logos come from, but it would seem pretty bad to have them originating from the Sony unit, rather than from TVGOS!

My 500 had no audio on the HDMI, when it returned from Sony service. The RCA connections did have audio though.

Have you tried stepping through the HDMI formats from the "Format" button on the lower right of the DVR front panel?

Power cycled the HDTV?

My hdd is hooked up to an Onkyo HDMI switching receiver. I occasionally have to power off/on the HDD for the HDCP garbage to work and for the two devices to recognize each other. Along with the fact the optical out from the TV is "stereo only" this content protection is very annoying.

I guess it made us all go for new receivers, so that must have been a partial purpose.

About a year ago I was getting the same message and then having to reformat the drive (of course losing all of the recordings) it would recover fine and then a few months later it happened again. Again another format. Then it began to happen more frequently. Finally I sent the unit to Sony and they replaced both hard drives and also applied a patch that was associated with watching a show while recording. I got my unit back from Sony in September of 08 and have not had the problem since.

FWIW - I did the FW update on my hdd-250 over the weekend and everything is working perfectly. To be safe, I left the DVR on for 24 hours tuned to the digital host channel in Minneapolis. I saw that I had received partial guide into, so I turned it off the next day. 24 hours later, I have a full week of guide data and the box is working as new.

I had VERY low expectations on this and was ready to go Tivo. Now (knock wood) I don't have to.

Thanks to this board for all the help.

I tried an experiment with TVGOS reset from 9012 menu and changing zipcodes. In case you're interested, this was using 1.2.13 and 08.01.42/08.06.44.

I have cable only with no cable card.

My cable company has two feeds across my county and a seperate feed (office & web site) for the county next to mine.

After a reset I set the zip to 94403. Result was "No Data For This screen" & no clock.

Another reset to zip code 19020. Result was same as above.

Another reset to zip code 18901. Result was same as above.

Reset to 17921 (next county, different lineup). Result was same as above.

Reset to 17815 (same supplier, same lineup, slightly different listings). Asked for choce of listings. I answered with 17815 answer. Got clock, lineup, but no listings.

Reset to my zipcode. Asked for choice and gave right answer. In two hours I get clock, lineup and listings. All 100% and correct until midnight next week.

Think of this when making a VCR/DVD for backup. I feel an update from 08.01.42/00.00.00 to 08.01.42/08.06.44 is possible with any feed, just not clock, lineups or listings. Of course OTA result will vary as will different cable suppliers. Major cable companies may have different results. But I have updated to 08.06.44 from VHS tape and will try the same from DVD soon.

For 3 plus months I have been without a Guide and then a Grid and Guide. I have tried to logically eliminate issues. I downloaded and installed the new update. I then thought it may be the TV station and the way it processed the signal. I even wondered if it was Macrovision. No one in my area was posting so I did not know if it was me. This is the sams Sony that was woring fin a few months ago. Only thin that I could se happened was the PBS station went all digital. That was the TVGOS supplier. Today I went out and bought a DTVPAL+. Within an hour I had a full TV Guide for several days. So I know I have a TV Guide in my area and there is a system that will receive and decode it. The Sony will not. My conversations with Sony was just a waste. So until Sony shows me they have changed their ways, I will avoid their products. AMF.

.................... But I have updated to 08.06.44 from VHS tape and will try the same from DVD soon.

I don't think it will work from DVD. Even if your DVD player outputs through RF coax (req'd to feed the HDDxxx) I think the conversion to digital will kill the TVGOS data stream. JMHO.

Today I went out and bought a DTVPAL+. Within an hour I had a full TV Guide for several days. So I know I have a TV Guide in my area and there is a system that will receive and decode it. The Sony will not.If you're talking about the DTV Pal+'s internal guide, it uses PSIP data - not TVGOS.

If you're saying that you received TVGOS information and the Pal converted it from digital to analog, and the Sony guide filled out with the digital TVGOS information - then just keep using it that way.

Thanks, but I still can't find a setting to support the HDD250/500 remote with the Slingbox Classic. I used it for almost 2-years without a problem using a generic Sony Standalone DVR (Code 1? -performed all of the YM-823 remote control functions). However, after having not used it in almost a year, I updated the Slingbox firmware and SlingPlayer and now it doesn't work.

According the SlingMedia support site, the Sling Pro HD supports the HDD250, but the Classic does not. I loaded an older version of SlingPlayer, but apparently the video support settings are in the Slingbox firmware. I sent an e-mail to Support requesting a firmware downgrade since the update actually degraded my Slingbox Classic to where I cannot use it for its intended purpose and given configuration, but they won't answer my question unless I pay them $30 for a support call..and I have a feeling they will tell me it is no longer a support device and that I should pay $250 for Sling PRO HD.

Not happy right now...I am looking for a way to reload old firmware on the Slingbox Classic so I can use it with the fully functional YM-Y823 remote prior to their breaking it with their firmware update.

Try posting your problem on http://www.slingcommunity.com/ . There are some pretty helpful and resourceful users on that site. Also, if it is not too much trouble, could you post an update if you do find a way to get it working again. I've owned a classic for years and bought a DHG-HDD500 almost a year ago. Unfortunately I've not found the time to try and get the two connected.

If you're talking about the DTV Pal+'s internal guide, it uses PSIP data - not TVGOS.

If you're saying that you received TVGOS information and the Pal converted it from digital to analog, and the Sony guide filled out with the digital TVGOS information - then just keep using it that way.

Not sure what you mean. My Sony still has no TVGOS. Here is a letter from the local PBS.

"Please let me explain, the original Digital Television (DTV) signal was
transmitted on Channel 38 which is 614 Megahertz (MHz). On April 6th we shut
off our Analog channel 7 transmitter, which is 174 MHz and our Channel 38
transmitter. Then the Channel 7 transmitter was converted to Digital and
turned back on. This entire process would have appeared transparent to you,
except that you would have had to rescan your TV.

The transmitted signal contains the digital information that tells your TV
what channel you are viewing, so our DTV channel 38 would have appeared to be
7-1, 7-2 etc., however now our digital signal is being transmitted on Channel
7. Most TV stations are transmitting on a different frequency other than the
channel displayed on your TV. Channel 12 is actually channel 10, and Channel
30 is channel 32 and so on.

The data used to tell your TV all this channel information is called "Program
and System Information Protocol" or PSIP. PISP will send the information
(data) with a header called "Program ID" or PID. The TV guide PID's are
carried in our channel 7-1 stream and the TV guide people have confirmed that
all the TV Guide PIDs are present. If you can receive channel 7-1 than in
theory you should receive the TV Guide. If you still can not get the TV Guide
to function please contact TV Guide!"
For what it is worth.
Also what I am telling you is that I am in a digital only area and my Sony will not give me a guide.

For 3 plus months I have been without a Guide and then a Grid and Guide. I have tried to logically eliminate issues. I downloaded and installed the new update. I then thought it may be the TV station and the way it processed the signal. I even wondered if it was Macrovision. No one in my area was posting so I did not know if it was me. This is the sams Sony that was woring fin a few months ago. Only thin that I could se happened was the PBS station went all digital. That was the TVGOS supplier. Today I went out and bought a DTVPAL+. Within an hour I had a full TV Guide for several days. So I know I have a TV Guide in my area and there is a system that will receive and decode it. The Sony will not. My conversations with Sony was just a waste. So until Sony shows me they have changed their ways, I will avoid their products. AMF.
reading your posts today, I can't understand what your current setup is(or WHERE you are - it's not given before your name...maybe you ought to set that up - hint, hint!)

when you say you're getting TVGOS via your Pal, do you mean your PAL ITSELF got program data on ITS screens? ...because if that is what you mean, that isn't TVGOS data...the Pal only shows PSIP data (not TVGOS)

Some people, I think, interpreted your comment to mean you set the Pal up to CONVERT TVGOS data to analog for use of your SONY, which would have to be from the special TVGOS mode of your Pal...if THAT'S what you had done, everybody would want to know the details of your setup, and so on!!!

I'm curious whether anyone else in the SF Bay area who HAS been getting TVGOS data regularly DIDN'T receive a download today...that's what happened to me, and I want to make sure that it wasn't due to my working on my TV Guide's channel lineup yesterday!

(After my TVGOS reset the lineup a month or so again, and I didn't see any specifically digital channels, I took the easy way out and just entered the digital channel number for the ANALOG channels that appeared in the lineup...Then yesterday I noticed that all the digital channels were about 500 channels DOWN...AFTER all the cable channels, even though I'm OTA only...Anyway, yesterday, I moved a lot of those up near the top of the lineup as a preparation for substituting them for the previously analog channels, but today - before I did that - I checked ahead and found day 8 had no listings. THEN I made the substitutions, returned the analog channels to their previous numbering, and moved them down.)

So now my channel lineup has most of the high-def programs labeled as that, etc.

The only thing that is still messed up is that PBSDT 9.1 still has "no listings" everywhere, so I still HAVE to use the analog line for it, as it was before...AND some programs on 9.2 and 9.3 that are ACTUALLY broadcast on 9.1 in HD, are still labelled as HD in the 9.2 and 9.3 listings...I've been meaning to call KQED's attention to this but haven't gotten around to it!!!

[QUOTE=fxstsb;16454788]Not sure what you mean. My Sony still has no TVGOS. Here is a letter from the local PBS.

"Please let me explain, the original Digital Television (DTV) signal was
transmitted on Channel 38 which is 614 Megahertz (MHz). On April 6th we shut
off our Analog channel 7 transmitter, which is 174 MHz and our Channel 38
transmitter. Then the Channel 7 transmitter was converted to Digital and
turned back on. This entire process would have appeared transparent to you,
except that you would have had to rescan your TV.

The transmitted signal contains the digital information that tells your TV
what channel you are viewing, so our DTV channel 38 would have appeared to be
7-1, 7-2 etc., however now our digital signal is being transmitted on Channel
7. Most TV stations are transmitting on a different frequency other than the
channel displayed on your TV. Channel 12 is actually channel 10, and Channel
30 is channel 32 and so on.

This may be too simple, but from how I read this, it sounds as though a complete rescan and setup is needed to find this station and make it work as the host. This may be the same solution needed for Stingray as well. Can not hurt to try. Nothing to lose.
Michael

Try posting your problem on http://www.slingcommunity.com/ . There are some pretty helpful and resourceful users on that site. Also, if it is not too much trouble, could you post an update if you do find a way to get it working again. I've owned a classic for years and bought a DHG-HDD500 almost a year ago. Unfortunately I've not found the time to try and get the two connected.Thanks, but I posted questions there in August 2006 and, after a week of nobody responding, I "bumped" the thread only to be told that wasn't allowed. Anyway, I posted the question here at AVSForum and has an answer within 10-minutes. Three months later there was still no reply over at the other site. SlingCommunity is a great site is great place for people to share useless "Strangest Places to Sling From" information and ask people to share their SlingFinderIDs, but not much else.

My HDD250 has run for 3 years, basically without a hitch. Last Feb CBS DTV switched from UHF 53 to VHF 7 and on 17 Feb VHF 8 CBS analog shut down and 8 DTV went to VHF 8.
CH 10 ABC DTV left UHF 25 and switched to VHF 10, having shut down the analog transmission on 10,
KSWB Fox 6 DTV stayed on UHF 19 and ran Nitelite for a week on analog (forgot the channel)

In each case it only took a channel re-scan for the DVR to acquire the channel changes. The vacated analog channels were removed from the listings and the DTV channels re-set to the new RF frequencies. Both CATV and OTA channels were scanned. TWC analog, no cable card.

Currently the 250 uses XETV via analog cable as VBI host. It switched fom KPBS analog cable about a month ago.

Keep in mind that the San Diego market has been very stable where TVGOS is concerned, YMMV and probably will. After reading this thread for 3 years this TVGOS transition mess is a real eye opener on the state of this technology.

BTW the Sony S/W upgrade was installed when it became available. So far the 250 operation has not changed in any observable way.

My HDD250 has shown the "hard disk error send it to Sony" twice. In each case a front panel reboot rectified the problem. Lesson, always try the simple approach first.

I'm curious whether anyone else in the SF Bay area who HAS been getting TVGOS data regularly DIDN'T receive a download today...that's what happened to me, and I want to make sure that it wasn't due to my working on my TV Guide's channel lineup yesterday!

...

The only thing that is still messed up is that PBSDT 9.1 still has "no listings" everywhere, so I still HAVE to use the analog line for it, as it was before...AND some programs on 9.2 and 9.3 that are ACTUALLY broadcast on 9.1 in HD, are still labelled as HD in the 9.2 and 9.3 listings...I've been meaning to call KQED's attention to this but haven't gotten around to it!!!

Tony - I have listings through next Wed (day 8), plus an empty grid for Thurs (day 9). It is now 7pm, so don't know about earlier. I just noticed that I have to 9-1 lines. Both say KQEDDT, but one has listings, the other doesn't! I never even noticed previously. You might want to check if there isn't another 9-1 hiding somewhere in the listing.

Rick

[QUOTE=fxstsb;16454788]Not sure what you mean. My Sony still has no TVGOS. Here is a letter from the local PBS.

"Please let me explain, the original Digital Television (DTV) signal was
transmitted on Channel 38 which is 614 Megahertz (MHz). On April 6th we shut
off our Analog channel 7 transmitter, which is 174 MHz and our Channel 38
transmitter. Then the Channel 7 transmitter was converted to Digital and
turned back on. This entire process would have appeared transparent to you,
except that you would have had to rescan your TV.

The transmitted signal contains the digital information that tells your TV
what channel you are viewing, so our DTV channel 38 would have appeared to be
7-1, 7-2 etc., however now our digital signal is being transmitted on Channel
7. Most TV stations are transmitting on a different frequency other than the
channel displayed on your TV. Channel 12 is actually channel 10, and Channel
30 is channel 32 and so on.

