New EPG- Single LNB Input issue - Sky+ HD

jeeve · 05-11-2009, 22:15

I have SKy+HD in my flat- which has a communal dish and only 1 Input. While i cannot record different channels etc i have always been able to access Sky Anytime- now it seems after 2 days of the new EPG i have to select Single Feed Mode ON from the set-up in order to recieve any feeds. Previously it was working fine with it OFF

Is this due to a cheeky software update, or can i do something to get Anytime back without having to switch feeds everytime?

ProDave · 05-11-2009, 22:28

The usage of the two inputs can flip over under certain recording situations. This has probably happened and now your box thinks it has no signal.

Single feed mode ON is essential if you only have one feed.

jeeve · 05-11-2009, 22:35

Thanks Dave- but i have had this working fine in conjunction with recieving Sky Anytime for ages, with my old Sky+ box before having HD about 6 months ago. It has coincided with the new EPG arriving on my Samsung box. I now cannot recieve any Anytime programming without the box thinking it doesnt have a signal. Its frustrating as it was working ok before.

hitachi · 06-11-2009, 06:09

Anytime is switched off when you switch single feed mode on but there should be nothing to stop you switching it on again.

ProDave · 06-11-2009, 08:26

The OLD EPG used input 1 as a watch tuner, and input 2 as a record tuner ALWAYS. But by setting a dummy recording to "occupy" input 2, it would then use input 1 for recordings.

The new EPG is much more dynamic how it uses the tuner. Usually at power up, it uses input 1 for collecting EPG data and input 2 as the watch tuner. Therefore presumably using input 1 for anytime and recordings.

When it encounters a dual record situation both tuners are used, and the first one to become free then becomes the watch tuner, hence the function of the two inputs may flip over.

So what you are experiencing is entirely correct for the new EPG so with one feed you really do need to select single feed mode, then go and turn anytime back on (as already pointed out it gets turned off by default when you select single feed mode)

Of course (like many things in the new EPG) single feed mode is not without bugs. The most glaring being you MUST turn your box to standby when a scheduled recording is set, otherwise it wrongly assumes you want to continue watching the channel you are on and the recording fails.

oilcat · 06-11-2009, 09:42

Phew............thought it was only me.

Same thing happened to me last night, I called Sky and the customer services were brilliant talking me through the problem (single line switched off )

lcfctom · 10-11-2009, 12:12

I think I have discovered the nirvana for single feed users. I saw someone post a set-up on one of these forums but cant find it to thank him / her but thought I would post for anyone else

I get:
Recording Clash warning
Auto channel change
Anytime
EPG data updates
60 min rewind
Ability to switch the box off (you have to to make it work)

How to:-

Ideally do this early in the morning when you are not usually going to watch or record tv. I woke up a 6am and set it up.

Turn Single Feed Mode - ON

Change Instant Rewind to Zero

Set up a dummy manual recording on a channel you never watch eg BBC Scotland 990 for 24 hours but starting a few minutes from when you are doing this e.g 6.14am (today) to 6:13am (tomorrow) and set it to repeat daily

Make sure you are watching a channel eg BBC1 that is NOT the dummy one above. Now wait until after the time you set the box to record

It will start to record on the 2nd feed (even though you dont see anything) but of course this is blank as you have no input

Now set another manual recording starting tomorrow and starting 5 minutes before the previous and ending 5 minutes after. So for the example above 6:09am tomorrow ending 6:18am tomorrow repeating daily. I use a radio channel eg Radio 1 on channel 0101

Now go back and turn Anytime ON

Turn Instant rewind to 60 mins (or less if you want)

If done correctly you will get everything I do. when you switch the box off (at night or during the day) it updates the EPG and Anytime.

You will get failed recordings of the 24 hour record but this takes up 0%. You will get a daily 10 min recording of the radio just delete it. Not much hassle for all the features

Do it early as otherwise the real 10 min daily record will override anything else you are watching. Or cause a planned record to fail.

