Back-to-back recordings on same channel jumps tuners

[samundsen]

This has been annoying me for a while, but it's really coming to a head today, with 8 shows to record on 4 tuners...

BTV is not smart enough to record back-to-back shows on the same channel on the same tuner. For instance, I record Smallville from 7-8pm, Supernatural from 8-9pm. It starts up Supernatural ahead of time (padding) on a free tuner, but Smallville stops right at 8pm, because 2 more shows starts at 8pm besides Supernatural (the 4 tuner is already busy recording Bones), and one of the other 8pm shows on another channel takes over the tuner from Smallville.

If BTV would do Smallville and Supernatural on the same tuner, there would be no risk of missing snippets at end of one or beginning of the other, as padding wouldn't an issue.

Here is the complete recording schedule today, with the tuner BTV decided to record on.

7-8pm Smallville (The CW, tuner 1)
7-9pm Bones (FOX, tuner 2)
8-9pm Supernatural (The CW, tuner 4)
8-9:02pm Grey's Anatomy (ABC, tuner 3)
8-8:31pm The Office (NBC, tuner 1)
8:31-9:01pm 30 Rock (NBC, tuner 1)
9:01-10pm Eleventh Hour (CBS, tuner 2)
9:02-10pm Private Practice (ABC, tuner 3)

[Nick Burns]

Well, instead of setting the recordings to use "Any Available Tuner" you can set the recordings to use specific tuners. However, you will still miss a snippet or two as BTV closes one file and starts another.
This was the main reason why I went with 7 tuners, no loss of end/start of shows due to BTV closing files.

[tscales]

Using the same tuner is the way to guarantee you DO miss little bits from each show. BTV takes a little while to close a show, cleanup and start another show, even on the same channel. If you force the same tuner, you'll miss that amount of a show. By using two tuners it is more efficient. I like the behavior.

[samundsen]

Originally Posted by Nick Burns

Well, instead of setting the recordings to use "Any Available Tuner" you can set the recordings to use specific tuners. However, you will still miss a snippet or two as BTV closes one file and starts another.
This was the main reason why I went with 7 tuners, no loss of end/start of shows due to BTV closing files.

Yes, I think that will be what I end up doing, adding one more tuner.

[Don_Hart]

You may want to check that you have Enable Smart Conflict Detectionchecked in the recording preferences in the web admin. This will make BTV do exactly what you want. I have it turned off as it will remove any padding you have set when recording two shows on the same channell and since I have 10 tuners I dont really need the feature and would rather have the buffering.