Series Link

rymus

Read recently in that 'wonderful' sky magazine that series link was to be activated in ROI. My understanding is that if you add a programme to the planner and turn on the series link feature it would automatically add each subsequent programme to your planner.

For example:

Last Sunday I added "Six Feet Under" to my personal planner and turned on the series link feature. A little green icon appeared next to the listing (a little thing with arrows on it). So I presumed that the same show would be added to my planner for this monday's episode. No sign of it. Same thing with Soprano's.

Anyone know what the story is?

Dun

That's always been available (since the introduction of the Personal Planner), but it has had a very limited implemenation. The best channels for implementing it are the Irish ones - they've been good since they came on to Sky.

I've noticed it a lot more on Sky 1 and E4, but I don't know bout any of the other channels.

ShaneOC

It is available on the BBC channels as well. The way it work is that if you select a programme and choose the series link option, if you watch that programme then the next episode will be added.

It is up to the broadcaster (BBC, RTÉ, etc) to determine what the next episode is. For example if you series link the Simpsons at 6:30 on a Sunday (usually when the new episodes are shown) then the next one that will be added will be the 6:30 episode for the following Sunday. Remember the next episode will only be added if you watch the current one.

Our man in Havana

Surely if you select autoview (red button) it will automaticaly add the next ep. Do this all the time with The Bill on ITV. I always tape it and has never let me down so far

ShaneOC

Originally posted by Bond-James Bond
Surely if you select autoview (red button) it will automaticaly add the next ep. Do this all the time with The Bill on ITV. I always tape it and has never let me down so far

:eek: Ooops. Forgot about Autoview (it's not on Sky +) - yes that will automatically add the next episode once the current one finishes.

jmcbride

May I ask a question at this point? I've only just taken delivery of a Sky system, and am interested in being able to tape programmes while I'm out, without having to leave the box switched on all the time.

If I chose to Autoview a programme, will it (a) switch the box on automatically at the listed time, then (b) switch itself off afterwards? I'm not always likely to remember to leave the box on before I go out, so while it's less important the the box switched itself off, it would be extremely handy if it switched itself on.

Tony

Yep it does auto switch on

Originally posted by jmcbride
May I ask a question at this point? I've only just taken delivery of a Sky system, and am interested in being able to tape programmes while I'm out, without having to leave the box switched on all the time.

If I chose to Autoview a programme, will it (a) switch the box on automatically at the listed time, then (b) switch itself off afterwards? I'm not always likely to remember to leave the box on before I go out, so while it's less important the the box switched itself off, it would be extremely handy if it switched itself on.

rymus

thanks for all the info lads...

sceptre

Originally posted by rymus
Last Sunday I added "Six Feet Under" to my personal planner and turned on the series link feature. A little green icon appeared next to the listing (a little thing with arrows on it). So I presumed that the same show would be added to my planner for this monday's episode.

Easy answer to Six Feet Under.

Sunday's ep is a repeat of the previous Monday's.

E4 presumably haven't connected the two as they're effectively two different showings of the same series.

Works the same way with Eastenders (for example) - series link will work for the regular episode but won't add the omnibus on Sunday unless you add that and series link it (it'll be a different series link obviously).

rymus

Originally posted by sceptre
Easy answer to Six Feet Under.

Sunday's ep is a repeat of the previous Monday's.

What I meant was I added the monday episode on sunday evening...

anyway, I tried it again with the sopranos on Tuesday night and it worked poifectly... Have to leave the channel on until the bitter end (end credits, ads and the first few seconds of the news) before it will add next weeks episode to the planner, as Shane said . Presumably my sky box didnt think I watched it because I changed channel half way thru the end credits.

Doodah7

Hello

I am bit of a newbie to this Sky Digital lark and have been interested in this thread as to recording from Sky Digital.

The way my system is set up, if I record a program and switch channels, the video, when played back will show the change in channels. I assume this is normal. Yes? No?

Also, if I am recording a prog and I switch the TV off during recording, the video will show a black screen when playing it back from the time I switched off the TV. I'm not sure if this is normal.

The way my system is set up is that the TV, Video and Digibox are connected is TV>Video>Digibox>TV. Should I be able to record with the TV off? As it is I have to set the snooze control on the TV if want to record something late.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ludo

Originally posted by rymus
I tried it again with the sopranos on Tuesday night and it worked poifectly... Have to leave the channel on until the bitter end (end credits, ads and the first few seconds of the news) before it will add next weeks episode to the planner, as Shane said . Presumably my sky box didnt think I watched it because I changed channel half way thru the end credits.

This is incorrect.
I have Law and Order on Hallmark series linked on my box (well I did until the series ended this week). If I go into the personnal planner during an episode I can see the current one that is being autoviewed AND ALSO the following episode already entered so you do not have to wait until the bitter end of the program for the following one to be series linked. I often switch around and change channels if I have already seen an episode and the series link still works correctly.

Your problem is probably just bad entries by the relevant channel.

Genghis

Tallpaul,

That's right regarding changed channels during recording. The video reqords essentially a 'video out' from the digibox, and so it will show channel changes, EPG consultations, digital teletext, interactive sessions, etc.

What is not normal is your video recording a blank screen when your TV is off. My guess is that your Digibox is connected directly to Scart1 on your TV, and your video is not connected directly to the digibox, but comes via Scart 2 (Out) on your TV. While 'terrestrial' or analogue cable channels will go through the TV when off, the digibox signal won't.

(this happened me when I connected a Digisender to the second scart on the TV - it would transmit to the bedroom only while Living room TV was on).

This solution worked for me:

Your digibox has two scart-outs. Connect the main one (marked TV, I think) to your TV (AV1 Scart) , and the second one (marked VCR I think) to the 'Scart In' on your video. Then connect a Scart lead from your 'Scart Out' on the video to your second scart on the TV. Effectively both TV and Video have a seperate connection to the Digibox, and there is also a direct connection between TV and Video.

.

ShaneOC

Your digibox has two scart-outs. Connect the main one (marked TV, I think) to your TV (AV1 Scart) , and the second one (marked VCR I think) to the 'Scart In' on your video. Then connect a Scart lead from your 'Scart Out' on the video to your second scart on the TV. Effectively both TV and Video have a seperate connection to the Digibox, and there is also a direct connection between TV and Video.

There is no need to have a scart connection from the video to the TV. The digibox passes the video signal through the digibox to the TV. Handy if you only have one scart socket - or if you need a free one for a DVD player, PS2, etc...

Doodah7

Thanks Genghis and ShaneO'C.

I think I'll battle my through the jungle that is the cabling behind my TV this evening and follow your advice.

It didn't help that the guy who installed the system was no help whatsoever when I went to hook up the video...