Freeview "PDC"?

I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. Are
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channels
using this feature?

Thanks,
Paul DS.

On Jan 7, 3:22*pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. *Are
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channels
using this feature?

Thanks,
Paul DS.

part of "Freeview Playback"

some channels use it, some don't, even those that do aren't always
very good at it

On Jan 7, 3:22 pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. Are
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channels
using this feature?

Actual PDC data cannot exist on UK-DTT. However, the same
functionality does exist by virtue of dynamic EIT triggers in the SI/
EPG data. These have been present on BBC DTT (and D-Sat) transmissions
for a while, but few receivers until now have taken advantage and use
them. My two year old Sony DVR, does deploy their use, and
consequently BBC programmes recorded have always been recorded fully,
despite using no padding in addition to setting the timer using the
bog standard EPG data.

The functionality now forms part of the 'Freeview Playback' spec for
PVRs. I'm told that C4 now transmit the dynamic EIT data, though I've
yet to confirm that using my Sony DVR.

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
On Jan 7, 3:22 pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. Are
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all
channels
using this feature?

Actual PDC data cannot exist on UK-DTT. However, the same
functionality does exist by virtue of dynamic EIT triggers in the SI/
EPG data. These have been present on BBC DTT (and D-Sat) transmissions
for a while, but few receivers until now have taken advantage and use
them. My two year old Sony DVR, does deploy their use, and
consequently BBC programmes recorded have always been recorded fully,
despite using no padding in addition to setting the timer using the
bog standard EPG data.

The functionality now forms part of the 'Freeview Playback' spec for
PVRs. I'm told that C4 now transmit the dynamic EIT data, though I've
yet to confirm that using my Sony DVR.

Thanks for that - I'll keep an eye-open for "Freeview Playback" as I look at
PVRs. I think the time has finally come to purchase one!

Paul DS.

Woby Tide wrote:
On Jan 7, 3:22 pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. Are
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channels
using this feature?

Thanks,
Paul DS.

part of "Freeview Playback"

some channels use it, some don't, even those that do aren't always
very good at it
Does that mean some use the equivalent of the PDC "use timer settings",
used by some broadcasters to claim PDC functionality without having to
set up the data?

--
PeeGee

The reply address is a spam trap. All mail is reported as spam.
"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

In article ,
Woby Tide writes:
On Jan 7, 3:22=A0pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. =A0Are=

these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channel=
s
using this feature?

Thanks,
Paul DS.

part of "Freeview Playback"

some channels use it, some don't, even those that do aren't always
very good at it

Completely compatible and interoperable with PDC, then, right down to the
failure modes.
--
SAm.

Paul D.Smith wrote:
"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
On Jan 7, 3:22 pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview.
Are these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are
all channels
using this feature?

Actual PDC data cannot exist on UK-DTT. However, the same
functionality does exist by virtue of dynamic EIT triggers in the SI/
EPG data. These have been present on BBC DTT (and D-Sat)
transmissions for a while, but few receivers until now have taken
advantage and use them. My two year old Sony DVR, does deploy their
use, and consequently BBC programmes recorded have always been
recorded fully, despite using no padding in addition to setting the
timer using the bog standard EPG data.

The functionality now forms part of the 'Freeview Playback' spec for
PVRs. I'm told that C4 now transmit the dynamic EIT data, though
I've yet to confirm that using my Sony DVR.

Thanks for that - I'll keep an eye-open for "Freeview Playback" as I
look at PVRs. I think the time has finally come to purchase one!

Paul DS.

You might want to have a look at the comments in this thread (the URL may
wrap over two lines).

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...7dd& t=719223

The latest software update for the Humax 9200 will be OTA next week, and
will bring in Freeview Playback for those who haven't been able to update
previously.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

....snip...
You might want to have a look at the comments in this thread (the URL may
wrap over two lines).

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...7dd& t=719223

The latest software update for the Humax 9200 will be OTA next week, and
will bring in Freeview Playback for those who haven't been able to update
previously.

Thanks for that. Sadly the thread also contains many tales of woe about
lack of support from the broadcasters and the start or end of programs being
lost. Sounds like a great idea scuppered by penny pinching - wait a minute,
isn't that the Freeview catchphrase? Where's my 5.1 audio I cry ;-).

Paul DS.

Paul D.Smith wrote:
...snip...
You might want to have a look at the comments in this thread (the
URL may wrap over two lines).

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...7dd& t=719223

The latest software update for the Humax 9200 will be OTA next week,
and will bring in Freeview Playback for those who haven't been able
to update previously.

Thanks for that. Sadly the thread also contains many tales of woe
about lack of support from the broadcasters and the start or end of
programs being lost. Sounds like a great idea scuppered by penny
pinching - wait a minute, isn't that the Freeview catchphrase? Where's my
5.1 audio I cry ;-).

I had very few problems with analogue recording using PDC, but when it
occurred it was almost always with BBC1 or 2 - particularly the latter. It
was very rare with C4 (we can't get analogue Five).

I'll update my Hummy next week and see how it goes. If there's a problem,
I'll revert to autopadding with V10, which is the one I use at present.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

Sam Nelson wrote:
In article ,
Woby Tide writes:
On Jan 7, 3:22=A0pm, "Paul D.Smith" wrote:
I've heard rumours that PDC function is now available via Freeview. =A0Are=
these rumours true and if so, what's the official name and are all channel=
s
using this feature?

Thanks,
Paul DS.
part of "Freeview Playback"

some channels use it, some don't, even those that do aren't always
very good at it

Completely compatible and interoperable with PDC, then, right down to the
failure modes.


Indeed I doubt they have learnt anything from the PDC fiasco. I worked
as an Engineering Manager for a VCR manufacturer and had to investigate
PDC broadcasts on several occasions (also UTD data broadcast in the same
packet 8/30). This resulted in the problem being fixed by the
broadcaster or by the VCR software designer.

There were several problems with the decoding, and these were fixed
eventually, but the broadcasters problems are not likley to have improved.

In the end I came to the conclusion that the system was

a - too complicated (most of the features were never used) for the
product designer to get right easily. Typical broadcaster mentality,
which has been carried over to DVB-T.
b - Under manual control by the broadcasters, leaving to alot of human
error. Or rather a small amount of errors that caused alot of problems
and for people to loose faith in the system.

The biggest problem I encountered was that PDC system clock time was
manually adjusted during winder/summer changover, this could be easily
fixed these days.

In the end retailers insisted we turn off PDC by Default. I personally
had enough missed recordings to not use it on my Toshiba VCR. Actually
not that many people use recording (on VCRs or PVR for that matter), but
those that do are very sensitive about it. The broadcasters don't
really understand this.

I would expect manual control to still be prevalent for the start/stop,
but could be improved by integrating it as part of the studio controls.

I did try and make some suggestions for improving the system at various
manufacturer/industry meetings, however it did not seem to have much
interest.

--
TonyS