This may be too simple, but from how I read this, it sounds as though a complete rescan and setup is needed to find this station and make it work as the host. This may be the same solution needed for Stingray as well. Can not hurt to try. Nothing to lose.
Michael

Many rescans later.....Many resets...many formats...wait, wait. It's been nearly 4 months. As I sit back and observe, there have been over 17,000 post on this issue.

Some people, I think, interpreted your comment to mean you set the Pal up to CONVERT TVGOS data to analog for use of your SONY, which would have to be from the special TVGOS mode of your Pal...if THAT'S what you had done, everybody would want to know the details of your setup, and so on!!!

Not the case. Two seperate systems setup. Communications is interesting!

when you say you're getting TVGOS via your Pal, do you mean your PAL ITSELF got program data on ITS screens? ...because if that is what you mean, that isn't TVGOS data...the Pal only shows PSIP data (not TVGOS)



From what I interpret from the local PBS the Digital version of the TV Guide is PSIP data.( See letter above from WJCT)

From what I interpret from the local PBS the Digital version of the TV Guide is PSIP data.( See letter above from WJCT)TVGOS data is NOT carried in the PSIP, it is carried in special packets with three different packet IDs (TVG1, TVG2, and a SCTE-127 packet). The DTVPal, DTVPal+, and TR40-CRA CECBs do NOT obtain their guide from any of these TVGOS packets, but rather by tuning to each station and reading its PSIP (which carries up to a day or two of guide information for THAT station only.) This is the little song-and-dance the DTVPal goes through when you power it up, which takes maybe a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how many OTA stations you receive.

The fact that a DTVPal (or any other CECB with a EPG) can receive that guide by reading the PSIP data has absolutely nothing to do with the Sony (or any other device with TVGOS capability) receiving its guide by reading the TVG1 or SCTE-127 packets from a host station.

The letter from WJCT in no way implies that TVGOS data is PSIP data, only that PSIP data is used to supply the mapping from virtual to physical channel numbers. True, PSIP data also carries an EPG, but a) only for that station's programming; and b) only for a couple hours to a couple days in advance; and c) often not a particularly accurate or complete guide. The PSIP guide originates with the station itself, and is only as complete as they care to make it. The TVGOS guide originates with Macrovision. Your letter from WJCT also indicates that they are a digital TVGOS host, transmitting the data that Macrovision sends them.

The point is that the fact that the DTVPal can gather PSIP guide data in your area in no way implies that a TVGOS device can gather TVGOS guide data. They are two different beasts.

When you say you've tried resets, I must assume you have tried "Reset User Configuration" followed by a full re-scan, after which you could tune to and see programs on channels 7-1 and 7-2. If that is the case, and yet your Sony has not received a grid from 7-1 on its own or by running the G* test on 7-1, then that puts you in the same boat as a number of folks who have reported the same problem here; yet others have had no trouble getting a grid via digital-only (or some minor trouble) after a reset. I admit that is a confusing and confounding situation.

Might I suggest you try using the DTVPal in its TVGOS mode using the instructions I and others have posted here to supply your Sony with analog TVGOS data from digital channel 7-1 (in this case, it uses the SCTE-127 data stream, not TVG1 or TVG2, and local CBS/PBS digital stations have been slow to begin transmitting that TVGOS stream, but more seem to be coming on line every day.) It's not a perfect solution - not nearly as nice as the Sony acquiring the grid on its own, but may get you over this hump.

I'm curious whether anyone else in the SF Bay area who HAS been getting TVGOS data regularly DIDN'T receive a download today...that's what happened to me, and I want to make sure that it wasn't due to my working on my TV Guide's channel lineup yesterday!

<<SNIP>>

Probably related... No updated listings today here in Las Vegas either, after several months of consistent downloads via digital.

Regards
MK

[QUOTE=AtlantisMichael;This may be too simple, but from how I read this, it sounds as though a complete rescan and setup is needed to find this station and make it work as the host. This may be the same solution needed for Stingray as well. Can not hurt to try. Nothing to lose.
Michael[/QUOTE]

I tryed that several times no help.I have two dhg's. I'm now in posession of a vcr tape recorded in January from my analog station. I have run the tape twice and my slicing page has gone from zero to over 1200 . The third pass of the tape is running. I will post the results. After the second pass I had ads from january. After 25 days with .21 firmware I don't think it will load the grid. If you want to make a vcr tape I suggest that you make two. Record both from 1 am untill 7 am on different nights. I noticed that the ads dissapear as soon as the tape plays but are there when it ends. I will post the results tomorrow. I may have to run the tape several more times. The tape is not top quality but a copy that Norm from this fourm made for me. Some data may have been lost in the making of a copy, however I see vbi when doing the g-test.

For the last couple of weeks I have had to use manual recordings since I had accidentally hit the reset in the G*test menu. I previously noted here that I lost the clock for a couple of days before it reset itself, and I didn't think that it would do that because I have not updated the firmware and I am OTA only with no analog TVGOS streams in the LA market that I know about.

Well, last night I discovered a grid which consisted of almost every half hour saying no info (or something similar, I don't remember) and I had advertisements. No advertisements today, oh well.

I'm not sure why ss-stingray and others have had so much trouble but at least from my experience, I think it's a greater probability that any troubles are tvgos or (most likely?) broadcaster based. I would love to have listings again but manual is ok for now, tivo is too expensive and the dvr pal has had its own problems but I admit I haven't really followed that thread.

What this thread needs is to try to compile results from people that have had (some) success and try to build upon that. I guess I wish Sony would tell us what to do but..........

I have not posted in a couple of days; so here is the quick update status:

It all still works perfectly - and operating in heavy duty use with no lock ups. OTA only.

I have read through all of the post each day. Many had decided not to install software and still run into problems? I see no reason not to install the new software – no harm done that I can tell; overall the box does operate a little better; listings are more current (i.e. often see Days 6 and 7 updating with new data). The box often goes into an almost instant download routine, when you turn the box off. It will download Day 9 Grid “each” and every evening while using the box during prime time. It fill’s in the Day 9 listings after midnight with program information; thus becoming the Day 8. I have seen it update “any” of the day’s 1-8 when it has a mind too. The old pattern of 1,2,5 and 8 is no longer the norm.

It receives a full catalogue of DL 97’s each day (6 to 8); indicating it is digital downloads.

Sometimes during the weekends the clock may revert back to analogue – maybe up to 6 hours. But during the week the clock source will stay digital for up to 4-5 days.

I had a “No Grid” – “No Data” after a major electrical storm on April 17th-Pic 7038. Installed the new software, and the box went to Digital source in just a couple of days, with full 8 day listings. Routinely have full 8 days scheduled-Pic 7148.

I did a Full Factory Reset in early mid March. I have not used G Test or Force Host; because I have found it just confuses the box big time. Others have also reported that procedure, somehow seems to interfere with the box operating correctly with the new .21 software.

Of course, the real test: What will happen after June?

TVGOS data is NOT carried in the PSIP, it is carried in special packets with three different packet IDs (TVG1, TVG2, and a SCTE-127 packet). The DTVPal, DTVPal+, and TR40-CRA CECBs do NOT obtain their guide from any of these TVGOS packets, but rather by tuning to each station and reading its PSIP (which carries up to a day or two of guide information for THAT station only.) This is the little song-and-dance the DTVPal goes through when you power it up, which takes maybe a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how many OTA stations you receive.

The fact that a DTVPal (or any other CECB with a EPG) can receive that guide by reading the PSIP data has absolutely nothing to do with the Sony (or any other device with TVGOS capability) receiving its guide by reading the TVG1 or SCTE-127 packets from a host station.

The letter from WJCT in no way implies that TVGOS data is PSIP data, only that PSIP data is used to supply the mapping from virtual to physical channel numbers. True, PSIP data also carries an EPG, but a) only for that station's programming; and b) only for a couple hours to a couple days in advance; and c) often not a particularly accurate or complete guide. The PSIP guide originates with the station itself, and is only as complete as they care to make it. The TVGOS guide originates with Macrovision. Your letter from WJCT also indicates that they are a digital TVGOS host, transmitting the data that Macrovision sends them.

The point is that the fact that the DTVPal can gather PSIP guide data in your area in no way implies that a TVGOS device can gather TVGOS guide data. They are two different beasts.

When you say you've tried resets, I must assume you have tried "Reset User Configuration" followed by a full re-scan, after which you could tune to and see programs on channels 7-1 and 7-2. If that is the case, and yet your Sony has not received a grid from 7-1 on its own or by running the G* test on 7-1, then that puts you in the same boat as a number of folks who have reported the same problem here; yet others have had no trouble getting a grid via digital-only (or some minor trouble) after a reset. I admit that is a confusing and confounding situation.

Might I suggest you try using the DTVPal in its TVGOS mode using the instructions I and others have posted here to supply your Sony with analog TVGOS data from digital channel 7-1 (in this case, it uses the SCTE-127 data stream, not TVG1 or TVG2, and local CBS/PBS digital stations have been slow to begin transmitting that TVGOS stream, but more seem to be coming on line every day.) It's not a perfect solution - not nearly as nice as the Sony acquiring the grid on its own, but may get you over this hump.
Great post!

Hello fellow DHG fans,
I got up early today to restart my vcr tape but was thrilled to see I have grid. I got grid after the third pass of a six hour tape. I waited 25 days with the .21 firmware and no grid. many here thought my dhg was bad. It was also suggested that the broadcast station equipment was at fault. I contacted WINK TV and they said that MV had replaced the equipment the last week of feb. So that leaves with two possible reasons that I couldn't get a grid in digital.
1. MV data is not yet supporting grid building in my area.
2. The .21 firmware will never build a grid ota.

Here is how I used the tape. First the tape was made by Norm8261 a member of this fourm. He had a tape of wink broadcast made in Jan made from 12:10 am untill 6:10 am. Norm was kind enough to make me a copy of that tape. I didn't want to borrow the tape in case my vcr ate the tape. I first had to borrow a neighbors vcr dvd combo. That wouldn't work. I then had my vcr sent to me from OHIO. It was at my daughters house sitting in a box. When I put in the tape I did the g-test to check for vbi on ch. 4. Seeing good vbi was very encouraging. After the 6 hour tape ran I checked the sclicing page. It had counts showing where before there was all zeros. Once again that was good. I replayed the tape again and did the g-test to keep things going. After that the slicing page was showing higher numbers. I also noticed that I had January ads trying to sell Obama stuff. So I then started the tape for the third time. It would end at 4 am so like a kid at christmas I tip toed to the living room.With no expectiation of seeing THE GRID I turned on the tv and dhg. WOW I got grid. I then turned off the equipment and rehooked up the antenna and then went back to bed felling that Santa had indeed stopped in Florida. When I got up in the morning I noticed that the clock was still in sink with the tape. The dhg hadn't yet foung the digital host. I did the g-test again with the dhg tunned to the host. The clock then changed to the correct time. All ads were gone and the grid was all no listing. I had January listings. I'm sure as the day goes on those no listing will fill in.
I would like to thank Norm8261 for making the tape and Cubit100 who offered to make me a tape . I didn't think it would work since Cubit100 is in Calf.

At this point the .21 is great for getting the clock and getting the listings but won't get a grid. This could change after June 12 but I would't count on that. I suggest that everybody who can make a vcr tape do it before the analog shut off.

I'm still hoping that Sony releases a newer firmware or MV releases a newer patch over the 08.06.44 .

I don't think it will work from DVD. Even if your DVD player outputs through RF coax (req'd to feed the HDDxxx) I think the conversion to digital will kill the TVGOS data stream. JMHO.

Good point. Sadly, I just noticed my DVD players do not send recorded programs to their RF outputs. I could play a DVD to a VCR and then play the tape, but that test will have to wait for a very cold winter day when I have nothing better to do. Honestly, I was surprised when the VCR worked.

Might I suggest you try using the DTVPal in its TVGOS mode using the instructions I and others have posted here to supply your Sony with analog TVGOS data from digital channel 7-1 (in this case, it uses the SCTE-127 data stream, not TVG1 or TVG2, and local CBS/PBS digital stations have been slow to begin transmitting that TVGOS stream, but more seem to be coming on line every day.) It's not a perfect solution - not nearly as nice as the Sony acquiring the grid on its own, but may get you over this hump.

frank70,

I've read some of your other posts on this subject and I'm still confused. I have a few questions that I'd appreciate if you'd answer, or at least point me in the right direction.

1. The DTV Pal seems to be sold out. Do you know if the DTV Pal+ is able to convert the digital TVGOS data to an analog signal for my DHG?

2. Does the DTV Pal/Pal+ manual explain the TVGOS mode and how to "activate" it? If not, is there a tutorial somewhere on the web?

Thanks.

Hello fellow DHG fans,
I got up early today to restart my vcr tape but was thrilled to see I have grid. I got grid after the third pass of a six hour tape.

This is great news! I am going to make a couple of VHS recordings starting tonight as insurance. A couple of questions for you:

1) Did you have to rescan for the DHG to find the channel 4 output from the VCR?
2) Did you just start the G* and leave the DHG turned ON while tuned to the output channel from the VCR?
3) I'm assuming it didn't ask you to select from available line-ups in your area since you are OTA only.

Hello fellow DHG fans,

At this point the .21 is great for getting the clock and getting the listings but won't get a grid..

That is why I posted the quick review just above.

The .21 software will build a Grid, if Microvision is sending out good data. MV at this point seems to be the problem in most markets. I think there have been a couple of others that have posted the same.

Again, I say the "real" test will be after June 12 for most markets.

All the boxes could die. All the boxes could live. Or it could be "pot luck" for ever?

For the last couple of weeks I have had to use manual recordings since I had accidentally hit the reset in the G*test menu. I previously noted here that I lost the clock for a couple of days before it reset itself, and I didn't think that it would do that because I have not updated the firmware and I am OTA only with no analog TVGOS streams in the LA market that I know about.



