Watch live TV while recording Satellite HDPVR

[Drkanjel]

Hello

So we have 4 Bell satellite receivers in the house. 2 PVR’s. This was installed a month ago. My grandparents somehow inadvertently set up a few timers for recordings and then I get a blue screen that shows all 4 receivers and whats recording or playing on them and I cannot get to the guide or watch tv at that point.  I must go in and delete these timers and/or whats currently recording. I talked to Bell and they reset them all and said that this should NOT be happening and that I should be able to watch tv regardless of the pvr’s recording. Well that’s not true because it keeps happening!!! Bell Fibe was never like this. Wish we could get it where we are. What do we do? We are ready to get rid of the pvr’s because they are too much trouble. 

[AlexS]

Do u mean the setting up of timers shouldn’t be happening? I remember in the support sec on the official web, it does state the max recording and viewing simultaneously. When reaching the capacity, it will warn u that one recording will be stopped if u open up a live feed (forgot the exact wording but u indeed cannot watch live via dvr at least). The satellite dvr may also stuck since it’s an even older device, compare with the just outdated 4K dvr. My 4K dvr didn’t stuck when I was recording 6 HD feeds (the max) during last NYE. One of the rep here told me the Fibe tv apps on other platforms have no limitations under this circumstance

[Drkanjel]

So we have 9500 PVR’s. They are new. It happens even if there is only one program recording. It’s like the recording locks up the receiver so you can’t watch live tv. So basically if one receiver is recording you lose the ability to watch tv on it. Seems backwards compared to Bell Fibe pvr’s.

[AlexS]

Oh yeah that one seems to be launched in 2018, two yrs after Fibe. But I checked the official website, only refurbished r available. Same situation as the 4K b4 the cloud dvr became available. The capability of satellites r much lower than the Internet. I guess that’s y both the storage and the claimed recording capacity r weaker. Some ppl even noticed that 8 CTV HD channel was taken off from Bell’s satellites. But still, that sounds pretty off from statements on the website. Maybe try to swap or negotiate some credits?

[Drkanjel]

Yes! I will be calling them this week. This is the screen we get! 😡

 

[BellAntgio · Accepted solution]

Hello @Drkanjel and thank you for your post.

The 9500 (Whole Home PVR) is a Dual tuner which allows the receiver to have 2 feeds. This would give you access to watch a live television show, while recording a show simultaneously; or it allows you to record 2 shows at once, while watching an already recorded show.

When you have the Whole Home receiver, it connects to the Whole Home PVR using one of the feeds.

Based on your post, we've gathered you would have 2 Whole Home PVR's and 2 Whole Home receivers (4 in total). This would provide you 4 feeds to do the following:

Watch 4 shows live.
Watch 3 shows live and record a program.
Watch 2 shows live and record 2 programs.
Watch 1 show live and record 3 programs.
Record 4 programs and watch one already recorded program.

Based on your screenshot you've shared, you are watching 3 shows live and recording a program, which would use all 4 of your available feeds.

[Drkanjel]

Thanks. Well this definitely does not work for our household. I will have to make a change. 

[dannyboy]

I came home last night and turned on the 9500. Only one show was recording and tried changing the channel on the non-recording tuner and it was locked. I had no choice but to only watch either the recording show in progress or the "watching" show or a recorded show on the PVR. I deleted the recording in progress show to allow me to change the channels and set it to record at a later time. As it started to record at a later time, it locked the other tuner into watching mode and prevented me from changing the channel on the non recording tuner.
Any idea why it was doing this?
If you look at the photo below, channel 1609 (tuner 1) is in watching mode and is locked. I cannot change that channel unless I stop the recording on channel 1203 (tuner 2).
Thanks.

[dannyboy]

Okay. So it's just not me that is having this problem. I only have the 9500 (see seperate post below) and it has done this many times over the last several weeks including black screen recordings. It has never given me this problem until a few days after a torrential rainstorm. Did you ever solve your locked "watching" problem?  

[dannyboy]

Your response to drkangel has missed the point. The tuner in his image that is "watching" is NOT recording. It is locked on that channel and no possible way to change it while the other tuner is recording. He either has to  1) stop the recording, 2) wait until the recording is over to be able to change channels . I am going through the same thing. And because it is sporadic when it happens, yes, many times I can change the channel on the second tuner while tuner one is recording. But his image and my image  the tuner that is in "watching" mode is locked to that channel and cannot be changed.

[dannyboy · Accepted solution]

Don't know if you still have the 9500 but the only thing that will fix it is factory reset. I tried everything else then a tech told me to do factory reset and so far the problem hasn't shown up again. IMPORTANT. It will erase all your programming and all your recordings so make sure you back it up to an external powered drive before you do the reset. Also make sure you disconnect the USB from the 9500 and external drive before the reset.

Press menu 

Then press 6 for system setup

Then press 3 for diagnostics

Then in this sequence press info then right arrow and left arrow

Should take you to the memory dump screen

Once in there press play/pause twice then the "last" button 

Receiver will wipe all info and reboot

[SC1]

TV #1 has PVR and TV #2 has receiver. Both TV are turned on different channels. Another program set to be recorded come on. TV #1 changes channel and goes to the recorded program. I am unable to return to the live TV channel that was on unless I ended the program that is being recorded. It only happens when both tv are on. My understanding is I should be able to record 2 shows at the same time while watching live tv. Does someone have a solution to this problem?

[Michell tv satellite]

PVR while there are 2 recordings simultaneously I cannot view regular channels

[BellPatricia]

Hi there @Michell tv satellite ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Bell Community.

Can you clarify what type of TV receiver you have?

Please check out this support article for more information How to record a program and watch something else at the same time with Bell Satellite TV service and then let the Community know if you have any other questions.

- Patricia

[Smitty66]

When recording on my one receiver I can't change channels on my other receiver