I've just noticed that series links from Sunday onwards have not updated themselves and bringing the guide up shows that they are not scheduled (i.e. no clock symbol).

I have just enabled the CRID test (via the hidden menu) and have noted that the Series CRID codes for all channel 4 programs appear to have all changed.

As an example:-

Tonights Big Brother Channel 4 21:00 to 22:00:-

PROG CRID: www.channel4.com/47333/011
SERIES CRID: www.channel4.com/C4030030523162120223

Tomorrows Big Brother Channel 4 21:00 to 22:00:-

PROG CRID: www.channel4.com/47333/012
SERIES CRID: www.channel4.com/47333

All E4's series links are still working as they are still in the original format as in the first example (i.e. begin with C4).

Anyone know whats happening? Is this a channel 4 cockup?

Richard,

Good spot, I've just checked and my Coach Trip & Come Dine with Me timers have not moved forward to Monday. Monday's progs have that truncated Series CRID instead of the usual format.

Good old Channel 4

They did this with a 2 part series recently "1066:......" (I can't remember the full title) and the second part didn't record because it wasn't linked to the first as it had the truncated CRID format.

I would suspect that tonight's BB will record then the timer will not move on.

Get ready to reschedule all your C4 SLs, and watch out in case C4 then realise the cock-up, and change them again !!

Rgds.


Les.

I wonder whether anything similar is happening with the Freeview+ links or whether it's just affecting Freesat+. Anyone with the equipment care to check?

At least we are here to sort the problem out (by rescheduling) but I'm sure there will be some annoyed people who will be away from their boxes (i.e. on holiday/business trip) who will miss there programs as a result.

Freeview is Ok, my Timers for the progs I mentioned have moved forward on my 9300T, although I can't see the CRID data on 9300.

It will be annoying for people away. You just should not have to do the level of checking/monitoring that we seem to have to, but it just seems like water off a duck's back when you complain to the broadcasters.

Rgds.


Les.

Thanks for that richard_g_uk, just checked my schedules for Channel4 and at first glance most if not all programmes are now using the truncated series crids

Curses, only reaslised when I got it in the neck for it missing Wife Swap. I may need a wife swap...

Drat! Spotted this too late and missed the same two programmes. I checked the EPG last night and the red clocks are present for tonight. Thus I am doing an experiment to see if they record or not. I was tempted to delete the scheduled record and then re-request it, but left it alone because my main interest is what would happen if i am away from home for a long period of time as happened last month. I wonder what odds Honest John is offering ????

They won't record, I tried it.

Rgds.

Les.

Doh! So I could have lost 2 weeks worth of whatever was scheduled !! This Forum really is ace Thank goodness I can correct it when I get home tonight.

Yes it's OK if you are present at the box to correct it, but like you I do wonder if I'd trust it to record everything whilst I was away for 2/3 weeks.

The broadcasters have not been very good at all recently, not send the running change status end/start signals, screwing up CRID data, not getting HD flags to stick. Complaints seem to fall on deaf ears (but that should not stop us from still complaining !!).

In view of the problems you've previously had whilst you are away with these broadcaster issues, I wonder if you might be better trying a different strategy.

I'm very hesitant to suggest this, as I'm generally an advocate of using AR, but you may get better results using Auto-Padding.

We appear to have seen examples recently where posters who have set Auto-Padding on Series Links have had episodes record through missing AR start signals, and corrupt Series CRID data, where posters timers using AR failed. They've been relatively small samples, so not 100% conclusive, but it may be worth trying in your situation, where you are not always around.

Obviously, if you set the Recordings | Start | 2mins early, and the End | 3 mins late, you will be more susceptible to overlapping clashes. I don't know your viewing habits, so not sure how much of a problem this would be for you.

I don't use Auto-Padding, and have never compared/tested it as I have with AR, but I'm pretty sure that padding on back-to-back recordings on the same channel is dropped, so that situation does not increase your overlap/clash. (perhaps someone who uses Auto-Padding can confirm here?).

Also if you are back to back recording 1 prog on 1 channel, then 1 prog on another, that will be OK too as you only have 2 simultaneous recordings going on.

So, the only potential problems would be 1 recording, immediately followed by 2 recordings on different channels; 2 recordings immediately followed by 1 recording on a different channel; and 2 recordings immediately followed by 2 recordings on different channels. By careful planning, especially with the +1 channels where available, you may be able to avoid these situations.

