I'm sorry to raise this again, I know it has been discussed on some other threads, but the posting has become fragmented.

Like everyone else, I too am suffering from the delay in downloading the epg. Sometimes it does take 45 seconds but sometimes it takes very much longer - in the order of minutes. Sometimes I simply give up waiting and we don't record what we wanted to see. A great pity. We have two of these boxes, and they are not that old. It was a 'great' box when we bought them, but it has become very frustrating to use. I do not know why Humax have now crippled it, I'm sure its not deliberate on their part, but I could recommend the box to anyone now.

I have read about the alternative way of getting to the cached epg. I have tried pressing 'schedule', then the 'red 'button, but i just seemt o end up abck where I was - in limbo land waiting for the epg to update. I'm obviously starting from the wrong point or doing something wrong.

Would someone be kind enough to post precisely what condition the box has to be in to start with, and what buttons, in which order, to access the cached epg and ot be able to set up recordings.

PS. If my box is always 'on', why isn't the cached epg being updated continuously? Many thanks, yt.

The cached EPG IS updated continuously. It sounds like you have a reception issue. There's loads of posts on these boards about fixing reception problems so I will not go into that further here.

When in the Schedule are you pressing the Red button or the Record button (which is also coloured red)? When in the Schedule do you see the colour menu acoss the top: Table (red); List (green); Schedule (yellow); Find (blue)? If so do the other colour button options work?

The original problem is either a bug or very stupid programming.

To fix the long scans, do a freesat scan but dont save the results. This is another bug weve had from day 1 but they wont fix it, instead they focus on bringing us more bugs

It sounds like the 'Schedule' you are pressing is the 'Yellow button' as indicated on the yellow tab within the EPG display. The 'Schedule' button everyone is referring to in these threads is the physical 'Schedule' button near the bottom left corner of the Humax remote. Start in the far bottom left hand side column of the remote and go up one row. The 'Schedule' button is above the 'Source' button. Then after pressing 'Schedule' press the 'Red button' indicated by the 'Red table' tab in the schedule list display.

Thank you for your precise post. That is exactly what we are doing - but I just end up back on the 'normal' EPG page with a message in the very top RH corner with words to the effect that it is 'receiving data' and to please wait. Same as when I actually select a programme to record by selecting it and pressing the 'ok' key.

I do not think I have a reception issue. I have two machines in two different properties in two very different geographic locations. Both behave (now) in the same way in this respect.

Both boxes indicate a satisfactory signal strength, and I have to say our day to day reception has always been faultless at both locations - which it still is.

Are you doing this when watching a channel, not after pressing guide?

Yes

Watching a LIVE transmission in full screen (not paused playback). Then press the bottom left schedule key.

Edit: If in paused playback of live transmission (most people refer to this mode as 'chase play'). then just pressing the normal 'Guide' key should have the same effect as pressing 'Schedule then Red'.

Try pausing the live transmission for about 15 seconds, then press the normal guide key, if this still prevents you from setting a recording then the only thing I can suggest is doing a factory reset.

The fact that so many people on this forum specify the 'Schedule + Red' sequence as a workaround, then this sequence works for the majority of users. If your box(es) are not responding to this workaround then it would appear that there is something inexplicably wrong with them, that a factory reset may resolve.

We are usually just sitting in front of the telly and decide 'on the hoof' that we need to set the PVR to record something in the future. So we just press 'Guide' - most times even at this stage the message in the top RH corner about receiving programme info is there straightaway. If we then simply proceed to another channel or day or time the message just stays there rigidly. Sometimes it will disappear after some few tens of seconds, sometimes it will stay there for some minutes and we give up trying to program anything.

We have never tried to programme a recording whilst the machine is in live pause.

I understand your point about a factory reset - but is it likely I have two faulty boxes? It must be 'me' I would have thought?

I think the reply by Paul Burke (post #8) may be the missing jigsaw piece. You mustn't be in EPG already when pressing 'bottom left Schedule then Red' - this doesn't work. You have to press the bottom left 'Schedule key' when watching a live transmission (not in EPG). I've just tried the Schedule + Red sequence from within the EPG and the symptoms are precisely as you described.

That is what I meant. Sorry if I did not make myself clear!!!!!!

Paul,
Ah I see now......your #8 reply was targeted at the OP (red16v). Because you quoted me, I thought your #8 reply was a point of clarification targeted at me in respect of my earlier reply.

red16v did ask in his original post to state the starting point. It was my error not to note in my original reply that the schedule + red sequence was initiated from a live broadcast not the EPG.

At least we got there in the end!!!!!

All we need now is for red16v to confirm that initiating the sequence from within the EPG was what he was doing wrong !!!

I think that's putting it a little harshly, but I am pleased to confirm that 'yes' it does work as you described and we are now pleased with the results - thanks to all for your guidance.

Glad we helped.