Frustrated MySky HDI user

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Frustrated MySky HDI user

kiwipearls

431 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#28702 9-Dec-2008 08:24

I am getting really frustrated with the MySkyHDI pvr.

I had problems with my first box, where it would just freeze and I would need to reset/reboot.

Got a replacement, all has been working well for a week and a half.

Last night, I was recording two channels, watching the other which I stuck on live pause while I went and got a drink before the show started. Came back and the reminder for my show was on the screen, I pressed select and the whole screen froze.

Only way to get the system back was doing system reset/reboot. I lost my previous hour recording and as soon as I got back in it started to record my next lot.

It is getting to the point I am too scared to press any buttons on the machine. The last machine used to freeze when I changed channels.

One sky tech weeks ago said I am asking the box to do too much. I am only doing what the box says it is supposed to do.

I beleive this could come under false advertising/misleading information.

The box is able to record two shows while watching another show live, yet it freezes when you ask it to do too much.

What is going on?

If it is a matter of the unit been overheated, why do they not make the box with a better fan to cool it down. I don't put the wrong equipment in my PC builds. If it is software, why can't they fix it and add more logic operators. For example. I was on the channel already that I had a reminder set for, surely if it knew it was too much for it to handle, by sending a reminder while I had that channel on live pause, it could detect that, and not send the reminder out - as doing so, gives it too much to do resulting in a freeze.

I'm just really frustrated and annoyed as the box is not living up to what it says it can do. I think I am going to put some money aside now and build my own PVR.

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#182912 9-Dec-2008 09:28

Hi Kiwipearls

I can understand your frustration - especially given your extensive research into understanding what the box does/doesnt do before getting it. And while its unacceptable that something doesnt perform as promosed it is more unacceptable if you've been "semi-relucctant" to be an early adopter.

The MySkyHDi box has largely common setup and software with Foxtel's IQ+ in Australia - and the box freeze is a much discussed issue both here on Geekzone and on similar forum sites in Australia. I know that I had plenty of freezes until a software version upgrade (which happens automatically) occurred a few months ago.

Can you check the hardware, software and EPG versions - you'll find them on the system details item on the setup menu?

I have had one freeze since the software update and I think I worked out what went wrong and "how I was making the box do too much" which seems like a silly prospect but I think its a fault of unintended consequences.

Situation - Wednesday night.

Box set to record: Flashpoint 8:30pm Ch2, Terminator 9:30pm Ch2. Heroes 8:30pm Ch3, Prison Break 9:30pm Ch3.
And watching another channel or watching off the hard drive.

At first glance this seems okay - recording 2 channels and watching another or watching from the drive. However the issue arises because the box (in its infinite wisdom - or by user choice) starts recording early and finishes recording late to prevent any loss of content from late starting programs. I had set it to 5 mins rather than automatic simply because TVNZ and TVworks are lousy at keeping to schedule.

So at 9:30pm exactly I was recording the end of two shows, the start of two shows and watching another channel - so I was asking the box to record 4 channels and allow me to watch another channel live. Box spat dummy. Loss of the 8:30 programmes and the point up to when I reset the system for the latter shows. As you say - very frustrating. Having reverted to "automatic" for start/stop recording I have had no issue and cannot replicate my describe problem.

So second question - have you tinkered with any of the settings for recording options?

O

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

kiwipearls

431 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#182927 9-Dec-2008 10:14

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I had added 5 mins to start and end of recording. As people advised in doing so here on the forums.

Have now changed both back to automatic.

H/W Version is: TD5850NNZ.42

S/W Verson is: 38.2.0.7.14

OP Sys Version is: CO21004

EPG Version is : u_1.0.26

Hopefully changing it back to automatic will stop this error happening. We'll see how it goes.

And I realised this error was happening on the old myskys, which is part of the reason we waited for HDI boxes (plus it records more in SD (Just until we save up for a HD tv(but hopefully by then, they will stick bigger harddrives in to record more ;-)).

Hopefully one day, they will find a proper fix for this.

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#182935 9-Dec-2008 10:29

The 5 min start/end of recording setting seemed like the smartest idea in the world - but if it might be the cause of lockups then I'd rather risk TVNZ/TV3 than potentially lose a whole program. Others might differ.....

I will check the versions tonight but I seem to recall s/w was a 30.xxx version. Hope they havent regressed.

If possible you should try stress testing it with some generic crap programming. Try to replicate the situation I described cos that would be pushing the hardware to the limit. Also try it on sky channels and FTA channels. And try recording the overlapping channels and have another channel on live pause during the overlap period.

I've tried all the combinations and havent had it break (doesnt mean that it wont at some stage I guess) but would be interested to see if you can faithfully replicate your issue.

Other technically minded individuals might be able to contribute some different ideas too....

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#183272 10-Dec-2008 09:40

I can confirm that my versions echo your versions. Hopefully the most recent upgrade hasnt increased instability.

Please let me know if you experience another lockup or you manage to force it to lock up. My big test is obviously tonight (in a live environment).

O

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

kiwipearls

431 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#183274 10-Dec-2008 09:55

I will try and mimic what happened on monday night, with the record time set to auto and see if it freezes again.

Will try and do this this afternoon. If not tomorrow.

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild