Bob: You can also just press the record button as well and it will continue recording the program as well as go back in the buffer up to 45 minutes (or the start of the show) and record that as well. If you just want what is left and it happens to be in a commercial you can channel up and back which clears the buffer and then press record. Lot less buttons to press and things to change doing it that way. ;)

Spitoon: This is a known issue and listed on the wiki known issues for the DVR. Have a read under the Bugs tab: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVRThanks Guru! Whack-a-mole, that's funny!

I have read the Wikipedia entry but I am wondering if anybody has seen a pattern on when the 100% full occurs.

I had my 6416 for 1 day before it happened. My worry is that it just doesn't record something while I am away for a day and don't have a chance to catch it.

I've generally found the problem to occur more on older models than new ones. I don't know that there is any sort of pattern to it.

Typically happens to me, when Tuner 2 is recording in HD and I'm watching something on Tuner 1 in HD and hit record during the program.

One guaranteed method to generate that error--at least with our 6412 PIII--is to hit record during the first scheduled minute of a show. For example, a program scheduled to start for 8:00PM, but it hasn't been scheduled to record. Start watching at or before 8:00...and if we hit "Record" between 8:00 & 8:01...boom, 100% full.

Same will happen if channel is already tuned on either tuner, and recording is initiated through the Guide (IPG) within the first minute (the PVR would have already cached the first minute, and it would be added to the recording).

To avoid 100% full, we don't start a recording in the first minute of a program. Additionally, we ensure neither tuner is already on that channel. Taking those steps, we rarely--if ever--run into the 100% full problem.

We generally get recordings set up in advance anyway. Then we don't have to watch the clock, or scramble to check tuners, etc.

Anyone else see a similar pattern?

Hmmm...the last time I saw it was when I pressed record on a show that was already recording...now that I think about it, it may have also been in the first minute.

I think the answer is "NO", but I'll ask anyways:

Is there any way to force the box to record a series at a specific time? (For new shows that are on multiple times).

For example, the new episodes of The Sopranos are on Sunday nights and are in confict with other things that we record. It plays again at something like 5AM Monday morning on the same channel. I'd prefer to record that airing of the show rather than the one on Sunday night.

Short of manually setting the recording, or waiting until the Sunday one starts and then deleting it, I can't seem to find any way to do this....

Yes, I do this all the time. Set it up to record a series.

Then, each week, after the guide has updated to include both slots, but before either has happened, you can kill one.

Look at "Future Recordings" and you will see both time slots scheduled.

Select the one you don't want, look at the info, and choose "Don't record"

Now if you look at Future Recordings, one has the series symbol, and the other has it crossed out.

I groom my series every few days. Yes, it is a bit clunky, but at least you don't have to be there to deal with a box as it starts to record an unwanted copy of the series, and it prevents schedule conflicts....
Edit: ...and after recording, the List shows full programme info, unlike VCR mode.

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

On a similar note, I have noticed that quite often series episodes that I have gone ahead in the guide and cancelled reset themselves to record. I'm not sure if this is a result of the guide updating itself or what????

I was going to ask that same question about recording a series that records tons of the same shows.

G4 Tech TV plays each show on that channel like 20 times a day. I'll have to try that out to get it to record only one of the episodes at a specific time. Thanks.

This muting problem is really starting to get on my nerves. Last night I watched two recorded programs back to back.

The first one muted everytime I did anything...pause, RW, FF, Skip. The second one didn't do it at all. The box was recording another program during both playbacks, although it started recording during the first program.

I was going to ask that same question about recording a series that records tons of the same shows.

G4 Tech TV plays each show on that channel like 20 times a day. I'll have to try that out to get it to record only one of the episodes at a specific time. Thanks.
I know what you mean. It wouldn't happen if networks flagged all of their programs properly. Many networks on cable don't even bother to flag their shows as new or repeat, at all, or hand down that info to the i-Guide people. And so, I do more series grooming than hair grooming! :p

Well now a few of my series recordings have just decided to stop working all together. The Sopranos was showing no episodes scheduled, as were Entourage, and House, eventhough there are new episodes in the guide over the next 2 weeks.

I deleted them and re-set them and they now show up....what a PITA.

Twice in the past week when I tried to record a movie on my DCT6412 an error came up that the channel was unavailable at this moment (it was movie central) and then the DCT would not respond to any button commands. The only thing I could do was unplug the unit. Of course then you lose all the guide info so it is a pain in butt. I purchased the unit from Shaw last August and it is the P111 version. Up until now I have had no problems with it.
Anyone else having this problem?:confused:

I noticed it twice last week on my 6416 (on all digital) It is the exact same problem. Over the weekend the canadian timeshifts, East HD networks and HDNET had the "Channel is unavailable" message. I plan to call shaw tonight

I recorded the second last episode of The Price is Right today and my recording is 60mintues long on my DCT6412. I have been recording the same time slot/channel for months now with no issues and today upon watching my recording at the 8min mark the picture freezes and cannot get any further along in the recording. I have tried to unplug my DCT6412 with no luck and also tried to fast forward past the freeze point with no luck and restarted the recording but it cannot get past the same spot:( this is tragic as i have been keeping these last week episodes and now this happens. I still have the recording kept on my list but i don't know if i will be able to watch in full. Any ideas on how to get past the spot where it just wont play anymore of the recording?

I hear your pain. I was watching the last episode of Dexter a few months back and it froze (grey screen) 1/2 way in. I tried everything I could think of and couldn't get it to work.

thunder2008: usually if a recording gets corrupted or losses a bit of signal, to the point where the PVR thinks all signal has been lost, then the recording will not be able to be played back in it's entirety. Many improper recordings can be attributed to poor signal in the home or on the outlet specific to the PVR. In my experience you will not be able to view all 60 minutes of this program. If you have a splitter between the wall outlet and the PVR remove it to prevent this from happening again. Also you can check the signal strength through the PVR itself ((power then select and check option 4 OOB status. In here check the SNR it should be around 35 or so)

Also you can check the signal strength through the PVR itself ((power then select and check option 4 OOB status. In here check the SNR it should be around 35 or so)

I just checked mine. Says only 19.4 Fair. That can't be good can it? I have a splitter from the wall but the installer installed a booster as well. I wanted it to split out of the wall because one line feeds into the PVR, while the other line feeds into my DVD recorder.

Am I going to have problems with this? The setup is fairly new.