Sony DHG-HDD250/500: Official Thread

[Daniel Tonks]

Hmm. Did they also post a way to get the firmware onto the box?

[pri9908]

Originally Posted by nascar24

I stated this in another thread that this is not the fault of the recorder itself but the TV guide data was wrong, LOST was wrong in my TV guide data this week so I put it in manually. Im sure this is what probably happened to you as well. Although in my market Invasion was still correct.

Thank you for that info. There's hope for this unit afterall.

[Carl_Ballard]

Well, it took 3 days to get the system time, and another 3 days to get the TV guide. At least I'm moving forward. At some point I'd like to pull the plug on cable, but I'll need to confirm that I can get the guide off the antenna. How do I find out which station is transmitting the TV guide information?

[bestlab]

my unit is still with Sony for repair but I recall this works ok--This info on post #740 :-

Diagnostics screen: go to the main Guide Setup menu (the one with three options). Move the cursor highlight over the first option, "Change System Settings" but do NOT hit Select. Type in the number "753159852". You'll now be in the diagnostics menu... use up/down to select category, and left/right to see other screens. When you first enter the menu, if you hit RIGHT you can see what Host Channel it's using (ignore the VBI Channel, that seems to just be the last channel you were on before entering). Most of the screens won't be particularly useful, but there's one where you can see your Guide packet decoding statistics and, if you tuned the Host channel before entering diagnostics, you can see live decoding statistics.

__________________

[bestlab]

I guess I've been here long enough - I suppose this is the link
http://products.sel.sony.com/opensou...tml#HDD250-550
or http://products.sel.sony.com/opensou...e_settop.shtml
and these seem to be the relevant code -Any one know which ones are useful/useless
Open Source Code 05 Set Top Box
DHG-HDD250, DHG-HDD500
GPL Monta Vista Linux Kernel (28.9 MB)
busybox (683 KB)
gnupg (3.48 MB)
xfsprogs (1.33 MB)
LGPL libuClibc.so (2.95 MB)
ld.so, libc.so, libm.so (15.8 MB)
libpthread.so (221 KB)
libgcc_s.so, libstdc++.so (25.8 MB)

[dp70]

Sony is providing the source code for certain open source software components used within the DVR in compliance with the GPL and LGPL license terms. But naturally Sony is not providing the source code for the Sony-proprietary DVR software itself. My understanding is that they are not required to release the proprietary portions as long as they maintain a clear separation between their code and the open source code. Usually, this means using shared libraries, a modular kernel, and not statically linking with open source code.

It would not be possible for someone to download these materials and make their own customized version of the DHG-HDDxxx firmware. One could glean a little insight into the internal architecture of the DVR and replicate some of the execution environment, but all of the "guts" are missing.

[gothamweb]

Couple of things on this unit...

How does this unit update firmware on itself?

Also how do you reset to factory defaults? My unit worked fine for 34 days, then I had to reboot it because some premium channels disappeared and time on device is totally wrong. Also TVGUIDE no longer updates.

Before I send unit for repair I wanted to do a factory defaults reset because I think the issue is with the time, whenever I reboot it goes back to 9.32pm of the next day...

My 2 cents, this unit really sucks. Wish there were alternatives.

[CH MN]

I am considering getting one of these to use an HD "VCR" AND a second digital tuner for PIP functionality with my TV. I have a Samsung DLP with the TV Guide function. Having many of the same problems with the TV Guide that have been posted here with these units.

First, I had no data for almost a week. Then let the TV tuner auto program again and left it OFF for 10 hours or so. Got Listings for day one, did not look any farther. I immediately deleted the stations I did not want from the TV tuner's memorized channel list and the TV guide (all the analog stations). Next day, the listings were spotty (either No listing, No Title, No Detailed Data). The next day, no listings at all, but still have the channels and the configuration (order in the listing, on/off, etc). Redid the auto program again this evening and enabled the analog PBS stations, see what happens tomorrow. Using OTA only.

