Timers not working correctly

[Videonut]

I'm having several problems with my timers on my T2.

I'm finding that many programs have been recorded twice.

Additionally I often see that some programs are on the list to be recorded in the future yet the program isn't on either the EPG anymore  or the printed copy that It appears in the newspaper.

It's as if the service changed their programming to something entirely different from EPG & that the electronic EPG didn't pick this up.  Is this the way it's supposed to work?

My EPG is no longer being automatically updated and I can't find where to turn this feature back on.

Thanks in advance

[MrQuade]

Duplicate recordings can be a result of an Autotimers finding the same program on SD and HD channel. Can you provide more info about the recordings. You can also press info when selecting a finished timer to get additional details.


Automatic EPG refreshes can be performed by the EPGRefresh plugin. Have you recently updated firmware and forgotten to reinstall this plug-in?

[Videonut]

Attached is a screen shot of recorded programs None of these duplicates were broadcast on SD.

If I press the info button I can see different running times as well as files sizes for each duplication.

I did a F/W update about a month ago but didn't download the EPG refresh plug in. I have now downloaded it but how do I get it to run?

[MrQuade]

What does your timers screen look like?

[Videonut]

Attached is part of the timer screen but this time from OpenWebIf screen as seen on my PC. Could there be any difference in setting a timer from setting a timer from T2 as compared to OpenWebIf?

[prl]

BTW: you can take screen shots of your T2 in Open Webif. Just click on Grab Screenshot in the left sidebar, and save the image from the browser.

Images made that way are generally clearer than if you use a camera.

[prl]

Attached is part of the timer screen but this time from OpenWebIf screen as seen on my PC. Could there be any difference in setting a timer from setting a timer from T2 as compared to OpenWebIf?

Ordinary timers set from Open Webif are the same as ordinary timers set on the T2. AutoTimers set on from OpenWebif are the same as AutoTimers set on the T2. All that's different is the interface that sets them up.

AutoTimers (and IceTV) set one-off normal timers, but they are flagged as being set by AutoTimer or IceTV in the timer list.

Are you setting simple single or repeating timers or are you using Autotimers (or IceTV) to set timers? If you'd posted a screen shot of the timers list on the T2, that question would have been answered. That information isn't visible in the OpenWebif timer list.

[Videonut]

I have tried getting the timer info requested. I have done it both ways.I didn't see anyway to save screenshot from OpenWebIf so I just did a snip.

[MrQuade]

I have tried getting the timer info requested. I have done it both ways.I didn't see anyway to save screenshot from OpenWebIf so I just did a snip.

Just right click the image and select "save as".

[prl]

OK: all the timers visible in the screen shots have been set by AutoTimers.

Part of your problem is the fact that EPGRefresh isn't keeping the EPG up to date (because it wasn't installed), and part of the problem (repeats being recorded) is may be down to the way that you have AutoTimers configured.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I have tried getting the timer info requested. I have done it both ways.I didn't see anyway to save screenshot from OpenWebIf so I just did a snip.

We're not getting enough of a "picture" here. I think you'll need to supply the timers.xml and autotimer.xml files from directory /etc/enigma2.
If you don't remember how to fetch them, take a gander at an old topic of yours where fetching via OpenWebif, File Commander, and FTP was discussed - viewtopic.php?f=50&t=13516

Do you have AutoTimer setting 'Guess existing timer based on begin/end' enabled or disabled?

[Videonut]

I think that the attached file might be what your after.

I don't see the Autotimer option 'Guess existing timer based on begin/end', unless its somewhere further down options tree.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I think that the attached file might be what your after.

We need the timers file too please.

I don't see the Autotimer option 'Guess existing timer based on begin/end', unless its somewhere further down options tree.

Bring up the AutoTimer definitions list, then press MENU to bring up the AutoTimer Settings screen, then press CH- (channel down) to go to the second screen,

[Paul_oz53]

...

Bring up the AutoTimer definitions list, then press MENU to bring up the AutoTimer Settings screen, then press CH- (channel down) to go to the second screen,

The settings are option 6, SETUP. On the U4 it's on the bottom of the first screen, not the second.

[prl]

...

Bring up the AutoTimer definitions list, then press MENU to bring up the AutoTimer Settings screen, then press CH- (channel down) to go to the second screen,

The settings are option 6, SETUP. On the U4 it's on the bottom of the first screen, not the second.

On a T2 running 20191106 firmware and either of the easy-skin-aus-hd or Full-Metal-Wizard skins, it's the top line of the second page. However, the OverlayHD skin has 12 rows of settings/page; the pre-loaded skins have 10 rows/page.

That puts "Guess existing timer..." on the second-bottom row of the first page in OverlayHD, and the top row of the second page in the pre-loaded skins. It's a bit blind men and the elephant

[Videonut]

I think that is the other file required.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I think that is the other file required.

