I don't believe the Loader will be available OTA.

If the OTA is interrupted for any reason with a Loader, it could brick your box.

Rgds.

Les.

I ordered an SD card reader yesterday. I wonder if it'll be in today's post?

That's for the HD, not the HDR.

Send him down

Rgds.

Les..

Patrick, no, I've had any sucess so far. The post has just arrived, alas, no SD card reader

Strange. I followed the links from this site earlier but I guess that I only gave things a cursory glance. Being an old BT man and once involved in Desktop support you'd think I'd learned to RTFM!

Never mind, it'll be here later.

Well I can't upgrade my boot loader on either my HDR or HD boxes. Firmware upgrades were fine so I doubt it 's the usb stick I'm using

What donkey!!! I forgot to rename them

Eee-aww, Ee-aww, E-ought-to-know-better

Thats because the Foxsat HD only has a rear USB port

Les beat me to it

Excuse my ignorance .............. but does the loader have to be updated ??.......... (I have 2 LNB feeds and version U7.51)

.......... if the OTA does the firmware update only, is there any point of updating the loader via USB ???

I have to say if that's the sum total of the updates (with no more to follow), I'm very disappointed.

1. Where's the new major software features we were promised - we already knew about i-player so what were the major features?

There was a distinct implication we were going to get the much wanted recording editing feature.

2. SEVERAL of the most fundamental features still haven't been addressed:

i. The lack of a Non Freesat Mode EPG (meaning non Freesat mode is still essentially non usable in recorder terms)

ii. The ability to edit recordings to remove adverts etc

iii. The ability to create sub folders - important to allow people to create tidy categorised file structure where there are a lot of recordings

iv. Screensaver to work in menus (very important as all plasmas are left vulnerable to menu burn

Compare the release list to the feature request / Bug list:

1. (18) Use of buffer with instant recordings
2. (13) delete option in main media list view rather than always having to go to a sub menu
3. (14) delete/spoof delete when recording
4. (11) Playback of own video files like MPEG2/4/divx (i.e. non-PVR originated)
5. (10) Stream/move recordings via Ethernet to PC or other device on the network like games console
6. (10) Set up timers via network connection
7. (6) control/stream HDR from HD receiver (like recordings to HD STB in another room)
8. (6) Set recording timers by keyword
9. (6) Back button to go back to the last channel only when non in the live TV buffer
10. (8) Automatically delete folders when they become empty
11. (7) Use the arrow buttons to scroll through what’s on other channels without pressing the 'i' button first
12. (7) Make recording series to a folder optional
13. (5) Editing a series timer to only keep on disk the last x recordings/episodes
14. (8) Add non-freesat channels to EPG
15. (3) Option to dim or turn off front display
16. (5) Delete option also for empty folders in media view
17. (3) Use of Favourites in EPG
18. (5) An option for accessing the guide to always start at BBC1 rather than current channel
19. (5) The universal remote control to control TV volume even when switched to PVR control
20. (6) Freesat channels schedules do not delete when in non-freesat mode doing channel scans
21. (5) Don't loose playback or pause position in live buffer when checking the guide
22. (3) aid thumb navigation of remote without looking, like adding more/bigger knobbles to some remote buttons
23. (7) Ability to schedule non-freesat recordings
24. (2) An option to send a recording to a particular folder when setting up the reservation
25. (5) Apply the "new" icon feature to folders containing new recordings
26. (5) If the HD version of a programme is removed by broadcaster, go back to recording the SD version
27. (3) Use the OK button during playback as pause/play toggle
28. (4) Automatically delete corresponding folder if it’s empty, when the corresponding series timer is deleted
29. (2) Option to hide empty folders from main media list
30. (3) Option in 'sort' to list all files (i.e. without folders) in main media list
31. (4) The EPG is not completely repopulated from scratch if it’s already recently completed the exercise
32. (2) Option to remove music and photos from the media screen so there is just recordings
33. (2) Front LCD mimic menus in order to navigate and select MP3/Music channels without switching on TV
34. (2) Option for MP3 player to display tag info on LCD rather than file name
35. (2) Option for the PVR to turn off "press red" if it appears on screen
36. (5) Ability to carry out instant record on a channel when in the EPG
37. (3) Ability to see all instances the machine in a series link timer
38. (2) Able to edit recordings to remove padding and adverts
39. (2) Ability to record freesat channels when in non-freesat mode
40. (2) Ability to unmount an EXT3 drive before disconnection
41. (3) On screen warning of loosing buffer when changing channel if in chase play
42. (3) See more than 7 channels listed per page in the EPG
43. (2) Now and next to show the Next programme first
44a. (4) Improve readability of the EPG by using much greater contrast , whilst retaining the same font size & using that size also in the time line & time/date fields.
44b. (2) Increase the Channel rows from 7 to 10 for more rapid perusal.
45. (1) Boot faster than (30 seconds
46. (1) Customise channels in the guide
47. (3) When recording in standby, show something other than time, like what is recording.
48. (1) When recording the delete option should still be visible or greyed out, with an on screen note pop up if selected
49. (2) Convert recordings to other formats for transfer e.g. H(2(64 for easy transfer for ipod viewing etc
50. (1) Choice of displaying time or channel number or both when on
51. (1) Sort folders amongst files rather than before them
52. (1) OK button to duplicate the "I" button
53. (1) Programme info sized dynamically to amount of text rather than full screen
54. (2) Show file sizes in file manager
55. (2) Option to stop a recording already "in progress" from the guide instead of being transported to the live channel
56. (2) auto-delete options when space is low
57. (3) When power is restored from a power cut the PVR checks the time and sets the clock.
58. (1) Alert user not only to new channels but also removed channels and channels that have changed name
59. (2) Add a 'split' recording feature
60. (2) Option to obtain a transparent flap in order to use remote from an angle
61. (2) Ability to select which episodes to ignore in a series timer
62. (1) Ability to sort channels by groupings, e.g. BBC1, BBC2, BBC4, BBC4, BBC HD, BBC News, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 etc
63. (1) Ability to block dogs to avoid plasma screen burn
64. (2) A fast forward speed with sound
65. (3) Ability to switch between freesat and non-freesat channels easier/quicker
66. (1) Advanced signal diagnostics to detect if a tuner is defective
67. (1) Ability to transfer already Encrypted recordings to recover disk space and for later playback on HDR only.
68. (1) Automated playlist archiving of flagged recordings to USB
69. (1) When pressing 'media' go to the recording list by default rather than the last media section you were in.
70. (2) When in non-freesat mode, automatically go back to freesat mode for freesat timer recordings
71. (1) Transfer recordings to USB while the programme may be still recording
72. (1) Ability to also not pause the time on LCD display if playback is paused
73. (2) Find functionality to include option to search descriptions too
74. (1) If MP(3s in selected folder have all been played, automatically play MP(3s from next folder
75. (1) Option on files to protect from deletion but playback is enabled
76. (2) EPG showing the full programme description instead of the first line, without having to press "I"
77. (1) LCD recording indicator to be in red colour
78. (1) Ability for box to store previous firmware(s) to roll back to if new version is undesirable
79. (2) Ability to manually add/edit transponder details in order to show hidden channels like BBCi streams
80. (1) Ability for encrypted HD programmes to be archived by transferring an SD (reduced quality) version via USB
81. (1) Ability to set a log file so that all activity (recordings, schedules, tuner/clash resolutions etc) can be viewed
82. (1) Ability to minimise Media and EPG/Schedule screens to go back and forth from the TV programme
83. (1) Ability to mark a programme as "new" again
84. (2) Ability to show programme descriptions automatically in Media list, without having to press "i"
85. (2) Option to have recording name scrolled continuously on LCD when playing back a recording
86. (2) The EPG to not scroll past the start or end channel (Have a soft stop that requires more presses of the arrow button to move on again)
87. (2) In the EPG, make evident on the programme on SD channel that the HD version/programme is reserved
88. (1) Support of dual LNB in USALS mode
89. (2) Ability to set recording of a programme on another channel via "i" button, as well as EPG
90. (2) In EPG, indicate/grey out channels unavailable when currently dual recording
91. (3) Keep conflict dialogue boxes on screen longer
92. (3) Give user community ability to modify/add features to the PVR
93. (1) Thumbnails listing option for Photos in Media section, as per TV recordings
94. (3) Picture in Picture
95. (2) Live buffer is not emptied by recordings starting or ending (unless both tuners are needed)
96. (1) In EPG "list" view, utilise the 3 empty programme boxes to show 7 programmes per screen
97. (1) Rate or mark a favourite recorded programme
98. (1) Show the "new" icon in File Manager as well as the Media screen
99. (3) Allow instant recording to capture both parts of a programme if interrupted by the news
100. (2) Option to set a programme to record in the EPG which also changes the channel to that programme automatically
101. (1) Zoom' function in EPG in order to see more or less channels on screen
102. (3) Non-freesat mode 7 day EPG via TvTv or similar like Humax Icord-HD PVR
103. (3) Ability to create/assign (2 digit channel numbers
104. (4) Ability to have freesat and non-freesat channels without having to switch modes.
105. (2) Improved search to quickly deliver programmes from EPG
106 Ability to transfer via file manager entire folders or more than one file at once. Single file transfers are frustrating as is having to re-create holding folders.
107 Transparency added to file transfer progress dialogue box - it can be on the screen for up to an hour on a HD file (longer on multiple transfers thus posing a danger to plasmas at 100% opacity)
108 (2) Speed of USB port to be looked at. It seems very slow to me even though I have USB 2.0 connected equipment & hard drive - around 20 minutes for an SD film and up to an hour for HD/QUOTE]
109 (2)To enhance the functionality of the fast forward and rewind buttons. For example if I was FF’ing at max speed and pressed the rewind button I would want the FF to slow down by one ‘notch’, not to start rewinding at speed 1. I want it to act like Sky+ FF and RW buttons.
110 (1) Institute a 'permanent search' facility to catch new series that may be broadcast unexpectedly after previous series have finished and to catch one-off programmes that may be of interest.
111 (2) Allow 'Find' strings to be saved for use later rather than have them deleted when the box goes into standby.
112 (1) Allow more than the current 10 (?) 'Find' strings in a session.
113 (1) Ensure that the current programme sound and vision is not lost when 'Guide' is pressed.
114 (2) Hard Drive Defragmentation Facility (possibly automatic)
115: (1) Remove info box or progress bar when user asks for some function that is incompatible with such display.
116: (1) User to be able to delete a recording that is still playing.
117: (1) Media display screen to fill TV screen and sound to mute as an option when you press media button for list .
118; (1) Screen saver to work when in menus

