Any way to help the Sony? Fewer channels? Fewer guide channels turned on? Speculation?

There isn't really any way to help it.....

Ahem... MDI . . . :D

It's not a station, or Rovi issue. It is totally the Sony that is mssing those packets. I guarantee you they are there. I have had the exact same data "missing" for up to a month at a time, but TSReader clearly shows they are there in the stream. The Sony just misses them.

Mark

Well guess it can happen.

In the meantime the local station responded, and indicated there is a problem and they are making a "firmware bug fix" (thats all the specifics they gave).........and that I should see a change on or after the 23rd.

In regard to the Sony just misses them........in could be related to the fact I did a full tuner rescan (ant and cable); that is the same time it created the 8 Key Drops.

So if it does not self correct after the 23rd, then I will do a TVGOS reset, which would blow out the grid - I may be chicken. LOL

Does MDI work on missing DPPs?

Remember I am still getting bits 1, 2, and 3 without a problem.

Ahem... MDI . . . :D

Does MDI work on missing DPPs?

Remember I am still getting bits 1, 2, and 3 without a problem.

Yes, but... I went for a month, a little less than a year ago, with very few EPPs coming in (maybe one a week). I was able to use the MDI to get one a couple of times, but it is much more difficult, since the time that EPP, and DPP data arrives varies from city to city, based on the length of the burst. Mine come in around the 30 second mark. The data at the start of the burst is much easier to interrupt since it always happens within a second or two of the 15, and 45 minute mark. The DPPs, and EPPs come in a little more than halfway through. Since the length of the burst varies in each city (mine is about 48 seconds, New Orleans is a little over 30 seconds. I think LA is over a minute), you almost need to be able to log, and analyze the TSReader data to see when they happen. Even with that, I probably attempted it about six or seven times before I finally got one.

Mark

Last night I was able to go from 0xfd8 to 0xff8 using the following method:

Where hh=hour, before hh:14 (or hh:44) start the "971397135 Factory G* Test Screen".

Then repeatedly press the remote control [3] button, for 'ATSC Test', until hh:16 (or hh:46).
{ 3,testing,pass,3,testing,pass,etc }

Last night I was able to go from 0xfd8 to 0xff8 using the following method:

Where hh=hour, before hh:14 (or hh:44) start the "971397135 Factory G* Test Screen".

Then repeatedly press the remote control [3] button, for 'ATSC Test', until hh:16 (or hh:46).
{ 3,testing,pass,3,testing,pass,etc }

Interesting. Maybe this is an alternative (not mechanical) method of achieving an MDI. Or maybe this induces a hyper-sensitive state in the DHG that causes it not to miss data during the burst?

Ok, the local station made the firmware change late yesterday ahead of schedule (there may be more to come?). Anyway received 6 DPPs last night, host channel set, and specific clock set.

They have asked me to do a Unplug/Plug Reset to confirm that all data is coming in. So I did that about 2 hours ago and will see what I have in the morning. So far so good.

Just received another email from the station the additional work planned for the 23rd, has been reschedule to Jan 31st and Rovi has indicated they will be present.

So it is all a "stay tuned" situation. LOL

NY DMA, OTA + Cablecard Hdd unit, with TVGOS coming in OTA only.

I'm pleased to report that my unit which had a 9012 wipe has re attained grid, and listings. I'm waiting for all eight days to show up, but things look very good. NY TVGOS is again on line.

Thank you unsung engineers at WCBS-DT, and your compatriots at Rovi.:)

Missing TVGuide stickers will drop the value to $80/each. :D

and I'lll send the $240 today for all if that's ok :)

NY DMA, OTA + Cablecard Hdd unit, with TVGOS coming in OTA only.

I'm pleased to report that my unit which had a 9012 wipe has re attained grid, and listings. I'm waiting for all eight days to show up, but things look very good. NY TVGOS is again on line.

Thank you unsung engineers at WCBS-DT, and your compatriots at Rovi.:)

Got my clock back with the correct time last week, but after 3 TVG resets, still no data. NYC area. Anyone else experiencing this ?

Got my clock back with the correct time last week, but after 3 TVG resets, still no data. NYC area. Anyone else experiencing this ?

You need to stop resetting it. It can take from a few days to a couple of weeks to get the grid back on these things. Resetting it just starts the whole process over again.

Mark

http://av-pix.com/2012/DHG_Sale/DHG's.JPG

I listed my 3 DHG-HDD500's for sale on the AVS Classifieds for what I think is a reasonable price for a quick sale, $350 each plus shipping, $1000 plus shipping for all three. Remotes, Original Packaging, Power Cords, and Manuals included. These DHG's were working fine when I unplugged them, before shipping I will plug them back in just to be sure . . .

AVS ad with more pictures: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16876

Missing TVGuide stickers will drop the value to $80/each. :D

Good News and Bad News...

Good News first - I sold one of my DHG500's today thru my Classified ad here on AVS. The buyer (if he chooses to make himself known) is an AVS member since 2007, but has NEVER posted. I assured him.. THAT WILL CHANGE!!! :D

Bad News second - When gathering up stuff for today's shipment, I found that I can only locate two original Owners Manuals. I coulda swore I had all three, but maybe not . . . :o

Bad News third - I still have two more DHG's to sell . . . :eek:

Good News fourth - When packing the sold DVR for shipment, I discovered one of the $270 TV-Guide stickers was in the box. QZ3FWD... Get in touch with me for my Paypal address so you can send me the $270 for the sticker, like you indicated it is worth . . . :D :D :D

http://av-pix.com/2012/DHG_Sale/$270_Sticker.jpg

Good News fourth - When packing the sold DVR for shipment, I discovered one of the $270 TV-Guide stickers was in the box. QZ3FWD... Get in touch with me for my Paypal address so you can send me the $270 for the sticker, like you indicated it is worth . . . :D :D :D


I'll peal the lable off mine and undercut that price by $15. :D

Good News and Bad News...

Good News first - I sold one of my DHG500's today thru my Classified ad here on AVS. The buyer (if he chooses to make himself known) is an AVS member since 2007, but has NEVER posted. I assured him.. THAT WILL CHANGE!!! :D

Bad News second - When gathering up stuff for today's shipment, I found that I can only locate two original Owners Manuals. I coulda swore I had all three, but maybe not . . . :o

Bad News third - I still have two more DHG's to sell . . . :eek:

Good News fourth - When packing the sold DVR for shipment, I discovered one of the $270 TV-Guide stickers was in the box. QZ3FWD... Get in touch with me for my Paypal address so you can send me the $270 for the sticker, like you indicated it is worth . . . :D :D :D

http://av-pix.com/2012/DHG_Sale/$270_Sticker.jpg

OK-once I can confirm that the device is gauranteed to work flawlessly in my area I will be sending you a check for the monies.:D
The bad news is that since the sticker has been removed and damaged, the value has dropped significantly.

Srsly though-I have a 250 I bought brand new not too long ago and I have kept the sticker on it. I really wanted a new 500, but was waited too long to click the buy it now button and someone else got it. so a couple months later I saw another NIB unit listed and pounced on it.

Good News and Bad News...

Good News first - I sold one of my DHG500's today thru my Classified ad here on AVS. The buyer (if he chooses to make himself known) is an AVS member since 2007, but has NEVER posted. I assured him.. THAT WILL CHANGE!!! :D

Bad News second - When gathering up stuff for today's shipment, I found that I can only locate two original Owners Manuals. I coulda swore I had all three, but maybe not . . . :o

Bad News third - I still have two more DHG's to sell . . . :eek:

Good News fourth - When packing the sold DVR for shipment, I discovered one of the $270 TV-Guide stickers was in the box. QZ3FWD... Get in touch with me for my Paypal address so you can send me the $270 for the sticker, like you indicated it is worth . . . :D :D :D

http://av-pix.com/2012/DHG_Sale/$270_Sticker.jpg

Good News fifth - This morning I found the other original Manual that I couldn't find in "Bad News second" . . . :)

No TVGOS the last 4 days from WCBS-NY via Comcast Cable in Northern NJ.

No TVGOS the last 4 days from WCBS-NY via Comcast Cable in Northern NJ.

Yes, something is amiss OTA as well. I had full listings on the unit I didn't touch, and had reattained grid (!) and most, but not all listings on the 9012 reset box (and what downloaded as far as listing/channels was much more accurate than the mess that had accumulated over time.)

Today, Sunday, I have Monday and Tuesday full, Wednesday and Thursday partial, and Friday all "no listings"

Maybe the cat jumped on the box ?

If people are having a problem with virtual channel 2, CBS, which is now a UHF channel, they should look to the fact that there is a broadcaster on VHF channel 2, running a low power digital signal with subchannels. It is a Televanglist sort of station, and I can pick it up weakly 40 miles north of the City, along the Hudson, using an older " far fringe" antenna for VHF/UHF. (Back in the day, I got analog 3 from Philly pretty regularly) It causes problems with one of my TV sets, as it will scan, assign "2" to the televangist station, and omit virtual 2-no CBS DT. I finally worked around by pulling the wire for the first few seconds of "scan" so it would have passed VHF 2 when I re attached, and then virtual map WCBS HD. The signal has two-three SD digital channels with different evangelists on them. The tv set with the issue mentioned now has 2.1 as cbs, but if I put in 2.2 I get the VHF channel 2 program. (I've confirmed the RF channels in the diagnostics menu-also signal strengths are very different)

Why the FCC licensed this, even at low power, after going to all the trouble to clear out low VHF, is beyond me.....

I have the same problem with channel 25, which is the NYC channel, but it maps to a shopping channel on 24. I can't get the NYC channel anymore-which had a grab bag of pbs style programming..both virtual and actual channels input get me the shopping channel. Oh well

I'll bet I'm not the only OTA person who had this problem with channels.

I lost my clock, grid and listings today, I had them Friday but today there gone. This is weird cause it's been working correctly for so long and I've not done anything different. It worries me that my clock is all of a sudden gone and my listings too. Somethings weird for it to just vanish like that. So what should I do a front panel reset?

Houston Status

HostSUFlag will only reach 0xee8. It reaches that level very quickly (about 5-6 hours); but has remained that way for 5 days, into second NumSearch.

Data bits 1 and 3 are missing. As a side note getting about 4-6 DPPs per day now. Data bit “2” (station pkt cousin), comes in on a regular daily basis.

I have no idea if the box is now skipping them (because patterns have changed or whatever), or if they are actually missing.

As of now there is a planned on-site Rovi firmware changed scheduled for January 31st. I am skeptical that a firmware change will be for the benefit of a Version 8 box?

No TVGOS the last 4 days from WCBS-NY via Comcast Cable in Northern NJ.

Same on FIOS

Problems continue, guide did not populate today.

Best is today I get an email from Rovi, thanking me for my patience and telling me the problem is resolved.

I sent back a polite reply advising of listing status...NOT.

Oh well.

I got my clock back so that is a good sign but I still have no listings and there is no host channel showing. I may need to leave it off for 3 full days hopefully the host will come back.

I swear I love this machine when it's working but when it loses grid listings all of a sudden it takes days sometimes weeks for everything to get back to normal and I grow to hate the machine, it's a love/hate relationship :rolleyes:

I got my clock back so that is a good sign but I still have no listings and there is no host channel showing. I may need to leave it off for 3 full days hopefully the host will come back.

I swear I love this machine when it's working but when it loses grid listings all of a sudden it takes days sometimes weeks for everything to get back to normal and I grow to hate the machine, it's a love/hate relationship :rolleyes:

The MACHINE actually works pretty well for a six year old device, better than the SA 8300 POS the cable company gave me. It's the TVGOS that is the problem.

After many days of 0xeef it went to 0xff8 about 6:45am, that is a strange time for Houston.

I still have that Crazy Rovi Feeling after Jan 31st it all may be history LOL

After many days of 0xeef it went to 0xff8 about 6:45am, that is a strange time for Houston.

I still have that Crazy Rovi Feeling after Jan 31st it all may be history LOL

In one way that would be funny I guess. I would miss it, but nothing lasts forever. Maybe a DHG will find a home in the Smithsonian, like the Altair.

In one way that would be funny I guess. I would miss it, but nothing lasts forever. Maybe a DHG will find a home in the Smithsonian, like the Altair.

2030, Smithsonian, HDD 250 and HDD 500 in a display case, placard reads....

"For a brief period of time, consumers were permitted to own an HD TV recorder. This was eliminated in the later revisions to the HDMI/HDCP standard (confidential rules and regulations) where it was decided by content holders that all recorders must be leased and controlled by a third party" with a required fee arrangement.

Of course, today, it would not have the proper copyright notifications to the content holders so the consumer could be billed per program. Still, it lasted about 7 years, and was used mostly to steal programming without making required pay per view payments to the fourth branch of government, the Bureau of Copyrights.

In one way that would be funny I guess. I would miss it, but nothing lasts forever. Maybe a DHG will find a home in the Smithsonian, like the Altair.

Why Jan 31st ? Here in NY it worked, then stopped. They'd not have bothered if there was a cutoff in two weeks. At this point, the units are well amortized-one will live on as a tuner for a 32 inch SD set, and the other can sit there - we will still use it to buffer....really, it would be more work to remove them at this point. When they die for good, then I'll probably go TiVo....but there should be five or six ota recorders on the shelf at the local Big Box.

How hard it is to connect an ATSC chip to a recorder ? Why has no one done this ? You could even do it without HDMI.....since OTA is 1080i, you don't need HDMI to pass it (You don't need HDMI for anything, really but DRM, and WE don't need that part).

Maybe a clock set screen ? Oh, I'll stop now.

How hard it is to connect an ATSC chip to a recorder ? Why has no one done this ? You could even do it without HDMI.....since OTA is 1080i, you don't need HDMI to pass it (You don't need HDMI for anything, really but DRM, and WE don't need that part).

Maybe a clock set screen ? Oh, I'll stop now.

It's not hard for the CE manufacturers. We both know that.

Sony learned their lesson watching Tivo...

I have a DHG-HDD250 tuner with remote, original box, and owner's manual. If someone would like to purchase it let me know here.

I have a DHG-HDD250 tuner with remote, original box, and owner's manual. If someone would like to purchase it let me know here.

You should place an ad in the AVS Classifieds, and then link to it here in the forum. ;)

Why Jan 31st ? .

The Jan 31st goes back to one of my post(s). Last news I got from the local station applied to "Houston" - Rovi is/was planning an "on-site" firmware change to the inserter (Houston) on that date.

I was making a joke that this could kill off the Ver 8 boxes.

Of course that could have occurred yesterday since I finally got a Host Channel Set.

The way all this junk works, may not know for sure until Feb 15th or so, a couple on Num Searches after the "planned change"? Time will tell.

Recent missive from Rovi:

Thank you for the recent update. Data was back for a few days, but does appear to be down again. Engineers are investigating, and we are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon. This ticket is being moved to our escalation queue, and once an update is received here we will contact you. Your patience is appreciated.

CE Technical Support
Rovi


I have no idea what an escalation queue is, unless it is a line for the elevator, but at least they know what is "not" going on.....

Recent missive from Rovi:

Thank you for the recent update. Data was back for a few days, but does appear to be down again. Engineers are investigating, and we are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon. This ticket is being moved to our escalation queue, and once an update is received here we will contact you. Your patience is appreciated.


Received same just now.

...TVGOS is back on WCBS. Hopefully this bodes well for KYW in Philly to do the same within a very short time (still down as of 6PM this evening anyway).

In the KYW service area, I can report that TVGOS data is being received via OTA ATSC on three DHG-HDD250/500 DVR's. On one of the units, the packet count is well over 50k in a nine hour period.

I have been monitoring the ATSC data stream since the switch over from analog OTA to digitial . That being said, my units also receive TVGOS data via COMCAST analog channel 3.

In the KYW service area, I can report that TVGOS data is being received via OTA ATSC on three DHG-HDD250/500 DVR's. On one of the units, the packet count is well over 50k in a nine hour period.

