Mail it postpaid to Sony's president !
Featured Stories
Related Forum Threads
- Updated list of consumer available DVR's in the US Last post on 4/22/13 at 2:47pm in HDTV Recorders
- No Tivo Subscription....works ok? -- TiVo Premiere Series 4 DVR TCD746320 Last post on 1/27/13 at 8:47am in HDTV Recorders
- TiVo Premiere TCD746320 DVR w/2TB drive upgrade & Lifetime Last post on 12/17/12 at 11:58pm in Video Source Items
- Three Mac Mini/EyeTV technical issues Last post on 7/13/12 at 11:28am in HTPC - Mac Chat
- OTA Spectrum Uncertainty & Your Plans Last post on 10/17/11 at 9:58am in HDTV Technical
Related Reviews
Sony DHG-HDD250/500: Official Thread - Page 886
Gear mentioned in this thread:
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User

I think the screen being referenced is shown by the Sony link in post #26539. No lineup means no channels to edit with the guide setup. Menu-Preferences lets you select/deselect channels found during a scan. I wonder when I called the DHG a two-headed monster. Years ago.
I too had "There is no data for this screen" in the Guide - however this may mean that the grid is just hidden (all Channels turned OFF) ... and needs to be activated by turning at least one channel on. I don' think you read my post clearly enough. I am not talking about Menu - Preferences - I am talking about TV Guide - Setup - Change Channel Display - Hit Menu on REMOTE. Also see my earlier post below... The only caveat is you may need to have at least been asked to choose a lineup first (though I'm sure this is required).

Edit: SUCCESS !!!
Once you choose the Cable Lineup and still have "There is no data for this screen" - it means that all of the Channels are turned off. In setup, I selected "Edit Channels" and the list appeared...with every channel turned OFF. I turned the 1st channel on ... and voila ... a grid !!!! So, I'm guessing this would have worked on attempt #3 as soon as it asked me to select a Lineup.
- WS65711
- Trader Feedback: +1
- Thread Ender
-
- offline
- 3,363 Posts. Joined 3/2003
- Location: Covington, LA . . OTA & Charter CableCard
- Select All Posts By This User
- JoeKustra
- Trader Feedback: 0
- Cable only
-
- online
- 5,599 Posts. Joined 9/2007
- Location: Mount Carmel, PA 17851
- Select All Posts By This User
- mabuttra
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,866 Posts. Joined 1/2009
- Location: Wichita, KS OTA (w/optional cable connection)
- Select All Posts By This User
I know I'll never get that far, since being OTA only I never see that message.

- mabuttra
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,866 Posts. Joined 1/2009
- Location: Wichita, KS OTA (w/optional cable connection)
- Select All Posts By This User
Another advantage to being OTA only is that I have never seen the message about not being "allowed" to record channels not on the grid. This seems to be a cable / cablecard bug. Even without a grid, a person who is OTA only, should be able to use izzy900's method to keep the guide time correct, so you can make manual recordings without having a Master's degree in math. Of course without a grid the front panel clock would be dashed out for the rest of the DHG's life.
Mark
- WS65711
- Trader Feedback: +1
- Thread Ender
-
- offline
- 3,363 Posts. Joined 3/2003
- Location: Covington, LA . . OTA & Charter CableCard
- Select All Posts By This User
I think I had that "not in Lineup" issue once for an OTA channel. And it was before I ever had the CableCards. I posted about it here at the time.. I wish I could find it.
Edit:
Oh well... Brain Fart. I found it way back here, and it wasn't OTA, it was CableCard channels . . .
And there's more info about the issue here . . .
"Investigating further, I discovered that in simply turning on the DVR and attempting to record (using the "Right" button on the directional ring) a CableCard channel that the DVR is tuned to (WITHOUT changing channels) the behaviour that I described in the paragraph above applies. However, if I change to the channel first, then I can in fact record it. I don't know if this is documented anywhere, I don't recall ever seeing it. But then I really never have tried recording this way before, since in the past I've always been lucky enough to have a Grid and Lineup. Obviously on Saturday the DVR was tuned to the proper CableCard channel for the game when I turned it on. So that's why I couldn't record the ending segment of the game. Then afterward when I changed to an OTA channel, it was the "channel change" that allowed the "record" function to work . . . not the fact that it was an OTA channel. I've found that if I turn the DVR on with it tuned to an OTA channel, I can in fact set a recording on that channel without having to do the "channel change" first."
.
Edited by WS65711 - 1/24/13 at 5:39pm
- izzy900
- Trader Feedback: 0
- Cable with CableCard
-
- offline
- 197 Posts. Joined 1/2013
- Location: Ulster County, New York
- Select All Posts By This User

