Silly question but I can't work out how to perform a scan to update the channel list without it wiping the planned recording schedule?

I update using the manual tuning section and entering each of the 6 SD mux frequencies and the 1 HD mux frequency as I remembered when I was setting up the unit that an automatic search picked up duplicate muxes from multiiple transmitters and placed some working channels up in the 800's leaving dodgier ones (form the other transmitter) allocated in the correct position. This method means I then have to re-instate 30 or so timers - there must be an easy way of performing an update scan without then having to reinstate all the timers?

Also is there a way to automate this or at least alert me that new channels are available? My Panasonic TV automatically informs me when new DVB channels are available and then prompts me as to whether it should perform an update scan (it does Freesat updates automatically without even alerting me).

Found this in a different thread:
By accessing a hidden menu you can copy to USB, the recording schedule.

Thanks to petrev and PhilipL for the explanation,

Menu > Settings > System > System Information > Red > Green > Yellow > Blue > Green > Yellow > Blue

The hidden menu options on the HDR-FOXT2 are:

USB
Copy DB to USB
Copy DB to Flash
Signal Detection
Country Setting
Operator Setting
Display CRID
Password Reset

* USB - allows you to eject a USB memory stick
* Copy DB to USB - this copies 3 database files to a connected USB memory stick, these databases hold various setup items as well as all scheduled recordings. It is basically the settings of the box as stored in non-volatile RAM
* Copy DB to Flash - copies back the databases to flash memory, when the Humax is restarted it loads these new settings.
* Country setting and operator setting are for different countries.
* Display CRID, this shows the series and program IDs in the guide and against recording scheduled items for troubleshooting series linking
* Password reset - resets the pin for entry into the installation settings.

The databases can be opened and read or modified using something like SQLite Database Browser, see http://sqlitebrowser.sourceforge.net

can you connect
laptop usb to humax usb to hdmi to lcd and will you be able to watch and see contents from laptop hard drive on lcd

No.

If you used a simple straight through USB to USB lead you could end up causing damage to either or both Laptop and/or Humax.

USB has 5V DC on it to power attached devices. Joining the 5V supplies of both the laptop and the Humax together would not be a good idea.

Plus the Humax does not have the necessary ability to connect to the hard drive in the laptop. Which a very different proposition to connecting to a USB hard drive or USB flash drive.

wireless laptop by ethernet to humax then hdmi to lcd.my laptop is under the lcd using wireless keyboard & mouse. would this work.I only ask because we are not hd in this area til next August but would purchase humax if this worked

I'm struggling to work out exactly what it is you are trying to achieve here?

If you have the laptop under the TV at the moment is it connected to the TV at all? If it is why would you need to bother trying to connect via the Humax?

Just exactly what is it that you are thinking of doing by interconnecting the Humax and laptop?

using 40" lcd as a monitor to the laptop but was hoping to stream through hdmi using less wires. buspass member here so not much of a techo

If you can view the laptop on the telly at the moment then frankly keep whatever arrangement you have now.

Believe me, if it ain't broke don't fix it by introducing some other place where it can all go mammaries skywards .

thank you for saving me £300 will hang on til we go hd in this area next august cheers

If you are using a DVI to HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV then you will get no benefit trying to stream via the Humax (assuming it could be made to work).

If you are using a VGA lead then I doubt you would get a massively significant improvement in picture quality.

What is more likely is a fair amount of grief trying to get all the various bits to talk to each other. And I'm not altogether sure what would happen if you set the Humax off recording whether it would still let you stream via it.

As I say if it works OK then walk quietly away and leave it in peace

Hi
Once the TV Portal is working-hopefully in 2010! then BBC Iplayer broadcasts HD, so you will not need to wait until digtal switchover in your area.

The FOXT2 if connected to your router will happily stream any AV content found on your network. So if you downloaded movies on your laptop they could be played through the media button on the Humax. I have a Netgear NAS connected too and loaded with movies saved from freesat etc. The humax freeview PVR plays them just fine. if anyone wants a fuller explanation of the possibilities just post and I will oblige!
Richard

router is upstairs in sons room my laptop is wireless under the lcd downstairs.seperate ringmain upstairs to the one downstairs so cannot use homeplug.already watch iplayer ,4od. etc but by VGA not sure if hdmi would be a big improvement or not. or should have gone to specsavers.LOL

I would doubt you would see a huge difference between DVI/HDMI and VGA to be honest. The big advantage of DVI which is commonly found on PCs and laptops is that it is electrically compatible with HDMI (at least as far as pictures go) so a simple lead with appropriate connectors each end is all that is required.

And since most modern LCD/Plasma TVs have a load of HDMI sockets on the back it makes for a relatively easy connection. Not all TVs however have VGA sockets.

If the laptop does have DVI then you could do a simple test by using a DVI to HDMI lead to see if it works better than VGA.

Oh and by the way a home plug should work across ring mains provided both end up at the same consumer unit (AKA fuse box). Although running a bit of ethernet cable would probably work better, though perhaps not so simple to install.

There is another alternative - a wireless ethenet bridge - a box with a twig and an ethernet socket and is what i use here. It runs iPlayer on my fresat box , allows the samsung tv to surf youtube etc etc Just google for available ones . I use a Liksys WET54G but there will be others.

beachwalker has his laptop under the telly all connected up and if I have read the posts correctly wirelessly connected to a router.

So there isn't really any need to stream content via any other device. It can all be streamed via the laptop direct to the TV

it will not stream but using the tv as a display for the laptop will allow playback from the laptop only. It will not act as a bridge. A connection to the router via a wireless bridge or cable or home plug potentially allows media from any computer or server on that network to be streamed usung the DLNA features of the foxT2

The laptop IS connected to the router, or at least that is how I interpret this, especially the points in bold


So he is already streaming content via the laptop. So why do the same job via the Humax?

if he is clever enough to get his laptop acting as a bridge the he would not have needed to post here. Its a special function but commonly encountered connecting an ethernet equipped game box to the internet

He's not using the laptop as a bridge, just making a bog standard wireless connection to his router.

He is streaming content from the internet to the TV using the laptop over that wireless connection. The only reason a Humax was mentioned was in relation to it having HDMI and whether that would make any difference to the current VGA connection. And how to interconnect the laptop and Humax in such a way that content played via the laptop could get to the Humax, be converted to HDMI and thereby get on the telly.

But as the laptop is already connected to the TV there is no real need to try and connect the laptop to the Humax for not very much real benefit in picture quality for the hassle involved.