So it sounds like other people are having guide issues as well? With blocks of "no listings" in their guides. I am too.

Pretty much. I hope this isn't some practice run at standard time changes. Next weekend could be a disaster. There is just too much data at this time to speculate where or what the problem may be. I just hope it goes away soon.

I cringe when you make blanket statements like the one above. In the real world of computers, having more memory allocated than is actually used, isn't a problem. Problems happen when you have more memory used than is allocated. Picture 7885 shows you have more memory allocated than is used, so I wouldn't think that this would cause a problem. The last (lock up) picture you posted on spiff space shows that there was more memory used than allocated, which I would say is bad. I've watched that memory screen a few times, and sometimes the allocated, and used is the same, and sometimes they aren't (no lockup either way).



I haven't seen symptom 1. I see symptom 2 pretty regularly, but it goes away on its own. I also see a possible 3rd symptom that you didn't mention, and that is the video, when I'm playing back at normal speed, will start to slow down, and stutter, it will stop doing this after about 20 seconds. I don't usually wait until it stops though, I can correct it by pressing pause, and then replay, and then play. It probably does this about once every two weeks or so. I haven't had a lockup since last May, and I use the chase play mode about 3 times a week.

Mark

Yes, I see you caught the follow up from Part I to Part II. Used Blocks is slightly less than allocated............which is way better than the other way around..........that is why I decided to leave it alone for now, and speculated as such. However, it is "not" butter smooth and fast in all modes, so it is not entirely happy.

It does have several hiccups along the way, such as the one mentioned.

There are numerous directions the Box can take now, with even more possibly outcomes. So I am “waiting” to see what happens. It could entirely self correct or it could crash and burn; setting of HostChannel could be very telling again.

Waiting.

Pretty much. I hope this isn't some practice run at standard time changes. Next weekend could be a disaster. There is just too much data at this time to speculate where or what the problem may be. I just hope it goes away soon.
I just checked and my listings are filling in, 8 days now, with only a few "no listings" showing. Arizona doesn't change clocks, so hopefully it won't be that bad here.

BTW, one of my 500's locked up last night while I was watching a show that was recording. When it went to switch over to another show to start recording, it locked up, I had to unplug it. Luckily it didn't lose the grid or listings.

I just checked and my listings are filling in, 8 days now, with only a few "no listings" showing. Arizona doesn't change clocks, so hopefully it won't be that bad here.

BTW, one of my 500's locked up last night while I was watching a show that was recording. When it went to switch over to another show to start recording, it locked up, I had to unplug it. Luckily it didn't lose the grid or listings.

On the one unit that locked up, check the heap info screen. What are the figures for "allocated" and "used blocks"? Are they currently equal or not equal? What are the values?

This was there response back after I send a diagnostic report on both zips, 29906 and 31322. I'm sixteen miles from the tower and have a 98% signal strenght. I can't imagine what could be blocking their signal.

Hello

Thank you for getting that information to us. It looks like regardless of what zipcode you are using you will only get data from the 31322 host. so your best chance at receiving our data is setting up your device (sony KDL only) for the 31322 zip code. Please reset your device one more time and leave off overnight with all splitters removed, but this time please adjust your antenna so that you get the best possible reciption of CH. 16.1 WJWJ PBS. This should work since you are getting ads, which means you are receiving some data but there may be a reception issue blocking our entire signal. if your data does not return please fill out attached document. Ce

Monday afternoon update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is showing HostSUFlags as "0x6e800000" which means that it still needs "Unknown 1" and "Unknown 3",
and it has apparently lost "GMT Clock Set" that it did have yesterday. :confused: :(

The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is showing HostSUFlags as "0xfe800000" which means that it now has everything needed for
a HostChan and Grid except for "Unknown 3". :D:D

The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000" which means that it now has everything needed for a
HostChan and Grid except for "Unknown 1" and "Unknown 3". :D

On the one unit that locked up, check the heap info screen. What are the figures for "allocated" and "used blocks"? Are they currently equal or not equal? What are the values?
They both list 0x9c5. Ok, so what exactly does that mean though?

This was there response back after I send a diagnostic report on both zips, 29906 and 31322. I'm sixteen miles from the tower and have a 98% signal strenght. I can't imagine what could be blocking their signal.


Nothing is blocking the signal. I think I know what Rovi is saying here, so I'll translate (tongue in cheek)...


Hello

Thank you for getting that information to us. It looks like regardless of what zipcode you are using you will only get data from the 31322 host. so your best chance at receiving our data is setting up your device (sony KDL only) for the 31322 zip code.


Translation:
Your zip code doesn't work, and since Rovi doesn't have a clue how to fix it, then you should just use the 31322 zip code instead of your own. :confused:


Please reset your device one more time and leave off overnight with all splitters removed, but this time please adjust your antenna so that you get the best possible reciption of CH. 16.1 WJWJ PBS. This should work since you are getting ads, which means you are receiving some data but there may be a reception issue blocking our entire signal. if your data does not return please fill out attached document. Ce

Translation:
Rovi is sending something out in your area, and if it doesn't work right, it must be your fault.

What a bunch of idiots,
Mark

Nothing is blocking the signal. I think I know what Rovi is saying here, so I'll translate (tongue in cheek)...



Translation:
Your zip code doesn't work, and since Rovi doesn't have a clue how to fix it, then you should just use the 31322 zip code instead of your own. :confused:



Translation:
Rovi is sending something out in your area, and if it doesn't work right, it must be your fault.

What a bunch of idiots,
Mark

Hi Mark,

I totally agree with you. I wondered about this guy when he told me they didn't support the DHG's when they are working in other areas. Things are the same this morning and I will fill out the form this evening since I will be out of town today. I don't want to make him mad so I will be careful what I say, I will post my reply here.

Thanks
Eddie

Tuesday morning update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is now showing HostSUFlags as "0xe2800000" which means that it still needs "Unknown 1", "Unknown 2", "Unknown 3", and "EPP Packet". So this unit continues to lose things that it did have before. The antenna connection to this DVR is less reliable, so maybe that is the cause. :(

The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is now has a HostChan set and a Channel Lineup (Grid) as of this morning. :D:D:D:D:D

The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000" which means that it still has everything needed for a
HostChan and Grid except for "Unknown 1" and "Unknown 3". :D

They both list 0x9c5. Ok, so what exactly does that mean though?

IMO, it should mean all is good and the lock ups should now be gone too. Are they?

Yesterday, my Sony Box experienced all sorts of temporary freezes, dropping audio, popping, and jerking of the picture while in a TVGOS screen. Even during regular play back, the sound would drop. When replaying the same section the sound would be fine. It acted that way from about 3PM to 8PM, very erratic.

This morning, the videos are butter smooth again, no lock ups or freezes………at least not yet. However; the two memory components are floating at “different” amounts instead of the same amount. My Sony Box has now entered The Twilight Zone.

Tuesday morning update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is now showing HostSUFlags as "0xe2800000" which means that it still needs "Unknown 1", "Unknown 2", "Unknown 3", and "EPP Packet". So this unit continues to lose things that it did have before. The antenna connection to this DVR is less reliable, so maybe that is the cause. :(

The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is now has a HostChan set and a Channel Lineup (Grid) as of this morning. :D:D:D:D:D

The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000" which means that it still has everything needed for a
HostChan and Grid except for "Unknown 1" and "Unknown 3". :D

WS, keep us posted how it goes. If I recall you always had one of the three Sony Box's recover fast?

I am beginning to think there may just be some odd thing that keeps the one or two data bits (my antenna set up) from getting through to MySonyBox?

WS, keep us posted how it goes. If I recall you always had one of the three Sony Box's recover fast?

I am beginning to think there may just be some odd thing that keeps the one or two data bits (my antenna set up) from getting through to MySonyBox?

Your memory fails you . . . It wasn't that one unit "always recovers fast", it was that one unit always recovers S-L-O-W. This being the unit with the flaky antenna connection. And this is the unit that has dropped HostSUFlags bits now for two days in a row. :eek: So maybe you do have an OTA signal problem also?

There is also another thing I'm noticing, although I can't be completely sure yet . . . I always got TVGOS data from my CBS and PBS stations via my QAM cable connection, but so far I have not seen any data coming in over cable since the installation of the CableCards. It may be possible that I'm just not looking at the proper times, or maybe CableCard doesn't pass everything that QAM passes ????? :confused:

Tuesday morning update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is now showing HostSUFlags as "0xe2800000" which means that it still needs "Unknown 1", "Unknown 2", "Unknown 3", and "EPP Packet". So this unit continues to lose things that it did have before. The antenna connection to this DVR is less reliable, so maybe that is the cause. :(



Look at the NumSearch field on that 1st DVR, it should have started a new NumSearch yesterday (number 2) which would explain the first drop in the HostSUFlags. If the NumSearch is up to 3 (possibly because of the weak signal) then it would explain the second drop in the HostSUFlags.

Mark

Your memory fails you . . . : So maybe you do have an OTA signal problem also?



This morning when I woke up, I had to ask my wife her name. She hit me with the pillow and left the room!

Yes Me think I got some sort of weird reception issue?

This morning when I woke up, I had to ask my wife her name. She hit me with the pillow and left the room!


She should have "Kicked you in the Pants" :D :D :D

I have a problem with my DVR. The HDMI output stopped working and I am not sure what has happened. I noticed someone on here had a similar problem and I PM'ed this person but there has not been a response. Nothing seems to work from the HDMI port, not the menu's or anything. Has anyone else had this problem? Please let me know what I need to do to resolve the issue. I have tried to reset the DVD and I have unplugged it for over a week with no joy.

msmith56 -

I can only be of limited help with this, since I only use HDMI with one of my DVR's, and it hasn't given me any problems (aside from slow handshaking). But here goes anyway . . .

Do you get HDMI audio but not video? Have you tried a different HDMI cable? Have you tried a different device (DVD player, etc.) into the same HDMI input on the TV? Have you tried the DVR via HDMI connection with a different TV? Is the component video output working on the DVR?

msmith56 -

I can only be of limited help with this, since I only use HDMI with one of my DVR's, and it hasn't given me any problems (aside from slow handshaking). But here goes anyway . . .

Do you get HDMI audio but not video? Have you tried a different HDMI cable? Have you tried a different device (DVD player, etc.) into the same HDMI input on the TV? Have you tried the DVR via HDMI connection with a different TV? Is the component video output working on the DVR?

Hi, Thanks for info. I do not get anything over the HDMI (no sound, video, etc) I have tried a different cable and that did not work. The input to the TV is fine and works with other devices. Component video does work but the TV only has 1 component input, the other 4 are HDMI.



Thanks

Hi, Thanks for info. I do not get anything over the HDMI (no sound, video, etc) I have tried a different cable and that did not work. The input to the TV is fine and works with other devices. Component video does work but the TV only has 1 component input, the other 4 are HDMI.



Thanks

You don't by any chance have both the component and HDMI outputs connected do you? If I remember correctly without digging out the manual that disables the HDMI. Have you tried testing with different output formats? 1080i instead of auto-HDMI? Do you have another TV with HDMI in so you can test if there's any sort of handshake problem?

I'M wondering if you can manually upgrade tvgos firmware in these? I also have a panasonic dmreh75 that has a different channel option for displaying channel and number in the grid, the sony does not have this option,,, any clues to fix if any? thanks

I have never had any TVGOS issues with my 2 - 250's and 1 - 500, either analog or digital (I'm OTA only, 12 mi NW of Seattle, in very hilly terrain, marginal LOS to transmitters). I did lose my grid on one machine, while experimenting with methods to get usable reception on KOMO-4.1. That station has bad multipath to me (as evidenced by obvious ghosting when they were analog). To recover the grid, I had to use the VCR playback method from an old PBS recording. Since then, no guide issues, and I don't even bother to look at the diagnostic screens anymore.

This point of this post is to talk about my experience with the unusable signal from 4.1 (rf ch 38). I have a RadioShed U-75 UHF antenna about 40' AGL. The DHG would indicate strength of 55 or less, and I could rarely get a picture, and if I did get anything, it would freeze and pixelate often. In desperation, I decided to replace my preamp hardware, a Terrestrial Digital PA-16 at the antenna mast, and a 10 yr old RadioShed distribution amp which feeds a tree of spitters to all the sets in the house. The feed to the DHGs is thru 2 splitters. I replaced both amps with the Kitz Technologies model mentioned recently by Frank70. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17188763&postcount=18783
Wow, what a difference. Now, ch 4.1 strength is shown as 66 or 72, and reception is solid. It goes to show that crappy preamps can ruin a signal, especially if it is marginal to begin with.

She should have "Kicked you in the Pants" :D :D :D

Only when I really bad, do I get that.

picture and sound freezes this afternoon.........two memory fields are going all over the place......at one point 6 points different......up, down, and all around.

Look at the NumSearch field on that 1st DVR, it should have started a new NumSearch yesterday (number 2) which would explain the first drop in the HostSUFlags. If the NumSearch is up to 3 (possibly because of the weak signal) then it would explain the second drop in the HostSUFlags.

Mark

Tuesday afternoon update:
The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is at "2". :(
The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is now ripe with Listings after having acquired a Grid overnight. :D:D:D:D:D
The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "1". Maybe it will increment tonight? :o

Wednesday morning update:
The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "2". :(
The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) has stumbled and is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit has incremented and is now at "2".

Wednesday afternoon update:
No changes from Wednesday morning update.

Thursday morning update:
Still no changes from Wednesday morning update.

Thursday afternoon update:
Still no changes from Wednesday morning update.

I've attached a copy of the diagnostics sheet that I just sent TV guide.

IMO, it should mean all is good and the lock ups should now be gone too. Are they?
It seems to be working fine now.

BTW, should a DVR be this hard to operate? ;)

Tuesday afternoon update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is at "2". :(

The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is now ripe with Listings after having acquired a Grid overnight. :D:D:D:D:D

The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "1". Maybe it will increment tonight? :o

Wednesday morning update:

The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "2". :(

The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) has stumbled and is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit has incremented and is now at "2".

WS, just confirming: that means first and third still no Grid?

If so does that mean there is some sort of signal issue if the second unit did get a Grid?

WS, just confirming: that means first and third still no Grid?

If so does that mean there is some sort of signal issue if the second unit did get a Grid?

Yes. The first and third units still have no Grids as of this morning. The second unit got it's Grid overnight on Monday night.

The first unit is connected to a set-top antenna. The antenna sits on top of an "Entertainment Center" type piece of furniture. Since I'm 35-40 miles from the transmitters, this units gets a poor OTA signal.

The second and third units are connected to my attic mounted CM4228 and CM7777. They generally get a very good OTA signal, except that lately I've been having some trouble with CBS. In my area, CBS and PBS both transmit TVGOS data via OTA. The second unit (which got a Grid Monday night) chose CBS OTA as the HostChan.

There is one possible issue that may be complicating things....... Up until the CableCards were installed I was also getting TVGOS data via QAM cable from my CBS and PBS stations. Since the CableCards were installed, I have not yet seen the ATSC-Slicer screen increment while tuned to these stations via CableCard. (When CableCard is installed the access to the QAM channels is gone.) Is it possible that the TVGOS data is filtered out by the CableCard?

In the past, my DVR's and my Mits TV would sometimes choose OTA for the HostChan source and sometimes choose QAM cable.

[...]
There is one possible issue that may be complicating things....... Up until the CableCards were installed I was also getting TVGOS data via QAM cable from my CBS and PBS stations. Since the CableCards were installed, I have not yet seen the ATSC-Slicer screen increment while tuned to these stations via CableCard. (When CableCard is installed the access to the QAM channels is gone.) Is it possible that the TVGOS data is filtered out by the CableCard?

In the past, my DVR's and my Mits TV would sometimes choose OTA for the HostChan source and sometimes choose QAM cable.

The QAM stations are probably passing the TVGOS data, but, as others have reported, you may now have to run the G* Test on the cable stations, to see the "live" data on the ATSC slicer screen (I know you have never had to do this before, but things may have changed with the installation of the cablecards). So, you may still see it select the cable host channels from time to time.

Mark

This was my reply to Ce and now I'm getting emails from Nick, asking questions.

Ce

I have attached the diagnostics sheet you requested. I did not have a guide this morning but had ads. WJWJ's tower is sixteen miles from me. Its 365 feet high with only marsh and some woods between. I get a 98% signal on my TV so I can't imagine anything is blocking the signal. WJWJ needs to be programed with Beaufort zips so others won't have this problem. You have a product to sell with your guide, so lets get it working like it was before. You say you don't support the DHG's, so my question is why are others thoughtout the country, working. We must have a host channel and you need to find out why we are not getting one here in Beaufort. I have no problem working with you on this end but it sure seems like you putting the blame on my end and not where it should be. Lets make your customers happy and get things working. Without customers we wouldn't have jobs.

