211k deleting recordings

[dmag]

I've been having a recurring problem that I can't seem to find any information on. I have two 211k's and each one has an external hard drive. For the last year or so periodically both of the drives will not play any recording over a couple weeks old. They show up on the list but when I try and play them I get the " A problem was encountered when opening the files of this DVR event" "Please note error Code: 05". I know it's not a hard drive problem because I replaced both drives. I also swapped the drives out between the two receivers. It also happens on the same day for both. In other words I watch a recorded show at night, wake up one morning, turn on the reciever and it won't play that show or any other. I turn on the other receiver and any recordings on that one won't play.

I tried Dish tech support and all I got was "Oh Well", and they try and get me to upgrade to the Hopper. I know the 211k's are becomming obsolete but I don't want or need a hopper. I also don't want to get into a new contract.

 

[jwhalerfan]

Upgrade. That VIP technology is forgotten and abandoned.

 

[zippyfrog]

Yeah - I had the issue starting back in October. I had a thread that I started that I can't seem to find at the moment about this. I am not sure why the VIP211k started deleting. In essence, the files for the recordings were deleted but the entry was not removed from the recording list. I lost about 7 years worth of recordings. And I know they were deleted because my hard drive showed something like 200 hours of HD space left, but I had a lot less and previously had to individually remove things.

 

[dmag]

Upgrade. That VIP technology is forgotten and abandoned.

I did look into that. The Hopper does have a lot more features, but it's mostly all bells and whistles that I don't need or want. And on the down side my bill would go up (I already pay over $170 a month) and I would be back under contract. I think, after 25 years of being a customer, it may be time to cut the RG6 cable and go OTA/streaming.

 

[dmag]

Yeah - I had the issue starting back in October. I had a thread that I started that I can't seem to find at the moment about this. I am not sure why the VIP211k started deleting. In essence, the files for the recordings were deleted but the entry was not removed from the recording list. I lost about 7 years worth of recordings. And I know they were deleted because my hard drive showed something like 200 hours of HD space left, but I had a lot less and previously had to individually remove things.

Then I take it you never found a solution.

 

[HipKat]

I did look into that. The Hopper does have a lot more features, but it's mostly all bells and whistles that I don't need or want. And on the down side my bill would go up (I already pay over $170 a month) and I would be back under contract. I think, after 25 years of being a customer, it may be time to cut the RG6 cable and go OTA/streaming.

Wallys are the direct upgrade for 211's but you'll lose the Ch3 Coax Output and the OTA input without an OTA USB Adapter

 

[zippyfrog]

Then I take it you never found a solution.

Correct. I ended up losing all my recordings from the past 7 years - multiple complete TV series and movies I would go back and watch. I started recordings again, and then once the recordings got to be about 2 months old, they stopped working. I find it hard to believe that both of my hard drives, on two separate VIP211k's, went bad at the same time. Coupled with the other users who reported the same error the exact same week I did originally, to me it seems like there was a change on Dish's end. What it feels like to me is that all recordings have a build-in expiration of some set time and then get auto deleted. I know that isn't the case, but that is what it feels like with what I am observing. There is probably something bigger going on.

At this point, I just have the recordings so I can catch shows that I miss when I am at work, or if there is something on at night and I need to get to bed early, I can catch the next morning - I no longer look at my DVR as a long term solution to save entire TV series or movies that I can pull up when I want.

 

[Juan]

I've been having a recurring problem that I can't seem to find any information on. I have two 211k's and each one has an external hard drive. For the last year or so periodically both of the drives will not play any recording over a couple weeks old. They show up on the list but when I try and play them I get the " A problem was encountered when opening the files of this DVR event" "Please note error Code: 05". I know it's not a hard drive problem because I replaced both drives. I also swapped the drives out between the two receivers. It also happens on the same day for both. In other words I watch a recorded show at night, wake up one morning, turn on the reciever and it won't play that show or any other. I turn on the other receiver and any recordings on that one won't play.

I tried Dish tech support and all I got was "Oh Well", and they try and get me to upgrade to the Hopper. I know the 211k's are becomming obsolete but I don't want or need a hopper. I also don't want to get into a new contract.

Hunt around in the menus and see if there is a new option somewhere on how long recordings are kept

 

[dmag]

Wallys are the direct upgrade for 211's but you'll lose the Ch3 Coax Output and the OTA input without an OTA USB Adapter

I looked at that but it wouldn't prevent my bill form still going up or me going back under contract, unless I buy the box's outright, and with DISH in it's current state that's a commitment I'm not about to make. And you are correct I would still need to buy the OTA dongles.

 

[dmag]

Correct. I ended up losing all my recordings from the past 7 years - multiple complete TV series and movies I would go back and watch. I started recordings again, and then once the recordings got to be about 2 months old, they stopped working. I find it hard to believe that both of my hard drives, on two separate VIP211k's, went bad at the same time. Coupled with the other users who reported the same error the exact same week I did originally, to me it seems like there was a change on Dish's end. What it feels like to me is that all recordings have a build-in expiration of some set time and then get auto deleted. I know that isn't the case, but that is what it feels like with what I am observing. There is probably something bigger going on.

At this point, I just have the recordings so I can catch shows that I miss when I am at work, or if there is something on at night and I need to get to bed early, I can catch the next morning - I no longer look at my DVR as a long term solution to save entire TV series or movies that I can pull up when I want.

I think you are correct. I first noticed it on both boxes in the morning so I suspect it was an overnight software update. I was a little disappointed when I talked to the tech. I understand the line is going obsolete but he wouldn't give me anything. When I asked when they did the last software update he wouldn't even tell me. All he would say is I have to upgrade.

 

[dmag]

Hunt around in the menus and see if there is a new option somewhere on how long recordings are kept

Thank you for the suggestion. I did look around and couldn't find anything. I tried "protecting" a few of the recordings but that didn't help.