***How does the PTAT feature handle back-to-back shows?***

[AngryStamen]

I could spend an inordinate amount of time searching the forums for my answer, but with so many brilliant members here D), I figured I'd just ask you directly!!

How does the "Primetime Anytime" feature deal with shows on the same network that "hot switch" between them. (that is to say, one show's storyline ends, and the next show IMMEDIATELY begins after only a moment of black between them?

With my current setup (ViP 722), I usually have to set up one recording for the first show, and extend it by a minute or two, so that I make sure to get the last moment of the show that comes on after the last commercial break. Of course, since I have extended that recording, my next show has to start recording on the other tuner.

Basically, I'm wondering if the new PTAT feature will somehow solve this, or will bits and pieces of shows be stuck to the beginnings/endings of other shows!

Hope that made sense, and hope someone has an answer!!

 

[mdavej]

There are a couple of minutes of overlap saved on each. So when you watch show A followed by B, the end of A is repeated at the beginning of B. This is all handled in software on the one PTAT tuner, so no other tuners are used. I've heard this overlap doesn't carry over when you save PTAT recordings, but I haven't tried that myself.

 

[AngryStamen]

Thanks, mdavej! I wonder if u need to setup the timer with extended minutes so that the show transfers over with the extra time.

Anyone out there tried this, to see if your saved PTAT shows retain the overlapped time?

 

[dare2be]

I would have thought someone had already done and tried this (save PTAT recordings with overlaps using timers), but AFAIK, no one has reported any results.

 

[ogflatlander]

From what I have experienced, the PTAT is a continuous recording so if it is back to back the next show will start to play with no stop. When I am watching a recorded show from PTAT, when it is done it will still continue to play the next show. It's been great as I dont miss the next week preview. I will verify when I get home unless someone else jumps in.

 

[dare2be]

We're talking about saving the shows to the user space, either manually, or via timer. If the timer is set with padding on both ends, it should save the show with paddings, even if 2 timered shows are back to back. There is no technical reason for it not to, since the entire continuous stream is already resident on the PTAT partition.

 

[AngryStamen]

Unfortunately, I don't have the Hopper (REALLY want it, though), but I would expect (and hope) that if I had a timer for 2 back-to-back shows on, say, NBC, that if I set each to start recording 2 mins. early and end recording 2 mins. late, that it would save off the two shows with overlapping content for each.

Can anyone verify this by either setting up 2 back-to-back timers with early start and late end times, or check current timers that have the same parameters?

 

[JPhil]

I can verify this. Still have "saved" PTAT from 3/25 of Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, and GCB (it's for my wife, no really). These are all back to back on ABC.

All appear in "My Recordings" and not in the PTAT Folder (i.e they have expired from PTAT). All have padding on the front and back. They also end when the padding runs out, unlike a usual PTAT recording which continues playing to the next program.

These were all "saved" using (skipped) timers.

 

[dare2be]

I can verify this. Still have "saved" PTAT from 3/25 of Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, and GCB (it's for my wife, no really). These are all back to back on ABC.

All appear in "My Recordings" and not in the PTAT Folder (i.e they have expired from PTAT). All have padding on the front and back. They also end when the padding runs out, unlike a usual PTAT recording which continues playing to the next program.

These were all "saved" using (skipped) timers.

:up Thanks!

 

[AngryStamen]

I can verify this. Still have "saved" PTAT from 3/25 of Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, and GCB (it's for my wife, no really). These are all back to back on ABC.

All appear in "My Recordings" and not in the PTAT Folder (i.e they have expired from PTAT). All have padding on the front and back. They also end when the padding runs out, unlike a usual PTAT recording which continues playing to the next program.

These were all "saved" using (skipped) timers.

AWESOME!! Thanks, JPhil! Just want to check on one thing. You say that these recordings all had padding on the front and back. Was that a result of how you had set up those timers (i.e. you added minutes to start early and end late when you set up the timers), or is it some sort of default that PTAT does when it saves recordings?

And to clarify, since all the recordings had slop, you had overlapping content from these recordings, right?

Thanks, again for checking on this, I appreciate it! Just want to have as much knowledge as possible before I eventually get the Hopper!

 

[JPhil]

AWESOME!! Thanks, JPhil! Just want to check on one thing. You say that these recordings all had padding on the front and back. Was that a result of how you had set up those timers (i.e. you added minutes to start early and end late when you set up the timers), or is it some sort of default that PTAT does when it saves recordings?

Good question. My timers do have padding. Cause or coincidence, I can't say. I don't have any timers without padding.

And to clarify, since all the recordings had slop, you had overlapping content from these recordings, right?

Yes. OUaT has the end of something (can't remember what) and the beginning of DH. DH has the end of OUaT and the beginning of GAC . GAC has the end of DH and the beginning of the local news.

Thanks, again for checking on this, I appreciate it! Just want to have as much knowledge as possible before I eventually get the Hopper!

You are welcome! Just trying to pay it forward (this site was helpful in my quest for info).