I may be incorrect on some of the details here, but I am sure about the feature that I (and I assume everyone else) has lost in the latest update to the DVR system
Firmware version KA15.09.16.10 is what I have listed in my Settings screen, and after talking to a 2nd level tech support rep, that is the latest.
Here is the feature:
Previous to this update, live TV recording made it possible to hold (in the DVR buffer) the portion of the channel you were watching before changing to a 2nd channel. If you were watching ABC for an hour, then switched to FOX, and then back to ABC you could still rewind ABC up to that full hour your box was on. Considering the new Quantum media server box (the main box) contains 6 tuners, this was the normal behavior when all DVR resources are available.
After the firmware update, this is no longer possible.
The DVR deletes the buffer from the previous channel immidiately and starts recording only the currently viewed channel. And this has been tested in a five TV household, with a media server main box and four client boxes (IFC?), with NO shows being recorded, and only one TV (and box) turned on.
If you were unaware of this change, test it for yourselves (and here, I may be unaware of additional circumstances - I do not know exactly who gets this particular firmware). But I can say without a doubt, as somebody who has been accustomed to this feature for the last 2 years (1 month+ with the new Quantum hardware), it is a considerable downgrade in both casual TV viewing, and the loss of an extremely useful feature.
If you agree this needs to be returned to the FIOS DVR service, let them know about it.
Tried it and NOT seeing this problem. Both of the two channels can still be rewound a hour on mine.
You may need to try "Fix FIOS TV Issues" . Menu/Customer support/Top Support Tools/Fix FIOS TV Issues"
Thanks.
tried this on both client and main box, and I No longer have this feature. After 5 minutes on 1 channel, I can hit the info button and see a section of the timeline in red (rewindable), then switch to another channel and immidiately switch back, and I have No red recorded line on the timeline and cannot rewind at all.
This was how the tech explained to me the system is now SUPPOSED to work.
How are you able to do this? Have you not upgraded your set top boxes?
I see the same behavior as described by TNS_2. If I change channels back-and-forth between any two channels, when I return to the previous channel I have the red line going back (up to an hour) to the time I first tuned in that channel.
I can't explain why TNS_2 and I are seeing the way you want things to work and you're not, nor can I explain why a Verizon tech told you your situation is the way it's supposed to be. But I'm sure what I'm seeing....
STB here is a VMS1100 with the latest updates.
Edit: I wonder if there's any possiblity that the feature we're discussing here might vary from different parts of the country? Long Island, NY, here.
Are you doing this when a show only lasts 1 hour?
I don't remember being able to rewind past the begining of the current show.
And it definately wouldn't record the previous show.
Otherwise, I agree with eljefe.
I can switch back and forth between channels and always have the option to rewind or start recording from the beginning or the past hour whichever is shorter.
Edit:
I was able to duplicate the issue you see.
But I only see it on the IPC.
Works fine on VMS but when I switch channels and then back on IPC, I no longer have a buffer.
But I can't say if it ever worked the way you describe on IPC.
But it works fine on VMS for me.
I was able to duplicate the issue you see.
But I only see it on the IPC.
Works fine on VMS but when I switch channels and then back on IPC, I no longer have a buffer.
But I can't say if it ever worked the way you describe on IPC.
But it works fine on VMS for me.
As I said in my post, yes, the issue only occurrs with one TV (and box) turned on. I was not sure of the names of the bigger and smaller boxes (VMS, IPC) when I initially posted, but I am specifically referring to a situation with only one smaller, IPC in use.
And no, this was NOT how they behaved prior to the latest update. I know for a fact it was not because up until this change occurred, we routinely watched multiple shows on our bedroom TV (with IPC) this way while all other boxes in the house (including the VMS down in the Living Room) were turned off. Multiple recording buffers available with more than one channel.
When the VMS is left on, the IPC's retain the ability. But turn it off, and the IPC's can only access 1 buffer at a time. So the 6 tuners we paid for with this system are no longer being utilized on any of the client IPC equipped TV's, which therefore means, unless you are willing to power the VMS 24-7 (and considering my electric bill, I am NOT), the ability to fully utilize the Quantum all-in-one DVR system has been significantly neutered with this latest change.
At the very least we should be given a discount based on this reduction in performance.
