Warning for monthly users

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

I had a problem during the hurricane where the clock was screwed up and the
machine doorstopped on me. There is no way to get to the setup menu when that
happens. 243 zones is about all you have. Unfortunately if the cable is out and
you are on a broadband connection your are screwed, no RTV at all.
Suggestion ... if you think you will get whacked by a storm and you want your
RTV to go, switch to phone before the storm.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

If your cable is out, how can you record shows? Doesn't everything
come back OK when the cable service is restored?

Hdtvman

On 17 Aug 2004 03:06:48 GMT, gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote:

>I had a problem during the hurricane where the clock was screwed up and the
>machine doorstopped on me. There is no way to get to the setup menu when that
>happens. 243 zones is about all you have. Unfortunately if the cable is out and
>you are on a broadband connection your are screwed, no RTV at all.
>Suggestion ... if you think you will get whacked by a storm and you want your
>RTV to go, switch to phone before the storm.

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

>If your cable is out, how can you record shows? Doesn't everything
>come back OK when the cable service is restored?

It came back when the cable came back but I had a bunch of shows in the RTV
that I couldn't get to and watching the "all Charley all the time" programming
I could get with rabbit ears was pretty boring after a day or two.
It was all because the RTV had a clock glitch. When I looked at it the time was
really only off a few hours but it flips a bit in the activation software that
makes it require a call home before you can do anything.
I could find no way to get to setup in that condition. I am not the only one, a
guy on AVS Forum was having a similar problem with a machine he bought.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:
> I had a problem during the hurricane where the clock was screwed up and the
> machine doorstopped on me. There is no way to get to the setup menu when that
> happens. 243 zones is about all you have. Unfortunately if the cable is out and
> you are on a broadband connection your are screwed, no RTV at all.
> Suggestion ... if you think you will get whacked by a storm and you want your
> RTV to go, switch to phone before the storm.
>
There is a zones command that will put you through initial setup. I
think it is 382. You could ask on the Replay forum at avsforums.com. It
is very rarely necessary, so it's not on the tip of the tongue.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Tony D wrote:


> There is a zones command that will put you through initial setup. I
> think it is 382. You could ask on the Replay forum at avsforums.com. It
> is very rarely necessary, so it's not on the tip of the tongue.

Tell me more about Zones commands. Are they explained and/or listed
anywhere?

Sounds like there may be some interesting posibilities there

I go my RTV hooked to an outdoor antenna yesterday evening

Result: Primary channels (I have half a dozen competing channels) are
rock solid, Crystal clear, Looks like I was in the studio watching on a
monitor (Been there, done that)

B-Zone channel (1) Likewise

C-Zone (Fringe) some slight snow. But still easy to watch

Tried burning a show to Video CD (Half hour show so it fit, MASH
episode) using NERO with the Elcar codec installed. Sweet, good results

(Of course the cd is now... Officially, A coaster but hey I pay less
than a dime for those) I may label it up and save it though just for fun)

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

I saw the initial setup zones command but I was afraid that might include
partitioning the drive and losing all my shows. I couldn't find anything that
said otherwise.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:

> I saw the initial setup zones command but I was afraid that might include
> partitioning the drive and losing all my shows. I couldn't find anything that
> said otherwise.

Well for me loosing all my shows is not an issue or even an option. I
have the thing plugged into a router, about 3 feet away is a nice
mini-tower with a whole lot of free disk space and DVArchive.

DVArchive is set to copy all new shows off the RTV at about 3 or 4 am
and then to serve them up to my laptop about an hour later (This is much
faster than the laptop pulling them off direct, Don't ask me why, I'm
not that good at network stuff, but I suspect it's the 1.8 GHz on the P4
in the mini-tower v/s the 366 MHz P2 in the laptop)

Thus if I loose all the shows on the Replay, I loose... Nothing (Since
there is nothing there to loose)

But I would be interested in seeing the FAQ or other info on that, I do
not recall seeing anything about this while RTFM (and am not surprised
since this sounds like stuff that belongs in the mantaince & repair
manual, not the users manual)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 18:58:22 GMT, John in Detroit
<Blanked@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>Greg wrote:
>
>> I saw the initial setup zones command but I was afraid that might include
>> partitioning the drive and losing all my shows. I couldn't find anything that
>> said otherwise.
>
>Well for me loosing all my shows is not an issue or even an option. I
>have the thing plugged into a router, about 3 feet away is a nice
>mini-tower with a whole lot of free disk space and DVArchive.
>
>DVArchive is set to copy all new shows off the RTV at about 3 or 4 am
>and then to serve them up to my laptop about an hour later (This is much
>faster than the laptop pulling them off direct, Don't ask me why, I'm
>not that good at network stuff, but I suspect it's the 1.8 GHz on the P4
>in the mini-tower v/s the 366 MHz P2 in the laptop)
>

My laptop is slower too. Even slower that the CPU speed would suggest.
This should not affect the Replay-DVA speed. There is a setting in DVA
that does that.