Not sure what sort of problem you're having or what part of L.A. you're in, but until 6/12 we have TWO analog hosts here: FOX 11 and PBS 28, so you should be able to get grid, listings, ads and everything else. :) Plus, since you still have older firmware, run the G* test and leave unit on tuned to CBS 2.1 and get listings digitally.

The .21 software will build a Grid, if Microvision is sending out good data. MV at this point seems to be the problem in most markets. I think there have been a couple of others that have posted the same.



Yeah, the .21 update will build a grid as long as you still have an analog host availabile, which you do! :D I don't think you can say with certainty that you got a grid digitally. You know your unit is switching back and forth and some of the pics you've posted indicate it is getting at least some of its downloads from analog. You're right though...the true test will come after 6/12.

Thanks, but I posted questions there in August 2006 and, after a week of nobody responding, I "bumped" the thread only to be told that wasn't allowed. Anyway, I posted the question here at AVSForum and has an answer within 10-minutes. Three months later there was still no reply over at the other site. SlingCommunity is a great site is great place for people to share useless "Strangest Places to Sling From" information and ask people to share their SlingFinderIDs, but not much else.

I did see a post about that in the past, but I bought my sony much later and knew nothing about it at the time. I have in the past helped a lot of people on that site, and received help as well. Now that most people on there have upgraded from the classic, I have nothing to offer there.

I live in Miami, FL and I got a grid (all digital)w/ no grid prior to the .21 update. It is possible but I waited almost 28 days.

This is great news! I am going to make a couple of VHS recordings starting tonight as insurance. A couple of questions for you:

1) Did you have to rescan for the DHG to find the channel 4 output from the VCR?
2) Did you just start the G* and leave the DHG turned ON while tuned to the output channel from the VCR?
3) I'm assuming it didn't ask you to select from available line-ups in your area since you are OTA only.

1. No I didn't rescan since I have a pbs on ch 4. It's snowy but I left it in untill I got grid.
2. I did the g-test and then powered off as usual.
3. I have never been asked to select line-ups. Didn't know the dhg did that.

This vcr tape should be made by anybody who still can. It's a kind of insurance in case nothing changes.

3. I have never been asked to select line-ups. Didn't know the dhg did that.


It only asks you to select if you have more than one potential cable lineup available in your nearby area.

Thanks, but I posted questions there in August 2006 and, after a week of nobody responding, I "bumped" the thread only to be told that wasn't allowed. Anyway, I posted the question here at AVSForum and has an answer within 10-minutes. Three months later there was still no reply over at the other site. SlingCommunity is a great site is great place for people to share useless "Strangest Places to Sling From" information and ask people to share their SlingFinderIDs, but not much else.

I re-read your original post. There is a way to downgrade your slingbox firmware, but it is not supported by Slingmedia. I hate suggesting going back to Slingcommunity given your prior experience, but they had figured out a way to downgrade firmware by editing an older firmware with a hex editor and essentially tricking the slingbox into thinking it is a newer one. I didn't have as much of an issue at the time so I never did it myself. So if you need more details, you will have to visit that site again. :o

Edit: I am in no way affiliated with them. I was an active poster on the site for several years.

Good point. Sadly, I just noticed my DVD players do not send recorded programs to their RF outputs. I could play a DVD to a VCR and then play the tape, but that test will have to wait for a very cold winter day when I have nothing better to do. Honestly, I was surprised when the VCR worked.

Seems to me that you can use the VCR solely to convert DVD video to channel 3/4 - no need to tape record the signal.
A few days ago I was planning to run such an experiment but neither of the two analog guide channels were sending vbi data. One of my two dvrs is still getting data from analog channel 11 so that channel must still be providing guide data. I receive channel 11 on a UHF antenna, which outputs a very weak signal so it's amazing to me that the dvr can get guide data from it. Channel 28 is the other guide source, but I think it is no longer providing data since it produces a much stronger signal, yet has not been guide channel for perhaps six months.

Ray

Seems to me that you can use the VCR solely to convert DVD video to channel 3/4 - no need to tape record the signal.

But I believe that the recorded DVD will contain ONLY the video and audio information, not the VBI information.

But I believe that the recorded DVD will contain ONLY the video and audio information, not the VBI information.

You may be correct but it's worth a try since VBI is part of the video signal, which may also contain closed captions.
Actually I was planning to record the signal to my analog DVR, which includes a DVD burner but not make a DVD unless the recording works.

Ray

Tony - I have listings through next Wed (day 8), plus an empty grid for Thurs (day 9). It is now 7pm, so don't know about earlier. I just noticed that I have to 9-1 lines. Both say KQEDDT, but one has listings, the other doesn't! I never even noticed previously. You might want to check if there isn't another 9-1 hiding somewhere in the listing.

Rick
Hey! Well, I got a data download overnight...

On the other point, you were right! There WAS another KQEDDT 9-1 line...turned OFF, and among all the 500+ lines (including dozens of PBS) I hadn't noticed it...funny thing is I turned it on, and it already had data...I can't figure that out! (I turned the OTHER KQEDDT line off...hope that doesn't cause the one I now have in the first part of my lineup to STOP getting program info!)

Thanks for the tip...Tony:)

(I notice that the listings for 9-1 STILL do not have HD programs labeled as such...)

You may be correct but it's worth a try since VBI is part of the video signal, which may also contain closed captions.
Actually I was planning to record the signal to my analog DVR, which includes a DVD burner but not make a DVD unless the recording works.

Ray

Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying don't try it, I'm just saying that I'll be very (pleasantly) surprised if it works. :)

frank70,

I've read some of your other posts on this subject and I'm still confused. I have a few questions that I'd appreciate if you'd answer, or at least point me in the right direction.

1. The DTV Pal seems to be sold out. Do you know if the DTV Pal+ is able to convert the digital TVGOS data to an analog signal for my DHG?Any of the DTVPal, DTVPal+, or TR40-CRA CECBs do exactly the same thing. As I understand it, the only one remaining available for retail purchase is the DTVPal+.
2. Does the DTV Pal/Pal+ manual explain the TVGOS mode and how to "activate" it? If not, is there a tutorial somewhere on the web?

Thanks.The answer is, for all practical purposes, the DTVPal manual is useless for this purpose. I don't think anybody's posted the step-by-step procedure, but these posts should be informative:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16362977#post16362977
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16375785#post16375785
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16413133#post16413133
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16421200#post16421200

Just note that this thread is discussing an LG 3410a, a TVGOS-enabled DVR similar to the Sony but totally unable to directly receive digital TVGOS, so in desperate need of the DTVPal after June 12. Generally if you substitute Sony DHG-HDDxxx for LG 3410a in these discussions, the same thing applies.

Also note that, although various zipcodes have been tried at both the DTVPal end and the TVGOS-device end, the following applies: It doesn't matter what zipcode you enter into your DTVPal, so you might as well enter your regular home zipcode there. Contrary to what the DTVPal manual says, your TVGOS-device (in this case the Sony or LG DVR) should have your regular home zipcode entered.

Any of the DTVPal, DTVPal+, or TR40-CRA CECBs do exactly the same thing. As I understand it, the only one remaining available for retail purchase is the DTVPal+.
The answer is, for all practical purposes, the DTVPal manual is useless for this purpose. I don't think anybody's posted the step-by-step procedure, but these posts should be informative:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16362977#post16362977
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16375785#post16375785
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16413133#post16413133
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16421200#post16421200

Just note that this thread is discussing an LG 3410a, a TVGOS-enabled DVR similar to the Sony but totally unable to directly receive digital TVGOS, so in desperate need of the DTVPal after June 12. Generally if you substitute Sony DHG-HDDxxx for LG 3410a in these discussions, the same thing applies.

Also note that, although various zipcodes have been tried at both the DTVPal end and the TVGOS-device end, the following applies: It doesn't matter what zipcode you enter into your DTVPal, so you might as well enter your regular home zipcode there. Contrary to what the DTVPal manual says, your TVGOS-device (in this case the Sony or LG DVR) should have your regular home zipcode entered.

Using a DTVPAL+ as a source and the Sony update to my HDD250 A grid has begun to build. I am in an all digital area and am using my zipcode.

particularly with american idol and dancing w/stars. althouth the guide says 8-9 or 9-10 if you scroll down to the event you may see 8-9:08 which causes a conflict with the 9-10 (on another channel) indicated by a ! on the record indicator in the guide. start on time and end on time for all scheduled recordings. i see that some programs my anticipate running long a few minutes (american idol) but it seems to cause one or the other not to happen. anyone else see this? any solution other then to check and adjust times so there is no conflict? oh and if you review the item indicated in the guide as 8-9:08 in the edit recording, it shows 8-9:00.

particularly with american idol and dancing w/stars. althouth the guide says 8-9 or 9-10 if you scroll down to the event you may see 8-9:08 which causes a conflict with the 9-10 (on another channel) indicated by a ! on the record indicator in the guide. start on time and end on time for all scheduled recordings. i see that some programs my anticipate running long a few minutes (american idol) but it seems to cause one or the other not to happen. anyone else see this? any solution other then to check and adjust times so there is no conflict? oh and if you review the item indicated in the guide as 8-9:08 in the edit recording, it shows 8-9:00.

This happened to me recently with certain Monday evening programs. Delete the scheduled recordings and do a front panel reset. Then reschedule the programs. That cured the problem for me.

I don't think anybody's posted the step-by-step procedure [for using a DTVPal in TVGOS mode], but these posts should be informative:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16362977#post16362977
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16375785#post16375785
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16413133#post16413133
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16421200#post16421200

Just note that this thread is discussing an LG 3410a, a TVGOS-enabled DVR similar to the Sony but totally unable to directly receive digital TVGOS, so in desperate need of the DTVPal after June 12. Generally if you substitute Sony DHG-HDDxxx for LG 3410a in these discussions, the same thing applies.

I might pick up a DTVPal and try this for myself.

I see a key step is being able to use Scientific Atlanta cable box codes to set the DTVPal to the proper channel while in TVGOS mode. My Harmony remote should be able to do this, right? Are there any particular models that I should look for in the Harmony database?

particularly with american idol and dancing w/stars. althouth the guide says 8-9 or 9-10 if you scroll down to the event you may see 8-9:08 which causes a conflict with the 9-10 (on another channel) indicated by a ! on the record indicator in the guide. start on time and end on time for all scheduled recordings. i see that some programs my anticipate running long a few minutes (american idol) but it seems to cause one or the other not to happen. anyone else see this? any solution other then to check and adjust times so there is no conflict? oh and if you review the item indicated in the guide as 8-9:08 in the edit recording, it shows 8-9:00.

If you see "!" then there can be a conflict. The fastest way to correct this, is too just set up your programs as you normally would and then

1. You can either adjust the time there on the listings page as you set it up

OR

2. Just go to your "schedule" page and any "Conflicts" will be noted there - just adjust them all as needed to eliminate the "conflicts"


Just for the heck of it, you can see I added two min to "You Have No Idea How To Dance" (I know not the correct name-but thats what we call it)

that page will quickly show the "adds" and "subtracts" to each show - that way you do not miss too much of a show.

I understand that I can adj times etc., problem is this is not what I asked for, I shouldn't have to constantly monitor my recordings for conflicts, TVGOS does this for me when I set each and every one up in the first place. I understand that things changed and bumped, altered or otherwise, but this overlapping should be taken care of, ie., gee American Idol runs until 8 mins after and then we will switch to the other (overlapping) recording scheduled a the top of the hour? Sounds simple? eh? Should be.

Could someone please give me the step by step instructions (dumbed down) to make a VHS tape while I still have analog available. I'm in Euless Texas (DFW).

Thanks

lurker but new poster

I understand that I can adj times etc., problem is this is not what I asked for, I shouldn't have to constantly monitor my recordings for conflicts, TVGOS does this for me when I set each and every one up in the first place. I understand that things changed and bumped, altered or otherwise, but this overlapping should be taken care of, ie., gee American Idol runs until 8 mins after and then we will switch to the other (overlapping) recording scheduled a the top of the hour? Sounds simple? eh? Should be.

I guess I don't understand what it is that you're asking for. The Sony is telling you that there is a conflict. It's telling you that recording times overlap, and it can't record two programs at once. Do you want it (the Sony) to decide which one to truncate (or not record at all), instead of you making that choice yourself? :confused: If so, I would have to believe you're in the minority.

I understand that I can adj times etc., problem is this is not what I asked for, I shouldn't have to constantly monitor my recordings for conflicts, TVGOS does this for me when I set each and every one up in the first place. I understand that things changed and bumped, altered or otherwise, but this overlapping should be taken care of, ie., gee American Idol runs until 8 mins after and then we will switch to the other (overlapping) recording scheduled a the top of the hour? Sounds simple? eh? Should be.

Why do you think Broadcasters run over their time slots.

It is to STOP DVR uses from recording a different channel.
It is done intentionally to control their audiences.

Could someone please give me the step by step instructions (dumbed down) to make a VHS tape while I still have analog available. I'm in Euless Texas (DFW).

Thanks

lurker but new posterer... put a tape in your VCR, tune it to your analog TVGOS host channel, set it to 6-hour recording mode, and push record. :)

But you've got to use a plain old vanilla analog VCR for this. Any VCR that converts analog data to digital and back (e.g. the VCR in a combo DVD/VCR recorder deck) will lose the TVGOS VBI somewhere along the line (these things are only required to preserve the CC VBI, and that's all they do.) In contrast, a plain old analog VCR just records and later plays back the demodulated NTSC waveform without regard to its content - the VBI lines are treated just like any other lines of the picture... that is to say, they are "un"-treated.

Could someone please give me the step by step instructions (dumbed down) to make a VHS tape while I still have analog available. I'm in Euless Texas (DFW).

Thanks

lurker but new poster

You need old vcr,not the vcr/dvd combo. Set up to record for 6 hours from 1 am untill 7 am on your host analog channel . Use a new 6 hour tape. To restore the dhg you will need to play the tape 2 to 3 times hooked up to the antenna imput .

