I wanted to see which channels are good at getting Series link right. Is BBC good at it, and SKY THREE? Also how does the fact I have added a minute to the beginning and the end of the prog affect it. Which channels should I avoid using SL with? or is it all just your luck how SL works out?

I couldnt find a thread like this, with a definate list on what is good and bad. If there is one, I am sorry.

Desert

Firstly you can't use series link with padding. I think most of the channels that offer series link are reasonable but they all make the odd mistake, perhaps slightly more by ITV channels than BBC. Sky 3 has only recently started to offer series link and I have no experience.

I've not had any problems with Series Link (aside from the channel it would be most useful on (Five) not having it) - although the BBC are mildly annoying in that the programme start is flagged as the programme starts so you miss the opening credits, ditto on Dave. The BBC one also seems to manage record all the Family Guy showings, hence you end up with a number of dupes

How does series link work at the end of a series, does it start recording the next series when it starts in 9 months or does it lose it?

It should wait 13 weeks after the last episode then drop the series. I don't think there has been enough time to test if this actually works in the real world.

Five say that they are working on it and aim to have it later on in the year
Snippet from an email I received from them.

> Our Engineers are working to introduce a series link service later in
> the year. However, this will be subject to software development for our
> scheduling system, so we are currently unable to confirm a date for when
> this will be in place. We would recommend contacting us again in the
> summer when more information may be available.

E4 seems unable to start the recording at the begining of the program and tends to miss the first minute. ITV does this occasionally but BBC in my experience seems the best at series link. It'd be a good idea if it started the recording a minute before and minute after the programs are scedualed to start to avoid this. Although that would probably cause recording clashes and more problems than it's worth :yawn:

RE my further comments on the 4 network - Channel 4 seems to be fine, but E4 are useless, I keep missing the start of things

Of a dozen or so recording we set up whilst away for a few days, those on Series Link and from itv or BBC missed the programme start.

Now I know that the BBC set "Accurate Record" at the last advert (sorry, trail) before the programme start time. And itv (from an email to someone on another thread) allegedly set theirs on the start of the ad break before a programme.

So is it the broadcaster, or the Humux missing the beginning? As it's Series Linked programmes that suffer, I suspect a bug in the Humax software that is ignoring SL.

I have no problems with BBC with recordings starting as the trail starts.
Bellow is a quote from the email you mentioned.

So at the moment I don't think ITV have applied the changes to ITV1 as of yet which is why we are missing start/end times.
We will just have to wait a little longer to decide which is at fault.

Are your BBC recordings with Series Link set, though?

Analysing some more recordings I've made:-
1. BBC1, BBC2 and itv1 programmes which have been selected from Series Link always start late. At least 10 - 15 secs into the programme start at a guess. Not knowing how the programme starts makes estimates difficult.
2. BBC1, BBC2 and itv programmes without Series Link set start correctly at the ad or trail break before programme start.
3. Channel 4, with series link set recordings start correctly at the ad break before the programme. Too few Ch. 4 programmes recorded to decide if this was a fluke or a correct action.
(All with Accurate Record, and no auto padding, set on the Humax.)

All my BBC series recordings are set with series link and find no problems.
At the moment on BBC I have on series link:
EastEnders, Torchwood, Holby City, Casualty.
ITV usually misses a few secs from begining.

I am wondering if the Box being in standby makes a difference?

My box is always on and only rarely does it miss the start of a program.

It shouldn't . The Freeview Playback spec covers PVRs in standby.

I have Torchwood on Series Link, and both BBC TWO and BBC THREE versions miss the start of the programme - BBC TWO even cut off at the start of the "Next Time" bit last week. (The BBC THREE versions is now removed from the reservations list because of the ghastly pink splodge). Always powered on when Torchwood is on.

Yes, it's looking like SL is preventing AR on BBC1, BBC2 and itv1.

I set my Humax to record "Doc Marten" itv1 1600-1700 today, on series link.

All last week's started well in. We watched the start and there is a "previously" and titles. Several seconds into the titles the PVR told us is had started recording.

Can't check it yet, 'er indoors is watching stuff, but when the TV is free it's going to be interesting to see where the Hummy starts!

ITV seems hopeless at A/R. I can't remember an episode of Corrie which didn't miss the beginning since I switched on Series Link.

But does it perfectly on Tivo!!

Of course. And so could the Humax if they got their act together.

So you're saying that the Tivo can use "Accurate Record" or a version of it to start the recording at the start of the programme? Nothing missed?

If so that could indicate that itv are sending the EITpf data properly! And that the Humax is mis-using it.

How can this be? I thought Tivo recorded from analogue (at least the version available in the UK) and that AR was only relevent to DTT.

Exactly!

No, I never said that. I was responding to the phrase "never missing the beginning", not A/R. Tivo happens to support the obvious combination of padding and Series Link and has since day one in year 2000. It is not rocket science.

So, if itv move the programme times the Tivo will miss it, unless you notice?

And on my Wharfedale!

No, I wasnt trying to imply that.
It was just a sarcastic comment as I was sure tdenson would have mentioned Tivo's supperior recording capabilities sometime in this thread.