Channels and Programming

[vpwood]

Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem recording dvr and getting the last minute of ALL PROGRAMS you record ?

the time between my dvr box and comcast airtime is off by almost a minute.

Am  I overlooking a way to set the correct time on my dvr box to correct this problem?

please help  , thanks

[WarEagle57]

Call 1-800-COMCAST and complain.  You can add time to recordings, but that's a very poor substitute for Comcast setting the time correctly, and isn't always possible.

[hal35a]

This happens with certain shows. Go to Set a  recording.

  Then click on view recoding setting for this program, and then adjust stop recoding time. I generally add a minute or two which usually gives the show enough time to finish up.

[vpwood]

thanks for the reply , but this is an ongoing thing.  you would think that  you would not have to go into your record list every couple days and RE edit your recordings to get the last minute of anything that you want recorded .  I'm researching for an option to enter a setup mode on my  SA 8300hd  dvr box.

hoping to find and option to change the clock time on the box its self.

[omcleod]

Some stations start their programs sooner than the scheduled time.  I verified this by looking at the time and temp info right below the station's logo and indeed they were starting the programs a minute early.  If your clock is off, then you'll need to call and have then correct the time server or add a minute to your scheduled recordings.

[Queen-Evie]

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vpwood wrote:

Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem recording dvr and getting the last minute of ALL PROGRAMS you record ?

the time between my dvr box and comcast airtime is off by almost a minute.

Am  I overlooking a way to set the correct time on my dvr box to correct this problem?

please help  , thanks

---

I doubt that EVERY program on EVERY network/channel starts at an odd-ball time.

I've also had this happen, though not with every program.

As stated it's not always possible to set up to record a minute or two extra at the end.

And it's not consistent, so there is no way to know in advance if it will or will not record the entire program.

Tonight I set up 2 recordings, both at the same time. Both started at 8pm. One was minute short at the end, the other was not. One started the show at 8, the other had a minute of the previous show at the beginning. At least it was on a network that repeats later; I set up a new recording and tacked on a extra 2 minutes at the end. Tomorrow I will fast forward to get to the last minute of the show.

[andyross]

First, check the time on the box. If you have a cell phone or 'atomic' clock, they should be accurate enough, within a few seconds.

That said, digital broadcasting tends to introduce delays. WGN-HD here in Chicago was nearly 5 seconds behind analog before the shutdown (and the analog feed on Comcast is still 5 seconds ahead of the digital.) Also, many HD cable channels are merged 3:1 at a single Comcast facility, then linked by satellite to their regions. This introduces yet a few more seconds delay.

Finally, more and more programs start and end at odd times. The new Leno show seems to start 30-45 seconds late, and ends 30-45 seconds early. The Tonight show (with Leno or Conan) starts 30 seconds early. Cartoon Network, especially with their Adult Swim programming, is all over the place. The program guide tries to take this into account if the network tells them. The Office typically runs one minute over, but is listed as ending at x:31.

Message Edited by andyross on 09-20-2009 08:15 AM

[WarEagle57]

I had problems for quite a while last year with the Comcast clock.  It would be correct for about a week, then shift by one minute and stay that way for days at a time, then shift back.  It finally quit doing that, but I've never been sure how they fixed it.

(Edited to change second to minute, lest future readers think I'm really picky.    )

Message Edited by WarEagle57 on 09-21-2009 05:21 PM

[andyross]

Given the ease of synching over the Internet, or even to some remote corporate source, each head end should have a time server that stays in synch with something.

[vpwood]

does anyone else have problems recording with comcast dvr ?

can you set it to record a weekly program and each episode you get all of it? without editing between each episode?

[WarEagle57]

Each episode should be recorded separately, in its entirety.  I don't understand the question about editing.  Perhaps you can rephrase it.  In the meantime, here is a link to use of the iGuide s/w.

[vpwood]

I'm sorry,  ok let me say it a differnt way.

when i setup to record anything.....

when i watch the recording later i always miss the last minute of whatever.

for instance i like to record "survivor" ok as we all know the last minute is where you see who voted and the scenes for the next show.

if i do not (re edit ) and add 1 minute to the recording i miss the ending.

but my cable box time seems correct with everything else ?

[WarEagle57]

Well, I don't know about Survivor's layout, but it may be that Comcast isn't providing the correct time, or it may be that the network is running over the scheduled time.  You can try calling 1-800-COMCAST to ask them to correct the time, but don't expect too much.  You can set up the series recording so that it records an extra minute.

Message Edited by WarEagle57 on 09-21-2009 05:23 PM

[vpwood]

unfortunately its not just survivor, its everything i setup to record.

unfortunately i've tried setting up the series and adding an extra minute, BUT after the first record the next  recording the following week starts and ends on the even hour without the extra minute from previous settings.

after closely looking for a few weeks now the only logical fix i can see is to change the time on my

SA 8300hd dvr box , i just find it strange that  no one else is having this problem.

apparently i do not have the option to change the time myself, if some one knows how please let me know.

 thank you all for your input

[cb2367]

I've been thinking about this "dvr stopping early issue" and wonder if there is a permanent fix. I'm wondering if it's just that there are now too many commercials being inserted into the programming, thereby causing the program to run over.

I've always missed the last 30 seconds to 1 minute of a recording becuase the DVR has stopped early. In one instance, I specifically setup the recording to increase the stop time by one minute. In reality, all that was needed was an extra 30 seconds.

What is the signal source for the master time at Comcast that is then relayed to all the boxes? Is it possible to have the clock adjusted by 30 seconds for one individual box?

[vpwood]

Well I definitely would have to agree with you about to many commercials !

And you are correct I myself believe that in most cases its probably only about 30 seconds.

But in those 30 seconds on anything I record, without editing the ending time I miss it.

So if  it is possible to change the box time time some how I would love to hear for sure.

Thanks to everyone that has tried helping with this matter.

[andyross]

The problem is not the same from channel to channel, so adjusting the clock could cause you to lose the beginning of programs on other channels.

Most of the issue is the networks themselves playing fast and loose with the clock. Many still live in a fantasy world where it's the 50's and everybody watches only one channel live, and doesn't use a remote control.

For some, Comcast does add about a 5-10 second delay due to the 3:1 HD compression.

[vpwood]

The really strange thing about this is that no one else is complaining with this problem?

haha  anyone have any ideas what my next step should be?

For the cost of cable and box rental , its really ashame to have such a petty problem huh

[alanbooth]

My DVR does the same thing. I have watched the recording stop at 28 minutes past the hour when its set to 30 minutes past. Comcast says they are aware and the problem started when they went to new guide but offered no solutions.. Worhless !