FiOS TV Technical Assistance

[#1]

I have noticed over the last several days that for nearly all of the shows I have recorded (especially those recorded during the evening and night), most of the shows start about 30 sec.-1 min. after recording has started and therefore the recording stops with anywhere from 30 sec.-2 min. of the show left.

Is this a problem on Verizon's part or is it with the networks?  I have noticed this happening with shows recorded off of the HD channels, in particular ABC, FOX, TLC, NBC, and CBS.

I don't want to have to change every recording to record just a minute or two longer, but it seems like my DVR (a Motorola HD/DVR QIP 6416-2) is about a minute ahead of everything.

Anyone else having this problem?

[#2]

The Networks are constantly adjusting the start and ends times of their shows.

Example: Ends at 09:31 PM instead of 09:30.

This has been discussed on this forum in the past.  One solution that can be used if you record multiple shows from the same network on the same night is to create a single manual recording for the time block.  You can then extend that start and end times of this block to eliminate any missing parts of the show.

[#3]

I am aware of the networks adjusting the start and stop times of shows, but that has always been reflected on the on-screen guide.

For instance, last week's Desperate Housewives was on the schedule from 8-9:00 when the show actually ran from 8-9:02.  In the past the schedule would always show the extra minute or two so that everything recorded, but now that has appartantly stopped.  That's why I was wondering if this was a Verizon issue (in that their on-screen schedule wasn't reflective of the actual showtimes) or a network issue (in that they were adjusting start/stop times without notifying whomever).

I know it's not that big of an issue, but when I noticed it happening with almost every show on my DVR I thought something may have been wrong.

[#4]

you can go into the settings of the recording through the menu and set it to record 5 minutes later than it is supposed to, I think the networks are changing where the comercials are again this season to mess up all of the dvr and tivo devices, many times those are not posted properly.

[#5]

I too have noticed that this problem is getting worse recently.  I believe the programmers are trying to thwart our attempts to bypass commercials.  Be that as it may, I have tried everything to resolve it, but it is futile for us mere mortals to do battle with the electronics.  It's not that they are smarter, they actually have far fewer functions than we, however, that's their strength and our demise.  The sad truth is that we do not control the broadcast time, only the recording time.  Yes, we can try to be clever and add a minute or two to either end and that will usually work for single event recordings.  However, if you are a power user you probably have a pretty full recording schedule each night (I rarely watch any program in real time because controlling playback makes me feel so superior to the machine and the system - for a little while, at least) you are facing compound issues whose solutions are mutually exclusive.  To wit

1. Different channels have different idiosyncrasies in timing.  If you have both DVR input channels set to record with back-to-back programs, you cannot control those minutes effectively. 

2. The Priority you have assigned to your series recordings will (usually) override your recording modifications and you will find that your feeble attempts to control time leave you with a bullet in your foot. 

3. Until such time as there is a heuristic system that can be taught to think like you do and make decisions you would make, get used to being at the mercy of the system.

Now for a few bright spots:

1. Scour the Guide for later showings of your favorites.  I have found off-time and date showings that allow me to stretch recording times because there is no adjacent recording.

2. If you have a reasonably static recording schedule, try re-working your Prioritization to avoid overriding those extra minutes.  You can usually be assured that Big Network programs will start and end at the same time to maximize ad revenues.  However, Small Stations are notoriously unpredictable.

3. Maybe if we keep the pressure on Verizon, they'll create newer software that actually satisfies their customers' needs.

Amen

[#6]

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bday78 wrote:

I have noticed over the last several days that for nearly all of the shows I have recorded (especially those recorded during the evening and night), most of the shows start about 30 sec.-1 min. after recording has started and therefore the recording stops with anywhere from 30 sec.-2 min. of the show left.

Is this a problem on Verizon's part or is it with the networks?  I have noticed this happening with shows recorded off of the HD channels, in particular ABC, FOX, TLC, NBC, and CBS.

I don't want to have to change every recording to record just a minute or two longer, but it seems like my DVR (a Motorola HD/DVR QIP 6416-2) is about a minute ahead of everything.

Anyone else having this problem?

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This issue may be specific to Verizon's guide data provider.  Tribune (used by DirecTV, Moxi, TiVo) reports 8:00-9:01, 8:00-9:02, 9:01-10:02, etc for a number of shows, yet the FiOS DVR lists many of these as 8:00-9:00 and 9:00-10:00.

If you are seeing this on literally every recording, then I wonder if your clock might be off.   Networks probably start 1/3 to 1/4 of their programs late and run them late, but the other 2/3 to 3/4 should start and end on the hour.  If you list some of the programs you record, we could compare the start and end times reported by the FiOS DVR vs. those reported by Tribune.

[#7]

According to Verizon Tech Support, the equipment gets its time set from the network and we mere mortals have no way to adjust it, ergo, we must modify the effect rather than correct the cause.

Please read my earlier post for some suggestions for doing that.   If anyone has any others, please share . . .

[#8]

I think this is an issue with the networks. I've noticed that lately a lot of the recordings on my Direct tv DVR and My Tivo as well as my Verizon DVR are all doing the same things.

Many of the channels are now showing an end time of 9:01 for example and on the shows that do this it records fine. But on many of the network channels the end times are still at the top and bottom of the hour and I'm missing the last minute or so on all three dvr's.

Doesnt seem to happen much on the cable channels, just the network channels.