New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1426

Subscriber

#178580 18-Nov-2008 14:10

I found the ET box was a little fussy with USB sticks.

It didnt like a 512mb one that I have had about 3 years. Just wouldnt see it. I even reformatted it - still no joy.

I ended up trying a really crappy 64mb nobrand USB stick and it was happy.

Hey Pete - Do you know what sort of media the ET will be able to record to? I'm presuming probably a USB Hard disk drive even though the manual currently says "never plug in an HDD to the ET" - or words to that effect.

Robert

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Kanz

29 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#178627 18-Nov-2008 18:36

Hi guys

As reported my green flash had dissapeared prior to update, but upgraded firmware anywy.

Now (still) have sound crackling initially when changing channels

and also sound 'dragging' when in and out of EPG.

Unit ran flawlessly prior to green flash saga

Any similar experiences?

Chur

p1noy

16 posts

Geek

#178662 18-Nov-2008 20:12

Kanz: Hi guys

As reported my green flash had dissapeared prior to update, but upgraded firmware anywy.

Now (still) have sound crackling initially when changing channels

and also sound 'dragging' when in and out of EPG.

Unit ran flawlessly prior to green flash saga

Any similar experiences?

Chur

So what's this firmware upgrade supposed to fix ?
I haven't notice any green flash since yesterday
and I haven't installed the upgrade yet.

rizzo

18 posts

Geek

#178729 19-Nov-2008 08:05

Jaxson: If your box is working ok now after trying the firmware update then you're ok, nothing is damaged. You've either managed to successfully do the update, or you still have the original firmware.

Check the menu for the system info/version number and compare that with the update you were trying to upgrade to. This will tell you if the upgrade worked ok or not.

Hi All,thanks for your help.
I have tried this and the box clearly has not upgraded. However, as the green flash has gone, I have decided to adopt the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' theory, for now, and not update. I will wait a while.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1426

Subscriber

#178895 19-Nov-2008 19:07

I am interested to know if other people can very easily crash the ET, by going into the program guide and trying the next day (Yellow button). If you do it 2 or 3 times (I wait for the next day to come up before trying the next), the box pretty much crashes and reboots - often with a loud whistling.

Anyone else getting a few problems with the guide?

(I am on the very latest firmware - mondays version - but it did it on the one before as well).

Robert

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#178978 20-Nov-2008 05:21

I am interested to know if other people can very easily crash the ET, by going into the program guide and trying the next day (Yellow button)

yellow button has next week and prev not next day that is the blue button.

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Hinko

282 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#178982 20-Nov-2008 07:18

I am now running Firmware 1.05 16 Nov 08 off KauKau, Wellington.

I have not seen any more green screen flashes, which is good.
The jerky images seem to have vanished now, which is good.

Concerningly I am finding there is now much more depixillation on this new firmware on TV3, seems associated with scene changes - frequently the beginning of a new scene. Did not happen on the older firmware, nothing else changed. Seems like another channel is briefly displayed.

I'd also really appreciate an update on the composite sound issue please Pete. In the continuing absence of any explanation seems to suggest to me that this is a hardware issue.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1426

Subscriber

#178990 20-Nov-2008 08:40

wiredr: I am interested to know if other people can very easily crash the ET, by going into the program guide and trying the next day (Yellow button)

yellow button has next week and prev not next day that is the blue button.

OK - thanks for clarifying that - So your ET box is rock solid and doesnt crash - is it just mine?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#179024 20-Nov-2008 11:03

i have had the odd ocasion where the system locks up on tv3 which has required a hard reboot , sometimes wen changing from tv3 to tv one it will reboot, generally i would say that the software that peter eischer (satlinknz ) had installed is the problem and not the machine,

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#179027 20-Nov-2008 11:08

do a factory default and load again...no probs here or with other clients

mattstutter

49 posts

Geek

#179028 20-Nov-2008 11:09

Mine was needing a hard reboot on an almost daily basis. You could see when it needed it - the clock would've frozen, not to be confused with just simply displaying the wrong time (in standby mode). Peter seems to recommend not bothering with standby mode - but that's not a very green line of thought.
I've returned my unit - just awaiting Peter to actually collect it from the courier and follow up on it. Been 3 days now...