I tried to upgrade the loader from U 7.51 with no joy so when straight to the main update.

Looking good, was worry at first because I could not find the non-freesat mode but you have to do a new rescan (called manual now not non freesat) then it appears in the usaul place in the menu.

Did a manual (non freesat ) scan and yes yes yes the ITV schedules are still there.

Well that got me thinking, "If I've downloaded the wrong instructions, then I've renamed the files incorrectly or, wrongly renamed downloaded HD files."

I read and re-read, re-downloaded the files and re-named them. Placed them on my CF/USB combo and do you know what? It worked.

Thanks Les, that threat of being sent down certainly made me clean up my act and put me on the straight and narrow!

Who promised you these features?

It was always manual scan

Glad it helped.

You were lucky in some ways, that the Humax boxes intelligently know it was the wrong Loader/Firmware. For example if you try to upgrade a Fortec Passion+ box with Passion software, or vice versa, it can brick your box permanently

Rgds.

Les.

What, you mean I could have turned into a Motorola 3200?

Personally I would not think the HDR has a powerful enough processor to do HD video editing.


I am going to have a play with the HDR for a week or two before giving comment on the update. TBH I was quite happy (learned to live with niggles in the software) with the HDR, doing its job 99% of the time so with this update I hope it will be 100% and I will be happier still.

i) Not really possible as there's nowhere to get the EPG information (legally )

ii) It's a PVR, not an editing suit.

iii) Would be nice but even with an upgraded disk, are these boxes big enough to store large quantities of programmes long term?

I have a few that I've moved to my main computer but I have a feeling I'll never have time to watch them again.

iv) Agreed, this is a particularly stupid and annoying bug. Pause a programme to go and make a cup of tea and when you get back the screen saver's kicked in but leave a high contrast menu/EPG/Media list and get called away and it's still there an hour later.

I certainly understand your point of view. I would love to to have seen more happening and seen a lot more done to improve the machine. However, you have seen how Humax are, it is not going to happen.

What Humax have done though is make it more usable whilst fixing some of the major issues and also, credit to them, thrown in a few extra features. Understanding it is never going to be a Tivo I am now fairly happy with the upgrade (unless it turns out to be buggy of course..).

The only things I think are missing and we should definitely have are:
1) A record from buffer
2) A power cut fix
3) FTP enablement.

We have zero chance of most of the rest. Let's concentrate on just a handful more fixes (improvements).

Patrick

Thanks GC, what through me out was that after the update the tab to change to non freesat mode had disappeared as if it was a new machine.

I now realise it is like a new machine and having done the manual channel rescan the tab to change between the free and non freesat has returned.

I use a Universal Programmable remote and have a macro which, when the pause button is pressed, pauses the playback and switches off the TV. The control then jumps to a new screen with a "Resume" button. This, when pressed switches on the TV and introduces a delay before instructing the device to play. The control ten jumps back to that devices screen. A bit clunky but it works.

I use the UEI Nevo but any learning/programmable remote that allows macros will fit the bill and, with many less than £100 it safeguards against burn in and there aren't so many remotes to phaff with.

Perhaps, there are some Unix guys out there who might dabble with the programming as it should be open source.

My Canon digital SLR and My TViX are Unix devices where third party developers have enhanced the functionality far beyond the manufacturers spec.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding but I've always been able to make sub-folders in File Manager! I've got all the programs I want to save in a folder tree under a root folder called "Zaved" so it is always at the bottom of the media list

That wouldn't work for me because the vast majority of times I use pause it's only for a short/very short time.

It (getting sidetracked and finding the EPG/list still present half an hour later) has only happened a couple of times but it's annoying as it's such a daft way of programming it.

(And before anyone goes off on one, I have been known to programme things in a daft way myself the first time around - everyone does.)