>Thus if I loose all the shows on the Replay, I loose... Nothing (Since
>there is nothing there to loose)
>

BTW, I think the word you want is "lose". "loose" is something else.

>But I would be interested in seeing the FAQ or other info on that, I do
>not recall seeing anything about this while RTFM (and am not surprised
>since this sounds like stuff that belongs in the mantaince & repair
>manual, not the users manual)

--
Mark Lloyd
http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

 

[Steph]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Fwiw, most cable ISP's and DSL providers have Dial-Up service available
on a limited basis for their users. Although on the west coast and not
affected by Charlie I did have our Motorola cable-modem die (continuous
test mode); Time-warner took their time and were not able to come out
for nearly 40 hours (with a 8 hour service window and a gratutitous 20-
minute pre-arrival phone call).

Anyhow, I have a broadband router (as most should) at my home "border"
which also support backup dial-up support. So even without broadband my
home still have Internet access on demand (albeit at < 56k ).

If you don't have such a broadband router (and modem), you could
configure a PC (mac or windows) to dial-up and share the connection to
your home network.

This would have allowed the unit to come back on-line.

...... another reason i am glad to have lifetime subscription on both my
45xx units though )


gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
news:20040816230648.18151.00001672@mb-m03.aol.com:

> I had a problem during the hurricane where the clock was screwed up
> and the machine doorstopped on me. There is no way to get to the setup
> menu when that happens. 243 zones is about all you have. Unfortunately
> if the cable is out and you are on a broadband connection your are
> screwed, no RTV at all. Suggestion ... if you think you will get
> whacked by a storm and you want your RTV to go, switch to phone before
> the storm.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:26:22 GMT, Steph
<CUT_skipatrol@hotmail.com_CUT> wrote:

>Fwiw, most cable ISP's and DSL providers have Dial-Up service available
>on a limited basis for their users. Although on the west coast and not
>affected by Charlie I did have our Motorola cable-modem die (continuous
>test mode); Time-warner took their time and were not able to come out
>for nearly 40 hours (with a 8 hour service window and a gratutitous 20-
>minute pre-arrival phone call).
>
>Anyhow, I have a broadband router (as most should) at my home "border"
>which also support backup dial-up support. So even without broadband my
>home still have Internet access on demand (albeit at < 56k ).
>

I used to have a router with a POTS dial-up connection (before I got a
networked Replay). A lot of programs had trouble ewith that because of
the dial-up delay. Have you tried the Replay with it?

>If you don't have such a broadband router (and modem), you could
>configure a PC (mac or windows) to dial-up and share the connection to
>your home network.
>

But a router is still better.

>This would have allowed the unit to come back on-line.
>
>..... another reason i am glad to have lifetime subscription on both my
>45xx units though )
>
>
>gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
>news:20040816230648.18151.00001672@mb-m03.aol.com:
>
>> I had a problem during the hurricane where the clock was screwed up
>> and the machine doorstopped on me. There is no way to get to the setup
>> menu when that happens. 243 zones is about all you have. Unfortunately
>> if the cable is out and you are on a broadband connection your are
>> screwed, no RTV at all. Suggestion ... if you think you will get
>> whacked by a storm and you want your RTV to go, switch to phone before
>> the storm.
>>

--
Mark Lloyd
http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

 

[Steph]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote in
news:e9j7i0hjca5eqf6up1b7m32bu70theihtt@4ax.com:

> On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:26:22 GMT, Steph
><CUT_skipatrol@hotmail.com_CUT> wrote:
>
>>Fwiw, most cable ISP's and DSL providers have Dial-Up service
available
>>on a limited basis for their users. Although on the west coast and
not
>>affected by Charlie I did have our Motorola cable-modem die
(continuous
>>test mode); Time-warner took their time and were not able to come out
>>for nearly 40 hours (with a 8 hour service window and a gratutitous
20-
>>minute pre-arrival phone call).
>>
>>Anyhow, I have a broadband router (as most should) at my home
"border"
>>which also support backup dial-up support. So even without broadband
my
>>home still have Internet access on demand (albeit at < 56k ).
>>
>
> I used to have a router with a POTS dial-up connection (before I got a
> networked Replay). A lot of programs had trouble ewith that because of
> the dial-up delay. Have you tried the Replay with it?
>

Yes, that wasn't clear.
I used a 33kbs modem connection to get my home LAN back on the internet.
I was then able to manually kick off a "connect to server" on each RTV
and get updated guide info.

It was of course much slower than when the RoadRunner service is
working, but as I was offering, in a pinch.... <g>

>>If you don't have such a broadband router (and modem), you could
>>configure a PC (mac or windows) to dial-up and share the connection to
>>your home network.
>>
>
> But a router is still better.
>

Huh? Of course.
Again, in a *pinch*; I was only offering suggestions to overcome a
crisis, not a long-term option.


>>This would have allowed the unit to come back on-line.

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Maybe this wasn't clear. I had a hurricane kick my ass, trees on my house and
stuff like that. I wasn't interested in too much RTV hacking or setting up some
kind of dialup bridge and routeer, I just wanted to relax and watch some TV
when the power came on.
As far as I am concerned the "activation software" just screwed me because it
had a stupid clock glitch. Next time I will take a minute and switch it to
phone while I am doing my other preparations.

 

[Steph]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
news:20040818230157.23098.00003802@mb-m07.aol.com:

> Maybe this wasn't clear. I had a hurricane kick my ass, trees on my
> house and stuff like that. I wasn't interested in too much RTV hacking
> or setting up some kind of dialup bridge and routeer, I just wanted to
> relax and watch some TV when the power came on.
> As far as I am concerned the "activation software" just screwed me
> because it had a stupid clock glitch. Next time I will take a minute
> and switch it to phone while I am doing my other preparations.
>

I understood that.
I was offering a method for your RTV to connect home from it's present
state, sync the clock and allow you to watch TV. Next storm alert if
you want to preset it to use dial-up go for it, whatever works for you.

I asked my colleague that has been remodeling for 2 weeks to plug in his
RTV ( sitting idle for 2 weeks ) without a network and try to watch TV.
He has a 5080 with lifetime subscription service (versus my 4504
lifetimes or your 5xxx monthly service). His RTV booted up and he was
able to access the [saved] show guide and watch recorded programming
without issue.

fwiw

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

>He has a 5080 with lifetime subscription service

I suspect this "trap" is only in the software of monthly machines, hence the
topic title. As long as the clock is perceived by the activation engine as
being correct it will work but when it detects something that triggers this
message it is a doorstop.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 16:47:56 -0500, Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
> I used to have a router with a POTS dial-up connection (before I got a
> networked Replay). A lot of programs had trouble ewith that because of
> the dial-up delay. Have you tried the Replay with it?

I used a 5504 via ethernet with a "dial-on-demand" router (a linux box).
No phone cord to the RTV, and no problem connecting.

sdb

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 12:58:26 -0600, Sylvan Butler
<ZsdbUse1+noZs_0408@Zbigfoot.Zcom.invalid> wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 16:47:56 -0500, Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
>> I used to have a router with a POTS dial-up connection (before I got a
>> networked Replay). A lot of programs had trouble ewith that because of
>> the dial-up delay. Have you tried the Replay with it?
>
>I used a 5504 via ethernet with a "dial-on-demand" router (a linux box).
>No phone cord to the RTV, and no problem connecting.
>
>sdb

Did you notice if it worked the first time (when the router had to
dial), or did it fail the first time and try again (while the router
was still connected)?

--
Mark Lloyd
http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:14:05 -0500, Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 12:58:26 -0600, Sylvan Butler
><ZsdbUse1+noZs_0408@Zbigfoot.Zcom.invalid> wrote:
>>I used a 5504 via ethernet with a "dial-on-demand" router (a linux box).
>>No phone cord to the RTV, and no problem connecting.

> Did you notice if it worked the first time (when the router had to
> dial), or did it fail the first time and try again (while the router
> was still connected)?

Seemed to work the first time. Only time I noticed retry, was if the
dialup failed and linux had to retry.

sdb