Series link - any boxes support it yet?

Yes, as far as I understand RTENL are not sending the required information, YET.
It is in the pipeline though.

Also there are no true dual tuner Saorview approved PVR boxes available yet.

If you like a technical challenge and your other half is the patient sort then you can effectively do this using a linux box with twin DVB-T tuners installed.
Warning - It is in no way 'plug and play' and whilst it can pickup Saorview transmissions it will not be Saorview approved (so you may not get current or future Saorview functionality ..teletext etc.)

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'm looking for a good pvr box for saorview channels.

Do any Saorview boxes either approved or otherwise support series link?

Also would a Humax Freeview HD box support the full Saorview epg?

For what its worth

I been advised by a retailer in Newry (where I bought my TV a few years ago) that what I want ie a pvr that will record Freeview and Saorview is due out immentently. A Toshiba. he is pretty confident that it will definetly be out before the euros, (should of been out a few weeks ago)

Now I dont particularily give a monkeys about series link all I want is to be able to record a Saorview/Freeview channel like I can currently do with the terestrial channels. He assures me that will be the case

blackius wrote: »

Such a move would seem the most sensible.

sensible and RTENL in the same context.... surely no

Just to clarify - the option to record a series seems only to have been active for a short period at the end of last week (probably Saturday or Sunday) and my wife just happened to be setting her recordings at the time. But the series link that was available does work with a Humax pvr, whatever system they were using.

The programme involved was The Voice of Ireland which broadcast last Sunday (two different programmes). Both programmes recorded; the recordings were placed in a folder; the recording schedule still shows the programme with the series link icon.
This is the first and, so far, only time that series link has been available when we tried to record.

lkdsl wrote: »

Humax HDR - FoxT2 will support series link. They must be testing series link because the option to record the series appeared on one of my wife's programmes last week when she was doing her weekly recording schedule. The programme recorded successfully, the pvr put the various recordings into a folder, and shows that it is set to record the series.

BTW, have been using the Humax for about a year with no problems.

As an owner of the same yoke,
I concur with all the above.

Series link seems to be implemented on RTE1 +1 as well. And the programme info is blank when recorded on Humax HDR Fox T2

Would series link work on a one tuner 'PVR ready' box that uses an external USB or would this vary from model to model?

Samples from the EIT data (EPG stream) on RTE 1+1

First is an entry for Nationwide due for transmission on next Monday, 30th April

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <Terrestrial__EUR__722000>
    <EventID Value="10500" Name="Nationwide">
      <StartTime String="30/04/2012 19:00:00"/>
      <Duration String="00:30:00"/>
      <RunningStatus Value="0" Name="undefined"/>
      <FreeCAMode Value="0" Name="not encrypted"/>
      <Descriptor HValue="0x4D" Name="Short Event">
        <DescriptorLength Value="18"/>
        <Language String="eng"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <EventName String="Nationwide"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <EventDescription String=""/>
      </Descriptor>
      <Descriptor HValue="0x54" Name="Content">
        <DescriptorLength Value="2"/>
        <ContentNibbles HValue="0x00" Name="Not defined"/>
        <UserByte HValue="0x00"/>
      </Descriptor>
      
      
      
      <Descriptor HValue="0x76" Name="Content Identifier">
        <DescriptorLength Value="22"/>
        <CRIDType HValue="0x31" Name=" User Private">
          <CRIDLocation Value="0" Name="Carried explicitly within descriptor"/>
          <CRID String="/42698364"/>
        </CRIDType>
        <CRIDType HValue="0x32" Name=" User Private">
          <CRIDLocation Value="0" Name="Carried explicitly within descriptor"/>
          <CRID String="/30280512"/>
        </CRIDType>
      </Descriptor>
      
      
      