Otherwise, the only other option is manual timers, with appropriate repeat options, but subject to schedule alterations.

Also, I'm not sure how padding affects ITV HD timers as its only a stream, and if that stream has not started when the early padded timer kicks in; again, I've not tested padding.

Just a thought for you to consider.

Others, please jump in with views or alternatives.

Rgds.


Les.

Hi Les

Not tested auto padding on the hdr but I can confirm that the 9200 at least drops the padding on consecutive recordings (I record everthing that way) so I imagine the hdr will do the same. Just today I have set a one off recording of tonights Spain: Paradise lost in HD and have manually changed the end time to add 2 mins (21:00 - 22:02). I will post what happens.

Graham

Thanks for that, Graham.

That prompted me to look at what timers I have on the HDR around 21:00.

I'm OK, so I thought I would try manually padding the Start, as well the End, to test what would happen if the stream had started. After completing this, the Timer loses the HD Flag. So, I thought, it doesn't like this at the start, may not be possible, so I thought "I'll do what Graham did", just manually pad the end, and again it dropped the HD Flag.

Does yours still show HD on the Timer?

Rgds.

Les.

Ouch well spotted never noticed that. Just set 2 min early start and 2 min late finish using auto padding it seems to have accepted that. Just now have to wait and see what happens

Yes, that is interesting. It will be fascinating to see what auto-padding does with it, and it's Billed Times. If it does record, in HD, at 20:58 - 22:02, why it will not manually let you set that, in HD? Or, if you cannot record an HD stream early, will it be clever enough to know that, and only record 21:00 - 22:00?

As you say, we'll see what happens.

Rgds.

Les.

It's set on the Toppy as insurance

If this works will try back to back on BBC HD and the next chance on ITV HD

looks like channel4 have now reverted back to their twenty digit long Series CRID numbers

Ooh, thanks GC. I'll reset my C4 timers now.

Rgds.

Les.

Does that mean the timers I reset earlier in the week will now need to be re-done?

Think this has happened a couple of times before with C4. Any one know why and whether its likely to be a continuing problem?

[Panto Mode on] Oh yes they did! [Panto Mode off]

It seems I got lucky as both programs in question were present and correct when I got home last night This begs the question was this fixed overnight on Monday by C4? Would you suggest that I re-request these series links or would the post from Gaseous indicate that all should be well now?
I am convinced that this is not the first time this has happened as some other stuff I had series linked in the past is AWOL
I should add in response to your above questions that I am not a padding man, and prefer things to be their natural size Although my understanding is swings and roundabouts I would have too many clash conflicts to justify padding. There was one last night for example when South Pacific on BBC HD over-ran a tad and clashed with Auf Wiedersehn Pet and soething else. Fortunately it was only a minute or so and the HDR sorted itself out with nothing vital lost. I make that Humax 2 Broadcasters 0

I'm not sure about this but I did notice that the only reservation have currently on Channel4 is Come Dine With Me and that appears to have sorted itself out without me resetting it

I think C4 probably did revert the crids Monday hence your programmes recording and hopefully you wont need to re-schedule

edit: wrong day

Heheh, yes it is a farce.

I've just deleted all my C4 timers, and re-set them up using the updated CRIDs, just to be sure, to be sure.

Rgds.


Les.

But, did anyone make a note of the pre-truncated CRIDs? i.e. have they reverted them to the old ones, or just put up new correct length CRIDs?

As I say, I've gone down the belt & braces route.

Rgds.


Les.

Big brother has reverted to its original Series CRID as stated in my opening post.

Bizarrely I have not had to update my series links and the CRID test shows that they appear to have automatically updated themselves to the new CRIDs. The EPG shows that all the programs associated with my series linked programs for the next few days are all scheduled as expected.

Perhaps as the programs were already in my schedule and set up for the next instance then it was clever enough to work out the series CRID had changed (especially as the program CRID appears to have remained the same)? I shall keep an eye on it to make sure it records them though.

Edit: Just noted something else. Big Brother and Big Borthers Little Brother (channel 4 repeat) both had the same series CRID (47333). However now BB has changed to its original CRID however BBLB still has the old CRID (47333). Both programs are scheduled in the EPG. Is it possible for one series link to have multiple series CRID's embedded within it?

Just spotted that I appear to have lost my scheduled recording for "Russell Brand Doing Life" on channel 4 Saturday night.

Not sure whether its related to the re-scan or not however it has the shortened CRID format so could be the same as when I set it.