I live in Miami, FL and I got a grid (all digital)w/ no grid prior to the .21 update. It is possible but I waited almost 28 days.

You posted your success on the 24 day. I waited 25 days and couldn't repete your sucess. Thats why I tried the vcr tape method. You never gave us other details such as you slicing page. Mine was all zerros after 25 days. So far your the only one to get the grid digitaly. That is not a good sucess rate. Are you OTA? If on cable than you may have analog tvos. Another possibilly is if you live in a cabled neighborhood. Sometimes the cable signal leaks into the air. The fcc has trucks that drive cabled area and monitor the catv leakage. Somtimes the FCC will fine the cable company if the leak isn't fixed in a timely mannor. I have no cable in my neighborhood so ota is my only source..

Quote:
Originally Posted by larrykabo
I understand that I can adj times etc., problem is this is not what I asked for, I shouldn't have to constantly monitor my recordings for conflicts, TVGOS does this for me when I set each and every one up in the first place. I understand that things changed and bumped, altered or otherwise, but this overlapping should be taken care of, ie., gee American Idol runs until 8 mins after and then we will switch to the other (overlapping) recording scheduled a the top of the hour? Sounds simple? eh? Should be.

I guess I don't understand what it is that you're asking for. The Sony is telling you that there is a conflict. It's telling you that recording times overlap, and it can't record two programs at once. Do you want it (the Sony) to decide which one to truncate (or not record at all), instead of you making that choice yourself? If so, I would have to believe you're in the minority.



Well, actually if the schedule overlaps, continue recording until the end of the schedule, then switch and continue on the next. Remember, when I originally set it up (that is a repeating weekly) there was no conflict but as the new guide info came in the schedule seems to change + 2 to as much as 8 minutes, guess I was hoping that somehow someone else expericnced the same and had some idea how to easily manage it.

Quote:Well, actually if the schedule overlaps, continue recording until the end of the schedule, then switch and continue on the next. Remember, when I originally set it up (that is a repeating weekly) there was no conflict but as the new guide info came in the schedule seems to change + 2 to as much as 8 minutes, guess I was hoping that somehow someone else expericnced the same and had some idea how to easily manage it.

Are you sure that the program broadcast time was actually extended? My previous post referred to a situation where the scheduled recording added 4 minutes, i.e. a 60 minute program was scheduled for 64 minutes. Meanwhile, the guide listing still showed the program as just 60 minutes. On the third week, I remembered to manually stop the recording after 60 minutes. The program broadcast had indeed ended already. The DVR scheduled time increase apparently came from outer space. (The guide listing had correctly maintained the proper 60 minute time.)

It was as if I had manually added 4 minutes to the scheduled recording, but I had not. The front panel reset stopped this behavior.

If your problem is caused by actual broadcast schedule changes/extensions, I can't help you...:eek:

Using a DTVPAL+ as a source and the Sony update to my HDD250 A grid has begun to build. I am in an all digital area and am using my zipcode.
congrats...please keep us updated

Quote:
Originally Posted by larrykabo
Quote:Well, actually if the schedule overlaps, continue recording until the end of the schedule, then switch and continue on the next. Remember, when I originally set it up (that is a repeating weekly) there was no conflict but as the new guide info came in the schedule seems to change + 2 to as much as 8 minutes, guess I was hoping that somehow someone else expericnced the same and had some idea how to easily manage it.

Are you sure that the program broadcast time was actually extended? My previous post referred to a situation where the scheduled recording added 4 minutes, i.e. a 60 minute program was scheduled for 64 minutes. Meanwhile, the guide listing still showed the program as just 60 minutes. On the third week, I remembered to manually stop the recording after 60 minutes. The program broadcast had indeed ended already. The DVR scheduled time increase apparently came from outer space. (The guide listing had correctly maintained the proper 60 minute time.)

It was as if I had manually added 4 minutes to the scheduled recording, but I had not. The front panel reset stopped this behavior.

If your problem is caused by actual broadcast schedule changes/extensions, I can't help you...
__________________
Phil

It is what it was, the guide (except detail) showed the normal hour/half hour boundries, the detail on the already repeating sched showed same start/stop except the detail of that show in detail on the "tv guide" button showed the extented minutes and of course explained the "!" on the record (as well as the normal "w"). I understand that I should examine the shedule ahead to fix, but why, when I only asked the system to do what I asked? I guess if a show got bumped a half hour or so due to a pres address or whatever, I get it, but for a regularly sched show that some how the guide shows start and stop exactly on the hour/ half hour only to find that really Simon (ameri idol) has intentionally run it long to fuff up our DVRs? No kidding guys, my wife was totally Pizzzed when she missed the final showoff last week. I hate Simon messing up with my sex life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God save our marriage via our promise of our DVR working the way it should!!!!

Sorry for you all who have bigger problems with your Sony then myself, I really do feel for you, I've been there, manual recordings and all. Still have 41% of my disk space on manual recordings (amer idol) I know, but my wife rules!!!! In case you haven't already guessed, I bought my Sony DVR for her, so her guess who gets to customer support????????????????????????

Using a DTVPAL+ as a source and the Sony update to my HDD250 A grid has begun to build. I am in an all digital area and am using my zipcode.

A "Grid" has begun to build? To clarify, the "Grid" appears instantly..... it's either there or it's not. The "Listings" however, appear more gradually, and fill in the "Grid". Are you saying the DTVPal got you listings, or did it in fact get you a grid?

I know what your saying Larrykabo about the times and such. I do not think there are anyDVRs out there that has precise and updated info to do what you would like. It is a pain that networks do this. I should not have to check to see if there are shows that get dropped because of recording conflicts. Too bad there is not an option to allow to set which show takes preference over another if the start/stop times overlap. This was not a problem 3 or 4 years ago, so this was never design into DVRs.
About the only way to get the networks to change, is to go after the advertisers. If they thought that they are losing potential customers because of the way the networks screw with the show times, then they might put pressure on those networks. Hey if a threat of a boycott works on advertiser, why should this be any different?
Michael

You never gave us other details such as you slicing page. Mine was all zerros after 25 days.

Are you sure you were looking at the right slicer screen? All zeros after 25 days, would indicate that your digital side was completely dead. You should have had some packets counting even if you couldn't get a grid. In fact if your clock was correct then you were getting packets no matter what that screen indicated.


So far your the only one to get the grid digitaly. That is not a good sucess rate.


Here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16305784#post16305784) is the second person. I'll say I'm the third even though I did it with the old firmware, but not the new firmware. My last attempt (new firmware) failed, but I only had 24 hours to spare to get it working. There may have been others who installed the firmware, it worked, and they disappeared from this board. That is one of the reasons I mentioned Jayhawkram, his started working, and he hasn't been back since. The other reason I mention him is that he is also in Wichita. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that the TVGOS data is different here than in most places.


Are you OTA? If on cable than you may have analog tvos. Another possibilly is if you live in a cabled neighborhood. Sometimes the cable signal leaks into the air. The fcc has trucks that drive cabled area and monitor the catv leakage. Somtimes the FCC will fine the cable company if the leak isn't fixed in a timely mannor. I have no cable in my neighborhood so ota is my only source..

If that was happening here, my host channel wouldn't be my digital CBS OTA channel. Also, I have proven that I can recover from a reset in 24 hours off of cable, so if that analog source was leaking into my DVR, it would have been able to set my clock, which didn't happen in over 24 hours the last time I reset it.

Mark

Well I'm beginning torun out of options thanks to TWC.
I can get grid and listings for clearQAM, but not off Cablecard.
I get analog VBI, no evidence of digital.
I just reverted my software and will work check every 24 hours.
I'm running out of options.
If this doesn't ultimately work I will sell or give my HDD250 to some who can see locals with TVGOS. Plenty of candidates for the give.
Last resort will be to convert 28 (Host channel) to 3 using a VCR. Added benefit will be that I can record 2-6 hours worth of VBI off the VCR.

I just bought a Tivo HD XL from Amazon. Should get here on Monday. It will be the primary cable DVR.

I'm using OTA only. I have two units (both 500). In Miami, FL there isn't a analog source(was PBS analog). I'm now using digital 4.1/22-0. Both of my units (Theater & Family) were working normally w/out the update. (Digital only) But it took the clock several hours to get a correct time if the power went out. A simple "G*Factory Test" while on channel 4.1 (digital) would help obtain the correct time within a minute. But one night trying to correct the clock on the Family room unit I "TV Guide/Reset to Factory Default" instead of "G*Factory Test" by mistake. This deleted my grid. I "restore to Factory Default" to start from scratch. I had no luck getting the grid back after a couple of weeks. On the Friday of the Software Version:1.2.21 release, I updated that unit only. At this point I began my contact w/Sony. This was elevated to customer support where I receive a call almost daily regarding the grid. Last Wed. a tech. called to get info from the 753 menu and then said he would pass this info to macro/tvgos? Monday, I finally had a grid after a couple of days out of town. Since then I have updated the Theater unit that was still working fine.(no need to G*test to correct the time. Simply channel to 4.1 and the time gets corrected). At this point I can't recall all the details. But it is possible to get these units up and running using digital only/OTA. But it's scary how long it took.

I'm using OTA only. I have two units (both 500). In Miami, FL there isn't a analog source(was PBS analog). I'm now using digital 4.1/22-0. Both of my units (Theater & Family) were working normally w/out the update. (Digital only) But it took the clock several hours to get a correct time if the power went out. A simple "G*Factory Test" while on channel 4.1 (digital) would help obtain the correct time within a minute. But one night trying to correct the clock on the Family room unit I "TV Guide/Reset to Factory Default" instead of "G*Factory Test" by mistake. This deleted my grid. I "restore to Factory Default" to start from scratch. I had no luck getting the grid back after a couple of weeks. On the Friday of the Software Version:1.2.21 release, I updated that unit only. At this point I began my contact w/Sony. This was elevated to customer support where I receive a call almost daily regarding the grid. Last Wed. a tech. called to get info from the 753 menu and then said he would pass this info to macro/tvgos? Monday, I finally had a grid after a couple of days out of town. Since then I have updated the Theater unit that was still working fine.(no need to G*test to correct the time. Simply channel to 4.1 and the time gets corrected). At this point I can't recall all the details. But it is possible to get these units up and running using digital only/OTA. But it's scary how long it took.

Man your lucky.Maybe the 500 is different than the 250. How did you get Sony to call you back several times? They promised to call me several times but I never got that call. I still have an open case with Sony. I was without the grid for almost three months. During one call Sony did ask for data from several pages in the 7531 menu. I just got tired of every morning checking the dhg and seeing that no data for this screne message. I hope things improve after June 12 or if enough people complain that Sony releases another firmware. The bad thing now is with all the summer repeats there won't be the need to record that much.:mad:

So just how does the data stream MV sends out work? I have given some thought to it and have a few guesses. I think that MV sends out the same data to all points such as cable and broadcast stations. At that poing there is a black box that draws out the data for rebroadcast. It only takes out data for that geographic area, and inserts clock? Maybe that data stream is analog since some distrubution points need analog. The black box is capable of changing the data to digital if that is what is needed . Maybe that data stream if it still is analog may change after June 12. If the main stream does change to digital hopefully our dhg's will work better at building a grid. All of this is just pure speculation on my part. It would be nice if somebody who really knows would post the facts of how it really works.

er... put a tape in your VCR, tune it to your analog TVGOS host channel, set it to 6-hour recording mode, and push record. http://www.*****************/trafficreport/img/3721/k08t1221bbuq/gdsmile.gif

But you've got to use a plain old vanilla analog VCR for this. Any VCR that converts analog data to digital and back (e.g. the VCR in a combo DVD/VCR recorder deck) will lose the TVGOS VBI somewhere along the line (these things are only required to preserve the CC VBI, and that's all they do.) In contrast, a plain old analog VCR just records and later plays back the demodulated NTSC waveform without regard to its content - the VBI lines are treated just like any other lines of the picture... that is to say, they are "un"-treated.

Thank you for this info,
I never thought of using a plain old vanilla analog VCR for this.

So just how does the data stream MV sends out work? I have given some thought to it and have a few guesses. I think that MV sends out the same data to all points such as cable and broadcast stations. At that poing there is a black box that draws out the data for rebroadcast. It only takes out data for that geographic area, and inserts clock? Maybe that data stream is analog since some distrubution points need analog. The black box is capable of changing the data to digital if that is what is needed . Maybe that data stream if it still is analog may change after June 12. If the main stream does change to digital hopefully our dhg's will work better at building a grid. All of this is just pure speculation on my part. It would be nice if somebody who really knows would post the facts of how it really works.

On 5/12, #17091, I speculated a similar concept. Posts do seem to indicate that with OTA a tape can travel between zipcodes easily which makes sense too. A broadcast signal has to cover an unknown area, perhaps even crossing time zones & countries. Someday we will all know how this works. Someday.

congrats...please keep us updated

For months I was without a grid or programming. I tried almost everything. I decided to buy a DTVPAL+. I connected it between my antenna and my HDD250. I let it set up. Based on information from "Rabbit Ears" I knew that the Jacksonville PBS station on 7.1 had the TVGOS. I set my HDD250 th Ch3. On my DTVPAL+ I disabled the Inactivity Standby. I used a remote control that was programmed to emulate SA. I tried 172, 172, etc to see if it was woking ok. If your channel does not change go back and click on TV Giude and Guide +. and answer Yes. Now I changed to channel back to 171. (7.1) I allowed my HDD250 to gather my Grid info that night. The next day I had a full guide. I disconnected the DTVPAL+ and set my HDD250 to 7.1. I allowed my Auto OFf function to work. The next morning I started getting my program guide back. The HDD250 was updated to the Firmware off the Sony site.
My assessment is that the HDD250 was unable to build a gude but with the DTVPAL+ in line, that analog signal provided the help necessary.
Now once you have the DTVPAL+ hooked up you can do a G Test and if you are on the proper TV Guide channel you will see VBI counting.
One thing I forgot, after the first night my HDD250 asked me about my cable supplier and I answered that. So expect a 1 day delay after your grid for your guide to start.
Set your Auto off Function to 12:30 AM EST.