I have been monitoring the ATSC data stream since the switch over from analog OTA to digitial . That being said, my units also receive TVGOS data via COMCAST analog channel 3.

You really need to have a party. Both OTA digital and analog VBI. Somebody made KYW & Comcast play nice.

Had correct clocks and nothing else.

Device was off.

Just by chance I was in the room and heard a click. Look down and one is rebooting itself. Comes back with incorrect time. Turn to the other one and all of a sudden it only has the four dashes.

Whatever signals ROVI/CBS are sending, the DHG's do not take well to them.

Had correct clocks and nothing else.

Device was off.

Just by chance I was in the room and heard a click. Look down and one is rebooting itself. Comes back with incorrect time. Turn to the other one and all of a sudden it only has the four dashes.

Whatever signals ROVI/CBS are sending, the DHG's do not take well to them.Rebooting is a sign that the DHG has downloaded (via the TVGOS data) a firmware patch (one of two in a row that are necessary.) It is not necessarily a bad sign, just part of the process of coming up after a reset.

Rebooting is a sign that the DHG has downloaded (via the TVGOS data) a firmware patch (one of two in a row that are necessary.) It is not necessarily a bad sign, just part of the process of coming up after a reset.

frank, do you mean a firmware patch for the TVG hardware or a sony firmware patch like you would use to upgrade the device on a thumbdrive? I assume it is a TVGuide patch only? As I recall from looking at the LG 3410 service manual, there are dedicated hardware boards for the TVG functionality and assume the Sony uses similar hardware?

frank, do you mean a firmware patch for the TVG hardware or a sony firmware patch like you would use to upgrade the device on a thumbdrive? I assume it is a TVGuide patch only? As I recall from looking at the LG 3410 service manual, there are dedicated hardware boards for the TVG functionality and assume the Sony uses similar hardware?Yes, the former, a TVGOS patch. With Sony firmware 1.2.21 installed, the base TVGOS firmware is 8.01.71. The two successive patches that get downloaded are 8.05.40 and 8.06.44. A reboot occurs after each patch is downloaded.

As of this period of time – NumSearch 2 – it appears to be able to get HostSUFlag of 0xff8 “quicker” than ever before. And now seems to come in at "any" X:45 (and perhaps X:15) time; not just 1:45AM. More importunately the data pattern mix is significantly different; for example, DPPs now outnumber EPPs. All the ratios of data bits appear to have changed. Of course all of that conjecture is premature; it has only been "two" NumSearch. LOL

So at this point it appears to be working better in Houston, than it ever has since the digital change.

Hope it does not vanish January 31st.

As of this period of time – NumSearch 2 – it appears to be able to get HostSUFlag of 0xff8 “quicker” than ever before. And now seems to come in at "any" X:45 (and perhaps X:15) time; not just 1:45AM. More importunately the data pattern mix is significantly different; for example, DPPs now outnumber EPPs. All the ratios of data bits appear to have changed. Of course all of that conjecture is premature; it has only been "two" NumSearch. LOL

So at this point it appears to be working better in Houston, than it ever has since the digital change.

Hope it does not vanish January 31st.

Interesting word there.. "importunately". Kind of like a cross between important and fortunately . . . :D

Rebooting is a sign that the DHG has downloaded (via the TVGOS data) a firmware patch (one of two in a row that are necessary.) It is not necessarily a bad sign, just part of the process of coming up after a reset.

Not applicable here. I have been at 8.06.44 for years.

The cause is the strangeness that has affected the NYC area since early December.

I just hope these errant effects don't turn fatal for these devices.

Not applicable here. I have been at 8.06.44 for years.

The cause is the strangeness that has affected the NYC area since early December.

I just hope these errant effects don't turn fatal for these devices.Ok, but don't forget that 8.06.44 is not permanent - if you do a TVGOS reset, it needs to download those patches again (i.e.: it will revert to 8.01.71/8.01.71).

Anyone get correct clock in DC Metro area? I am so tired of incorrect clock that I have stopped using my DHG and record OTA on my laptop with Windows Media Center and my USB ATSC tuner.

I can't offer you anything but commiseration, but my Sony is normally off by 5 - 10 minutes. It's becoming a pointless waste of space on my media cabinet.

I receive OTA in DC with WUSA host.

I am consistently amazed that the folks that designed these things came up with such an insane way to keep the time set. I'm about ready to give up and go the SiliconDust/EyeTV route.

I can't offer you anything but commiseration, but my Sony is normally off by 5 - 10 minutes. It's becoming a pointless waste of space on my media cabinet.

I receive OTA in DC with WUSA host.

I am consistently amazed that the folks that designed these things came up with such an insane way to keep the time set. I'm about ready to give up and go the SiliconDust/EyeTV route.

I'm pretty sure this is intentional. Every DVR is on a string controlled by someone else. The only difference between the Sony, and say, a TiVo, is that you can't individually toggle ONE Sony on and off at the behest of a content provider. It is my theory (unproven as of now...) that the HDCP rules discourage any HD DVR without an individual and external "kill switch". Shutting off TVGOS has the same effect, but isn't individual.

The utter pointlessness of this is shown by the fact that HTPC exists, so clearly you can record anything and play it back, just not conveniently or off the shelf at a CE store. The rest of it was to be dealt with by SOPA PIPA, but luckily that was too broad a grab by "the industry" and had some world changing corporate censorship ability which pushed it back. (I faxed both my congresscritters...I hope you did too !)

You can also expect to be sued by TiVo to death. Yet another example of over-broad patents used as a weapon.

My Cable installer told me he'd never seen an HDD before, and had been installing five years...he'd installed a cablecard once in a Sony TV.

Interesting word there.. "importunately". Kind of like a cross between important and fortunately . . . :D

LOL Urgently requesting help LOL Unfortunately, my spell checker does not check my dumbness, but in a strange way it almost applies. LOL

I renewed the Classifieds ads for the two remaining HDD500's that I have for sale . . .

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16959

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16960

I'm pretty sure this is intentional. Every DVR is on a string controlled by someone else. The only difference between the Sony, and say, a TiVo, is that you can't individually toggle ONE Sony on and off at the behest of a content provider. It is my theory (unproven as of now...) that the HDCP rules discourage any HD DVR without an individual and external "kill switch". Shutting off TVGOS has the same effect, but isn't individual.

The utter pointlessness of this is shown by the fact that HTPC exists, so clearly you can record anything and play it back, just not conveniently or off the shelf at a CE store. The rest of it was to be dealt with by SOPA PIPA, but luckily that was too broad a grab by "the industry" and had some world changing corporate censorship ability which pushed it back. (I faxed both my congresscritters...I hope you did too !)

You can also expect to be sued by TiVo to death. Yet another example of over-broad patents used as a weapon.

My Cable installer told me he'd never seen an HDD before, and had been installing five years...he'd installed a cablecard once in a Sony TV.

Sigh. What a depressing cluster**** this all is.

I live in DC itself, so I have no one to fax (well, email; my fax died long ago), but I appreciate all the people that did.

Hi dhg fans I just listed my MINT cond, 250 unit on flea bay,

NYC DMA, OTA only.

Clock sighted as of this evening
:D:D

Let's hope it stays.

NYC DMA, OTA only.

Clock sighted as of this evening
:D:D

Let's hope it stays.TVGOS came back on in Philadelphia (KYW) on Friday and has stayed on ever since. Hopefully once WCBS is back up permanently too, outages will be few, short, and far between. Long live the Sony DHGs.

NYC DMA, OTA only.

Clock sighted as of this evening
:D:D

Let's hope it stays.

And this morning, some very few incomplete channels of listings.

Which, by the way, is something I don't understand. You would think there is either data flowing or not flowing. If the answer is flowing, then why is it not filled in completely? What explains just some very few listings?

And this morning, some very few incomplete channels of listings.

Which, by the way, is something I don't understand. You would think there is either data flowing or not flowing. If the answer is flowing, then why is it not filled in completely? What explains just some very few listings?The TVG1 data is transmitted whenever possible, which is when the inserter finds a dummy packet in the host's MPEG stream, and replaces it with one of its own. If a given host is using most of its channel's bandwidth, there are fewer opportunities for the inserter to insert the TVG1 PIDs. Also, the listings are voluminous and various parts are transmitted at various times and rates. Lastly, the next few days are transmitted more often than the days far out. Given all this, I saw that it took a good two days for my DTVPal DVR to fill in most of its listings after I did a factory reset; the 8th day always seems to be sparse. Just a simple fact that there is a lot of data (including tons of channels you may not be interested in) and it takes time, even when embedded in the digital stream. I'd say you should expect full listings in 2-3 days.

And this morning, some very few incomplete channels of listings.

Which, by the way, is something I don't understand. You would think there is either data flowing or not flowing. If the answer is flowing, then why is it not filled in completely? What explains just some very few listings?

If you go further back in this thread, there are breakdowns of what days they send, and when. It takes a few days. The total guide has in my case four hundred channels under TVGOS listings, so it is a lot of data. I turned "off" all the channels I don't care about, leaving me with eight or nine OTA, and another 25 or so cable. TVGOS carries every possible cable channel and many, many OTA which I can't get at my location, as well as the subchannels and listings for the music channels on my cable system.

What does "auto hide" do ? I took the long approach and turned on/off each channel...took awhile to do 400 of them but you only have to do it once...and many of my old listings were wrong/corrupted which is why I did a 9012. What loaded fresh was totally correct.

I got the beginnings of listings too, but oddly, no Ads. Normally you'd get clock, adverts and then listings....right now, it is clock and listings...not that I'm complaining. Hopefully it comes back up and stays.

A DVR with no rental fees and listings that also have no monthly fee. I can't imagine why the industry isn't fully behind this business model.:rolleyes:

If you go further back in this thread, there are breakdowns of what days they send, and when. It takes a few days. The total guide has in my case four hundred channels under TVGOS listings, so it is a lot of data. I turned "off" all the channels I don't care about, leaving me with eight or nine OTA, and another 25 or so cable. TVGOS carries every possible cable channel and many, many OTA which I can't get at my location, as well as the subchannels and listings for the music channels on my cable system.

What does "auto hide" do ? I took the long approach and turned on/off each channel...took awhile to do 400 of them but you only have to do it once...and many of my old listings were wrong/corrupted which is why I did a 9012. What loaded fresh was totally correct.

I got the beginnings of listings too, but oddly, no Ads. Normally you'd get clock, adverts and then listings....right now, it is clock and listings...not that I'm complaining. Hopefully it comes back up and stays.

A DVR with no rental fees and listings that also have no monthly fee. I can't imagine why the industry isn't fully behind this business model.:rolleyes:

Auto hide turns off the listing if there is no signal for the channel. Ads are missing on a lot of the east coast. You can see that in the TVGOS thread.

Most of us get 600 or more channels in the editor. Only those with channel numbers are part of your cable feed, but not always part of your lineup. I still have 26 analog channels, but the guide has over 100 not including music. Same with the internet V10 version on my Sony TV.

The TVG1 data is transmitted whenever possible, which is when the inserter finds a dummy packet in the host's MPEG stream, and replaces it with one of its own. .............

That makes sense and as of this morning we're about 80% populated (have removed almost all but the clear QAM channels).

I asked the question- I could be wrong it was many years ago in the analog environment- but I seem to remember when we first set these up, followed the manual instruction, and it happened exactly as the manual advised. Setup, left off overnight, and the next morning had a clock with days 1, 2, and 8 fully populated.

That makes sense and as of this morning we're about 80% populated (have removed almost all but the clear QAM channels).

I asked the question- I could be wrong it was many years ago in the analog environment- but I seem to remember when we first set these up, followed the manual instruction, and it happened exactly as the manual advised. Setup, left off overnight, and the next morning had a clock with days 1, 2, and 8 fully populated.

That is analog data that follows the 1,2, 5, 8 fill in pattern. The other thing to remember, no matter how many channels you turn off in the guide, the Sony still has to sort through all of the data to find the data for the channels that are on, so only do this if it is convenient for you, but not because it makes the Sony's work easier.

Mark

I got the beginnings of listings too, but oddly, no Ads. Normally you'd get clock, adverts and then listings....right now, it is clock and listings...not that I'm complaining. Hopefully it comes back up and stays.

The lack of ads lately really concerns me.

I have no problems getting TVGOS data due to my local cable company supporting such on an analog channel. However, for several weeks now, there has only been 1 of the 3 possible ads; and that one is always an ad for a CBS show. Is CBS now the only advertiser left that will spend money on TVGOS?

I don't like those left corner ads either, but without that income/revenue, I don't see much hope of TVGOS continuing to provide us data. :(

so only do this if it is convenient for you, but not because it makes the Sony's work easier.

Mark

I do it because I only use these boxes for the broadcast networks and usually for recordings that are at the bottom of those to watch. Or when need to record three or more shows at one time

For the encrypted channels, use FIOS's DVR (two tuners, 500GB with a 2TB external attached). Pretty satisfied with the FIOS box except that one time it rebooted and wiped out everything recorded on the internal HD (only). Afraid it might happen again but that fear is mitigated by the fact that nothing is recorded to the internal box until the external is filled. Only if the box goes completely bad is everything lost- the external is tied to the specific box that formated it.

Located in Queens, NY.
I have 2 HDD 500s which I had reset (lost channel listings) and have the latest (i.e.- last) Sony update. Both had no clocks.
Additionally I have a 2009 Pioneer TV that has TVGOS.
Each HDD500 is attached to a digital OTA antenna and cable RF- Time Warner (no cable card). The Pioneer has only OTA.
Before 1/31 the 500s had no clock and no data in guide. The Pioneer just displayed the setup screen for TVGOS. Now both HDD 500s have a correct clock, but no guide data (not even channels). The Pioneer shows the channel grids, all displaying no listings.
My CBS carriers available are 2.1 (OTA), 17.1 (cable) and 2 analog cable.
The Time Warner HD channels have moved. If anyone finds it helpful on the HDD500s CBS HD is 17.1 and NBC HD is 60.1. Since I haven't been using the HDDs I am not sure where the other networks can be found.
I find that NBC (and the CW) are my weakest OTA stations (and heavy weather knocks out DirecTV). At least with the a correct clock I can watch or backup these channels off of cable (less weather dependent). If anyone knows where the CW HD is located on Times Warner Queens I would appreciate you letting me know.
I would like to give a special thanks to Speedlaw for keeping us updated on the situation here in NYC.

[QUOTE=SuperBeta;21593043]Located in Queens, NY.
Additionally I have a 2009 Pioneer TV that has TVGOS.

What's the model number of the 2009 pioneer and the TVGOS version number of same?
Thanks

Pretty much back to normal. Both units (OTA NYC DMA-Line of Sight path) are again working. Clockset, adverts, and listings are mostly complete. The ads have so far been all CBS shows. I'm sure this service will die eventually, but we have to figure, what devices use TVGOS 8 ? Whatever the newest device is, add 5 or so years, as you figure any company using this and making it a "feature" would want some assurance.

The Pioneer is a Kuros PDP-5010FS. I don't know what version of TVGOS it has.
This morning found both HDD 500s asking me to identify my cable company from a list of 4. Now have channels (instead of no data), but no listings
The Pioneer TV is the same.
No adverts, no listing, but a correct clock. Seems that things may be getting better.

The Pioneer is a Kuros PDP-5010FS. I don't know what version of TVGOS it has.
This morning found both HDD 500s asking me to identify my cable company from a list of 4. Now have channels (instead of no data), but no listings
The Pioneer TV is the same.
No adverts, no listing, but a correct clock. Seems that things may be getting better.

Seems that way. What is your host channel? The DHG can tell you that, but if it's blank don't worry. Same with clock set channel.

I just checked and both HDD 500s list the host channel as 0:33-0. I tried tuning to this channel and got no signal. I wonder what it means? Speedlaw, can you tell me what your host channel is? Thanks!

