Scheduling "Favorites" only at certain times?

[dervari]

Is it possible to schedule show based recordings only at certain times?

For example, a show comes on twice in one day, playing the same episode (SciFi programming, for example - EDT and PDT). I don't need to record both instances. How can I configure it to only record "My Fave at or around 9pm on Scifi"? I say "at or around" to accomodate time shifting by networks.

[dkardatzke]

When you set a show as a first run "Favorite", SageTV will try to record that episode when it's convenient based on other schedule recordings and when that Favorite airs. Since you get two instances of the same show on SciFi, SageTV may record the EDT or the PDT airing depending on what fits the schedule better.

It shouldn't record both instances unless the programming data is vague, which happens sometimes (MTV is a big at not giving a detailed description or unique show ID for their first runs so sometimes SageTV can't decipher episodes).

Is there a specific reason why you care at which time it records the show?

[dervari]

So just because the recording schedule says it will record both episodes, it won't necessarily record both?

What happened today was that I saw "I Love Lucy" episodes on (which my wife loves). I went to add a favorite and then all of the episodes (with duplicates) showed up in my recording schedule.

So in essence, Sage will record the first available unique episode, based on program information available, and will ignore any subsequent episodes with the same information as long as there is one with the same information in "Sage Recordings"?

[dkardatzke]

The recording schedule ends up showing all the available times to schedule. It will narrow down its selection when the time gets closer. It should only record one instance regardless of how many it shows in the recording schedule.

[jmeeks]

The amazing thing is; not only does Sage record only one of the same episode, it uses the capability of knowing the schedule of all the air times to juggle and adjust it's recording schedule to resolve conflicts with other favorites and live tv viewing which need to be recorded as well.

[dervari]

Ok...that makes sense. I was just concerned that since it showed all possible recording times, that it would record them all regardless.

[dervari]

One more question...say I record something, mark it as watched, and then delete it. Will this keep Sage from recording the same episode again?

[Narflex]

Yes it will.

[dervari]

Schweet!!

[robertmcox]

Originally posted by dervari
Is it possible to schedule show based recordings only at certain times?

For example, a show comes on twice in one day, playing the same episode (SciFi programming, for example - EDT and PDT). I don't need to record both instances. How can I configure it to only record "My Fave at or around 9pm on Scifi"? I say "at or around" to accomodate time shifting by networks.

I personally think the way sage does this is fine. The biggest feature IMHO (btw, I didn't even realize this when I bought the s/w) is the intelligent recording.

But to expound on the issue, I put my sage machine in the living room and my wife...

...really likes it but wants to see her new episode of General Hospital ASAP. She' probably shopping or whatever ;-) when it comes on at 1PM, but when she gets home at 3PM, she expects to go to the guide and press play. She is upset that Sage decided to record her new episode at 1 AM the next day because she is addicted to this show and wants to know what happened right away.

Maybe you could add in the options for a favorite to "Record Immediately"?

[JasonJoel]

Actually... I wish you could force the favorites to be only for a certain CHANNEL.

For instance Friends is on 5 different channels locally. All I really want are the NEW episodes on NBC. But instead I get a ton of other episodes.

I guess eventually it will record every episode from every season and then only record new ones... But if I could just tell it 'only record on NBC' then it would work fine today.

Jason

[dkardatzke]

Jason,

Just choose "First Run" as the setting for the Favorites, then it will only record the new episodes.

[Narflex]

RobertCox,

The algorithms optimize themselves so it records everything as soon as it possibly can (there's a specific layer of processing dedicated to this in the algorithms). There must have been another Favorite or a Manual Record scheduled at 1PM, or someone was watching live TV. If it was another Favorite, and that Favorite had additional airings that could have been recorded instead, then those airings would have been after 1AM. Sage went with the choice it made because it recorded more at an earlier amount of time because of it.

The way to change this is to Manually Record GH at 1pm, or to manually record the other Favorite at its alternate time. Sage is smart about manually recording favorites, it'll recognize your manual selection is now there and remove the other favorite recording because it'll be taken care of with the manual recording you selected.

Hope that's not too confusing. The "Intelligent Recording" does what's best, and sometimes that's fairly complicated.

[JasonJoel]

Ugh... I'll learn. Should have assumed that there was a setting for that somewhere. Found it now (and some others).

Now that I'll be using this program for my recordings 24/7, I guess it is time to pay attention on how to set it up properly.

Jason

Originally posted by dkardatzke
Jason,

Just choose "First Run" as the setting for the Favorites, then it will only record the new episodes.

[jimbobuk]

will this recording handling work when using XMLTV in the UK!?? I've noticed briefly that the information doesn't look too hot for XMLTV.. I'm happy getting the name... I noticed the rerun option was set to false for something that was just an omnibus/rerun of a show...

I really want the flexibility of setting up recordings... SageRecorder with its... record this channel, at this time, on these days... type functionality is great... I assume SageRecorder and SageTV can't both be ran at the same time to accomplish this?!?

I will see how it handles it this first week...