The technique to access the TV Guide Diagnostic screens is exactly the same, so it is a function of the TV Guide chip. The version was "08:01:42/08:05:...".

Saw some posts from Mpls/St Paul area, does anyone know what the "TV Guide station" for this area is?

Is deleting the channel from the Tuner list OR from the TV Guide listings that breaks the TV Guide?

In the diagnostic screen, the Host Channel was blank, what does that mean? (I will check it again if/when I get the listings back).

UPDATE
Overnight I got listings for day 1, 2 and 8. The Host Channel is 1:0-5, Does anyone know what that means? There is no such channel that I am aware of. I also noticed that the Clock Set Channel is 1:0-9 and the failing clock channel 1:0-5.

I do not know if it was adding channels to the tuner listing (via autoprogram) or adding the PBS stations to the TV Guide listing that fixed it.

[PhillyC]

The tuner channel memory simply includes/excludes channels for when you use your channel up/down function, AFAIK. You can manually tune to any channel, even if it's not in tuner memory. The possible host channels for the guide must be turned on in the guide.

1:0-5 means cable channel 5. (0:0-05 would mean OTA channel 5.) Interesting that you have different channels for guide and time. I thought it would be the same channel for both.

I don't know how many host channels are in your area, but I've seen the guide use PBS, CBS, ABC, and FOX.

[CH MN]

Originally Posted by PhillyC

The tuner channel memory simply includes/excludes channels for when you use your channel up/down function, AFAIK. You can manually tune to any channel, even if it's not in tuner memory. The possible host channels for the guide must be turned on in the guide.

1:0-5 means cable channel 5. (0:0-05 would mean OTA channel 5.) Interesting that you have different channels for guide and time. I thought it would be the same channel for both.

I don't know how many host channels are in your area, but I've seen the guide use PBS, CBS, ABC, and FOX.

There is some connection on the Samsung between the tuner channels and the TV guide listings. The manual indicates that it uses the tuner list to determine which listing to download (Air and/or Cable I assume). In addition the troubleshooting guide says to repeat the auto program procedure if you are not getting listings.

I do not have cable hooked up so the host channel cannot be cable, perhaps the convention is different depending on the specific tuner.

Channel 5 is ABC here and I do NOT have that analog channel enabled in the TV Guide listings?!

[bestlab]

Originally Posted by CH MN

The manual indicates that it uses the tuner list to determine which listing to download (Air and/or Cable I assume). ?!

what's the model number of your samsung DLP - I'd like to download the manual - it sounds like it is a lot more instructive than the Sony DHG manual regarding tvgos.

[CH MN]

Originally Posted by bestlab

what's the model number of your samsung DLP - I'd like to download the manual - it sounds like it is a lot more instructive than the Sony DHG manual regarding tvgos.

It is an HL-R5078W. On page 109 is the following:
NOTES
• In order for the Guide to receive channel lineup & listings
successfully, “Auto Program” must be performed at least once,
prior to powering off your TV. The Guide displays the channels
that are programmed during “Auto Program”.
• Refer to TV Guide On ScreenTM manual for details.

It also came with a 42 Page "TV Guide On Screen User Manual", but there does not seem to be a PDF version available. It basically walks you through the various screens. It's troubleshooting section is pretty basic. No where is there mention of losing listings if certain channels are disabled/deleted.

[PhillyC]

Originally Posted by CH MN

There is some connection on the Samsung between the tuner channels and the TV guide listings. The manual indicates that it uses the tuner list to determine which listing to download (Air and/or Cable I assume). In addition the troubleshooting guide says to repeat the auto program procedure if you are not getting listings.

I do not have cable hooked up so the host channel cannot be cable, perhaps the convention is different depending on the specific tuner.

Channel 5 is ABC here and I do NOT have that analog channel enabled in the TV Guide listings?!

