I heard some of these PVRs are actually running Linux. Perhaps there are some modification scripts around, if there was some way of getting into it.
So there is no gaurantee your program will be recorded in its entirety. You know, at some point, some of these devices manufacturers should really look at how their products are being used in the real world.
No, they always start on time, but losing the last minute of 'league of Gentlemen' makes me lose sleep. So what you do is get it to end a few minutes later.
Real world? Aren't you asking a but much of technology?
Assuming it was "Waking Up in Reno", see:
I've been hoping that they would support VPS, but so far I've only seen the following (from 2004):
Robert Schlabbach [email protected] Berlin, Germany. microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter Killer Apps, not invented yet
This has already been invented in Germany in the 1980s, as "Video Programming System" (VPS). VBI line 16 carries 15 bytes of information which contain the _scheduled_ start and stop times of the currently running show. The VCR waits until the VPS data matches the date and time of the show to be recorded, regardless of the actual time. If no VPS signal is present, or the signal is invalid, the VCR falls back on timed recording. This has been working very well in Germany for about two decades now!
So there is nothing new to invent - it's all been done. Only the service providers do not want to adopt it, especially the ones in the USA it appears. This is not something you can solve with technology, sorry.
VBI line 16 VPS is for analog PAL only. We don't have any other analog TV standards here. In fact, I don't think we have any progressive TV channels here (analog or digital), and there is currently only one HDTV station in Europe (EURO1080). When it comes to digital (DVB), there are two possibilities:
1. All VBI data (Teletext, VPS, WSS, even Line 21 CC for NTSC) can be transported in a dedicated digital stream (ETSI EN 301 775), and a Set-Top-Box can then either directly use that data, or re-insert it into the output video signal for "legacy devices".
2. DVB defines Event Information Tables (EIT) and Running Status Tables (RST) which combined fulfill the same purpose as VPS did for analog TV; EIT contains the program schedule and RST tells you which scheduled program is currently running.
However, the latter does not (yet?) seem to be much used here in Germany, whereas I found valid VPS data in some DVB-T channels here. I figure that is because most stations are still "internally analog PAL" and thus can only deliver a minimally converted analog signal, i.e. VPS and not EIT/RST...
Wow! I really have to say that the people on this website are the coolest people in CH. Though comprised of <.01% of the CH population, they own 99% of Kool. Well, almost everyone. Thanks a lot!
There is a VPS setting on the device, and it appears to have worked in some cases. Apparantly, not all broadcasters implement it all the time.
That is a better ending than what we came up with.
Hello Phos...
We received our BWTV set-up today, and I can concur with your assessment...very simple to set-up. I'm still playing around with it, and I have figured out some essentials like setting the time manually, etc. What I haven't figured out was what you were referring to above...i.e. recording by entereing text?.... As for recording via the internet...I have set-up the system to record a couple of programs this evening...I'll report back on the success (it seems simple enough)...
Jack
Lordy lord.
Due to a crane on local building site in the way of Sky dish we were forced to watch an evening of CH TV recently (literally forced at gun point you realize, not 'cause were sad and should have gone and practised making babies or something more stimulating).
Why on earth would you want to muck around with linux etc to record any of it? Anyway TeleZuri seems to show the shows in a continuous loop any way.
Seriously though, the key to success of sky+ is surely the integration with the programme guide. We had a recordable DVD but just didn't use it. And frankly being a demanding sort of fellow, it would be great if there were more of those "remind me" buttons in the top right hand corner of the trailers. After all getting to the EPG is a whole 2 keystrokes away....
you don't actually have to dig with any of the consumer products they just run a linux kernel - as does the Sky+ box IIRC
Ah ok, I just found it at azone.ch. Interestingly one model bundled with 9months free subscription to the erotic channel of your choice! Clear target audience then.
I see you get a keyboard too, so can you use it as a "entertainment computer" with internet access, access to your pc based musak etc??
Daniel
Hello Jack.
To record a show that is not in the standard program guide,
-Navigate to the Jobs List section
-Navigate down to the Jobs list field
-Press ">" right for menu
-Select Neu Timer.
