[pTd]

Originally Posted by DylJones

...
I guess then though that it won't label the recordings with the program name and put them into folders? Still worth a go though.

...

Not in the timer slot, no, and not foldered. But it will be named in the recording list during the recording. And you can always create your own folder to move it to later.

[pTd]

Originally Posted by tod27

...

@pTd, seen the truncated one you mentioned, but i exported a file (1 hour SD c.2Gig) and re-imported it had a file size of >6GiG!

Whoa, see what you mean. That is odd, considering you can't import or even merge files >4gb. Don't know what to make of that.

Unless... Is the excess exactly 4GiB? I still don't know what to make of it but it would interesting if it was.

Sometimes an arbitrary cut edit will correct any errors in the listing, eg play the last few seconds to the end and cut at the last frame.

[TFBTFO]

Originally Posted by DylJones

...My wife and I have several shows on series link. 2 in particular have various repeats on a few different channels (namely Home & Away and Neighbours). When we set up the series link we selected the recording on the main channel (CH5) and series linked, all fine. A few days later we found that the box had recorded ALL repeats of any episode from CH5, 5*, etc. Also we are finding that within the Show's folder the episodes are mixed up in terms of episode order (although this is likely because of the repeats).

Does this happen for anyone else? Can I turn this off?

Thanks!

I have been recording Neighbours and Home and Away on timer for ages, not because of the issue mentioned above, but because recordings by programme on Channel 5 don't seem to start when they start but at the time they are supposed to start, and the same with the ending. This meant I always missed the beginning of Neighbours (which starts early) and the end of Home and Away (which finishes late), on the evening repeat. Timer recording with a bit of padding works better for me!

Originally Posted by DylJones

...My wife reminded me of another problem we sometimes get where shows on a timer don't recored. Sometimes a whole day's recordings just don't happen. Odd.

I have also had problems with 'missed recordings' by timer and by programme. Sometimes it seems to be caused by the box having some sort of crash which might explain why no recordings for whole day (possibly).

[pTd]

Originally Posted by TFBTFO

I have been recording Neighbours and Home and Away on timer for ages, not because of the issue mentioned above, but because recordings by programme on Channel 5 don't seem to start when they start but at the time they are supposed to start, and the same with the ending. This meant I always missed the beginning of Neighbours (which starts early) and the end of Home and Away (which finishes late), on the evening repeat. Timer recording with a bit of padding works better for me!

I have also had problems with 'missed recordings' by timer and but this also happens when setting by programme.

Another Ch5 failing; no implementation of Accurate Record.

[Here to help]

Dear forum members,

We have uploaded a new software to our website which will allow you to convert exported SD recordings into a format that you can watch on your laptop (e.g. via VLC Player)

Please download the software from the following link:
Software Update

Please find the instructions below:

1) Please extract the appropriate software version (Windows or Linux) to your computer
2) Open the file 'XConverter' and use the 'browse' button to select one of the exported recordings on your computer
3) Press 'convert' and wait while the programme converts your recording. This could take a couple of minutes during which a 'not responding' message might be displayed
4) XConverter will create a converted copy of the original file which you can now watch on your computer

Please be advised that the converted file cannot be re-imported to your RTI90 so make sure you keep the original file in case you consider a re-import.

Kind regards,

Your Sagemcom Support

[tom558]

I am getting a virus warning ref this software? so will not use it for now. ''sagemcom-file-exe is not commonly downloaded and could harm your computer'' that's what I am getting-Norton 360.....?

Looking at this again and get ''WS Reputation 1'',from Norton,so does this mean,that it's maybe safe,but it's not been seen before?,anyway not filled with confidence ref this,so waiting to hear what Sagemcom,and other users have to say,about the above.

[cirrus18]

I have had a SAGEM ITD 612 PVR which I purchased in 2003. It has been an exceptionally good model and it hasn't given me any problems whatsoever.
I now want to update to HD so I thought I would stick with SAGEM and go for the RTI90-500 T2 HD 500GB, especially now as all the original problems seemed to be ironed out.