      <Descriptor HValue="0x4E" Name="Extended Event">
        <DescriptorLength Value="51"/>
        <DescriptorNumber Value="0"/>
        <LastDescriptorNumber Value="0"/>
        <Language String="eng"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <Text String="Reports from around the country. (Subtitles)"/>
      </Descriptor>
    </EventID>
  </Terrestrial__EUR__722000>

Next a snip from the entry for Wednesday, 2nd May

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <Terrestrial__EUR__722000>
    <EventID Value="10539" Name="Nationwide">
      <StartTime String="02/05/2012 19:00:00"/>
      <Duration String="00:30:00"/>
      <RunningStatus Value="0" Name="undefined"/>
      <FreeCAMode Value="0" Name="not encrypted"/>
      <Descriptor HValue="0x4D" Name="Short Event">
        <DescriptorLength Value="18"/>
        <Language String="eng"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <EventName String="Nationwide"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <EventDescription String=""/>
      </Descriptor>
      <Descriptor HValue="0x54" Name="Content">
        <DescriptorLength Value="2"/>
        <ContentNibbles HValue="0x00" Name="Not defined"/>
        <UserByte HValue="0x00"/>
      </Descriptor>
      
      
      <Descriptor HValue="0x76" Name="Content Identifier">
        <DescriptorLength Value="22"/>
        <CRIDType HValue="0x31" Name=" User Private">
          <CRIDLocation Value="0" Name="Carried explicitly within descriptor"/>
          <CRID String="/42698379"/>
        </CRIDType>
        <CRIDType HValue="0x32" Name=" User Private">
          <CRIDLocation Value="0" Name="Carried explicitly within descriptor"/>
          <CRID String="/30280512"/>
        </CRIDType>
      </Descriptor>
      
      
      <Descriptor HValue="0x4E" Name="Extended Event">
        <DescriptorLength Value="51"/>
        <DescriptorNumber Value="0"/>
        <LastDescriptorNumber Value="0"/>
        <Language String="eng"/>
        <CharacterTable HValue="0x05" Name="Latin alphabet No. 5"/>
        <Text String="Reports from around the country. (Subtitles)"/>
      </Descriptor>
    </EventID>
  </Terrestrial__EUR__722000>

In both cases I have inserted spaces before and after the relevant section which is carrying the Series Link information. This is the CRID and there are two types in use:

Type 1 (0x31) is the programme CRID and this is different for each episode. In this case the episodes are marked /42698364 and /42698379

Type 2 (0x32) is the series CRID and each episode carries the same value /30280512

Note that the start times are in UTC, not local time. The local time adjustment offset value is carried in a separate table.

The PVR will/should examine the series CRID information and reserve the recording for that time. The programme CRID information is checked also to ensure that repeats of the programme already recorded are not recorded again. It's obviously up to the broadcast management systems to ensure that the CRIDs are consistent and don't change mid-way between series episodes.

LG "xxLD450" type ready (excellent on Saorview, Freeview only in UK) or "xxLD490" style (Rotten on Saorview even though Freeview HD in UK).

Panasonic was first with a Bluray player/recorder HDD PVR for Freesat HD and later Freeview HD. At the time too expensive and I'd not touch Panasonic with a barge pole.

watty wrote: »

LG "xxLD450" type ready (excellent on Saorview, Freeview only in UK) or "xxLD490" style (Rotten on Saorview even though Freeview HD in UK).

Panasonic was first with a Bluray player/recorder HDD PVR for Freesat HD and later Freeview HD. At the time too expensive and I'd not touch Panasonic with a barge pole.

I'm interested in why you don't like Panasonic. I have quite a bit of Panasonic gear, and I have never had any problems and generally find their stuff, to be top quality, if a little overpriced.

Managed to get my Sony PlayTv working with Windows Media Center on a cheap Dell laptop today with full 7 day EPG, Red button/digital Aertel and recording. I was offered series link on a couple of programmes I set to record (some kids programme on RTE2 that was on in 5 minutes and Eastenders on RTE 1 I think). When I selected series link my scheduled recordings where then populated with subsequent editions of the program.