Problem with Pausing live TV for extended period of time

[eastavin]

It's worth noting, that if you use EPG base time shifting, and you press record, the recording will end up in the in your Live TV Buffer Directory (Settings->Misc). This is because it was the live tv buffer file, and pressing record has effectively just told it to keep the buffer file.

In your particular case:
When you're operating EPG based timeshifting, instead of having four files, each covering about 5 minutes (on default 20 minute buffer), you instead end up with four files, one for each of the last four tv shows (if you've been watching that channel long enough). When you press record, it's effectively just telling NextPVR to keep that buffer file rather than deleting it, and to create a Recording that points to it.

Thanks for the info. I checked Settings-Misc and I see the buffer directory is set to C:Temp. The regular recording directory is also set to c:Temp.

This afternooon I gave the system a 2.5 hour test. Started watching a show Brain games at 1500 on ch 11.1 .. hit ctrl K after a few minutes. Noted that the word 'recording' appeared in the top right and checked the tv guide and saw the show hilighted in red. To make extra sure I checked the c:temp directory with windows and saw that a file had been created as you said in the name of the show in the tv guide. When the show ended I left the LIVE tv running for the next show where I repeated the action ctrl K after the show (science of stupid) had been playing a few minutes and again the above 3 things happened... recording, red line in tv guide and windows showed a file created. The file from the first show was still there. 3rd show (batman) I let live tv go and DID NOT push ctrl K. When it ended a preexisting timer kicked in to record a show (Y&R) on a different channel at 1630. At that point I went to the RECORDINGS expecting to see the first 2 shows there.. but nothing was there. Checked the C:Temp and it appears NPVR deleted the 3 buffer files it had created as they were gone.

I did a C drive wide search for last nights National recording and there was no file found for that either.

As they said on Adam-12 way back when... "its just the facts ma'am".

[eastavin]

For a further experiment I created a special live tv buffer directory in windows and pointed the NPVR to it for the live tv buffering.

What I observed is that:
-time shift works fine when set to time shift mode. Ctrl K starts the recording and it gets stored in the normal directory and when the show ends the live file in the buffer directory gets cleared/deleted, but the recording is still safe in the regular ready recordings screen for watching.

-time shift fails to work as expected when set to EPG mode. Ctrl K starts the recording, nothing gets stored in the normal directory and when the show ends the live file in the buffer directory gets deleted. There is no record that I tried to record the show in the ready recordings screen that one can watch.

Is there another setting I need to make for EPG mode to result in a saved recording one can watch?

Many thanks for any advice.

[sub]

For a further experiment I created a special live tv buffer directory in windows and pointed the NPVR to it for the live tv buffering.

What I observed is that:
-time shift works fine when set to time shift mode. Ctrl K starts the recording and it gets stored in the normal directory and when the show ends the live file in the buffer directory gets cleared/deleted, but the recording is still safe in the regular ready recordings screen for watching.

-time shift fails to work as expected when set to EPG mode. Ctrl K starts the recording, nothing gets stored in the normal directory and when the show ends the live file in the buffer directory gets deleted. There is no record that I tried to record the show in the ready recordings screen that one can watch.

Is there another setting I need to make for EPG mode to result in a saved recording one can watch?

Many thanks for any advice.

I've noted it down to check. For now just stick with the default time based timeshift mode.

[eastavin]

I've noted it down to check. For now just stick with the default time based timeshift mode.

Have you been able to fix EPG mode for timeshift? Just wondering if I missed anything?

Thank you.

Edward

[sub]

There were a few fixes and improvements for 4.2.4 related to EPG based timeshift. I'm not sure whether your specific issues were addressed or not, but probably worth giving it a go.

[eastavin]

There were a few fixes and improvements for 4.2.4 related to EPG based timeshift. I'm not sure whether your specific issues were addressed or not, but probably worth giving it a go.

My issue was the observation it does not work. So before I begin a test I have a SlipSeconds set to Dword 3600 decimal. In timeshift mode I can pause up to 60 minutes. So if I switch to EPG mode should I remove the SlipSeconds registry key and let it go back to default? or use it this way? How long a show will it save in default mode versus a Dword of 3600?

Looking for a set of starting assumptions and expected actions. Then I can give it a work out.

Edward

[sub]

So if I switch to EPG mode should I remove the SlipSeconds registry key and let it go back to default? or use it this way? How long a show will it save in default mode versus a Dword of 3600?

The registry setting isn't looked at when you're using EPG based timeshifting. It wont matter if it's there or not. The default number of seconds for time based timeshifting if the registry setting isn't specified is 1200 seconds (20 minutes).

With EPG based time shifting, the buffer is as long as the last four shows.

Can you summarize what went wrong? (I can't bring myself to go back and re-read 5 pages of details, which may not apply to your current situation)

[eastavin]

With EPG based time shifting, the buffer is as long as the last four shows.

Can you summarize what went wrong? (I can't bring myself to go back and re-read 5 pages of details, which may not apply to your current situation)

Thank you for the reply Sub. The 5 pages was something else. The timeshift epg issue was in the last item above... Here is what went wrong back then a few releases ago " time shift fails to work as expected when set to EPG mode. Ctrl K starts the recording, nothing gets stored in the normal directory and when the show ends the live file in the buffer directory gets deleted. There is no record that I tried to record the show in the ready recordings screen that one can watch."

[sub]

Ok - I'm having a try at reproducing this.

Admittedly there is only about 2 people that used EPG-based timeshifting, so it gets very little testing. It used to work when it was originally implemented, but absolutely could have broken somewhere along the way since then (when implementing some other change).

I have a suspicion this will only happen with recordings of the first file in EPG-based timeshifting session.

[sub]

I think I can see what is happening. Can you try with 'use legacy NPVR TSReader and Microsoft Demultiplexer' ticked on the Settings->Decoders screen to see if it makes a difference?