Frank70 and ss-stingray,

Thanks for your reply to my vhs question. I will make a tape of cable and ota 13 (pbs) which I think is still broadcasting for Dallas. When I play the tape do I hook the vcr output to the ant input on my 500 and have the vcr on channel 4 and just play? Do I want the power on the 500 and tuned to what channel?

Thanks for your help. ps I have upgraded both my 500's to -21 and one of them just started the lock-ups.

eric

Frank70 and ss-stingray,

Thanks for your reply to my vhs question. I will make a tape of cable and ota 13 (pbs) which I think is still broadcasting for Dallas. When I play the tape do I hook the vcr output to the ant input on my 500 and have the vcr on channel 4 and just play? Do I want the power on the 500 and tuned to what channel?

Thanks for your help. ps I have upgraded both my 500's to -21 and one of them just started the lock-ups.

eric

Once you have the tape made you will need to have a cable from output of vcr to antenna in on dhg. Set switch on back of vcr to ch 3 or 4. If you have either 3 or 4 broadcasting in your area use the same ch. That way it should be already scanned in on the dhg.If neither of those channel broadcast in you area you must do an auto scan so ch. 3 or 4 is in your list. Start tape. Turn on dhg with tape running. Tune dhg to ch. 3 or 4 so you can see the taped program running. Do the g-test to verify that you are seeing vbi. If it passes then turn off dhg to standby. Let tape play out full 6 hours. The video tape should rewind itself at end. Power up dhg and check to see if you have ads and grid. If no grid but you have ads then push play on vcr again. Power off dhg again you shouldn't need to do a g-test again since the dhg was already looking at ch 3 or 4 on the last pass. Repete untill you get the grid. I had to do three passes to get the grid but my tape was a copy and some vbi may have been lost. I have heard that some have restored grid after 2 passes. Don't turn on power to dhg untill the tape had ended. If you do then you may need to start tape over. I suppose you could hit pause on tape then check dhg but why not wait to check for grid just let it run. You should also notice that the clock will be changed to the time the tape was recorded, and it will do that with each time tape runs.

Good luck

On 5/12, #17091, I speculated a similar concept. Posts do seem to indicate that with OTA a tape can travel between zipcodes easily which makes sense too. A broadcast signal has to cover an unknown area, perhaps even crossing time zones & countries. Someday we will all know how this works. Someday.

In rethinking this if the pipeline feed is delivered to broadcast points via satilite then all feeds will be digital. I don't know how the pipeline could be delivered analog unless it is via phone? Maybe the analog vbi is digital just inserted in. But why does it take over 25 days to build the grid digital and hours analog if the vbi is really digital inserted ? Anybody got any ideas?

In rethinking this if the pipeline feed is delivered to broadcast points via satilite then all feeds will be digital. I don't know how the pipeline could be delivered analog unless it is via phone? Maybe the analog vbi is digital just inserted in. But why does it take over 25 days to build the grid digital and hours analog if the vbi is really digital inserted ? Anybody got any ideas?
As I understand it, Comcast here in Atlanta gets its feed from the locat OTA host station, CBS 46. They in turn convert the digital feed to analog for the legacy devices. They also carry the digital feed as well.
The local OTA host station, if I remember correctly gets their feed by wire. IE; phone,internet,fiber from Macrovision.
Michael

As I understand it, Comcast here in Atlanta gets its feed from the locat OTA host station, CBS 46. They in turn convert the digital feed to analog for the legacy devices. They also carry the digital feed as well.
The local OTA host station, if I remember correctly gets their feed by wire. IE; phone,internet,fiber from Macrovision.
Michael

Micahel,

You probably don't know the answer to this (Frank70 probably knows though), but since Comcast is converting the CBS 46 signal, is this the SCTE-127 data that they are sending out over analog? If so then that could be why there is a difference in the length of time it takes to get up and running from an analog source vs. a digital source. They are two separate data streams.

I believe the digital TVGOS stream is incomplete in a lot of areas. For instance, I failed to get my clock to set in a 24 hour period after a reset. Ever since that failure I have been watching the timezone packets (needed to set the clock) closely. I have found that I only get 6 timezone packets approximately once every 3 days. This doesn't mean I get 2 timezone packets a day. I may get 6 today (Saturday), and then I get nothing for 2 days, and then I'll get 6 more on the third day (Tuesday). This pattern varies, sometimes I'll only miss one day, and get them on the second day instead of the third day. Apparently I reset my DVR during one of these packetless days, which is why my clock didn't set.

People who can't ever get a clock after a reset probably have no timezone packets in their TVGOS data stream, and the people who can't get a grid are missing Lineup Packets from their TVGOS stream. Perhaps every once in a great while one of these needed packets slips through, and someone who hasn't had a grid in a month, suddenly gets one overnight.

Mark

As I understand it, Comcast here in Atlanta gets its feed from the locat OTA host station, CBS 46. They in turn convert the digital feed to analog for the legacy devices. They also carry the digital feed as well.
The local OTA host station, if I remember correctly gets their feed by wire. IE; phone,internet,fiber from Macrovision.
Michael

Links to this Gemstar document (http://laurenstephens.net/uploads/3d927cc0e5.pdf)have been posted several times. On pages 12 & 13 there are diagrams showing how the data travels from MV to the broadcaster and then on out to both OTA & cable headends. The 2nd diagram depicts options for the cable operators to send out digital and SCTE127 analog.

Links to this Gemstar document (http://laurenstephens.net/uploads/3d927cc0e5.pdf)have been posted several times. On pages 12 & 13 there are diagrams showing how the data travels from MV to the broadcaster and then on out to both OTA & cable headends. The 2nd diagram depicts options for the cable operators to send out digital and SCTE127 analog.

Thanks Possumgirl,

That answers my question. I think I can conclude that, since I have been receiving analog TVGOS data over analog CBS on cable since Feb. 28, and analog CBS OTA turned off their signal on Feb. 17 (at which point they were not carrying TVGOS data). That SCTE-127 data has been available here in Wichita since Feb. 28. Figure 2 (in the pdf) has confused me because I neglected to tie it to Figure 1, and thought the receiver in Figure 2 may be getting data directly from Gemstar. Now I see that it definitely comes from the local CBS digital station.

More proof of this:
Yesterday I discovered I haven't received listings on my analog DVR (connected to cable) in 2 (now 3) days. I then checked my DHG which gets its data from Digital CBS OTA, and it also has no listings for the last 3 days. Looks like our digital TVGOS data feed is down again. I'll wait until Monday to contact someone, since nothing seems to get fixed over the weekend.

Edit:
Thinking about this some more. I thought the digital TVGOS (TVG1?) data, and the SCTE-127 data were 2 separate streams. However if that is the case then it means that both streams have lost the guide information, which seems unlikely. Could this mean that the DHG is somehow also using the SCTE-127 data? Or can they convert TVG1 data to SCTE-127 data?

Mark

I did a reset (hard?) via two buttons on the front panel. Then, I re-entered my zip code, etc.

How long does it take for the grid to re-appear? Do I need to run a VBI test?

I checked for the updated firmware, and it's still there.

Thanks.

I think it is KNOWN that Microvision delivers the TVGOS to whomever by an internet feed, and the document referred to indicates there are THREE digital streams, but it doesn't say ANYTHING about the source of the current ANALOG broadcast stream, which could STILL be delivered to analog stations as before (but, of course, might not). And, in principle, the same could be true at present for cable, although the document indicates that ultimately (i.e., after June 12) cable would generate any analog TVGOS stream from the SCTE 127 stream, if it is not already doing so...

And (ultimately) home units that require OTA analog TVGOS will have to generate that from a DTVPal (or equivalent) converting the SCTE 127 stream (which I think - or HOPE - my Pal, set up as below, is already doing - based on observed vbi count rates in my 3410a - but which I'm not willing to put to the ultimate test for a week or two, i.e., until most network programs have ended their seasons...)

I'm sure this still isn't completely clear or reliable, but thought I'd give it a try - Tony :)

Edit:
Thinking about this some more. I thought the digital TVGOS (TVG1?) data, and the SCTE-127 data were 2 separate streams. However if that is the case then it means that both streams have lost the guide information, which seems unlikely. Could this mean that the DHG is somehow also using the SCTE-127 data? Or can they convert TVG1 data to SCTE-127 data?

Mark
Since both streams are delivered FROM Microvision by the same means, and from the same source data at their end, it seems entirely likely that both streams could lose the guide info at the same time!

Links to this Gemstar document (http://laurenstephens.net/uploads/3d927cc0e5.pdf)have been posted several times. On pages 12 & 13 there are diagrams showing how the data travels from MV to the broadcaster and then on out to both OTA & cable headends. The 2nd diagram depicts options for the cable operators to send out digital and SCTE127 analog.
I knew this, as I have those pages somewhere around. Just was trying to enlighten those who seem to have missed or forgotten the Gemstar document by relating a first hand account with the disscussion I had with a Comcast engineer.
If one follows the path of transmission, then it is easy to see how different markets have had different results with TVGOS and their DHGs. And why some markets may not be getting the grid update under .21 while others have not had any problem in the digital only environment.
Michael

I have been unable to record the VBI channel to my analog recorder since both channel 11 and 28 produce VBI test failures. My 250 unit shows VBI and clock data from CBS HD, and my 500 unit doesn't indicate where it is getting that data, except clock source shows 0.00. Are any DVRs in the LA area still getting data from one of these analog channels?

Ray

The list of available channels in my Channel Editor include many stations that are on the other side of the country since they have a "W" prefix, and western stations have a "K" prefix. They include these channels, but fail to include some I get on cable like Family HD and TBS HD. Unfortunately, I can't just substitute the HD channel number in place of the analog number since the programs occur at different times.

Ray

Since both streams are delivered FROM Microvision by the same means, and from the same source data at their end, it seems entirely likely that both streams could lose the guide info at the same time!

That's true, if the break is at the TVGOS source (which I think would effect a lot more people). I was assuming that the data stream(s) is broken at my host station (their equipment).

Here's the other information I left out. It is only the guide data that is missing. For instance, I did the zip code reset yesterday on my analog DVR, and was presented with a choose your channel lineup box this morning when I turned it on, however I am still getting 'No Listing'. The data for the channel lineup is intact, but the guide data is missing.

Mark

I know what your saying Larrykabo about the times and such. I do not think there are anyDVRs out there that has precise and updated info to do what you would like. It is a pain that networks do this. I should not have to check to see if there are shows that get dropped because of recording conflicts. Too bad there is not an option to allow to set which show takes preference over another if the start/stop times overlap. This was not a problem 3 or 4 years ago, so this was never design into DVRs.
Just a slight correction -- this was never designed into the TVGOS software. This feature is standard on more modern DVRs.

TiVo added this capability back in 2005 when it first became a problem. When two programs overlap by up to five minutes on different channels, the TiVo automatically "clips" the extra minutes off the lowest priority program. As an example, suppose you had series recordings prioritized as follows:

24 (normally Monday @ 9-10pm on FOX)
Heroes (normally Monday @ 9-10pm on NBC)
CSI Miami (normally Monday @ 10-11pm on CBS)
True Beauty (normally Monday @ 10-11pm on ABC)
If an episode of 24 runs from 9:00 to 10:04, and a special episode of Heroes runs from 8:00-10:02, then True Beauty (the lowest priority program) is clipped by four minutes and CSI Miami is clipped by two minutes.

Comcast finally added this feature to their own Motorola DVRs last year.

That's true, if the break is at the TVGOS source (which I think would effect a lot more people). I was assuming that the data stream(s) is broken at my host station (their equipment).
Mark
Well, it could also be the TVGOS equipment (which is owned by Microvision) at the host station...and furthermore, even if it was at MV itself, it could affect stations in a given metro area at the same time (which I think we have seen here in the Bay area) or in a region, but not the whole country...

This also gets back to the issue of WHAT data is distributed where, and I still suspect that what gets sent to each metro area is only he data for that area (or adjacent ones, since we get data for Sacramento stations in the SF Bay area, and others have indicated similar data in their areas).

I think Ray1938's experience of having stations from the other side of the country in his channel lineup reflects another kind of screwup at Microvision...

just my opinion...

I have been unable to record the VBI channel to my analog recorder since both channel 11 and 28 produce VBI test failures. My 250 unit shows VBI and clock data from CBS HD, and my 500 unit doesn't indicate where it is getting that data, except clock source shows 0.00. Are any DVRs in the LA area still getting data from one of these analog channels?

Ray

Both of my DHGs continue to use analog FOX 11 as the guide source with no missing listing days, so the transmission is still coming through. I don't know about PBS 28 but I think they may still be sending TVGOS.

I think Ray1938's experience of having stations from the other side of the country in his channel lineup reflects another kind of screwup at Microvision...

just my opinion...

I'm in the same broadcast area as Ray1938. I too have this long list of OTA channels from all over the country...104 of them to be exact. :D Before that channel shake-up back in January, I used to find many of these turned "on". Now that no longer happens. Only the ones that are actually receivable in L.A. are "on" and they're all at the top of the list now.

I did a reset (hard?) via two buttons on the front panel.
Soft reset.
How long does it take for the grid to re-appear?
Overnight for me, once channel 90 (analog KIRO CBS on RF7) was configured correctly in my area. Apparently, I am on the Roosevelt head end, you are on the Bellevue head end and a.b.christie is on the Everett head end. Near by, there are additional head ends in Burien and Tacoma.
Do I need to run a VBI test?
It's mostly a confidence thing. If you've checked channel 90 recently and have seen VBI counts, just tune to channel 90 and turn your DHG off. If channel 90 does not show VBI counts, I'd bet against you getting a grid from your cable connection. Before, when channel 90 was configured to point to analog RF7 but was not showing VBI counts from the Roosevelt head end, I was able to get TVGOS for one of my RDR-HX900s from analog OTA KCPQ FOX RF13. I haven't checked that since channel 90 appeared to have been fixed. Some people say it's bad to do the G* test, I tend to believe it helps the DHG to "pay attention" to the channels where you have tested and had success, but that's just me.