Here you can specify what to name the job, choose a channel to record, set start and end times, and set up some parameters such as VPS.
If, for example, you'd like to record a show on BBC, you have to enter the task in this way or through the website.
If you would like to record a series that regularly airs at this day, time and channel, you would set it up as an "Auto-Record" timer instead of a one time Job.
I hope that helps.
Cheers!
"It".
Go on, give us a clue
It = Dreamboxes. Or am I missing the irony?
no mate, it wasn't clear.
Dreambox is fab. Whether you really need a keyboard is a question; I don't think so. But I have the lowly DM500-S with limited memory....there are many add-ons you can load but frankly, I did not see the need to take it that far.
Dig a little and you'll find the Dreambox will open some channels without using a card
Thanks for that...I do agree that it is a bit of a bummer that not all stations can be easily programmed...
Here is my early opinion of Bluewin TV
Basically, Swisscom's entry into the TV world is bit below expectations, but maybe that will improve when they venture into IPTV. For now, their Bluewin TV service is basically just a harddisc recorder (see this article from 2005) with the normal features one would expect: pause, fast forward, rewind, slow motion, etc., which are available while watching live tv or recorded. Additionally, you can program the device to record via the internet, although that had a few problems on my first go around.
Here are the disadvantages: Our TV and the recorder are powered separately, and the single remote control from Bluewin doesn't work 100% on our basic Sony TV (the biggest difference is the separate power...we have to power the TV with the TV remote, and the recorder with the recorder remote). Once powered, the recorder does take a bit of time to initialize (about one minute), but that isn't a huge issue. Recording: this is only one channel (discussed earlier in this thread), which means you can only watch what you are recording at the moment. You can watch programs recorded to the archive while recording, but not live TV. Internet Recording: I only gave this a go once, but was a bit disappointed. I scheduled a program to record at 2300 last night, and it started at 2200, interrupting our current viewing. web site: we felt the site was a bit mis-leading in that we sort of thought we could record any of the programs listed in their guide. So far that is not true...it seems you can only record programs you are currently receiving with your cablecom subscription. customer service: so far non-existent...we sent an e-mail yesterday, and so far we have had zero reaction. Now...here's what seems to be decent... The price and contract....in swiss terms, this is somewhat reasonable. The contract is 12 months, with a one month notice to end the subscription at the end of the term. At less than CHF 15 it is reasonably priced. Dual Language...a bonus for us, considering our TV did not have that capability beforehand. Bottom-line...
We never really entered the DVD market, so we had no previous way to record TV. We don't rent videos, and our recording is limited...so in essence, we are paying Swisscom about CHF 175 for a harddisc recorder for one year...which is reasonable. For those with more extensive requirements, I would say there are better options available... Now...we'll see how Swisscom migrates their customers to IPTV...
Jack
Here's a quick follow-up to the previous post. We have discovered a way to record a program and watch live TV at the same time...here's how it worked.
We scheduled a program to record (via internet, but that probably doesn't matter), and then made sure the power to the recorder was turned off. During the recording time (this evening from 7pm until 8pm), we simply turned on the TV and watched like normal...and the recorder simply recorded even though it was powered off.
A small detail for sure, but perhaps interesting for those using or thinking about using Bluewin TV...
Jack
Hi Jack,
I like the presentation of your review. Nicely broken out and professionally layed out.
One advantage I'd like to point out is that billing is integrated into my regular phone bill, along with mobile and ADSL.. So the 15chf a month is almost unnoticable.
I believe there is a way to watch live TV while the box is recording a show. Simply press the "LIVE" button, and you can access the tuner and switch channels, you can do this without having to access the TV's tuner.
Enjoy!
Thanks... we did try the 'LIVE' button as instructed, but this did not work...perhaps it is one of the functions of the remote that do not work (Swisscom claims that not all functions on the remote will work with all TVs)...
Jack
Hmmm. That button should direct the BWTV box and not the TV. We also have a Picture In Picture button that does not work.