The old method doesnt work because as others have said the new EPG tries to record on feed1 so at switchover unless your box is on it will start to record the dummy recording. Other solutions I have seen here require you to have the auto standby switched off and the box always on which I dont want as the EPG or anytime wouldn't update.

media guy · 10-11-2009, 12:33

Quote:

thank him / her

I think that was me, so thank you for saving my fingers from typing it again

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...29&postcount=9

Only thing I'd change is to make the fake recording a radio station so that it doesn't fill up the hard drive if something goes wrong.

lcfctom · 10-11-2009, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by media guy

I think that was me, so thank you for saving my fingers from typing it again

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...29&postcount=9

Only thing I'd change is to make the fake recording a radio station so that it doesn't fill up the hard drive if something goes wrong.

Matey it was you and so a big big big big thanks I was tearing my hair out til I saw your post

Good call about the radio channel for both

jeccross · 12-11-2009, 20:22

What happens if you want to record a prog that starts in the 10 mins when the 2nd dummy is recording, will it fail?

lcfctom · 12-11-2009, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeccross

What happens if you want to record a prog that starts in the 10 mins when the 2nd dummy is recording, will it fail?

Yes as the box will then be trying to record 3 things at once. If the thing you want to record starts before the 2nd dummy then thats not a problem as the 2nd dummy will fail but it wont affect the box staying on feed 1. Also you would need to set the recording at least 24 hours befor it is due otherwise the box would not let you set it as it would know 3 recordings were trying to be triggered.

Hope that all makes sense, i tried to keep it simple as possible.

As I said the best thing to do is set the dummy records at a time when you are very unlikely to be watching or recording tv. For me its between 6 and 6:15am

eean · 14-11-2009, 08:43

lcfctom, do you have autostandby on?

JonStatt · 14-11-2009, 10:42

What I don't get is how Sky managed to make such a mess of this single feed mode.

All you have to do is try and record 2 programmes on the same channel one after the other. The 2nd will not record because of the padding from the first. Really stupid. Also, if you are watching channel 101, and have a recording scheduled for 102, it will not warn you and just fail the recording. It should forcefully change the channel (and pre-warn with graphics).

In contrast, the Freesat Panasonic blu-ray HD recorder box has a single feed mode that handles such simple tasks perfectly.

lcfctom · 14-11-2009, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by eean

lcfctom, do you have autostandby on?

Yes its on and it makes sense to as if you forget to turn the box off then it will switch it off and you will get updates for the EPG and Anytime overnight

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonStatt

What I don't get is how Sky managed to make such a mess of this single feed mode.

All you have to do is try and record 2 programmes on the same channel one after the other. The 2nd will not record because of the padding from the first. Really stupid. Also, if you are watching channel 101, and have a recording scheduled for 102, it will not warn you and just fail the recording. It should forcefully change the channel (and pre-warn with graphics).

In contrast, the Freesat Panasonic blu-ray HD recorder box has a single feed mode that handles such simple tasks perfectly.

I agree having to find this workaround to get a decent service from a single feed is crazy. I would have thought they should have been able to programme the box to completely switch off feed 2 then have the same clash warnings etc that we want. But then I'm no programmer just a consumer

eean · 14-11-2009, 16:39

Thanks for confirming that.

media guy · 14-11-2009, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeccross

What happens if you want to record a prog that starts in the 10 mins when the 2nd dummy is recording, will it fail?

The answer you got was correct. However it wouldn't fail, it wouldn't let you record it in the first place as the clash management would activate.

05-11-2009, 22:15	#1
jeeve Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	New EPG- Single LNB Input issue I have SKy+HD in my flat- which has a communal dish and only 1 Input. While i cannot record different channels etc i have always been able to access Sky Anytime- now it seems after 2 days of the new EPG i have to select Single Feed Mode ON from the set-up in order to recieve any feeds. Previously it was working fine with it OFF Is this due to a cheeky software update, or can i do something to get Anytime back without having to switch feeds everytime?

05-11-2009, 22:28	#2
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Services: Freesat From Sky+ HD, Astra 1 / Hotbird FTA, Freeview, Freeview PVR, ADSL Posts: 7,228	The usage of the two inputs can flip over under certain recording situations. This has probably happened and now your box thinks it has no signal. Single feed mode ON is essential if you only have one feed.

05-11-2009, 22:35	#3
jeeve Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks Dave- but i have had this working fine in conjunction with recieving Sky Anytime for ages, with my old Sky+ box before having HD about 6 months ago. It has coincided with the new EPG arriving on my Samsung box. I now cannot recieve any Anytime programming without the box thinking it doesnt have a signal. Its frustrating as it was working ok before.

