I have had the same problem all with BBC1
I recorded 1 prog on ITV2 then 1 prog on BBC1
because 1 finished at 8pm and the other started
at the same time. I had set my run on time to 5 mins and I thought there was a timer clash but checking "manual" this is not a problem as it cuts off the run on time when it starts to record the 2nd prog.

I could not understand this so the next night I set 2 progs on BBC1 for 18:30-19:30 and 20:00-22:30 and yep it did not record plus it left the 2 timers on with "unresolved" after it

I have now erased both and have set up a one off recording for tonight so heres hoping.

We've lost several programmes that were on timer list for Xmas day...they didn't get recorded (which channel broadcasts the EPG, the Beeb or ITV?) and were left as "unresolved" (Is there a definitive wording from Sony as to what this status actually means, as it seems to get used a lot when recordings fail - my understanding was that it meant future record dates/times not known for series-linked progs - and these failed recordings were not series linked. In the same vein, what does a yellow stripe above the EPG mean (The red is showing when recordings are scheduled), but can find no reference to a yellow band.

Thanks in anticipation!
Last edited by grn : 28-12-2006 at 18:58

I'm getting this too with BBC epg recordings.

I select the prog, click timer and it goes into the timer list as "unresolved"

Note: I am not trying a series record, just the one show.

If I set a manunal timer the programme records without problem. I don't seem to have the same problem with non BBC shows. Is this to do with the interaction with the new series record data being transmitted by the BBC do we think?

Perhaps another firmware fix is in the offing or a change to the way the data is being transmitted?

with reference to my last post I set my timer via the epg last night for again BBC1 and no probs it recorded ok.

There is however one complication my fuseboard tripped yesterday afternoon for about 10 minutes
so I am unsure if this had a bearing on the problem. ie if the power did not go off would I have had the same "unresolved " problem or did the unit reset itself who knows but I am going to set up a test record with 2 progs that start and finish at the same time plus one will be BBC1

Evening...

Im glad Im not the only one having the unresolved timer issue. I don't seemed to have any problems recording one-off recordings, both being shown in the Timer list or the machine actually recording it. The only gripe I do have is with the series record/unresolved issue. I set up "2 pints ..." on BBC3 for a Series Timer , checked the Timers list and yes it appeared there with the time and the date of the next showing with the series timer icon next to it.

I didnt check how long it was recording the series but with the amount of showings/recordings there were it must have been about a week. Then half way through last week I realised it hasnt recorded any more episodes. Checked the EPG and yes on BBC3 there was nearenough a showing every night. I checked the Timers list and suprise suprise it had the entry but "Unresolved". I had an idea, I selected the entry, Clicked OK on the remote and chose Modify. There is an option called "Update" (By default this was set to Off). I changed it to On and saved it (you get 2 arrows circling round eachother to the left of the Series Record icon). It hasnt made any difference to the timers I had done previously but I have just setup "Little Britian" and then modified the timer and turned on the "Update" fuction.

I seemed to remember reading if not on here or another forum, but it keeps unresoved timers before it deletes them. Therefore Im assuming if you don't turn on the "Update" function on the timer, i'm going to take a wild guess and assume it will do a series timer for the series data that is broadcast at the time of creating the timer (hense a weeks worth). Turning the Update function ON the timer will keep the series timer updated - what else can Update mean? time will tell....

Im using a RDR-HXD560 with software v1.01.08 CE

"Update" equates to only recording the latest instance of a series - i.e. it will overwrite any previous one, watched or not. I don't think you want to be doing that.

It is described in the user manual.

Sorry to be blunt, well why on earth doesn't series timer work? The data is there!

Nope the Update still hasnt resolved the issue

The data is certainly there as far as the BBC channels are concerned and as far as I have found, series timer works perfectly for any programmes recorded using that functionality from any BBC channel.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about these "unresolved" timer events that get left in the list. It's been my experience that these only happen when they are part of an intended series timer event but when the machine can't see the next episode because the EPG hasn't updated for that one yet.

I've proved this many times for certain programmes that we watch regularly and have set, all the time, using a series timer schedule to record in case we are out and miss them. The two best examples I can think of are "Question Time" and "This Week".

Over Xmas last year, both of these programmes had a break for the holiday season and after the last episodes were recorded, both went to "unresolved" in the timer list but I just left them and lo and behold, as soon as the EPG had updated such that these progs became visible again, both events in the timer list updated properly to be valid recordings. (and the recordings completed normally)

I think this is exactly how its supposed to work and in this case only applies to timer events with the series timer icon by the entry.

Colin

Hi Colin

Perhapse I've grabbed the wrong end of the stick. I have "Click" on BBC News24 as a Series timer, althought I left it in an unresolved state from last week I was hoping it would update its timer for when the new brordcast to record. Although "Click" has broadcast 3 times, so far the recorder still hasn't recorded and I think the last viewing this week is soon. I have checked the EPG to see when it is broadcast and have kept an eye on the timers list but still nothing. The list of other Timers I have setup as slowly going down the "unresolved" plug hole.

Could it be a fault on the EPG data? My transmitter is Emley Moor, Yorkshire.

Colin, you say you're not having any problems, am I setting up the series timer correctly? I'm clicking OK on the program I want to setup the series timer and selecting "Series Timer"

Do I have to set the Series Timers up every week for programes that are shown once a week?

Thanks
Last edited by amtrakuk : 22-01-2007 at 00:54

Oh dear... are you on the latest software version?
Perhaps? Not sure...
That's exactly how I am doing it.
No. That kinda goes against the whole principle of the thing...

I watch Click! too but usually don't bother to record it as I usually see it live but for next week, I've set up a Series Timer event for the 29th and I'll let you know what my box does after that... (only the 29th is showing in the EPG at the moment so it should do what we want...)

