New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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#187186 3-Jan-2009 15:54

pete9321: no idea...why use optical?
just go HDMI...seems more sensible to me...and feed the audio out of Tv to stereo...simple

Because this is the only way to get dolby 5.1 output from the unit. I tried this last night and only the dig/coax out worked. The HDMI only connection to my amplifier did not light up with the dolby symbol.

Tried a reboot, as the channel banner was stuck on the screen, but can also add Onkyo 576 receiver to the list that experiences audio dropouts on coax/opt out.

inichol

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#187213 3-Jan-2009 19:18

Re audio drop outs coax/optical

You can also add Onkyo 674 to the list - and no - I definetly dont have any problems with aerial or coax feed,

Audio on HDMI is fine, but as already mentioned, this does not give 5.1 format

RustyViewer

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#187306 4-Jan-2009 13:26

Pete, will this update also fix other problems?

I just purchased ET-HD a few days ago from Ascot TV in Christchurch, and I'm having terrible problems with audio distortion from BOTH SETS of RCA outputs. I have one set of RCA plugs (with S-video) (using the bottom rung) into my hard disk recorder (Pioneer DVR 745H-S) and one into my Mitzubishi 33 inch.

Also, how do you know if the USB update has worked or if you already have the latest version?

I plugged the flash drive into the USB and rebooted. The USB did not light up at all and when I pressed a key after reboot, it just seemed to ignore it. Shouldn't it say something, even if it has the latest software/firmware already?

Deev8

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#187310 4-Jan-2009 13:38

inichol: ... one of his ads on Trademe says PVR software avaialable in around two weeks. Now - is this an update or just an attempt to entice buyers.

And the website still says USB for extra features like PVR basic output available before Christmas One of the problems having information on the same product in numerous places I suppose - it's easy to forget to update some of them.

inichol

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#187314 4-Jan-2009 13:57

Also on website the add states

- 5 volts available for selectable for high gain antennas. Not that this receiver will need this as the tuner will pick the most sensitive of signals."

Can someone explain to me why you need 5 volts for high gain antennas. I would have thought that high gain antennas would provide the increased performance by additional elements.

Also why does this reciever need this to "pick up the most senstive of signals"

Perhaps I have lack of understanding here??

robjg63

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#187317 4-Jan-2009 14:46

RustyViewer: Pete, will this update also fix other problems?

I just purchased ET-HD a few days ago from Ascot TV in Christchurch, and I'm having terrible problems with audio distortion from BOTH SETS of RCA outputs. I have one set of RCA plugs (with S-video) (using the bottom rung) into my hard disk recorder (Pioneer DVR 745H-S) and one into my Mitzubishi 33 inch.

Also, how do you know if the USB update has worked or if you already have the latest version?

I plugged the flash drive into the USB and rebooted. The USB did not light up at all and when I pressed a key after reboot, it just seemed to ignore it. Shouldn't it say something, even if it has the latest software/firmware already?

The audio generally seems very quiet on the ET. I only have mine running thru HDMI though - So I couldnt comment on the other outputs.

I found that the ET only liked an older USB flash drive I had - Not sure why it didnt like my newish 4GB flash drive - anyway - It just ignored it altogether (thats what you have described). I tried an old 64mb flash drive and that worked no problem.
It displays progess (counts up to 100 when its doing the upgrade).
I am guessing it didnt like your flash drive OR you didnt have the folder mentioned in the installation instructions at the 'top' of the flash drive file system.

You can check the current version by going into the setup menu - Its not hard to find - it displays the version number and date of the software - Sorry cant remember specifically - Just have a poke around.

Robert

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robjg63

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#187318 4-Jan-2009 14:50

inichol: Also on website the add states

- 5 volts available for selectable for high gain antennas. Not that this receiver will need this as the tuner will pick the most sensitive of signals."

Can someone explain to me why you need 5 volts for high gain antennas. I would have thought that high gain antennas would provide the increased performance by additional elements.

Also why does this reciever need this to "pick up the most senstive of signals"

Perhaps I have lack of understanding here??

Hi Ian - Did you ever manage to get your ET to play nice?
I recall you had a similar issue to me - Good line of site to the transmiiter - Good prime/whatever picture and frequent ET picture break ups and low indicated signal strength.

