Guideplus setup on Sony HDD?

trackerman

Has anyone figured out how to get Guide Plus to work in the Dublin area?
I read that UTV carries Guide Plus info, but I can't seem to get it to work...

I'm on NTL basic cable with no STB and a new Sony HDD (new black model).
Thanks.

Trackerman.

byte

Can you get teletext on UTV? AFAIK, Guideplus relies on teletext to download the listings info. Eurosport is another channel that carries Guideplus data.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=319778&highlight=guideplus might be of help.

trackerman

It took some time, but I managed to figure it out:D

I now have nearly all my channels (NTL basic) covered on GuidePlus.
The only channels not listed are TV3 and TG4, and I guess it's because these are not available in the UK on freeview, trestrial, cable or satelite.

Now it's a doddle to pre-program a weeks worth of recording in a few moments, no fiddling with start and end times......makes me mad that Ireland does not have such a service as standard. So much for the Celtic Tiger.

If anyone has a Sony HDD and wants some set up, tips just drop me an PM or email
raymo99@lycos.co.uk

Alun

trackerman wrote: »

If anyone has a Sony HDD and wants some set up, tips just drop me an PM or email raymo99@lycos.co.uk

Why not just share the information here?

trackerman

I wasn't sure if anyone really needed a guide for the Sony, but it seems there is a demand so here it is, it's not rocket science and it's not exact, but it should work.


Firstly this is for NTL basic, if you have an NTL digital box you will need to experiment.

Initial setup:
Language- English
Country- England
Postal Code- BT71NN
External receiver 1 - Cable, NTL, Program 1
External receiver 2- Satellite, SKY, Program 2
External receiver 3- Satellite, SKY+, Program 3

All of these may not be necessary, but it's no harm having all three set up.

When the Sony box asks if the external receiver has switched channel just say yes, this is just so that the Sony Box downloads the guide plus data for the respective receivers.

Next set up the host channel.
UTV and Eurosports are the UK host channels, they carry the guideplus data on their teletext service.
Set UTV as your host channel.
Set the relevant program number and don't forget to "confirm" at the end.

Now you need to wait 24 hrs to allow the data to be downloaded. It happens sometime around 3pm, the Sony will show "EPG" on the front panel meaning Electronic Program Guide is being loaded.

Now when you press the guideplus button on the remote; you should now see program data for many many channels, most you don't have but embedded in all this are the channels you need!
You also need to (and this important) edit the input source and program number so that you can record from the correct channel.

If you
Scroll over to the EDIT section of the Guideplus window, turn off the unwanted stations, edit the source to TUNER and set the appropriate channel number to match the TV.
It's important to you have synced up the TV and Sony box channels, i.e. BBC1 is the same number on both etc...

Thats it, you should not have most (except TV3 and TG4) available on Guideplus.

Good luck....

podgeandrodge

I found the Guideplus soul destroying - the machine continually booting up looking to download listings, the garish advertising on the screen for dvd sets etc and a horribly un user friendly and time consuming way of setting recordings manually if you want to -

I went back to my old Sony machine for the main room which is far more inutitive and just uses teletext to put the program names into recordings automatically - which Guideplus does not even seem to do.

bazzer

I find the manual method of programming a recording straightforward enough. I'd rather that than trying to fool my machine into thinking it's in the UK - ugh!

trackerman

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I found the Guideplus soul destroying - the machine continually booting up looking to download listings, the garish advertising on the screen for dvd sets etc and a horribly un user friendly and time consuming way of setting recordings manually if you want to -

I went back to my old Sony machine for the main room which is far more inutitive and just uses teletext to put the program names into recordings automatically - which Guideplus does not even seem to do.

I've not had the pleasure of the older version Sony.
But I have to agree on some points, the constant hum of the HDD at 3pm has attracted some complaints form my wife!!!

The manual setup method is not easy to use, and required 6 to 7 key strokes to just access the manual section. But it can be made easier if you just enter UTV as host channel but leave receiver 1, 2 and 3 set to "none".
Then you are directed straight to manual when GuidePlus is selected.

PS, my GuidePlus does capture the program names onto recordings!

JimiMac

Hi trackerman,
PM sent to you.

BostonB

I've an older Sony HDD. No EPG. But it spins up and down at random when off/standby. If I turn it on then off, this stops it. Any idea why it does this?

silly1

I have set up Guideplus using a Pioneer Dvr 645 HS recorder approx a year ago in the same manner as Trackerman and find it excellent. If you want to record from the tv this is the most userfriendly and reliable approach. I dont understand why one of the four Irish tv channels do not carry the signal as the only alternative here in Ireland is the SkyPlus EPG which you have to pay for.

evilivor

silly1 wrote: »

I have set up Guideplus using a Pioneer Dvr 645 HS recorder approx a year ago in the same manner as Trackerman and find it excellent. If you want to record from the tv this is the most userfriendly and reliable approach. I dont understand why one of the four Irish tv channels do not carry the signal as the only alternative here in Ireland is the SkyPlus EPG which you have to pay for.

My Guide+ now won't update.

I set up Guide+ the weekend before last also on a Pioneer DVR it worked like a charm at the start but won't take updates now.

I am a Chorus Digital customer, I used Eurosport as the Host channel and it worked perfectly. However it hasn't received an update since sometime last week.

Machine is left on standby all night, set to Host channel but nada.

I checked this morning and there is an update scheduled for this afternoon and I have set it to UTV just in case.

Any other ideas?

sweetie

evilivor wrote: »

My Guide+ now won't update.

I set up Guide+ the weekend before last also on a Pioneer DVR it worked like a charm at the start but won't take updates now.

I am a Chorus Digital customer, I used Eurosport as the Host channel and it worked perfectly. However it hasn't received an update since sometime last week.

Machine is left on standby all night, set to Host channel but nada.

I checked this morning and there is an update scheduled for this afternoon and I have set it to UTV just in case.

Any other ideas?

same happened me. Reset the machine and set it up again from scratch.