Skippa manual

Started by emmsee, July 21, 2015, 10:13:39 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

warkus

No mention of it at all, very sad if that's true after what has been stated about it supposedly having it.

It says on the remote map that the APP button is not currently available.

😞

JPP

#16
They could be waiting for Altech to supply that bit of code - the Altech 9600T manual has it likewise listed as Not Available.

Edit: The 9600T addendum Manual shows the App button enabled and the App screen shot lists 2 Apps.
Phil.
Beyonwiz T2, DVDO Duo Video Processor

IanL-S

Quote from: JPP on July 27, 2015, 01:16:26 AM
They could be waiting for Altech to supply that bit of code - the Altech 9600T manual has it likewise listed as Not Available.

Either Leon or Dave has been using the OperaTV part of the code, so it exists. They may be using a beta firmware rather than the currently intended shipping firmware. It may be still in development and not yet at a stage where it is ready to be included in the manual.

Ian
IceTV: IceBox + BYOB IceBox + 2xTRF-2400 + 2xTF7100HDPVRtPlus + SKIPPA [RIP] + T2 + U4 + V2
No IceTV: a few Toppys and T2
Synology NAS
Check out the oztoppy wiki and oztoppy Forum for Toppy help

FMB

Book Report – Skippa User Manual

Things what I lurned from reading this book.

First up, Skippa ships with a HDMI cable. Somewhat rare these days, although I suspect it won't be high quality. I don't need one as the HDMI cable from my LG PVR is still in place ready to go. At least I'll have a spare as I gave my last spare away recently.

There are four LED's on the front panel. It may look like a Christmase tree, but we'll wait and see. My CCTV system has two very bright LED's on the front panel. A piece of black electrical tape fixed that.

I was somewhat surprised to find composite video connections on the back, but I guess they have to allow for the lowest common denominator.

The remote is certainly colourful, but also fairly crowded. My biggest problem will be translating all of those buttons across to my Harmony One. I suspect it will take a while to work out which of the non-standard buttons (My Week, MySeries, My Recordings, AutoSkip, UnSkip etc.) I use most often. I'm not looking forward to numerous updates on the remote before I finally get it right. I checked online and the Skippa still isn't showing up in the Harmony Remote database under the name or model number shown in the manual.

On the program guide, as others have mentioned, I'd prefer to see more channels and less info in the top panel. I'd at least like the ability to configure it any way I like. I have two options on my TiVo and they both show more than four channels. I quite like the option to set reminders. TiVo can't do that and it could be useful. I also like the fact that you can simply hit the Record button to flag a show to be recorded and hit it again to unflag it. However, the manual doesn't say if there are any further steps required or options available. The same instructions appear on page 19. On TiVo, if I hit record from the guide, it brings up options. The same applies if I wish to cancel a recording. Does this happen on Skippa or does it just use the default options and one has to  dig a little deeper elsewhere to set options such as custom padding, series recording etc.

On page 12, the section on the i-Plate, it looks like someone got lazy and thought, I couldn't be bothered explaining all the options, just click the help button. I thought that was a bit RTFM (Read The F***ing Manual), which is kind of ironic considering that's what I am doing.

Then we move to page 13 and jump to Settings for channels. Wouldn't it make sense to just cover all setting in the settings section?

I'm a little confused about the volume buttons. I don't plan on using Skippa to adjust the volume, I'd prefer to use my AVR and I'm sure many others prefer to use their TV to adjust volume. If so, what volume do I leave the Skippa on? Should it be up at full volume, somewhere in the middle? Please explain.

Chase Play – This is a big one for me. TiVo has a buffer on both tuners, meaning I can set a channel on one tuner knowing I have a 30 minute buffer available to me when I switch to that tuner. Skippa doesn't have that feature. To my mind, that makes Skippa a one watching, two recording tuner device rather than a three tuner device. Yes, I know I can simply record the other channel(s) and then playback the recordings, but that's a lot more stuffing around and will result in more housekeeping to delete shows I was forced to record for the sake of a five or 10 minute buffer. Is it just me or do others find that annoying? Update suggestion: Buffers on all three tuners and the ability to switch between tuners at the press of a button.

I like the look of the My Recordings page. I think it is better than TiVo. It certainly has more options than simply a list of recordings by date.

