Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
disable-ota removes the daily OTA (over-the-air) search from the scheduled events database. This has to be done at boot time, before the Humax software gets going, and just once isn't enough because the Humax software reinstates it periodically. The event cannot be seen in the normal on-screen schedule listing (Guide >> Schedule), but is apparent in the WebIF schedule browser.
The purpose is to prevent firmware you may be perfectly happy with being replaced (automatically) by a new release of firmware that has unknown bugs and unintended consequences. If you are using the Custom Firmware, an OTA update will clear it (rendering any custom software packages you have installed dormant) until a new release of the CF is available to add to the new Humax firmware.
It is possible to make the Humax unavailable so that it cannot perform the OTA search, without installing the CF (or even if you have) - see HERE (click). This method serves a dual purpose of keeping the EPG updated for rescheduled series recordings, and actually may be more reliable than disable-ota (later updates to the package provide a settings option to add this second-line OTA defeat automatically).
UPDATE (April 2017):
It is thought that there will be no further over-the-air updates (and modern set-top boxes etc tend to use Internet methods to acquire updates). Nonetheless, a non-customised HD/HDR-FOX will still go looking for one at 0430 every day, coming out of standby to do so or interrupting what you might be watching (if you are an insomniac).
Admittedly, the second-line "reminder" entry in the recording schedule also wakes the unit up (or causes a channel change) which may also be inconvenient, but the reliability of the basic disable-ota package function is now much improved by turning on Real Time Scheduling in WebIF >> Settings >> Advanced Settings, and the reminder schedule entry is no longer needed.
disable-dso performs a similar function of removing retune events from the schedule. The broadcast network can trigger these, usually when frequencies have changed or new services have been added to the multiplexes. A nag message pops up saying you need a retune and you can let it carry on or dismiss it (and it will pop up again later).
The problem (apart from the irritation when you know the only "benefit" will be another shopping channel) is that: 1. a retune deletes your recording schedule (it can be reinstated from an automatic backup if you are using the custom software, but only by hand if you are not); 2. chances are you need to do a manual scan because the default auto-scan will pick up more than one transmitter (a very bad idea).
The problem reached a whole new magnitude with the 1.02.28 update (ditto the 1.02.27 beta release). The behaviour of the nag message changed so that if you do not dismiss it within a few minutes, it goes ahead and performs an auto-scan anyway. This could be while you are away making tea, or during an EPG update wake-up while you are away on a fortnight's holiday expecting to return to a collection of catch-up viewing.
We have no non-custom fix for this, so we regard it as essential for non-CF users to stick with Humax firmware 1.02.20 and use the trick mentioned above to eliminate OTA searches. CF users can install disable-dso, but won't get a message when the network thinks you need a retune.
UPDATE (April 2017):
The reliability of the disable-dso package function is now much improved by turning on Real Time Scheduling in WebIF >> Settings >> Advanced Settings.
Automatic retunes can be made less of an issue by using the tunefix package to automatically remove unwanted transmitters and/or channels, and auto-schedule-restore to re-populate the recording schedule. Both these packages require a reboot to take effect, so an auto-retune is still an inconvenience.
tunefix-update can make minor alterations to the tuning database to track LCN changes and such like, avoiding retunes in some instances.
Another explanation of all this appears further down the topic, here: https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/disable-ota-disable-dso-taking-back-control.1844/page-3#post-120468
Or, to put it yet another way:
Links to Previous Conversation
http://hummy.tv/forum/threads/concern-over-potental-new-humax-official-firmware.1146/
The purpose is to prevent firmware you may be perfectly happy with being replaced (automatically) by a new release of firmware that has unknown bugs and unintended consequences. If you are using the Custom Firmware, an OTA update will clear it (rendering any custom software packages you have installed dormant) until a new release of the CF is available to add to the new Humax firmware.
It is possible to make the Humax unavailable so that it cannot perform the OTA search, without installing the CF (or even if you have) - see HERE (click). This method serves a dual purpose of keeping the EPG updated for rescheduled series recordings, and actually may be more reliable than disable-ota (later updates to the package provide a settings option to add this second-line OTA defeat automatically).
UPDATE (April 2017):
It is thought that there will be no further over-the-air updates (and modern set-top boxes etc tend to use Internet methods to acquire updates). Nonetheless, a non-customised HD/HDR-FOX will still go looking for one at 0430 every day, coming out of standby to do so or interrupting what you might be watching (if you are an insomniac).
Admittedly, the second-line "reminder" entry in the recording schedule also wakes the unit up (or causes a channel change) which may also be inconvenient, but the reliability of the basic disable-ota package function is now much improved by turning on Real Time Scheduling in WebIF >> Settings >> Advanced Settings, and the reminder schedule entry is no longer needed.
disable-dso performs a similar function of removing retune events from the schedule. The broadcast network can trigger these, usually when frequencies have changed or new services have been added to the multiplexes. A nag message pops up saying you need a retune and you can let it carry on or dismiss it (and it will pop up again later).
The problem (apart from the irritation when you know the only "benefit" will be another shopping channel) is that: 1. a retune deletes your recording schedule (it can be reinstated from an automatic backup if you are using the custom software, but only by hand if you are not); 2. chances are you need to do a manual scan because the default auto-scan will pick up more than one transmitter (a very bad idea).
The problem reached a whole new magnitude with the 1.02.28 update (ditto the 1.02.27 beta release). The behaviour of the nag message changed so that if you do not dismiss it within a few minutes, it goes ahead and performs an auto-scan anyway. This could be while you are away making tea, or during an EPG update wake-up while you are away on a fortnight's holiday expecting to return to a collection of catch-up viewing.
We have no non-custom fix for this, so we regard it as essential for non-CF users to stick with Humax firmware 1.02.20 and use the trick mentioned above to eliminate OTA searches. CF users can install disable-dso, but won't get a message when the network thinks you need a retune.
UPDATE (April 2017):
The reliability of the disable-dso package function is now much improved by turning on Real Time Scheduling in WebIF >> Settings >> Advanced Settings.
Automatic retunes can be made less of an issue by using the tunefix package to automatically remove unwanted transmitters and/or channels, and auto-schedule-restore to re-populate the recording schedule. Both these packages require a reboot to take effect, so an auto-retune is still an inconvenience.
tunefix-update can make minor alterations to the tuning database to track LCN changes and such like, avoiding retunes in some instances.
Another explanation of all this appears further down the topic, here: https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/disable-ota-disable-dso-taking-back-control.1844/page-3#post-120468
Or, to put it yet another way:
Links to Previous Conversation
http://hummy.tv/forum/threads/concern-over-potental-new-humax-official-firmware.1146/
Last edited:
