OK, I've had the Toppy since Friday and I've been trying to put it though its paces and it's been OK but something didn't turn out the way I thought it would ....

Last night I tried to record the world cup stories (with Argentina) followed by Kiss the dragon and additionally recording Angella's Ashes.

When I came in last night it said it was still recording the two films so I started watching the World cup story from earlier before I went to bed.

This morning ... I've got the world cup story and Kiss the dragon but no angellas ashes .... what happened ... any ideas?

I selected all three programs using the EPG and all three displayed the 'R' symbol in the guide before I went out. I dont think I made a mistake but its plausible. Do I have to enable the second tuner (yes I have plugged in the small patch lead supplied to go between the two tuners).

Is it intelligent enough to realise that I need both tuners to record all three programs or is it order specific?

Answers on a post card to NoFilmEre.co.uk
(Still the same film is on later in the week so no harm done) ... but I am curious

Hol

Well looking at my TV Guide
The World Cup Party programme (If that is the one you mean) started at 9.00 and went on to 10.30; ITV1
Kiss the Dragon was 10.00 to 11.50 Ch4 and Angelas Ashes started at 10.10 on More 4 so when Angelas Ashes started you already had 2 recordings taking place so obviously it would not have recorded.
Did not think the EPG allowed you to set 3 conflicting recordings; I know MYStuff EPG does not and would assume the native EPG does the same although it is a long time since I used it.

Richard

I can confirm that the vanilla EPG does not let you set a third simultaneous recording. It will come up with a box asking which of the two conflicting recordings you want to cancel (or just Exit to leave them there).

EPG Navigator doesn't let you do it either.

Naah, I'm not having that. If that was correct and I've checked then I would have been happy ... and embarrassed ... but you dont get off that easy.

The World Cup Stories (BBC2 doccumentry not Victoria's drivel on ITV )was scheduled 9pm to 10pm (1hr), everything else you say though is correct ... and I dont dispute that you cannot reccord 3 things at once but the question still remains

I think I had this once.

There is some way that the toppy can allow programming of 3 things that overlap but when the time comes to record them it will not allow it.

I have had it happen when setting timers using MyStuff and a manually set timer (I think thats what happened anyway). Mystuff padded its timings correctly but this then left 3 items to be recorded with an overlap on 2 of 2 mins only. The problem is that in that case the toppy cancells one of the timers when it gets to that time. It does display a message that it will cancell one of them but if your out it will default to cancelling the timer about to start.

Could padding be the reason?

Sorry did not notice there where two programmes starting with 'World Cup' at exactly the same time; although I might have guessed I suppose.
Further to you original question no intervention is necessary to get tuner 2 working it should just be used automatically when necessary and sounds like it should have worked the way you set the timers.
So as you say the question remains. First thing you might check is that both tuners are getting a good signal. There is a description of how to do this at the end of the Ian Youngs simply install guide see http://www.toppy.org.uk/documents/index.php?catid=2

Richard

One more thing; if you do think you are having problems with 2nd tuner that supplied loop though connector is well known to be flaky. I dont think the sharp bend helps.
If you have a spare aerial connector lying around with the right connectors replace it. In fact would recommend replacing it anyway. Some people including me use a little splitter with two short separate connectors (I made some up) and connect both antenna sockets directly without using the loop through at all.

Richard

Cheers for the ideas,

I haven't put any TAP's on yet so its the default EPG (no padding) but what you say about overrlapping with padding is something I'll look out for when I put them on.

I'm going to have to record half a dozen things that overlap to test it properly. It doesn't matter what i'm recording.

Also I'll record a program specifically on tuner 2 through the record menu to test that but I would have thought that it would still record but the picture keep dropping out with digital interference (red dot syndrome!)

I still haven't ruled out pressing the wrong butttons .... but watch this space

I have recorded numerous programs some of which were on ant the same time and then the subsequent programs. The Toppy had tehm all on the Hard drive. Bottom line is there is nothing wrong with either tuner.

I have been taping 2 channels whilst watching a different previously recorded program and that too works fine.

However .... maybe I was watching a live channel whilst it was trying to record 2 other programs. I dont think it asked me to change channel or deselect a recording., but maybe that was it.

It hasn't faulted again and I've been putting though its paces (getting it in training for the world cup ... its mettatassal's nearly fixed and ready for action!)

Hol

It does in fact tell you in a dialogue box that the main service will be changed if you have a recording schedule conflict but the the message isn't displayed for very long so it can be easily missed.