Interesting. I know that the 1:0-xx means a cable channel on the Sony and LG DVR's. I would think this is a function of TVG.

If the Samsung uses the tuner list to determine active channels for the guide, does that mean you cannot turn channels on/off in the guide itself? This function is in the guide on the DVR's.

[CH MN]

Originally Posted by PhillyC

Interesting. I know that the 1:0-xx means a cable channel on the Sony and LG DVR's. I would think this is a function of TVG.

If the Samsung uses the tuner list to determine active channels for the guide, does that mean you cannot turn channels on/off in the guide itself? This function is in the guide on the DVR's.

You can turn listings on and off in the TV Guide, but there does seem to be some correlation between the two at least initially.

[dp70]

Originally Posted by PhillyC

The possible host channels for the guide must be turned on in the guide.

This is a logical statement, but it doesn't seem to be true. My setup is OTA-only. I have only digital stations turned on in my guide and only digital stations present in the tuner's ch+/ch- listing, but I still receive the guide just fine. Unless the guide is coming in digitally somehow, the TVGOS software must be aware of the analog station even though it isn't enabled in the guide.

[PhillyC]

Originally Posted by Mark Fontana

This is a logical statement, but it doesn't seem to be true. My setup is OTA-only. I have only digital stations turned on in my guide and only digital stations present in the tuner's ch+/ch- listing, but I still receive the guide just fine. Unless the guide is coming in digitally somehow, the TVGOS software must be aware of the analog station even though it isn't enabled in the guide.

You can only get guide data via analog. I know that the LG requires the host channel to be turned on in the guide, which was the source of many headaches until people began to figure it out. I'm not sure about the Sony DVR, which uses a newer version of the guide (but I thought people had noticed the same behavior). Maybe equipment with the newer guide can get around this.

It would be nice if TVG was more forthcoming with information on how things work and which channels were hosts in each area. It seems to be counterproductive to shroud everything in mystery.

[Daniel Tonks]

I don't know why they don't simply have an online database... enter your zip/postal code and it'll tell you which channels in the area carry TVGOS, what version, for which regions, and whether it works on cable.

[Rbrodzinsky]

Originally Posted by philspice1

Has anyone else had scheduled recordings automatically delete themselves from the Schedule menu? I had mine set to record Commander in Chief on ABC which it did fine last week but the scheduled event to record the next episode was not listed. Tonight I rescheduled it and again it disappeared later this evening. I can't figure out any reason for this. Normally if there is a conflict, the event will still be listed, but grayed out. I think this may only be happening on ABC but I'm not 100% sure about that yet.

I was catching up on my forum reading, and this post prompted me to check my schedule for last night. And yes, Commander in Chief was missing. It was missing last week too, but I attributed that to possible user error (it had recorded the first show, and I thought I might have left it as a once-only schedule). I've only had this show disappear from the recording schedule, and it is two weeks in a row, now.

Rick

[dszigeti]

Originally Posted by philspice1
Has anyone else had scheduled recordings automatically delete themselves from the Schedule menu? I had mine set to record Commander in Chief on ABC which it did fine last week but the scheduled event to record the next episode was not listed. Tonight I rescheduled it and again it disappeared later this evening. I can't figure out any reason for this. Normally if there is a conflict, the event will still be listed, but grayed out. I think this may only be happening on ABC but I'm not 100% sure about that yet.
--------------------


Oh yes ... I have ... I was watching my recorder (not the TV - the recorder) just last night. A program was scheduled to record weekly "W" and lo and behold, when the time came, the recorder did nothing!!! I am in the process of debugging this, but it is really annoying - to have a recorder that only records what it thinks is important.

As part of the debug process, I have changed from Regular "R" to Weekly "W" already, but the recorder still misses scheduled recordings.