I'm a little confused as to why Auto-Skip prioritises processing by genre. That seems unnecessary. Why not simply process them by recording order. To be honest, I'm not overly concerned about Auto-Skip. It looks a little complicated. I mean, why should I have to set pre-padding to 10 minutes (I assume globally), just so Auto-Skip works better? As long as I have skip buttons on playback (as opposed to simple fast forward), that will do for me. I'll reserve judgement until I actually try it.

Looking at the settings, I get the impression that I have to set things like skip forwards/backwards and pre/post padding globally. Great that you can set defaults, but can you modify them on an ad hoc basis for each recording? Can that be done on the app? I'm confused.

The local media playback page doesn't include a list of compatible media. It's not even on the specifications page. That really should be fixed.

The network media playback section really needs more explanation and examples. It should show how I can watch a recorded show on my iPad. The information there tells me nothing. They seem to go to much more trouble explaining how to use HBB TV and Freeview.

Do we really need two full page ads extolling the virtues of the IceTV app. Pretty sure we've already got it by now.

The missing Apps section. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is one of the main reasons for the delay. It's quite possibly a legal, rather than technical, problem. But I'm just guessing.

In conclusion, I'm still looking forward to getting my Skippa...eventually, and expect it to be a suitable replacement for my TiVo, despite some limitations. Time will tell.

FMB

Conspiracy Theory: Did anyone else notice that most of the screen shots in the manual are from July 19 and 20? The manual was originally due for release on July 20. Did they anticipate that or have they been updated?

emmsee

Quote from: JPP on July 27, 2015, 01:16:26 AM
They could be waiting for Altech to supply that bit of code - the Altech 9600T manual has it likewise listed as Not Available.
The addendum to the 9600 manual has them enabled with screenshots. 
Some good new features in the manual update.

IanL-S

Quote from: emmsee on July 27, 2015, 02:25:48 PM
Quote from: JPP on July 27, 2015, 01:16:26 AM
They could be waiting for Altech to supply that bit of code - the Altech 9600T manual has it likewise listed as Not Available.
The addendum to the 9600 manual has them enabled with screenshots. 
Some good new features in the manual update.

I noticed that but it did not sink in. Only a few apps shown, but that should not be taken as a negative.

On the one time shift only, I suspect it is a hardware limitation. The SoC supports 7 recording slots, one of which is devoted to the time shift buffer. It does not appear possible to save the buffer; this can be done after a fashion on units with older Broadcom SoCs.

Ian
IceTV: IceBox + BYOB IceBox + 2xTRF-2400 + 2xTF7100HDPVRtPlus + SKIPPA [RIP] + T2 + U4 + V2
No IceTV: a few Toppys and T2
Synology NAS
Check out the oztoppy wiki and oztoppy Forum for Toppy help

Klink1313

Manual been removed all ready?

I get the message "Oops. The page you were looking for doesn't exist."

Can get to the quick set up guide though

IanL-S

Quote from: Klink1313 on July 27, 2015, 05:14:10 PM
Manual been removed all ready?

I get the message "Oops. The page you were looking for doesn't exist."

Can get to the quick set up guide though

Yes, definitely gone. After I went to all the trouble printing it out - its removal suggests there is an update in the works. Poor trees. :'(

On another matter, I see that the Altech 9600 does not have and ftp server. It may be something to do with the way files are named - according to Dave they are just given a number so you would have problems working out which file was the one you wanted. I have a similar problem with the TF-T6000 which does not display the date recorded - just gives the Android default date.

It would be possible to create a specialised ftp server that reads the program name from the relevant file in the listing and renames it as it downloads.

Ian
IceTV: IceBox + BYOB IceBox + 2xTRF-2400 + 2xTF7100HDPVRtPlus + SKIPPA [RIP] + T2 + U4 + V2
No IceTV: a few Toppys and T2
Synology NAS
Check out the oztoppy wiki and oztoppy Forum for Toppy help

Daniel Hall at IceTV

The link to the manual has been fixed in Dave's earlier post.

The correct URL for the manual is http://skippa.tv/manual
Regards,

Daniel.
CTO.

Klink1313

Link all working now - document now on my hard drive ready for detailed analysis  :)

emmsee

Hey Leon or Dave,
On page 39 of the manual it states "SKIPPA requires an Internet connection at all times".
I'm a grey nomad travelling around OZ and use a wireless  broadband modem as a WiFi Hotspot, my only access to the internet.

