Hi,
I have a t816 (Onn brand) software version 3.7.
I thought that freeview playback meant that the start and end times were controlled so padding was not required.

If that is so, then many channels aren't subscribing to it.

Also, if I record on channel five and there is a news break, the recording stops and doesn't pick up after the break. I also thought this was what freeview playback was all about.

I have also had programmes that don't stop recording, i.e. will keep recording for many hours after it should have finished, or others only recording for say, 54 minutes of a 90minutes programme for no apparent reason.

If I try to use padding, the programme name is removed and no synopsis is then available which is just stupid. Why can't the name remain if padding an event ?

Did the version 2.4 have this facility, as I am fed up with "freeview playback", and if I could edit the start and end times myself and still keep the title, that would solve my problems I think.
How can I put version 2.4 on my machine if this would fix it and where can I get it ?

Thanks very much.

You hit the problem with your second sentence.

"If that is so, then many channels aren't subscribing to it."

Version 2.4 has exactly the same problem.

Correct, but only if the broadcaster supports it by sending the appropriate data.
Also correct. But if channel does not send the data then the PVR records (usually) to the Sheduled Time.
That is Split Recording which is part of the Freeview Playback Phase 2 specification. The T816 on Version 3.7 does not have that feature. The latest Sharp TUR160HA T816 with software Version 6.7 and the T825 Wharfedale HDMI models do have Split Recording and Series Record although it does not appear to work too well.
If the unit does not receive the signal to stop recording at the correct time it has a fallback mode which stops the recording I think after 3 hours.
That sounds like a failed recording for some reason.
They removed the ability to pad on on T816 so 2.4 would not help even if you could get it which is unlikely anyway.

Actually I rather like Freeview Playback Accurate Recording and would not use padding if it was available. It works very well on the channels which do support it and I am prepared to occasionaly miss the beginning of an early starting programme and the even less frequent end of a programme not covered by the advert break on channels which don't support it. Starting Playback right at the beginning of a programme is very convenient rather than having to FF through padding.

Colin

Thanks for the information; I am now much better informed.

Is there any information on whether they will be improving on this firmware as I wouldn't know where to find out.

Thanks.

Soundssupreme.

P.S. Is there also anywhere that tells you what channels subscribe to the accurate recording feature so at least you know which recordings should record porperly.

Thanks.

I think the best source of information on both those questions is this forum.

Colin

That's not going to help with channel 5 as they certainly do not support Freeview Playback very well. Regarding films with a news bulletin in the middle of them, five are very naughty in this regard, since the news bulletin never usually comes on when it says it will in the EPG, despite the film itself running on time. Usually, the news starts way before it says in the EPG. So, for example, a film starting at 21:00, with a news break scheduled for 21:55-22:00, you tend to find the news starts at around 21:50 or so, with the second part of the film starting when the news break should have started, or shortly after.

The only solution to this, until five get their act together, is to set a timer for the 2 programme segments and also the news bulletin - that way, at least you're not going to miss 5 minutes from from the middle of the programme.

Or, provided you're present during the start of the recording, just book the first half, edit it to 'time' type recording, then when recording starts, manually extend the end time to include the lot plus any padding you'd like. The 2 min skip will see the news break off, and the title and synopsis are preserved in the library.

You can also check the Now and Next info bar to see if AR is active, these will match the programmes. If AR is not present they will blindly follow the schedule no matter what programmes are showing.