Programmed/timed recording of cable TV

photographica · 16-01-2004, 20:15

Is it possible to set the stb to change to a certain channel to ensure that the correct channel is taped? I spoke to customer support, they said that if I set a reminder and when it appeared, left it alone, it would switch the channel, but it doesn't! Any ideas?

threadbare · 16-01-2004, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by photographica

Is it possible to set the stb to change to a certain channel to ensure that the correct channel is taped? I spoke to customer support, they said that if I set a reminder and when it appeared, left it alone, it would switch the channel, but it doesn't! Any ideas?

need to set reminder to auto tune rather than remind

photographica · 16-01-2004, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by threadbare

need to set reminder to auto tune rather than remind

How do you do that?

Tristan · 16-01-2004, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by photographica

How do you do that?

Where in the country are you? There are three different types of software used by NTL, and they all have a slightly different proceedure for doing this.

The easiest is if BBC1 is on channel 1, and you have purple menus. In this case you don't have to do anything at all, and the channel will switch at the end of a countdown.

If BBC1 is on channel 1, and you've got blue menus (parts of London), then you have to set the reminder, then press TV guide on the remote. At the bottom will be an option for reminders. Select this and then press green next to the one you want it to autochange for.

If BBC1 is on channel 101 then you'll have to set it to autotune in a similar way as above, but I;ve not used this system so I can't say how.

Hope this helps!

photographica · 16-01-2004, 20:47

My menus are purple and bbc 1 is number 1 but this did not work, where did you set reminder from? I used the TV button? has it been disabled somehow do you think? sorry if I appear dim, only got it today!

Tristan · 16-01-2004, 21:05

To set a reminder, find the programme you want to watch in either the TV guide or on the Now and Next bar and press OK. A box will come up telling you that a reminder has been set. Then a minute or two before the programme is due to start, another box will pop up, asking if you want to change channel or cancel the reminder. This box has a countdown on it: leave the countdown to get to zero and the box will change over of its own accord.

photographica · 16-01-2004, 21:09

OK I'll try it again, but that is what I did before!

threadbare · 16-01-2004, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by photographica

OK I'll try it again, but that is what I did before!

my bbc 1 is on 101 and works ok on that tecnique. not sure what it is for other regions

do u get an option to autotune or remind? on mine after setting the reminder press red to remind and blue to autotune

photographica · 16-01-2004, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by threadbare

my bbc 1 is on 101 and works ok on that tecnique. not sure what it is for other regions

do u get an option to autotune or remind? on mine after setting the reminder press red to remind and blue to autotune

Don't get that option

photographica · 16-01-2004, 22:42

Nope - It doesn't work - I have emailed them but I am not that hopeful, maybe NTL will surprise me with excellent Customer Service, what do you think? Well thanks for your advice, it must be OK as it is the same as the Customer service man and lady gave me, I'll pop back with news if I get any.

photographica · 18-01-2004, 10:00

Hi all, I have narrowed it down but I am not sure if it can be solved! The stb is connected to my TV and the VCR with Scart Leads, When the VCR is off, this method of timed selection seems to work, when the VCR is on, the warning appears but the channel does not change. I'm guessing that the signal that the VCR would normally send to the TV to switch to AV to view a video, is over-ruling the stb. Don't know if this is correct or whether it can be solved. I tried removing the scart from stb to VCR and use the tv out co-ax to vcr in but could not tune in the vcr to the stb signal. I am stumped, any ideas?

spiderplant · 19-01-2004, 10:01

You ought to be able to tune the VCR to the STB.

Another idea is to cut the pin 8 signal wire inside the VCR-STB SCART lead. (But then your TV won't autoswitch to the VCR when you play a tape).

ntluser · 19-01-2004, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by photographica

Hi all, I have narrowed it down but I am not sure if it can be solved! The stb is connected to my TV and the VCR with Scart Leads, When the VCR is off, this method of timed selection seems to work, when the VCR is on, the warning appears but the channel does not change. I'm guessing that the signal that the VCR would normally send to the TV to switch to AV to view a video, is over-ruling the stb. Don't know if this is correct or whether it can be solved. I tried removing the scart from stb to VCR and use the tv out co-ax to vcr in but could not tune in the vcr to the stb signal. I am stumped, any ideas?

It might be worth temporarily disconnecting the video from the set up and having a direct SCART connection from the STB to the TV. You could then set a reminder for a programme due to come on the the half-hour or so and can watch to see if the channel auto-switches.

If it does then clearly the problem lies with the video recorder. Some VCRs have special arrangements when linking to other apparatus and it might be worth looking through the VCR manual and the on-screen menus to see if there is anything you have to do to get the VCR to relinquish control.

If the VCR won't release control all I can suggest is that you test to see if the auto-switch works using RF cables and if it does then use RF cables between the STB and the VCR and either SCART or RF between the VCR and TV. You'll probably have to do a little playing around experimenting with cable combinations until you find one that works.

Hope this helps.