Box set to record Top Gear on BBC2 (with 1min padding each side now) which recorded fine even though I was watching it.

At 1 min to 9, the little whizzy thing appeared in the corner to say it was now recording BBC HD. (as well as the end of Top Gear).

Until 1 min past 10pm, the 'REC' light was on on the front of the box but I was watching ITV1 with nothing else recording.

I kept checking but no 'Rivers' file had been created even though the 'REC' light was on.

After the REC light went off at 1 min past 10pm, I checked and a file had now been created but with no recording in it.

I've turned the padding back to auto and as all the issues seem to be with HD, I've reset my HD recordings to record the SD versions.

Dont know whther it's signal or what, but may try a master reset next.

Do you loose existing recordings on a master 'Factory Settings' reset or is it just the scedule that is wiped? I dont mind reprogramming it but will have to shift the existing recordings on to an external Hard Drive if I am going to loose them.

Re our previous posts & your signal problems.

I wonder if your box isn't set up for/recognising both LNB feeds, or only intermittently? With only 1 cable active, you can't record BBC HD & BBC2 together, so it may have been "trying" but eventually failed with a 0min file.

In fact, recording BBC HD or ITV HD is relatively restrictive anyway, so this may be part of your problem.

First, try these tests to see whether you have full 2 cable functionality :-

----------------------------------------------------
1. Set a recording reservation on 104, can you set a recording on 136 at the same time as 104? If you can, then you must have 2 tuner capability. (104 is low band horizontal and 136 is one of the few channels on high band vertical). Now stop these recordings & delete.

2. Go to 951 BBC 1 CI and start an instant recording, go to 108 BBC HD and start another instant recording. Now tune in to any other channel and press pause. If you can pause a 3rd channel your stb is working correctly, with full 2 cable/2tuner functionality, if not you need to do a factory reset. (You can record two channels at the same time using just one tuner if they are one the same transponder, so if a "friendly" combination of channels is used it is not a true test).
-----------------------------------------------------------
If these do not work, then something is wrong, try a Factory Reset, and during the installation look for the "Recognised 2 Cable" message. Then try the above 2 tests again.

If your signal problem is intermittent, it may be that it only recognised 1 cable at original install, and the Factory Reset is needed to reset it. If it still doesn't work, I'd get your LNB/Cables checked out. You can do a rudimentary test yourself by removing the cables, with the box switched off, and trying cable 1 into LNB1, then cable 2 into LNB1, then cable 1 into LNB2, then Cable 2 into LNB2, each time switching the box off/on, as it sends a voltage up to the LNB. You can then work out if either cable is dodgy, and/or if one of the tuners is dodgy.

A Factory Reset does not wipe recordings, only a Format will do that, but you do need to reset your Timer Schedules.

Rgds.


Les.

mine recorded rivers and topgear fine last night, no padding set, just leave it as it is

Mine recorded Top Gear & Rivers HD OK last night.

Last week I had the same symptoms as the OP though...
Rivers failed with a 0 length recording, even though the icon popped up at the end of Top Gear.
Ended up downloading a copy from the net (I pay my licence, so I don't consider it illegal!)

I do use Accurate Recording though - no padding.

Found a dodgy connection on the second feed!!

Have fixed it and it's now detecting two feeds at master reset. Just done a master reset and am now retuning.

Hopefully all will now be well!!

Thanks guys, I think you've solved it for me (fingers crossed).