Eddie

................So, you may still see it select the cable host channels from time to time.


When I get home today I'm gonna disconnect the antenna (the attic mounted CM4228) connection going to the Mits TV that has V-9.1.56 TVGOS. Then I'll watch to see if Listings continue to update . . .

You don't by any chance have both the component and HDMI outputs connected do you? If I remember correctly without digging out the manual that disables the HDMI. Have you tried testing with different output formats? 1080i instead of auto-HDMI? Do you have another TV with HDMI in so you can test if there's any sort of handshake problem?


Hello,

Thanks for the suggestion. I do not have them connected at the same time. The HDMI has worked flawlessly for me for several years and then recently there was no signal. I have tried to see the menu, tried to change formats, and have done just about everything that I can think of. This problem really has me at a loss as to what to do. Thank you very much for your help.

This was my reply to Ce and now I'm getting emails from Nick, asking questions.

Ce

I have attached the diagnostics sheet you requested. I did not have a guide this morning but had ads. WJWJ's tower is sixteen miles from me. Its 365 feet high with only marsh and some woods between. I get a 98% signal on my TV so I can't imagine anything is blocking the signal. WJWJ needs to be programed with Beaufort zips so others won't have this problem. You have a product to sell with your guide, so lets get it working like it was before. You say you don't support the DHG's, so my question is why are others thoughtout the country, working. We must have a host channel and you need to find out why we are not getting one here in Beaufort. I have no problem working with you on this end but it sure seems like you putting the blame on my end and not where it should be. Lets make your customers happy and get things working. Without customers we wouldn't have jobs.

Eddie
This is an email I just got back from Nick at TVGOS

Hello Eddie,

I am aware of your case and after further investigation, there is an issue within our database. I will be escalating our case to my engineers who will fix the issue. Once this is fixed I will let you know.

Thank you,
Nick

This is an email I just got back from Nick at TVGOS

Hello Eddie,

I am aware of your case and after further investigation, there is an issue within our database. I will be escalating our case to my engineers who will fix the issue. Once this is fixed I will let you know.

Thank you,
Nick

Exellent, I just hope they fix the hostschedule problem too.

Mark

When I get home today I'm gonna disconnect the antenna (the attic mounted CM4228) connection going to the Mits TV that has V-9.1.56 TVGOS. Then I'll watch to see if Listings continue to update . . .

If the host channel is set on the TV, it won't get listings doing that, since it will only look for data on the host channel.

Mark

Exellent, I just hope they fix the hostschedule problem too.

Mark

What I hope is that should they fix one problem they (Rovi) don't break two more.

I've had to reset (not full factory restore) all three units to get listings to update since the outage last week. Now I notice that listings end on day 8 at 23:00, not midnight. Sure feels like they were practicing a DST change.

Exellent, I just hope they fix the hostschedule problem too.

Mark

And Houston Too!

Ok, same o same o. No Listings, No Ads, and Memory problem is much worse.

Unplug the unit for 5-10 min for a reset.

Ran a 50’ RG6 Quad core across the floor, up the stairs, and into a closet to by-pass the amp, line taps, and most of the old RG59 cable. This then goes the last 30 feet with old RG59 direct to the antenna. Therefore the antenna now feeds directly the plasma and the Sony Box, through just one splitter at the back of the TV.

Plugged back in the Sony Box. Scanned for Add to Antenna. It added 2 digital stations. Generally, the signal seems better.

In this case the un-plug/plug routine resolved the memory issues; normally it does not? Do not know if it will stay that way. NumSearch is back at 1, and it locked into clock in about 15 minutes.

Waiting.

May I suggest each one of you fill out the diagnostics sheet and send it to Mike's attention. He seems to have more interest than Ce had.

Eddie

I've attached a copy of the diagnostics sheet that I just sent TV guide.

May I suggest each one of you fill out the diagnostics sheet and send it to Mike's attention. He seems to have more interest than Ce had.


Eddie -

The diagnostic sheet that you sent in (attached to your first post quoted above) indicates that your TVGOS version is 9.1.54. The Sony's use version 8 of the TVGOS software. Is Mike helping you with an HDDxxx or some other device? :confused:

Eddie -

The diagnostic sheet that you sent in (attached to your first post quoted above) indicates that your TVGOS version is 9.1.54. The Sony's use version 8 of the TVGOS software. Is Mike helping you with an HDDxxx or some other device? :confused:

I'm not sure if he just looking at my Sony HDTV and DHG's at this point. If you go back and read the post of the email I send to Ce, this is where Mike took over. He email me several times about my PBS station location and needed zip codes.

I've attached the most recent blank Dia. sheet that I received on 10/26. The 9.1.54 is what the first 753.... screen shows what version my Sony TV has. I'm not sure this answers your question.

Eddie

Eddie's TV is a Sony version 9. The DHG is of course the version 8. Rovi just sent him the version 9 question sheet for his TV set. Rovi sent me the version 8 question sheet.

Also, if you look closely at the version 8 question sheet they sent me, it really does not match the Sony .21 version 8 screen. Our Sony boxes with .21 are some sort of hy-bred, that Rovi keeps saying they do not support.

Eddie keep up the good work. So far as I know, you are the only one with a current active dialog with them; please talk them into fixing Houston too. Thanks!

What I hope is that should they fix one problem they (Rovi) don't break two more.

I've had to reset (not full factory restore) all three units to get listings to update since the outage last week. Now I notice that listings end on day 8 at 23:00, not midnight. Sure feels like they were practicing a DST change.

Joe,

Have you tried doing the "00000" zip code reset when you lose listings? If I recall, you are getting analog (SCTE-127) data from cable. My analog DVR which gets its analog data from cable, loses listings every once in a while, and the "00000" routine fixes it every time (as long as it isn't a real outage). I haven't had to reset my analog (panasonic) DVR, in a couple of years... I'd have to do a google search to even remember how to do it.

Mark

My wife turned on a TV in one of the bedrooms............"Why did this TV quit working?"

I explained, I had only the Plasma and Sony Box hooked up, and the rest of the TV's dis-connected.........and she said: "Is that why you ask me not to trip on the big cable running through the house?".................."Yes Dear"

She hit me with the pillow again.............but she has been looking for the baseball bat!

Eddie's TV is a Sony version 9. The DHG is of course the version 8. Rovi just sent him the version 9 question sheet for his TV set. Rovi sent me the version 8 question sheet.

Also, if you look closely at the version 8 question sheet they sent me, it really does not match the Sony .21 version 8 screen. Our Sony boxes with .21 are some sort of hy-bred, that Rovi keeps saying they do not support.

Eddie keep up the good work. So far as I know, you are the only one with a current active dialog with them; please talk them into fixing Houston too. Thanks!

Thats why I suggest to flood them with emails. They make their money off ads and the more working guides out here, the more job security they have.

Ok, same o same o. No Listings, No Ads, and Memory problem is much worse.



Once again, same thing here. No day 8 listings, and No Ads. My poor analog DVR hasn't even completely recovered from last week's outage. It looks like both Houston and Wichita get their data from the same source, since our outages sure are synchronised.

Mark

Alright, I still need help...I reset mine on 10/15, so it's been 14 days (i reset it under the 9012 menu).

Last night I was using it, I do manual recordings with it & I had Ads, today I turned it on & my ads are gone...so I checked the stats....

All along I assumed "VBI Chan" was my "host channel" I just notice host Channel above it & it is blank...i think thats what it's been all along.

My failing clock chan & clock set chan is "1:101-0) the actual channel should be 101.2 does this matter? the "VBI channel" I noticed is always whatever channel I have it tuned to.

LastClkSet is 10/28/09 13:31:45
NumClkSets 22
HostSUFlags 0xc68000000
MumSearch 2

Under "section reception-VBI Stats"

I have 25160 beside "LineupSelPkt"

Under Ads I now have "0"

Screen "Section ATSC-ATSC Slicer"

I am not seeing any packets anymore....anyone have any idea what is going on? Are there anymore stats I can give you to help?

While I was typing this I just figured out that the channel I'm getting VBI packets from changed from 101-2 to 101-3, I'm assuming this is why I lost my Ads.

Do I need to leave it on this channel when I turn it off to be able to update properly? Man this is frustrating!

I am on Comcast (cable only, no OTA) zip 25705, version .21

For those who would want to get a grid, this is how I got it:

Purchase the "Artec t3apr-t for around $55 bucks. I got mine at www.meritline.com. This unit must be the one that gets the TV Guide.

I then followed the foot steps of videobruce:

"I recovered from a (unintentional) full reset to full (8 day) listings in 2 1/2 days using nothing other then a Artec CECB with NO other steps (zip codes changes, etc.).

Disconnected antenna feed (CATV feed left connected),
Connected Artec CECB in line with antenna input (which was already setup as a TVGOS pass through on the host sub channel),

Waited between 12-16 hours for the provider choice (which I only confirmed) and grid,

Disconnected box and reconnected antenna input as normal,

Reorganized/renumbered the channels (CATV digital channels are all wrong in this market),

Waited another 36 hours (or so) and checked to see the whole nine yards. All 8 days were populated."

Although he states that he got a "host channel" I never received one but I only checked 2 or 3 times.

Hi Mark,

I totally agree with you. I wondered about this guy when he told me they didn't support the DHG's when they are working in other areas. Things are the same this morning and I will fill out the form this evening since I will be out of town today. I don't want to make him mad so I will be careful what I say, I will post my reply here.

Thanks
Eddie

Thats why I suggest to flood them with emails. They make their money off ads and the more working guides out here, the more job security they have.

Here's the problem, what the guy said about not supporting the Sony DVR was no fluke. That is Rovi's official stand. You have an advantage because you have a device that Rovi does support, that doesn't work either, so you were able to get your foot in the door. People who only have the Sony, get the "We don't support the Sony" email from them, and that is the end of it. That is why you have had success, where others have failed. I'm not suggesting that people with problems shouldn't email them, they should.

By the way, in the first email response, the guy's name was Nick, but you suggest we email Mike. Is it Mike or Nick people should email? Also, are you just putting Attention: Mike in your email to Rovi (mailto:Ce_customer_support@rovicorp.com), or does he have his own email address that you respond to?

Mark

Joe,

Have you tried doing the "00000" zip code reset when you lose listings? If I recall, you are getting analog (SCTE-127) data from cable. My analog DVR which gets its analog data from cable, loses listings every once in a while, and the "00000" routine fixes it every time (as long as it isn't a real outage). I haven't had to reset my analog (panasonic) DVR, in a couple of years... I'd have to do a google search to even remember how to do it.

Mark

When things died, the first and soft-est reset was to set the zipcode to 00000 but that had no effect. Also, my clock set channel was -1. Host channel was ok, but no listings were being applied. Personal opinion is that Rovi sent out data when it came back that the DHG could not handle, so it gave up. All three units are ok now, even the one that was totally in standby during the outage and has not been reset at all. The reset on unit1 caused loss of all recording and the schedule. On unit2 there was no loss of stored recording or schedule. Go figure.

I'm still making tapes. But not because I am paranoid. No, really, I'm not.

Here's the problem, what the guy said about not supporting the Sony DVR was no fluke. That is Rovi's official stand. You have an advantage because you have a device that Rovi does support, that doesn't work either, so you were able to get your foot in the door. People who only have the Sony, get the "We don't support the Sony" email from them, and that is the end of it. That is why you have had success, where others have failed. I'm not suggesting that people with problems shouldn't email them, they should.

By the way, in the first email response, the guy's name was Nick, but you suggest we email Mike. Is it Mike or Nick people should email? Also, are you just putting Attention: Mike in your email to Rovi (mailto:Ce_customer_support@rovicorp.com), or does he have his own email address that you respond to?

Mark
Mark

My mistake which I call a senior moment, its Nick. Windsor lindor, who I think is Ce was the first to answered my emails. He is the one who was putting the blame in my area with the signal. Then Nick took over answering my emails. I do not have any different emails for them. I want to get my TV working first before I hit them with the DHG problem. I'm hoping when my TV comes up that the DHG's will work, maybe I'm dreaming. I do want them to explain to me why they can't support the DHG. I think they would want to for the ad business.

Eddie

Well, for the past 2 weeks, not getting my nightly updates. sometimes a front panel reset and then a 9012 vbi scan will reset the clock and then one night of updates. 2 nights ago did a TVGOS reset and have not even got a grid or adds back. Up to now, have been doing ok since June 12th.

Now, 2 nights ago, a banner message on screen from the networks or comcast, not sure which, stated that if you are having trouble with digital channel 5 (705 comcast with cable card)... rescan your channels because Channel 5 CBS just completed a digital equip. upgrade. Wondering if they turned TVGOS off...I did get the clock to reset...but what was odd, usually see the reset during the 9012 G test. The clock didn't reset until I went to the channel guide. Not the first time I've seen this. Can anyone shed some light on what's going on here in SF Bay Area?

Cw

Mark

My mistake which I call a senior moment, its Nick. Windsor lindor, who I think is Ce was the first to answered my emails. He is the one who was putting the blame in my area with the signal. Then Nick took over answering my emails. I do not have any different emails for them. I want to get my TV working first before I hit them with the DHG problem. I'm hoping when my TV comes up that the DHG's will work, maybe I'm dreaming. I do want them to explain to me why they can't support the DHG. I think they would want to for the ad business.

Eddie

So when you send an email, what do you do to make sure it goes to Nick rather than Windsor (or anyone else)?

Mark

Tuesday afternoon update:
The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is at "2". :(
The second DVR I reset (last Friday early morning) is now ripe with Listings after having acquired a Grid overnight. :D:D:D:D:D
The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "1". Maybe it will increment tonight? :o

Wednesday morning update:
The first DVR I reset (last Thursday afternoon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "2". :(
The third DVR I reset (last Friday at noon) has stumbled and is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xe6800000". The NumSearch on this unit has incremented and is now at "2".

Wednesday afternoon update:
No changes from Wednesday morning update.

Thursday morning update:
Still no changes from Wednesday morning update.

Thursday afternoon update:
Still no changes from Wednesday morning update.


Friday morning update:
The first DVR I reset (last week, Thursday afternoon) is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xee800000". The NumSearch on this unit is still at "2".
The third DVR I reset (last week, Friday at noon) is again showing HostSUFlags as "0xfe800000". The NumSearch on this unit and is still at "2".
Oddly, this morning when I turned on this DVR to check it's progress, it presented me with the confirmation screen where it asks you to confirm that the Zipcode is correct and that you are connected to Cable and Antenna. I first thought that maybe the unit must have reset overnight, but that doesn't appear to be the case (counters are not back at "0").
My other DVR that does have a Grid (which was missing all of day-8 listings yesterday), is completely filled in this morning.

Saturday morning update:
The first DVR I reset (last week, Thursday afternoon) has a Grid this morning. :D The NumSearch on this unit is still at "2". :confused:

The third DVR I reset (last week, Friday at noon) is still showing HostSUFlags as "0xfe800000". The NumSearch on this unit and is still at "2". Hopefully I will get a Grid on this unit today, since this is my MAIN unit attached to the 65" Mits in the family room.

If the host channel is set on the TV, it won't get listings doing that, since it will only look for data on the host channel.

Mark

The HostChan is still set on this TV (TVGOS V-9.1.56). The HostChan displayed is my OTA CBS station. This TV has TVGuide Daily, which shows listings 24 hours out. I disconnected the antenna from this TV on Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon the last 18 hours of listings showed "no Listing". This morning the listings were again fully updated. :confused:

So when you send an email, what do you do to make sure it goes to Nick rather than Windsor (or anyone else)?

Mark

I can only suggest for you to put attention Nick in the subject line since they do not have seperate email addresses and all my email have been sent to Ce_customer_support@rovicorp.com. This has been a continuous email with different ones signing off on it and Nick was the last one.

You guys want your grid back faster? Get an Artec. ;)

The HostChan is still set on this TV (TVGOS V-9.1.56). The HostChan displayed is my OTA CBS station. This TV has TVGuide Daily, which shows listings 24 hours out. I disconnected the antenna from this TV on Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon the last 18 hours of listings showed "no Listing". This morning the listings were again fully updated. :confused:

So are you saying that it found the cable host, or did you reconnect the antenna?

Mark

My other DVR that does have a Grid (which was missing all of day-8 listings yesterday), is completely filled in this morning.

My listings were back this morning also. Looks like the Louisiana data may also come from the same source as Houston and Wichita.

Mark

So are you saying that it found the cable host, or did you reconnect the antenna?

Mark

The antenna is still disconnected. The HostChan still shows as "1:36-0" (antenna is on the second input on the Mits, CBS OTA is on UHF channel 36). The data has to be coming from the CableCard cable line.

The antenna is still disconnected. The HostChan still shows as "1:36-0" (antenna is on the second input on the Mits, CBS OTA is on UHF channel 36). The data has to be coming from the CableCard cable line.