My current debug path is (other than watching the recorder like a hawk) leading toward the HDD500 not recording the follow-on program. That is, if I have a recording from 8:00 till 9:00, the program recording fom 9:00 to 10:00 doesn't work. Amusingly enough, the program from 10:00 to 11:00 does record, presumably because the recorder deleted the 9:00 to 10:00 recording and is not doing anything. So, I am working on theory that there is a software bug that is not taking into account that one program finishes recording at 09:00 and the next starts at 09:00 and so it misses the record start time. A way for me to test (workaround) this would be to stop the first recording 30 seconds short ... which I hope to test later this week.

Anyone got some ideas on what is wrong and how to fix this??? This is a big, big problem for me ...

Thanks in advance.

[inlogan]

Originally Posted by dszigeti

Originally Posted by philspice1
Has anyone else had scheduled recordings automatically delete themselves from the Schedule menu? I had mine set to record Commander in Chief on ABC which it did fine last week but the scheduled event to record the next episode was not listed. Tonight I rescheduled it and again it disappeared later this evening. I can't figure out any reason for this. Normally if there is a conflict, the event will still be listed, but grayed out. I think this may only be happening on ABC but I'm not 100% sure about that yet.
--------------------


Oh yes ... I have ... I was watching my recorder (not the TV - the recorder) just last night. A program was scheduled to record weekly "W" and lo and behold, when the time came, the recorder did nothing!!! I am in the process of debugging this, but it is really annoying - to have a recorder that only records what it thinks is important.

As part of the debug process, I have changed from Regular "R" to Weekly "W" already, but the recorder still misses scheduled recordings.

My current debug path is (other than watching the recorder like a hawk) leading toward the HDD500 not recording the follow-on program. That is, if I have a recording from 8:00 till 9:00, the program recording fom 9:00 to 10:00 doesn't work. Amusingly enough, the program from 10:00 to 11:00 does record, presumably because the recorder deleted the 9:00 to 10:00 recording and is not doing anything. So, I am working on theory that there is a software bug that is not taking into account that one program finishes recording at 09:00 and the next starts at 09:00 and so it misses the record start time. A way for me to test (workaround) this would be to stop the first recording 30 seconds short ... which I hope to test later this week.

Anyone got some ideas on what is wrong and how to fix this??? This is a big, big problem for me ...

Thanks in advance.

I don't think that is the case at all. I record back to back programs all the time with one ending at say 9pm and the other beginning at 9pm. It'll change the channel a couple of seconds before the top of the hour and then begin recording the next program.

[0t1s1]

Mine seems to be recording back to back weeklies fine...I had lost a few recordings when I was spending so much time tweaking it and figuring everything out but now that I let it ride it seems to be doing okay...I lost a few recordings due to the copyright protection issues talked about earlier in the forum too...

I still watch it like a hawk to make sure I am not missing anything but so far so good...

[alerion]

Check the settings to start and end recordings early/late. On the Sony, if a recording is set to start one minute early on top of another recording, it will not record one of them.

[dszigeti]

Concur that setting overlaps would be bad ... But would not the DVR flag a conflict if the times overlap? I obviously haven't tried it ...

Whatever the solution ... there are three of us on this board, and another guy posting at numerous places on the web (http://www.beginners.co.uk/shop/B000...er_500_GB.html), that all seem to have the same problem ... so either we have a software revision problem ... an inconsistent hardware bug ... or, my favorite, an operator error ... I just want to know which one it is - and how to fix it.

[dszigeti]

All,

I have not had time to read all of the 30 pages on this forum yet, so if someone has already suggested this ... sorry.

I think that each of us with the "recording problem" should enter a tech support question to Sony. Hopefully it will raise the awareness of Sony to the problem ... as though thay don't already know

Anyway, here is the link ... http://esupport.sony.com/EN/feedback/feedback.html. Let's all use the "Home Audio/Video" email link, so we can get to one set of support people. I then used "TIVO" seeing there is no entry for the DHG-HDD500.

