X1 DVR bug - limits autopad/extend via recording options to max 4 concurrent recording jobs

[lcarydenver]

The system will only apply autopad (or time added via recording options-start/end time) when the total concurrent recording sessions are 4 or less. This is not actual capacity driven nor varying at all. We have 2 XG1s (+1 non tuner box), hence 12 tuners, 9 if all TVs viewing live. Yet this max 4 is constant & only for adding time features, ie autopad & recording options-add to start/end time. I confirmed we can use more tuners otherwise & it is not due to live record (local HW dependent) cause. In fact, also confirmed it is not due to which HW the jobs were set up on, as CC answered via chat & call last yr even though then we could not see where jobs sat in this “any-room” design. Now that recent version offers filter by box, can be very sure this idea of manually load balancing between DVRs also does not work. This essentially limits us to avg of 2 per hour whenever chance for back to back before or after shows too, due to peak tuner use as ending shows + starting shows overlap for few minutes. Meaning ... pretty much a possibility every prime time night, let alone add in fall sports also going on & this is not cutting it here. This is a BUG. There is no workaround. Used to work, now this & old way via record options are both broken. Needs to be fixed, just have no luck so far via CC so posting here with fingers crossed someone knows more on this. Thx.

[Rustyben]

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@lcarydenver wrote:
The system will only apply autopad (or time added via recording options-start/end time) when the total concurrent recording sessions are 4 or less. This is not actual capacity driven nor varying at all. We have 2 XG1s (+1 non tuner box), hence 12 tuners, 9 if all TVs viewing live. Yet this max 4 is constant & only for adding time features, ie autopad & recording options-add to start/end time. I confirmed we can use more tuners otherwise & it is not due to live record (local HW dependent) cause. In fact, also confirmed it is not due to which HW the jobs were set up on, as CC answered via chat & call last yr even though then we could not see where jobs sat in this “any-room” design. Now that recent version offers filter by box, can be very sure this idea of manually load balancing between DVRs also does not work. This essentially limits us to avg of 2 per hour whenever chance for back to back before or after shows too, due to peak tuner use as ending shows + starting shows overlap for few minutes. Meaning ... pretty much a possibility every prime time night, let alone add in fall sports also going on & this is not cutting it here. This is a BUG. There is no workaround. Used to work, now this & old way via record options are both broken. Needs to be fixed, just have no luck so far via CC so posting here with fingers crossed someone knows more on this. Thx.

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how many set top boxes do you have? what versions of x1 dvrs? (voice 'about' and reply with rest of line after 'STB version'). some dvrs only have 5 tuners and depending on your other companion devices you may not have all tuners available. for the companions do same voice remote. someone here can give advice on how to proceed to get the maximum number of tuners available to record channels at the same time.

[lcarydenver]

Bit noted in above already but ... should have 12 tuners between 2 XG1s, 3rd TV is non-tuner box so 12 - 3 for all viewing live = 9. I was able to confirm that each XG1 can use up to 6 tuners each, and that at same time system will refuse to extend more jobs (hard cap of 4 concurrent), I think this is specific to either shared auto-extend logic or some odd config issue specific to only there, and not seen before mid 2018 as used autopad, orig via CC Labs option, since moved to X1 in fall 2016 or so. BTW, 2 XG1s are Arris/Moto MX011ANMs. 3rd box is non-tuner, think pace xiii3. Thx.

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@Rustyben wrote:

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@lcarydenver wrote:
The system will only apply autopad (or time added via recording options-start/end time) when the total concurrent recording sessions are 4 or less. This is not actual capacity driven nor varying at all. We have 2 XG1s (+1 non tuner box), hence 12 tuners, 9 if all TVs viewing live. Yet this max 4 is constant & only for adding time features, ie autopad & recording options-add to start/end time. I confirmed we can use more tuners otherwise & it is not due to live record (local HW dependent) cause. In fact, also confirmed it is not due to which HW the jobs were set up on, as CC answered via chat & call last yr even though then we could not see where jobs sat in this “any-room” design. Now that recent version offers filter by box, can be very sure this idea of manually load balancing between DVRs also does not work. This essentially limits us to avg of 2 per hour whenever chance for back to back before or after shows too, due to peak tuner use as ending shows + starting shows overlap for few minutes. Meaning ... pretty much a possibility every prime time night, let alone add in fall sports also going on & this is not cutting it here. This is a BUG. There is no workaround. Used to work, now this & old way via record options are both broken. Needs to be fixed, just have no luck so far via CC so posting here with fingers crossed someone knows more on this. Thx.

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how many set top boxes do you have? what versions of x1 dvrs? (voice 'about' and reply with rest of line after 'STB version'). some dvrs only have 5 tuners and depending on your other companion devices you may not have all tuners available. for the companions do same voice remote. someone here can give advice on how to proceed to get the maximum number of tuners available to record channels at the same time.

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Thx,

[lcarydenver]

PS, see you asked to get full STB version details, for the two XG1s this is: MX0011AN_3.11p2s3_PROD_sey Thx,

[Rustyben]

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@lcarydenver wrote:
PS, see you asked to get full STB version details, for the two XG1s this is: MX0011AN_3.11p2s3_PROD_sey Thx,

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you have two very old DVRs and the 'version of firmware 3.11 is over a year old (very far behind). swap the two DVrs for xg1v4 (4k capable) and the xi3 (again the oldest of the xi versions) for an xg2 companion (has its own tuner and modem. that will free up tuners to 12.  autopad will pad when the scheduled tuners allow. the menu has changed for both recordings and scheduled recordings but comcast has not told us why. previously the scheduler in the cloud determined which set top box recorded the show. one customer (robert) reports that it appears the recordings are now scheduled on the box where set and removed from one and added to another. nothing is known so far officially about any changes about the scheduler. note the new DVRs have no clock and only one LED (can be turned off) on the front. 

[lcarydenver]

Thanks for reply. My DVRs are older models, yes, but are fine recording on their own & should not need to upgrade, also lose lots of saved recordings thanks to CC convoluted “cloud backup”, just to use what used to work. Also experimented with splitting jobs between DVRs, behaves just the same, in fact jobs now are split this way. Will check on firmware, thx for that tip.

[RobertWy]

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@lcarydenver wrote:
Thanks for reply. My DVRs are older models, yes, but are fine recording on their own & should not need to upgrade, also lose lots of saved recordings thanks to CC convoluted “cloud backup”, just to use what used to work. Also experimented with splitting jobs between DVRs, behaves just the same, in fact jobs now are split this way. Will check on firmware, thx for that tip.

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I am retired and I record a LOT of programs.  FYI, I have found a way to spread scheduled recordings across all my X1 boxes.  At the top of the scheduled recordings there is an entry for all devices.  I change that to the device I am viewing and schedule recordings and they are assigned to that X1 box.