Wireless Data is expensive.

Why do we need to be connected at all times and what daily draw on my data plan will Skippa use?

What will happen if I ,say, connect 2 or 3 times a day to allow IceTv to update?
Will Skippa still record my chosen programs or series?


grahford

Quote from: emmsee on July 27, 2015, 06:33:12 PM
Hey Leon or Dave,
On page 39 of the manual it states "SKIPPA requires an Internet connection at all times".

My internet has been having issues the last month.  Out for days at a time.  ISP can't figure out why.  So if I had a Skippa in that time, would anything work during the internet blackouts.  eg, would any timers already sent to the device still trigger?  Would I be able to watch live TV?  Manually record something?  Or would it be a brick? 

I was assuming it would be like my existing Topfield with IceTV now.  Everything would still work except the EPG wouldn't update, the last five days of timers would still be there but no new timers would be received, and obviously I could still watch live TV or recordings.

But that line in the manual makes me worry the Skippa would shutdown if it can't check in?


csutak40

Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
Book Report – Skippa User Manual
Thank you for that - haven't had a chance to read it today.
Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
Things what I lurned from reading this book.
Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
The remote is certainly colourful, but also fairly crowded. My biggest problem will be translating all of those buttons across to my Harmony One. I suspect it will take a while to work out which of the non-standard buttons (My Week, MySeries, My Recordings, AutoSkip, UnSkip etc.) I use most often. I'm not looking forward to numerous updates on the remote before I finally get it right. I checked online and the Skippa still isn't showing up in the Harmony Remote database under the name or model number shown in the manual.
Hmm.  I purchased a Harmony years ago, and could never figure out how to make it play well with my Toppy5K, (could get it to do the basics, but for more convoluted things - mostly TAPs, I just couldn't set it up) so gave up on it.  Sounds like the Skippa will have similar problems

Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
I'm a little confused about the volume buttons. I don't plan on using Skippa to adjust the volume, I'd prefer to use my AVR and I'm sure many others prefer to use their TV to adjust volume. If so, what volume do I leave the Skippa on? Should it be up at full volume, somewhere in the middle? Please explain.
I actually usually use the Toppy to adjust the valume - simply because that is the remote that is usually closest at hand  :D

Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
Chase Play – This is a big one for me. TiVo has a buffer on both tuners, meaning I can set a channel on one tuner knowing I have a 30 minute buffer available to me when I switch to that tuner. Skippa doesn't have that feature. To my mind, that makes Skippa a one watching, two recording tuner device rather than a three tuner device. Yes, I know I can simply record the other channel(s) and then playback the recordings, but that's a lot more stuffing around and will result in more housekeeping to delete shows I was forced to record for the sake of a five or 10 minute buffer. Is it just me or do others find that annoying? Update suggestion: Buffers on all three tuners and the ability to switch between tuners at the press of a button.
This does sound like a pain
Quote from: FMB on July 27, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
Looking at the settings, I get the impression that I have to set things like skip forwards/backwards and pre/post padding globally. Great that you can set defaults, but can you modify them on an ad hoc basis for each recording? Can that be done on the app? I'm confused.
If you're right about that, I am not happy.  On the Toppy, I can change the padding for individual shows if I want to, a feature I often find handy.  OK, I know that the fact that the Toppy only has 2 tuners, would make that more desirable, but it could still prove handy at times,

[/quote]

Must make time to study the manual tomorrow
Cheers,
Judy
Last Update Dec 9 2020; Beyonwiz V2, T2,

csutak40

Quote from: Klink1313 on July 27, 2015, 05:14:10 PM
Manual been removed all ready?

I get the message "Oops. The page you were looking for doesn't exist."

Can get to the quick set up guide though

Glad I downloaded it yesterday :-)  Maybe they are updating it?
Cheers,
Judy
Last Update Dec 9 2020; Beyonwiz V2, T2,

IanL-S

The one-page place-holder is back. No manual.

Glad I save the 'old' version to HDD and printed it out!

Ian
IceTV: IceBox + BYOB IceBox + 2xTRF-2400 + 2xTF7100HDPVRtPlus + SKIPPA [RIP] + T2 + U4 + V2
No IceTV: a few Toppys and T2
Synology NAS
Check out the oztoppy wiki and oztoppy Forum for Toppy help