I just checked and both HDD 500s list the host channel as 0:33-0. I tried tuning to this channel and got no signal. I wonder what it means? Speedlaw, can you tell me what your host channel is? Thanks!

Accoridng to http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php, RF channel 33 OTA is digital channel 2 (CBS).

Mark

Host channel is WCBS, Virtual 2.1 I've never had issue with this. I don't know if my cable co passes this-I've always had the unit(s) hooked to an antenna and my location has ideal reception from NYC. The hill behind me blocks everything else, but as far as nyc goes, line of sight.

I've searched and read a lot of this thread but can't find if my wacky idea is completely wacky or only painful <g>.

I am looking for a way to time shift scrambled QAM. To be specific, I would like to record HD Formula 1 broadcasts (which are in many other time zones) and watch at my convenience, without sending even more money to Charter.

My cable box has Firewire, component, and coaxial outputs. Of course only the coax appears to stand a chance on the DHG. The manual does explicitly say though that taking the cable-box output to the cable- or antenna-in *may* result in degraded picture. And from the guide-centric nature of this device I can't even guess if it would recognize a signal on either of those inputs in this fashion. Since these broadcasts are happening overnight I have no problem tuning my cable box to the proper channel and leaving it running - and presumably unplugging the current HDMI out to the TV. Since I know the time and channel it seems like it might be possible...

Any thoughts?

Thanks and regards,
- Jeff

I've searched and read a lot of this thread but can't find if my wacky idea is completely wacky or only painful <g>.....

The only inputs to the DHG are (RF) Cable and (RF) Antenna, both are coax inputs. The other connections on the DHG are all outputs only. You could do what you want to do (record encrypted cable) with the DHG if you get a CableCard for it (generally about $2 per month to your CableCo) and if your CableCo is not using SDV (Switched Digital Video) in your area. The DHG would effectively become a Cable Box, using the CableCard. If you are currently paying for your Cable Box, you may be able to return it and save that monthly expense. There may also be other issues to consider when using the DHG, depending on where you live and the availability (or lack of) of TVGOS.

It just so happens that I have two DHG's currently listed for sale in the AVS Classifieds . . .

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16959

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16960

The only inputs to the DHG are (RF) Cable and (RF) Antenna, both are coax inputs. The other connections on the DHG are all outputs only. You could do what you want to do (record encrypted cable) with the DHG if you get a CableCard for it
> snip <
It just so happens that I have two DHG's currently listed for sale in the AVS Classifieds . . .
> snip <


Understood, the hack I'm considering is taking my cable box output RF, which is a signal to a display, and plugging that into on of the RF inputs on the DHG. This poses two problems, one is will the DHG recognize the singe channel signal, and the other is the manual's warning this may degrade the picture. Maybe there's a level shift needed?

The Cable card poses two problems - one being my wife's allergy to sending the cable company another cent, and the other is that my cable is Charter, who apparently has stopped offering them.

Finding yours for sale makes a great find, I'd much rather buy from a forum contributor.

Thanks,
- Jeff

Understood, the hack I'm considering is taking my cable box output RF, which is a signal to a display, and plugging that into on of the RF inputs on the DHG. This poses two problems, one is will the DHG recognize the singe channel signal, and the other is the manual's warning this may degrade the picture. Maybe there's a level shift needed?

The Cable card poses two problems - one being my wife's allergy to sending the cable company another cent, and the other is that my cable is Charter, who apparently has stopped offering them.

Finding yours for sale makes a great find, I'd much rather buy from a forum contributor.

Thanks,
- Jeff

The DHG depends on TVGOS to set the clock. Also, do you know for sure that the rf output of your STB is on channel 3 or 4? True, the picture might suck since it's analog, but that might not be important to you. Same with time. On a cold boot the DHG always starts (I think) at 1/1/1990. It would be logical that the STB rf output is slaved to the channel the STB is tuned to, so you can't switch channels. Since it's a given that you are not going to record HD, does your STB have composite (RWY) output or just component? If so, there may be alternatives to the DHG.

I have a box of VHS tapes that I can play into the DHG on channel 3 that will give me a functioning unit. I need to play with it to get the right time, but time & DOW can be set this way. I don't know how much longer my TVGOS data will last, so I want to keep the unit working as long as possible. TVGOS is not needed to make recordings (sort of), only for the DHG configuration of some items. I don't use a cable card either.

As a first test, I would plug the rf output of the STB into your TV and see what shows on channel 3/4.

Also WS said that you would send back the STB and rent the cable card. You should be paying less. Have you checked that they don't have cable cards? A TiVo needs one, and it would be strange that your provider doesn't support TiVo.

..... The Cable card poses two problems - one being my wife's allergy to sending the cable company another cent, and the other is that my cable is Charter, who apparently has stopped offering them.

Finding yours for sale makes a great find, I'd much rather buy from a forum contributor.

If you rent a CableCard and return your Charter Box it should end up costing you less each month. Keep your wife.. she's a fine woman . . . ;)

I have Charter and have four CableCards. I believe the CableCo's are bound by the FCC to provide CableCards to those that request them. The only issue in my location is that Charter is in the process of converting my neighborhood to SDV. The Sonys don't support the required Tuning Adapters.. that's why I went to TiVo's about 6 weeks ago.

I just posted this in the TVGOS thread and since this is a big topic with the DHG I will also post it here.

I just wanted TVGOS users to know that it looks like Rovi moved TVGOS to legacy status. TVGOS has been replaced with Rovi's Total Guide.
It appears that the Total Guide is web based and does not use inserters for their data.

Here is a link to Products on Rovi's web site:
http://www.rovicorp.com/products/discovery.htm
Take notice that TVGOS is no longer listed on the upper right hand side of the page.

Here is a link to Rovi's support page:
http://www.rovicorp.com/support/consumer-electronic-guide-issues.htm
And the link for TVGOS support page:
http://www.rovicorp.com/support/consumer-electronic-guide-issues/9541.htm

Also Rovi sold their majority stake in Norpak Corporation to Ross Video of Cananda. If you did not know Norpak made the analog and digital inserters for TVGOS. That means if the inserters fail they will have to purchase new ones from Ross Video.
http://www.rossvideo.com/terminal-equipment/tes/index.html
In my opinion I do not see Rovi doing that as it would be a waste of money to support a product that is no longer being offered. And as stated before Rovi's Total Guide uses a internet connection to get its data.

LET me get this right. I used my DHG 500 until OTA went digital. Not knowing of the software fix for a digital TVGOS, I gave it away to a relative with cable. He couldn't get it to work, and returned it to me. And hearing of the "fix" I -TONIGHT- loaded the firmware update into my unit. Took me a few days to find the "right" USB stick. It is now presumably downloading TVGOS. But I'm near DC. So that's a problem.

And now you tell me it's EOL, legacy, poof? Only good as an ATSC tuner, which I don't need? So all I have is what is, or will soon be, another doorstop? Unless I can find somebody on cable who wants it?

Maybe I should leave Dish for Fios. People happy with it on Fios?

No listings today from WCBS.

LET me get this right. I used my DHG 500 until OTA went digital. Not knowing of the software fix for a digital TVGOS, I gave it away to a relative with cable. He couldn't get it to work, and returned it to me. And hearing of the "fix" I -TONIGHT- loaded the firmware update into my unit. Took me a few days to find the "right" USB stick. It is now presumably downloading TVGOS. But I'm near DC. So that's a problem.

And now you tell me it's EOL, legacy, poof? Only good as an ATSC tuner, which I don't need? So all I have is what is, or will soon be, another doorstop? Unless I can find somebody on cable who wants it?

Maybe I should leave Dish for Fios. People happy with it on Fios?

The digital guide data will keep going until Rovi decides to end using the inserters. When that is going to happen is unknown. Their new guide, the Total Guide, doesn't need inserters just an internet connection so I don't see them continue using the inserters for an extended period of time.

The people who actually use the digital data is quite small as most people who bought TVGOS equipped devices are probably using STBs from their cable or sat providers. As I stated in another thread the bulk of devices that had TVGOS embedded were analog dependent so most of them are already out of circulation which doesn't leave much of a base that uses the service through the inserters. The Sony and Samsung tvs that have Version 10 TVGOS can use the internet to get their guide data so if Rovi does shut down the inserters them tv owners can get the guide data over the internet.

As for using the DHG with FIOS, they get the data from the same inserter as you are getting it OTA. If that inserter stops working then the data stops on Fios also.

And the DHGs are not likely to see another firmware update to use the Total Guide over the internet, are they? Sigh.

Does anyone know the best way to prepare a DHG for resale? I mean so that it is as user-friendly as possible for a new user to set up. I have done the .21 firmware update, and erased the recordings manually. I don't think a full reformat is good since I would lose the updated firmware.
thanks, always appreciate the knowledge here.
also - no I am not selling my two 500 workhorses. working solid as always. I have a couple of spare 250s.

And the DHGs are not likely to see another firmware update to use the Total Guide over the internet, are they? Sigh.

I wouldn't bet that my V10 Sony EX700 will get an update to use Total Guide.

Does anyone know the best way to prepare a DHG for resale? I mean so that it is as user-friendly as possible for a new user to set up. I have done the .21 firmware update, and erased the recordings manually. I don't think a full reformat is good since I would lose the updated firmware.
thanks, always appreciate the knowledge here.
also - no I am not selling my two 500 workhorses. working solid as always. I have a couple of spare 250s.

How about a big note on the unit with this thread's URL?

ha! of course you are right, but you see a lot of problems here, many post here when TVGOS goes awry, otherwise you never hear from happy owners, cause most of the time my 500s just hum along tirelessly.
I want the new owner to have a great experience, of course. I detailed the need for a good TVGOS provider in their town.
I'll just tell them to go to Setup and reset it up. I just thought there might be some tricks to avoid any pitfalls, I know patience is needed.

ha! of course you are right, but you see a lot of problems here, many post here when TVGOS goes awry, otherwise you never hear from happy owners, cause most of the time my 500s just hum along tirelessly.
I want the new owner to have a great experience, of course. I detailed the need for a good TVGOS provider in their town.
I'll just tell them to go to Setup and reset it up. I just thought there might be some tricks to avoid any pitfalls, I know patience is needed.

I would do a 9012 TV Guide 'Reset to Factory Default'. Then I would follow that up with a 9012 'Reset User Configuration'. Neither of those will touch the installed fimrware. Then when the next person first plugs it in, it will step them through a channel scan, and then right on to setup TVGOS, just like it did when it was new out of the box.

Mark

Thanks Mark, as always.
Another item, I unplugged my 500 to retest the 250 I am selling and when I rehooked up the 500 I got the hard drive failure warning, again. I had this happen I guess last time I unplugged it maybe months ago. Scary, but I turned it off and let it sit awhile and it fixed itself. The clock came back immediately.
I wonder if this means the drive(s) are going out. Seems to work ok otherwise. These are amazingly robust machines, definitely got my money's worth.
I thought I read Sony is no longer repairing these?

I thought I read Sony is no longer repairing these?

Really? I mostly just scan this thread, but don't remember seeing that.

I got mine repaired about a year ago (new hard drives). I figure that for the $250 I paid way back when from Tweeter, I more than got my money's worth out of this device, even with the $140 repair. Heck, hard drives cost that much right now. :)

Even if Rovi has designated TVGOS as a legacy product, we still have some time left with these devices. My ultimate hope is that once the TVGOS plug is pulled, somebody at Sony will leak the source code, and an industrious programmer could hack it to accept guide data from another source. It's a dream...I know...but man, I really love this device. It's just so...wife-friendly...

Really? I mostly just scan this thread, but don't remember seeing that.

I got mine repaired about a year ago (new hard drives). I figure that for the $250 I paid way back when from Tweeter, I more than got my money's worth out of this device, even with the $140 repair. Heck, hard drives cost that much right now. :)

Even if Rovi has designated TVGOS as a legacy product, we still have some time left with these devices. My ultimate hope is that once the TVGOS plug is pulled, somebody at Sony will leak the source code, and an industrious programmer could hack it to accept guide data from another source. It's a dream...I know...but man, I really love this device. It's just so...wife-friendly...

We would need someone to "leak" the source code for a TVGOS update. The clock is our weak point, but recording (even manual) is done through the Guide. The Guide needs a clock, not the Sony so much. And I love my DHG units also. They're just so classy.

BTW, the V8 guide only knows the channels that the guide data provides. The V10 guide knows the channels found by the TV also. My channel 15 and 98 just swapped. I doubt the guide will ever change. Since I never use the guide to record, I don't really care. I am curious when tvguide.com will update though.

The clock is our weak point, but recording (even manual) is done through the Guide. The Guide needs a clock, not the Sony so much. And I love my DHG units also. They're just so classy.


True, but I keep an old VCR (and a couple of tapes) stashed away in my basement for that impending calamity. :)

True, but I keep an old VCR (and a couple of tapes) stashed away in my basement for that impending calamity. :)

I have a box with about 20 and make a refresh tape series of four every week. Color me paranoid.

I have been emailing Rovi about DC Area clock issues. I received this email today:

"Hello Kevin,

Thank you for the information. Our engineers are planning to make a physical change to our hardware placement at the station. We must abide by the station's schedule, but hope to accomplish this next week sometime. We are hopeful this will correct the clock issue. We will check with you once this change is made to see if it corrects the clock issue.

Thank you,

CE Tech Support
Rovi"

And the DHGs are not likely to see another firmware update to use the Total Guide over the internet, are they? Sigh.

No the DHG doesn't have an ethernet port and besides Sony discontinued the DHG about six years ago.

The good news it looks like Rovi is going to fix the clock issue for the WUSA inserter.

We would need someone to "leak" the source code for a TVGOS update. The clock is our weak point, but recording (even manual) is done through the Guide. The Guide needs a clock, not the Sony so much. And I love my DHG units also. They're just so classy.

BTW, the V8 guide only knows the channels that the guide data provides. The V10 guide knows the channels found by the TV also. My channel 15 and 98 just swapped. I doubt the guide will ever change. Since I never use the guide to record, I don't really care. I am curious when tvguide.com will update though.

It will be up to Sony to issue a firmware update for the DHG so you can set the clock manually as that is not something you can do by hacking the Rovi firmware as the Rovi firmware has nothing to do with a manual clock set.

If you need an update for the guide on TV Guide.com here is a link:
http://www.tvguide.com/services/CustomerForm.aspx
Select TVGuide data or channel line up problems, then select a subject for your email and then fill in what they need to know.
I usually copy and paste the link to the PDF channel line up on SECV's website for my division.

The only thing is Rovi sold the TVGuide.com website to Lionsgate but they may share information though.

It will be up to Sony to issue a firmware update for the DHG so you can set the clock manually as that is not something you can do by hacking the Rovi firmware as the Rovi firmware has nothing to do with a manual clock set.

If you need an update for the guide on TV Guide.com here is a link:
http://www.tvguide.com/services/CustomerForm.aspx
Select TVGuide data or channel line up problems, then select a subject for your email and then fill in what they need to know.
I usually copy and paste the link to the PDF channel line up on SECV's website for my division.

The only thing is Rovi sold the TVGuide.com website to Lionsgate but they may share information though.

I must either disagree or else we have a difference in definitions.

Sony is what I look at when I hit the Menu button. It gives me control over the RF input, Favorites, and other items. The clock is not related to these items unless you consider the clock tells the Sony when it wants data or to look for a host.

TVGOS does all the real "in your face" work. When I hold down the red record button to make a manual recording, I'm under the control of TVGOS, not Sony. True, Sony selects the station from my favorites, but the TVGOS fills in everything. I then change the time, date, etc. so I can set up my manual recording. With no cable card I am limited to just the vsb and OTA channels, most of which are gone. In 2007 that's all there was, so no big deal.

The Sony .21 update allowed the DHG to get a version of TVGOS that could read a data stream sent by digital stations. I guess Sony could make a firmware update that would read the PSIP and feed it to TVGOS as a clock. I don't think that will happen, and I don't get PSIP data anyhow. (But where does that KYW come from?)

Today I reset (factory restore) my test unit. It was acting sluggish, and I felt it had some bad data making it sick. After the first pass, setting the zipcode to 18101, clearing the "your disk is fixed" message, I saw ch 10 (vsb) as KYW, not CBS-3 or NBC10. Also, after loading the .21 firmware I also had a bad clock, not the --:-- I usually have until a good clock displays.

Sorry, but until 08.06.44 changes, all the Sony updates are a waste of time. But that's my opinion. I could be wrong and that will surely be pointed out quickly.

BTW, my host is now 1:0-98 on one unit. Only took 8 hours. Two more units to go.

I must either disagree or else we have a difference in definitions.

Sony is what I look at when I hit the Menu button. It gives me control over the RF input, Favorites, and other items. The clock is not related to these items unless you consider the clock tells the Sony when it wants data or to look for a host.

TVGOS does all the real "in your face" work. When I hold down the red record button to make a manual recording, I'm under the control of TVGOS, not Sony. True, Sony selects the station from my favorites, but the TVGOS fills in everything. I then change the time, date, etc. so I can set up my manual recording. With no cable card I am limited to just the vsb and OTA channels, most of which are gone. In 2007 that's all there was, so no big deal.

The Sony .21 update allowed the DHG to get a version of TVGOS that could read a data stream sent by digital stations. I guess Sony could make a firmware update that would read the PSIP and feed it to TVGOS as a clock. I don't think that will happen, and I don't get PSIP data anyhow. (But where does that KYW come from?)

Today I reset (factory restore) my test unit. It was acting sluggish, and I felt it had some bad data making it sick. After the first pass, setting the zipcode to 18101, clearing the "your disk is fixed" message, I saw ch 10 (vsb) as KYW, not CBS-3 or NBC10. Also, after loading the .21 firmware I also had a bad clock, not the --:-- I usually have until a good clock displays.

Sorry, but until 08.06.44 changes, all the Sony updates are a waste of time. But that's my opinion. I could be wrong and that will surely be pointed out quickly.

BTW, my host is now 1:0-98 on one unit. Only took 8 hours. Two more units to go.

Sony will have to udate the players firmware, not the TVGOS firmware, to add the ability to make a manual clock set.
It is Sonys fault that there is no manual clock set as they relied on the TVGOS data to set the clock on this device. Every TVGOS device that I have owned had the ability to set the clock manually. Even VCRs that had guide pluse in them. This is not the responsibility of Rovis software but the manufacturers.
So you would have to hack Sonys software in order to be able to set the clock manually.

Sony will have to udate the players firmware, not the TVGOS firmware, to add the ability to make a manual clock set.
It is Sonys fault that there is no manual clock set as they relied on the TVGOS data to set the clock on this device. Every TVGOS device that I have owned had the ability to set the clock manually. Even VCRs that had guide pluse in them. This is not the responsibility of Rovis software but the manufacturers.
So you would have to hack Sonys software in order to be able to set the clock manually.

Bottom line: I don't care if Panasonic provides the manual clock set as long as it's done soon.

Bottom line: I don't care if Panasonic provides the manual clock set as long as it's done soon.

What does seem at least remotely feasible is a smart phone app that receives as input 1) what time the DHG thinks it is, 2) what time it really is, 3) start time and 4) end time and outputs the start and end time to enter into your DHG. If need be it could just be a web app.

..... If need be it could just be a web app.

Or probably an Excel worksheet . . .

What does seem at least remotely feasible is a smart phone app that receives as input 1) what time the DHG thinks it is, 2) what time it really is, 3) start time and 4) end time and outputs the start and end time to enter into your DHG. If need be it could just be a web app.

That would be quite an app. It would need date, including year, to compute DOW. And compensate for leap year.

Well alrighty then. So what is the basis for the time in the DHG? And after a reset (and prior to getting ANY time indication from TVGOS) does the clock run or does it stay on it's "starting" time?

Well alrighty then. So what is the basis for the time in the DHG? And after a reset (and prior to getting ANY time indication from TVGOS) does the clock run or does it stay on it's "starting" time?

I can't give the perfect answer. From observations I see two things.

First is when you pull the rf off, do a front panel reset or power plug pull, the clock on the front panel stays at --:--. It does not appear until you give it some data, which will usually be the right time.

Second, when you do a full factory restore, then update to .21, you will get a random clock at once. No waiting. Bad clock, but it's there.

Obviously a time zone and host/clock channel are needed for real time. Other internals may be involved. That reset screen sometimes shows 1/1/90 and sometimes the real time. I guess it depends if you had real time before a short power failure or reset. A lot of speculation here, and my memory isn't perfect. That table gets wiped by a factore restore also. One of my units goes back to 2010.

I guess my answer is "I don't know". I will test that after I finish looking at the data my test machine gets from Allentown.

I can't give the perfect answer.

One does not need to predict "what time the DHG thinks it is," just read it. The schedule manual recording page will show this.

the clock on the front panel stays at --:--

The DHG may not trust its time setting, but it still is set to something. Again, just read it.

Is it this simple, or am I missing something?

http://av-pix.com/2011/DHG-SonyTime.xls

Well alrighty then. So what is the basis for the time in the DHG? And after a reset (and prior to getting ANY time indication from TVGOS) does the clock run or does it stay on it's "starting" time?

1/1/2004 12:00am is the date mine has always gone back to with a 9012 reset. Some of the screens in the 753 menu shows dates of 1/1/90. There are basically three clocks in the DHG. The GMT clock on the 753 menu screens. The TVGOS clock at the upper left corner of the guide, and then the front panel clock. After a reset the TVGOS clock gets reset to 1/1/2004 12:00am, the GMT clock gets set to 1/1/2004 0:00, the front panel clock can indicate anything from --:-- to some other bogus time. Within about 20 minutes (mine takes 12 minutes). The GMT clock is set to the correct time. The TVGOS time is still 1/1/2004 but is running. Until a timezone packet arrives, the DHG will not set the front panel clock time. If you go to set a manual recording, the TVGOS clock time is used as the start time (this is how you can tell what date the DHG thinks it is). Once you get a timezone packet, the TVGOS time is set as well as the front panel clock.

Edit: After looking at my TVGOs pictures, the GMT clock definitely gets set to 1/1/2004 0:00. I couldn't find any 1/1/90 times in any of my post reset pictures.

Mark

Edit: After looking at my TVGOs pictures, the GMT clock definitely gets set to 1/1/2004 0:00. I couldn't find any 1/1/90 times in any of my post reset pictures.

Mark

Only place I see the 1/1/90 is on the reset error tracking screen. I wish I could figure out what makes that happen, but without a time reference it's hard. I have it on my testing unit, but has been reset twice today. I am very happy that the clock will run without any TVGOS data.

Is it this simple, or am I missing something?

http://av-pix.com/2011/DHG-SonyTime.xls

Seems fine. Easy test is to use current time for the DHG time.

I'm not complaining, but it would be more user-friendly if the date was a cell and the time was a different cell. Anyhow, I hope I never need to use it, but having it will make me feel better if my unit ever gets nuked and the guide goes to heaven. Great job.

Don't know if this can help anyone but, if you have a cable hookup in your house, connect it to your Sony DVR to pick up Guide Data, even if you don't subscribe to cable. You won't be able to see any cable programs(all mine are encrypted) without a cable card subscription, but for some reason my Sony picks up alot more Guide data than does my other OTA only connected DVDPal DVRs, including program info on more obscure local OTA stations. It might also help with maintaining the onboard clock too? YMMV.

Don't know if this can help anyone but, if you have a cable hookup in your house, connect it to your Sony DVR to pick up Guide Data, even if you don't subscribe to cable. You won't be able to see any cable programs(all mine are encrypted) without a cable card subscription, but for some reason my Sony picks up alot more Guide data than does my other OTA only connected DVDPal DVRs, including program info on more obscure local OTA stations. It might also help with maintaining the onboard clock too? YMMV.

The DHG has a real hunger for TVGOS data. I scanned only digital channels yesterday yet last night the DHG found my legacy feed. If the data is there, they will find it.

FWIW, there have seen various dates show up on various screens at various times or results of actions internal or external. None of which I can remember. The one thing interesting to me are the pre 2005 dates. The only explanation I can come up with, is that these various dates revert back to firmware and software that was all made previous to the manufacturing date.

This picture shows one of the 1/1/90 dates after some type of reset. Since it was a year ago, I have forgotten what type of reset it was. Wow, it’s been since October 2010 since I did a reformat. LOL

Can one of you really nice smart users verify that I can run 653274147 twice to blank all my TVGOS data and not lose HDD titles? I want to get my new host and clock set channel. Right now I'm losing listings one day at a time on one unit since it won't switch host or clock after three days. Newest unit switched in one day, oldest is being stubborn, and middle age unit has right clock set but old host.

Joe-

If you're talking about "losing recordings", I think the only way that happens is with a "Restore Factory Defaults" or a "Format Disk". There is no TVGOS reset that causes you to lose recordings.

FWIW, there have seen various dates show up on various screens at various times or results of actions internal or external. None of which I can remember. The one thing interesting to me are the pre 2005 dates. The only explanation I can come up with, is that these various dates revert back to firmware and software that was all made previous to the manufacturing date.

This picture shows one of the 1/1/90 dates after some type of reset. Since it was a year ago, I have forgotten what type of reset it was. Wow, it’s been since October 2010 since I did a reformat. LOL

I think that means that the unit lost power.

Can one of you really nice smart users verify that I can run 653274147 twice to blank all my TVGOS data and not lose HDD titles? I want to get my new host and clock set channel. Right now I'm losing listings one day at a time on one unit since it won't switch host or clock after three days. Newest unit switched in one day, oldest is being stubborn, and middle age unit has right clock set but old host.

No need to reset. Just change your zip code to another zip code in your area. This will blank your host channel, and the DVR will have the new host channel tomorrow morning. If the zip code you are using is your favorite for some reason, and you don't want to change it, just change it to a different zip code, and then change it back. Don't change it to 00000 since this is a special zip code that won't blank your host channel

Mark

No the DHG doesn't have an ethernet port and besides Sony discontinued the DHG about six years ago.

The good news it looks like Rovi is going to fix the clock issue for the WUSA inserter.

DUH! <Smacks head on keyboard>

Thank you. I didn't even look, I did that "assume" thing. Again. :o

Is my 500 done for after unplug and plug back in. Say "BOOTING" then after awhile "BOOT FAIL" ? ? Is ready for the junk yard? ?:mad:

Sony will have to udate the players firmware, not the TVGOS firmware, to add the ability to make a manual clock set.
It is Sonys fault that there is no manual clock set as they relied on the TVGOS data to set the clock on this device. Every TVGOS device that I have owned had the ability to set the clock manually. Even VCRs that had guide pluse in them. This is not the responsibility of Rovis software but the manufacturers.
So you would have to hack Sonys software in order to be able to set the clock manually.

Neither Sony nor Rovi will ever release a new firmware update for these bought, paid for, out of warranty, laregly forgotten about by the general public devices which have long ago been calculated into their balance sheet and writen off as an expense and reported out to shareholders. :D

Furthermore the source code for either the TVGuide or devices firmware will never be seen by us as it would be an attack vector to access the encrypted content stored on the hard drive(s) and you all know how paranoid Sony is being a love/hate hardware/content provider.

I agree that be responsibility rests on Sony's shoulders since they sold you the device and provided the warranty, not Rovi. Furthermore they are responsible for the specifications, integration, and performance of the product.
When you have a warranty issue with your Apple cell phone-who do you go to? The manufacturer, who cannot say "Oh so sorry, but the touch screen is bad and thats made by samsung, so you will have to contact them", or on the software side, if you have a problem with Windows does Microsoft say "oh our networking stack was done by a middleware company so contact XYZ Incorporated if you have a problem"????

OTOH-I hope I am proven wrong.

Anyone using their Sony with Verizon FIOS ? FIOS just came to my area, I'm wondering what would be the difference using FIOS vs Time Warner Cable.....
With cable, I get all the broadcast networks in HD using QAM before the cable box. Wondering if FIOS also sends a QAM HD signal prior to hitting the
FIOS DVR or whatever it is they use. Also concerned about picture quality...
both my OTA HD pic and cable line HD QAM pic look exactly the same on the
Sony.....I've read varying opinions on the FIOS PQ right here on AVSForum

Anyone using their Sony with Verizon FIOS ? FIOS just came to my area, I'm wondering what would be the difference using FIOS vs Time Warner Cable.....


Yes, FIOS sends the broadcast networks in clear QAM. Picture is perfect.

Anyone using their Sony with Verizon FIOS ? FIOS just came to my area, I'm wondering what would be the difference using FIOS vs Time Warner Cable.....
With cable, I get all the broadcast networks in HD using QAM before the cable box. Wondering if FIOS also sends a QAM HD signal prior to hitting the
FIOS DVR or whatever it is they use. Also concerned about picture quality...
both my OTA HD pic and cable line HD QAM pic look exactly the same on the
Sony.....I've read varying opinions on the FIOS PQ right here on AVSForum

I think Opinionated is trying to say that when a major channel (50) has subchannels (50.1 50.2, etc.) they must compress something, since (50) is still 6MHz wide. The more you send on 50, the worse it could become. Unless you can verify that 50.1 has no other 50.x channels, you could assume it's the best you can get. It, like my cable, knows there is a scrambled 50.2 and 50.3, so my 50.1 doesn't get the whole road, just one lane. My TV indicates a scrambled 50.2 and 50.3 and with basic cable, like TNT & USA they may put 10 subchannels under my main channel. Such is the fate of us second class cable viewers.

Money is the guiding issue, since the "-2" world loves to get a piece of your bandwidth to send out channels like RTV, Antenna TV and other subchannels. NBC has been pushing their "sports" channel for a while. Soon there will be no OTA 6MHz channels doing just one station. And quality will fall, even if you can't see it.

I don't have FiOS, but have asked. They don't respond. I would love to lose cable for better quality, but unless I buy a 500' tower I must live with cable.

Anyone using their Sony with Verizon FIOS ? FIOS just came to my area, I'm wondering what would be the difference using FIOS vs Time Warner Cable.....
With cable, I get all the broadcast networks in HD using QAM before the cable box. Wondering if FIOS also sends a QAM HD signal prior to hitting the
FIOS DVR or whatever it is they use. Also concerned about picture quality...
both my OTA HD pic and cable line HD QAM pic look exactly the same on the
Sony.....I've read varying opinions on the FIOS PQ right here on AVSForum

Hook it up and scan. My cable system (cablevision) is a mish mosh of analog, unencrypted QAM and encrypted QAM. I'd be curious what comes out of a FIOS box....

I think the "answer" is in how many devices use TVGOS 8, and how long the contracts between Sony or other CE company and Rovi last. I don't have those answers, but I would guess that the "latest" TVGOS 8 device release date plus ten years would be the answer....of course, this is just a WAG. The only party that can "go after" Rovi would be a CE maker who made products including TVGOS and used that as a selling point..they would be responsible to customers...a perfect fact pattern for a class action suit....

Is my 500 done for after unplug and plug back in. Say "BOOTING" then after awhile "BOOT FAIL" ? ? Is ready for the junk yard? ?:mad:

This screen normally comes up only if you do the .21 FW update. If you are done at 'boot fail' then the unit should go back to sony for repairs. Prior posts say that they no longer list the repair service, but they DO still fix them if parts exist (someone else had a board fail that is out of stock) but I think drives are still replaced. You have to ask, but they still fix them.

joecass; Verizon FiOS does not use SDV (no need for it), TWC does. Huge difference.
IOW's CC's work on Fios, but not on TWC. :mad:

Been there, done that. SDV is a joke and unnecessary if they get rid of analog and provide 1st tier customers w/o a QAM tuner a STB. They could/would save tens' or hundreds of thousands of dollars when everything is taken into account.

joecass; Verizon FiOS does not use SDV (no need for it), TWC does. Huge difference.
IOW's CC's work on Fios, but not on TWC. :mad:

Been there, done that. SDV is a joke and unnecessary if they get rid of analog and provide 1st tier customers w/o a QAM tuner a STB. They could/would save tens' or hundreds of thousands of dollars when everything is taken into account.