So even though your host channel was set, it still searched for another source of data when it didn't find it on the host channel. I wonder if this is how all digital TVGOS devices work? I know analog doesn't work like that. Analog will continue to search for data on the host channel for several days before it gives up, and searches elsewhere, as many people discovered after June 12.

Mark

So even though your host channel was set, it still searched for another source of data when it didn't find it on the host channel.

Apparently so. The Hostchan still showed this morning as the OTA CBS station. The listings that had been missing yesterday were filled-in this morning.

I wonder if this is how all digital TVGOS devices work? I know analog doesn't work like that. Analog will continue to search for data on the host channel for several days before it gives up, and searches elsewhere, as many people discovered after June 12.
Mark

Maybe my TV "gives up" sooner because it only displays 1 day of listings, not 8 days?

Well, for the past 2 weeks, not getting my nightly updates. sometimes a front panel reset and then a 9012 vbi scan will reset the clock and then one night of updates. 2 nights ago did a TVGOS reset and have not even got a grid or adds back. Up to now, have been doing ok since June 12th.

Now, 2 nights ago, a banner message on screen from the networks or comcast, not sure which, stated that if you are having trouble with digital channel 5 (705 comcast with cable card)... rescan your channels because Channel 5 CBS just completed a digital equip. upgrade. Wondering if they turned TVGOS off...I did get the clock to reset...but what was odd, usually see the reset during the 9012 G test. The clock didn't reset until I went to the channel guide. Not the first time I've seen this. Can anyone shed some light on what's going on here in SF Bay Area?

Cw

I've been having trouble in the SF Bay Area for the last week as well. Still have a grid but not getting guide data, host channel is blank, HostSUFlags at 0xe68.

Last night I tried the VBI search (change channel to NBC 705, go to 963214785 menu, wait for 60 seconds, power off, wait overnight) and this morning I have guide data for three days but no still no host channel. Hopefully I'll continue to get guide data and pick up the host channel at some point.

Dave (in Pleasanton)

brubek & CWallace56: I've had no interruptions in TVGOS in the SF Bay Area -- full listings and grids, no issues, over the past couple of months. I'm OTA only, so it isn't a KPIX-5 issue, but possibly your cable provider. The upgrades on Sutro Tower moved the transmission points from mid-tower to the top, but didn't change anything within the signals. (OTA folks may want to rescan, to see if they pick up any additional channels).

Yesterday AM: Ok did the unplug/plug routine; and back to 0xe68 in a jiffy, with NumSearch 1.

Then 1PM a typical Houston Mini Hurricane; power out for almost four hours. So it starts over again with NumSearch 1 again.

This morning, listings are back, etc and back to 0xe68 again, with another NumSearch 1.

So what the heck, can’t hurt it………….so I will be kicking it once a day with “00000”; until, whenever, I get bored with it.

Both the Sony Box and the Plasma are on their own antenna feed (one splitter); the whole house amps and line taps are out of the loop. There are some minor improvements; CkSumErrors remain zero? Hum?

In this case the unplug/plug resolved the previous memory mis-match, and it has stayed that way.

brubek & CWallace56: I've had no interruptions in TVGOS in the SF Bay Area -- full listings and grids, no issues, over the past couple of months. I'm OTA only, so it isn't a KPIX-5 issue, but possibly your cable provider. The upgrades on Sutro Tower moved the transmission points from mid-tower to the top, but didn't change anything within the signals. (OTA folks may want to rescan, to see if they pick up any additional channels).
yes, my OTA system has also had no trouble with listings this week, either...

thanks for the rescan reminder...I think I'll do that, though I am doubtful I will get any of the channels that are from places like Fremont, with my present antenna configuration...

I've noticed a lot of use of the "unplug, wait, and plug back in" tactic recently. With a box that seems as fragile as this, wouldn't it be worth trying the EXIT + TVGUIDE buttons (simultaneously on the front panel) to effect a reset first?

[...]
This morning, listings are back, etc and back to 0xe68 again, with another NumSearch 1.

So what the heck, can’t hurt it………….so I will be kicking it once a day with “00000”; until, whenever, I get bored with it.

[...]


I'll join you. My host channel currently sets within 3 days. So I'm going to blank the host channel tonight, and then do the "00000" reset. then after 24 hours I'll record the HostSUFlags, and do the "00000" reset again. I'll repeat this for 10 days. Any time my host channel sets, I'll blank it before doing the nightly "00000" reset.

One of three things will happen:

1) My host channel will set consistently in well under 3 days, because the "00000" helps.

2) My host channel will still set about every 3 days or so, because the "00000" has no effect.

3) My host channel will set less frequently because the "00000" actually hinders the setting of the host channel (I think this is what will happen, but I don't know).

Mark

Really appreciate the info guys! I can get the clock back with a G test...so I did another full reset. I guess I'll give it the 3 day wait and see what comes...
Cw

I have a Grid on another unit this morning :)

See update:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17445200&postcount=19304

I'll join you. My host channel currently sets within 3 days. So I'm going to blank the host channel tonight, and then do the "00000" reset. then after 24 hours I'll record the HostSUFlags, and do the "00000" reset again. I'll repeat this for 10 days. Any time my host channel sets, I'll blank it before doing the nightly "00000" reset.

One of three things will happen:

1) My host channel will set consistently in well under 3 days, because the "00000" helps.

2) My host channel will still set about every 3 days or so, because the "00000" has no effect.

3) My host channel will set less frequently because the "00000" actually hinders the setting of the host channel (I think this is what will happen, but I don't know).

Mark

My money is on #2. The invalid zipcode means no/bad host data, not an invalid host channel. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Biting the bullet....Restored to Factory Default, loaded the update, and will now wait. This summer, had everything back in 24 hrs! Fingers crossed!!!
Cw

My money is on #2. The invalid zipcode means no/bad host data, not an invalid host channel. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Just to clarify, the "00000" is temporary, you set the zip code to "00000" then turn off the DVR, then turn it back on, and set it back to the real zip code. Leaving the zip code at "00000" would not even get listings, since that is like an "off" switch for the TVGOS.

Mark

It seems each NumSearch it goes through the “same pattern” of “LastCause/PreCause”; whether you wait for 4 days and the box does it OR it is sped up “00000”? I think?

Is the “cause” number the key on what is being fed/received to the Box? In otherwords because my box has an old legacy grid in it……….does that keep it from setting HostChannel? Until such time Rovi sends out some bullet to either make it work or kill it again?

During the last 2 or 3 weeks I have only seen “cause” of 8, 9, and 12 (the “12” was up to NumSearch 8)

With the Rovi outage on Thursday, they have fine tuned the ratio of items again – at least for Houston.

Yesterday on NumSearch 1 EPP was 21 and DPP was 11. Now with less than 24 hours on NumSearch 2 it has changed this much – see picture………many of the other fields have changed ratios too, but not as much.

Pic 7897: Low CheckSum Error – different antenna feed?

Pic 7898: Balanced Memory – box operates butter smooth/fast in all modes.

Pic 7899: NumSearch “1” created a cause of 9
NumSearch “2” created a cause of 8…………..I am only seeing “causes” of 8,9, and 12 in Houston. This pattern appears to be always the same.

Pic 7902: DPP began increasing over EPP on NumSearch 2. Was that a Rovi change? Was that a NumSearch cause change?

Generally, the box gets to 0xe68 in about 5-9 hours 95% of the time and stays there until the next NumSearch…………..5% of the time it gets to 0xf78. I think I have only seen the HostSUFlags change here on the third day or so to another level, maybe twice since the transition.

I may not do "00000" today because of time change? But that should not make a difference.

Just wanted to give a shout out and thank all those with the tips and steps on restoring the grid with the Artec. Was "gridless" in Atlanta on one of my DHG's for over a month. With the Artec, took less than 24 hours. Certainly worth the $54 investment, only wish I had taken advantage of the govt. coupon. Thanks everyone!

Pic 7902 7904 7905 7907: VBIStats comparison – first three are on NumSearch 2. Pic 7907 is on NumSearch 3 this AM

Pic 7908: Did a NumSearch 3 yesterday afternoon about 3PM; back to 0xe68 this AM with correct time. Maybe a search cause of “8” means a “00000” was executed-which it was in this case?


Mark, WS, JTbell, Spiff - have you guys picked up on a specific NumSearch Cause Number that creates the HostChannel? Is there one?

The antenna is still disconnected. The HostChan still shows as "1:36-0" (antenna is on the second input on the Mits, CBS OTA is on UHF channel 36). The data has to be coming from the CableCard cable line.

Do you still have OTA turned on in the setup? I got good data for over a year from analog OTA CBS with no antenna connected to the Sony. The picture was unwatchable on that channel, but TVGOS data was good enough.

It can be fun (:confused:) having two of these things and observing different behavior. This morning both my DHGs display the correct standard time on the front panel and on the screen clock; however, only the 500 received a TZ packet and updated the Clocks1 screen to show it's now on standard time with next change in March. The 250 didn't get a TZ packet and still has daylight info on the Clocks1 screen. I find it interesting how two OTA only units connected to the same antenna can march to different drum beats.

I found this morning , I have a host channel on the orginal working DVR and on my Sony TV. I also have a guide on the TV out about four days and always had a guide on the orginal DVR. Now the DVR that Sony said the tuner was bad, I don't have a host channel yet but I have one grid line without listing. Things are looking up, I hope.

Eddie :)

I found this morning , I have a host channel on the orginal working DVR and on my Sony TV. I also have a guide on the TV out about four days and always had a guide on the orginal DVR. Now the DVR that Sony said the tuner was bad, I don't have a host channel yet but I have one grid line without listing. Things are looking up, I hope.

Eddie :)

Great news, what do you mean by "...but I have one grid line without listing."? Also check the HostSUFlags on the gridless DVR, and see if the 3rd digit (from the left) is now 8 instead of 0. That would mean all three devices have received hostschedule packets which is what was missing before.

Mark

Great news, what do you mean by "...but I have one grid line without listing."? Also check the HostSUFlags on the gridless DVR, and see if the 3rd digit (from the left) is now 8 instead of 0. That would mean all three devices have received hostschedule packets which is what was missing before.

Mark

I just have one horiz line that goes out for several day with no listings. HostSUFlags 0xe4800000 and no host channel yet.

[...]

Maybe a search cause of “8” means a “00000” was executed-which it was in this case?


I think a Last search cause of 8 may just indicate that it was user initiated. a 9 may mean that it was system initiated. On my recovery page, the first NumSearch after the reset (by me) was an 8, then the two NumSearches that started as a result of the reset caused by each patch loading was a 9. I haven't noticed a 12 before, but that may be the 4.5 day recycle. I see 26 a lot which I believe is the result (or cause) of the host channel blanking on the 3rd day.


Mark, WS, JTbell, Spiff - have you guys picked up on a specific NumSearch Cause Number that creates the HostChannel? Is there one?

The LstSCause only indicates how the NumSearch started, it is not indicative of how it will end (with a host channel set, or a recycle). I have had my host channel set with LstSCause showing 8, 9, and 26.

Mark

I just have one horiz line that goes out for several day with no listings. HostSUFlags 0xe4800000 and no host channel yet.

So does the blank line indicate what channel it is?

Go to Setup, Channel display, and see if there aren't a bunch of channels in there that are turned off. It sounds to me like you have a grid, but all but one channel is turned off.

So does the blank line indicate what channel it is?

Go to Setup, Channel display, and see if there aren't a bunch of channels in there that are turned off. It sounds to me like you have a grid, but all but one channel is turned off.

You so smart, they were turned off and now I have full grid. Thanks.

The HostSUFlags on the working DVR is 0xff800000.

Mark,

I'm getting listings now and I guess this proves Sony techs don't know what they were talking about the tuner being bad.

Eddie

Mark,

I'm getting listings now and I guess this proves Sony techs don't know what they were talking about the tuner being bad.

Eddie

I don't know what they were thinking. One more thing I'd like you to look at (and hopefully the last thing ;))...

On the unit that has a HostSUFlags of 0xe4800000 (the one with the turned off channels), what does the LastASetEnd field show now? That should be when the host channel set. I'm guessing the host channel set, and then blanked again in a short period of time, for some reason.

Mark

.................I haven't noticed a 12 before . . . . .
Mark

I see 12's often. Probably more often than any other number.

I don't know what they were thinking. One more thing I'd like you to look at (and hopefully the last thing ;))...

On the unit that has a HostSUFlags of 0xe4800000 (the one with the turned off channels), what does the LastASetEnd field show now? That should be when the host channel set. I'm guessing the host channel set, and then blanked again in a short period of time, for some reason.

Mark

The LastASetEnd show N/A. Ask me any question you like. You sure answered many for me.

Mark, I believe the diffence in Version 8 and 9, the guide on the Sony tv only goes out two days.

I see 12's often. Probably more often than any other number.

I should have said, that in all the pictures I have of the VBI Info screen, I never see a 12. If we assume that the 26 happens when the host channel blanks, and the 12 happens at the end of a 4.5 day cycle when a new NumSearch begins, then what you say makes sense. Since you stated previously that your host channel sets about every 16 days, that would mean during the 16 days you would see a 26 when your host blanks, followed by a 12, 4.5 days later, then another 12, 4.5 days after that. Then your host channel would set during the next cycle. Whenever your host channel is set, you would see LstSCause=12, and PrvSCause=12. When your host channel blanks, you would see LstSCause=26, PrvSCause=12. After 4.5 days, LstSCause=12, PrvSCause=26.

Since mine rarely takes more than 4.5 days to set the host channel, then I seldomly see the 12.

Mark

The LastASetEnd show N/A. Ask me any question you like. You sure answered many for me.

This one has really thrown me a curve. I think we can say that your DVR did acquire a grid without ever setting the host channel. It will probably go ahead and set the host channel, but that doesn't matter now. I think that the way the grid appeared (with all but one channel turned off), is an indication that all the data wasn't quite in place when it appeared, but something made it appear anyway. If it hadn't been for that single line on the grid, I wouldn't have thought of suggesting to check the channel display screen.

And one more thing... you should email Nick at Rovi, and tell him that not only did his fix make your TV work, but it also fixed both of your Sony DHGs.

Mark

This one has really thrown me a curve. I think we can say that your DVR did acquire a grid without ever setting the host channel. It will probably go ahead and set the host channel, but that doesn't matter now. I think that the way the grid appeared (with all but one channel turned off), is an indication that all the data wasn't quite in place when it appeared, but something made it appear anyway. If it hadn't been for that single line on the grid, I wouldn't have thought of suggesting to check the channel display screen.

And one more thing... you should email Nick at Rovi, and tell him that not only did his fix make your TV work, but it also fixed both of your Sony DHGs.

Mark
Mark

Nick told me that he would let me know when things were complete and I'm going to wait until then. I plan to give him this forum hoping he will visit it and see how many out there are having problems. Do you think I might need to do a guide restore at some point? Of course it might straighten out over night.

Thanks
Eddie

Mark

Nick told me that he would let me know when things were complete and I'm going to wait until then. I plan to give him this forum hoping he will visit it and see how many out there are having problems. Do you think I might need to do a guide restore at some point? Of course it might straighten out over night.

Thanks
Eddie

I wouldn't consider a guide restore at this point. I'm confused as to why you might need one? What is left to straighten out?

I would watch the host channel on both units. The one that has the host channel set, should blank after 3 days. Then you want to see how long it takes to set again. The length of time between the blanking and setting of the host channel is the approximate amount of time it will take to recover from a reset. Mine takes anywhere from a few hours up to 3 days to set the host channel, so before I do a reset, I make sure I don't need to record anything for the next 3 days. Since my timezone packets are sometimes slow in coming, then I may not even have a clock for a couple of days, so I won't be able to set manual programs (easily).

Mark

I wouldn't consider a guide restore at this point. I'm confused as to why you might need one? What is left to straighten out?

I would watch the host channel on both units. The one that has the host channel set, should blank after 3 days. Then you want to see how long it takes to set again. The length of time between the blanking and setting of the host channel is the approximate amount of time it will take to recover from a reset. Mine takes anywhere from a few hours up to 3 days to set the host channel, so before I do a reset, I make sure I don't need to record anything for the next 3 days. Since my timezone packets are sometimes slow in coming, then I may not even have a clock for a couple of days, so I won't be able to set manual programs (easily).

Mark

I Was thinking about what this unit has been through and starting fresh but I have a full guide out seven plus days this morning. Still no host channel and the LastASet still at N/A. This one is now acting like the orginal one when it work withoug the host channel. I will watch to see if the host channel goes blank. Thanks.

I see 12's often. Probably more often than any other number.

Thanks Mark and WS for the feed back. Yep, I think the "8" is the user action from "00000".

When the Sony Box is left alone, I see a lot of "9"; maybe 25% "12".

If I recall, the "26" (or 24) showed up from the Artec?