Robert

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

RustyViewer

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#187321 4-Jan-2009 15:44

Checked just before. It's got the latest (Nov 21) version but it may have been on it already when I bought it.

So the question is...if you already have the latest update, is the USB drive simply ignored or does it still indicate something?

dodgemnz

51 posts

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#187417 5-Jan-2009 01:11

Hi all im a newbie to freeview and recenty purchased an extra terrestrial reciever. I have had a few problems with it and have read a fair amount of the posts on here and they seem a bit of mirror of what ive experienced in the last week of playing with the reciever. here's a bit of a list of issues and what ive done so far....

Pixilation: Had existing Lincrad Gizmo with UHF extender, replaced with new 23 element hills UHF aerial... now another hills 43 element still no improvement.... aargh.

Have done software update to 21/Nov took 3 diferent flash drives to get this to work (purchased Toshiba 2gb from dick smith it works second switch on with it connected once you get the the idea of the screen display, certainly not displayed as USB as per the manual!)
Signal strength wont go above 50% (mostly 40-45%) and Quality always at 100%, pixilation appears to be worse on tv3 (my wife wont watch it and i agree with her its very anoying when the analog is rock steady on our old aerail) she says "whats the point if it keeps doing that" hmmmmm!

Had various issues with remote operation and random reboot that has been described on here previously, but nice to know its not just mine thats doing these things. Clock seems fine no problems, sound good to. (using YPbPr and audio)
Sound level between channels: when watching a movie on tv2 at an accepatable sound level then switch to tv3 and cant hear much so have to crank the volume right up, back to 2 and yuor ears get a bashing.. eeeek is this normal?? cant they have some sort of sound level equalisation in transmission?

Right now im thinking this whole digital freeview thing is crap and not worth the money and time ive spent mucking about trying to make the picture stable. I rang Peter and ive done all he suggested and checked the wiring, its perfect (put my sensitive DMM on the coax cable between inner and outer got infinity then joined inner and outer sheeth together at the aerial F connector and got 5.4ohms as a loop (aprox 12M coax) so i know the coax is good.
Im in Christchurch right out at the coast and i can see Sugarloaf transmitter visually and pointed the aerial right at it (like all my neighbours have).

Q: why is the signal only max 50% how else can you get a good stable picture?

freitasm

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#187429 5-Jan-2009 08:48

Folks, this discussion is getting too long - and some off topics now.

Perhaps you should have a new thread for each discussion - firmware updates, problems found, newbie questions, etc?

If you agree I will lock this discussion and expect you to create new ones as needed.

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Hinko

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#187432 5-Jan-2009 09:01

Mauricio

As an owner the ongoing issues of concern will get more messy and more difficult to follow if you lock the thread.

If you do lock this thread I imagine another will start and continue in a similar vein.

I'd like to vote that you do not lock this thread please, all these issues are of potential concern to owners of the ET.

When the box is considered stable and meeting all promises then the thread might be appropriately locked.

At this point that seems some time away.

I am sure we speak for many that we appreciate the facilitiy that is here in geekzone, thank you.

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sbiddle

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#187433 5-Jan-2009 09:02

dodgemnz:
Right now im thinking this whole digital freeview thing is crap and not worth the money and time ive spent mucking about trying to make the picture stable.

With a good IDTV, STB or PC Tuner card + software Freeview|HD is fantastic. It's just unfortunate that you haven't had much luck with the box you have.

kiwisat

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#187436 5-Jan-2009 09:08

I would also like to see this thread continue and agree with Hinko that the comments are still remaining largely on topic. I would also like to thank Geekzone for making this possible in the first instance.

Paul

Hinko

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#187438 5-Jan-2009 09:09

dodgemnz
Have you considered your problem is TOO MUCH signal, as per some earlier comments on the list and with line of sight to the transmitter, try an attenuator, and let us know if that helps? The ET seems very sensitive and has been reported as incorrectly indicating strong signal.

TWO CHANNEL JUMP
Also are other people experiencing the remote channel jump problem still - where one CH+ or CH- press jumps two channels? This bug continues for me on the latest firmware and is really annoying. It is also intermittent.

Bigted

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#187445 5-Jan-2009 09:58

1 further vote to leave the thread unlocked at this stage.

Thanks

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