I wasn't referring to SDV, just QAM. My TWCable line before the cable box provides me with 3 rooms of QAM cable, for recording HD broadcast channels.
Don't use a cable card with my Sony DHG, just the cable QAM and OTA.
If I can switch to FIOS and replicate my current 3 setups, then FIOS might be worth it, if indeed their line sends HD QAM signals and the PQ is equal.

http://av-pix.com/2012/DHG_Sale/DHG's.JPG

I've listed one of my DHG-HDD500's for sale on the AVS Classifieds for what I think is a reasonable price for a quick sale, $350 plus shipping.
Remote, Original Packaging, Power Cord, and Original Manual included. The DHG's was working fine when I unplugged it, before shipping I will
plug it back in just to be sure . . .

AVS ad with more pictures: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16960

I've listed one of my DHG-HDD500's for sale on the AVS Classifieds for what I think is a reasonable price for a quick sale, $350 plus shipping.
Remote, Original Packaging, Power Cord, and Original Manual included. The DHG's was working fine when I unplugged it, before shipping I will
plug it back in just to be sure . . .

AVS ad with more pictures: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=16960

That's a bargain. The HDD500 usually goes for over $500 on eBay. A few posts back Mark described the procedure for sending out a "clean" unit. One of my used units came in with power-on guide and output set to analog. It took me hours to figure it out.

mabuttra:

Where can I find the procedure you authored regarding recovering your TVGOS from a total reset? I'm kicking myself that I did not print a hard-copy of your procedure after I used in about a year ago (it worked flawlessly BTW).

My bookmark to your link is dead and searches on Google and this forum have come up empty.

Thanks in advance for your help!

mabuttra:

Where can I find the procedure you authored regarding recovering your TVGOS from a total reset? I'm kicking myself that I did not print a hard-copy of your procedure after I used in about a year ago (it worked flawlessly BTW).

My bookmark to your link is dead and searches on Google and this forum have come up empty.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Looking for this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13032927#post13032927
?

mabuttra:

Where can I find the procedure you authored regarding recovering your TVGOS from a total reset? I'm kicking myself that I did not print a hard-copy of your procedure after I used in about a year ago (it worked flawlessly BTW).

My bookmark to your link is dead and searches on Google and this forum have come up empty.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Unfortunately my ISP (Cox) decided that their users don't need their own webpages, so they axed those pages in early December. I have a stand alone version, but zipped, the file is more than the 500 kB that they allow to be uploaded as attachments (the zip file is 5 MB). If you are running the 1.2.21 firmware there really isn't much to the procedure. You reset the DVR, setup TVGOS, and wait and wait and wait for a grid to appear. Anywhere from 24 hours to several months. If you still want the stand alone version, just PM me your email address.

Mark

That's a bargain. The HDD500 usually goes for over $500 on eBay. A few posts back Mark described the procedure for sending out a "clean" unit. One of my used units came in with power-on guide and output set to analog. It took me hours to figure it out.
Really??? $500?
I need money to pay my taxes... $500 really?

Guess we need to quickly watch all those Entourage and Psych recordings.....:eek:

Unfortunately my ISP (Cox) decided that their users don't need their own webpages, so they axed those pages in early December. I have a stand alone version, but zipped, the file is more than the 500 kB that they allow to be uploaded as attachments (the zip file is 5 MB). If you are running the 1.2.21 firmware there really isn't much to the procedure. You reset the DVR, setup TVGOS, and wait and wait and wait for a grid to appear. Anywhere from 24 hours to several months. If you still want the stand alone version, just PM me your email address.

Mark
I just sent you a PM. Thanks!

Really??? $500?
I need money to pay my taxes... $500 really?

Guess we need to quickly watch all those Entourage and Psych recordings.....:eek:

There's no rule, but right now I see a 250 for $449. It's crazy.

There's no rule, but right now I see a 250 for $449. It's crazy.

I paid around 500 for a brand new 250 within the last year, but that was only because it was brand new in box, and I had always wanted one of these Sony units since they hit the streets, but was previously cash strapped.

I paid around 500 for a brand new 250 within the last year, but that was only because it was brand new in box, and I had always wanted one of these Sony units since they hit the streets, but was previously cash strapped.

I've never been so lucky to find a new one. But since they still work, I'll count my blessings. Three have had fan cleanings and my youngest (SN 5756) has 29,000 hours on the HDD. New remotes are still selling for $25 on eBay.

While I wouldn't personally shell-out $500, I can understand why someone would.

That said, if I had $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I could build a pretty sweet HTPC, with cash to spare... ;)

While I wouldn't personally shell-out $500, I can understand why someone would.

That said, if I had $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I could build a pretty sweet HTPC, with cash to spare... ;)

Since profit sharing was just announced, I decided to splurge and purchase this set of 3 components: http://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=6341

Sony STR-LSA1 Stereo Receiver
Sony CDP-LSA1 Optical Deck
Sony MDS-LSA1 Mindisc Player/Recorder
All using firewire interconnect like SACD players had.

Should be delivered from England Wednesday, hopefully US customs didnt attack the boxes like they have in the past.

If the ceton DVR had been released, I would have gotten that instead. Maybe later this year/next year when the hit the market.

While I wouldn't personally shell-out $500, I can understand why someone would.

That said, if I had $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I could build a pretty sweet HTPC, with cash to spare... ;)

It is the market you are selling to. I just gave my 84 year old mother one of my DHG units. I set it up, showed her the buttons on the remote, and she loves it. Her TV cost more, but now she can watch her "stories" anytime and not call me up to make her a tape (really) if she is going to be spending time in Atlantic City spending my inheritance.

It's just that the DHG is a classy, sophisticated yet simple box to use. I have tried HTPC (Hauppage 950Q and 1950), but they didn't fit with me. I don't have "HT", just a small room with a TV & 7.1 AVR. My Blu-ray spends 90% of its time playing SACD. I have two active "PC" units, one being my internet & DNLA server and one my mobile laptop unit. No family and no neighbors, so I only have to make myself happy.

You can build a great HTPC for less than a DHG. But "fun" is in the eye of the beholder. The DHG isn't a DVR, it's an adventure.

It is the market you are selling to...

Oh, I agree completely...and I love my DHG500. The WAF has made it priceless in my household.

What I was vaguely alluding to was something that I've been thinking about lately: What am I going to do when the guide goes buh-bye?

While I have my clock-setting tapes at the ready, the real beauty of this machine is the guide. Time-shifting is great...but when it really comes down to it, the best feature is being able to see what is on "now", "tomorrow", and "a week in the future". Right there in front of me.

^ This is valuable, to be sure. But is it "$500 valuable" when the plug could be pulled in the near future? For me, the answer is no.

This is a rambling, disjointed post, so I think I'll just go check the guide to see what's on after the news. ;)

^ This is valuable, to be sure. But is it "$500 valuable" when the plug could be pulled in the near future? For me, the answer is no.


Alright! Enough Already!!

The DHG's I have for sale are priced at a measley $350.. NOT $500!!! :)

Alright! Enough Already!!

The DHG's I have for sale are priced at a measley $350.. NOT $500!!! :)

Be patient. Income Tax Refunds will be here soon.

My 2 DHG250s and 1 DHG500 continue to work well, OTA only, in the Seattle area. Lately, a few of my channels have been experiencing some marginal signal problems, due to the crappy Sony tuners, causing dropouts/freezing during recordings, so I have been setting up a HTPC on the side to give myself some redundant capabilities.

A pair of new SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuner boxes lets me record 4 stations simultaneously, with no dropout problems on the marginal channels, from the same antenna feed as the DHGs. Its nice what a couple of generations of tuner technology improvements can do.

Since these DHGs are going on 5 years old, I expect the hard drives will give up any year now, so I added a Hauppauge Colossus capture card to the HTPC so I could suck out all the old movies my wife has been saving on the DHGs, and free up the space, too. I am very impressed with the quality of the 1080i component mode capture to the Colossus card.

I'm not thrilled with the WinTV or WMC software, but I get the feeling the DHG's days are becoming numbered, and I want to be prepared, before they become unusable (either due to hardware failure or due to Rovi).

Alright! Enough Already!!

The DHG's I have for sale are priced at a measley $350.. NOT $500!!! :)

LMAO. I'll give you $50....take it or leave it.

No one ever posts this.

My DHG is working fine. I have a host channel, the guide is populated, and I have clock and ads.

There you go.

Now I've Jinxed it !!:D

My 2 DHG250s and 1 DHG500 continue to work well, OTA only, in the Seattle area. Lately, a few of my channels have been experiencing some marginal signal problems, due to the crappy Sony tuners, causing dropouts/freezing during recordings, so I have been setting up a HTPC on the side to give myself some redundant capabilities.

A pair of new SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuner boxes lets me record 4 stations simultaneously, with no dropout problems on the marginal channels, from the same antenna feed as the DHGs. Its nice what a couple of generations of tuner technology improvements can do.

Since these DHGs are going on 5 years old, I expect the hard drives will give up any year now, so I added a Hauppauge Colossus capture card to the HTPC so I could suck out all the old movies my wife has been saving on the DHGs, and free up the space, too. I am very impressed with the quality of the 1080i component mode capture to the Colossus card.

I'm not thrilled with the WinTV or WMC software, but I get the feeling the DHG's days are becoming numbered, and I want to be prepared, before they become unusable (either due to hardware failure or due to Rovi).

Tuners don't change, at least not solid state ones. If you had a lock and now do not, you might want to check the antenna. The connections hate water, and like to oxidize anyway. Sometimes even just taking them apart and reinstalling are enough to fix any issues.....I don't know what you have in the air, but I have found a "slightly bigger than recommended" antenna never hurt anyone, and often allows you to go without additional amplifiers.

I haven't had ads in well over a month.

I haven't had ads in well over a month.

I think it's an East Coast thing, or perhaps many inserters have been blown. If I set Allentown 18101 (RCN) I get ads. All my real local zipcodes have no ads. Not even those tutorials. I wonder if the people at Bose care? V10 via internet has a few. Not real high on my worry list.

Just checked my V10 internet guide: no ads. Now isn't that something special?

Not the "dredded East coast thing"?? :eek:many inserters have been blownHuh? if so, then way would I get data at all? :confused:
Sorry, I get a little nervous when the ads disappear for more than a week or two. This has been well over a month approaching two.That's about the longest it's gone.

Allentown isn't the easy coast? ;)

Not the "dredded East coast thing"?? :eek:Huh? if so, then way would I get data at all? :confused:
Sorry, I get a little nervous when the ads disappear for more than a week or two. This has been well over a month approaching two.That's about the longest it's gone.

Allentown isn't the easy coast? ;)

I said "many" inserters, like "many" along the I95 corridor. I have not had ads in over a month, perhaps longer. [joke] I could look up the exact date & posts, but it's not that important to me.

I'm still getting legacy data which is important to me. I could change one unit to 18101, but it's busy although it won't affect my recordings. Maybe tomorrow.

Just checked. "no ads" appears in 184 posts. Current outage started exactly two months ago. No big deal.

We have Ads in NY, but they are all for WCBS-DT local shows at the local times.

We have Ads in NY, but they are all for WCBS-DT local shows at the local times.

All the ads I saw were CBS. Curious.

No one ever posts this.

My DHG is working fine. I have a host channel, the guide is populated, and I have clock and ads.

There you go.

Now I've Jinxed it !!:D

Same here.
Host Chan 0:0-6
Clock set Chan 0:6-1
Failing clock Chan 0:0-6

My HDD250 has been humming along mostly without interruption for 6 plus years OTA only.

Since I updated my 500 a few days ago to digital, I haven't seen any ads either. Outside DC.

Same here.
Host Chan 0:0-6
Clock set Chan 0:6-1
Failing clock Chan 0:0-6

My HDD250 has been humming along mostly without interruption for 6 plus years OTA only.

Ever look at the reset data screen to see if it did a reboot when you weren't looking?

Tuners don't change, at least not solid state ones.Yes, you're right... the Sony tuners haven't changed. They've always been crappy.

As for my antenna system degrading... yeah, in spite of my careful "weatherproofing" techniques, there has probably been some oxidation in the connections. The VHF section of the antenna is in the attic, and the UHF section is on a 30' pole. But the main problem is the change in the foliage with the seasons and the bad multipath behavior of the Sony tuners.

That's why the new tuners are so much better... they aren't as troubled by multipath, which I think is my main problem.

Ever look at the reset data screen to see if it did a reboot when you weren't looking?

Have not really kept notes but have used the front panel reboot a few times and a TVGOS reset a few times and a factory reset once to format the HDD.
But not in the last nine or so months.

But if XEWTV stops sending analog TVGOS data on their CH 6 NTSC broadcast I may be in trouble. Still XEWTVHD on 6.1 sends digital data and sets the clock.

Have not looked at the reset data screen, don't remember what page that is on.

Have not really kept notes but have used the front panel reboot a few times and a TVGOS reset a few times and a factory reset once to format the HDD.
But not in the last nine or so months.

But if XEWTV stops sending analog TVGOS data on their CH 6 NTSC broadcast I may be in trouble. Still XEWTVHD on 6.1 sends digital data and sets the clock.

Have not looked at the reset data screen, don't remember what page that is on.

The reset tracking screen up from the 753... screen. Up one, right two. The 0x7000 should mean a reset, but my reference manual isn't close by. The data builds until a factory restore.

Next week my legacy feed gets merged with another headend. March 1 will be an interesting day.

Hello DHG experts, one of my 500s is having a tuning problem, but only with Digital channels, -none tune in on the scan anymore. I had those channels fine and then one day my OTA antenna channels all showed No Signal. and when I did a rescan, now I see I do not receive any Digital Cable channels either. I have 2 other DHGs that do receive Digital channels via cable and antenna.

This same 500 has warned of Hard Drive failure! the last 2 times I unplugged it and reset up, but I always get the hard drive function back ok after I baby it and reset it.
If the Digital tuning has gone out then my beautiful 500 is now a std def recorder, I can not receive any HD channels on it, but all the Digital channels still show in TVGOS, but NO TUNING. blah!
help.

Hello DHG experts, one of my 500s is having a tuning problem, but only with Digital channels, -none tune in on the scan anymore. I had those channels fine and then one day my OTA antenna channels all showed No Signal. and when I did a rescan, now I see I do not receive any Digital Cable channels either. I have 2 other DHGs that do receive Digital channels via cable and antenna.

This same 500 has warned of Hard Drive failure! the last 2 times I unplugged it and reset up, but I always get the hard drive function back ok after I baby it and reset it.
If the Digital tuning has gone out then my beautiful 500 is now a std def recorder, I can not receive any HD channels on it, but all the Digital channels still show in TVGOS, but NO TUNING. blah!
help.

If your TV can find the digital channels it's not an OTA/cable issue. If you mean that after a format there is a message that sector has been recovered, I have never NOT had that message.

If you are getting HDD messages during normal operation, it's probably broke. Sorry.

The Sony menu of Channel preferences will tell you if there is any clear QAM data. The guide tells you only what has been downloaded from the TVGOS data stream. Your guide can be empty and you can still watch any data received.

Hello DHG experts, one of my 500s is having a tuning problem, but only with Digital channels, -none tune in on the scan anymore. I had those channels fine and then one day my OTA antenna channels all showed No Signal. and when I did a rescan, now I see I do not receive any Digital Cable channels either. I have 2 other DHGs that do receive Digital channels via cable and antenna.

