Geoff.D
Honorary Master
DSTV implemented "series recording functionality" as follows:
(1) Each series has a channel identifier, a season identifier and episode identifier.
(2) On the older decoders, a series setting would only scan for "repeats" of other episodes of the same series on the channel it was set for.
(3) On the Explora, it is supposed to scan for repeats and other episodes across channels --- I do not have a working Explora, so cannot confirm if this was implemented on the Explora.
(4) A series setting uses the season AND the episode identifier when deciding to record something or not. When a season has completed , the user MUST delete the old setting and set up a new one before recordings of a new season will take place automatically.
The alternative is to NOT use a season identifier at all. Then the decoder will record ALL episodes it finds of a series which have not been recorded before. Some channels do NOT set the season identifier but most do.
Deleting a setting, resets the log for that season and the episodes previously recorded. If you now reset the setting on a previously recorded series. ALL the episodes it finds will be recorded again.
Channels that do not set a season identifier, allocate a sequential identifier for every episode, which means, one setting will continue to record all new episodes found, for as long as that series is available on the specific channel.
The advantage of not using a channel identifier is that a decoder will be able to pick up any episode on any channel available. BUT many users apparently complained about that. So certainly on the older decoders, cross channel searches for new episodes was removed.
Either way, the only way to ensure that you get ALL the recordings you want is for you to manage the process yourself, on a daily basis, which sort of defeats the object of having a series record capability.
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