My first lines started ... "First ... the DHG-HDD500 is a HD Digital Video Recorder, but there was not entry in the list that I could find.

I and numerous others (see http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&page=27&pp=30) are experiencing problems with recording."

After that you are on your own.

Let's get on this and get a solution ....

[wgoldman]

Originally Posted by dszigeti

I was watching my recorder (not the TV - the recorder) just last night. A program was scheduled to record weekly "W" and lo and behold, when the time came, the recorder did nothing!!! I am in the process of debugging this, but it is really annoying - to have a recorder that only records what it thinks is important.

As part of the debug process, I have changed from Regular "R" to Weekly "W" already, but the recorder still misses scheduled recordings.

My current debug path is (other than watching the recorder like a hawk) leading toward the HDD500 not recording the follow-on program. That is, if I have a recording from 8:00 till 9:00, the program recording fom 9:00 to 10:00 doesn't work. Amusingly enough, the program from 10:00 to 11:00 does record, presumably because the recorder deleted the 9:00 to 10:00 recording and is not doing anything. So, I am working on theory that there is a software bug that is not taking into account that one program finishes recording at 09:00 and the next starts at 09:00 and so it misses the record start time. A way for me to test (workaround) this would be to stop the first recording 30 seconds short ... which I hope to test later this week.

I have seen precisely what you have seen with weekly scheduled recordings, dszigeti -- most recently, last night. It's also true that sometimes I have had no problems recording several shows back-to-back. But recording failures still occur occasionally, without warning, and I've seen only one consistent feature: in EVERY case when I have had a scheduled recording fail to record, it is a program that had another program scheduled to record immediately before or after it. I am going to try the simplest fix to address this point, which is to specify that any back-to-back scheduled recordings should end "one minute early."

-- Bill

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by dszigeti

Originally Posted by philspice1
Oh yes ... I have ... I was watching my recorder (not the TV - the recorder) just last night. A program was scheduled to record weekly "W" and lo and behold, when the time came, the recorder did nothing!!! I am in the process of debugging this, but it is really annoying - to have a recorder that only records what it thinks is important.

Anyone got some ideas on what is wrong and how to fix this??? This is a big, big problem for me ...

I have a couple of questions.

What is the source for your programing: OTA or cable or cable card or some combination?

Does the skipped recording only happen when you are watching another channel at the time the recording is supposed to happen?

In the instance mentioned above, did you see a warning pop up on the screen stating that another recording was about to happen and ask you if you wanted to continue the recording or skip it?

-phil

[mstanl]

Hello All,

I have just received this unit HDD500 and it is slow in the TV guide moving
it from one time to the next time, or next day. Is this normal? It moves very
very slowly. I only have OTA channels about 10 total.

I have the LG3410a box and it has a move +-24 hours at a time, dose this unit
have anything like that? Any way to move to the next day faster?


Thanks
Mike

[HoustonPerson]

In the Sony HD recorder, are you able to set up recording times (ie. channel 11-1 every Tuesday from 8PM to 9PM), just like the old Sony VHS recorders. In other words NOT use the TV guide OR can you use the recorder with the TV Guide "off" (just like an old VHS tape system)?

I have called Sony twice - they said they have absolutely "no idea".

Our local TV Guide only list 6 of our local 28 digital stations.

[inlogan]

Originally Posted by mstanl

Hello All,

I have just received this unit HDD500 and it is slow in the TV guide moving
it from one time to the next time, or next day. Is this normal? It moves very
very slowly. I only have OTA channels about 10 total.

I have the LG3410a box and it has a move +-24 hours at a time, dose this unit
have anything like that? Any way to move to the next day faster?


Thanks
Mike

When on the listings screen type in the number of hours you want to jump and then push the left or right directional button on the remote.

[PhillyC]

mstanl,

The Sony guide is MUCH slower than the LG's. Kind of annoying at first, but at least you'll find that this DVR really works --- unlike the LG. You'll be glad you made the switch.