Below is the link to the Rovi Facebook page in which I have voiced my displeasure with their decision of non support!
https://www.facebook.com/RoviCorp
- mabuttra
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,866 Posts. Joined 1/2009
- Location: Wichita, KS OTA (w/optional cable connection)
- Select All Posts By This User

^^
I think I had that "not in Lineup" issue once for an OTA channel. And it was before I ever had the CableCards. I posted about it here at the time.. I wish I could find it.
Edit:
Oh well... Brain Fart. I found it way back here, and it wasn't OTA, it was CableCard channels . . .
And there's more info about the issue here . . .
I remembered that you had found a work around for that message, but wasn't sure it was the same message that others have reported getting recently. Maybe that will help some of these guys with cablecards when / if they lose their grids.
Mark
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User
Just tried this awhile ago. Same result. Doesn't do anything. Must have a Grid with Channels to be able to edit. No go. Can't 'turn-on' a channel when it's not there, whether it be under LISTINGS or SETUP. ![]()
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User
I ran into this problem awhile back. This happened after I split and added the Cable signal to my 250 (I have no CC). I was doing my manual scheduling when the 'not allowed' message came for a channel that I know is OK.
If I remember correctly, I tried another channel which took, then edited the event back to the channel I wanted. Another time I was entering a channel and the 250 didn't wanna take it. What I did then and now always do, is SKIP over the channel entry and FIRST select CABLE or AIR, then back up and enter a channel. Haven't had a problem since.
Oh, this reminds me when I had yet another strange event... ALL MY DIGITAL (not my analog) CHANNELS went missing! Did a FPR and scanned channels from scratch. What an adventure with these units. ![]()
- Kelson
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 7,964 Posts. Joined 7/2004
- Location: Delaware - The First State (USA)
- Select All Posts By This User

I know it may not be a good time. And that a lot of people on this thread are moving on to TIVO! But at least let's not just pack it in without voicing our displeasure at the ROVI site for their abandonment of the TVGOS service! I now have a DVR that I totally relied upon for recording weekly shows and viewing them at a later time, and a Sony TV that I bought for the same usefulness of having a TV Guide! If you take into account all the devices that have been rendered useless, not just Sony products by ROVI's decision to pull out of supporting OTA/Cable devices. We should at least Voice our opinion at the ROVI site on how we feel about their moving on to other markets (internet devices)!......

Below is the link to the Rovi Facebook page in which I have voiced my displeasure with their decision of non support!
https://www.facebook.com/RoviCorp
You bought a device from Sony that depended on a third party guide service -- Sony never guaranteed that guide service would be available for any length of time in their warranty -- Sony did not provide a manual method to set the clock -- the device utility was obviously compromised if the guide service disappeared. All this was known yet people elected to purchase the device anyway -- because they trusted who? Rovi? No, Sony.
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User
9012 G* Test
OK, I tuned to WKBN 27.1 (RF 41) Youngstown, OH. It's breaking up and steady for some seconds at a time.
Ran test and here's what I now have:
Failing Clock Chan 0:41-0 Clock Set Chan fffffffd (What does this mean?) Last Clock Set 1/25/13 2:30:45 (This is 9:30pm EST)
I'm going to try to put my spare rabbit-ears antenna on the 250 and get a steady signal from WKBN, then run the G* Test again.
If the rabbit antenna is not enough, I'll have to dig out my ClearStream out of the closet and try again.
(The ClearStream is positioned in the closet to pickup all my locals which feeds into my converter box which is hooked into my Philips DVDR-3576H.)
- mabuttra
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,866 Posts. Joined 1/2009
- Location: Wichita, KS OTA (w/optional cable connection)
- Select All Posts By This User

