reminder timer seems 1 minute out

mertle · 28-01-2007, 11:48

I recently noticed if you do not imediately switch over when told your program is about to start in 60 seconds you will lose one minute of your program.

Its quite annoying this is happening particularly SCI FI Channel is been the main culprit. So not sure if its a fault with the timer response or the channels themselves transmitting a minute earlier than scheduled.

Grimsby area

**Rob** · 28-01-2007, 11:56

Set a clock to Grenwich Mean Time, and then see what is at fault.

I'm sure at times some channels do seem to get slightly ahead of themselves. It's just as bad as those who fall a tad behind so your video cuts off to quickly when your trying to record one thing immediately after another.

mertle · 28-01-2007, 12:27

yep I know what you mean. I have noticed with the PVR that PDC is absolute joke today. I just switched it of now and try and record that way. I have several times when the timer just sat there motionless from my philips dvdr. But if the prog overuns at least I can adjust it later with the PVR

I have switched of the timer prompt to see if that makes a difference. The problem is I had not noticed this is before.

I just checked channel 4 thats fine it kicked in just before the prog started. So it looks like SCI FI channel issue only.

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 ----------

Just found a second channel which remainder cuts the start of a program out Its not the reminder fault but the channels themselves.

UK GOLD also 1 minute out.

I wonder how many channels have this issue. The only solution would be NTL 2 switch 2 minutes prior to program starts.

**Rob** · 28-01-2007, 14:14

The Samsung STB allows you to change when the reminder appears - 0, 1 minute, 2 minutes, etc. Try fiddling with that?

peterfelgate · 28-01-2007, 14:40

I think the settings just change how long before the set switch-over time it is that the on-screen reminder comes on; it would be much better if it switched over at that time instead. Alternatively, why can't NTL offer a manual reminder facility so you can set the switch over time yourself?

mertle · 28-01-2007, 14:54

yep but then your going to manly overide when it appears. As this does not alter the time the device is going to switch to that channel.

problem is if you are going out and set a reminder to record a program. Thats when this issue raises its ugly head badly. Which resulted me losing the start of terminator 2 the other day. Had set the NTL box to come on and my pvr to record it.

The only way is to keep the ntl box on ready on the correct channel. Not bother use the reminder feature.

However if there is more than one program your going to record on NTL channels its a big issue. Especially if its on a troubled problem channel.

I don't know what can be done to be honest. Its not NTL fault but those channels who broadcast programs out of the scheduled timeframe.

I am suprised this has not been spotted by others. I not one to complain we all have had niggles this is one. I been quite a happy cableler since diamond was our provider. I just hope a work a round can be sought.

It would be interesting to know if NTL PVR users have found similar issues.

peterfelgate · 28-01-2007, 15:28

Not sure if I follow what you are saying! What I was trying to say was that if the STB reminder could be set to switch over when the warning triggers rather than the designated programme time, that would at least allow some recordings to not miss the beginning of the programme time if unattended recordings are being done. In my case I set my HDD recorder manually to come on a minute or so before the scheduled time and it would be nice if I could arrange for the STB to do the same, rather than leaving it on the desired channel when I go out - and of course as you say that doesn't help with subsequent programmes being recorded. Contiguous recordings from different channels will always have a problem whether cable or not - if one program doesn't finish before the next one starts then no matter how you do it you'll miss either the end of one or the beginning of the other. Worst offender seems to be Coronation Street in our area which always starts before the previous BBC programme finishes! An ability to set manual timers/reminders, like on the old analogue STBs, as well as using the EPG, would be far, far better IMHO.

Chris Howell · 28-01-2007, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterfelgate

An ability to set manual timers/reminders, like on the old analogue STBs, as well as using the EPG, would be far, far better IMHO.

The TV Drive version of the software allows you to set a manual recording, where you can enter the channel to record off and the exact time to start recording from. IMO, doing code to to do manual timers/reminders on the standard STBs doesn't seem a million miles away from that feature.

peterfelgate · 28-01-2007, 16:18

I'm not familiar with the TV drive, but I agree your experience suggests that such a feature would be easy to implement by NTL on the standard STBs.....