Looking around the Internet for the best price I came across this site here,

Buy the Sagemcom RTI90-500 T2 HD 500GB Freeview HD Recorder *GR from GoGoDigital Ltd

who are offering refurbished models for £139.99 inc VAT and postage. I have ordered one as the price seems exceptionally good to me. New ones are going for anything up to £300.

[pTd]

Originally Posted by tom558

I am getting a virus warning ref this software? so will not use it for now. ''sagemcom-file-exe is not commonly downloaded and could harm your computer'' that's what I am getting-Norton 360.....?

Looking at this again and get ''WS Reputation 1'',from Norton,so does this mean,that it's maybe safe,but it's not been seen before?,anyway not filled with confidence ref this,so waiting to hear what Sagemcom,and other users have to say,about the above.

Sounds like it's being ultra-cautious about something it hasn't seen before. AVG and Windows Defender find nothing suspicious.

[tom558]

Originally Posted by pTd

Sounds like it's being ultra-cautious about something it hasn't seen before. AVG and Windows Defender find nothing suspicious.

Yes I am sure that is the case,it's just that I had never seen that before,thanks...

[Here to help]

Hi Tom558,

Please don't worry about the virus warning. As pTd already pointed out it looks like your Norton version might be very cautious.

We have run the version on a variety of different computers prior to the release and you can be assured that there is no risk.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Kind regards,

Sagemcom Support

[TheAtomium]

The new converter seems to work well, producing files that play well both in vlc player, and using ffdshow in directshow-based players like windows media player or bsplayer. Great!

The program is a little basic, could do with some simple necessities (like a progress bar!) and the ability to convert in batches: but essentially it works, which is the main thing.

The ability to play on computer makes the exporting feature much more useful. Now I'd like to clear more space on my box, so I would also like to request the ability to export multiple recordings. I have some series with 30+ recordings in them, which could take a while if I have to do them one at a time...!

[Here to help]

Dear Atomium,

Thanks a lot for your positive feedback. We are glad to hear that the little programme is doing the job and that you enjoy watching your recordings on your computer.

Unfortunately we will not be able to offer any further improvements with regards to the USB export feature at this stage of the product development but we will put this request on our internal wish list for our future ranges.

Kind regards,

Your Support Team

[TFBTFO]

Anyone else had recurrence of series folders appearing out of order (2 lists in aphabetical order instead of one)?

[pTd]

Originally Posted by TFBTFO

Anyone else had recurrence of series folders appearing out of order (2 lists in aphabetical order instead of one)?

It came up in discussion many months ago, possibly before your time.

HD folders [almost] always have a hidden, or invisible, character at the start of the title which puts it alphabetically before all visible ones. I don't know if this is intentional or a bug. There must be better ways of distinguishing them, assuming they need to be distinguished.

Another curiosity is that folder names get truncated to 26 characters, but the filename is ok. So "Let's do Lunch... with Gino & Mel" goes into a folder "Let's do Lunch... with Gin". Quite the wrong impression methinks.

Not to mention "Two Pints of Lager and a P".

[eduboys]

Any update on when this feature will be available?

[Mutley359]

Hi guys
I have been through the threads here and doing that in one go makes my head spin. I think I am impressed with this kit and will look to buy one but could someone answer a quick question to save me re-reading, can this device record 2 channels while you watch a 3rd? I am really pleased to see Sagemcom monitor and take part in this thread,it shows a great commitment. Thanks all.

[TheAtomium]

Hi Mutley,

No, watching a 3rd channel is not possible, you can only watch either of the two channels currently recording, or a previously made recording.

Of course, if you have a digital-integrated TV, you could use that as effectively a 3rd tuner...

It is possible, due to the way Freeview works, for a twin-tuner box to record two channels, and decode a third; provided it is on one of the multiplexes currently being recorded. My old Humax 9200T allowed this - and presumably subsequent Humax machines do as well - but the Sagemcom doesn't. Sorry.