This same 500 has warned of Hard Drive failure! the last 2 times I unplugged it and reset up, but I always get the hard drive function back ok after I baby it and reset it.
If the Digital tuning has gone out then my beautiful 500 is now a std def recorder, I can not receive any HD channels on it, but all the Digital channels still show in TVGOS, but NO TUNING. blah!
help.

Do a front panel reset, that will fix it. Just press and hold the 'TV Guide' button, and the 'Exit' button simultaneously for a couple of seconds. This will reboot the Sony, and your tuner should work right again after that.

Mark

THanks, Mark rebooting will fix the Digital tuner? I'll try it.\...
edit----just did it, after a rescan of antenna, 20 Digital channels showed up! Thanks Mr Mark. and Joe.,
why does that happen?

Joe,
THe DVR records and plays fine, I only got hard drive failure warning after I had unplugged the DHG from power and replugged it in, that has happened 2x but only after I unplug. during use it never shows that warning.
I just seem to have lost the ability to tune into Digital channels with the DHG.

No one ever posts this.

My DHG is working fine. I have a host channel, the guide is populated, and I have clock and ads.

There you go.

Now I've Jinxed it !!:D

Same here. No problems with my HDD250 and it has never been updated.

Same here. No problems with my HDD250 and it has never been updated.
Ditto but my HDD500 has been updated a year or so ago. Works perfectly and pulls in way more channels than I can get guide data for.... that said, guide data for all my local channels is perfect and full.

Do cable companies still have cable cards for these units to allow them to record/watch encoded cable channels?

Do cable companies still have cable cards for these units to allow them to record/watch encoded cable channels?

Yes.. as long as the CableCo is not using SDV in your area.

Yes.. as long as the CableCo is not using SDV in your area.
Sounds like I need to sell my HDD500 while the gettin is still good....?

I'm considering doing the same.

Sounds like I need to sell my HDD500 while the gettin is still good....?

I'm considering doing the same.

You know there is only one road left to travel that comes close to the quality of the DHG. It's different, but you can adapt. Since I don't do guide-based recording my units may last me a bit longer.

You know there is only one road left to travel that comes close to the quality of the DHG. It's different, but you can adapt. Since I don't do guide-based recording my units may last me a bit longer.

Just bought a broken DTVPal DVR on Ebay for $88. Stuck in a refurbed WD AVGP 500Gb HDD and it is good as new. Guide works too, although I prefer the Sony Guide. This DTVPal now makes 3 of them in the house along with 1 Sony DHG. Only keeping the Sony because I might someday go back to Comcast and I really liked the idea of the cable card rental at $2 a month vs $12 a month for the HDTV Cable DVR.

Still, looks like SVD will ruin that for us too... seems like the industry is doing everything it can to ruin HDTV for early adopting videophiles on a budget.:mad:

You know there is only one road left to travel that comes close to the quality of the DHG. It's different, but you can adapt. Since I don't do guide-based recording my units may last me a bit longer.

To JoeKustra:
If memory serves, you use cable only for your units, correct ?
and you have the older version of the Sony software, not the latest with
the digital OTA TV Guide update. If this is so, theoretically a non-updated
unit hooked up to the local cable co should still be able to receive clock
and TV Guide data from the wall cable feed. If by some chance I were to
find a Sony DHG with the older software, and disconnect my OTA signal,
it still should be able to acquire TV Guide data, assuming my cable co is
actually sending it. Does this make any sense ?
With all the discussion here of people selling their units for fear of the
Rovi signal being discontinued, it's got me wondering if this would work.

To JoeKustra:
If memory serves, you use cable only for your units, correct ?
and you have the older version of the Sony software, not the latest with
the digital OTA TV Guide update. If this is so, theoretically a non-updated
unit hooked up to the local cable co should still be able to receive clock
and TV Guide data from the wall cable feed. If by some chance I were to
find a Sony DHG with the older software, and disconnect my OTA signal,
it still should be able to acquire TV Guide data, assuming my cable co is
actually sending it. Does this make any sense ?
With all the discussion here of people selling their units for fear of the
Rovi signal being discontinued, it's got me wondering if this would work.

If Rovi were to stop sending the signal, then all TVGOS devices (analog, or digital) would no longer get data. Also the newer firmware does not affect the reception of analog data. It doesn't matter what firmware you are running, if there is analog data out there the Sony will prefer it to the digital TVGOS, at least mine does.

Mark

To JoeKustra:
If memory serves, you use cable only for your units, correct ?
and you have the older version of the Sony software, not the latest with
the digital OTA TV Guide update. If this is so, theoretically a non-updated
unit hooked up to the local cable co should still be able to receive clock
and TV Guide data from the wall cable feed. If by some chance I were to
find a Sony DHG with the older software, and disconnect my OTA signal,
it still should be able to acquire TV Guide data, assuming my cable co is
actually sending it. Does this make any sense ?
With all the discussion here of people selling their units for fear of the
Rovi signal being discontinued, it's got me wondering if this would work.

First, Mark is 100% correct.

Let me expand on my configuration. True, I only get cable and do not have a cable card. Here is where the problem comes in. Remember that Sony has a firmware update and "Rovi or whoever" has a TVGOS software update. Without a cable card I do not receive channel numbers shown on the guide. I also do not have any PSIP or SCTE-127 data. If I had a cable card I could use the latest Sony firmware. With the older Sony firmare (.13), I can record manually channels not on the guide.

My cable headend has two TVGOS legacy streams and no digital inserter. One is probably just passed on from KYW and one comes from a modem that calls Rovi. My DHG always chooses the inserter and moved from ch 15 to ch 98 when those two channels swapped content last month. I have about 200 VBI leagacy packets/minute and can go from reset to guide in 24 hours. I have a test unit and have done this many times.

Since I may be moving soon, I was able to take my test unit to my new location which is fed from a different headend. I first let it sit for three days. It found a clock (ch 19) but no host and no listings. I then noticed that the cable feed was sending data at a good rate, but the signal was only 70 to 72. I ran the 9012 diag and 50% of my packets are bad. I will need to fix this.

It is easy to test for data on cable. Pull the power and remove the RF. After a minute, apply power. With the latest Sony firmware you should get a bad clock. With .13 you only get --:--. This front panel display should correct itself within one minute of reconnecting rf. If you connect only cable RF a clock channel will set faster than a host channel (which may be blank anyhow), but it may take several hours. You will hear the cable/OTA relay clicking as it searches. With no TVGOS data from the cable and the antenna removed, you should never achieve correct time. If the clock does correct itself, the 753... clocks2 screen will show you the channel number. Cable starts with 1- and your old clock set channel may show as failed. I have never tested this in an all digital environment, so it could be different.

Forgive the long post, but the DHG isn't a toaster. I know TWC is a leader in SDV, which will not work with the DHG even if there is a legacy data stream. I can't speculate what the guide would look like or how it would work in your area. Even so, all cable is local.

Forgive the long post, but the DHG isn't a toaster. I know TWC is a leader in SDV, which will not work with the DHG even if there is a legacy data stream. I can't speculate what the guide would look like or how it would work in your area. Even so, all cable is local.

Makes me happy I get it from the air, only....

The Rovi revisions made for Houston the previous six weeks or so, now make the TVGOS works as good as it did during the analogue days (about 98% true). The Host Channel Set (new grid) is a regular occurrence and as fast as it ever was in years gone by. It is also the most consistent now vs. the two years after the digital transition when all sorts of tricks had to be used to make it work and get a New Grid. Of course I am referring to OTA only.

I hope they never change now.

The Rovi revisions made for Houston the previous six weeks or so, now make the TVGOS works as good as it did during the analogue days (about 98% true). The Host Channel Set (new grid) is a regular occurrence and as fast as it ever was in years gone by. It is also the most consistent now vs. the two years after the digital transition when all sorts of tricks had to be used to make it work and get a New Grid. Of course I am referring to OTA only.

I hope they never change now.

I hope your dreams come true.

I just went to my future location and found that there was a bad splitter. I pulled that. I checked the DHG level and it's now up to 88, same as my feed. I found that there is mostly RG-58 used also. And now the 9012 test is showing only 25% "fixed" packets and none failed. Picture is better too. But I'll give it a day to see if it can find a clock and host. Otherwise it's back to the spiders and 20 years of junk in the basement to climb over.

I would kill for a digital host.

If Rovi were to stop sending the signal, then all TVGOS devices (analog, or digital) would no longer get data. Also the newer firmware does not affect the reception of analog data. It doesn't matter what firmware you are running, if there is analog data out there the Sony will prefer it to the digital TVGOS, at least mine does.

Mark

Thanks Mark & JoeKustra

There are several off-topic reasons I brought this up, sorry if it's offensive.
Prior to my purchasing the DHG-HDD 250 last year, I had my LG LST-3410A
hooked up to both cable and OTA. The LG software is notoriously bad
when it comes to acquiring TVGuide data, which btw was the old analog system. Maybe a few times per year I'd see a grid with listings, but most of
the time I'd have to re-boot the unit and reset the clock, as the LG's clock can be set manually. There's an entire thread on AVS dedicated to the faults of this otherwise wonderful machine. It doesn't compare with the Sonys, but
the PQ is equal and upgrading the hard drive is a piece of cake.

Once I purchased the DHG, I removed the LG unit and put it in another room
that has a decidedly weaker cable signal (due to a lengthy cable run).
The LG no longer searches for TVGuide and common problems like freezing and
re-booting are long gone. I use it as a manual Hi Def recorder now.

Back in the analog days, Guide data came from PBS here in New York, now it's sent via CBS digital, as evidenced by the two month recent 'blackout'
of OTA TV Guide data. But I'd like to know if my cable co (Time Warner)
still sends the analog Guide signal. I don't want my DHG to become a useless doorstop, and be forced to buy something I don't want, like the latest offerings from Channel Master, which are way over-priced.

As far as I know, Switched Digital Video only comes into play using cable cards such as those used by TIVO and the Sony machines. That's not my concern. I do not want to experiment at this time, as both the Sony and the LG have been working perfectly, both recording HD broadcast programs from
the QAM cable line. I'm just thinking of future possiblities if and when Rovi discontinues the signal. That will mean the loss of one hi def recorder, I'll be left with my two DTVPal DVR's, and the crappy weak OTA signal I have in my area.

.... As far as I know, Switched Digital Video only comes into play using cable cards such as those used by TIVO and the Sony machines. That's not my concern. I do not want to experiment at this time, as both the Sony and the LG have been working perfectly, both recording HD broadcast programs from the QAM cable line . . .

Having used the DHG's with (and without) CableCards I agree that if you're not using a CableCard, SDV will not affect you. The channels that are "switched" are channels that would never be on unencrypted QAM anyway.

Thanks Mark & JoeKustra

There are several off-topic reasons I brought this up, sorry if it's offensive.
Prior to my purchasing the DHG-HDD 250 last year, I had my LG LST-3410A
hooked up to both cable and OTA. The LG software is notoriously bad
when it comes to acquiring TVGuide data, which btw was the old analog system. Maybe a few times per year I'd see a grid with listings, but most of
the time I'd have to re-boot the unit and reset the clock, as the LG's clock can be set manually. There's an entire thread on AVS dedicated to the faults of this otherwise wonderful machine. It doesn't compare with the Sonys, but
the PQ is equal and upgrading the hard drive is a piece of cake.



Before PBS stopped XDS and TVGOS V7 my LST worked very good. I discovered the DHG and had both in use when PBS dropped TVGOS and the LST would lockup freqently. I "cut the cap" and stopped all stability problems. But then I got more DHG units and put the LST in a box. There is no question the PQ is equal but there are not many locations left that still send V7.

Having used the DHG's with (and without) CableCards I agree that if you're not using a CableCard, SDV will not affect you. The channels that are "switched" are channels that would never be on unencrypted QAM anyway.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg... ;)

IIUC, SDV doesn't seem to happen until the cable provider first moves all his channels to encrypted digital (except for OTA available locals)... which means that if you want to watch/record basic cable channels like WGN and USA, you must have a cable card. And then when that cable company institutes SDV to further increase profits, that makes the cable capability of the Sony worthless.

^^^

YDUC (You don't understand correctly). Neither did I until they began actually using SDV in my neighborhood about 3 weeks ago.

^^^

YDUC (You don't understand correctly). Neither did I until they began actually using SDV in my neighborhood about 3 weeks ago.
Thanks for the YDUC definition... I'd have had to look that up. :)

In our neighborhood, we lost all clear QAM about a month ago. So a CC is required to get anything but what we can get for free via OTA.
Next up would be SDV, making even the CC obsolete(according to others in this thread), so that is why I posted what I thought I understood.HIIK
(insert shrugged shoulders icon here)



Made that one up - HIIK aka heck if I know. :D

^^^

I made up "YDUC" on the fly... :)

And I sent you a PM...

Which came first, the chicken or the egg... ;)

IIUC, SDV doesn't seem to happen until the cable provider first moves all his channels to encrypted digital (except for OTA available locals)... which means that if you want to watch/record basic cable channels like WGN and USA, you must have a cable card. And then when that cable company institutes SDV to further increase profits, that makes the cable capability of the Sony worthless.

I have one unit OTA only, so that won't go based on cable. My cable co is stopping all analog service (there is a basic analog tier, still) at the end of the month. I have a cable card in that one. Cablecard makes the unit less stable, I occasionally have to reboot when it refuses to see a channel I "get". We get the OTA channels now in clear HD on QAM, and the basic tier in analog. I wonder what, if anything, will be in the clear once the system goes all digital. The cableco has offered "free" boxes for a year.


The industry has wanted to kill cablecard since before it was released, and has done all it can to ignore it. The only gadget with any popular share of mind is the TiVo, and that is the major user of the Cards. We've all seen what happens...nothing...as far as selling what one would assume would be a big selling piece of CE stuff...the DVR. If the industry can make sure that technology moves on, past cablecard, and makes sure no new one is invented,then the problem is solved, for them. Since FCC no longer represents any interest other than the incumbent player *god forbid a public interest* then the problem resolves. Only Tivo will squawk, so some limited accomodation would need be made....but not necessarily.

The idea was great...own your own stuff, a competitive market, technology would push the devices. We got rental only, monopoly market, and antiquated crap to the point that my 2005 Sony is still a better box than my new 2011 SA 8300. Keep those rental fees coming,...it worked for Ma Bell and At and t..

I have one unit OTA only, so that won't go based on cable. My cable co is stopping all analog service (there is a basic analog tier, still) at the end of the month. I have a cable card in that one. Cablecard makes the unit less stable, I occasionally have to reboot when it refuses to see a channel I "get". We get the OTA channels now in clear HD on QAM, and the basic tier in analog. I wonder what, if anything, will be in the clear once the system goes all digital. The cableco has offered "free" boxes for a year.



Don't dispair until after the dust settles. Two years ago I had 75 analog cable channels. My feed then duplicated that feed in SD. The first 26 were mostly the same as they are now. They sent me a DTA so I could get the "new" digital lineup. They moved things around for about a year, then killed off the cable/analog over 25 with a few exceptions. My TVGOS host is ch 98 and I get data on ch 10 that seems to be pass through from KYW. No digital inserter.

My world now (as example):
WOLF (Fox) physical 45, PSIP 56.1, analog cable 5, SD cable 73.6608, HD cable 107.1301 and cable card or STB 505.

I am lucky to have a great TV tuner that lists the scrambled channels but doesn't enable them. It also indicates a dead analog channel. But, like many sets, only tunes to 135.

I figure the SD channels would be my lineup if I used the free DTA they sent me two years ago that is still in the box. My cable feed has the PSIP stripped off.

I take it from your post that there will still be analog channels next month. They will probably have a poor picture yet they will match TVGOS up to about 20 even without a cable card.

Those channels that are on the list that need a box may turn out to be in the clear and you may find most of them to be quite easy to watch and record with the DHG.

