Quick question. If you set up a series to record will the box record all occurrences of that title? or only occurrences on that channel at that time?

E.G. If I set up a series of say Dads Army on BBC2 will it record a Dads Army episode that appears on BBC1?

What happens if Dads Army is on BBC1 at 7pm then again at 9pm but i only set the series up for the 7pm version?

Could someone explain exactly how series recording works. The Humax manual is about as much use as an ashtray on a Ducati...

It depends on the series link data supplied by the broadcaster.

If the BBC said the 9pm show was the same series it would get recorded, if not then it wont.

Here goes

Programmes with series record have two codes (CRID - Content Recognition Identifier - Think). A series crid which should be the same for all episodes and a prog crid which should be unique to that episode. When a programme in a series has recorded the epg is scanned for the next entry with the same series crid and a different prog crid. When and if it finds one that becomes the next scheduled recording. If the broadcasters get the codes right then it does not matter if the next episode is on a different channel. This also allows the box to identify an alternative time/channel if a recording clash ocurrs.

By using the secret menus the hdr can display the crids using info.

All sounds a bit and and miss really. I guess until all the broadcasters start using an identical protocol series recording will be a little unpredictable. Having said that its pretty good on Humax/freesat. Just could not quite understand why sometimes I find 2 copies of the same show... Still its better than having none at all (the series link on Top Up TV was awful as was any form of recording)

You get two copies if the broadcaster gives the repeat a different prog crid instead of the same as the original. The box assumes it's a new episode. Home and Away on CH 5 this week mon-wed was incorrectly flagged like this resulting in the lunchtime and the early evening repeat both being recorded

Hence the need for more accurate series data from the Broadcasters. I guess this will come in time as HD recorders become the norm