US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > DVR Repeat (Updated 07/15/09)

reply to CCGeorge

Re: DVR Repeat (Updated 07/15/09)

It sounds like Macrovision is having serious issues with their guide data. Are any other cable providers having this problem?

What you are all describing sounds very much like FiOS users get with their Motorola box. Of course, Verizon gets its guide data from FYI Television, with is notorious for unreliable new and repeat flags. In the past, Macrovision/Gemstar TVGuide was usually reliable.

Yeah Mediacom is having the same issue. They also run the blue I-Guide.

Maybe they should use this opportunity to choose another vendor. Instead of TV-Guide or FYI TV, how would Tribune do?

If Tribune wants a multi million dollar business, they'll get their data in whatever format is required for I-Guide. Be it CSV files, round robin databases, sql tables, whatever.

reply to CCGeorge
Hi, I'm really glad to see Comcast is working on this after losing some really great new TV to a bunch of shows I'd already seen. Now I need to police my DVR schedule regularly to make sure that this problem doesn't repeat itself.

Most recently, the repeats-to-be-recorded-when-I-said-only-new-episodes was the set below, and what struck me particularly was that the episodes DO say "repeat" in the user-facing description, whereas in the past the DVR was recording repeats (of other shows) that were not specifically marked as repeats in the description.

1. What show?
Mad Men
2. What time?
4-5a Mon August 10 (and then every episode after, marathon of Mad Men. I didn't count, I just canceled that series recording.)
3. What channel?
AMCHD
4. Was this recorded on a DVR?
Yes
5. Which box are you using? This is important. Is the box a Motorola or Scientific Atlanta?
Motorola
6. Is this intermittent?
The box has been regularly recording repeat episodes since early May, I believe.
7. Was this a live event?
No

Unfortunately, it seems there is another bug. If a series program is auto-chosen because it has no tag, it then normally ignores if a REPEAT tag is added. For each affected series, you have to go to the Priority List, find the program, go into the properties (wrench icon), change it from 'only new' to 'new and repeat', save it, then change it back to new only.

I had that happen with Letterman, This Old House, and a few others.

reply to CCGeorge
I've had to turn off many series recordings lately & now have to go into the guide each week to set shows to record. It would be easier to do it with a vcr as I could tell it to record from say 9-10:00 every Friday, instead of having to do it every week.
The big offenders this week were marathons of Monk & Psych, both on USA. Also a few episodes of Lost have recorded & they certainly aren't new. I have a Motorola DCT3416. I was going to try the suggestion of changing to new & repeats & then back to new only, but my dvr was completely full & I needed the space so I just shut off the series recordings. Seems like a step backwards

reply to CCGeorge
I've also got the Mad Men season 2 marathon mentioned a couple posts up. I had Mad Men scheduled to record only new episodes, but it still wants to get them all tomorrow.

Also, Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E every Sunday shows like three hours of repeats before the new episodes air. And every Sunday, even though they are listed as repeats in the TV Guide, my DVR records them all despite being categorized as "New Only" on the series recording schedule.

I have rebooted my box last week (moved the tv to a different wall) and am still having the problem.

Its the standard silver motorolla box.

Updated 8/7/09

Some customers may still be experiencing issues with their DVR recording repeat episodes of shows that were set up as a series recording, even though they have their DVR set to record only new episodes. A new guide data issue has been identified in Motorola markets that may cause this experience. This may result in the over recording of programs, which may result in the DVR hard drive to reach capacity and/or cause DVR scheduling conflicts.

This current issue has been identified with certain programs on the following channels: Food Network, E!, Disney, USA, Sy-Fy, USA, G4, Discovery, TLC and Cartoon.

A new fix has already been implemented, however the impact of this issue may continue for some customers through August 19th, depending upon when they set up the series recording. All series recordings set up by customers starting today on the listed channels should record properly. However, series recordings set up prior to August 6th will not be fixed until August 19th. This occurs because scheduled recording data is stored on the DVR hard drive which does not self correct until 14-16 days later. This means the issue will not be fully resolved until August 19th at the earliest.

Any of these customers who would like to immediately correct the issue can delete their current scheduled series recording and then reschedule them.

To cancel a scheduled series recording, push the MyDVR button on your remote control, select Scheduled Recordings, locate the series recording by using the arrow keys, select OK/Select, then select the red dot icon at the bottom of the screen (Set or Cancel a Recording), select OK/Select, then select Modify Series Recordings, then select Don’t Record this Series.

As I mentioned in the post above you, A&E is also affected, but not on the list.``

This was just a copy and past from an internal document. They may not be aware of all the channel troubles still. Call in your call center and report the issue. Tell them to consult the 'CASPER' document regarding this. It has specific information on who they need to forward it on to. They will need the following info when you call in.

Location of the customer (city, state)
Channel
Program
Air Date
Time

Thanks rendrenner, I will try to reprogram series recordings & see what happens.

reply to CCGeorge
The problem is caused by whomever writes the description. If the description doesn't say "new" or "repeat". The DVR thinks that it is new.

The solution is to have Whomever writes the descriptions, be more thorough.

That's just not correct, and you clearly didn't read this thread.

The issue is with DVRs recording shows listed as repeats.