Black Screen Recordings!
 

Since Sunday I have started to get Black Screen Recordings :td:

What I mean by this is, I set a recording, but when I go to watch it it is Black screen, the length will show the correct time, but the recording content is Zero and the screen is black

This started on Sunday with my attempt to record "The Dammed United" on BBC 2, now when I go to the channel in this case BBC 2, I get a message telling me I am not subscribed to the channel on my package !!!! of course I am, I'm on XL and its BBC 2 :confused:

But when I go back and delete the Black Screen recording, then go back to the relevant channel again BBC 2, all is well the channel is there

So far this as happened on BBC 2 and Sky 1 HD,

So any one else had this? before I ring up and complain though I would just post it on here to see if I am alone with this one :rolleyes:

Re: Black Screen Recordings !!
 

This sounds similar (but not exactly the same) to a couple of things I've read on here. The 'fix' was to actually power the TiVo down (either switch off at the wall or the switch on the back) for a minute or two then turn back on. The few who did this said it solved their problems, but like I said, I think it's similar but not totally the same issue.

Re: Black Screen Recordings !!
 

Were you having BB problems as well as I was over the past couple of days and this was also affecting the TIVO box as well, where on certain channels I was getting a black screen.
Do not know if they could be connected as well?

Re: Black Screen Recordings !!
 

You know I never connected the two things, and yes I have had slow BB problems over the weekend, just didn't think i would effect TiVo, although it as a BB connection doesn't it

I did in fact set some recording via the web site, and none of them recorded

I'l give it a couple of days to see if it clears up, thanks for the tip

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:39 ----------

I did think about doing that ;) and I know its what VM support will tell me to do

Just thought Id see if it was a problem for others before I tried to do anything myself

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

REboot the box then force a connection to the servers in the setting menu. That should clear the blank channel/recording issues.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

A reboot should fix your "not subscribed" issue, as Savvychels says. :)

You may not get those recordings though :(

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Thanks will try that after the football as finished ;)

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Had this a couple of days ago, rang Tivo support and told to power down/up box. May have to repeat this again over time. Never had to do this once with my V+ over 4 years so not impressed I am now part of "service maintenance".

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

You never had to reboot your V+? You were lucky.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Just completed the reboot, that went ok took about 7 minutes to get a picture back

The connect to the network took a lot longer, once connected it downloaded a file (I think it was a file) then installed the file, the install took 25 minutes, then it returned to picture :o:

My tonights recordings (two) were black screen, so I've got nothing scheduled till tomorrow , so hope it will be ok then :erm:

Must say Its another disappointment to add to the other TiVo disappointments suffered so far. I still hang in there in the hope all will get sorted out as the roll out continues :(

Still feel like a bit of a guinea pig though, and I have paid £149.99 for the privilege :rolleyes:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

You do know that you can watch TV while it's making a network connection, do you? Once you've started the connection you can press TV and continue to use the box as normal.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I didn't relise that :dunce: but I did have a good time watching the install complete :rolleyes:

Better than the Black screen that is :rolleyes::erm:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Not good for you but finally I am glad that I am not the only one that has been hit by the blank screen recordings.
I've only had it happen twice but the not authorised to this channel during trying to watch just normal live tv is making me potty. It's getting to the point where the wife is now saying why did we get a HD tv and a supposed HD box when I try to go to the the HD channels they don't work until a reboot and 80% of the time I am recording something elsewhere so can't reboot at that time.

This is a bigger issue for me than any red button, reminder missing or global padding. You should be able to switch to a channel and it be there to watch without having to do a reboot to fix it! :mad:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Totally agree with all your comments ;)

I to am being questioned about the outlay for a system that is full of problems,

Silly things like not being able to watch BBC2 as the channel is Black Screen with a message saying we are not subscribed to the channel when we pay for the XL TV package :confused:

I have rebooted and re authorised my system, but i doing this have lost recordings, so that's another thing to add to my list of "why did we do it " :mad:

Its getting harder to justify spending all this money on a system thats worse than what we had (Help) :td:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

O boy makes me glad that I didnt go for it. As my old man aways said about buying a new car - wait for Mark 2 !!!:D

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Yes I'm old enough to know that :rolleyes:

But now I have to justify spending £149.99 to folk who used to be able to watch TV without having to re boot to get rid of Black Screens, before I spent £149.99 ruining it for them :(

As you can imagine I'm not top of the pops at the moment (Hey Ho)

My only hope is that VM will ride to my rescue with the cavalry as I feel a bit like Cluster at the battle of Big Horn, back to the wall and surrounded by hostiles :erm:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

You've had the black screen once haven't you? Obviously any recording made whilst that fault was present are counted in that.