So perhaps "cause number" does have some relationship to "when" or "how" HostChannel is set?

Eddie

Sound like good progress on the DHG.

In your next email to Rovi, suggest they work on Houston so we can set a "HostChannel" here.

Thanks Mark and WS for the feed back. Yep, I think the "8" is the user action from "00000".


But I sometimes see "8", and I've never done the "00000".

............... The length of time between the blanking and setting of the host channel is the approximate amount of time it will take to recover from a reset . . . . .


The key word here is "approximate". Of my 3 DVR's that I reset within 18 hours of each other between Oct 22nd and 23rd, one unit got a Grid on Oct 27th, one unit on Oct 31st, and the third unit still has no Grid.

If I wanted to live as the Houstonians do, I would move to Frickin' Houston!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The key word here is "approximate". Of my 3 DVR's that I reset within 18 hours of each other between Oct 22nd and 23rd, one unit got a Grid on Oct 27th, one unit on Oct 31st, and the third unit still has no Grid.

If I wanted to live as the Houstonians do, I would move to Frickin' Houston!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

We will be leaving Houston soon - at least that is the plan LOL

WS the "8" maybe from a action of some types? resets? or something like that? Once my SonyBox gets past an 8 it seems to bounce around from 9 to 12 most of the time..........but I have not followed those patterns too closely until just the last 10-15 days or so.

Still no host channel...

My NumSearch changed from 2 to 3 yesterday & "HostSUFlags" is now 0xee8000000. Does any of this mean anything? LOL

Thanks

The key word here is "approximate". Of my 3 DVR's that I reset within 18 hours of each other between Oct 22nd and 23rd, one unit got a Grid on Oct 27th, one unit on Oct 31st, and the third unit still has no Grid.

If I wanted to live as the Houstonians do, I would move to Frickin' Houston!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The third DVR (the last one that I reset, at noon on Oct 23rd) has a Grid this afternoon. :D:D:D When I checked this morning it was still Gridless, so the lineup appeared sometime during the day. So this one has taken about 10 full days from "9012 TVGuide Reset" to Grid. That is the longest it has ever taken for any of my units to acquire the Grid. The Hostchan on this unit shows as OTA PBS. My other units had chosen OTA CBS after the resets following the CableCard installations.

So from "9012 TVGuide Reset", one unit got the Grid in 4 days, one unit in 8 days, and one unit in 10 days. Go figure . . . .

Mark,

I just checked both DVR's, the orginal one lost the host channel, LastASetEnd was 10/31/09 00:31:05 and the other still has no host channel with LastASetEnd still at N/A. Both have full guide. TV has only one day guide and the manual states two days. Really the guide on the TV is not important but nice to have to make sure all is working proper.

Eddie

Mark,

I just checked both DVR's, the orginal one lost the host channel, LastASetEnd was 10/31/09 00:31:05 and the other still has no host channel with LastASetEnd still at N/A. Both have full guide. TV has only one day guide and the manual states two days. Really the guide on the TV is not important but nice to have to make sure all is working proper.

Eddie

Your host channel was set for just about 3 days, that seems to be the norm. The LastSrchSt field shows what time the host actually blanked (actually it is the time that the NumSearch started that resulted in the host blanking).

Mark

Still no host channel...
My NumSearch changed from 2 to 3 yesterday & "HostSUFlags" is now 0xee8000000. Does any of this mean anything?


Before I left for work yesterday morning, my NumSearch had also changed from 2 to 3, and my HostSUFlags was also 0xee8000000. I was disgusted because I figured I was in for another wait of several more days. But I was extremely pleased when I turned it on when I got home yesterday afternoon and was greeted with a Grid. :)

My advice to you would be to "just keep waiting". :o

Before I left for work yesterday morning, my NumSearch had also changed from 2 to 3, and my HostSUFlags was also 0xee8000000. I was disgusted because I figured I was in for another wait of several more days. But I was extremely pleased when I turned it on when I got home yesterday afternoon and was greeted with a Grid. :)

My advice to you would be to "just keep waiting". :o

That's encouraging thanks, I just checked mine & still no grid or Host channel. Getting a bunch of Ads & Clksets....maybe one day! :D

1 more question & I'll go back to the waiting game...

I saw this...will it make a difference on setting my host channel?

The "VBI Search Current Channel" code: (Note: This code was previously referred to as the "Force Host Channel" code, but it was brought to my attention that this wasn't actually what it does.) This diagnostic code appears to "force" the unit to search for (and download) VBI data on a channel of your choosing. This can then lead to the correct establishment of your host channel. This can be useful in situations when there are multiple host stations in a particular area, and you want to set the system to use the strongest station. WARNING: This should only be used during initial setup, or when the guide info has been completely reset. The host channel must be BLANK, as reported in the "753..." menu above. Unexpected results can occur if the system already has a host channel and this code is used. USE THIS CODE AT YOUR OWN RISK. ONLY A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TRIED THIS SO FAR, SO PLEASE DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER IF IT MESSES THINGS UP. The procedure to use this code follows:

1. Tune to the station (either OTA or cable) that you want to use as the host.
2. Press <GUIDE> - move the cursor over the SETUP item on the top menu bar, then press <DOWN>, followed by 963214785. If the code is received properly, the "Info" message just below "Change System Settings" should say "Searching Current VBI Channel".
3. Don't touch anything. The screen should disappear after 5 minutes. Once it disappears, turn off the unit and leave it alone overnight to magically download the guide.
4. On the following day, check the host channel with the "753..." menu described above. If it shows the host channel you tuned to in Step 1, you have successfully changed it! If not, try resetting the guide info and start over.


http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html#Section1110

1 more question & I'll go back to the waiting game...

I saw this...will it make a difference on setting my host channel?

http://www.spiffspace.com/sonydvr.html#Section1110

It won't help because your Sony is already finding the data, or you wouldn't have a clock and ads. That procedure was written before the digital transition, and was used to try to force the Sony to get data from a digital host channel, instead of the analog host channel. Although this would work, I think everyone who tried this ended up getting digital data for a short time, and then the DVR would revert back to the analog data which it much preferred. Since there is only once source of data in most areas, you don't need to point the Sony to it (it can find it on its own just like it always has).

With that said, I have never seen any harm come from doing this. In fact some people still claim that they used this to get a grid, but they really just hadn't waited long enough before doing it. Then after doing it they had the patience to keep waiting.

Mark

That's encouraging thanks, I just checked mine & still no grid or Host channel. Getting a bunch of Ads & Clksets....maybe one day! :D
I waited for over 4 weeks, clock and ads, but no grid. Bought the Artec T3APR-T and 24 hours later had grid and listings. Definitely worth the $54 investment, just wish I had taken advantage of the $40 off coupon. If I lose grid again or have to do a reset on of my units, I don't have to play the waiting game!

................... just wish I had taken advantage of the $40 off coupon . . . . .


metalav8b -

Just to be clear (since I've seen you make this comment several times) the coupon couldn't be used on any Converter Box that supported TVGOS. So stop kicking yourself!!! :eek:

I never did the update, and I've never had to wait long the couple of times I've ever had to reset it. Just did the G* test, and it came right back - clock sets within 5-15 minutes everytime.

How I know that I've lost the signal is when the ads are gone. I still have cached grid info by the time I notice it, so I don't ever lose that. Think I have missed a couple of recordings, though.

the coupon couldn't be used on any Converter Box that supported TVGOS.Sure it could - I, and millions of others, used one of mine on a DTV Pal, and many here have used one on the TVGOS Artec model.

No CECB actually uses TVGOS itself for it's own guide info - those two boxes only "convert" it for other devices.

:DSure it could - I, and millions of others, used one of mine on a DTV Pal, and many here have used one on the TVGOS Artec model....

Oh well, then in that case I stand corrected...... It just goes to show you how confusing Government programs can be. Healthcare Anyone ??? :D

I waited for over 4 weeks, clock and ads, but no grid. Bought the Artec T3APR-T and 24 hours later had grid and listings. Definitely worth the $54 investment, just wish I had taken advantage of the $40 off coupon. If I lose grid again or have to do a reset on of my units, I don't have to play the waiting game!

I may end up trying that....however I don't really wanna spend the money if I can get it to work for free...lol & its become a challenge for me as well. Thanks though, I will definitely keep that in mind.

It won't help because your Sony is already finding the data, or you wouldn't have a clock and ads. That procedure was written before the digital transition, and was used to try to force the Sony to get data from a digital host channel, instead of the analog host channel. Although this would work, I think everyone who tried this ended up getting digital data for a short time, and then the DVR would revert back to the analog data which it much preferred. Since there is only once source of data in most areas, you don't need to point the Sony to it (it can find it on its own just like it always has).

With that said, I have never seen any harm come from doing this. In fact some people still claim that they used this to get a grid, but they really just hadn't waited long enough before doing it. Then after doing it they had the patience to keep waiting.

Mark

I didn't think so...thanks for the response

I never did the update, and I've never had to wait long the couple of times I've ever had to reset it. Just did the G* test, and it came right back - clock sets within 5-15 minutes everytime.

How I know that I've lost the signal is when the ads are gone. I still have cached grid info by the time I notice it, so I don't ever lose that. Think I have missed a couple of recordings, though.

So are you saying that after a "reset to factory defaults" in the 9012 menu that you get the clock back in 15 minutes every time? Because of this statement: "I still have cached grid info by the time I notice it, so I don't ever lose that", it sounds to me like you haven't actually ever lost the grid. In which case you are comparing apples and oranges. Everyone gets their clock back in 5-15 minutes if they haven't lost the grid.

Mark

No, I've never lost the grid. Just the signal.

I've never needed to "reset to factory defaults".

Why have so many lost their grid and I never have, though?

At just after 19:00 EST (00:00 UCT) my cable VBI packets slowed then stopped. I hope it's my cable source only. I guess we'll know tonight.

I waited for over 4 weeks, clock and ads, but no grid. Bought the Artec T3APR-T and 24 hours later had grid and listings. Definitely worth the $54 investment, just wish I had taken advantage of the $40 off coupon. If I lose grid again or have to do a reset on of my units, I don't have to play the waiting game!

Thats what I did and it worked for me! Good Luck!

No, I've never lost the grid. Just the signal.

I've never needed to "reset to factory defaults".

Why have so many lost their grid and I never have, though?

It may seem like a lot of people have this problem, but that is because those are the people that you see posting here.

Here's one scenario that I believe happens a lot...
The first thing that people tend to do when something "goes wrong" (i.e. They see that their grid is filled with No Listings), is to do a search to find out how to reset the DVR to "make it work" again. Once they find out, they reset it. Then, after 5 minutes, when they don't have a grid, they do another search and find out that there is a firmware upgrade, so they install that. 10 minutes later when they still don't have a grid, they show up here.

Others have lost their grids due to lockups and such.

Mark

So, should you not update the firmware right after the reset?
Cw

So, should you not update the firmware right after the reset?
Cw

I'm reading between the lines here, but I assume that your TVGOS source is an analog cable channel. If that is correct, then it makes no difference whether you upgrade the firmware or not. The firmware upgrade only helps people who are receiving digital TVGOS data. If you still aren't getting a grid with analog data, then there is definitely something wrong with that data. Since you were getting data succesfully from them before, I would contact them and get them to look into the problem.

Mark

Talking to comcast has been a waste of time. Nobody has a clue. Tried to get someone higher up the ladder with no success. And I don't think Rovi will help a DHG... I do have a sony z4100 with version 9 TVGOS that works...with a host channel

Forced the host channel to cable 705 digital CBS tonight...and got a good clock. Will see what's up tomorrow.

Cw

Talking to comcast has been a waste of time. Nobody has a clue. Tried to get someone higher up the ladder with no success. And I don't think Rovi will help a DHG... I do have a sony z4100 with version 9 TVGOS that works...with a host channel

Forced the host channel to cable 705 digital CBS tonight...and got a good clock. Will see what's up tomorrow.

Cw

So was your host channel analog before now? I don't think anyone in the SF area has been able to recover a grid from the digital TVGOS. I think your only option is to get Comcast to start passing the SCTE-127 (analog) data again.

Mark

It may seem like a lot of people have this problem, but that is because those are the people that you see posting here.

Here's one scenario that I believe happens a lot...
The first thing that people tend to do when something "goes wrong" (i.e. They see that their grid is filled with No Listings), is to do a search to find out how to reset the DVR to "make it work" again. Once they find out, they reset it. Then, after 5 minutes, when they don't have a grid, they do another search and find out that there is a firmware upgrade, so they install that. 10 minutes later when they still don't have a grid, they show up here.

Others have lost their grids due to lockups and such.

Mark

That's so true. Two years ago I followed those steps also. The people who sell this DVR on eBay never tell you about the importance of TVGOS and how you need it for a clock, let alone a lineup and listings. All that has kept me involved in this forum are contributors like you. I guess that's why I bought two more.

The clock (or let's say time) is saved internally and comes back after power is restored should a power loss happen. Same with lineup and listings. Of course, if power is missing for long period, like a week, the listings will be wrong. I don't know how long time is saved (and updated internally), but it is also several days. There is a "clock update" sent every few hours, but that's like the Windows time update if you are online. It's used if needed, but not used if not needed.

A person could go nuts if they worried about what they DON'T know about this DVR!

Your host channel was set for just about 3 days, that seems to be the norm. The LastSrchSt field shows what time the host actually blanked (actually it is the time that the NumSearch started that resulted in the host blanking).

Mark

Mark,

The orginal DVR HostSUFlags is 0xe6800000 and working great. :) I won't refer to it anymore unless I have a question. The other one is working without problems but HostSUFlage remains at 0xe4800000. The failing clock channel is 0:17-0 and the clock channel is 0:44-0 which is correct. I have seen this before and it usually corrects itself but now its seems to be here to stay. WJWJ my host station is 16-1(44). Checking FCC all channel 17's are a 100 miles or more from me. What is the failing clock channel?

I'm still waiting to hear back from Nick@TVGOS.

Eddie

Got to 0xf78 in about 30 hours. I think that is the fastest yet for Houston. On NumSearch 3 now, and I have stopped "00000" about 2 days ago.

That is the second time MySonyBox reached 0xf78 in about 15 days I think? A good sign? LOL

Also, just like before, when it did go to 0xf78 the memory became mismatched again; but "used" is just "1" less than "allocated" - so far no operational issues noticed at this time.

Also, I have reconnected all the TV's in the house back to the antenna distribution system. I did find one connection "not tight" inside the wall behind the plasma and Sony Box. Since that is "tight" now - check sum errors have remained "zero"

Mark,

The orginal DVR HostSUFlags is 0xe6800000 and working great. :) I won't refer to it anymore unless I have a question. The other one is working without problems but HostSUFlage remains at 0xe4800000. The failing clock channel is 0:17-0 and the clock channel is 0:44-0 which is correct. I have seen this before and it usually corrects itself but now its seems to be here to stay. WJWJ my host station is 16-1(44). Checking FCC all channel 17's are a 100 miles or more from me. What is the failing clock channel?

I'm still waiting to hear back from Nick@TVGOS.

Eddie

I found that Knoxville, TN has a channel 17 with TVGOS data on it, so that is probably it. I read a description once about what the failing clock channel is, it was described as the last VBI channel that failed to set the clock, or something like that. So in your case it found this channel 17, saw that it had data on it, but probably lost the signal before it could set the clock. My failing clock channel is always my host channel, so I don't know why it would fail to set the clock... maybe whenever you interrupt it by changing channels when it is in clock seek mode?

Mark

Yes, in the past the host channel was analog. I have never seen a host channel in the 753 screen be a digital channel. Sometime during early summer, I recovered my grid from a full factory reset...maybe that was before comcast went to their own digital upgrade (not to be confused with the national digital change-over). Things were fine until about 3 weeks ago, and then lineups began to not update, and the clock was slow to reset after a warm reset (front panel). I was also having the lockup problem, and tried a couple of TVGOS resets to cure that without success. I thought I would just go with a full factory reset and start with a clean slate....Bad Idea. Things have obviously changes since early summer when I recovered everthing from a full reset in less than 24hrs. Forcing a CBS digital host was a bust. My TVGOS sony z4100 has a host channel of analog channel 9 (PBS)
Maybe I will try to force that and see what happens. Forcing the digital CBS did get my clock reset...but no adds or grids. And I guess I don't have the patience to wait weeks and weeks for something to happen. I'm 50 miles from SF and have been considering an OTA setup with a mast antenna. Seems that those in the immediate Bay Area with OTA have had few problems. Comcast sucks, because they really haven't a clue about all this....or I just can't find the one person to get an answer from.

Any suggestions are welcome at this time.
Anyone out there on Bay Area Comcast getting updates and/or grids?
I have a feeling I am one of few DHG on comcast around here.

