Twice now I have set up a recording but the box has not switched to the channel to be recorded at the start time. I have one feed until my quad LNB arrives later today hopefully.

Do these boxes not contain auto-switching, or at least a pop-up warning that a recording is about to start? That's a really basic feature for a PVR and I have yet to see it on the HDR and am quite annoyed!

The HDR does auto switch channel and if you're watching you get a pop up giving you the option to cancel a recording or continue watching.

Can't think of any reason why your's is not doing this. I have a dual feed but can't imagine that makes any difference.

I assume you are missing the program to be recorded.

Is your one feed looped so to provide input to the second tuner? - This is presumed with a single LNB setup.
Yes the box should switch or display a message about a clash.
I would mention that if you have the recoding option set to 'on time' then this is dependent on the broadcaster transmitting a start and stop signal for the program. ITV especially does slip up from time to time.

[quote=REPASSAC;43906583
I would mention that if you have the recoding option set to 'on time' then this is dependent on the broadcaster transmitting a start and stop signal for the program. ITV especially does slip up from time to time.[/QUOTE]

The option is called auto on the hdr (the manual is wrong it's called on time on the freeview pvrs).

If the box is in sby and the recording has the auto option it wakes up 15 mins before the scheduled start time (The clock is displayed and a press of the on button will produce an instantaneous boot). The hdr awaits the broadcaster to transmit the change of running status to indicate the programme has started. If this signal is not received or if the broadcaster has messed with the event id's (It's the latter that caused multiple screw ups on ITV) then it fails to start recording. Eventually if the proplem is event-id related a failed recording appears in the media list (not in the series folder). The recording schedule will still update to the next episode as this still carries the correct crid's but this may also fail again for the same reasons

I don't have the loop through for the second input.

Yes, both programmes have been missed, nothing was recorded and my HDD is still empty because 2 of the recordings I have scheduled have failed so far.

I have changed the settings in the menu so that there is 1 minute added to the start time of a programme incase it starts slightly early, and 2 mins added on to the end. I doubt that would affect the recordings, would it?

The HDR needs either two LNB inputs or the loop through cable to work properly. If there is nothing on the second input then it is prone to skip recordings as it seems to use the second tuner, rather than change the channel on the first tuner. If there is no signal on the second tuner then the recording is lost.

After fitting the LNB you will need to do a factory reset so that the HDR sees that it is now in dual LNB mode - you should see a confirmation message.


In the case of trying to record two consecutive programs this would require two tuners [08:58-10:02 and 09:58-11:02].

Thanks for the hints.

My quad LNB and cable are sitting at home waiting for me to install them when I get home from work.

On a side note, is it possible to change the amount of space given to recordings, music and photos? How much is it set at in default and how do I go about changing it if possible?

Why not just make up a loop cable. Any old coax will do as it's so short and fitting a couple of f connectors takes a couple of minutes.

Yes you can change the allocation but it involves a reformat on both partitions so you will lose all your recordings. The music/photo partition has a minimum size of 1 GB. If you decide to go ahead select to format both partitions and you get a slider to adjust the sizes.

Well, as the shotgun cable and quad LNB are waiting for me, the problem won't exist any more after I've had my tea this evening!

I don't have any recordings to worry about so how do I reformat the drive exactly? Is it somehting that can be done on the box using the menu or does the drive have to be taken out first and connected to a PC?

What are the music/photo patitions given as a default? As I won't be using the box ever for music or photo, I'd like to give them the smallest space possible so I have the most space available for recording.

Menu > System > 'HDD Control' > 'Format HDD'


Mines still set at original and showing:-
Music/Photo
Free - 26.2 GB (99%)
Used - 0.1 GB (1%)

Many thanks, all soted now. LNB installed and HDR factory reset so both tuners are working and I have a bigger partition for the TV programmes!