Did the reboot resolve the issue?

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

No I've had the Black Screen several times, and lost about 6 recordings due to it and the reboot

But irrespective of how many times I've had it , the point is I shouldn't have had it at all, on a system I have just paid £149.99 for,

I never had anything like this with my V+ box in the 4 years I had it, It was only rebooted due to power failure, and never to correct a fault, it was very reliable

I see that you are VM staff I would have hopped you would have felt able to respond with a more helpful post

And as for the reboot as yet I have not recorded anything so won't know if it fixed it till later tonight

As a Black Screen recording effects the channel I am recording off, setting it to not available on your package

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

That's a very good point but at the same time a new car can't be fundamentally improved with a software update.

---------- Post added at 10:09 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------

What I can't understand Ken is why you decided to keep it as you have never really been happy with the box. In your situation though I would phone them up anyway and ask them to refit the V+. I think there has been at least one case of someone outside the 28days who has had that done.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Well I have tried to stay with it, as in fairness there is much to be admired and I do believe that VM will correct the faults in the future

But as soon as one problem disappears another one appears, making it really difficult to justify the outlay and the move to others effected by my decision

I understand there will be some sensitivity amongst TiVo converts and some of my comments may irate,

But these things have to be aired in the spirit of working together to solve the problems,

I don't see that walking away now is the answer, I'm in now and will contribute with good will to the debate, in an effort to improve things :)

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Good for you Ken. You have every right to moan, it's just that when you say the box isn't worth the money you do realise that you could and possibly still can send it back?
BTW I haven't had the blank screen issue and wouldn't be too pleased if I had. Keep at them and hopefully these issues will be fixed.
The V+ also had issues when it was first released especially for the Telewest early adopters, (the software was already a year old when I had mine fitted by VM/NTL). Like you say though we didn't have many issues with it.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

What I'm getting at is that you had the "black screen" issue, but have only rebooted it once since to rectify the issue.

I'm sorry if you feel I'm unhelpful, I'm not sure what you are expecting from me as I thought I'd asked you a question?

And some wonder why I don't post/help much anymore :(

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Unfortunately Ken with tech updates a new software code drop can cause another problem to rear its head , however if the forums are anything to go by there does seem a lot of problems out there , however not everyone seems to suffer the same. I hope this reboot has rectified your problem.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Thanks for that:) I hope so to, but won't know until tonight when my next recording is scheduled

I think my worry is that I will be re booting at regular intervals,

You see I worked in IT support for years prior to retirement (early) :) and we only rebooted when all else failed,

The problem always came back again unless a patch was applied after the reboot to correct the problem, my re boot did something of an update so hope that fixed it :rolleyes:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Having the black screen + channel lost issue myself, hope this is a logged fault in VM since now becoming more common. Concerned that rebooting is not clearing the issue from the sound of it, in so far it is returning.

I was told to power off/on my box once a week and the Tivo support person considered this normal practice, I think not!

I also have EPG error, CBBC channel EPG is out of synch as off this morning as well according to my kids who then find it a problem to record programmes as they have to record the programme in the EPG not record the different programme they are actually seeing, or second guess if they don’t happen to be actually watching the programme they want to record.

Not good I must say, VM need to get their bug fixes out.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Hopefully not Ken. If you do it will basically be until they fix the bug with an update. The perils of being an early adopter. :)
Just for the record I haven't rebooted mine now for nearly a month which is more stable than my V+ was initially.