Cw

We were watching the recording of the latest NCIS yesterday, and a few minutes into the show, the video starting getting very choppy. All of a sudden, it stopped suddenly, the screen went blank, and then I got the white SONY label across the TV. Front panel went blank, then "Welcome...." .:confused:

Uh Oh -- did my system just reset itself? Did it die? Are my recordings still there? Is my grid still there?:eek:

A few minutes after "Welcome..." appeared, it went off, and the front panel was completely dark, not even dashes for the clock. Oh Dear!

About a minute later, the dashes showed up, and within a minute of that, an incorrect clock appeared (about an hour off, but not exactly). A minute after, the clock resets to the correct time.

I turn the unit back on, and everything is back the way it was. Full grid, all recordings, schedules, etc. Watched the episode and was happy I didn't have to deal with any other DHG issues

Whew :D

my numsearch is now on 4 & my HostSUFlags is now 0xc2800000. Looks like I have 4 of the 9 packets...is that correct?

I was messing around with the Mark's simulator...

http://members.cox.net/mabuttra/tvgos/hostsuflags.htm

I just don't think I'm going to get anything from comcast. When I search the 753 pages...there is absolutely no activity. I exchanged my cable card on monday, but no help with that. My Sony Z4100 Tv is getting data, but it is not really correct. It is showing three digit (like 705, CBS digital) digital channels...where in the past they were the 5.1 (typical for a Quam tuner).
Something is out of wack with comcast. Of course, since their upgrade you have to use their cable converter box to get the "true" channels...probably why I'm getting weird stuff. Really trying to not get too into this, but it is driving me nuts.
If there is anyone on comcast cable not having problems, or is having problems, I would like to compare notes on this.
May try an OTA antenna soon to get this going again...at least for guide data.

Cw

............. my HostSUFlags is now 0xc2800000. Looks like I have 4 of the 9 packets...is that correct?


Yes

I just don't think I'm going to get anything from comcast. When I search the 753 pages...there is absolutely no activity. I exchanged my cable card on monday, but no help with that. My Sony Z4100 Tv is getting data, but it is not really correct. It is showing three digit (like 705, CBS digital) digital channels...where in the past they were the 5.1 (typical for a Quam tuner).
Something is out of wack with comcast. Of course, since their upgrade you have to use their cable converter box to get the "true" channels...probably why I'm getting weird stuff. Really trying to not get too into this, but it is driving me nuts.
If there is anyone on comcast cable not having problems, or is having problems, I would like to compare notes on this.
May try an OTA antenna soon to get this going again...at least for guide data.

Cw

I have Charter in my area, but the channel numbers that appear by default in my cable Lineup are also 3-digit numbers that generally match the Charter numbers if I were using a cable box. This was the case when I was using QAM, and is still the case now that I have CableCards. My units are also connected to an antenna. After the CableCard installation (on 10/19) caused the units to lose their HostChan and Grids, each unit reaquired the HostChan via OTA. Before the CableCards were installed, the units would randomly choose between OTA and Cable for the HostChan. An antenna may well help you, even an indoor set-top antenna that only gets an intermittant signal. One of my units is connected to such an antenna, and it successfully uses it to get the Grid.

Ordered a Terk HDTVo....from my research I should be able to pickup Sutro Tower 50 miles away....At least well enough for TVGOS.
If this goes well, I'm going to research and install a higher gain antenna and see if I can get rid of comcast. I'll miss some of the true cable channels, but other than live sports, I can watch them online. I'm time shifting a lot anyway...even though online viewing is not the same...
I'll post my results when I'm up and receiving...or not.

my numsearch is now on 4 & my HostSUFlags is now 0xc2800000. Looks like I have 4 of the 9 packets...is that correct?

I was messing around with the Mark's simulator...

http://members.cox.net/mabuttra/tvgos/hostsuflags.htm

I checked my unit that was at NumSearch 3 at the same time your had been at 3. It is now at NumSearch 4 also (like yours), and it also currently has 4 of the 9 bits set. But my HostSUFlags is at 0xe2000000, so the 4 bits set are different than yours. BUT, since I managed to set a HostChan and get a Grid on this unit during NumSearch 3, it doesn't make any difference what my HostSUFlags is now. I'll get listings regardless. :)

Ordered a Terk HDTVo....from my research I should be able to pickup Sutro Tower 50 miles away....At least well enough for TVGOS.
If this goes well, I'm going to research and install a higher gain antenna and see if I can get rid of comcast. I'll miss some of the true cable channels, but other than live sports, I can watch them online. I'm time shifting a lot anyway...even though online viewing is not the same...
I'll post my results when I'm up and receiving...or not.

I'm using an old Radio Shack "Double Bow Tie" (looks like a BBQ grille :)) with no amp on my single HDD500 that's not tied into my attic-mounted CM4228 with the CM7777 amp. My other two HDD500's (and two TV's as well) are tied into the attic-mounted antenna. I'm 40 miles from the transmitters, but there are no mountains or hills here. Twenty-five of the forty miles are over Lake Pontchartrain . . .

I'm using an old Radio Shack "Double Bow Tie" (looks like a BBQ grille :)) with no amp on my single HDD500 that's not tied into my attic-mounted CM4228 with the CM7777 amp. My other two HDD500's (and two TV's as well) are tied into the attic-mounted antenna. I'm 40 miles from the transmitters, but there are no mountains or hills here. Twenty-five of the forty miles are over Lake Pontchartrain . . .

I'm 50 miles with some hills in between. Luckily I'm up high enough to improve my reception. The HDTVo gets good reviews and isn't much harder to mount than a small "dish". I'll test it hanging out the window before I hard mount it:eek:....and go from there. It may be all I need to get all the channels on Sutro Tower, especially since they moved them up higher on the tower last month. This is just making me do what I've wanted to try for a long time. Thanks for the antenna info though....always like to hear about what is working for someone!!!

Cw

Well, stuff has started coming through....I think. Data changes in the 753 screens. Honestly, haven't tried to understand them...hoping that one day this will just be another appliance....not a rubiks cube....or a ouija board!
Geeeezzz... we are all very stuborn. Damn you Sony!!!
Cw

I found that Knoxville, TN has a channel 17 with TVGOS data on it, so that is probably it. I read a description once about what the failing clock channel is, it was described as the last VBI channel that failed to set the clock, or something like that. So in your case it found this channel 17, saw that it had data on it, but probably lost the signal before it could set the clock. My failing clock channel is always my host channel, so I don't know why it would fail to set the clock... maybe whenever you interrupt it by changing channels when it is in clock seek mode?

Mark
What difference would I notice, if any between HostSUFlags 0xe4800000 and 0xe6800000?

my numsearch is now on 4 & my HostSUFlags is now 0xc2800000. Looks like I have 4 of the 9 packets...is that correct?
I was messing around with the Mark's simulator...


I checked my unit that was at NumSearch 3 at the same time your had been at 3. It is now at NumSearch 4 also (like yours), and it also currently has 4 of the 9 bits set. But my HostSUFlags is at 0xe2000000, so the 4 bits set are different than yours. BUT, since I managed to set a HostChan and get a Grid on this unit during NumSearch 3, it doesn't make any difference what my HostSUFlags is now. I'll get listings regardless. :)

This afternoon, this unit (the one at NumSearch 4) has set it's HostChan again. This time it shows as "1:83-0", which is the QAM channel number for my local PBS channel. So this means that the DVR displays the QAM number and not the CableCard channel number ("712" in this case) in the HostChan field. It also means that the Sony can find and use TVGOS data via CableCard. :)

This afternoon, this unit (the one at NumSearch 4) has set it's HostChan again. This time it shows as "1:83-0", which is the QAM channel number for my local CBS channel. So this means that the DVR displays the QAM number and not the CableCard channel number ("704" in this case) in the HostChan field. It also means that the Sony can find and use TVGOS data via CableCard. :)


Kewl.

NumSearch 4 here early yesterday and a cause of "12" and HostSUFlag back to 0xe68; no HostChannel

This afternoon, this unit (the one at NumSearch 4) has set it's HostChan again. This time it shows as "1:83-0", which is the QAM channel number for my local CBS channel. So this means that the DVR displays the QAM number and not the CableCard channel number ("704" in this case) in the HostChan field. It also means that the Sony can find and use TVGOS data via CableCard. :)

Well with comcast in the SF Bay Area, my Cable Card did bring through the TVGOS data up to about 3 weeks ago...then it sputtered and stopped. However, pretty sure it was always an analog channel, but for a long time no host channel was set, so I can't be clear on what channel the TVGOS was on. Just wish I could get deep enought into Comcast to find someone who knows what I'm talking about (all the support staff thinks I'm talking about their guide data... they just don't have the info, but someone must). They direct you to the manufacturer (Sony), Argh!!!
Still, my Sony TV z4100 is updating...but that is a version 9 TVGOS (coming on analog channel 9, PBS). Now, why won't the DHG pick this up? Signal strength is 88%....but is the PBS channel itself weaker....can I boost the signal....just trying to make sense of this.

Cw

NumSearch 4 here early yesterday and a cause of "12" and HostSUFlag back to 0xe68; no HostChannel

I'm showing LstSCause as "26" and PrvSCause as "12".

Well with comcast in the SF Bay Area, my Cable Card did bring through the TVGOS data up to about 3 weeks ago...then it sputtered and stopped. However, pretty sure it was always an analog channel, but for a long time no host channel was set, so I can't be clear on what channel the TVGOS was on. Just wish I could get deep enought into Comcast to find someone who knows what I'm talking about (all the support staff thinks I'm talking about their guide data... they just don't have the info, but someone must). They direct you to the manufacturer (Sony), Argh!!!
Still, my Sony TV z4100 is updating...but that is a version 9 TVGOS (coming on analog channel 9, PBS). Now, why won't the DHG pick this up? Signal strength is 88%....but is the PBS channel itself weaker....can I boost the signal....just trying to make sense of this.

Cw

Version 9 TVGOS probably won't help you. I say probably again. About 3 weeks ago I watched the VBI packets sputter and stop on a Friday night. They started again on Sunday after the time change was over. I would never have noticed, except I usually check day 8 every day, and the ads will still show for about 48 hours after a packet loss. At midnight, when a new day 8 starts I only have data for 3 hours. It takes overnight for all of day 8 to fill in (or be displayed). Anyhow, my point is that to get things back to full working order I needed a reset via 9012 BUT NOT A FULL FACTORY RESTORE. It kept my .13 Sony firmware, clock, and TVGOS update. Only thing I lost were my counters in the diag screens. On the Reset Info screen it showed when I did the reset. I have 0xFF80.. usually. Above it, there is usually 0x80 also. But they change all the time. Guessing here, but the unknown bits could represent so many factors, like a missed update since I was recording a program or watching a recording. Or it could mean that the current packets are not for my zipcode/lineup. Hard disk activity freezes the updates. Power on or Standby mode don't seem to matter but I've never tried to catch either field making a change. I lived in San Mateo for 15 years. I found one way to get the attention of Comcast was to email their corporate HQ in Philly. Worked really well for me when I had a signal problem (before digital). Best of luck.

Ok, turns out I know someone who works as an engineer for Comcast. I had forgot about this until he came in to have his teeth cleaned today (I'm a dentist). He knew exactly what I was talking about!!! So...here it is....

The reason my TV gets the guide data is that I am feeding it the raw cable RF feed into the antenna port. Now, for an DHG with a cable card....spit the cable and feed it both into the cable connector in, and the antenna in.
Now the DHG will scan the antenna feed and find the TVGOS (either as analog CBS 5 or digital CBS 5). Can't wait to get home and try it....unless someone here knows otherwise. It should work though....because that is how my z4100 is getting it's signal.

When Comcast did their digital upgrade, I lost the upper channels above 36 and had to connect a converter box to get them...no longer using the quam tuner, and therefore, no longer getting the HD "X.1" channels. Without the box, I get the lower HD channels...

Geezzz...could it really be this easy.

Cw

What difference would I notice, if any between HostSUFlags 0xe4800000 and 0xe6800000?

It just means the DVR received another DPP packet (the first one received since the last NumSearch started). I don't know what DPP packets are for, or even what DPP stands for. On the VBI Stats screen is where the number of DPP packets are shown. You won't notice a difference, unless you happened to notice what the count was after the NumSearch started, but before it went to 0xe6800000.

Mark

I'm showing LstSCause as "26" and PrvSCause as "12".

That follows my thinking from here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17456643#post17456643). NumSearch 3 started as a result of the 4.5 day cycle (LstSCause 12), and ended with your host channel setting. Then NumSearch 4 started as a result of your host channel blanking yesterday (LstSCause 26), and ended today about 22 hours after it started with the host channel setting again. If everyone's host channel could consistently set in less than 24 hours, this message board would probably be dead.

Mark

Ok, turns out I know someone who works as an engineer for Comcast. I had forgot about this until he came in to have his teeth cleaned today (I'm a dentist). He knew exactly what I was talking about!!! So...here it is....

The reason my TV gets the guide data is that I am feeding it the raw cable RF feed into the antenna port. Now, for an DHG with a cable card....spit the cable and feed it both into the cable connector in, and the antenna in.
Now the DHG will scan the antenna feed and find the TVGOS (either as analog CBS 5 or digital CBS 5). Can't wait to get home and try it....unless someone here knows otherwise. It should work though....because that is how my z4100 is getting it's signal.

When Comcast did their digital upgrade, I lost the upper channels above 36 and had to connect a converter box to get them...no longer using the quam tuner, and therefore, no longer getting the HD "X.1" channels. Without the box, I get the lower HD channels...

Geezzz...could it really be this easy.

Cw

Did it work? I've got Comcast and a cablecard as well in Bellevue, WA. I get a full 8 days listings every now and then, but it suddenly disappears (even days where it was previously populated). I "reset" the guide by entering "00000" as my zip code, then re-entering my real one (98005). I'm to the point now of going down and picking up one of their DVR's...

So you guys are still fighting with your grids/guides?

So you guys are still fighting with your grids/guides?

You're not? OTA or cable?

night one brought no joy...

Cw

You're not? OTA or cable?
Nope. I got an Artec (highly recommended) and have had no issues.

I'm OTA, with QAM only cable, no analog cable channels.

night one brought no joy...

Cw

Have you tried popping the cablecard out, then re-inserting?

night one brought no joy...


And don't forget to do a fresh channel scan on the antenna input. And make sure that you can actually tune-in the station that you believe carries the TVGOS analog data.

That follows my thinking from here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17456643#post17456643). NumSearch 3 started as a result of the 4.5 day cycle (LstSCause 12), and ended with your host channel setting. Then NumSearch 4 started as a result of your host channel blanking yesterday (LstSCause 26), and ended today about 22 hours after it started with the host channel setting again. If everyone's host channel could consistently set in less than 24 hours, this message board would probably be dead.

Mark

Um, still on NumSearch 4 here; it did start over with VBIState, and early this AM it was 0x03, still with 0xe68.............now late this afternoon it is about 30 hours into NumSearch 4 VBIState of 0x05 and back to 0xf78. This is another first for MySonyBox - two sets of 0xf78's on two NumSearch in row and both at less than 30 hours.

You guys seem to be hitting VBIState of 0x06 or above to get too 0xff8

And the next Tuesday line up for CBS station went too "No Title's" - it was there and "scheduled" yesterday?

Looks like we're missing about the last 40 hours of listings here. It seems like Rovi's shut things down again . . . :rolleyes:

[...]
You guys seem to be hitting VBIState of 0x06 or above to get too 0xff8



It's true that the VBI State is always greater than 0x05 when the HostSUFlags is at 0xff8 (host channel set). However, I don't know which happens first, and I would guess they both happen at the same time. I believe that if the VBI state had to get above 0x05 before the host channel sets, then I would have seen it above 0x05 at some point when the host channel wasn't set, and I never have. Once the host channel sets, the VBI State is always above 0x05, until the host channel blanks again. In other words, the VBI State always being less than 0x06 on your DVR isn't the reason your host channel doesn't set, but happens because your host channel never sets.

Mark

rescanned the antenna input....It only found analog channels. Strange.
When scanned from the cable input(cable card out)....found all the analog and digital channels....lots of them. Analog 5 (CBS) and 9 (PBS) tune perfectly.
9 is the first channel that passed the G* VBI test in a long, long time.


So, If I put up an antenna (just spent the day running the coax, antenna arrives Tues.)....will it find the digital channels when connected to the antenna input?

Hoping to use OTA for grid/schedule and cable to view...

Cw

I wonder if the Engineers at Sony even understand all the "flags", settings and hex codes(it is hex, right?) anymore. I'm trying to not get that deep...just hoping things will get going.

And what the "H" with Rovi? Does somebody bump the switch by accident.