BTW, the egg came first.

the egg came first.

I thought is was the sperm...

I thought is was the sperm...

Egg, by about 100,000,000 years. Let's keep it clean. This is a family forum. [joke]

How about.. "Which came first, Unknown #1 or Unknown #3 ??? :D:D:D

I thought is was the sperm...

Actually, I think it was the T-Rex?:D
http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/photoplace2009/trexchicken.jpg
Chickens came from Dinosaurs (http://www.science20.com/news_articles/did_dinosaurs_become_chickens)

Actually, I think it was the T-Rex


Works for me. Just don't get political. [joke again].

Works for me. Just don't get political. [joke again].
I promise not to ever post here about those political sperms again. ;)

it was too good to last. my ota unit has locked up twice but works after reset. ive lost listings for day seven and eight. The cablecard and ota unit has locked and wont work properly even after reboots.

The cablecard unit has always been sorta cranky but the downstairs unit is normally solid. if both are troublesome at once even after soft resets and a cablecard pull then its probably "not me"

the upstairs unit isnt getting time either. antenna tv signals otherwise fine

i have noticed, only on 2.1 and only on the sony boxes, an occasional unusual pixellation. signal strength is 87 percent and Ive not had it on any other channel or on other tuners...its also not the weak signal pixellation...its different

nyc dma wcbs 2.1 ota only for tvgos

I promise not to ever post here about those political sperms again. ;)

I have another answer to the question, but it is political and adult. If I posted it I would surly get the boot from AVL. If you want a laugh send me a private email. MUST BE 18.

I’m going to watch one of my 8 perfectly working TVGOS devices now. 4 v9 TV’s 4 Sony’s on Comcast CableCard, Northern California. I only have trouble with time zone out of sink listings; Rovi fixes them as timely as they can. Comcast here has a new trouble phone in line. Real Northern Ca. techs answer and know how to fix CableCard problems. All seams to be getting better all the time.

I have some guesses as to why it’s getting better and I believe that TVGOS will be around for sometime yet, at least with Comcast. I can post my ideas if someone request but I leave you with this; iGuide is Comcast’s TV guide, iGuide is Rovi.

Gregg

it was too good to last. my ota unit has locked up twice but works after reset. ive lost listings for day seven and eight. The cablecard and ota unit has locked and wont work properly even after reboots.

The cablecard unit has always been sorta cranky but the downstairs unit is normally solid. if both are troublesome at once even after soft resets and a cablecard pull then its probably "not me"

the upstairs unit isnt getting time either. antenna tv signals otherwise fine

i have noticed, only on 2.1 and only on the sony boxes, an occasional unusual pixellation. signal strength is 87 percent and Ive not had it on any other channel or on other tuners...its also not the weak signal pixellation...its different

nyc dma wcbs 2.1 ota only for tvgos

time has returned, but the entire guide was deleted.after a bunch of spontaneous resets...after spending way too much time organizing it. gaak.

well, something is up. The ota only unit, normally stable, has reset by itself and spit the grid..The cablecard and ota unit did the same but it is normally more cranky due to the cablecard.

its the same as a 9012 reset....recordings stay. grid and listings gone. All Scheduled recordings are greyed out.

i didn't do it. Anyone else get a free reboot from tvgos ?

nyc dma. wcbs 2.1 is the host....allegedly.
:confused:

well, something is up. The ota only unit, normally stable, has reset by itself and spit the grid..The cablecard and ota unit did the same but it is normally more cranky due to the cablecard.

its the same as a 9012 reset....recordings stay. grid and listings gone. All Scheduled recordings are greyed out.

i didn't do it. Anyone else get a free reboot from tvgos ?

nyc dma. wcbs 2.1 is the host....allegedly.
:confused:

From a cable viewpoint: my legacy injector is 100%. My KYW data is ok but slow. Next county over has a new legacy injector with 99% bad data. It took four days to set the clock.

If KYW dies I'll let you know. Maybe I won't have to.

well, something is up. The ota only unit, normally stable, has reset by itself and spit the grid..The cablecard and ota unit did the same but it is normally more cranky due to the cablecard.

its the same as a 9012 reset....recordings stay. grid and listings gone. All Scheduled recordings are greyed out.

i didn't do it. Anyone else get a free reboot from tvgos ?

nyc dma. wcbs 2.1 is the host....allegedly.
:confused:
oh, and i currently have two wrong clocks AAARRRGGG :(:(:(

The CST/DST change here went by without issue. The first Host Channel Set after the change came in at GMT of 7:39 instead of the normal 7:45. But I believe that is normal after each CST/DST change every six months. I think it is about 20 days or? before it walks back around to the X:45 or (X:15) Host Channel Set.

AFAIK, the unit still starts and ends programs at the correct recording times; but I may not get to those shows for a week or two LOL

Clock Time matches Cell Phone time so all is good there.

Clocks have returned. Ads are back. Listings appear to be re-populating.

Why did TVGOS hit the re-set button and wipe the units ? Is there any intelligence there, or did they give the Rovi box to an intern with more important "coffee-fetchin" duties ?

Clocks have returned. Ads are back. Listings appear to be re-populating.

Why did TVGOS hit the re-set button and wipe the units ? Is there any intelligence there, or did they give the Rovi box to an intern with more important "coffee-fetchin" duties ?

March madness?

I'm in the San Diego/Los Angeles market, OTA only. Last week, my TVGOS host channel (XETV) changed their programming, and as a result, dropped the TVGOS data. My Sonys lost there listings and host channel. This was an NTSC analog host channel, so I never updated the FW to the .21 version (was still using .13). I preferred the analog TVGOS data to the digital version, because it had listings for more channels that I watch.

I applied the .21 update to one of my Sonys last night, and it updated with no problem. After about an hour, the clock set to the correct time. I checked the diagnostic screen and it still had no host channel set. I thought that with digital host channels, the Sony would not set the time until it found the host channel. I will check again tonight to see if it finds a host channel/lineup/listings. Anyone else in the San Diego area that can comment on the availability of a digital OTA host channel?

I'm in the San Diego/Los Angeles market, OTA only. Last week, my TVGOS host channel (XETV) changed their programming, and as a result, dropped the TVGOS data. My Sonys lost there listings and host channel. This was an NTSC analog host channel, so I never updated the FW to the .21 version (was still using .13). I preferred the analog TVGOS data to the digital version, because it had listings for more channels that I watch.

I applied the .21 update to one of my Sonys last night, and it updated with no problem. After about an hour, the clock set to the correct time. I checked the diagnostic screen and it still had no host channel set. I thought that with digital host channels, the Sony would not set the time until it found the host channel. I will check again tonight to see if it finds a host channel/lineup/listings. Anyone else in the San Diego area that can comment on the availability of a digital OTA host channel?

Have you checked your Clock Set/Fail Channel on the clocks2 screen? Lack of a host channel display is not a problem on .21 firmware, even with an analog host.

Have you checked your Clock Set/Fail Channel on the clocks2 screen? Lack of a host channel display is not a problem on .21 firmware, even with an analog host.

I have posted this several times.
Reporting a host channel and having a host channel are completely different issues.
In the analog days the host channel report and host channel were the same. In today's digital age that is not true.
Today my 250 does not report a host channel (blank entry) but the clock channel is 0:23-0.

Yet the DVR has a clock and 8 day listings here in San Diego.

I have posted this several times.
Reporting a host channel and having a host channel are completely different issues.
In the analog days the host channel report and host channel were the same. In today's digital age that is not true.
Today my 250 does not report a host channel (blank entry) but the clock channel is 0:23-0.

Yet the DVR has a clock and 8 day listings here in San Diego.

I guess I didn't say it right. I had a feeling you would be here to correct me quickly. Thanks. I'm still in the analog days.

I guess I didn't say it right. I had a feeling you would be here to correct me quickly. Thanks. I'm still in the analog days.

Not meant to criticize you Joe.
I understood what you meant but was not sure others would.
Hence my attempt to clarify.

Today my 250 does not report a host channel (blank entry) but the clock channel is 0:23-0.

Yet the DVR has a clock and 8 day listings here in San Diego.

Mine reports the clock channel as 0:10-0. I have no listings. I think I will change my zip code and use KCBS-DT instead.

Starting to get worried. No updates in the grid for the last 4 days. Listing end Tuesday morning, 4AM. After that, totally empty. Philadelphia suburbs.

Starting to get worried. No updates in the grid for the last 4 days. Listing end Tuesday morning, 4AM. After that, totally empty. Philadelphia suburbs.

My KYW "pass through" legacy packets are gone. It don't look good.

Starting to get worried. No updates in the grid for the last 4 days. Listing end Tuesday morning, 4AM. After that, totally empty. Philadelphia suburbs.My TVG1 digital packets are alive and well (OTA, KYW Philly) this morning and my listings go out 8 days (8th day is sketchy as usual, but there). Ads (for CBS only) are there. Everything looks normal from my perspective.

How can that be? I thought Joe was OTA, too. I'm Comcast around Media, Pa. No outside antena, otherwise I'd try that.

How can that be? I thought Joe was OTA, too. I'm Comcast around Media, Pa. No outside antena, otherwise I'd try that.
Joe is cable only, no OTA.

How can that be? I thought Joe was OTA, too. I'm Comcast around Media, Pa. No outside antena, otherwise I'd try that.

Sorry, like it says to the left: cable only. The w/wo means I have a cable card in a TiVo Premier and no cards in the Sony, TViX, TV or anything else.

I would need a 500' tower to get a few OTA channels. Or I could move.

Mine reports the clock channel as 0:10-0. I have no listings. I think I will change my zip code and use KCBS-DT instead.

I changed my zip code and my clock set channel changed from 0:10-0 (KGTV) to 0:43-0 (KCBS), but I still have no listings. Is there something else I need to do for digital TVGOS that I didn't have to do when using the analog version?

I changed my zip code and my clock set channel changed from 0:10-0 (KGTV) to 0:43-0 (KCBS), but I still have no listings. Is there something else I need to do for digital TVGOS that I didn't have to do when using the analog version?

Wait. It takes longer with digital.

What version of the Sony firmware is installed? If it's not the newer version, you'll need to update it, or else run the G-Test.

I changed my zip code and my clock set channel changed from 0:10-0 (KGTV) to 0:43-0 (KCBS), but I still have no listings. Is there something else I need to do for digital TVGOS that I didn't have to do when using the analog version?

Yes, there is something that you need to do with Digital vs. Analog... Have Patience. Unlike analog where the DHG could build a grid in 24 hours, it is more difficult for the DHG to build a grid from digital TVGOS (due to issues with the Sony, and not the digital data). The Sony has trouble with the digital TVGOS, and it can take anywhere from a day, to a couple of weeks to get a grid. Changing zip codes, causes the DHG to start the grid building process over, so the best thing to do is leave the DHG alone. Eventually you'll get your grid back.

Mark

Well it's been a few days since I noticed the guide was empty on both my 250's with Comcast in the New Haven, CT franchise. The analog channels have finally been phased out as part of the Xfinity "upgrade". I've tried tuning the digital clear-QAM PBS channel (PBS retained TVGOS broadcast in CT) and have found there to be some data coming in on the ATSC-slicer menu, but it comes in VERY slowly. I plan on hooking the antenna back up tomorrow to test the OTA signal for data. It's temporarily disconnected as I work on some structural issues in the attic where the antenna lives.

So, from what I've read here about Rovi eventually ending the service and without a cable card to get anything besides clear-QAM local broadcasters, I think I may finally retire the Sony's and save the electricity. I will have to make DVD's of my kids favorite Disney and PBS Kids shows from the unit in the kitchen where they watch while eating breakfast. Then it's down to the basement with the old CRT monitors, 8mm projectors, pro S-VHS decks, etc. It may not be the end though. I find use for some of those things from time to time (usually when a family member finds and old reel or VHS they want converted).

But I am very happy with my new MythTV based system that I've been successfully using to record all of my shows for the past few months. I've got my older video editing PC that wasn't quite up to HD editing requirements as the "master back-end" or heart/brains of the system doing all the recording, storage, and playback for the main living room TV. The I put one of my old "obsolete" PC's from the basement to work playing recorded shows over the network as a secondary "front-end" to the TV in the bedroom.

The I use a HD Homerun Prime as the tuner for the network. It uses a single cable card and three tuners. I use two of them for my MythTV recordings while using the other tuner for watching live TV with any Windows 7 computers on the network. It sounds overkill, until you have to spend 25 minutes during the Superbowl in the bathroom with your potty-training daughters. I just brought the laptop in and didn't miss a play!

Of course, I wouldn't recommend MythTV to anyone that is not a computer geek. I have been a PC geek for most of my life, but setting up the Linux based MythTV system required a lot of reading and learning and it is not user friendly. That said, if you have an extra Windows 7 PC you are willing to run all day and hook up to your TV, Windows Media Center is fairly easy to use (compared to MythTV) and the interface is MUCH better than most of the alternatives.

-Doug

FYI, I have seen some misconceptions here about cable cards and SDV. Some devices that utilize cable cards as tuners will still be operational using "tuning adapters" from cable companies. Unfortunately, this will not help the Song DHG units. But people using Tivo's or HDHomerun Prime units (like myself) can use these tuning adapters (along with a USB cable) to provide access to SDV channels for the cable card tuners.
An example of some devices that will work with Time Warner can be found at this link:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/socal/learn/cable/sdv/

Well it's been a few days since I noticed the guide was empty on both my 250's with Comcast in the New Haven, CT franchise. The analog channels have finally been phased out as part of the Xfinity "upgrade". I've tried tuning the digital clear-QAM PBS channel (PBS retained TVGOS broadcast in CT) and have found there to be some data coming in on the ATSC-slicer menu, but it comes in VERY slowly. I plan on hooking the antenna back up tomorrow to test the OTA signal for data. It's temporarily disconnected as I work on some structural issues in the attic where the antenna lives.


Doug - I live in Windsor and get my TVGOS digital data from CPTV (Channel 24-1) OTA. It has occasional dropouts but it has been pretty reliable for the last couple of years.

Paul

I'm in the San Diego/Los Angeles market, OTA only. Last week, my TVGOS host channel (XETV) changed their programming, and as a result, dropped the TVGOS data. My Sonys lost there listings and host channel. This was an NTSC analog host channel, so I never updated the FW to the .21 version (was still using .13). I preferred the analog TVGOS data to the digital version, because it had listings for more channels that I watch.

I applied the .21 update to one of my Sonys last night, and it updated with no problem. After about an hour, the clock set to the correct time. I checked the diagnostic screen and it still had no host channel set. I thought that with digital host channels, the Sony would not set the time until it found the host channel. I will check again tonight to see if it finds a host channel/lineup/listings. Anyone else in the San Diego area that can comment on the availability of a digital OTA host channel?

I'm in San Diego (actually not far from catmother, I think...). I recently had to restart my Sony from scratch. It was acting up, and eventually complained of "INF 1000FF80" which seems to be a hard drive failure. I did the reformat hard drive operation, which wipes everything except the Sony 1.2.21 firmware. It is no longer complaining of the hard drive problem.

Using Time Warner Cable (no OTA), I was able to rebuild everything in about 24 hours. It has locked on to analog 10 (ABC affiliate) on TWC. Using the diagnostic screens, I can see that digital 10.1 and also 6.1 are also sending TVGOS data. However, in the past I have found that if it's using an analog host, but for some reason it is left on a digital channel that also carries data, the unit gets into the old failure state of "can't record and playback at the same time". So I generally try to discourage it from looking at one of the digital hosts for very long.

I have not checked OTA recently. A while back, I did try to get data from 10.1 OTA, since I'm very close to their transmitter. The signal was strong and fine, but the diagnostic screens showed no TVGOS data at all (either G* test or 753... Slicing pages). I suspect that was a temporary problem, because I doubt TWC would be injecting TVGOS data on their 10.1 digital stream if the channel wasn't the source of it. Could be wrong.