Hi there...

Nice and quick reply. Im using software v1.01.08 CE.

At least I know Im doing it right. I did phone up Sony last week and they were as useful as a paper bag

As previously I explorerd the "Update" function but it didnt do much, except as someone said earlier it updates the recording on you're HDD, watched or not.

I did hear someone did say the box did something in the middle of the night, perhapse thats an update.

Once you're series timer has recorded a weeks worth of recordings does you're series timer always show the next programme occurance?

Regards

Andy

Good!

Steady! A paper bag is much more useful! lol!

That's how it is supposed to work. It expects you to watch the current recording sometime before the next related event is due. Personally I see it more as a "replace" function as opposed to "update" but I suppose that's playing with words.

No. Update is only to do with Series Recording and further, it is only related to BBC Channels in the EPG at the moment. See manual page 47 Section 3 for the minimalist description of "Update (HDD only)"...

Do you mean in the "Timer List" or the "Series Information" screen? (there's no such thing as the "Series Timer" screen). When I have used the Series Timer button to record weekly programs, it always sets up the first one but of course, because it is only a 7 day EPG, it can't always see the next occurance straight away. However, once that first event has been recorded, the next week edition is usually already there in the EPG and the Timer List faithfully updates with the date and time for the next programme event. Hasn't failed on me yet to be honest. I have one unresolved event in my Timer List at the moment and it is "The Sky at Night" because the next one isn't until the 4th February but I fully expect that one to resolve as soon as the EPG info comes live for it...

Regards

Colin

Thanks Colin,

I did mean Timer List previously

Perhapse I've been a bit impatient. I'll plug it back in and give it a go for a week Setting up for series timer (no update) for, East Enders on BBC3 amonst other things. I'll let you know Next week what happens.

Thanks

Sorry, EE on BBC1

I set it up on mine too so we'll see what happens...

Right, mines picked up the series as follows for EE on BBC1, first recording Tues 19:30/30 mins, Thu 25th 19:30/30, Fri 20:00/30min, Mon 20:00/30 min, Tues 19:30/30 min all on Beebs One. Series Timer set. I'm hoping (and would expect) it to carry on beyond Tuesday next week). Oddly enough as mine has been unplugged for a day, when powering on and looking at the Timers it has identified Series Timers in the EPG for Timers that were previously "unresolved". Fingers crossed

Hows yours?
Last edited by amtrakuk : 23-01-2007 at 01:16

Ok, last week (all week) I had Eastenders setup for Series Link and the "Update" function set. We also had the 5min option set for either end. It performed flawlessly all week. (and "update" did exactly "what it says on the tin")

Next test was to turn off the 5min padding and see if it started and stopped on time (like PDC). Result? Inconclusive because sometimes it did and sometimes it didn't

However, last evening, one combination did work (for some reason). "Top Gear" on BBC2 followed straight away by "Waking the dead" on BBC1. Seamless and exact start/stop/switchover of channels and start/stop for both programmes! Go figure!?!

Colin

It's only a guess, but to me the most likely culprit would be transmission problems/errors. Analogue PDC was only any good when the broadcasters kept the data up to date, which in my experience was not 100%.

Now with these new Playback features so dependent on the broadcasters getting their collective acts together I wonder if we are due to see more complaints directed at the boxes we have, when we should really be targeting the broadcasters?

Snail

A very good point and one I would concur with actually...

Watching BBC2 last night, when "Party Games" finished, the announcer said "If you enjoyed tonight's episode, why not set your recorder to tape the whole series?"

So BBC are starting to push series link/SKY+ functionality and I guess we should badger them to make sure their info is accurate.

Having just got an 860 and had my first problem, I'm glad to see I'm not alone! I tried to record a programme on RADIO 1 from the EPG. It didn't record it, and the entry is still on the Timer List as 'unresolved'. The machine is rented and the retailer has no idea what's wrong!

I noticed that someone else was slating this machine for various reasons, and I have to say I agree whole-heartedly. We had a 710 which kept on locking (I've noticed posts about this too) and the retailer exchanged it for another. This one started having the same problems (thank goodness that we rent!) and the retailer said that nobody else has had problems with the 710 - I will direct him to this site!! However, the 710 was far superior to the 860 in things like response times, noise, editing facilities and one feature which has disappeared is the Visual Search.

We have bought Sony products for about 20 years, purely on our experience of their quality. Now, however, we are considering changing. The big question is: Are there any DVD recorders with HDD and Freeview that have proved reliable????

It's a pity that the HXD860 is giving so many people headaches as I think potentially it's a good machine. I bought the junior version (560) for my mother a few months ago and it's been a dream, including using series link.

I was all set to buy an 860 for myself but I'm having second thoughts - there is undoubtedly a reliability issue and it seems to be luck of the draw whether you get a good one or not.

My preference for the Sony was due to two reasons - its series link facility and its ability to play back Divx.

However, I'm sorely tempted to abandon this and go for my second choice, the well received Panasonic EX75.

This seems to be a very well made device and there are far fewer complaints about it than the Sony. My brother has one and loves it. This might be of interest to 'Hopper's mum'.

The Panasonic doesn't play back Divx or have series link, but apart from that it's got the same size hard drive and it works well. It's also around 30.00 cheaper than the Sony.

Most Sonys are actually made by Liteon and I wish they'd use a different manufacturer - Liteons are unreliable crap on the whole and in fact have recently pulled out of selling DVD recorders under their own name due to their poor reputation.

Did you use series link?
Are you sure there is actually a series for this radio programme?

The series button is always lit for BBC programmes but I do not think all series have series link. I have not found any radio programmes. I have to concur with Snail earlier that this may be a problem with the broadcaster not the Sony box!

Channel 4 appears now to be transmitting Series Link info.