9012 G* Test
OK, I tuned to WKBN 27.1 (RF 41) Youngstown, OH. It's breaking up and steady for some seconds at a time.
Ran test and here's what I now have:
Failing Clock Chan 0:41-0
Clock Set Chan fffffffd (What does this mean?)
Last Clock Set 1/25/13 2:30:45 (This is 9:30pm EST)
[...]
Looks like 27.1 is still sending out TVGOS data. The fffffffd happened when you ran the G* Test. When you run the G* Test it shows the channel which looked like this 1023-65533, that correlates to the fffffffd. Ideally when you run the G* Test it should show the digital channel number 27-1, but it rarely ever does this.
Mark
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User
I setup my rabbit ears and got a better signal - - - just a brief breakup here-n-there.
Question: When doing the G* Test, this time with Ch 27, the Test ended itself after about 3-to-4 minutes. Before, with lots of breakup, it ran about 13 minutes.
I assume the Test finishes itself when it gets what it wants, yes?
Anyway, I got the same results, except the time stamp was more recent for the Clock Set Chan.
So now, I ran Guide setup again, this time answering NO to "Do you Have Cable" and yes to "Air".
I left the rabbit ears intact to see if by chance I get Guide data. How long should I wait before turning the 250 back on and check for any Listings?
- linkstur
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 127 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: Philly suburbs
- Select All Posts By This User
I get the message a lot. You DO need to have a grid, but NOT channel listings. Just pick the channel on the blank grid and then edit the time. Assuming the clock is set to whithin 2 hours of desired time.
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User
- izzy900
- Trader Feedback: 0
- Cable with CableCard
-
- offline
- 197 Posts. Joined 1/2013
- Location: Ulster County, New York
- Select All Posts By This User

You really need to understand and accept that your "beef" is with Sony and not Rovi. You were never a customer of Rovi any more than you were a customer of any of the component suppliers that went into the building of the DHG. Sony was the customer of Rovi; you were a customer of Sony. You never paid Rovi any money for their service directly -- you paid Sony. Sony contracted with Rovi to guarantee guide service for some period of time and then let that contract lapse.
You bought a device from Sony that depended on a third party guide service -- Sony never guaranteed that guide service would be available for any length of time in their warranty -- Sony did not provide a manual method to set the clock -- the device utility was obviously compromised if the guide service disappeared. All this was known yet people elected to purchase the device anyway -- because they trusted who? Rovi? No, Sony.
Yes you are right, I should have my beef with Sony for building such a well made device with a 2 flaws. I have a device with no time signal in which I seemed to be one of the fortunate ones that has a grid and found a workaround to get the correct time but not date. And on the Sony side of the problem I can still record up to 2 1/2 hours even weekly cause I got a grid! I just don't have listings and or data for my recording so I have to hunt them down from a group called Unknown! So instead of me having a unit that can record, give me the title of the recording and letting me know what is on through the TV Guide Listings. I have a basically a dumb recorder. And the fact that it is a dumb recorder without titles is Sony's fault.

- JoeKustra
- Trader Feedback: 0
- Cable only
-
- online
- 5,599 Posts. Joined 9/2007
- Location: Mount Carmel, PA 17851
- Select All Posts By This User
You have no lineup which means no channels when you hit the guide button. To make a normal recording from the listings is impossible. A manual recording done by tuning a channel then holding down the red button may also be impossible since no guide data is being received. You can still record that channel if you use the guide button, then select schedule, then menu, then manual recording. If you get a pink error, you are using .21 firmware that you now must have since you are in the process of getting TVGOS from OTA. You will need to wait a few days for it to work.
Could you change the "channel 41" to WKBN? Might help somebody near you looking for guide data. For now.
Edited by JoeKustra - 1/25/13 at 4:31am
- mabuttra
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,866 Posts. Joined 1/2009
- Location: Wichita, KS OTA (w/optional cable connection)
- Select All Posts By This User

I setup my rabbit ears and got a better signal - - - just a brief breakup here-n-there.
Question: When doing the G* Test, this time with Ch 27, the Test ended itself after about 3-to-4 minutes. Before, with lots of breakup, it ran about 13 minutes.
I assume the Test finishes itself when it gets what it wants, yes?
The G* Test doesn't look for anything. In the old days (1.2.13) it allowed the user to tell when there was TVGOS data on a channel, but for OTA that functionality was disabled for ATSC channels in 1.2.21. The G* Test never finishes, because it isn't doing anything that it needs to finish.
So now, I ran Guide setup again, this time answering NO to "Do you Have Cable" and yes to "Air".
I left the rabbit ears intact to see if by chance I get Guide data. How long should I wait before turning the 250 back on and check for any Listings?
The best thing to do is run the setup (like you already did), and set the zip code (you may have to set it to a youngstown zip code). Then turn off the DVR, and let it do its thing (the G* Test does not help the DHG find data, it must do that on its own. Since you have a grid you should already have listings by now.
Mark
- WS65711
- Trader Feedback: +1
- Thread Ender
-
- offline
- 3,363 Posts. Joined 3/2003
- Location: Covington, LA . . OTA & Charter CableCard
- Select All Posts By This User
- speedlaw
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 417 Posts. Joined 11/2004
- Location: New York, about 40 miles north of "New York"
- Select All Posts By This User
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User
Argh!
I give up trying to explain this. In the rare case like mine - I had a HIDDEN grid even though the listings (where the grid normally shows up) said "There is no data for this screen". I'm not saying that this is always the case....in fact it's rare. I was just pointing out that sometimes this is a possibility. This has happened to me 3 times over the time I've owned the Sony.
You DO NOT always need to have a grid in order to get a grid. No grid DOES NOT MEAN that a hidden grid with ALL CHANNELS TURNED OFF might not be not lurking underneath waiting for YOU to manually turn at least one channel on. This is likely an "in-between" state - where the guide channels have been loaded into TVGOS, but for some reason none of the channels have been turned on yet. Normally when TVGOS asks you to choose a lineup THEN it compares the lineup with the channels you have scanned in via the tuner - and turns only those channels ON.
So for SOME people, this may help them recover a grid - it might be their last chance. TV Guide - Setup - Change Channel Display (push select to show empty screen with msg) - Menu on REMOTE - Edit Channels.
- bretski
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 363 Posts. Joined 2/2006
- Location: Fort Collins, CO
- Select All Posts By This User

