Sorry, didnt specify that it was a Thomson - assumed this as i was in the thomson section...............

Are there any Thomson specific EGG population problems that we know about? It does seem mainly to be on BBC channels.......mux issue?

Rgds,
Scorp

Thanks for the clarification ironeagleuk, I was unaware of this. However, does this mean that the newer Thomson PVR's arn't based upon the 4TV reference platform anymore? If not, the differences between the OAD's broadcast at different times may not have that much bearing upon the root of the problems apparent with implementing Freeview+ with the 4TV 14 day EPG.

Note that all of the PVRs that use 4TV based OAD (eg Thomson, Wharfdale, Digifusion and some Sony's) do not offer true Freeview+, whilst those with a standard 7/8 day EPG ( eg Humax, Topfield, Digihome etc) have done so for months.

Version 3.31 of the Thomson software which was briefly released allowed you to choose between the TUTV 14 day EPG or the 8 day Freeview+ EPG.

The 4TV EPG cannot provide true Freeview+ specifications, as it's not updated on the fly....just once a day.


The TUTV DTR's (Thomson, Wharfedale, Digihome, Luxor & Sharp) will all receive updates to provide full Freeview+ capabilities....plus the user will have the option should they wish to switch to the 14 day EPG (which provides Series Link)

Some people are already using Freeview+ with the Thomson DTR, as they have remained on version 3.31, and not switched back to 2.00 which didn't have the Freeview+ option.

These updates are only for the TUTV DTR's, as it is TUTV that are developing the software.

The old Thomson DHD, and Digifusion PVR's which use the 3am 4TV EPG are not affected....and are possibly not going to be upated for Freeview+....I do not know if they are being supported with new updates

I'd be amazed if they were, they're very old boxes now. Mine's still chugging along quite happily, but at almost four years old I'm not expecting too many more updates, and I'll happily buy a proper Freeview+ box (not a DTR) when the time comes.

That said, aside from being a good marketing slogan, I'm not sure what if anything Freeview+ really brings. On paper all the accurate recording business sounds good, but the reality (in the hands of people pushing buttons at the networks) seems slightly different. I'd rather stick to the 14day EPG, and just carry on padding.

Just checked my dad's box - software vers is 2.99 (how do you force an update to 3.11 and should I!!!?).
Also, all progs (and associated series links) now restored by the system..........hmmmm.

Rgds,
Scorp

Version 3.31 (there wasn't a 3.11) isn't being broadcast anymore, as it caused problems for Setanta only subscribers. Version 2.99 is the current version and the version currently being broadcast

Well, so would I TBH....they have been superceded now.....but my thoughts are, will 4TV (or the manufacturers) continue to pay to broadcast space used to transmit the EPG at 3am every day?.....That's why I speculated a while back that perhaps a version of the Teletext Extra EPG might be deigned for them.


Isn't a Freeview+ box not a Digital Television Recorder?


I agree (shocking huh?).....Freeview+ needs to be better implemented. Not enough broadcasters are providing Series Link data (although they are for the TUTV EPG).

The Accurate Recording side isn't quite accurate enough, although for some progs it's a must have...like live sporting events.

Am lucky to have 2 TUTV DTR's here (took the £50 deal for the 2nd one), and have decided that one will use the 14 day TUTV EPG, and the other will use Freeview+....so I have the best of both worlds.

To be honest I've been half expecting them to switch it off for the last couple of years, and the fact that they haven't makes me think it might have been all set up under very long term contracts back at the start, when 4TV might have been hoping for greater long term success (and Freeview bandwidth was much cheaper).

I can't really believe that there's anyone willing or able to update the boxes to use anything else after all this time - it would be such an fundamental change it's bound to end in disaster anyway.

I remember a Digifusion source on this forum, two or three years ago, stating that a firmware update for the 8 day EPG had been written "just in case" - but sadly Digifusion itself has all but ceased to be since then (it got bought up and turned into a badge by Beko). 4TV themselves were bought up by Thomson, and the technology probably sold on by now. You probably know more about who's currently running the EPG than I do (although confusingly TUTV always used a different version of it).


No, it's a PVR


The way I see it, with Freeview+ you're basicaly telling the broadcasters to set your timer for you, which is just asking for trouble! I'm happier just setting things myself and taking the blame if I get them wrong. I rarely if ever miss anything with the Fusion, whereas Freeview+ users seem to be missing plenty...


I'm amazed you stopped at two

4TV is now Inview....the people behind Teletext Extra....hence by speculation


Actually it's "a clever box"
Source: http://www.topuptv.com/tvplus/index.html


Actually, I forgot about my Wharfedale, as it's at my GF's at the moment

Hi, I'm new to the FORUM but thought this was probably the best place to ask this question.
Is there any way of switching off the TUTV programs that seem to now be automatically download from 3 channels that are not listed in the channel configuration menu ?
Ever since the 3.31 software was downloaded, 3 hours of rubbish are now downloaded to the Thomson which need to be deleted on a weekly basis. Prior to the update no TUTV programmes were downloaded and only programmes I requested were recorded. I don't currently subscribe to any TUTV channels and never have subscribed to any. I just want to use the box as a freeview recorder.
Is there a simple solution to this problem ?

