I think *c should reconsider turning the fan back on because it is the only variable that is different from everybody.
Everybody has the same machine, with the same components, inputs are the same, and outputs should not interfere how the machine works.

My two cents...

I have said it before and I say it again. I wish they would give us an option in the menu's to turn back on the fan. Since they turned the fan off I have had an external fan over it and it stays quite cool. I am even more concerned with my expressvu 9200 and have another external fan on it too. My xmas list includes a laptop fan and I plan to use it under my 9200 since it is likely more quiet than the other fan I'm using now.

...but once when I cleared a partial recording that had been left behind from a power failure. TSR says Moto is being apprised of all the freeze-ups but will take several weeks to fix it. ...
Sounds about right.
BC seemed like it has a LOT of changes this time.
I expect they will try a small number of bug fixes only for as soon as possible next year. Maybe by end of 1st quarter if we are lucky. Then they can resume all the other things that are missing/can be added.

Only the video and episode data is on the hard drive.
The actual program code is in flash chips.
A factory reset with ERASE will format the harddrive and should clear things out, but always first try the factory reset, power cycle stuff first.

It's possible a bunged recording may cause it to act up, and in that case, well you know the drill...

Always start with the least invasive tricks first and work up.

Start with LOW things like:
Option 6-4 then exit
Cycle it to Standby & back on again.
Channel up then down.
Delete a suspected BAD recording

Then go to MEDIUM and
Front panel reset
A.C. power cycle

and finally to HIGH
Factory reset with PRESERVE disk
Factory reset with ERASE disk

Post any others that seem to work for you guys.

Any clues on what the "RESERVED" setting under DVR settings (Options 6-4-8) is for? Is this any indication of Dual Recording for the future....

I just noticed an interesting behaviour. I'm not sure I would call it a bug. I went to review my timers just now, and all my weekly timers who's next schedule is beyond the guide data (next tuesday, wednesday, etc) show "Progam Informatin Not Available". It doesn't retain the name of the program from the original scheduling.

It would be nice for the timer to keep the name of the original program until new guide data is available for that time period. I like the idea of using the guide data because if a schedule change occurs, you'll notice it, but it's tough to remember what the timers are when several entries say nothing.

Any clues on what the "RESERVED" setting under DVR settings (Options 6-4-8) is for? Is this any indication of Dual Recording for the future....

I doubt it. I don't think they'll need a special menu item for dual recording. they just need to change how the unit handles timer conflicts by scheduling the second recording on the other tuner.

I'd rather like to think it's for copying to external storage, but I'm not holding my breath.

I really doubt that it would be for externally saving programs. The TV industry must hate PVR's as it is, since its not good when their viewers don't see the commercials. If it can be backed up easily, it can just as easily have the commercials edited out.

I would think that the reserved area would be used for second recording. It would toggle where tuner ones loots at: Live on disk buffer or to permanent drive.

I would like to see the ability to move something from the LOD buffer to the harddrive. For example, if I'm 20 minutes into a movie and I decide that I like it and want to save it permanently, I would like the option to move whatever is in the buffer, which currently you can't do.

Perhaps it was a poor choice of words. I think Starchoice will support external media at some point, but I don't believe the file format will allow for that media to be accessed on a PC. I think it may allow you to archive programs to an external drive to make room for additional recordings, but you would need to use the PVR to retrieve those recordings.

Or it could be similar to the way the Rogers 8300HD handles external SATA drives by simply increasing the storage space.

If the reserved feature has anything to do with dual-tuner, it may simply be to enable/disable the option in case you always want to leave a tuner available for live viewing.

Any clues on what the "RESERVED" setting under DVR settings (Options 6-4-8) is for?...
If you read the single line of context sensitive help at the bottom of all screens that change with your focus, it tips its hand.

The option is to be able to completely turn off the hard disk, for example at night in a bedroom OR have it constantly record the most recent 90 minutes, regardless if the unit is in standby.

I suspect for many, that the box is left on the most watched channel and if you come in late and had forgotten to set a record timer, there's a good chance you be able to catch it from the buffer.

If the menu options are in place and tagged reserved, it's likely to show up in the next feature release, but I really hope there is a quick bug fix release before then.

Like I said in my post, the external media was wishful thinking. Your interpretation of the reserved feature seems to be the most plausible. I don't hear the hard drive, but unless I've scheduled a recording, I think the drive should be turned-off when in Standby. But I can see that this may be undesirable to others.

I just noticed an interesting behaviour. I'm not sure I would call it a bug. I went to review my timers just now, and all my weekly timers who's next schedule is beyond the guide data (next tuesday, wednesday, etc) show "Progam Informatin Not Available". It doesn't retain the name of the program from the original scheduling.