Yes you are right, I should have my beef with Sony for building such a well made device with a 2 flaws. I have a device with no time signal in which I seemed to be one of the fortunate ones that has a grid and found a workaround to get the correct time but not date. And on the Sony side of the problem I can still record up to 2 1/2 hours even weekly cause I got a grid! I just don't have listings and or data for my recording so I have to hunt them down from a group called Unknown! So instead of me having a unit that can record, give me the title of the recording and letting me know what is on through the TV Guide Listings. I have a basically a dumb recorder. And the fact that it is a dumb recorder without titles is Sony's fault.

Roll your eyes if you feel you must, but the fault does not lie with Rovi Corp. Sony designed the DHG to be dependent upon 3rd parties for the clock and grid/guide.
We can piss and moan on Rovi's facebook page till the cows come home, but it isn't going to change anything. The decision was made, and they're not going to revert it.
- WS65711
- Trader Feedback: +1
- Thread Ender
-
- offline
- 3,363 Posts. Joined 3/2003
- Location: Covington, LA . . OTA & Charter CableCard
- Select All Posts By This User

Argh!
I give up trying to explain this. In the rare case like mine - I had a HIDDEN grid even though the listings (where the grid normally shows up) said "There is no data for this screen". I'm not saying that this is always the case....in fact it's rare. I was just pointing out that sometimes this is a possibility. This has happened to me 3 times over the time I've owned the Sony.
You DO NOT always need to have a grid in order to get a grid. No grid DOES NOT MEAN that a hidden grid with ALL CHANNELS TURNED OFF might not be not lurking underneath waiting for YOU to manually turn at least one channel on. This is likely an "in-between" state - where the guide channels have been loaded into TVGOS, but for some reason none of the channels have been turned on yet. Normally when TVGOS asks you to choose a lineup THEN it compares the lineup with the channels you have scanned in via the tuner - and turns only those channels ON.
So for SOME people, this may help them recover a grid - it might be their last chance. TV Guide - Setup - Change Channel Display (push select to show empty screen with msg) - Menu on REMOTE - Edit Channels.
Argh!
I give up trying to explain this...



The GRID is the X-Y spreadsheet-like formation that appears on your Guide screen, having the program time blocks listed on the X-axis, and the channel numbers listed on the Y-axis.
The LISTINGS are the spreadsheet-like CELLS that appear on your Guide screen, having the program names inside them.
You can have a GRID but not LISTINGS and still try what cxgy suggests, however if you have NO GRID you cannot try cxgy's suggestion.
Would someone please post a picture of a Guide screen having a GRID but no LISTINGS so that it is clear for everyone?
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User
Things are simpler with an analog host (like the one I have on cable). A grid normally shows up after an overnight (10:30pm-5:30am) shutoff.
With a DTV host, I found it sometimes takes 2 or 3 days for the grid to come back (although I recently tested CKCO-DT and it only took overnight). I think others on this forum have waited even longer. I have no explanation for this.
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User

Argh!
I give up trying to explain this...