Well, I pulled the power cable out of the box, rebooted, and the grid was back.

Go figure. Thanks anyways.

Does anyone out there show icons for Sports South and the Biography channel on their grids? If so what Zip Code did you use? Thanks

Just a slight correction -- this was never designed into the TVGOS software. This feature is standard on more modern DVRs.

TiVo added this capability back in 2005 when it first became a problem. When two programs overlap by up to five minutes on different channels, the TiVo automatically "clips" the extra minutes off the lowest priority program. As an example, suppose you had series recordings prioritized as follows:

24 (normally Monday @ 9-10pm on FOX)
Heroes (normally Monday @ 9-10pm on NBC)
CSI Miami (normally Monday @ 10-11pm on CBS)
True Beauty (normally Monday @ 10-11pm on ABC)
If an episode of 24 runs from 9:00 to 10:04, and a special episode of Heroes runs from 8:00-10:02, then True Beauty (the lowest priority program) is clipped by four minutes and CSI Miami is clipped by two minutes.

Comcast finally added this feature to their own Motorola DVRs last year.
I stand corrected. I really have not looked too hard at the Tvio since I have the Sonys. Did not know they had those features. Still, the only way to get a change is to make some noise with the networks and/or sponsors of the shows. Network tv is just shooting itself in the foot with all the games they play on scheduling.
Another very annoying thing that happens locally is programming being overly interrrupted by weather--meaning that the local stations seem to think they have to break-in every 2 minutes or even cut out half a show just to tell you that it is raining hard or there are severe thunderstorms coming.
Michael

I woke up this morning and found my HDD-500 displaying "welcome" on the face display. Where the clock should be, it was displaying "05" which I am guessing is an error message but I cannot find any reference to that.

The unit showed "power" in the display but it could not be turned off with the remote or power button on the unit.

I unplugged the unit for a minute. When I plugged it back in, it seemed to be starting up normally. The TV screen displayed "SONY". The display showed "welcome" followed by three dots which came on sequentially. Where the clock should be went from "01" to "05" sequentially then stopped. The hard drive could be heard making different patterns of clicks as if running a set-up or self-check operation. This went on for about 5 minutes but unit did not go to the next phase of set-up.

I unplugged it again and got the same results. Any thoughts or suggestions? I would hate to loose all of the programs that I have saved.

After leaving the unit off for about one hour on the chance that the unit was overheated, I tried again and got the same results.

Then, I decided to do a soft reboot. Same results. I tried again and got a display that said "INF 1FFFF80" in the main window and "2006" where the clock would normally display. I did another soft reboot and got the same results as all of the previous attempts to restart. Several more soft boots gave the results as previously. I have not seen the "INF 1FFFF80" again.

During the short period when the unit totally powers down, the hard drive continues to make clicking sounds. Is this a hard drive failure?

Might be worth trying the Wipe Unit procedure from the front panel service menu (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html#Section128).

Might be worth trying the Wipe Unit procedure from the front panel service menu (http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html#Section128).

Thanks for the reply. I considered that but I don't want to try that except as a last resort to sending it back to Sony because I don't want to loose the recordings.

After leaving the unit off for about one hour on the chance that the unit was overheated, I tried again and got the same results.

Then, I decided to do a soft reboot. Same results. I tried again and got a display that said "INF 1FFFF80" in the main window and "2006" where the clock would normally display. I did another soft reboot and got the same results as all of the previous attempts to restart. Several more soft boots gave the results as previously. I have not seen the "INF 1FFFF80" again.

During the short period when the unit totally powers down, the hard drive continues to make clicking sounds. Is this a hard drive failure?
I have had this happen to me when I was doing experimentation with installing a second drive. The clicking happens when you turn the unit off and it switches from cable to Air & Vs Versa.
I am not making a recommendation but I will tell you what I did. I made sure the unit was internally intact. Should not be a problem if not opened.. I then reset everything and did a format. The problem went away. I don't recommend you do this.

I have had this happen to me when I was doing experimentation with installing a second drive. The clicking happens when you turn the unit off and it switches from cable to Air & Vs Versa.
I am not making a recommendation but I will tell you what I did. I made sure the unit was internally intact. Should not be a problem if not opened.. I then reset everything and did a format. The problem went away. I don't recommend you do this.

I can't access any of the hidden menus. The TV only displays "SONY". I've tried every combination and I don't get a screen on my TV that shows anything except "SONY". I guess I will try changing the antenna input and see if that makes a difference but I'm begining to think that it is going to have to go in for repair.

Since I can't get the guide to match my stations of the OTA stuff, I'm thinking of getting a third party program to control it, e.g. BeyondTV.

Sony is primarily useful in this state as a Cablecard tuner that can do manual recording.

Weak point is the IR control. Does anyone know anything about getting a PC to control one of these puppies. I really don't want to dive into Girder. I'd rather use an MediaCenter or Hauppage compatible control.

Alternative will be to list it for sale. I will be asking $300 if I sell it and doing it on AVS. Haven't decided yet. I still want to see if I can put the VBI on Channel 3 and get it to work.

I strung a coax across the floor today to hook up my antenna to my VCR. I get a perfect signal from my local PBS analog station which still has TVGOS. I'm going to record several VHS tapes overnight during the coming week. I set the VCR to record at 1:00am until 7:00am local time (CDT). Is this the correct time to record?

After about 30 attempts to restart the unit, it finally came to life with the message: "A hard drive error has been detected and autorepair cannot be performed. Recording and playback will not be possible. Contact Sony for repair options." Sure enough; the recordings are not accessible. :(

I guess it is time to dig the box out of the garage.

On one of my HDD500 units, the clock is 2 hours 21 minutes ahead. Even the listings are ahead, with shows starting at xx:21 and xx:51. I tried unplugging the power, but the clock is still ahead. My other HDD500 has a correct clock, so I don't think that they are receiving incorrect data.

Any suggestions on how to reset the clock?

UPDATE: There seems to be a problem with the time zone info in the TVGOS diagnostics (Section Other-Clocks 1).

DVR with correct clock:
time zone element 16
time zone version 36
offest (sec) from UTC -18000
Daylight/Standard Daylight
Next DST Trans 11/ 1/09 6:00:00

DVR with incorrect clock:
time zone element 0
time zone version 0
offest (sec) from UTC 0
Daylight/Standard Standard
Next DST Trans N/A

UPDATE: The clock is correct now. I just left it turned off, and it fixed itself somehow.

Since I can't get the guide to match my stations of the OTA stuff, I'm thinking of getting a third party program to control it, e.g. BeyondTV.

Sony is primarily useful in this state as a Cablecard tuner that can do manual recording.

Weak point is the IR control. Does anyone know anything about getting a PC to control one of these puppies. I really don't want to dive into Girder. I'd rather use an MediaCenter or Hauppage compatible control.

Alternative will be to list it for sale. I will be asking $300 if I sell it and doing it on AVS. Haven't decided yet. I still want to see if I can put the VBI on Channel 3 and get it to work.

Experiment failed.
For some reason, plugging in the cablecard keeps me from getting VBI over the antenna connection.
Anyone else see this?

Experiment failed.
For some reason, plugging in the cablecard keeps me from getting VBI over the antenna connection.
Anyone else see this?

Both my units receive VBI only from CBS HD 2.1, one of them has a cable card. I have yet to find a VBI channel on TW, and neither channel 11 nor 28 work for me. Some people are still getting guide data from channel 11, which I barely get. All channel assignments are correct. If yours aren't I suggest you try different zip codes. If you can't receive CBS HD, I suggest you redo antenna scan.

Ray

Both my units receive VBI only from CBS HD 2.1, one of them has a cable card. I have yet to find a VBI channel on TW, and neither channel 11 nor 28 work for me. Some people are still getting guide data from channel 11, which I barely get. All channel assignments are correct. If yours aren't I suggest you try different zip codes. If you can't receive CBS HD, I suggest you redo antenna scan.

Ray

Thanks to Santa Susanna Mountain, I can't get OTA. The antenna is the split cable emulates the antenna feed. If I just pull out the cablecard, I get VBI and settings. When it goes back in, I don't.

Thanks to Santa Susanna Mountain, I can't get OTA. The antenna is the split cable emulates the antenna feed. If I just pull out the cablecard, I get VBI and settings. When it goes back in, I don't.
Feeding the cable signal into the antenna port would only work if your cable TVGOS host were in the 2-13 range. For channels 2-13 the center frequency (which is what is reported by the DHG) for both OTA and cable are the same. For cable channel 28 the center frequency is about 249 MHz. For channel 28 OTA the center frequency is 557 MHz. There is no OTA channel anywhere near 249 MHz.

So for your experiment to make sense you must be using a VCR to convert you cable 28 to channel 3 or 4. Is it with this rig that you can get VBI on antenna port channel 3 or 4 with the cable card out, but not with the cable card in?

CHANNEL LINEUP HAS APPEARED...finally.

OTA only, Digital only...
Sunday, May 17, at approximately 10:00 pm, my hdd250 had a channel lineup and a "no listings" grid. This morning a full 8 days on the grid.

April 25 - Did a full system reset to factory default / format
- reinstalled the latest firmware update
- left the dvr off to acquire the latest tvgos software version(s)
Used the dvr as normal (except that it was all manual recordings and 'unknown') for about a week and a half. Left it ON all of the time for another 8 or 9 days. Nothing. Left it OFF all of the time (didn't use it at all) for 3 days. It seemed that those who had success were away from home for a couple of days and when they got back they had a lineup - so I simulated being away. :-) Sunday morning, I checked the listings and there was no data for this screen and no channel lineup. Powered it back off until that evening when I noticed the channel lineup and grid beginning to build around 10:00 pm. Left it OFF overnight. This morning I had a full grid with listings for the full 8 days. The DL Schedule was filled in and the ATSC host channel data was incrementing.

So, no rhyme or reason, but 22 days after a complete restore we are back to life again.

The list of available channels in my Channel Editor include many stations that are on the other side of the country since they have a "W" prefix, and western stations have a "K" prefix. They include these channels, but fail to include some I get on cable like Family HD and TBS HD. Unfortunately, I can't just substitute the HD channel number in place of the analog number since the programs occur at different times.

Ray

Ray

The other side of the country list is there because you most likely bought your DVR from the other side of the country, as I did. All channels scanned from anywhere say in the grid. The only way I know how to clear the grid is a full factory default. I think there's a way to do a reset on just the guide grid, without doing a risky full never work again defualt.

I did the following to my Samsung V8 to reset the TV guide, per the instruction of Macrovision.
Response (Nick Ferrelli) - 03/04/2009 01:09 PM
"Sorry for the confusion. We will need to reset the TV Guide, to do this you will need to go to set up with in the TV Guide, hit the down arrow once, and type in 653274147 (won't see these numbers on the screen). The TV Guide will disappear and the TV may restart. After this you will need to leave the TV off from 11:45pm - 6:00am. Any time after 6:00am, please collect a set of the diagnostic information for us if you can (see attached document). Thank you."

I'm afriad to do the above to my DVR and I well just live with the 800+ channel grid !!! My eBay 250 has been traveling all over the country, but for all the miles it works. If you have more couage than I, please try the above and let me know.

Maybe some else in AVS land knows the answer, Gregg.

Ray

The other side of the country list is there because you most likely bought your DVR from the other side of the country, as I did. All channels scanned from anywhere say in the grid. The only way I know how to clear the grid is a full factory default. I think there's a way to do a reset on just the guide grid, without doing a risky full never work again defualt.


Sorry, but I really do not believe that would be correct. The channels you scan in, and the channels in your TVGOS lineup, are two completely different animals. Besides, when you do a full channel scan it removes all previously scanned channels. My 500 was bought new-in-the-box. My 250 was pre-owned on the other side of the country from me. Both units have exactly the same channel line-up: 44182 which is Los Angeles broadcast.

Possumgirl -

I'm not so sure. I have one unit that I bought brand new, and two that I bought used (both from Michigan). I'm in Louisiana. One of my Michigan units has channels in the lineup that my other two units don't have. (My other Michigan unit has had "Restore Factory Defaults" performed several times during TVGOS testing). One of the channels on the Michigan unit is PLDHD (Palladia) which I watch from time to time. I can't seem to get actual Listings for this channel however, although I can get the channel via QAM. I also cannot get my other two units to add PLDHD to their lineup, no matter how hard I try. I'm not sure what's going on here, but I don't think that the old lineup is necessarily replaced completely when you get a "new" lineup. :confused:

WS65711

One thing I've learned for sure from this forum is that no two units seem to behave exactly the same! :D:D

On one of my HDD500 units, the clock is 2 hours 21 minutes ahead. Even the listings are ahead, with shows starting at xx:21 and xx:51. I tried unplugging the power, but the clock is still ahead. My other HDD500 has a correct clock, so I don't think that they are receiving incorrect data.

Any suggestions on how to reset the clock?

UPDATE: There seems to be a problem with the time zone info in the TVGOS diagnostics (Section Other-Clocks 1).

DVR with correct clock:
time zone element 16
time zone version 36
offest (sec) from UTC -18000
Daylight/Standard Daylight
Next DST Trans 11/ 1/09 6:00:00

DVR with incorrect clock:
time zone element 0
time zone version 0
offest (sec) from UTC 0
Daylight/Standard Standard
Next DST Trans N/A

Erik ... well my clock is about 2 hours behind. The 500 "locked up" a couple of days ago. I had to unplug it to get it to respond. Now the clock is incorrect and I am "up the creek without a paddle" again ...