No it's not, as that is for Power TImers.

[Paul_oz53]

Thanks prl,

Easy to overlook the skin differences.

[Videonut]

Well this time I feel pretty certain that I have the correct files.

The last post mentioned different skins. I can't recall ever looking to see what I had so I have now tried both & can't see where if anywhere that something has changed. I'm using the latest F/W.

When looking at my latest timer list I see that some programs are going to be recorded today & others on Monday which is today. This is just one of many things that's puzzling about the T2.

The thing that I see as strangest is that when I look at my timer list and the EPG. Some appear on the EPG and others don't as if these 2 screens don't talk to one another.

When I look at the subtitles I seen heaps of options for placement, colour, size etc but no option to always turn them on if they exist in the recording.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I didn't see an AutoTimer definition in the file for 'Modern Family'. Did you delete it?
The definition for 'Little Drummer Girl' is set for SBS ONE HD, and looks fine.
As an aside -
The 'Doctor Doctor' definition isn't restricted to a single service (nor bouquet without simulcasts). That could generate additional timers from any of the three NINE main services it's shown on upon an EPG event change.
Hobson - no restriction on bouquet nor service.
Vera - includes both SBS ONE and SBS ONE HD, ABC HD, and your Favourites. If your Favourites bouquet is without any simulcasted services then just use that.
Country Music - you've added the Favourites bouquet to the SBS ONE HD service it already had.


Recordings -
Modern Family at 21:01 and 21:06
Timer log shows it was initially scheduled Sat Feb-8 14:17:08 with prepare time for 20:57:40 (20 secs prior to record time of 20:58:00).
Then changed on Mon Feb 10 12:18:15 with prepare of 21:05:50 (record time of 21:06:10).
Recording started Thu Feb 13 21:06:10.
Then at Thu Feb 13 21:19:37 (so 13 mins later), the changed EPG event details were detected, with a start of 21:01:10 (in the past). A new recording file starts.
Keeping the EPG current may have prevented that.

Code: Select all

<timer begin="1581598870" end="1581601765" serviceref="1:0:19:564:506:1013:EEEE0000:0:0:0:" repeated="0" rename_repeat="1" name="Modern Family" description="Haley is determined to follow the advice in her parenting books, but Phil and Claire think their old methods are better." afterevent="auto" eit="8045" tags="" disabled="0" justplay="0" always_zap="0" descramble="1" record_ecm="0" isAutoTimer="1">
<log code="500" time="1581142628">[AutoTimer] Try to add new timer based on AutoTimer Modern Family.</log>
<log code="509" time="1581142628">[AutoTimer] Timer start on: Thu Feb 13 20:58:00 2020</log>
<log code="15" time="1581308295">record time changed, start prepare is now: Thu Feb 13 21:05:50 2020</log>
<log code="5" time="1581599150">activating state 1</log>
<log code="0" time="1581599150">Found enough free space to record</log>
<log code="0" time="1581599150">Filename calculated as: &apos;/media/hdd/movie/20200213 2106 - 7HD Perth - Modern Family&apos;</log>
<log code="6" time="1581599150">prepare ok, waiting for begin</log>
<log code="5" time="1581599170">activating state 2</log>
<log code="11" time="1581599170">start recording from: Tuner C</log>
<log code="15" time="1581599977">record time changed, start prepare is now: Thu Feb 13 21:00:50 2020</log>
<log code="5" time="1581601232">activating state 1</log>
<log code="0" time="1581601232">Found enough free space to record</log>
<log code="0" time="1581601232">Filename calculated as: &apos;/media/hdd/movie/20200213 2101 - 7HD Perth - Modern Family&apos;</log>
<log code="6" time="1581601232">prepare ok, waiting for begin</log>
<log code="5" time="1581601232">activating state 2</log>
<log code="11" time="1581601232">start recording from: Tuner B</log>
<log code="5" time="1581601765">activating state 3</log>
<log code="12" time="1581601765">stop recording from: Tuner B</log>
</timer>

I don't have time at the current moment to go through the others.
However, I note that you have both a repeat timer and an AutoTimer definition set for The Little Drummer Girl.
At a glance I suspect the duplicate recordings of The Little Drummer Girl 21:22 and Modern Family 21:32 may be due to a GUI restart/crash or reboot (power outage?) at Thu Feb 13 21:40:32. They have the '_001' suffix in the recording file name, pointing to a restart.

[Videonut]

I recall that both 'Modern Family' & 'Little Drummer Girl' had 2 episodes broadcast back to back.

The 'Little Drummer Girl' has been broadcast by SBS for 2 weeks already is on EPG for 1 more this week.

When setting timers for 'back to back' programs should I click on both from the EPG or just click on first one & extend finish time or is this situation automatically detected?