It would be nice for the timer to keep the name of the original program until new guide data is available for that time period. I like the idea of using the guide data because if a schedule change occurs, you'll notice it, but it's tough to remember what the timers are when several entries say nothing.

Timers are a sore thumb with this version right now. :(
Theres a few bugs I've detected regarding timers.
As for showing the info, I have noticed it long time ago and to be honest I can't find of a solution to that.
Keeping original info is misleading.

I kind of agree. While it's very nice to be able to see the program title for a set timer, the fact that after 3 days out, it's not known anymore since there is no guide data to confirm.

One approach might be to preserve the original guide data in the timer name until the new guide data comes along.

This all pertains to recurring timers of course.

I think the best best would be to get 7 or even 14 days worth of data and then the problem would be moot.

Your suggestion:

One approach might be to preserve the original guide data in the timer name until the new guide data comes along.

My suggestion:

It would be nice for the timer to keep the name of the original program until new guide data is available for that time period.

It sounds like we're on the same page with that one.

This is where name based recording would come in handy. If I could tell it to record all occurances of CSI on, say CTV HD, then I wouldn't have to worry about getting 1 hour of some special even that has preempted the program.

I'd be concerned with Global name recording as you could end up filling the hard drive with the same episode from several different stations.

Either way, I think they need better data than "No information available".

Here is how name-based recording works on my BeyondTV PVR:
You select a program, and can:
-Record this episode
-Record all new episodes
-Record all epsides.

That only applies to the current channel. IE, if you select to record all episodes of Futurama on Teletoon West, it won't record any episodes on Teletoon East. Therefore, if a conflict prevents it from recording on Toon West, it won't automatically record it earlier on Toon East.

However, what you can do is set "record all episodes" on multiple channels, and it knows to only record it once. I do this for shows I don't want to miss, such as The Amazing race, I'll set it to "record all new episodes" on CBS Buffalo AND on CBS Spokane. Therefore, if it can't record at 7:00 out of Buffalo due to a conflict, it automatically records at 10:00 out of Spokane. If it records at 7:00, it knows its been recorded recently and won't record it again at 10:00.
This is useful for programs like The Daily Show, the Colbert Report, Futurama, and Family Guy, all of which run the same episode multiple times in an evening between the East and West Feeds. It will automatically shift the recording time and channel around based upon the other programs I want to record which may only be airing once.

I've also got 14 days of Guide data with highly detailed program information with episode title for each one, which works great with a high speed connection. Over satellite, I'm not sure if it would work.


I think the true value of the 530 will start to emerge when it works well enough that functionality like this will be able to be added.

I would love to see that kind of flexibility.

It's been said before but just to show my appreciation of 00.BC.

I recorded 3 PPV movies last night, all setup as future timed events. I have a number of PPV credits to get through. All recorded flawlessly.

Jumping to the end of a movie was snap. I like how "40 skip fwd" moves you forward 40 min. I also like how the ## skip forw/back is relative to where you are in the show and not relative to the beginning of the show. That mean "10 SkipBack" will shift you back 10 minutes.

Lockups almost daily before the new code. No lockups since, but I haven't watched too much or pushed the receiver too hard just yet.

Passed 2nd big test

Tonight I hooked up my projector which uses DVI-HDMI cable. I simply plugged in the HDMI cable into the projector and - IT WORKED! No freeze ups, no reboots. I didn't power down before hookup. Switching channels all night.

I was never able to watch via DVI without first unplugging the 530. And that was never solid. I gave up and switched to component. Not anymore. (fingers crossed)

...I've also got 14 days of Guide data with highly detailed program information with episode title for each one, which works great with a high speed connection. Over satellite, I'm not sure if it would work.... THAT's the clincher to make a LOT of things actually work and be usefull.
Sufficient days out of data, 7-14 and good episodic data or event numbers to manage them.

Secondly, some method to get near real time guide changes to the box from a guide provider, so we don't miss 40 minutes of a favourite show watching BUSH speak to his minions and miss sporting events that run overtime.

Secondly, some method to get near real time guide changes to the box from a guide provider, so we don't miss 40 minutes of a favourite show watching BUSH speak to his minions and miss sporting events that run overtime.
Oooooh, I like that idea. Does anything like that even exist now?

Not that I know of in the set top box world, but that's not to say it couldn't be done if there is enough will to do it.

I just noticed another bug in the 530. If you are listening to one of the Choice Radio stations (I had 905 Holiday music on), and try to switch source to the front panel inputs, it doesn't work, and seems to lock-up. I can't tell if the display just froze, or if the whole unit locked-up, but I was seemingly trapped.

Word to the wise, make sure you're on a station with image before switching to the front panel input.