Free Preview messing up timers ?

[kstuart]

Hello,

Has anyone encountered this before ? ( I did a search, but Free Preview threads only seem to discuss the channel content. )

You have timers set for programs on a particular channel (on an NBR capable receiver), and then a Free Preview of that channel happens, and the DVR schedules a second recording of the same event on the 28x free preview channel.

I came close to being messed up by this:

I have a weekly timer setup for soccer on 149 on Saturdays, and then I set a timer for the HD-Movies showing of "Silence of the Lambs" at the same time.

Then Dish added a Free Preview of 149 on channel 28_ and the DVR created another timer for that channel for the soccer game - pushing "The Silence of the Lambs" into the Not-Recorded-Due-To-Priority Zone.

Only because I happened to manually check the "schedule" did I notice the red X next to the movie and the duplicate timers.

 

[garys]

I locked the preview channels out, I don't get timers set to those channels.

 

[kstuart]

I locked the preview channels out, I don't get timers set to those channels.

Thanks, that's a good idea. But right now, there are only 2 or 3 preview channels, so only 2 or 3 show up in the channel lock list.

If they have a larger number later (which they often do), I'll have to remember to lock those channel numbers when they appear.

It would be helpful to have a way to turn them off altogether...

 

[Hall]

Then Dish added a Free Preview of 149 on channel 28_ and the DVR created another timer for that channel for the soccer game - pushing "The Silence of the Lambs" into the Not-Recorded-Due-To-Priority Zone.

So it was going to record (2) duplicate soccer games, same time, and same date ?? Was your timer an "All" ?? Then again, that shouldn't matter as it's still smart enough not to duplicate unless it doesn't know enough about the episode and the "better safe than sorry" setting kicks in....

I'd still like to know why it automatically added a timer for the 28x channel anyway. Do you use Dish Pass ??

 

[kstuart]

The timer is:

- Dish Pass
- All Episodes (because this channel, like most of the niche channels, doesn't have "new" and "episode #" information)
- All Channels (becuase it is the default, and it would take extra time to specify the channel number, which seemed unnecessary since the program will never air on another channel).

PS I locked out the Preview channel number and then after the next Guide update and reboot, it removed the duplicate timers that I had already "skipped" manually.

So, Garys' idea worked - by any chance - will locking out "280" lock out all Preview Channels, just like "490" will lock out all Adult Channels ?

I can't imagine this hasn't popped up earlier with regards to Sky Angel people who don't want channels they disapprove of, suddenly reappearing in Free Preview mode...

 

[Hall]

Not using Dish Pass would avoid this also. Why not just try a regular timer ?? If these soccer games are on at the same time every Saturday, it will work fine for you.

 

[kstuart]

Not using Dish Pass would avoid this also. Why not just try a regular timer ?? If these soccer games are on at the same time every Saturday, it will work fine for you.

That's the rub - they aren't - they are at the same local time every Saturday - so their broadcast time varies by up to 3 hours depending on the time zone of the home team.

In any event, this particular problem has the workaround of locking the current Free Preview channels, but I was also interested in pointing out that problems could crop up for other people in other months - and to discuss the general issue.

 

[n0qcu]

The timer is:

- Dish Pass
-- All Channels (becuase it is the default, and it would take extra time to specify the channel number, which seemed unnecessary since the program will never air on another channel).

...

It doesn't take that much time to select a specific channel..

 

[FitzAusTex]

It doesn't take that much time to select a specific channel..

no, it doesnt take all that much time but it sure would be nice if E* added the ability to set an all episodes/new episodes timer for a specific channel (or channels) only. like it works for a manual timer.

 

[FitzAusTex]

it also doesnt take that much time to switch for all episodes to once, but the default should be once, not all episodes.

 

[vikingrob]

no, it doesnt take all that much time but it sure would be nice if E* added the ability to set an all episodes/new episodes timer for a specific channel (or channels) only. like it works for a manual timer.

Select Dish Pass, then select Options, then select Set Channel, and you can get the job done.

I have several such timers set up.

 

[DishSubLA]

Please correct if this is incorrect: The previous software download added the ability to select All Episodes or New episodes using Dish Pass. Of course, the Set Channel option has been available for a long time. Also, the keyboard display in the Dish Pass has changed as well. It sounds like your problem was solved several weeks ago. Furthermore, if you need to, then just create additional Dish Pass timers for each specific channel, and you won't have the free preview timer problem. Because of good habits and proper use of timer features, I've never had a problem with preview channels. HOWEVER, the preview channels junk up the SEARCH feature quite a bit. Now, that is an annoying problem that has a more complicated work around using Dish Pass, but I should be able to use the SEARCH feature and have ONLY my regular channels display.

 

[jessshaun]

Why would you lock out the preview channels? Just change your timers to specify a channel. I always do. I never allow the default, "all channels".

 

[sdschramm]

I THINK I GOT THE ANSWER!

This is what I am thinking: When you set the timer for the soccer game, you must have set it for "All" or "New ep's only". When the receiver looks for the show, it finds the same thing on 2 channels. It then looks at both of the shows descriptions. If the show description is the same for both, it thinks it is a duplicate. But, if the show description is different on the other event (in this case the preview channel), the receiver thinks it is a new or different show then the first one you are recording on the auctual channel.

Try this. Go to any free preview channel and push the INFO button. (The show description will appear) Read that description and it will say something like "We hope you are enjoying this free preview. for channel listings and show information, please see the original channel at ch xxx."

As you can see, although the same show is being played at the same time on 2 channels, this Dish receiver thinks that the show if different , because the show description is different.

Hope that makes any sense!

-Scott