I'm in San Diego (actually not far from catmother, I think...).

I am located 2 miles south of Mt Soledad at 540 ft ASL with an LOS view of most of San Diego County except for area blocked by Mt Soledad.

At this location I receive every ATSC and low power NTSC (UCSD) including Tijuana with a simple R/S UHF antenna on the roof.
In fact most of these are quite usable using an indoor UHF loop. Case in point, the HDHomerun in the east side of my house gets all the ATSC stations using an UHF loop hanging in front of the East facing window.

According to rabbitears:
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=40876#station

XETVDT and KGTV provide TVGOS data. As reported earlier my HDD250 clock channel is 0:23-0 which is the UHF RF channel for XETV, virtual channel 6.1

I pulled the cable connection from my Sony about 2 years ago when TWC went so heavily into SDV and now use the Tivo Premiere with CC and TA for TWC cable and OTA as well and the Sony for OTA only.

But I like using the Sony for KFMB CBS for PGA tour golf and KSWB for Nascar races on weekends.

Okay... what should I do first to get the best price for my Sony DHG?

Still have it getting guide and time and recording stuff when selected... and should have it empty of all the dang wife's Entourages and Smash's by the end of the month.

So... what is it worth? How can I increase the money I badly need for it?

Still got the original packaging/boxing documentation for it and the remote is perfect..... but what else should I do?

Thanks!

but what else should I do?

Take some pictures that accurately represent its cosmetic condition, double-box it, put up a listing on ebay, and hope for the best. :)

If you're concerned about somebody seeing what you recorded, you could do a factory reset first, but I'd just leave it as is, personally...the buyer might like Entourage and/or Smash.

Okay... what should I do first to get the best price for my Sony DHG?

Still have it getting guide and time and recording stuff when selected... and should have it empty of all the dang wife's Entourages and Smash's by the end of the month.

So... what is it worth? How can I increase the money I badly need for it?

Still got the original packaging/boxing documentation for it and the remote is perfect..... but what else should I do?

Thanks!

Average price is $1 per GB. Include this forum's URL on a piece of paper. Mark had a post a few pages back on what to do. It would be nice to keep the .21 firmware and 08.06.44 TVGOS patch level. I would not do a reset. I would put the winner's zipcode in system setup and turn the TVGOS power-on setting to off and output to AUTO-HDMI.

Still got the original packaging/boxing documentation for it and the remote is perfect...That in itself should command an extra $50.
75-90% of the lamo's on eBay don't save boxes. Real stupidity. :rolleyes:

On a separate note, going on what appears to be the 3rd month (at least two anyway) with no ads.

Has anyone come up with conditions for weekly programs that are setup to record weekly, when those programs don't air for the deck not to record them when they air again?
I have lost more programs in the past couple of months due to these breaks in normal program schedules.

On a separate note, going on what appears to be the 3rd month (at least two anyway) with no ads.

Has anyone come up with conditions for weekly programs that are setup to record weekly, when those programs don't air for the deck not to record them when they air again?
I have lost more programs in the past couple of months due to these breaks in normal program schedules.

Ads have been reported last week from Philly OTA. They are on V10 internet TVGOS also.

Do you mean "regularly" or "weekly"? I record weekly all the time. Manual recordings do not have a regular option. I'm sorry you are missing scheduled programs.

Weekly.
It's not new, just seems to be worse than usual. I see others make reference to missing recordings. The program is listed, but it isn't 'tagged' to record anymore.

It seems to happen when there are breaks in the program schedule (which seems to be every other week in the past year or more).

Weekly.
It's not new, just seems to be worse than usual. I see others make reference to missing recordings. The program is listed, but it isn't 'tagged' to record anymore.

It seems to happen when there are breaks in the program schedule (which seems to be every other week in the past year or more).

I don't think I can add anything. Only manual recordings have a date on the recording menu. There is a 753.... recordings screen which might help. On one unit I have 70 deleted recordings. I've never missed one. You are right, the programs seem to be scheduled in a semi-random basis.

Average price is $1 per GB. Include this forum's URL on a piece of paper. Mark had a post a few pages back on what to do. It would be nice to keep the .21 firmware and 08.06.44 TVGOS patch level. I would not do a reset. I would put the winner's zipcode in system setup and turn the TVGOS power-on setting to off and output to AUTO-HDMI.

IMO that is a poor "rule of thumb" for price. $1 per GB would make the HDD250 worth $250 (which is not a bad price) but $500 for a HDD500 is a bit much.

Anybody got a pic of the early built models with Memory Stick Pro slot on front?

Anybody got a pic of the early built models with Memory Stick Pro slot on front?
There was one on ebay last year:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=20242814#post20242814
I thought I grabbed the pic files, but I guess not.

Here's the second ad (noted by Possumgirl) with pics:
http://www.universaltvremotecontrol.net/sony-tv-remote/sony-direct-tv-hd-dvr-new-in-box-with-remote-and-manual/

I guess browse this thread starting from the first link above.

TVGOS Reset just for fun.

As long as the sum of EPPs plus DPPs equal total StationPkts andTimezonePkts, then HostSUFlags remains 0xe68.

After that I always get confused with the Ups and Downs, for the rest of the Unknowns 1, 2, and 3:

Let’s see?

As StationPkts and TimezonePkts diverge (spread apart) while the sum of EPPs plus DPPs increase in relation to X then the Unknown 2 (StationPkt) sets in the HostSUFlag.

AND

As StationPkts and TimezonePkts diverge (spread apart) while the sum of EPPs plus DPPs decrease in relation to X then the Unknowns 1 and 3 sets in the HostSUFlag.

I could have the above two statements exactly backwards? Also, I have forgotten the X?

So far I have never been able to catch it on camera, particularly when bits 1, 2, and 3 all set the same night I am asleep. If that setting occurs over two nights then maybe I can catch it on camera.

During the last several months, this part of the routine has been fairly consistent: If HostSUFlag has reached 0xf78 by around 5PM (Houston time) of the day, then HostSUFLag is set at 07:15 GMT the next morning. If HostSUFlag has only reached 0xe68 around 5PM, then the HostSUFlag is set at 07:45 GMT the next morning. I guess that implys bits 1, 2, and 3 are being set from 07:15 to 07:45 GMT

Of course there have been several times it does nothing during NumSearch 1, and does not move from 0xe68 until it gets into NumSearch 2?

TVGOS Reset just for fun.



Not so much fun. I may have to move this summer to assist my mother. I took a 250 to her house and used a "T" to connect it.

That was 3/12. Today I checked. Last week I used a tape to get the TVGOS to .44 and got firmware to .21. The 753... reported:

blank host
Host ID 0
Clock Set 1:0-19
last clock set 3/19
# clock set 5
VBI Stat 0x04
Host SUFlags 0x8000000

Probably would have no lineup without the tape. Listings are junk.

As Jed1 & I have seen, the data is bad but plentiful. It looks like things will not be good. After a week on analog cable my 250 should be happy.

I found one oddity. Using the tapes made from my channel 98 vsb, the ANT input seemed to ignore them on (ch 3) .21 for some reason. When I fed the same tapes through the DHG cable input (ch 3) I could get the TVGOS updates and a lineup and even a few listings after 16 hours. I went to .13 firmware and it all looked good. It is now at .13 but the VBI data is 90% bad. Oh yeah, clock is ok (ch 19) since I have the cable feed running through the VCR.

Maybe things will get fixed at my headend. If not it will be decision time. I am not looking forward to this move. Not fun.

In less than 6 weeks, this thread will be seven years old! :eek:

Is that a record?

Not so much fun. I may have to move this summer to assist my mother. I took a 250 to her house and used a "T" to connect it.

That was 3/12. Today I checked. Last week I used a tape to get the TVGOS to .44 and got firmware to .21. The 753... reported:

blank host
Host ID 0
Clock Set 1:0-19
last clock set 3/19
# clock set 5
VBI Stat 0x04
Host SUFlags 0x8000000

Probably would have no lineup without the tape. Listings are junk.

As Jed1 & I have seen, the data is bad but plentiful. It looks like things will not be good. After a week on analog cable my 250 should be happy.

I found one oddity. Using the tapes made from my channel 98 vsb, the ANT input seemed to ignore them on (ch 3) .21 for some reason. When I fed the same tapes through the DHG cable input (ch 3) I could get the TVGOS updates and a lineup and even a few listings after 16 hours. I went to .13 firmware and it all looked good. It is now at .13 but the VBI data is 90% bad. Oh yeah, clock is ok (ch 19) since I have the cable feed running through the VCR.

Maybe things will get fixed at my headend. If not it will be decision time. I am not looking forward to this move. Not fun.

That's interesting. That is exactly how it behaves when the zip code is wrong. The HostSUFlags never gets past 0x80000000. The next step is for it to get a Host ID which will never happen if the zip code is wrong. I wonder if it's possible that the host channel is sending data for a different DMA than where you are. Or maybe the station isn't sending out a host ID at all.

Mark

That's interesting. That is exactly how it behaves when the zip code is wrong. The HostSUFlags never gets past 0x80000000. The next step is for it to get a Host ID which will never happen if the zip code is wrong. I wonder if it's possible that the host channel is sending data for a different DMA than where you are. Or maybe the station isn't sending out a host ID at all.

Mark

Tomorrow I'll try moving the zipcode up the hill. Thanks for the suggestion. There is still the issue of VBI packets all needing to be fixed packets. Jed1 & I figure this may take a while (if ever) to be corrected since it's not an injector problem. The signal level is at 88, so the data is there.

But there is a Diverge on SortControl, fwiw. It may just wait until NumSearch 2 to move, maybe because the NumSearch 1 has a funny start date/time? More solar flares are needed at this point.

Sum of EPPs plus DPPs still equal the TimeZonePkts and StationPkts; thus no change in HostSUFlag of 0xe68.

The divergence has begun and Host Channel Set. 06:45 GMT with CST/DST change. Since I did not catch what happened at 06:15 GMT, I do not know which of the bits did what when in relation to the increasing/deceasing EPPs+DPPs total. At this point forward, typically the sum of EPPs plus DPPs will rise and fall above the TimezonePkts (they are equal in this picture), but never be more than SationPkts. The three sets of numbers will continue to grow further and further apart, as the Sony continues to receive bits 1 , 2, and 3.

Anyways it works LOL.

Minor deletions/additions/changes to the grid etc. Total count is still 535 at my house. Finally CCTV is an actual listing now (cable); that is with call letters. It would be nice if the NTD – New Tang Dynasty (China’s Forbidden News) was listed, but I have not found it yet (the Sony does scan it in). It is way cool to watch those two Fight It Out – its war without the bombs.

That's interesting. That is exactly how it behaves when the zip code is wrong. The HostSUFlags never gets past 0x80000000. The next step is for it to get a Host ID which will never happen if the zip code is wrong. I wonder if it's possible that the host channel is sending data for a different DMA than where you are. Or maybe the station isn't sending out a host ID at all.

Mark

Hi Mark,
I wish that was the case here as there is no data related to building a grid available from this inserter. The only data that occurs is the GMT time and some listings data that is corrupted.

I am worried because this is the same problem that happened at my sisters in chambersburg but she was always missing the listings data. The bottom line there was Rovi couldn't figure out what was wrong and the problem never got fixed.

I got a DVR from my cable company on friday because it was only 8 dollars a month more than what I am currently paying. I was going to buy two Tivos but it would take about 9 years to break even with an elite and about 6 to 7 years with a premier xl. I doubt Tivo will be in business that long.

It will be four weeks next wednesday that I will have no TVGOS and one week since my cable company got all my bugs ironed out. I do hold a little hope that Rovi will find a host station for a digital inserter but I am not expecting that to happen.

Hi Mark,
I wish that was the case here as there is no data related to building a grid available from this inserter. The only data that occurs is the GMT time and some listings data that is corrupted.

I am worried because this is the same problem that happened at my sisters in chambersburg but she was always missing the listings data. The bottom line there was Rovi couldn't figure out what was wrong and the problem never got fixed.

I got a DVR from my cable company on friday because it was only 8 dollars a month more than what I am currently paying. I was going to buy two Tivos but it would take about 9 years to break even with an elite and about 6 to 7 years with a premier xl. I doubt Tivo will be in business that long.

It will be four weeks next wednesday that I will have no TVGOS and one week since my cable company got all my bugs ironed out. I do hold a little hope that Rovi will find a host station for a digital inserter but I am not expecting that to happen.

I think we're in a bad place. I do have a good clock, but only 1 out of 10 vbi packets do anything, and the guide is crap. As of today the host is 0x0 but I hope they will kill ch 19 and go digital.

In less than 6 weeks, this thread will be seven years old! :eek:

Is that a record?

Yes. Most threads are "Whizbang 1000 is announced"
First adopters get it "post a review"
they come out
price drops (no price talk)
problem arises (the fraammis Joint needs to be re soldered)
Five guys fix this
company announces whizbang 2000
endless discussion and comparison.
early adopters go to that thread,

Lather, rinse, repeat. (count page hits)

We have a common bond. We were left on an island alone. There is no rescue, and we have only TVGOS to guide us.

We have a common bond. We were left on an island alone. There is no rescue, and we have only TVGOS to guide us.

I don't want to be voted off this island. Too nice. I think I'll stick around until the volcano explodes.

In less than 6 weeks, this thread will be seven years old! :eek:

Is that a record?

And ten years is just around the corner and nothing better and cheaper has come along.

I am still waiting for the DHG 12000. 12T of data storage, and 12 digital tuners, that wirelessly fills the house with 1080p and HD audio............and my price point is $49.99

I've had a Sony DHG HDD-500 since Sept. 2006, and I've loved it -- right through the digital TV transition and related firmware upgrade. I'm OTA, and with an outdoor antenna, have always enjoyed a great picture on all channels in this market. WINK-TV, the local CBS station, has been the TVGOS source. Sadly, last June, their TVGOS inserter went bonkers, and took the station off the air a couple of times! After several attempts to resolve the problem, without success, this past fall the station removed the inserter permanently. Shortly after that time, my 500 glitched, losing its date/time and guide data. (Yes, the grid is still present!) Without a TVGOS transmission, my 500 has been reduced to a large ATSC tuner.

I've been in touch with WINK's IT and engineering depts. They were hoping to get some new equipment to resume transmission of TVGOS without jeopardizing the on-air feed. That did not happen, and now I'm told that it won't! SO SAD!

I've been in touch with WINK's IT and engineering depts. They were hoping to get some new equipment to resume transmission of TVGOS without jeopardizing the on-air feed. That did not happen, and now I'm told that it won't! SO SAD!

It is sad. If we could set the clock it would still work like a VCR.

If you decide to sell it, a 250 just went for $326 + 25 shipping on eBay.

I'd ship my 500 anywhere in the US for a flat $250. Sigh. Such a good machine. If only they'd included setting the clock manually. They certainly had a chance with that ATSC fw upgrade.

If we could set the clock it would still work like a VCR....

Or if we had a utility to help in dealing with the time offset.. hey wait a minute, we do have a Utility . . . :D

http://av-pix.com/2011/DHG-SonyTime.xls

Hello is there a OTA tv guide in the hartford ct area?

Hello is there a OTA tv guide in the hartford ct area?

The last report was PBS. That was six months ago.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=21001580#post21001580

IT is not on comcast anymore??

IT is not on comcast anymore??

I don't know.

IT is not on comcast anymore??

Comcast has stopped sending TVGOS data in a few cities, so there is a chance they have stopped in your city. If they don't send out the data, then the only option is to connect an antenna and get the data OTA. You also should be running the 1.2.21 firmware to get the OTA data. If your guide is filled with 'No Listing', then there is a good chance that they have stopped. It could also be that their TVGOS inserter is down.

Mark

thanks mark for the reply I have not tried ota yet but the cable signal guide does not find grid, no clock. I have latest firmware instld.