[57]

There was a power surge on Rogers Friday around 5PM. Internet access was down for about 3 hours.

When I checked my DVR, all of the "all episode and timeslot" scheduled recordings were gone. The "one episode" ones were still there. I programmed them all back in and it seems to be fine.

I don't know which areas were affected, but make sure you check the scheduled recordings in your DVRs.

Luckily, I keep a list (spreadsheet) of my "usual" recordings/channels/times, etc. So putting them back only took about 5 minutes. Weird that only the "all episode and timeslot" recordings were affected.

 

[JohnnyG]

Luckily, I keep a list (spreadsheet) of my "usual" recordings/channels/times, etc...

That's a good idea, but it should be totally unnecessary!! I just happened to go through my scheduled recording list last night and it seemed like tons of stuff was missing, but I can't really recall what.

 

[nathan]

That's a good idea, but it should be totally unnecessary!!

I think it's understood by now that 57 is a Scientific Atlanta apologist who lets them get away with a not-so-stern 'It's an annoyance, but it's really OK', when in fact, it's not. (it's not! Nooooo! Scientific Atlantic is people! Scientific Atlanta is people! ...or is that Soylent Green?)

I just don't understand how this box can languish this long without these problems being resolved.

Now that it's 'rerun' season I'm not as worried about it as I used to be, but I missed plenty-a-show during the regular season because of this stupid box. (STUPID BOX!)

I hate this box and would gladly investigate another option if one were available to me...which it's not. Grrr...

[/RANT]

 

[JohnnyG]

Oh, I really doubt he's an "apologist"! When faced with an issue like this, you can do two things: just complain about it endlessly, or, do something to work around the issue and get the job done. He's just cleverly chosen the second path!

What I find really amazing about this is that this same unit - with the same problems - is installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across North America. You'd think the groundswell of complaints would beat SA into submission!

 

[57]

I think it's understood by now that 57 is a Scientific Atlanta apologist

This is not true. I understand how things work and understand that there's nothing in this world that's perfect. This is especially true of equipment that relies on software/firmware to operate.

The fact that the IPG is incorrect or has name changes that affect recordings, or power surges affect the unit have nothing to do with SA.

Yes, it could be better, but even TiVo, which are the "benchmark" have some issues if you read the other forums - the issues may simply be different.

My "spreadsheet" is no different than creating a backup of my HDD on my computer. It comes in useful if/when something happens, which it almost inevitably will.

 

[nathan]

just complain about it endlessly

That's the path I've chosen. It doesn't seem to work all that well now that I think about it.

You'd think the groundswell of complaints would beat SA into submission!

I think a lot of people just don't notice it like we do. I had a friend who I tried to explain the problems with the box to, including the infamous 'kick-out' bug, and she swore up and down hers didn't do it. And I was ready to bet her $1000 bucks that it did. She would not listen to me at all. Anyways, it turns out, surprisingly enough, I was right. Her exact words were 'you were right, I was wront'. I remember those words correctly because the amount of times a woman has said that to me in my life is exactly one time.

And it's not like SA is pumping out new products either which are taking up all their development time. They have the 8300 series (HD or otherwise) and the 3200 series (HD or otherwise) which are basically their two big lines... but both have been around for quite some time...there have been minor functionality improvements (the MR models specifically) but nothing that I can see as a major leap in a product cycle. So I don't really understand why they're not doing anything about these issues.

At some point, choice will come to the masses, be it via cablecard or some other standard, and these bugs specifically will steer me the hell away from SA. It's also the major reason why I haven't, and won't buy an 8300 series... I'm not going to invest that much money in something that they obviously have no intention of supporting.

Meh. Oh well.

 

[57]

...have you checked out the threads on the Motorola 6412/6208, or the *C DSR530? The things they don't do, or don't do right are much more significant than on SA.

Or the BEV PVRs that don't even have name-based recording and are simply glorified VCRs, etc? How long have those BEV PVRs been around?

When you read the forums on ALL of the equipment available, SA is not so bad. (no apologies and no offense taken)

 

[nathan]

This is not true. I understand how things work and understand that there's nothing in this world that's perfect. This is especially true of equipment that relies on software/firmware to operate.

Absolutely, but these problems, especially ones as 'big' as the SA bugs, should be rectified in a timely manner. 1.5 years in my opinion, is not timely. The apologist comment is of course meant as a friendly jibe, and no offense is meant (as per usual)

The fact that the IPG is incorrect or has name changes that affect recordings, or power surges affect the unit have nothing to do with SA.

Nor do I hold them acountable for that, it ultimately falls to me to check if I have the things I want scheduled, but there have been at least a few times where my scheduled recordings have simply vanished (oddly enough, they didn't vanish after the power outage you mention at the top of this post), or the box has decided that it just doesn't want to record anymore. That's unacceptable. It's rediculous.

Yes, it could be better, but even TiVo, which are the "benchmark" have some issues if you read the other forums - the issues may simply be different.