[Mutley359]

No problem, thanks for coming back. I have just collected 320 from my local store and will download the update as my Humax 9300 is sick. Hope the new box works well for me.

[Captainkremmen]

Originally Posted by TheAtomium

Hi Mutley,

No, watching a 3rd channel is not possible, you can only watch either of the two channels currently recording, or a previously made recording.

Of course, if you have a digital-integrated TV, you could use that as effectively a 3rd tuner...

It is possible, due to the way Freeview works, for a twin-tuner box to record two channels, and decode a third; provided it is on one of the multiplexes currently being recorded. My old Humax 9200T allowed this - and presumably subsequent Humax machines do as well - but the Sagemcom doesn't. Sorry.

It doesn't?.
That surprises me, as it pretty much makes it one of only a very small number of the currently available Freeview HD PVRs that I am aware of that cannot do so

Hopefully this is something Sagemcom can fix in a software update, as it is a feature that I never thought I'd use on my PVR, but actually do so a lot. It's something I think Sagemcom customers would appreciate too, especially if you are recording HD channels. Because they are on the same Mux my own PVR uses a single tuner to record both streams, leaving the other tuner free to watch whatever other channel you wish.

[TheAtomium]

Originally Posted by Captainkremmen

It doesn't?.
That surprises me, as it pretty much makes it one of only a very small number of the currently available Freeview HD PVRs that I am aware of that cannot do so

Yep it surprised me too. I always assumed it could until the day I found myself only able to switch between the two channels I was recording.

In practice, though, it isn't that big a problem for me, as I don't watch that much live TV, and as I said before, in this circumstance I would just switch to my TV's built-in tuner.

Another surprising omission on the Sagemcom is the ability to record radio. You can't schedule recordings in the guide, record manually, or timeshift. It is just completely left out - very strange.

[Mutley359]

I will miss the function of watching a third channel. If this could be addressed in a future firmware it would make this box that much better. IPlayer will be great when it gets here. The only other trick I used on the Humax was rewinding live TV back to the start of a programme I forgot to record and then recording the playback to watch later, I must find time to test that on this machine. For the record I have tested PIP and it is jagged and blocky but it is only for reference, isn't it?

[Mutley359]

24hrs in and the picture is good, the speed of changing channels is fast and the limited recordings have been fine. Sagemcom ask what we thought of the remote and I have to say it is very hit and miss but the biggest issue I have, and this makes the remote look bad is the very slow speed of the guide. I'm guessing the guide speed and therefore the response of the remote might be faster without the information and inset at the top of the screen.

[DIYBob]

Hi,

I bought the 320gb model off ebay, second hand for £90. After having a Digihome 80Gb pvr for a number of years (what a fantastic user friendly piece of software that had!), i can't believe how badly this performs, even with the 3.1.1 software upgrade...... Correct me if I'm wrong but.......

1. You can't watch half a recording, then come back to it later.
2. You can't start watching halfway in (see point 1) you have to skip until you get to where you were previously, if you can remember.
3. Box takes so long to power on that I left it on whilst bathing only to find it had locked when I returned. On pulling the plug and resetting, because a recording had started, it says it is recording but won't let me do anything else, EPG, change channel, nothing!
4. Everytime I select the library the programmes start playing automatically in the preview window (is this a selectable setting??) and when I choose ok to view full screen, it starts from the beginning again, very, very annoying.
5,6,7,8,9,10 Can't be bothered lol

Have I just got a crap second-hand one or is this typical????

Either way its going back and I will go back to my SD Digihome and wait for a better product to hit the market, fingers crossed!!!!

[pTd]

Originally Posted by DIYBob

...
Either way its going back and I will go back to my SD Digihome and wait for a better product to hit the market, fingers crossed!!!!

Well I was all set to reply until that last sentence. Would there be any point now?

