Had the same time/date reset problem as you, I too have no FreeView signal and am using my DVDR24HD160F as a satellite TV recorder which means no time/date updates (or firmware updates if it comes to it).
To update the time and date you must make the machine think it is just come out of the factory. The way to to do that is, yes you've guessed it, go to the setup menu and select the "Factory reset" option from the relevant sub-menu. The machine will reset itself which takes 30secs or so, then allow it to go through the FreeView tuning auto-search process (even though you have no Freeview) and at the end of that, you will be given the option to set up the date and time.
Bit of a pain if you get a lot of power cuts, but better than having the wrong time showing .......
If you think setting the time is a pain, wait until you accidentally hit the HDMI button on the remote when you don't have an HDMI TV ......
So, any idea anybody on how we get the firmware updated without a FreeView signal ?