---------- Post added at 12:23 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------

Have you had the bug logged in the VM tivo community forum? I agree though like all bugs they need to be fixed asap.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I was an early adopter of Sky+HD , and there were problems with that , and an update would frequently cure a problem only for another to rear its head. It can be frustrating especially if it goes haywire when recording your favourite show.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Please don't take offence, and stop helping others because your angry with me :erm:

I am quite a nice chap really ;)

But the constant problems I am experiencing with TiVo are making me twitchy :rolleyes:

I was so angry on Sunday night I crushed a grape with my bare hands
(scary or what?) :shocked:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I'm not angry with you :)

I just get a little disheartened at times :cool:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

yes done, new post placed.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

[QUOTE=ahardie;35254028]That's a very good point but at the same time a new car can't be fundamentally improved with a software update.

---------- Post added at 10:09 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------



The principle is the same – wait until it has been tested in the real world. Let the� I wants� find the faults , then 12 to 18 months down the line the mark 2 ( for that read “upgrades “) will be in place & it works/runs a whole lot better.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

It`s a bit unfair of Ken to have `a pop` at you. From what I can see you are doing your best to help the guy. Please keep on giving out your advice as most of us value it.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I agree, I have beaten myself silly with the Daily Mail as a punishment, :shocked:

And now having to come to terms with the fact that I don't belong to the
"most off us" clan "Oh dear what have I done"

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

That's the nature of tech unfortunately. I paid a lot more than £149 for somethings and they all had issues at the start. That is the price a lot of people pay for being an early adopter.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Yes I'm getting that now, Don't think I'm cut out to be an early adopter, I may be naive, but I expected it to work from the start, :rolleyes:

Still I will stick with it now, I appreciate all the replies I have had even the admonishments :dunce:

Hopefully I wont be watching a Black Screen later on tonight, and the reboot fixed it

But if not I may just keep it to myself this time :(

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I will forgive you the other things Ken but as for being a Daily Mail reader..:shocked:

:D

Seriously though I sympathise with your problem but like Stephen says new tech always has bugs and network connected pvr's seem to be particularly prone to them.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Nice one :)

Top Post,

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Being an early adopter of new Tech can be a night mare, I hope your problems are sorted by the reboot.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Wished that was printed on the Tin, :rolleyes:

I paid, I expected it to work, it doesn't work well, I get frustrated, I get told its because I am an early adopter, I get more frustrated, folk get upset, I get ousted from the "most of us crowd" :shocked:

It's started to rain, my foxgloves have blown over, my tea's just got burned, and to top it all, I've just reached for a beer and it's warm :Yikes:

Thats it sod the TiVo, and its Black Screen, I,m off to the pub !!!!!!! :beer:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Enjoy your beer!:D

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Good lad have a pint and wash away the problems :D Let us know how you get on with your recordings.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Never have been an early adaptor*. Life is too short for all that stress. Any way why pay a premium to be a crash test dummy. :confused:





*Well ok I did once get a V2000 (still maintain it was the best of the 3 types & look what happened to that!!:erm:) What do you mean what`s that !!!:D Shame on you.

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

After 2 days and 3 re-boots my black screen recordings seem to be fixed:)

I have had 24 hrs of peace and normal TV viewing (SD PQ not withstanding)

And so just when you think all is ok now, the TiVo bites back with another problem :mad:

The Red Doughnut !!!!!! I have taken a screen shot of the problem and will start another thread just to see if anyone else as been affected

I am rebooting my TiVo daily twice yesterday, and once this morning and it's only 8-45

Will this ever end :td:

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Hi kenoliver
I'm sorry to hear you're having some problems.
Have you checked out the Virgin Media help & support forums?
If not, you can access this here:
http://community.virginmedia.com/

Regards
Robert

My views are my own and not that of Virgin Media

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Hi Robert
My black screen problems seem to have been resolved after the second reboot:D

As for my Shows well support as told me this is a know issue and a forthcoming update will fix this

So all seems to be getting sorted ;) so far no more problems

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

Doesn't look as though the above problem ever got fixed as I've started to get the issue of blank recordings. Will try rebooting the poxy thing.

---------- Post added at 21:32 ---------- Previous post was at 21:23 ----------

Seems to have worked. Missed Trollied but its now nicely recording the ads at the end. Its got slower than my Sinclair ZX81 aswell. Oh for my old analogue cable box, at least that acted as central heating too....

Re: Black Screen Recordings!
 

I would be inclined to ask for a new box if you keep getting problems, but the trouble with that of course is that you lose all your recordings. I would have a problem with that as I am regularly over 90% full!