Many thanks in advance for any sugestions.

Nope, you can't stop these recordings appearing....there's no point in deleting them, they delete themselves after 7 days, and deleting them won't release disk space as it is automatically reserved.

These downloads started appearing on peoples DTR before 3.31 was released.

In the small print on the DTR packaging there is a section that says that TUTV reserve the right to use upto 15% of the disk space for content and services

Many thanks for reply Ironeagle, that is a shame as they are spoiling an otherwise pretty good PVR, they just fill up the recording library with 2 or 3 minute entries that mean you have to scroll around to find the actual programs you realy want.
I guess I will have to wait until someone comes up with a hack to resolve problem.

Thanks again - Chris.

Aren't they all below your own recordings?....and highlighted in a different colour?...ie. Persoanl Recordings take priority in the Library

I don't think there's much chance of a "hack" appearing....someone has already tried, and it made the DTR virtually useless.

Been running v3.31 since it was broadcast and used the image revert to keep using it.
So far no problems with fast forward bug.
Delete of recordings a lot quicker.
Not had any recordings without the progress bar at the bottom.
The box appears to respond quicker.
The only minus is i have had a few crashes during the day around 11.30 ish when the EPG updates and the Topup stuff is downloaded although i think this also happened with v2.99.

[quote=fogeyspasm;29037368]Been running v3.31 since it was broadcast and used the image revert to keep using it.
QUOTE]

Hi fogeyspasm - what's the procedure for reverting to 3.31?
Thanks in advance.

To restore your machine it will have had to have downloaded v3.31 when first broadcast.
If you want to force it back to v3.31
Press the Menu button, select Setup, select Help, then push 1, 3, 9 then 7.
A extended menu appears. 1st box says 2.99 and the 2nd box down should show image 3.31. If it doesn't you can't do it.
Select the 3.31 stored option, number 2, and click to select and let the system restore to it.
Its hard to describe but easy to do!

Thanks fogeyspasm. I have 3.31 in box 1. 2.99 in box 2 which shows current. Highlighting and selecting 3.31 does nothing. Ah well, I suppose I can wait till 3.32 or whatever.
Thanks anway.

You can still revert....it doesn't matter which Code Image they are in

Press the following:

Menu > 4 Setup > 6 Help > Green > Yellow

Word of warning though, version 2.99 which is currently being transmitted may over-write 3.31

Thanks ironeagleuk, I could find any info about pressing the coloured buttons. I'll try that as soon as the missus has finished watching Corrie !!

Ironeagleuk - cheers, just got 3.31. Let's hope it stays for a while.

Sorry completely forgot about the having to press the coloured button sequence
Thats the problem of having to explain by memory as my pc is nowhere near the tv.
Your machine should stay at the v3.31 as both myself and a friend have used this change and v2.99 has never re written over it other than after the very first transmission.

No worries, I got there in the end

I too have switched my 6 month old Thomson DTI6300 back to v3.31 (thanks to help from this thread ), after being fed up of the rewind/fast forward problem and regular loss of data on the epg requiring a re-boot and with the hope that it would help.

Although it has only been a few days, I have to say that so far there is some improevement. I don't use Top-Up TV so that isn't a problem. It seems to have fixed the loss of epg data, etc. and although the menus are slightly slower to move around in it seems more stable. Also, I am using the Freeview+ 8 day epg (8 days ahead is enough for me !) and I like the accurate recording that has worked well so far - starting all recordings right at the start of the programme and therefore not losing the last minute or two of the programme (as so often happened before with the always running late BBC2 !).

As for the rewind/fast forward problem (where you would rewind during playback, continue watching and then fast forward later on - say during an ad break - and it would jump back to where you last rewound - a true pain !) that has now gone (hoorah !) but has been replaced with another problem. Now, occasionally during fast forwarding, it sticks on fast forward and does not respond to the remote until the recording forwards right to the end, playback stops and then starts the recording from the beginning again !!! This so far appears to be happening at x16 speed and above, so for now I am only ffw at x8 !

To be honest, I have been tempted to give up on this machine and return it, but friends and family who have other make PVRs seem to have as many, if different, niggling problems and I actually prefer the interface of the Thomson to others I have seen which reminds me of my old Sky+.

I don't expect perfection (which perhaps we should !), but will we ever get a stable upgrade that doesn't solve some problems and cause more new ones ????

Are there any improvements or problems other v3.31 users are experiencing ?

Wasnt aware there was a new SW update until checking out the forum - does this apply to the DHD4000

Had to reboot lots in the last few days and now stuck with the orange LED of death....

Anyone else had problems since this OAD or has my m/c just died

Mark