Come to think of it ... it was probably "locked" for 2 hours before I pulled the plug ... so maybe the time is not getting updated???

Any help on how to get the clock to reset would be appreciated ... I know that the clock comes from the TV station. I am OTA.

Sorry, but I really do not believe that would be correct. The channels you scan in, and the channels in your TVGOS lineup, are two completely different animals. Besides, when you do a full channel scan it removes all previously scanned channels. My 500 was bought new-in-the-box. My 250 was pre-owned on the other side of the country from me. Both units have exactly the same channel line-up: 44182 which is Los Angeles broadcast.
just curious... but do you mean they have the same channel lineup that is turned ON? or the same channel lineup that shows when you go into the mode for editing the (full) lineup?

I just discovered that all my local DIGITAL channels were exactly at the bottom of my channel lineup (where I hadn't noticed them for more than a month...I don't really know how long, but since the last reset of my TVGOS)...so have you looked through the entire lineup (including those that are turned off) of your 2 units side by side?

I'm not pressing you to do this, but rather just asking...because I am intrigued by those having channels from a different part of the country (not that it affects me, because I bought mine new)...but just wondering

PS...and I agree with the first sentence of yours that I cite above...

just curious... but do you mean they have the same channel lineup that is turned ON? or the same channel lineup that shows when you go into the mode for editing the (full) lineup?

I just discovered that all my local DIGITAL channels were exactly at the bottom of my channel lineup (where I hadn't noticed them for more than a month...I don't really know how long, but since the last reset of my TVGOS)...so have you looked through the entire lineup (including those that are turned off) of your 2 units side by side?

I'm not pressing you to do this, but rather just asking...because I am intrigued by those having channels from a different part of the country (not that it affects me, because I bought mine new)...but just wondering

PS...and I agree with the first sentence of yours that I cite above...

I mean the lineup that gets built after losing it completely because of a reset. Going into TVGOS edit channels from the Setup menu, I find the first 56 in the list are L.A. area channels (analog & digital) with their channel numbers and all but a few are "on" when the lineup builds (I turn all but 20 off :)). They are in no particular order. BTW, I can tune ~85 channels so there are many missing from TVGOS but fortunately, none that I care about.

Following the L.A. part, there are 104 more OTA stations listed that have no channel numbers and are "off" when the lineup builds. I've randomly checked some of the call letters and find they're all over the country. That group is followed by 423 cable channels and since I'm OTA only they all show up as "off". Both my 500 (new) and 250 (used) get exactly the same channel lineup.

P.S. Nothing listed after that first 56 is an L.A. channel as far as I can see.

P.S. Nothing listed after that first 56 is an L.A. channel as far as I can see.
hmm...I think when I have a chance I will check some of those MANY network channels that are turned off in my lineup...it never occurred to me that they might be from completely different parts of the country!

thanks - Tony

Erik ... well my clock is about 2 hours behind. The 500 "locked up" a couple of days ago. I had to unplug it to get it to respond. Now the clock is incorrect and I am "up the creek without a paddle" again ...

Come to think of it ... it was probably "locked" for 2 hours before I pulled the plug ... so maybe the time is not getting updated???

Any help on how to get the clock to reset would be appreciated ... I know that the clock comes from the TV station. I am OTA.
Have you tried the G* test. Seems I read that it helps to correct the time quicker. I know I have done this to correct minor time differences in the past.
Michael

After about 30 attempts to restart the unit, it finally came to life with the message: "A had drive error has been detected and autorepair cannot be performed. Recording and playback will not be possible. Contact Sony for repair options." Sure enough; the recordings are not accessible. :(

I guess it is time to dig the box out of the garage.
I had the same problem and finally did the front panel wipe and format procedure per Spiffs pages. I got the hard drive error after that but it did repair itself. Think it took about 30 or so minuties to do all that.
Michael

I mean the lineup that gets built after losing it completely because of a reset. Going into TVGOS edit channels from the Setup menu, I find the first 56 in the list are L.A. area channels (analog & digital) with their channel numbers and all but a few are "on" when the lineup builds (I turn all but 20 off :)). They are in no particular order. BTW, I can tune ~85 channels so there are many missing from TVGOS but fortunately, none that I care about.

Following the L.A. part, there are 104 more OTA stations listed that have no channel numbers and are "off" when the lineup builds. I've randomly checked some of the call letters and find they're all over the country. That group is followed by 423 cable channels and since I'm OTA only they all show up as "off". Both my 500 (new) and 250 (used) get exactly the same channel lineup.

P.S. Nothing listed after that first 56 is an L.A. channel as far as I can see.
I have 497 channels in the grid. All are listed as air only. I guess this is due in part to me being OTA only and never having need to do a cable scan. Of these, I have about 8 which have call letters starting with K. K being west of the Mississippi river. So, could be just a slip up on the programmers part. As for the normal cable lineup, there are packages in which you can get some of the opposite channels on either coast and that is why those show up.
For an experiment, I turned on those other (K channels) to see what kind of programming is there. Should know by tomorrow.
Michael

Feeding the cable signal into the antenna port would only work if your cable TVGOS host were in the 2-13 range. For channels 2-13 the center frequency (which is what is reported by the DHG) for both OTA and cable are the same. For cable channel 28 the center frequency is about 249 MHz. For channel 28 OTA the center frequency is 557 MHz. There is no OTA channel anywhere near 249 MHz.

So for your experiment to make sense you must be using a VCR to convert you cable 28 to channel 3 or 4. Is it with this rig that you can get VBI on antenna port channel 3 or 4 with the cable card out, but not with the cable card in?

This didn't used to be a problem. A few weeks ago I stopped getting VBI on 28. Then I discovered that I could see VBI with the Cablecard out on 28. I can get VBI on the cable feed off of analog 28 when I'm in clear QAM mode either through the VCR or from the cable feed. When I plug the Cable card in it remaps the channels from the ClearQAM down to their normal OTA positions. The analog channel may not even get through and normally isn't even visible in the listings with the Cablecard in. With the remap to 3 I can see it, but no VBI with Cablecard in. I can do lots of perturbations but I can't the channels to macth up with the guide. My best luck seems to be with the VCR tuned to 28 (3) turn the machine off overnight and unplug the cablecard afterwards. I can plug it back in after the machine and get a channel lineup and a partial guide, but not a full guide. Apparently it remembers old guide information and this maps in.

Addition: I posted this and went and turned on my DHG after sitting with the Cablecard off.
It got all the data. I'm running older 1.2.09 firmware now. I sent it back to factory defaults to do this knowing I could check for VBI with the 9012 test. The host channel is 1:0-28. Theory is that it had a hard time getting the correct lineup ID. Lineup ID is stored and then if it sees VBI it downloads. It remembers whether it was on Cablecard or not. Something did change with TWC, maybe they changed a hidden flag.
I still may sell this puppy or install it in my Mom's house. Its too much work to keep the guide up to date. I'm getting fickle in my old age.

P.S. Nothing listed after that first 56 is an L.A. channel as far as I can see.
ok...I looked at the list of channels in the lineup editor..of the close to 600 channels, half or more are cable (all turned off, because I am set up for OTA only).

About 50 to 100 are from the big 4 broadcast network stations (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX)...I didn't count.

For each of these, there is only one W station...(e.g., WCBS)...always the New York "flagship" station...All the principal LA stations are covered, plus stations NEAR the SF bay area, i.e., Sacramento, Monterey, Fresno..

For CBS and NBC ( for which I wrote down more stations than for ABC and FOX, because I got tired), I also got Medford Oregon (for a CBS station) and, apparently Beaumont Texas (for an NBC station - maybe a writo [as opposed to typo]), as well as Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo, not as surprising...

The odd thing is the New York deal (as well as the Beaumont, if accurate)...who knows why?

All of a sudden one of my units has stopped receiving digital OTA....did a channel scan and no digital OTA showed up.

This unit shows 5% digital OTA signal strength in the system menu. A sister unit off the same antenna shows 95% and is pulling in all the digital OTA channels.

I've swapped cables and inputs between the two units with no luck. Eliminated the splitter and ran the antenna direct to the unit but still no signal. It picks up analog OTA fine.

Has my ATSC tuner gone south? Any ideas?

All of a sudden one of my units has stopped receiving digital OTA....did a channel scan and no digital OTA showed up.

This unit shows 5% digital OTA signal strength in the system menu. A sister unit off the same antenna shows 95% and is pulling in all the digital OTA channels.

I've swapped cables and inputs between the two units with no luck. Eliminated the splitter and ran the antenna direct to the unit but still no signal. It picks up analog OTA fine.

Has my ATSC tuner gone south? Any ideas?

Happened to my unit. A soft reset brought back the tuner. Another reason I reverted to 1.2.09 firmware.
It kept repeating as long as I couldn't get VBI. Cheap trick by Sony to make money?

Tonight I noticed that the guide in my 500 unit, which has a cable card, no longer had any cable channels. I looked in the channel editor and all the cable channels were off, and none of them had channel numbers. Last time I looked at the list, many had the TW assigned channel numbers.
In an attempt to fix the problem, I pulled the card and re-inserted it. Also, tried the zip code trick of all zeros.
I got some of the channels back by manually inserting the proper channel number - too time consuming to do it all at once.

Ray

No question about it, digital downloads are gone - that is clearly marked by few things.

1. No more DL 97 codes
2. ChannelMapID codes (which did match Downloads versions), stopped at midnight May 15th, date and time stamped
3. Clock source has stayed 100% analogue, until about 8PM last night and went back to digital at that time.

Have not checked the box today. Perhaps digital will come back today?

Of course each of the last "4" weekends, that box has gone through a series of "odd" things.

The box is still operating correctly - full 8 days, schedules, and recordings, etc.

During the last 4 weeks the only thing odd about the digital and analogue clocks is that the "two" of them may be off (at times) by 1 minute.

No question about it, digital downloads are gone - that is clearly marked by few things.

1. No more DL 97 codes
2. ChannelMapID codes (which did match Downloads versions), stopped at midnight May 15th, date and time stamped
3. Clock source has stayed 100% analogue, until about 8PM last night and went back to digital at that time.

Have not checked the box today. Perhaps digital will come back today?

Of course each of the last "4" weekends, that box has gone through a series of "odd" things.

The box is still operating correctly - full 8 days, schedules, and recordings, etc.

During the last 4 weeks the only thing odd about the digital and analogue clocks is that the "two" of them may be off (at times) by 1 minute.
Could you briefly explain the DL97 code? Thanks

Could you briefly explain the DL97 code? Thanks

Many think (myself included) that under the digital download format – codes 70 and 97 are combined to build the “listings” in the Grid. Under the analogue scheme there is no code 97 used AFAIK; only 180 minute code 70 is used for the listings.

My Channel Map ID and well as all digital downloads data stopped on May 15th, just before midnight (the start of the weekend). And the box reverted back to only the 180 minute code 70 downloads. The ATSC slicer page had also stopped counting (adding)

I have had a chance to check things out this morning, and it is still analogue; but the clock is now back to digital – which it changed itself last night about 8PM.

At the present time I do not know if the box is in the process of changing back to digital OR if it will remain in purely analogue mode (except for the clock?). The ATSC slicer has started back up now; but is very slow?

Since ChannelMapID only appeared in my box the first time last week and now has stopped; I can only assume this is some MV pre-transition work to be completed before June 12th (similar to the last week of Janurary)

Over the last week my HDD500 with CC and Version .21 FW has gradually lost listings until I now only get current listings plus the next 12 hours of listings (from PBS analog). Both of my 250s (no cc; one with .21, the other with .05) are still getting 8 days of listings. It's a bit of a pain in the ass to schedule programs as I have to remember to turn on the unit in the AM to set recordings for that evening.

Anyone else seen this?

I'm getting a full 8 days via analog PBS, but I'm QAM cable and OTA (no CableCard).

Many think (myself included) that under the digital download format – codes 70 and 97 are combined to build the “listings” in the Grid. Under the analogue scheme there is no code 97 used AFAIK; only 180 minute code 70 is used for the listings.

yes, the DL 97 downloads here in the SF area have not been showing in recent times in the DL schedule for the station that previously had them (which is presumably CBS 5.1)...and my host station has been showing as PBS 9 for at least a month, with no sign recently of picking up the time from 5.1

on the other hand, my 3410a has been counting A and B packets when I tune it to my DTVPal output (and I see a converted analog picture)...so 5.1 (to which the Pal is tuned) is apparently still broadcasting the legacy TVGOS stream...

Over the last week my HDD500 with CC and Version .21 FW has gradually lost listings until I now only get current listings plus the next 12 hours of listings (from PBS analog). Both of my 250s (no cc; one with .21, the other with .05) are still getting 8 days of listings. It's a bit of a pain in the ass to schedule programs as I have to remember to turn on the unit in the AM to set recordings for that evening.

Anyone else seen this?

Over the last week my HDD250 had gone from no grid, no listing to a fully populated grid. I have .21 rev but no CC.

new firmware,
forced channel 6.1 cbs,
gtest vbi failed on channel 6.1.
host channel is blank.
vbi channel is 06-1

Others are getting tvgos listings in orlando, so I should be able to as well. Do I need to force channel 26 the rf end of cbs?

Any ideas How I can get up and running?

Over the last week my HDD500 with CC and Version .21 FW has gradually lost listings until I now only get current listings plus the next 12 hours of listings (from PBS analog). Both of my 250s (no cc; one with .21, the other with .05) are still getting 8 days of listings. It's a bit of a pain in the ass to schedule programs as I have to remember to turn on the unit in the AM to set recordings for that evening.

Anyone else seen this?

Something similar has happened to me three times in the last few weeks. Once listings stopped for 6 straight days. They started up after I was down to 2 days. (Analog host.)

The other two times, days 3-8 disappeared completely after being there the day before. It got down to keeping only day 1 for three to four days. (Never got down to 12 hours like you.) Each time, I got impatient and ran a G*Test on a digital host and left the unit on all day. This picked up very partial listings for all 8 days. Then I left the unit off as I do normally, and listings began to fill in normally form the analog host.