I think that I have set a timers to repeat every week and then they show in timer list as coming up but then the station changes whats on in that time slot to something different. So it just records what was broadcast in that time slot even thou the program name it something completely different.

Some program that have been set appear highlighted in the EPG but the highlighted items don't always agree with the timer list.

[MrQuade]

When setting timers for 'back to back' programs should I click on both from the EPG or just click on first one & extend finish time or is this situation automatically detected?

No need to worry about it. Your default padding will be applied to both programs and the recordings will overlap eachother. The V2 can make several overlapping recordings from the same service if you need it to.

I think that I have set a timers to repeat every week and then they show in timer list as coming up but then the station changes whats on in that time slot to something different. So it just records what was broadcast in that time slot even thou the program name it something completely different.

Yep, repeat timers aren't smart and won't change automatically.
That's what you use Autotimers for. Autotimers remain active forever (by default), and search the EPG within the time and channel parameters you define for any shows that match the show name you provide.

Some program that have been set appear highlighted in the EPG but the highlighted items don't always agree with the timer list.

Autotimers will search ALL services unless you tell it otherwise, so recordings may be created for services that don't appear in your Favourites bouquet. (They will show up if you view the Terrestrial TV bouquet)

[Grumpy_Geoff]

At a glance I suspect the duplicate recordings of The Little Drummer Girl 21:22 and Modern Family 21:32 may be due to a GUI restart/crash or reboot (power outage?) at Thu Feb 13 21:40:32.

To that end, check the file /home/root/logs/enigma2_execution.log for around the 21:35-21:40 period to see whether the restarts were crashes, restarts, or perhaps reboots (you can use the 'Logs' share from Windows to take a squiz).
Also, any crash logs in that directory from around that time period?

If you don't want the AutoTimer plugin to change timers for active recordings, then set AutoTimer setting 'Skip polls during records'.

[prl]

When setting timers for 'back to back' programs should I click on both from the EPG or just click on first one & extend finish time or is this situation automatically detected?

No need to worry about it. Your default padding will be applied to both programs and the recordings will overlap eachother. The V2 can make several overlapping recordings from the same service if you need it to.

Also, if either program changes its timeslot, the second show won't get recorded (unless they both change to consecutive timeslots in the same order).

[prl]

The last post mentioned different skins. I can't recall ever looking to see what I had so I have now tried both & can't see where if anywhere that something has changed.

All that changes if the pre-installed changes is the number of rows of settings shown in the ettings screens.

That means that in the two builtin skins, easy-skin-aus-hd and Full-Metal-Wizard, "Guess existing timer based on begin/end" setting appears on the second page of the AutoTimer's general settings screen and on the first page in IanSav's OverlayHD skins. That difference explains why some posters in this topic saw it on the first page, and some saw it on the second page.

If you don't have OverlayHD installed, changing between the two pre-installed skins won't change the number of rows in settings pages.

[Videonut]

It's sad to say this but things appear to be getting worse. I notice that I managed to record one program last night three times. And the timer has several more scheduled to be recorded.

I could post the files as before if anyone has the time to look at them. Alternatively I could wait for a few weeks when I should be able to see better since I start cataract surgery tomorrow.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I could post the files as before if anyone has the time to look at them.

Sure, do that.

[Videonut]

See attached

Thanks once again

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I did say to you that was a possibility -

As an aside -
The 'Doctor Doctor' definition isn't restricted to a single service (nor bouquet without simulcasts). That could generate additional timers from any of the three NINE main services it's shown on upon an EPG event change.
Hobson - no restriction on bouquet nor service.

Your 'Doctor Doctor' definition has no service/bouquet restriction -

Code: Select all

<timer name="Doctor Doctor - New" match="Doctor Doctor - New" enabled="yes" avoidDuplicateDescription="1" searchType="start">
</timer>

It recorded on SID 461 / LCN 9 / Channel 9 Perth (timer created Tue Feb 18 19:06:17) and on simulcast SID 466 / LCN 91 / Channel 9 Perth (timer created Wed Feb 12 19:19:15, changed Tue Feb 18 19:06:18) for the exact same start time 20:57:30.
It also recorded on SID 461 / LCN 9 / Channel 9 Perth (timer created Wed Feb 19 19:32:45) starting 30 seconds later (but finishing 17 secs after the other two).

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Make it easy for yourself, set the default for new definitions to have the Favourites bouquet -
Bring up the AutoTimer definitions list, then press MENU>>7/Edit new timer defaults.
Press BLUE/Edit services.
Enable setting 'Enable Service Restriction'.
Toggle/switch 'Editing' to be on the 'Bouquets' value, and press BLUE/New to select and add your Favourites bouquet.

Just make sure your Favourites bouquet doesn't have any simulcasted services.