[TheAtomium]

Hi DIYBob,

OK, the Sagemcom is far from perfect, but I don't think you'll do much better for 90 quid, unless you're actually not too bothered about HD.

I would encourage you to persevere a bit longer, the things you mention seem to be mainly niggles, except for the lock-up while recording. I do recognize this lock-up, but I've had my box for a year and a bit, and I've had this happen maybe twice. In my experience, Sky+ boxes crash much more often, and I've never known a PVR, or any electronic device of any complexity, that was immune to crashing.

[Mutley359]

I returned my box today, there was not enough signal to display pictures on some channels, 4 movies and QVC for example. I have freeview on the TV and my old Humax box, both worked fine with far better signal strength. I swap out my 320 and plugged the new one in, it came, as did the first one with an old firmware. With this firmware the new box worked fine but the signal strength was poor. I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade the F/W, I am pleased to say all channel are still working. Sagemcom signal strength is still 36, on the Humax it's 73 and 80 on the Panasonic TV.

[pTd]

Originally Posted by Mutley359

I returned my box today, there was not enough signal to display pictures on some channels, 4 movies and QVC for example. I have freeview on the TV and my old Humax box, both worked fine with far better signal strength. I swap out my 320 and plugged the new one in, it came, as did the first one with an old firmware. With this firmware the new box worked fine but the signal strength was poor. I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade the F/W, I am pleased to say all channel are still working. Sagemcom signal strength is still 36, on the Humax it's 73 and 80 on the Panasonic TV.

Whatever the signal strength bar is measuring it isn't signal strength. It is literally useless. Your room temperature in Fahrenheit will give a more accurate figure more often.

You will have to use the 5 bar indicator on the Info bar as a rough guide; 4 is good, twittering between 4-5 probably best.

[Mutley359]

Originally Posted by pTd

Whatever the signal strength bar is measuring it isn't signal strength. It is literally useless. Your room temperature in Fahrenheit will give a more accurate figure more often.

You will have to use the 5 bar indicator on the Info bar as a rough guide; 4 is good, twittering between 4-5 probably best.

I have noticed this. The old box was showing channels but not displaying a picture and the sound was just cracking in and out, this was on the weaker channels, 4 movies and Dave for example. When I plugged the new box in they worked fine and I wondered if updating to 3.11 would cock it up but so far it hasn't. I didn't try it but wondered if a firmware downgrade would fix the old box as 3.11 adds power to the throughput for the antenna. I will watch what happens. I am getting 4-5 bars on all stations and I think that might also be wrong as the Humax does show some channels are weaker than others.

[pTd]

Originally Posted by Mutley359

I have noticed this. The old box was showing channels but not displaying a picture and the sound was just cracking in and out, this was on the weaker channels, 4 movies and Dave for example. When I plugged the new box in they worked fine and I wondered if updating to 3.11 would cock it up but so far it hasn't. I didn't try it but wondered if a firmware downgrade would fix the old box as 3.11 adds power to the throughput for the antenna. I will watch what happens. I am getting 4-5 bars on all stations and I think that might also be wrong as the Humax does show some channels are weaker than others.

Yes it's extremely non-linear. I get the local mux Channnel M from Winter Hill, broadcast at a miniscule 1% of full power. Now, I know signal strength isn't meant to measure broadcast power, but this still shows as 4 bars. Perhaps it represents some combination of strength and quality. If you regularly get 5 bars by the way, you could be seeing the effects of overload rather than a weak signal.

I think maybe Sagemcom have been trying to tweak the signal meter because it used to always stick at 36% even without the aerial in. Now with a 20db variable attenuator over the range of about -10 to -20db it will smoothly reduce the percentage from 38% down to about 5% (and the info bars). This shows that the process must be working, somewhere. It's just that the scaling and translation is wrong.

[Mutley359]

Has anyone noticed that if you hit the record button to record the remainder of a program the record never stops. I tried this for the second time last night and the box was still recording the channel this morning.