And I hope the tech I spoke to furthered my complaint to those who made this change and/or these people are reading this.
The IPC (smaller boxes) have no buffers. And they use only one tuner from the VMS. In my testing, if the VMS has two channels active (which it normally does) and its one of the ones that you change back and forth to on the IPC then you can rewind up to an hour. Otherwise not. Also the IPC box can rewind on the channel its on (but only for the time the box was on and it loses it if you switch channels.
I believe this was essentially how it always worked. Perhaps the updates they made in the last few release to try and release tuners when not in use have made this more obvious.
@tns_2 wrote:I believe this was essentially how it always worked. Perhaps the updates they made in the last few release to try and release tuners when not in use have made this more obvious.
It is not. I've already stated this. Why would somebody invent a feature that never existed simply to complain about?
And any update which now forces the customer to leave an unused STB on and drawing power 24/7 in order to make use of the primary feature of the multi-DVR system when it did not previously require this added cost, is a poorly designed update.
Are there any Verizon Tech Support rep's here who can fwd this to someone and find out the reasoning behind this change? Calling the 800 number definitely does not provide any results.
This is mainly a peer to peer support forum.
Don't understand the comment about power.
Are you actually powering down the VMS (not just turning it off but removing power)?
The IPCs need a powered on VMS to operate fully.
The tuners for the IPCs are actually in the VMS.
If the VMS is unavailable, the IPCs revert to the equivalent of the FIOS APP for channels.
You lose the DVR capability.
And just as an addendum...
What makes this change even more idiotic, is that if you set a recording, TURN OFF THE VMS (meaning you physically power it off - with a recording in progress), the IPC's will then HAVE FULL ACCESS to the normal amount of buffer abilities they have when the VMS is powered on.
This means the 6 active tuners ARE INDEED AVAILABLE to the IPC's with the VMS is turned off (the light is off). Just like it's been for the past few years... but now, with this change.... the function is ONLY available if you've started an active recording.
This change made no sense. It has taken away a useful feature. And NOBODY at Verizon has any explanation for it...
I never saw the IPC having access to all 6 tuners when the VMS off. It could of course set recordings on all 6.
However one of the problems that the have been trying to fix is to release tuners when not in use. For users with many IPC boxes, the failure to release was causing problems. I think this is what you are now experiening.
When the VMS is unavailable to the IPCs, they revert to the equivalent of the FIOS APP.
I haven't tried it in a while, but you may have most of the capabilites, but I am not sure if you have access to allt he channels that you have with VMS.
Definitely can't record anything.
Only has VMS1100 and 2 IPCs for a week, but I think I noticed that if I pause live TV on an IPC, and then change the channel, I can then go back to the original channel and continue watching from the paused point. Also, pausing both channels allows flipping back and forth.
Sorry, but I tried this again and it doesn't work reliably. I started on an IPC, switching between 2 channels and lost the record buffer every time. I then started changing channels using "channel +/-" and "last" and eventually I got the 2 channels I wanted to keep their record buffer, and got what we are looking for. I have no idea what the magic sequence was.
Does anyone know how to see a list of what the 6 tuners on the VMS1100 are doing? That would help to confirm when a channel is still recording.
Also, from the IPC1100 manual you can see:
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Standard DVR Functionality (Only available when connected to the VMS1100)
• DVR functionality integrated with the IPG enables subscribers to: ο Pause, rewind, fast-forward, or record live TV
ο Maintain a personal recorded program library and access it using the IPG
ο Select programs to record across multiple channels and time slots
ο Rewind and replay recorded programs
ο Simultaneously watch two programs, switching easily between them using the swap key (Dependent upon program guide support and provided remote control)
ο Record a program in the background while viewing another live program
ο Simultaneously record programs from two channels while watching a different pre-recorded program, with the ability to switch viewing between any of the three programs
ARRIS cannot guarantee the exact amount of programming that each subscriber will be able to record. The approximate time depends on the programming type and the drive size:
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I assume the "swap" key is the same as the "last" key.
Unless you unplug or have a power strip to power the VMS off, just turning it off from the power switch saves little to no electricity.
The IPC will not work if the VMS is truly powered off.
As TNS says, IPCs are dumb units that utilize a tuner of the VMS.
Start a new topic or ask questions in the open forum.
