[rs] Remote Scheduling v1

What does Disable OTA do, given that there have not been any factory firmware updates for 10? years?
It ensures if someone sends something stupid it doesn't cause my boxes to attempt a firmware update. Just because there isn't meant to be an OTA firmware update doesn't mean something daft won't happen.

It also means my boxes wake at 04:20 to contact the RS server, in a way that my parents cannot delete even if they retune their box (my dad once did a retune because he had a load of recording events he couldn't work out how to delete). And it gives me one of my daily channel changes to ensure I have an EPG.
 
Yes I have disable-OTA installed. Can one config the channel it sets? I can see it is setting a channel with nothing on it, which may do the EPG update job.
 
If this failed, it would be crap, but more to the point it would get noticed.
It does fail, it is crap, and it did get noticed.
it also says the box updates the EPG overnight, so you should not turn it off (well obviously!) but specifically not turn it off at night because that is when it does its EPG update.
That's bullshit. It updates the EPG continuously when it is not playing something.
It would be crap software if it did not regularly update the EPG.
It is crap software. It comes from Humax. It has some weird 7 day limit. Who knows how they managed this but they did.
Based on user experiences and troubleshooting for the Humax HDR-FOX T2 (Freeview) and related Foxsat HDR (Freesat) models, a series recording can fail if the device is left on a different channel for a very long time, though this is usually due to signal or EPG update issues rather than a direct punishment for not changing channels.
No, it is a direct punishment for not changing channels, or playing something back.
EPG Update Failures: The Humax PVR requires regular updates from the broadcasters to keep the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) accurate. If the box is left on a channel that doesn't carry updated metadata (or no channel at all for a long time), it may not pick up the updated time/channel information for the next episode in a series.
That's complete crap. There are continuous updates. There aren't any channels that don't carry updated metadata, but channels don't carry metadata. It's carried within the overall mux.
Multiplex Limitations: The HDR-FOX T2 has two tuners. If you are recording two things, it cannot tune to a third to update its schedule.
That's bullshit. EPG data is carried on all multplexes.
Leave on a Main Channel: When putting the box into standby, it is recommended to leave it tuned to a major channel (like BBC 1 or ITV).
As I already said, all muxes carry all the data. Some carry it quicker than others, but it's largely irrelevant. A 'major' channels makes no difference, for reasons previously mentioned.
if some TV channels do not carry the EPG
See above.
The Humax should re-tune itself briefly
No it shouldn't (how would it know when?) and it doesn't, for reasons that have already been explained.
So what is needed is a background task which selects a channel with EPG.
All channels have EPG, as above. Perhaps there's a package that does something like this though.
Funny thing: in the morning I keep finding a channel like 250 tuned in, with nothing on it, and I've only just realised this!
We'll leave it for you to work that out then.
 
Disable OTA package serves other purposes for me as already explained so I won't be removing it.
I don't disagree. I have it installed on all my boxes. But having it installed in case there is a 'rogue update', which cannot possibly happen, is just ridiculous.
 
I don't disagree. I have it installed on all my boxes. But having it installed in case there is a 'rogue update', which cannot possibly happen, is just ridiculous.
Why can it not possibly happen? I agree it is not very likely, but impossible is a high bar. And who knows what kind of crap the Humax firmware might interpret as an update and do something stupid. This is the same firmware that needs a channel change at least once a week to retain EPG data.
 
Obviously there must be some controlling authority for putting out OTA firmware over the Freeview RF transmitters, otherwise any tom dick or harry could upload hacked firmware to millions of devices, and block further updates while at it ;) There has been enough concern over infected printers... (whether this is real, or a subject of somebody's PhD paper, is a different Q ;) ).

There must be cryptographic controls. But anyway Humax would have to do it, and they would have zero commercial motivation.
 
Obviously there must be some controlling authority for putting out OTA firmware over the Freeview RF transmitters,
There WAS a controlling authority and it decided to terminate OTA updates years ago and all of the supporting infrastructure was removed. Hence updates are now impossible even if Humax had interest in doing so
 
Do you have a reference for this? I cannot find anything.

There is a general view that updates will move to the internet eventually, but it is years away, and obviously would work only with internet connected devices.
 
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There is a general view that updates will move to the internet eventually, but it is years away, and obviously would work only with internet connected devices.
Internet updates are not years away, they took over for practically all the kit more recent than an HDR-FOX, ie years ago.

The surge in uptake of broadband connectivity came shortly after 2010. "Connected" domestic appliances then became commonplace. It was then no longer necessary to fund an over-the-air system.

I did read quite a lot but there is an absolutely huge amount out there to read
There is, but educated searches for something specific will help, and avoid irritating people... not least by following my signposts rather than hoping to come across something useful by accident. However, do restrict your searches to this forum and not hallucinatory summaries of what AI thinks it read once. AI is like LSD.

Newbies' Guide to the Forum, section on searching.
, and it is all very simple to you guys because you have been doing this for years :)
...who have been pestered with these kinds of questions for years. A LOT of time has been spent acquiring and documenting the knowledge, you can't expect a free ride. If the most experienced choose not to answer and leave it to someone else (less experienced), you end up with no better than the AI slop.

As for EPG going stale, useful references:

https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/accurate-recording-ar-padding-and-lost-series-links.858/
https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/unable-to-open-web-interface-to-hdr-fox-t2.5025/#post-63888
 
"who have been pestered with these kinds of questions for years"

It would make your life easier to shut down this forum. Then nobody will be wasting your time.

I cannot find anything about Freeview OTA having been disabled at the transmitting end. You made the claim so you need to support the claim. That is how it works.
 
I cannot find anything about Freeview OTA having been disabled at the transmitting end.
Just because you can't find it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
You made the claim so you need to support the claim.
You make unsubstantiated claims (apparently with the help of so-called AI, which should be called AU).
That is how it works.
Is it? According to who? You? Can you substantiate that claim? What if he (or nobody else) does? What ya gonna do about it?
 
You made the claim so you need to support the claim.
On the contrary – you're the newcomer doubting our wisdom, you need to provide evidence in support of what you say. You seem hell bent on wasting our time, and if you don't like it you know where you can go (back to MyHumax).
 
I cannot find anything about Freeview OTA having been disabled at the transmitting end. You made the claim so you need to support the claim. That is how it works.
It'a been gone for almost a decade, so long that news articles about it may have expired. Not that it made front page headlines...

OK so they may (or may not) have kept the transmitting end around for a year or two after ceasing OTAs in case of emergency update needed by a manufacturer. But by now it will have all gone, the Engineering Channel (as it was called) is long gone.
 
Do you have a reference for this? I cannot find anything.
From 2017
Doesn't say when it will be (was) closed.
 
Someone needs to get a better AI or at least hone their ability to use a search engine. A search of "when did The UK Engineering Channel Close" along with Phil's link also gave this in the first few links which gives a rough idea of when......................................

 
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