Oh, I have no doubt that the Tivo boxes have their issues as well, I don't know specifically which ones, but I do know that in general, they will fix them if possible.

My "spreadsheet" is no different than creating a backup of my HDD on my computer. It comes in useful if/when something happens, which it almost inevitably will.

I actually like your spreadsheet idea, and have thought of implimenting it, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet.

 

[57]

I've had the spreadsheet for some time now - probably 15 years. It came in handy when I had VCRs. Whenever the power was out for more than the built-in capacitor could handle (30 minutes or so), I'd have to reprogramme it with the 8 timers I had on it (and I had 3 VCRs, so often I'd need to reprogramme 24 timers).

The last few years, I had them hooked to a UPS - another "workaround".

Luckily, I haven't used VCRs since last June and two of them were sold.

Edit - I believe the latest VCR I bought didn't lose timers unless the power was out for quite a while, but it lost timers during the 13 hour failure we had a couple of years back...

 

[voyager6868]

Why doesn't someone offer a PCI card that you can stick in your computer that has the same kind of functionality as the SA PVRs? (i.e. Rogers can control which channels it lets you view, etc.)

Except, people can use whatever software they like to control the recording capabilities (the card would just decrypt the channel and pipe the compressed stream to whenever you want to store it).

I'd buy it... and there's so much existing open source PVR software out there. I'm sure it's better than what SA is doing.

 

[57]

The card sort of exists (although not for computers - but a "slot" could easily be made for a computer - it's called CableCARD). Do a search on the site. It's used in the US, but not in Canada yet. The card itself is only a "key" to unlock access to the channel. The rest of the "work" needs to be done using other electronics.

The issue of course is copyright - see the Digital Home FAQ "Recording HD".

 

[Proteosome]

What I find really amazing about this is that this same unit - with the same problems - is installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across North America. You'd think the groundswell of complaints would beat SA into submission!

The groundswell of people probably do not use the box to its full capabilities and as such are not aware of some of its limitations. In addition, a lot of people are probably so happy just to have a PVR that they overlook a lot of the poor programming (software not broadcast that is).

Like I've said before, I love the basic functionality of the PVR but I truly dislike the implementation.

 

[thegrommit]

There was a power surge on Rogers Friday around 5PM. Internet access was down for about 3 hours.

For context, the power surge didn't just affect Rogers. It also hit the TD Centre, resulting in the elevators shutting down for half an hour.

 

[rvs007]

I was told the power surge was much more widespread. It affected areas of the blackout 2 years ago. However, this time, the backup system kicked in as designed. This is what I've been told so I haven't confirmed it.

 

[57]

This was in Saturday's Globe. I don't recall seeing a follow up.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...ional/?query=power+outage,++sortdate=20050528

 

[Lobo]

Damn, this explains why I didn't get my recording of Miracle Planet yesterday. I had set it up for all episodes and it didn't get either of the ones shown yesterday. Grrrr.

Lobo

 

[penguin44]

I looked at the Rogers IPG yesterday, Monday and noticed that a show I tape every night was not on except for Friday, a day that show is never on. Then all of a sudden last night, pop, there it was. Looks like someone has been messing with the IPG.


Bugger. Almost missed my show.

 

[laughssmiles]

Did anyone else have the season opener of Six Feet Under not record? I'm sure I programmed it last week, but it's not even in the past dates of scheduled recordings for the main channel of TMN. I set it to record all episodes on 301 starting with tomorrow night's rerun, only after it told me I had 2 other recordings (there was only 1) and I deleted it. I paid $599 for this technology.

I bought the 8000 (not HD) last July. I see everyone in here talks about the 8300 now. Are there any significant improvements between the 8000 and the 8300? Did I miss out on a chance to upgrade by buying instead of renting? I see nobody talking about the 8000 except for the HD version.

 

[nathan]

Are there any significant improvements between the 8000 and the 8300?

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, functionally, they should be almost identical now (with all the little 'issues' intact between them, such as the one you mentioned). However, the 8300 is *MUCH* faster, and more responsive than the 8000. It pains me to use an 8000 after using an 8300 for so long.

But you're not missing out on any new whiz-bang features by 'only' having the 8000...the 8300 is just as quirky.

 

[nfitz]

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, functionally, they should be almost identical now (with all the little 'issues' intact between them, such as the one you mentioned). However, the 8300 is *MUCH* faster, and more responsive than the 8000. It pains me to use an 8000 after using an 8300 for so long.

Well my 8000HD recorded it just fine, off the HD TMN channel. And I programmed it about a week ago (using the all episodes in this time-slot option). But I haven't had any of these recordings drop that I've heard about lately.

Though for stuff that is only on once a week, I almost always record a second copy in a different time-slot just in case (mostly if there is a power failure or something the first time it is on).

And I find the 8000HD speed just fine ... I'm sure if one got used to a faster unit, then one might think it is slow ... but it is nothing compared to when that horrid Wink application was running!

Nick