Hi,

First time poster on Digital Spy, so please be gentle!

I've recently bought the excellent Echostar HDS-600RS having cancelled my Sky+HD subscription. All-in-all, its a fantastic box, outstripping the Sky box in terms of some of its features and I am very pleased with it. However, I have a few questions that I'm hoping other likeminded owners can clarify for me.

[1] Having set a programme to remind, the reminder window duly pops up on screen - all good so far. However, there was no option to record the programme and continue with current viewing (only OK to switch to the programme, or Cancel to continue watching the current channel). The HDS-600RS manual downloaded from the Echostar website (EchoStar HDS-600RS User Manual final_web_3b.pdf) states on page 33 under the "Dealing with a reminder" section, that you can indeed "Press the Record button to record the programme and continue with your current viewing" from a reminder window. This does not work. Presumably this behaviour has changed under the 119R software release (which is what I am currently running) and the manual is now incorrect?

[2] I've noticed that when the reminder alert appears 2 minutes before the programme is scheduled to start. If I dismiss the alert by pressing either OK (to switch to the new channel) or Cancel (to stay on the current channel) the reminder alert disappears as expected, but then reappears a 2nd time a short while later, before the programme starts - even if I have switched to the correct channel! Anyone else verify this?

[3] A very minor point....When I set a reminder for a programme, I can see this appears with a green background in the Guide (and a green circle in the Info Bar). However, there doesn't seem to be an overall list of all programme reminders that I can see, unlike the list of programmes set to record that I can see in Library > Scheduled Recordings. Have I missed something?

Any help or clarification is much appreciated. I've also put these questions to Echostar Support and I am awaiting their response.

I don't have one but I don't think many users of any Freesat+ boxes use the remind feature and tend to always record programs to watch them commercial free (assuming not on the BBC).

Automan.

I used to use the Remind feature on my Foxsat-HD all the time, but since upgrading to the Foxsat-HDR I never use the Remind function as I record everything, once I get a dedicated FTA box for Multi Sat the mostly un used Foxsat-HD in the Livingroom will get re-deployed into the bedroom where it'll get used more & the remind function will come in handy.

The remind function only really comes in handy if you've got a none PVR and record onto a HDD Recorder or DVD Recorder.

Roland

hi thereisnospoon,

i have had the echostar since release but i honestly cant remember if you used to be able to record from the reminder or not. all i can say is is that mine works exactly the same way yours does. it may be worth sending an email to echostar about it, they may bring the feature back in the future if enough people ask, personally its something i have never even thought of, but i can see it could have its uses now you mention it.

with regards to item 2, mine works exactly the same as yours which at first i found a bit strange, but it has actually come in handy a few times now when i have missed the first one or even forgot about the first one which i have done a few times if i was busy making my dinner or typing something on my laptop when it came up.

i have no list of reminders that are set either, again something i have never thought about but i can see its uses.

Edit, i have just noticed you have already sent an email to echostar, please let us know what they say.

For interest, here are the replies I got from Echostar support, who incidentally, were very quick in replying to give them credit. Seems like a decent support system for this box.


"This software behavior has indeed been changed under the 119R software release and this option will also not be available in future updates. The on-line manual will be updated in due course."


"About your separate issue, this is not intended behaviour. The reminder menu should only re-appear if the reminder is cancelled. We expect a fix will be included in the next software version which is currently under test. New software versions will be communicated via our website: www.myechostar.com/support , so we would ask that you look here for future updates."


I just got the standard, "We are happy to receive such customer feedback and your comments will be forwarded to our engineering team." so hopefully it will get considered.

Hope that helps.