MV just keeps screwing around.

I can only assume this is some MV pre-transition work to be completed before June 12th (similar to the last week of Janurary)

Agreed --- except that I would not count on MV being 100% ready by June 12. After all, they weren't nearly on schedule for February 17. I expect our Sony units to work digitally eventually, but I just can't see MV being ready on time in all areas.

Agreed --- except that I would not count on MV being 100% ready by June 12. After all, they weren't nearly on schedule for February 17. I expect our Sony units to work digitally eventually, but I just can't see MV being ready on time in all areas.
I agree...and, if I'm not getting data from our digital station within a few days after the transition, I think I'll put a splitter in the output from my DTVPal (now joined only to the signal going to my 3410a) and join it to the antenna signal going to my Sony...

........... I think I'll put a splitter in the output from my DTVPal (now joined only to the signal going to my 3410a) and join it to the antenna signal going to my Sony...

Not to ask a dumb question, but.......... haven't we proven that the only real sticking point with the DHG's is obtaining the precious Grid? So unless you lose the grid, why would you need to be hooked up to the DTVPal 24/7 ??? :confused:

I know one of my Sonys can get new program listings nightly from my digital host channel, filling in the old channel grid that it got from the now-defunct analog host channel. The other one can't get a new channel grid from the digital host.

I ordered a DTVPal+ a few days ago, to see if it will get me the channel grid. Of course this requires that my host channel carries the SCTE 127 version of TVGOS along with the normal version, which might not be true, because we're going to get a new host channel by the end of June.

If the DTVPal+ does work out the way I hope it will, I plan to insert it into the antenna feed, then split its output to feed the two Sonys. When I need to get a new channel grid, I'll turn the DTVPal+ on, put it in TVGOS mode, tune it to the host channel, and use the converted-to-analog TVGOS to get the grid. After I get the grid, I'll turn off the DTVPal+ so it passes the signal through to the Sonys, and thereafter let the Sonys get program listings directly from the digital signal.

I know one of my Sonys can get new program listings nightly from my digital host channel, filling in the old channel grid that it got from the now-defunct analog host channel. The other one can't get a new channel grid from the digital host.

I ordered a DTVPal+ a few days ago, to see if it will get me the channel grid. Of course this requires that my host channel carries the SCTE 127 version of TVGOS along with the normal version, which might not be true, because we're going to get a new host channel by the end of June.

If the DTVPal+ does work out the way I hope it will, I plan to insert it into the antenna feed, then split its output to feed the two Sonys. When I need to get a new channel grid, I'll turn the DTVPal+ on, put it in TVGOS mode, tune it to the host channel, and use the converted-to-analog TVGOS to get the grid. After I get the grid, I'll turn off the DTVPal+ so it passes the signal through to the Sonys, and thereafter let the Sonys get program listings directly from the digital signal.
The Macrovision engineer told me back in March that their signal will be SCTE 127. Hopefully, SCETV will be carrying our digital TVGOS by the end of June.

Frances
Sandy Run, S.C.

MacroVision is having a consumer show!!! I have been invited. It is however too far for me to travel. I will provide the fourm with the link to see what's up. I hope somebody from the fourm can go to the show and ask questions so we can get real answers. I will have the link to show info.
http://www.macrovision.com/marketing/dm/con_tel_jun09/invite.html?solution=ce&amp;campaign=con_tel_jun09&amp;lead_src=invi te

I also recieved a letter stating that Sony never gave MV the .21 to test but they also said that it will work. I asked questions but never got any answers to my questions. Below is MV answers.

The Sony Upgrade you have was never tested by our engineer and we can support the upgrade. The upgrade does bring the TV Guide on the DVR to a version that can work off of the digital data that we have passing in your area. You could try give the unit more time to see if it will download the data. If that fails, please contact Sony for further help with their upgrade.
Thank you,
TVGOS

I hope somone near the Calf. or Detroit show can go so MV can answer our questions.

The Macrovision engineer told me back in March that their signal will be SCTE 127. Hopefully, SCETV will be carrying our digital TVGOS by the end of June.

I figured that SCETV would get Macrovision's "latest and greatest" setup, but it's good to know that definitively! So one way or another, things should work out OK. The DTVPal+ will serve as insurance in case the all-digital route still doesn't work on my Sonys, and it will give me something to play around with in the meantime.

Stingray... I posted, one page back (pg.574) my latest adventure with getting the channel lineup...OTA only, Digital only. The conclusion was that there was no real rhyme or reason, but my channel grid finally appeared after 22 days from a full restore/format. So there is good news. Albeit it should never take 22 days for the machine to work. And why it suddenly worked is beyond me. Go back and take a look at that post for details. I did nothing extraordinary outside of leaving it on or leaving it off for periods of time. The only thing I didn't include in the post was that between Sunday AM (no lineup/grid) and Sunday PM (lineup/grid) was that I disconnected and re-connected the antenna to put on a splitter/combiner to use with my VCR in anticipation of getting a 6 hr tape of CBS cable from a friend. Before I could try the VHS tape solution, the grid shows up. So, I don't know if disconnecting and re-connecting the antenna did anything. But the grid did finally come that night and has filled in full 8 days with the DVR OFF overnight for 3 days straight now. Perhaps CBS and MV just finally got their act together in our area.

I know one of my Sonys can get new program listings nightly from my digital host channel, filling in the old channel grid that it got from the now-defunct analog host channel. The other one can't get a new channel grid from the digital host.

I ordered a DTVPal+ a few days ago, to see if it will get me the channel grid. Of course this requires that my host channel carries the SCTE 127 version of TVGOS along with the normal version, which might not be true, because we're going to get a new host channel by the end of June.

If the DTVPal+ does work out the way I hope it will, I plan to insert it into the antenna feed, then split its output to feed the two Sonys. When I need to get a new channel grid, I'll turn the DTVPal+ on, put it in TVGOS mode, tune it to the host channel, and use the converted-to-analog TVGOS to get the grid. After I get the grid, I'll turn off the DTVPal+ so it passes the signal through to the Sonys, and thereafter let the Sonys get program listings directly from the digital signal.


You will not get a grid from a DTVPAL+ if its TVGOS screen is visible. You will have to go back and follow the posts that talk about the SA remote. Once you DTVPAL= shows the guide, the SA remote will not change your channels. You will have to go back to the setup and guide+ screen and continue from there. Then you will need to find the channel with the VBI. I speak from personal experience. If you can change channels on your DTVPAL= with a SA remote then set it to the Channel that show the VBI and you are set.
According to "Rabbit Ears" there are no stations in SC carrying the TVGOS. NC yes.

Stingray... I posted, one page back (pg.574) my latest adventure with getting the channel lineup...OTA only, Digital only. The conclusion was that there was no real rhyme or reason, but my channel grid finally appeared after 22 days from a full restore/format. So there is good news. Albeit it should never take 22 days for the machine to work. And why it suddenly worked is beyond me. Go back and take a look at that post for details. I did nothing extraordinary outside of leaving it on or leaving it off for periods of time. The only thing I didn't include in the post was that between Sunday AM (no lineup/grid) and Sunday PM (lineup/grid) was that I disconnected and re-connected the antenna to put on a splitter/combiner to use with my VCR in anticipation of getting a 6 hr tape of CBS cable from a friend. Before I could try the VHS tape solution, the grid shows up. So, I don't know if disconnecting and re-connecting the antenna did anything. But the grid did finally come that night and has filled in full 8 days with the DVR OFF overnight for 3 days straight now. Perhaps CBS and MV just finally got their act together in our area.

I got my grid using a digital source only back in March in about 3 days after a soft reset (losing the grid). Now, this was with my original (.05) firmware and with only a digital source (PBS turned back on the analog source in April). I haven't tried to do this with the new firmware (I've upgraded 2 of my 3 with .21) but if it doesn't work after 6/12 I'll just revert to my original firmware.

Stingray... I posted, one page back (pg.574) my latest adventure with getting the channel lineup...OTA only, Digital only. The conclusion was that there was no real rhyme or reason, but my channel grid finally appeared after 22 days from a full restore/format. So there is good news. Albeit it should never take 22 days for the machine to work. And why it suddenly worked is beyond me. Go back and take a look at that post for details. I did nothing extraordinary outside of leaving it on or leaving it off for periods of time. The only thing I didn't include in the post was that between Sunday AM (no lineup/grid) and Sunday PM (lineup/grid) was that I disconnected and re-connected the antenna to put on a splitter/combiner to use with my VCR in anticipation of getting a 6 hr tape of CBS cable from a friend. Before I could try the VHS tape solution, the grid shows up. So, I don't know if disconnecting and re-connecting the antenna did anything. But the grid did finally come that night and has filled in full 8 days with the DVR OFF overnight for 3 days straight now. Perhaps CBS and MV just finally got their act together in our area.


I 'm glad that some have had luck with the grid. I waited 25 days before giving up and using the vcr tape. What I would like to know is will MV be changing the data so our units load the grid in a more reasonable time? Such as 24 hours. I think that the old firmware would have loaded the grid also in 22 pluss days, but we never waited that long. Also can our units be upgraded to 9v firmware? Why does it take so long to get the grid? Is there a page in the 7531 menu where we can see the grid loading ? Will there be a new patch above 8.06.44 that may allow the dhg and other equipment work better in a digital envirement? These are questions I feel needed to be addressed. Maybe time will answer everything .Only MV has those answers............

Not to ask a dumb question, but.......... haven't we proven that the only real sticking point with the DHG's is obtaining the precious Grid? So unless you lose the grid, why would you need to be hooked up to the DTVPal 24/7 ??? :confused:
Based on experience with the normal digital TVGOS transmission, I think we would only need to use the DTVPal if/when something changed and the Sony was unable (by itself) to bootstrap its way back up to receiving the digital transmissions...so we'll see what happens after the transition. in terms of how the Sony works with its "upgraded" firmware...

Well now I have a big problem. I have two TVGOS devices one is a panasonic DMR-E95H analog DVR that is connected to cable, and has been receiving the TVGOS data consistently since Feb. 28. Ever since they apparently turned on the SCTE-127 data. I also have my DHG-HDD250 that is OTA only. Last Tuesday night was the last time either of these devices received a guide download (today is the last day of Listings on both devices).

I finally called my CBS station a few minutes ago, and the guy I talked to went, and talked to the engineer about the problem. The engineer assured him that it is working fine. In fact they even have a television connected OTA that has the TV Guide on screen on it, and it is "fully populated".

So where does that leave me? I know it isn't working for either DVR. Could the TV they have be getting the data from a different stream (TVG2 vs. TVG1)? Could this indicate that my Sony is using the SCTE-127 data instead of the TVG1 data? I know something is broken on their end, but I don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions?

Edit:
I just sent a message about this problem to TV Guide Customer Care. Even though the last message I sent to them went unanswered.

Mark

<snip>Also can our units be upgraded to 9v firmware? <snip>

:( I would say that they will never be upgraded in any official manner. If someone is able to hack the units to have the new one, maybe.

While it seems like a simple thing to do, MVs not in it for the public good. They are selling a service. They seem to make their money via royalties/licensing fees and residual income from ads. Sony seems to have licensed v8 for the DHG series and probably signed some sort of agreement when they did so. This theoretically explains why MV stated that Sony didn't send the new firmware to them for testing. The agreement for this product line has probably expired and Sony would have to pay for a new agreement which would cover testing. It would make no financial sense for Sony to eat the cost of a new agreement and having users pay could be an accounting nightmare since there would be no way to account for a user 1) having multiple units, 2) not wanting the update due to having to pay 3) determining what to charge since they have no way to tell how many units are still in use.

Again this is all conjecture on my part, so don't hold me to it. I don't work for either of these companies.

:( I would say that they will never be upgraded in any official manner. If someone is able to hack the units to have the new one, maybe.

While it seems like a simple thing to do, MVs not in it for the public good. They are selling a service. They seem to make their money via royalties/licensing fees and residual income from ads. Sony seems to have licensed v8 for the DHG series and probably signed some sort of agreement when they did so. This theoretically explains why MV stated that Sony didn't send the new firmware to them for testing. The agreement for this product line has probably expired and Sony would have to pay for a new agreement which would cover testing. It would make no financial sense for Sony to eat the cost of a new agreement and having users pay could be an accounting nightmare since there would be no way to account for a user 1) having multiple units, 2) not wanting the update due to having to pay 3) determining what to charge since they have no way to tell how many units are still in use.

Again this is all conjecture on my part, so don't hold me to it. I don't work for either of these companies.
Unless:
Sony has plan to re introduce a similar unit as the HDD250/500. There obviously is a market for it.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Macrovision Solutions Corp., a digital home entertainment company, said Tuesday it will change its name to Rovi.
The company will continue to operate as Macrovision until its annual shareholder meeting July 15, when it will ask stockholders to approve the name change. The company's stock symbol would also change.
In a statement, Chief Executive Fred Amoroso said the new name is designed to reflect recent acquisitions and sales that have left the company "dramatically different than it was just a year ago."

Unless:
Sony has plan to re introduce a similar unit as the HDD250/500. There obviously is a market for it.

I have to disagree... A new agreement or an extension of the agreement will probably be signed to cover the new product and not the old ones. And I really don't see them doing a DVR for the American market as evident by the PlayTV still not coming to the US.

Again, I never have and do not work for or with these companies, but I have seen similar agreements before.

"dramatically different than it was just a year ago."More corporate BS!

hi. i just updated the firmware on my dhg-hdd500. i got my listings back but when i do a manual recording, it says it cannot set the recording because the channel is not available in my lineup. the channel is in the guide with listings and also enabled in the CH+/- list. i can record on the channel fine direct from the guide... do i have to do some reset after the firmware upgrade: soft reset, re-do system setup, or TV Guide reset? thanks, and i apologize if this has already been answered. i do read the thread but not every page...