Applies to: Manhattan S4•R Freesat satellite recorder, using its March 2026 v1.3 guide and current support pages. The terrestrial T4/T4•R and older SX use different hardware; match the label.
Match your symptom
| What you see | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Too many simultaneous recordings | Check the installed feed type before expecting four recordings. Two universal feeds allow two simultaneous recordings; two wideband feeds allow up to four. SCR/Unicable capacity depends on the available user bands detected during setup. One ordinary universal feed provides one tuner. Do not move dish cables or change LNB settings to guess the feed type. |
| Beginning or ending seems missing | In HOME → Settings → Recordings, inspect Padding Options without changing them first. Playback can begin at the broadcaster-signalled start rather than the actual recorded start. Rewind to the beginning of the saved file to distinguish a playback starting point from missing content. Keep the recording while investigating. |
Work through these checks
Identify tuner capacity
Check the installed feed type before expecting four recordings. Two universal feeds allow two simultaneous recordings; two wideband feeds allow up to four. SCR/Unicable capacity depends on the available user bands detected during setup. One ordinary universal feed provides one tuner. Do not move dish cables or change LNB settings to guess the feed type.
What the result means: Do not format the drive, factory-reset the recorder or climb to the dish for a scheduling conflict. Leave dish/feed changes to a qualified installer. Stop for heat, electrical damage or unsafe access.
Compare overlapping schedules
Automatic padding follows broadcaster start/end signals. At full tuner capacity, another recording can force a transition at the scheduled time, cutting a late-running programme. Manual padding cannot add a tuner: adjacent same-channel recordings may share their boundary, and overlapping channels may lose extra padding. Check the adjacent recording before concluding footage was lost.
What the result means: Note model/software, detected feed type, conflicting channel names and scheduled times, padding type, and whether rewinding or the neighbouring recording contains the missing part. Keep account details private.
Inspect the complete saved recording
In HOME → Settings → Recordings, inspect Padding Options without changing them first. Playback can begin at the broadcaster-signalled start rather than the actual recorded start. Rewind to the beginning of the saved file to distinguish a playback starting point from missing content. Keep the recording while investigating.
What the result means: Do not format the drive, factory-reset the recorder or climb to the dish for a scheduling conflict. Leave dish/feed changes to a qualified installer. Stop for heat, electrical damage or unsafe access.
When to stop and get help
Do not format the drive, factory-reset the recorder or climb to the dish for a scheduling conflict. Leave dish/feed changes to a qualified installer. Stop for heat, electrical damage or unsafe access.
What to tell support
Note model/software, detected feed type, conflicting channel names and scheduled times, padding type, and whether rewinding or the neighbouring recording contains the missing part. Keep account details private.
Common questions
Will manual padding guarantee the whole programme?
Automatic padding follows broadcaster start/end signals. At full tuner capacity, another recording can force a transition at the scheduled time, cutting a late-running programme. Manual padding cannot add a tuner: adjacent same-channel recordings may share their boundary, and overlapping channels may lose extra padding. Check the adjacent recording before concluding footage was lost.
Original troubleshooting guidance based on the official sources below. Menu names can change. This is an independent guide, not a manufacturer service bulletin or a bench-tested repair.