This topic

Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

xicoperez — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:30:56 GMT

I usually only record programs on three channels: ITV HD, Channel 4 HD, and Channel 5 HD.

All of the recordings made from Channel 5 HD are complete: the recordings start around 20 seconds before the program starts and end two minutes or so after the program ends.

All of the recordings made from ITV HD are also complete: the recordings start around 20 seconds before the program starts and end 5 to 10 seconds after the program ends.

The problem is Channel 4 HD, the rcordings are ALWAYS incomplete: the recordings start anywhere between 10 and 60 seconds AFTER the program starts and ends 5 minutes or so after the program ends. Sometimes it records the first 10 to 60 seconds of the next program.

Can this be fixed?

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

Midnight_Voice — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:07:32 GMT

@xicoperez

Which YouView box do you have, and if the Pro box, are you using an aerial, or IP Mode?

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

xicoperez — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:06:12 GMT

Hola @Midnight_Voice,

Which YouView box do you have

According to "Device information", the Manufacturer is Humax, the Model is DTRT2100, and the Variant is 84B08500.

if the Pro box

I do not know what that is, but it does not ring a bell.

are you using an aerial, or IP Mode?

According to the settings, I am connected via am ethernet cable. Is that what you are asking?

Thank you!

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

Midnight_Voice — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 12:12:25 GMT

@xicoperez

Thanks, I was asking if you use an aerial with it, but as it is a DTR-T2100, you must be, so that answers my question.

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

DarrenDev — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:30:54 GMT

The timing for recordings in aerial mode is entirely controlled by the broadcaster - they send a signal down the aerial that tells the box when each programme is starting and ending. I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done on the box to change this.

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

Midnight_Voice — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 11:55:21 GMT

@DarrenDev

Implement padding?

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

Hunter2660 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:13:09 GMT

@Midnight_Voicewrote:
@DarrenDev
Implement padding?

Wishful thinking? 😁

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

DarrenDev — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:40:31 GMT

It's almost 12 years since YouView launched, and I'm pretty sure padding on recordings was one of the first features to be requested. I think it's fair to say it's never going to happen.

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

zulu17 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:16:42 GMT

But @DarrenDev why over the course of 12 years has the BT Group representatives on the YouView board and the EE/BT TV box design teams not progressed the service to provide more control of recordings to the customer. I think most people would consider complete recordings to be desirable in a PVR.

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

DarrenDev — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:21:54 GMT

I assume that question is rhetorical @zulu17 ?
That's not information I would ever be privy to.

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:24:04 GMT

@DarrenDev @zulu17

No doubt one of us could make an FOI request if we really wanted to know.

But it was forgivable of YouView to not get the platform quite right first off, unforgivable not to put it right going forward.

Especially when you realise that there is zero obligation on Freeview channel operators to support the Accurate Recording which YouView programme timing utterly depends on.

And in this, and perhaps a hundred other ways (as per Keith’s famous list), YouView, while always ‘good enough’ has never quite achieved its promise, and the greatness we once hoped for 😢

Re: Incomplete recordings of Channel 4 HD

zulu17 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:27:25 GMT

Getting back to the specific problem that @xicoperez raised.

All three channels mentioned are transmitted on the same Freeview multiplex so as problems only apparently noted on Channel 4HD it does seem a specific issue with that broadcast where the experience suggests that it consistently upto 60 seconds adrift. So contacting Channel 4 stating the channel impacted , the programme , date and times of broadcast , the transmitter you are receiving your Freeview signal on, and the device you are viewing on would be my advice.

General comments

if the metadata from the broadcaster is accurate under normal circumstances for PSB channels (ie if you don’t have 2 other overlapping recordings) your recording should start when the broadcast stream identifies that your program is the current programme. It continues to record until the next programme becomes the current programme. Depending upon the broadcaster policy on advert breaks, trailer placement and programme guidance warnings you may experience a variable amount of recording before and after the specific recording you have requested. Should the broadcaster not supply the necessary metadata the recording times will default to the times in the EPG.

Some broadcasters seem to have issues with overrunning or underrunning Live programmes or when switching to/from Local/National broadcasting.