The GRID is the X-Y spreadsheet-like formation that appears on your Guide screen, having the program time blocks listed on the X-axis, and the channel numbers listed on the Y-axis.
The LISTINGS are the spreadsheet-like CELLS that appear on your Guide screen, having the program names inside them.
You can have a GRID but not LISTINGS and still try what cxgy suggests, however if you have NO GRID you cannot try cxgy's suggestion.
Would someone please post a picture of a Guide screen having a GRID but no LISTINGS so that it is clear for everyone?
Sorry bud, you're wrong. You've just never seen it happen yourself. I had no grid but recovered it - I'm not some newbee.
http://www.dxinfocentre.com
Next time it happens, I'll post pictures.
- CleCakYngMfd
- Trader Feedback: 0
- DHG: 653 214 741 Clock & Day Reset at 12am Thur
-
- offline
- 137 Posts. Joined 2/2009
- Location: 30 miles South of Cleveland, Ohio
- Select All Posts By This User

[1] A manual recording done by tuning a channel then holding down the red button may also be impossible since no guide data is being received.
[3] Could you change the "channel 41" to WKBN?
[1] Red Button recording works OK, even without Guide Data.
99% of my recording setups are done via the "New Manual Recording" option. I have a clock and the correct day of the week. I have 2-and-a-half pages of programs setup this way. While the year and date are 'wrong', the clock is accurate: When I play, The Rifleman, right-off McCain is blasting away 12 shots right at the start of the recording [MeTV - WOIO 19.2]. ![]()
[2] No Pink error with 1.2.21, unless I have 'conflicting' scheduled recording setups. I had the 250 off for over 6 hours. No data yet. I'm trying again with a YNG zip. If no data by later this afternoon, I'll try again next week with multiple nights of at least 8-to-12 hours of being off.
[3] Done.
- cxgy
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 182 Posts. Joined 7/2006
- Location: Niagara, ON
- Select All Posts By This User
PS - If you want to force a "There is no data for this screen" message on your Listings, just go to the Channel Editor and turn all the channels OFF. However if you do this, you still get a functioning Channel Editor. It's only when trying out a new host when both the Listings AND the Channel Editor might have the "There is no data for this screen" (and thus no channels to turn ON). For some reason the Listings-edit channels command can bring up the Turned-Off channel list even though the normal Channel Editor shows nothing.
Edited by cxgy - 1/25/13 at 7:29am
- Sony DHG-HDD250/500: Official Thread
Gear mentioned in this thread:
Recent Discussions
- › MiniDSP 14 seconds ago
- › Need advice for 5.0(.1?) condo living room setup (3 in-wall, 2... 39 seconds ago
- › Official Samsung UNxxF8000 Owners Thread 40 seconds ago
- › Sony BDP-S5100 free with R550 TV purchase from Sony Store+2 free 3D... 44 seconds ago
- › Shermer Theater (looking for HVAC/Electric/soffit advice) 44 seconds ago
- › F8500.. OR .. ZT60 ????? 1 minute ago
- › B&W 685s or CM5? only $2,000.00 2 minutes ago
- › Designing house for 150" screen size 3 minutes ago
- › Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information 3 minutes ago
- › The Plains Theater 3 minutes ago
Recent Reviews
- › Epson V11H501020 PowerLite Home Cinema 3020 2D and 3D 1080p Home... by sailorb
- › BenQ W1070 1080P 3D Projector by jakob_s
- › Elite Screens ER110WH1 Sable Fixed Frame (110" 16:9 AR) by DDT0C
- › Elite Screens ER100WH1-A1080P2 Sable Fixed Frame Projection Screen by DDT0C
- › Peerless PRG Mount, Black by DDT0C
- › Epson 5020UB Powerlite Home Cinema 3D Front Projector by DDT0C
- › Sony VPLHS20 Cineza Digital Home Entertainment LCD Projector by varkeast
- › JVC DLA-RS45 Home Theater Projector 1080P HDMI by jmccarei
- › Sharp DT 510 DLP Projector by rdcollns
- › Onkyo TXNR801 / TX-NR801 / TX-NR801 7.1 Channel Digital Home... by mswope63
New Articles
- › Projector Review Contest by Nick Val
- › "List Your Gear to Win Some Gear"... by Nick Val
- › Most Economical Thin Client PC`s from RDP... by RDPThinClients
- › Media Browser 3 Announced by xzener
- › AVS Guide to Media Servers, Part 1 by Scott Wilkinson
- › Join the AVS Team! by Nick Val
- › 25 Top Blu-ray releases for 2012 by Ralph Potts
- › Sony Launches 4k Ultra HD Flat Panel - AVS... by Scott Wilkinson
- › Clarus Power Cords by Good Tunes
- › A Theater Is Just Is Not A Theater, Unless... by David Bott
About AVS | Join the Community | Advertise | Contact Us
© 2013 AVS is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map





















