TiVo : Just how bad is the EPG at the moment?

[ShadowTD]

I've somehow managed to hold off buying TiVO, even though I've wanted one pretty much since the UK S1 launch over ten years ago. A slightly financial squeeze when they were launched led to me not putting the cash down. Now to look at CF and the official support forums it would seem that the EPG is in a bad way at the moment. Can people who actually have a TiVO quantify how many EPG errors have led to missed recording in the last month? As I've said before, after an unrealiable Media Center experience in 2010, MrsTD (techy as she is) will not tolerate any non-recording of America's Next Top Vapid Cow, or How freaking fat am I? or Dear god I'm 9 and pregnant. So if I get a TiVO and have problems, it's going to be a lonely old time for me... :/

[Harryn9000]

the guide isn't as bad as most ppl make out it one or 2 errors a day if that it depend on what channels u watch and the channel makers changing the schedule it not vm fault that it happen it the ppl who do the guide info that is supplied to vm. i had tivo since march and not a problem epg shouldn't stop u from buying a tivo.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by Harryn9000

the guide isn't as bad as most ppl make out it one or 2 errors a day if that it depend on what channels u watch and the channel makers changing the schedule it not vm fault that it happen it the ppl who do the guide info that is supplied to vm. i had tivo since march and not a problem epg shouldn't stop u from buying a tivo.

Yes I agree with this as well, The only problem what my partner had with the epg was when newsnight ran over due to the phone hacking? It delayed "The Tudors" for a hour.

[Digital Fanatic]

The vocal minority on the official forum have been very vocal and have drowned out the many positive things about TiVo. I have to say I've had 1 EPG fault and that was a late change, I record a lot of stuff and hardly watch anything "live", apart from news programmes.

I've still got a V+HD box in the bedroom and it's so basic compared to TiVo

[denphone]

Well l am not one of the vocal minority as l have been very impressed with the tivo and the EPG has been excellent so far, as far as l am concerned now all l want is more channels and apps.

[Doug P]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

The vocal minority on the official forum have been very vocal and have drowned out the many positive things about TiVo. I have to say I've had 1 EPG fault and that was a late change, I record a lot of stuff and hardly watch anything "live", apart from news programmes.

I've still got a V+HD box in the bedroom and it's so basic compared to TiVo

couldn't agree more.

[arcimedes]

I have had a few problems

The silliest one occured a few days ago when "a town called eureka" lost all information on the HD channel about the programmes compared with the SD channel.

I think there have been one or two others where the same has happened. I do not see why they should happen

One instance of F1 running late due to rain so it was switched to BBC 2 at extremely short notice

Otherwise the advantages much outweigh these minor problems.

[Stephen]

In the many months I have has my TiVo I have had only 1 or 2 issues with the EPG data being incorrect. I certainly would not go back to the V+.

[denphone]

l will second that.

[muppetman11]

So long as you don't take the claims of State of the Art to literally can't see you regretting it.

[HDFootyMan]

Its core functionality for any PVR. That's why so many people are annoyed about it, and paying £3 extra per month for it while VM say "can you fill in this form and do Tribune's job for them? Thanks."

What good are Wishlists and Suggestions when their often based on inaccurate data and therefore record the wrong programme, or even miss episodes of programmes?

Where are the signs that this issue is being resolved, or the data is getting more accurate? This weekend's episode of Doctor Who still isn't scheduled to record from a series-link because TiVo thinks its an episode of an older series - the second time that issue has popped up with that particular programme. What's the point in us filling out EPG feedback forms if the same mistakes are being made again and again?

Would I go back to V+ HD? No. Are the number of EPG errors on TiVo acceptable? No. I hate to quote Sky, but "Believe in Better".

[TheDon]

If it's shows that are always on at the same time on the same channel, it's fine.
If they move about due to being live, or following other live programs, you'll get issues.

I get missed recordings pretty often, but that's generally because I'm recording off the sports channels where schedule changes are common.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by TheDon

If it's shows that are always on at the same time on the same channel, it's fine.

Falling Skies is on at the same time every week on FX, that's had issues. Ditto Celebrity Big Brother (no, I don't watch that, honest! ), ditto Warehouse 13, ditto Football First.

The lack of a Dynamic EPG is almost a smokescreen for the real issue here - poor quality data being fed to TiVos.

Threads are hopping up over at DS as well about this. VM seriously need to get this fixed because a PVR with so many EPG errors is almost useless, regardless of how many tuners it has or what apps its got.

Get the basics right first, then focus on the fancy stuff, especially when the fancy stuff relies on accurate data.

[Perfect Choice]

Agreed, the EPG data is just not good enough.

[jtaylor06]

Still no possibility of a dynamic EPG on TiVo to make up these changes in programming?
Or are there technical challenges that surround such idea?