Cw

Is there a site where you guys who are slowly reverse-engineering some aspects of TVGOS have summarized your findings? I feel bad that you're having so much trouble. I haven't had any guide problems with my HDD500 (knock on wood) since early spring (when just everybody was having them). (OTA in Minneapolis, no converter box)

rescanned the antenna input....It only found analog channels. Strange.
When scanned from the cable input(cable card out)....found all the analog and digital channels....lots of them. Analog 5 (CBS) and 9 (PBS) tune perfectly.
9 is the first channel that passed the G* VBI test in a long, long time.

So, If I put up an antenna (just spent the day running the coax, antenna arrives Tues.)....will it find the digital channels when connected to the antenna input?

Hoping to use OTA for grid/schedule and cable to view...


The antenna input only "knows" about ATSC and Analog, not about QAM. That's why it only found analog channels. It cannot tune QAM channels on that input.

Looks like we're missing about the last 40 hours of listings here. It seems like Rovi's shut things down again . . . :rolleyes:

It looks like the listings are completely filled in again this morning. :)

Looks like we're missing about the last 40 hours of listings here. It seems like Rovi's shut things down again . . . :rolleyes:

My theory is that Rovi is updating their black boxes gradually. This seems to cause an outage of 12 to 36 hours. When my Rovi box (cable supplier) came back up I gave two of my units a reset (Reset Factory Defaults) and they were 100% overnight. I left one alone and it took four days to get happy with all known parameters.

This afternoon, this unit (the one at NumSearch 4) has set it's HostChan again. This time it shows as "1:83-0", which is the QAM channel number for my local PBS channel. So this means that the DVR displays the QAM number and not the CableCard channel number ("712" in this case) in the HostChan field. It also means that the Sony can find and use TVGOS data via CableCard. :)

FINALLY! I have my host channel and I GOT A GRID! :D Everything seems to be good, arranged my channel line-up last night. Took 3 weeks for it to happen. Comcast did change the host channel from 101.2 to 101.3 halfway through the process though.

I have one more question. I was disappointed it doesn't recognize the digital QAM channels. Under the channel editor it shows a digital fox channel (its the same channel number I would get with an antenna but says cable beside it) Is there any way to change the channel number to the actual QAM channel? I tried this and was unable to.

Thanks for everyone's help especially keeping me patient during the process. :D

co3bra -

Firstly, do us all a favor and go edit your forum profile (under UserCP) to include your location. Then it tells everyone that the Sony TVGOS works in that area.

You can edit the Channel Listings to tune the QAM channel numbers. go to the Guide, then highlight the station name (like CBS), then press the Menu button (on the remote), then select "Edit Channels". You will have to PgDn/PgUp to find the ones you want to edit, so it can be tedious . . . :eek:

co3bra -

Firstly, do us all a favor and go edit your forum profile (under UserCP) to include your location. Then it tells everyone that the Sony TVGOS works in that area.

You can edit the Channel Listings to tune the QAM channel numbers. go to the Guide, then highlight the station name (like CBS), then press the Menu button (on the remote), then select "Edit Channels". You will have to PgDn/PgUp to find the ones you want to edit, so it can be tedious . . . :eek:

Fixed my profile.

I tried that last night, maybe I was doing something wrong...I assume you are talking about changing the "tune channel" but I was never able to get it to a digital channel (ex I could type 103 in...but couldn't get the 103-1). If it was a single digit channel it worked, ex. 9-1.

BTW I have a harmony remote (don't have the original) so I may be missing something.

Edit: Its a touch screen remote and to get to the the - it is on another page on the menu....I think it is just too slow. I have another remote I'm going to try that isn't touch screen. Hopefully it will work for me.

Well, I woke up to find a grid....adds are gone.

host channel is fffffffd .....so, what is that.

now this was strange....I was viewing 707...but it reported the
VBI Channel as 1:0-586 a premium showtime channel, that I don't
subscribe to?

Still going to put up thebantenna for OTA...

Cw

I wonder if the Engineers at Sony even understand all the "flags", settings and hex codes(it is hex, right?) anymore. I'm trying to not get that deep...just hoping things will get going.

And what the "H" with Rovi? Does somebody bump the switch by accident.

Cw

Well, I popped the cablecard out yesterday and lost the grid completely. But, when i checked this AM, i have almost 8 full days of listings. I did split the cable coax and fed it into both the cable and antenna inputs, ran setup to show both cable and antenna inputs.

But, I'm still expecting the listings to suddenly disappear later this week as per usual.

Anybody know what I can sell this thing for on Craigslist?

Dale

hdd250 300-350

hdd500 450+

Cw

Fixed my profile.

I tried that last night, maybe I was doing something wrong...I assume you are talking about changing the "tune channel" but I was never able to get it to a digital channel (ex I could type 103 in...but couldn't get the 103-1). If it was a single digit channel it worked, ex. 9-1.

BTW I have a harmony remote (don't have the original) so I may be missing something.

Edit: Its a touch screen remote and to get to the the - it is on another page on the menu....I think it is just too slow. I have another remote I'm going to try that isn't touch screen. Hopefully it will work for me.

On the sony remote it is a "." decimal point. Try your Sony remote. :)

Or edit your Harmony configuration for the Sony to map the "." button in the database to the "+" button on the Harmony, which is what I do on my Harmony 670. If you're using some other model that doesn't have a "+" button, just pick a button that you're not otherwise using (much) and can remember easily.

When the RCN changes happened in my area (Lehigh Valley, PA) last month (Oct 28), I lost my TVGOS listings. I have a Sony DHG HDD250 dvr with CableCard installed by RCN, and have used it successfully for 2 1/2 years. Now when I try to do an AutoScan, I get the message "Warning Auto Scan Cable or Auto Scan All are not available with an active CableCARD." Does anyone know what that message means?

I could still get most of the channels, but with the new lineup, the labels on many of them were wrong. Thursday the 5th I had an RCN technician out. He'd never even seen a Sony HDD250 dvr before (!) but still fiddled around with its settings and re-pairing the CableCARD and more stuff for a couple of hours. We then turned off the dvr to try and get it to pick up channels; I left it off and went out of town for 3 1/2 days, came back tonight and turned on the dvr and tv and.....absolutely nothing. Absolutely no channels – labeled correctly or incorrectly – are now getting through and I now can not watch anything on the TV. ARGH! Any ideas of what I can try doing on my own, since the RCN technicians (both over the phone and in person) seem to be at a loss?

When the RCN changes happened in my area (Lehigh Valley, PA) last month (Oct 28), I lost my TVGOS listings. I have a Sony DHG HDD250 dvr with CableCard installed by RCN, and have used it successfully for 2 1/2 years. Now when I try to do an AutoScan, I get the message "Warning Auto Scan Cable or Auto Scan All are not available with an active CableCARD." Does anyone know what that message means?

I could still get most of the channels, but with the new lineup, the labels on many of them were wrong. Thursday the 5th I had an RCN technician out. He'd never even seen a Sony HDD250 dvr before (!) but still fiddled around with its settings and re-pairing the CableCARD and more stuff for a couple of hours. We then turned off the dvr to try and get it to pick up channels; I left it off and went out of town for 3 1/2 days, came back tonight and turned on the dvr and tv and.....absolutely nothing. Absolutely no channels – labeled correctly or incorrectly – are now getting through and I now can not watch anything on the TV. ARGH! Any ideas of what I can try doing on my own, since the RCN technicians (both over the phone and in person) seem to be at a loss?

I have a cable card installed in my 500 dvr. Apparently the card over-rides the cable scan feature and activates all the channels that you are entitled to. So the only valid scan is Antenna since the other two scans involve cable. I found that the cable card often assigns the wrong channel number, and so I use the channel editor to make corrections.

If you have an antenna, you need to do antenna scan to receive those channels. To get the cable channels, you can try extracting and re-inserting the card, which I've done with the unit in standby. If that doesn't work, try unplugging power for a few minutes.
If those steps fail to get your channels back, you may have a defective card.

With regard to the grid, it could take many days for it to repopulate. If you haven't installed the latest firmware, you may never get the grid back.
Ray

When the RCN changes happened in my area (Lehigh Valley, PA) last month (Oct 28), I lost my TVGOS listings. I have a Sony DHG HDD250 dvr with CableCard installed by RCN, and have used it successfully for 2 1/2 years. Now when I try to do an AutoScan, I get the message "Warning Auto Scan Cable or Auto Scan All are not available with an active CableCARD." Does anyone know what that message means?

I could still get most of the channels, but with the new lineup, the labels on many of them were wrong. Thursday the 5th I had an RCN technician out. He'd never even seen a Sony HDD250 dvr before (!) but still fiddled around with its settings and re-pairing the CableCARD and more stuff for a couple of hours. We then turned off the dvr to try and get it to pick up channels; I left it off and went out of town for 3 1/2 days, came back tonight and turned on the dvr and tv and.....absolutely nothing. Absolutely no channels – labeled correctly or incorrectly – are now getting through and I now can not watch anything on the TV. ARGH! Any ideas of what I can try doing on my own, since the RCN technicians (both over the phone and in person) seem to be at a loss?

Things to do on your own? You could, if you have no clock, pull the cable card and do a "Reset to Factory Default" and light a candle. If you still have a clock, then do the less drastic measure of "Restore Factory Default". What was your host channel before the October failure? You might go back to posts starting around Oct 28 and read forward to see what happened to others. Best of luck.

I have a cable card installed in my 500 dvr. Apparently the card over-rides the cable scan feature and activates all the channels that you are entitled to . . . . .


I had CableCards installed in my three HDD500's and also in a Mits LCD (w/ V9 TVGOS) about 3 weeks ago, and found the same thing. The channel scan is no longer available for the cable input.

I noticed the same thing about not able to scan for the channels when there is a cable card present. Now all the channels show up as a music channel instead of what is really there. Have not done a edit of the channels yet. Just hooked up an antenna to try and get a host station and a correct clock, but the signal was too weak (5%). Then this morning I noticed that the time was back and correct and showing 39 as the fail and set clock channel (2.1 wsb). Yet still no listings or signal on that channel showing up. AT least now the clock being set will help to set up manual recordings for now. At least until I can get a larger antenna to replace the DB2 since Woodstock is about 25-30 miles from the towers. Funny thing is 5.1 Fox and 11.1 NBC come in pretty good. You would think the other stations would at least show something, Oh, and the TV Guide did add in 2.1 to the lineup, even though it does not show up in the channel editor( not under the TVGOS, but the other one on the dvr).
Still have not heard back from Comcast as to when they plan or if they will be adding TVGOS back to their system.
Michael

UPS has it ont the truck for delivery! I'm wired (both) to go!

Can"t wait to see what OTA TVGOS will do....at least I will only be at the mercy of ROVI, and not comcast too!

Ok, so the new 6 month old dishwasher decided to die? And of course cutting power to the house kills the Sony.

So now Sony is back to NumSearch 1 with a cause of 9; but the repair man wont be here until tomorrow for the Dishwasher.

You have to cut power to the whole house to service the dishwasher?

Ok, so the new 6 month old dishwasher decided to die? And of course cutting power to the house kills the Sony.

So now Sony is back to NumSearch 1 with a cause of 9; but the repair man wont be here until tomorrow for the Dishwasher.

Well, at least now we know that a LstSCause of "9" means that the dishwasher died . . . :rolleyes:

You have to cut power to the whole house to service the dishwasher?

yes that is another long story..........................

My dishwasher is doing fine. Dodged a bullet there for sure!!!
Cw

Well the antenna will go up today sometime....but I have had a grid for 2 days now, but no adds or listings....dumb luck I guess.

UPS has it ont the truck for delivery! I'm wired (both) to go!

Can"t wait to see what OTA TVGOS will do....at least I will only be at the mercy of ROVI, and not comcast too!

I think you might want to restate that. You will still be at the mercy of Rovi and your host channel. True, Comcast can be hard to deal with, but at least they have a monetary interest in you. Will your OTA supplier be the same, better, or worse? If OTA was the answer to everyone's problems, this would be a much smaller forum. Be careful putting up the antenna, it's scary out there.

I'll join you. My host channel currently sets within 3 days. So I'm going to blank the host channel tonight, and then do the "00000" reset. then after 24 hours I'll record the HostSUFlags, and do the "00000" reset again. I'll repeat this for 10 days. Any time my host channel sets, I'll blank it before doing the nightly "00000" reset.

One of three things will happen:

1) My host channel will set consistently in well under 3 days, because the "00000" helps.

2) My host channel will still set about every 3 days or so, because the "00000" has no effect.

3) My host channel will set less frequently because the "00000" actually hinders the setting of the host channel (I think this is what will happen, but I don't know).

Mark

Today ended the first stage of my zip code reset experiment, and it looks like Joe Kustra was right, and number 2 is how it behaved.

Here is a recap:
Starting on 10/30/09 at 7:25pm, I did a zip code reset, which starts a new NumSearch, and clears the HostSUFlags to 0x00000000. Then every night for 10 days, I recorded the ending HostSUFlags value for that 24 hour period, and then did another zip code reset. Here are the 10 ending HostSUFlags values for the 10 days:

Day 1: 0xdf8
Day 2: 0xc68
Day 3: 0xc68
Day 4: 0xdf8
Day 5: 0xff8 (host channel set 15 hours after zip code reset)
Day 6: 0xdf8
Day 7: 0xff8 (host channel set 15 hours 26 minutes after zip code reset)
Day 8: 0xc68
Day 9: 0xc68
Day 10: 0xff8 (host channel set 8 hours 37 minutes after zip code reset)

What I learned:
The main thing I learned is that the zip code reset didn’t seem to have any effect on my host channel setting. My host channel didn’t even set until day 5 (usually it sets within 3 days). However, I don’t believe the zip code reset had anything to do with it not setting sooner. I simply did not receive a timezone packet during those first 5 days, and that is why my host channel didn’t set. The reason I say the zip code reset had no effect, was because my host channel set a total of 3 times over the 10 day period which is about average. If the zip code reset had any effect, I would have expected the host channel to set more frequently.

During the course of the 10 days, my DVR ended up on three different HostSUFlag values 0xc68 (4 times), 0xdf8 (3 times), and 0xff8 (3 times). Normally, 0xc68 is the most common value I see, and it was during this period also. It ended up at that value 4 days out of 10.

Interestingly every day that I got a timezone packet, my host channel also set. However, I believe if I had received a timezone packet on days 2, 3, 8, or 9, that my host channel wouldn’t have set since I lacked other information on those days.

So what’s next…

I’m going out of town for a few days at the end of the week, but when I get back, I’m going to repeat this exercise, but drop the zip code reset, and just let it go (I’ll record the HostSUFlag values every night). I will blank the host channel whenever it sets, but that is the only intervention I will do. I will then compare the 2 sets of results.

I’m fairly certain that the two results will look very similar, since I have watched this DVR cycle through these same values for months now, and nothing over the last 10 days seemed any different than normal (other than it took 5 days for my host channel to set the first time after starting).

Mark

Had been out of town for several weeks and yesterday when I checked my 500, several shows had not recorded, even though they are still listed in the schedule to do so. Last night I noticed that the red light was not showing for my 500 to record CSI Miami. Turn it on and found a white screen. Had to reset the unit in order to get it to work. Anyone else seen this? (still at .05)
Michael

The HostChan is still set on this TV (TVGOS V-9.1.56). The HostChan displayed is my OTA CBS station. This TV has TVGuide Daily, which shows listings 24 hours out. I disconnected the antenna from this TV on Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon the last 18 hours of listings showed "no Listing". This morning the listings were again fully updated. :confused:

The antenna has been disconnected from this TV for 12 days now. The TV continues to get TVGOS updates over the CableCard connection. The HostChan on this TV continues to be displayed as "1:36-0" (my OTA CBS station). So apparently this TVGOS V-9.1.56 TV (like the Version-8 HDDxxx's) does not specifically use the HostChan for anything except acquiring the initial Channel Lineup (Grid)? Unlike the HDDxxx's, The HostChan does not blank after a few days, and this TV does not appear to initiate a new search for a HostChan periodically.

Mark

Ok, for 10 days you did a "00000" every 24 hours (once a day for 10 days). Correct?

But only days 5,7, and 10 got both the HostChannel set along with timezonepkt?



>>Interestingly every day that I got a timezone packet, my host channel also set. However, I believe if I had received a timezone packet on days 2, 3, 8, or 9, that my host channel wouldn’t have set since I lacked other information on those days.


The second sentence most closely follows what is going on here - except no HostChannel set. MySonyBox gets several timezonepkts per day, and during the last month or so the most common HostSUFlags have been:

0xe68 85%
0xf78 15%


So this just means Rovi still has something missing for Houston.

(Hope the Dishwasher gets fixed today)


Side Note: Normally, you would get a HostChannel set within 3 days?.........but this time it took 5 days? Does that mean the "00000" everyday slowed it down? or just no effect?

Today ended the first stage of my zip code reset experiment, and it looks like Joe Kustra was right, and number 2 is how it behaved.