06-11-2009, 06:09	#4
hitachi Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 121	Anytime is switched off when you switch single feed mode on but there should be nothing to stop you switching it on again.

06-11-2009, 08:26	#5
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Services: Freesat From Sky+ HD, Astra 1 / Hotbird FTA, Freeview, Freeview PVR, ADSL Posts: 7,228	The OLD EPG used input 1 as a watch tuner, and input 2 as a record tuner ALWAYS. But by setting a dummy recording to "occupy" input 2, it would then use input 1 for recordings. The new EPG is much more dynamic how it uses the tuner. Usually at power up, it uses input 1 for collecting EPG data and input 2 as the watch tuner. Therefore presumably using input 1 for anytime and recordings. When it encounters a dual record situation both tuners are used, and the first one to become free then becomes the watch tuner, hence the function of the two inputs may flip over. So what you are experiencing is entirely correct for the new EPG so with one feed you really do need to select single feed mode, then go and turn anytime back on (as already pointed out it gets turned off by default when you select single feed mode) Of course (like many things in the new EPG) single feed mode is not without bugs. The most glaring being you MUST turn your box to standby when a scheduled recording is set, otherwise it wrongly assumes you want to continue watching the channel you are on and the recording fails.

06-11-2009, 09:42	#6
oilcat Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberdeen / Claw Division Services: Sky Digital, BT Internet Posts: 13,299 Blog Entries: 33	Phew............thought it was only me. Same thing happened to me last night, I called Sky and the customer services were brilliant talking me through the problem (single line switched off )

10-11-2009, 12:12	#7
lcfctom Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Services: SKY + HD : Sports Package Posts: 544	I think I have discovered the nirvana for single feed users. I saw someone post a set-up on one of these forums but cant find it to thank him / her but thought I would post for anyone else I get: Recording Clash warning Auto channel change Anytime EPG data updates 60 min rewind Ability to switch the box off (you have to to make it work) How to:- Ideally do this early in the morning when you are not usually going to watch or record tv. I woke up a 6am and set it up. Turn Single Feed Mode - ON Change Instant Rewind to Zero Set up a dummy manual recording on a channel you never watch eg BBC Scotland 990 for 24 hours but starting a few minutes from when you are doing this e.g 6.14am (today) to 6:13am (tomorrow) and set it to repeat daily Make sure you are watching a channel eg BBC1 that is NOT the dummy one above. Now wait until after the time you set the box to record It will start to record on the 2nd feed (even though you dont see anything) but of course this is blank as you have no input Now set another manual recording starting tomorrow and starting 5 minutes before the previous and ending 5 minutes after. So for the example above 6:09am tomorrow ending 6:18am tomorrow repeating daily. I use a radio channel eg Radio 1 on channel 0101 Now go back and turn Anytime ON Turn Instant rewind to 60 mins (or less if you want) If done correctly you will get everything I do. when you switch the box off (at night or during the day) it updates the EPG and Anytime. You will get failed recordings of the 24 hour record but this takes up 0%. You will get a daily 10 min recording of the radio just delete it. Not much hassle for all the features Do it early as otherwise the real 10 min daily record will override anything else you are watching. Or cause a planned record to fail. The old method doesnt work because as others have said the new EPG tries to record on feed1 so at switchover unless your box is on it will start to record the dummy recording. Other solutions I have seen here require you to have the auto standby switched off and the box always on which I dont want as the EPG or anytime wouldn't update.

12-11-2009, 20:22	#10
jeccross Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1	What happens if you want to record a prog that starts in the 10 mins when the 2nd dummy is recording, will it fail?

14-11-2009, 08:43	#12
eean Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2	lcfctom, do you have autostandby on?

14-11-2009, 10:42	#13
JonStatt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 435	What I don't get is how Sky managed to make such a mess of this single feed mode. All you have to do is try and record 2 programmes on the same channel one after the other. The 2nd will not record because of the padding from the first. Really stupid. Also, if you are watching channel 101, and have a recording scheduled for 102, it will not warn you and just fail the recording. It should forcefully change the channel (and pre-warn with graphics). In contrast, the Freesat Panasonic blu-ray HD recorder box has a single feed mode that handles such simple tasks perfectly.

14-11-2009, 16:39	#15
eean Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2	Thanks for confirming that.