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wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#179031 20-Nov-2008 11:16

pete9321: do a factory default and load again...no probs here or with other clients

WHEN new updates are loaded then that effectivly resets the stb.this then requires a new ch scan. the problems mentioned prev have transfered thru the last 3 updates . the original software from china worked way better than the nz software only trouble was the lack of an epg,

gibbo

30 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#179037 20-Nov-2008 11:36

Hinko: I am now running Firmware 1.05 16 Nov 08 off KauKau, Wellington.

I have not seen any more green screen flashes, which is good.
The jerky images seem to have vanished now, which is good.

Concerningly I am finding there is now much more depixillation on this new firmware on TV3, seems associated with scene changes - frequently the beginning of a new scene. Did not happen on the older firmware, nothing else changed. Seems like another channel is briefly displayed.

I'd also really appreciate an update on the composite sound issue please Pete. In the continuing absence of any explanation seems to suggest to me that this is a hardware issue.

yeah seeing the depixlation issue as well and its a different media stream breaking in, either an ad or TV3 news reporter feeds. Once it happens will continue all night every 10-15 mins or so. Next time it happens Im going to power cycle the ET unit to see if its potentially an ET fault or the TV3 media stream

Any one else seeing this.

inichol

29 posts

Geek

#179136 20-Nov-2008 20:15

Re the pixelised picture

On the previous ET I had it use to be real bad on TV3 - about 2 to 3 times a minute.
Scene changes seem to set these off but I could not tell if another channel was trying to break in.
I tried reception from two different transmitters (manually tuning each time to the correct channels) and had the same problems.
This ET eventually died and its replacement was heaps better.
Watched Ice Road Truckers on TV3 last night and picture only broke up 3 times
Pete has always said its weak signal or interference.
I know its definetly not weak signal but could be interfernce from other channels.
It seems that some ET's are more sensitive to this problem than others (definetly my experience)
Interesting to note that when other users replace ET with other brands of box and same aerial and leads there is no picture break up problems.

Also still experiencing audio drop outs on optical out. This could be caused by ET getting confused with other channels.

Picture quality is always 100% and always strong signal

With more reports coming in I believe that this issue should go back to the factory for investigation.

Ian

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1426

Subscriber

#179150 20-Nov-2008 22:17

inichol: Re the pixelised picture

On the previous ET I had it use to be real bad on TV3 - about 2 to 3 times a minute.
Scene changes seem to set these off but I could not tell if another channel was trying to break in.
I tried reception from two different transmitters (manually tuning each time to the correct channels) and had the same problems.
This ET eventually died and its replacement was heaps better.
Watched Ice Road Truckers on TV3 last night and picture only broke up 3 times
Pete has always said its weak signal or interference.
I know its definetly not weak signal but could be interfernce from other channels.
It seems that some ET's are more sensitive to this problem than others (definetly my experience)
Interesting to note that when other users replace ET with other brands of box and same aerial and leads there is no picture break up problems.

Also still experiencing audio drop outs on optical out. This could be caused by ET getting confused with other channels.

Picture quality is always 100% and always strong signal

With more reports coming in I believe that this issue should go back to the factory for investigation.

Ian

Hi Ian - Your experience is similar to mine.
First box - really bad - second box - definitely better. I think that they must vary somewhat.

I am getting break ups every 5 minutes or so - which is better than the first box.

In either case the boxes were showing 5-10% signal strength and 100% Quality. I had my aerial tested and was told it all checked out finel. Very low Bit Error Rate and Very high signal strength. I can see the Waitakare transmitter from my place and and 'shielded' from the other transmitter sites by Mt Eden. I've tried manual tuning and cant get anything from the other locations - so they cant be interferring.

Just as an experiment I chucked a variable attenuator in between the aerial and the box (max of 26db) and if I wind the attenuation way up I can get 60-70+% Strength and 100% Quality indicated. It doesnt actually seem to reduce the break ups. So I agree with someone on an earlier post that maybe the signal strength indicator goes backwards when the signal is very strong. (My Prime and Triangle etc was VERY sharp before adding all the attenuation - Its rubbish with the attenuation wound up).

I've just decided to live with it the way it is - maybe there will be a firmware upgrade one day that magically resolves my issues, or if someone I know gets another brand of STB I might see if I can borrow it. I'm reluctant to rewire the house and change the aerial on the off chance it might 'fix' my picture.

Robert

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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