Here is a recap:
Starting on 10/30/09 at 7:25pm, I did a zip code reset, which starts a new NumSearch, and clears the HostSUFlags to 0x00000000. Then every night for 10 days, I recorded the ending HostSUFlags value for that 24 hour period, and then did another zip code reset. Here are the 10 ending HostSUFlags values for the 10 days:

Day 1: 0xdf8
Day 2: 0xc68
Day 3: 0xc68
Day 4: 0xdf8
Day 5: 0xff8 (host channel set 15 hours after zip code reset)
Day 6: 0xdf8
Day 7: 0xff8 (host channel set 15 hours 26 minutes after zip code reset)
Day 8: 0xc68
Day 9: 0xc68
Day 10: 0xff8 (host channel set 8 hours 37 minutes after zip code reset)

Mark

I reset my primary (used to record & play daily for 3.5hrs Mon-Fri) and have been keeping track of its counters since my "reset factory defaults" on 11/4. The HostSUFlags went from 0x808... to BF8 to FF8 by 11/6. The item above it (8 bits) seems to also monitor stuff, since it went from 0C to 07 to 08 to 08 where is has been for a while. I'm pretty sure, if there are no games played by Rovi or your host channel, you will come back to FF8/08 and a happy DVR.

I have been counting too. I've found that:

Time [NSane] (HH:MM:SS) happens every 15 seconds. Time is nice, but without a date, what does it really mean to a box that never eats, sleeps, or takes a vacation? You need that date to know what day it is. Too bad Sony didn't put DOW on the front panel.

Clock [Last CSet] (Date & Time) happens every few hours.

ZipPkts come by about once an hour. Probably before a listing update (or failure). These are real important for the lineup/listing system.

TZPkts come by about once every two hours. Probably to support the clock. Could also be needed for HI & AZ feeds. Does Hawaii have N/A in the next DST date field? Don't know but I am interested.

You can watch time packets by viewing NSane on Clocks-2 in real time. If recording or watching a recording, none of the above counters increment but the 8 bit flag may drop to 07 from 08 if "some" event happens. I'm still looking for that event. You can still have ads for 48 hours or longer without any Rover data. Have a nice trip.

my sony z4100 loved....full grid and listings Tvgos ver 9

dhg....the clock set, thats it.

I'm going to leave the cable card out for the week....I rescanned ant and cable. I'm still suspicious that the cable is card part of the problem.

Rovi must be working....hence my TV with full grid.

Also, the Sony TV found more OTA digital channels....PBS being the most
noticable (important?) missing from the DHG.

Cw

Both of my DVR's HostSUFlags are 0xe6800000.

This is the last email I got a couple of days ago from TVGOS.

Hello Eddie,

My engineers are putting the final touches to the fix. This should be completed very soon. Once this is complete I will let you know.

Thank you for your patience,

Nick

Once I hear things are complete, my plans is to ask Nick how this affects the rest of the country thats having the same problems.

my sony z4100 loved....full grid and listings Tvgos ver 9
dhg....the clock set, thats it.
I'm going to leave the cable card out for the week....I rescanned ant and cable. I'm still suspicious that the cable is card part of the problem.
Rovi must be working....hence my TV with full grid.
Also, the Sony TV found more OTA digital channels....PBS being the most
noticable (important?) missing from the DHG.


WARNING: I had CableCards installed in my three DHG's on Oct 19th, and the installation caused them to lose their Grids. So pulling out your CableCard is probably not a good idea. I believe that when you put it back in, you will lose any Grid that you may have acquired. YMMV.

Your DHG will likely take a few days (or more) to acquire the Grid. Mine three units took between 4 and 10 days to recover the Grid after the CableCard installations. In my area I have TVGOS available on CBS and PBS, both OTA and on cable.

Dishwasher is now repaired. Thermal fuse in the door went bad. Most likely the repeated rapid fire lighting strikes a few days back, weakend the fuse? It was running at the time of the strikes.


Now SonyBox on NumSearch 1 cause 9...............with old left over Artec Grid and a HostSU of 0xe68

Will leave it alone for 15 days and see if it can get HostChannel on its on.

Can we please have 15 days of electricity?

I had already lost my grid on a simple front panel reset. Weird.
I was scanning channels in repeatedly...by OTA PBS doesn't want to scan in, even though my TV picked it up fine and shows good signal strength.

I recaptured my grid this weekend when I split my cable feed and feed the raw cable into my antenna connection. Maybe it was a fluke, but I had my grid back in 2 days, but it did not populate. My TV shows PBS analog as the host...which is weird, because it only has digital PBS OTA. Maybe that is a hold over from a previous update. Definitely the TV works differently than the DHG. I'm trying to be patient, but after a few days it's hard not to start messing with things....trying to be an Adult!!!

For me, I really believe the key is getting the PBS OTA digital signal, even though I know that in the Bay Area, OTA CBS digital has been carrying the data.

I'm not even close to an expert on all the 753 menu's, but certainly since going OTA last night there has been a lot more activity, changing numbers and what appears to be TVG data flow....the screen that shows TVG updates and failed.

Cw

Has anyone gotton grid or updates in the daylight hours?

My grid is gone because I dumped it with a TVGOS reset.
Last night, everytime I tried to record manually with just the grid, no schedules, I would get locked up. I've had intermittent lockups before, but nothing like this, on different channels, all with the OTA channels.

Figured I would give it a reset and new channel scan to see what happens.
I almost think the lockups are the most annoying thing right now....are there hardware solutions for lockups (reformat drive, sending in to sony, pitching the unit out onto the front lawn, screaming at it so loud my neighbors can hear.....). Suggestions (yeah, there all in this thread somewhere!)
Cw

I was scanning channels in repeatedly...by OTA PBS doesn't want to scan in, even though my TV picked it up fine and shows good signal strength.........

I recaptured my grid this weekend when I split my cable feed and feed the raw cable into my antenna connection. Maybe it was a fluke, but I had my grid back in 2 days, but it did not populate. My TV shows PBS analog as the host...which is weird, because it only has digital PBS OTA.....

Has anyone gotton grid or updates in the daylight hours?

Can you connect the DHG directly to the cable that feeds the TV? Maybe you have a flakey cable or splitter.

The Grid most always seems to appear more quickly with an analog host, although the Listings take longer to fill in with analog. Your cable company appparently is converting your PBS digital station to analog, and providing the TVGOS data in the signal also.

You do have the new firmware update, right? You will need that to establish a digital host, unless you plan on running the G*test.

My last unit to get a Grid following the CableCard installation got it during the daylight hours. :)

I've swapped the cables around to test...may have had one weaker cable...but the bottom line is that while watching both the TV and HDG at the same time (swapping inputs back and forth and also PIP) the DHG needs a stronger signal. My Terk HDTVo is amplified, and I've tried adding additional amplification with limited success. I'm 50 miles from the Sutro Tower with some hilly terrain. My signal strength can have some pretty deep dips from time to time....not quite why such extreme changes, but I'm on a pretty moderate antenna. I am on a mild hill myself, which helps alot...going to try to get up on the max roof height (another 10 feet) which will get completely over my neighbors tree. If I can get success with this setup, I will probably persue a stronger antenna solution.

Cw

Why don't you just remove the splitter (and the TV) from the antenna, at least until you get a Grid on the DHG. The splitter reduces the signal by about 2.5db to each device. Hopefully you will have a Grid in 3 or 4 days.

What about your firmware revision?

Yes, the latest firmware is installed. I will probably connect directly to the DHG this evening. Last night I did both, so that I could see what the TV brings in and how it updates. The TV with the TVG v9 firmware does behave differently, and updates quickly....everything within 24hrs.

Thanks!
Cw

Mark

Ok, for 10 days you did a "00000" every 24 hours (once a day for 10 days). Correct?


Yes, I cleared the HostSUFlags to 0x000 each night, and then recorded the HostSUFlags value the next night, then cleared it again to 0x000, and repeated for 10 days.


But only days 5,7, and 10 got both the HostChannel set along with timezonepkt?


Correct, I should also mention that on day 5, and 10, I got 1 timezone packet on each day, but on day 7, I got 3 timezone packets. This is very typical for my area.


[...]

Side Note: Normally, you would get a HostChannel set within 3 days?.........but this time it took 5 days? Does that mean the "00000" everyday slowed it down? or just no effect?

No effect. This exercise revealed something that I haven't really thought about before. It seems like I get at least 1 timezone packet every three days, because my host channel almost always sets within 3 days after it blanks. However, I generally don't pay attention to how many timezone packets I get during the 3 days that my host channel is set. So if it takes 3 days to get a timezone packet after my host channel blanks, I may have gone up to 6 days without getting a timezone packet. So going 5 days without a timezone packet may not be that unusual.

Mark

Yes, the latest firmware is installed. I will probably connect directly to the DHG this evening. Last night I did both, so that I could see what the TV brings in and how it updates. The TV with the TVG v9 firmware does behave differently, and updates quickly....everything within 24hrs.

Thanks!
Cw

I may have lost track, but the last I knew, nobody in the SF area had been able to recover a grid with the digital TVGOS data. avnstf may be able to shed some light on this, since he seems to keep a close eye on his DVR. I'd think about connecting the DVR back to your analog cable source until it gets a grid (like you had it connected the other night), and then connect it to the antenna to get data.

Mark

Well, after leaving the whole system unplugged for 24 hours, I can watch shows again, but the TV guide is still unpopulated, the channel labels are still wrong, and the clock is wrong. According to the RabbitEars Digital TVGOS Service listing, KYW Ch3 CBS is my host station. I updated to the latest firmware last spring and TVGOS and recording were working great - without an antenna - until this October disaster called "improvement". I guess I will start bombarding RCN's service line with phone calls; maybe they'll eventually get the idea there is something to fix. In the meantime, I'm investing in an antenna and will see whether that helps.

host channel 1:0-9
adds back
some population

somehow the cable card prevents my grid from coming back
right now raw cable in and OTA in

so now, what happens when I plug the card back in?

Mark...no one has gotten a grid back with OTA digital? ....hence why people
are using converter boxes. We really are a fanatical bunch!

This isn't going to last forever, is it....

Cw

[...]
Mark...no one has gotten a grid back with OTA digital? ....hence why people
are using converter boxes. We really are a fanatical bunch!

This isn't going to last forever, is it....

Cw

No one has gotten a grid in the SF Bay area, that I know of, unless something has changed in the last month or two. Most areas of the country are working ok, but there are some areas that seem to have important "grid building" data missing. It hopefully won't last forever, but it will last until Rovi quits spouting the "we don't support the Sony" line, and actually starts looking at the data being transmitted in these area that are having problems.

Mark

Thanks Mark!

Any idea if I lose my grid if I re-insert the cable card?

First I'm waiting until the updates stop or develop problems

Cw

Any idea if I lose my grid if I re-insert the cable card?


My three HDD500's (which had Grids for months) all lost their HostChan and Grids immediately when the CableCards were installed.

It could be that the only TVGOS that is working (over cable) in your area is the "SCTE 127" analog TVGOS. But I would continue to try with the antenna if I were you.

Thanks Mark!

Any idea if I lose my grid if I re-insert the cable card?

First I'm waiting until the updates stop or develop problems

Cw

I think you will lose it. I think the TVGOS has to get the new cable card channel lineup which is part of the grid building process. However, you should be able to split the coax again, and feed the antenna input so that it sees channel 9. After your grid is back then you can switch it back to the antenna.

Mark

Now both units are not recording. Locking up when time to record. Not even with a manual set or set at start of the program. Have to think it is something in the transmission here in Atlanta. I show 2 different host stations, both of which are now giving me bad reception. Low strength, breakups. So far though, only my CBS record schedule has been affected, but have not had anything (other networks) scheduled to record. Will check tonoght though to see if L&O SVU records without a hitch.
Michael

No effect. This exercise revealed something that I haven't really thought about before. It seems like I get at least 1 timezone packet every three days, because my host channel almost always sets within 3 days after it blanks. However, I generally don't pay attention to how many timezone packets I get during the 3 days that my host channel is set. So if it takes 3 days to get a timezone packet after my host channel blanks, I may have gone up to 6 days without getting a timezone packet. So going 5 days without a timezone packet may not be that unusual.

Mark

Thanks Mark

Ok, this is the latest: My plans are to leave it alone for 15 days. If Rovi does not send out a HostChannel set during that time frame........then I guess that means it is still broken for Houston.



Pic 7914: Power back on 11/09/09 about 3PM. Ok, 15 more days makes it about 11/24/09 or so. Somehow I feel Cause Number, VBIState are somehow related to get a HostChannel set? MySonyBox almost “never” gets above 0x05 for VBIState. And the ever so common 0xe68. If the last two weeks are any indication then I should see 0xf78 one or two times now and 11/24/09?

Pic 7915: I think it took almost 12 hours before a DPP showed up? I will be happy to share TimezonePkts with anyone that needs them. The surplus does me no good at all.

Pic 7916: Power reset 11/9/09. Um? Why does error tracker show reset time of 15:24 and VBI Info page show 14:51? Guess the “tracker” could not post until it felt it was complete with the process? Funny Beans.

[...]
Pic 7916: Power reset 11/9/09. Um? Why does error tracker show reset time of 15:24 and VBI Info page show 14:51? Guess the “tracker” could not post until it felt it was complete with the process? Funny Beans.

I think I know the answer. Whenever my DVR loses power, and it comes back on, the clock is off (usually it loses time). I speculate that when your clock came back it had gained 30 minutes or so. That is the (wrong) time indicated by the reset. Then when the first clock set happened (probably just a few minutes after the power on), it corrected the clock, and started the new NumSearch.

Edit: After thinking about this some more, the NumSearch time is probably the wrong time, and the Reset time is the correct time. The NumSearch probably started as soon as power came back reporting the wrong time. The first clock set filled in the Reset time.

Mark

So I had read early this year that comcast was indeed supporting this for the TVGOS. I wish I had an explanation why the cable card does not allow it to come throught consistantly. Maybe things have changed in the last week....but until I started feeding my cable raw(cable card out) either into the cable or ant connector, things were very flaky.

MY TV receives CBS digital just fine, but the DHG can't find it, and I have rescanned many, many times (add from antenna). This weekend I am moving my antenna up higher on the roof and I'll see what I get. If it works...I'm probably going to drop down to the most basic cable....or non at all (just because I want to drop comcast for awhile). The only thing that worries me is if I were to lose my grid.....I think a D-A converter box would do the trick though....from what I have been reading here.

Really appreciate all the help....hope this is helping too!

Cw

And this morning I had an updated grid...all seems to be going normal right now. But no cable card in....may try that this weekend and rebuild from there.
Cw

And this morning I had an updated grid...all seems to be going normal right now. But no cable card in....may try that this weekend and rebuild from there.
Cw

Are you sure your cable company has your card configured in the system right?

....may try that this weekend and rebuild from there.
Cw

Lately the weekends have been a bad time to "try things". Rovi seems to often shut off the TVGOS data around here from late Friday to sometime on Sunday. YMMV.

Both of my DVR's HostSUFlags are 0xe6800000.

This is the last email I got a couple of days ago from TVGOS.

Hello Eddie,

My engineers are putting the final touches to the fix. This should be completed very soon. Once this is complete I will let you know.

Thank you for your patience,

Nick

Once I hear things are complete, my plans is to ask Nick how this affects the rest of the country thats having the same problems.

I think there's a conspiracy out there to disable our units. Craigslist! Now, the next thing we all need to worry about are the WD IDE hard drives. These things don't last forever, and when was the last time one came in a new computer? FWIW and IMHO.

Well....it's new card....plugged it in and I get the right channels.
Not sure what else to setup!?

I put it back in tonight....feeding the antenna connector raw cable. I agree that you can't count on Rovi on the weekends!

The last couple days...raw cable has lots of drops... but not through the comcast box. What's up with that?

Cw

Well....it's new card....plugged it in and I get the right channels.
Not sure what else to setup!?

I put it back in tonight....feeding the antenna connector raw cable. I agree that you can't count on Rovi on the weekends!

The last couple days...raw cable has lots of drops... but not through the comcast box. What's up with that?

Cw

When I had Charter cable, I pickup a card and when I put it in I was only getting a few digital channels. Of course I called and they had to send out a tech. He when into the cable card menu on the DVR, called in the IP address that was listed and everything worked great up until I changed over to DirecTV. This was before the analog shut down.

Well....it's new card....plugged it in and I get the right channels.
Not sure what else to setup!?

I put it back in tonight....feeding the antenna connector raw cable. I agree that you can't count on Rovi on the weekends!

The last couple days...raw cable has lots of drops... but not through the comcast box. What's up with that?

Cw

Earlier this year I had a drop out problem (pixelation) on stations that were converting to digital. My cable company told me they were having problems with their feeds from the networks. Might have been a brush off, but it cleared up after a few weeks. Since they have been sending the same channels in clear QAM, I have all my analog channels disabled except for the host channel and I never watch it except for a 9012 test sometimes.

I do the 9012 test on Saturday morning to see if Rover has turned off packets when Day 8 is missing. It's not like it used to be, but they still do it sometimes.

Well no update last night. Rovi, where are you???....

Both my TV and DHG received nothing. Of course, since I re-inserted the cable card for the DHG I'm waiting for a grid. Have rebuilt the grid 3 times this week trying different setups with Cable, Cable Card and OTA.
The grid comes back fast without the Cable Card.
The host channel is PBS(analog) all this week when I have had a grid. Never CBS.

Cw

The host channel is PBS(analog) all this week when I have had a grid. Never CBS.


When you tune to your OTA CBS or OTA PBS stations and look at the ATSC-Slicer page, do you see any live data updating?

The PBS OTA (right now it is actually the raw cable feed into the Antenna Connector) is showing activity... so this is the analog feed of PBS since it is going into the antenna connector.

When I had the cable card out with the cable in and the OTA antenna feed in (real antenna)...some of the screens looked like the NY Stock Exchange.
THe most activity I had ever seen...more adds then I had ever seen.
Stupid Cable Card.....just my opinion that somehow it filters the signal.

Cw

For the past 3 days I'm not receiving any VBI packets on WUSA-DT via FIOS (G* test.) Can anyone confirm reception OTA/cable? It's been fine for the past few months. TIA.

One of my HDD500's (the main one in the family room) apparently decided to reboot/reset itself last night, losing it's Grid. :mad: We had been watching SYTYCD and then Criminal minds last night, during which time the DVR had been responding v-e-r-y slowly to the remote. :o I had CSI-NY set to record, but that did not occur. Apparently it reset itself shortly after I turned it off after Criminal Minds ended. :eek::eek::eek: The "Cause" shows as a "9" for those interested in such things.

So now I'm waiting for a Grid on my primary unit once again . . .

Today 7am No Grid, No Host Channel

7pm No Grid, Host Channel Set (ota PBS, Analog.. raw cable in ANT)

Grid Tomorrow!


Side note....with a full grid this week, cable card out, no recording lockups
Hmmmmm.... we'll see with the card back in

Cw

Ever since I upgraded my receiver I have had no problems receiving the GUIDE.

One of my HDD500's (the main one in the family room) apparently decided to reboot/reset itself last night, losing it's Grid. :mad: We had been watching SYTYCD and then Criminal minds last night, during which time the DVR had been responding v-e-r-y slowly to the remote. :o I had CSI-NY set to record, but that did not occur. Apparently it reset itself shortly after I turned it off after Criminal Minds ended. :eek::eek::eek: The "Cause" shows as a "9" for those interested in such things.

So now I'm waiting for a Grid on my primary unit once again . . .

Still on NumSearch 1 here with cause of 9...........However, it did start over with VBIState again. I saw it at 0x03 around noon yesterday and back to 0x05 by 5PM. We watced about 4 shows off it yesterday, and recorded 3 last night.

It gets only 1 or 2 DPP's per day, and several EPP's per day (a dozen I guess). Now the box is getting almost as many EPP's per day as timezonepkts.

Today is a new day, who knows?

Still on NumSearch 1 here with cause of 9...........However, it did start over with VBIState again. I saw it at 0x03 around noon yesterday and back to 0x05 by 5PM. We watced about 4 shows off it yesterday, and recorded 3 last night.

It gets only 1 or 2 DPP's per day, and several EPP's per day (a dozen I guess). Now the box is getting almost as many EPP's per day as timezonepkts.

Today is a new day, who knows?

I lost Rover last night for about six hours starting around 10pm EST. It's starting up now, slowly. At 6am I had no clock set, no packets and no day 8 and no ads. The last Aset was two days ago. It's up to 150ppm now, I have a valid host channel, but still a failing clock channel. I'd venture that Rover doesn't cause an update to all boxes at once. They probably phase it in across the country. At work we update all the Windows workstations with security patches monthly and make them reboot in blocks. I'm guessing, with 40k+ computers, it would be a bad idea for the home office to reboot all of them at once.

Recording LOCKUPS!!!

For a few days I had the cable card out of my DHG. With a full grid rebuilt (in 24hrs) no lockups, fast and responsive.

Cable Card is back in, grid is up and slowly updating....but I'm back to recording lockups!?! And back to a sluggish machine. I'm convinvced that my cable card is connected to the lockups....and it all started I think with comcasts digital transition. Not sure what to do about it...this is a new card from 2 weeks ago....and no better than the other card.

Cw

Recording LOCKUPS!!!

For a few days I had the cable card out of my DHG. With a full grid rebuilt (in 24hrs) no lockups, fast and responsive.

Cable Card is back in, grid is up and slowly updating....but I'm back to recording lockups!?! And back to a sluggish machine. I'm convinvced that my cable card is connected to the lockups....and it all started I think with comcasts digital transition. Not sure what to do about it...this is a new card from 2 weeks ago....and no better than the other card.

Cw

Lock Ups are a memory issue (with lots of different causes - typically grid related etc).

Some lock ups can be cured by unpluging the Sony Box about 5-6 minutes, then plug it back it. The clock should come back in 30 min to no longer than 6 hours.

That will not do any harm and it may be a quick solution.

For the past 3 days I'm not receiving any VBI packets on WUSA-DT via FIOS (G* test.) Can anyone confirm reception OTA/cable? It's been fine for the past few months. TIA.

Incorrect clock and no grid from CBSHD via Comcast cable card on my DHG since last night. G* test shows VBI data; I suspect WUSA may not be transmitting TVGOS data for some reason. Hopefully it will come back in a day or two.

For lockups....I'll try the unplug and wait 5 minutes.
Really doubt that's a solution. Was fine without the cable card in and a full grid. The lockups occured on a brand new grid build in the last 36hrs.

It has been a persistant problem sine early summer. I know I can get my grid back as needed....but if the lockups don't stop, I'll be looking for another DVR.
Any chance it is hardware specific...not that I can really count on Sony being able to repair anything. Seems like a 50/50 thing if they even try to fix something without returning it saying all is normal, no problems found.

Cw

For lockups....I'll try the unplug and wait 5 minutes.
Really doubt that's a solution. Was fine without the cable card in and a full grid. The lockups occured on a brand new grid build in the last 36hrs.

It has been a persistant problem sine early summer. I know I can get my grid back as needed....but if the lockups don't stop, I'll be looking for another DVR.
Any chance it is hardware specific...not that I can really count on Sony being able to repair anything. Seems like a 50/50 thing if they even try to fix something without returning it saying all is normal, no problems found.

Cw

If the unplug/plug routine does not help then.....

The next choice for Lock Up (what I call the "hard" lock up while attempting to record etc)...........would to be to use the spiffspace instructions here:


http://www.spiffspace.com/forum/index.php?topic=38.0


usually that will work.



If that does not work, then next would be.

Restore Factory Defaults (via 9012)



Also, you may want to wait for others to respond.........seems everyone has their own remedies for this.

MySonyBox is about 4 hours away from going to NumSearch 2........and it just now went to 0xf78 - it is taking its sweet time!

I now think each set of VBIState it goes through it becomes able to move the HostSUFlag to the next level; while still within the same NumSearch.

So if the Box could get through at least 3 or more sets of VBIStates whild in the same NumSearch, it could hit 0xff8..........and win the cigar!

For lockups....I'll try the unplug and wait 5 minutes.
Really doubt that's a solution. Was fine without the cable card in and a full grid. The lockups occured on a brand new grid build in the last 36hrs.

It has been a persistant problem sine early summer. I know I can get my grid back as needed....but if the lockups don't stop, I'll be looking for another DVR.
Any chance it is hardware specific...not that I can really count on Sony being able to repair anything. Seems like a 50/50 thing if they even try to fix something without returning it saying all is normal, no problems found.

Cw

I find your posting really hits the mark that is often ignored. And if you feel that the DHG it's just a fancy toaster you should find something new. 50/50 is our biggest problem. Sony doesn't make this product anymore and probably wishes it had never made it. They have done more than I ever expected to keep it running after the digital transition. Yet it is still just a platform to allow you to make recording via a TVGOS system that Rovi would love to trash. Rovi makes money from fees on their software (and not just Sony hardware) and the ads (in a market that is hurting for revenue). Throw in HULU and other web-based content, the DHG is amazing in its very existence. Right now my three DHG units are used as wonderful digital VCR's and I'll keep using them until my cable supplier makes it physical impossible or they melt. My cable supplier is going 100% QAM except for local OTA conversion, and giving away QAM to (primitive) RF only analog converters for expanded basic cable. No SDV yet, but that can happen any day. Just dreaming here, but when is there going to be a STB for flat panel televisions? How will they do that? It should be a windfall for the first company that makes it happen. But if your big flat screen is mounted on a wall, where does that STB mount? I have looked seriously at the Roxi, Dish, and DirectTV. None can do what I can do now for even twice the price. My DSL line is marginal for speed and no fiber closer than two miles. But no cable would mean losing 50% of my favorite channels. I'm not ready for that. Yet I'm making plans. Nothing lasts forever.

But no cable would mean losing 50% of my favorite channels. I'm not ready for that. Yet I'm making plans. Nothing lasts forever.Just FYI...Moxi recently dropped their price on their dual-tuner HDTV DVR to $499. They also released a new triple-tuner HDTV DVR with a bundled HD extender (sold separately for $299) for $799.

Moxi supports Multistream CableCards like the TiVo, but unlike TiVo, it also supports ClearQAM mapping so you can get guide data on digital cable channels (i.e. locals) without a CableCard.

Moxi, TiVo, DTVPal DVR Feature Comparison Chart (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17063966&postcount=2)

TiVo is also expected to unveil an updated DVR at CES in January.

I agree with you completely....planning for the future, but love my DHG.
Just frustrating that it sort of works. I'd be ok if it just was not supported and we moved on to other options...none of which are as appealing as what the DHG is capable of....for free! My first Tivo I paid the fee for lifetime guide data...it is SD only and sits unused...needs the hard drive reformated and software installed (nice thing about the tivo...you can do that).

So I will probably keep at it until it has a major hardware death. As I said in my last post....right now it is the lockups that are frustrating....and for that I blame comcast...because without their cable card it works perfect. Just wish I knew what the solution was. I might have a tech from comcast come out and see if I'm missing something in the setup...but I'm not hopeful.

Cw

What a weird world...your cable provider is going 100% clear QAM.....and Comcast is going to encrypt everything.

Just FYI...Moxi recently dropped their price on their dual-tuner HDTV DVR to $499. They also released a new triple-tuner HDTV DVR with a bundled HD extender (sold separately for $299) for $799.

Moxi supports Multistream CableCards like the TiVo, but unlike TiVo, it also supports ClearQAM mapping so you can get guide data on digital cable channels (i.e. locals) without a CableCard.

Moxi, TiVo, DTVPal DVR Feature Comparison Chart (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17063966&postcount=2)

TiVo is also expected to unveil an updated DVR at CES in January.

That's a great comparison chart, thank you. It does not state you can use the Moxi without an external input to set the clock and it does state you can not do manual recordings should your internet interface break. I have a laptop that may be a cheaper alternative, at least for a "proof of concept" test. I'll wait until it becomes a crisis. I usually do. It would still be a gamble since my cable service sends its QAM64/256 channels in a form that Sony can not use for its guide and that also may be true for the Moxi or Tivo. I would have to buy one to find out. Maybe next year. I need to payoff a new Sony 32XBR9 first.

I agree with you completely....planning for the future, but love my DHG.
Just frustrating that it sort of works. I'd be ok if it just was not supported and we moved on to other options...none of which are as appealing as what the DHG is capable of....for free! My first Tivo I paid the fee for lifetime guide data...it is SD only and sits unused...needs the hard drive reformated and software installed (nice thing about the tivo...you can do that).

So I will probably keep at it until it has a major hardware death. As I said in my last post....right now it is the lockups that are frustrating....and for that I blame comcast...because without their cable card it works perfect. Just wish I knew what the solution was. I might have a tech from comcast come out and see if I'm missing something in the setup...but I'm not hopeful.

Cw

What a weird world...your cable provider is going 100% clear QAM.....and Comcast is going to encrypt everything.

Wierd? True. But what really hurts is giving my old Sony TV to my mother, who gets her cable service out of a different office of the same company 8 miles away and gets all her basic cable (USA, TNT, etc.) in clear QAM High Definition. No card, no box, just everything including the NY & Philly network channels in HD too. I could have cried when I finished the scan. All I get is the 5 local network feeds in HD.

With Cable Card In, lots of lockups until I warm reset, and sometimes takes a few times. Old Story! Sorry to be repetitive.

Does this have a connection to my now having OTA.
doesn't seem to matter which channel....used to be mostly USA HD

Antenna working well...solved my spotty reception by attenuating the signal down 7.5db with a splitter, yes down. Seems while my TV likes it either way, the sony doesn't like too much of a signal. My TVHDo IS 16db amped, and thats too much for the sony. This antenna works pretty well out 50 miles and some hills between ne and Sutro. Not to get someone too excited here in Santa Rosa...I'm on a pretty good hill myself, which is why it works well.

Anymore Lockup ideas...nothing works after the nightime download...back to resets to jump start it.

Cw

Mine has also lost guide data. I haven't checked the VBI packets but the clock is wrong and guide isn't filled in anymore.

For the past 3 days I'm not receiving any VBI packets on WUSA-DT via FIOS (G* test.) Can anyone confirm reception OTA/cable? It's been fine for the past few months. TIA.

Mine has also lost guide data. I haven't checked the VBI packets but the clock is wrong and guide isn't filled in anymore.


I emailed the Wash DC WUSA 9 station engineer on Friday. He was prompt and courteous in his response but basically said 'we do not adminster the TVGOS server...at all.' I subtly suggested a reboot..but he didn't take. Wish there was at least some checkup he was willing to do. He forwarded my email to Rovi who contacted me with the 'your Sony isn't guaranteed to work with digital transition blah blah' and asked for further data (ATSC slicer type stuff.) I'm still not getting VBI packets at all (FIOS...old firmware G* test.)

I emailed the Wash DC WUSA 9 station engineer on Friday. He was prompt and courteous in his response but basically said 'we do not adminster the TVGOS server...at all.' I subtly suggested a reboot..but he didn't take. Wish there was at least some checkup he was willing to do. He forwarded my email to Rovi who contacted me with the 'your Sony isn't guaranteed to work with digital transition blah blah' and asked for further data (ATSC slicer type stuff.) I'm still not getting VBI packets at all (FIOS...old firmware G* test.)

Climb the food chain: email the station owner and everyone in sales & marketing. It sounds like you have nothing to lose but time.

Mine has also lost guide data. I haven't checked the VBI packets but the clock is wrong and guide isn't filled in anymore.

Sorry, but I'm running 100% as of this posting via cable. No STB or cable card. Give it 24 hours then recheck the data.

All weekend I've had good VBI data on OTA CBS Digital. I've reset the clock 5-6 times after reboots due to recording freezes. Early 2010 I may try a PC cable card tuner with Win 7....the new Ceton due early 2010 looks interesting...or maybe ATI will get it together.

Cw

Anymore Lockup ideas...nothing works after the nightime download...back to resets to jump start it.

Cw


Lockups: Did you try the 3 different methods suggested in order?

Both the 2nd and 3rd methed will correct lockups; unless the cable company is sending corrupt data and or there is something wrong with the box?

Pic 7917: Relatively fast to 0xf78, with a VBIState re-cycle. Could 0xff8 be close?

Pic 7918: Memory imbalance again. Remote did act a little funny last night. Is lockup going to return? Time will tell.

Pic 7919: All new relationships with EPP, DPP, SortControl, and TimezonePkts. Have no idea what it means.

Pic 7920: Still full 8 day schedules.

If the box does get to 0xff8 on its own along with hard lock up; then I will do a “Reset Factory Defaults” “without” the Artec and begin the Sony Turtle Dance.

I've....
1) Warm front panel reset
2) The TVGOS method with all the re-scans of channels...cable disconnected, reconnected....
3 Full Factory Reset

I've tried those....and the unplug power for 5-6 minutes.

Any others?

Cw

I've....
1) Warm front panel reset
2) The TVGOS method with all the re-scans of channels...cable disconnected, reconnected....
3 Full Factory Reset

I've tried those....and the unplug power for 5-6 minutes.

Any others?

Cw

ok, well try this (one small step at a time). Look at picture 7918 above

Does your allocated "equal" Used Blocks? Are they different (like picture 7918)?

They are different...
Cw

They are different...
Cw

ok, next step.

unplug for 5 min. then plug back in.

leave it off until such time the clock on the front is correct.

now check the memory again.

are the equal? (even tho they may be changing).

if they are now equal, then use the box until it locks up again and check the memory again to see if they have become un equal.