MagicTV 3600.. my quick impression report (updated)

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › MagicTV 3600.. my quick impression report (updated)

1 | ... | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92

336 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992188 22-Feb-2014 09:22

Any one else having the 'auto restart' problem again - power on the unit with the remote, shows the picture/sound briefly, then shows a screen that it's going to restart (with an OK, but doesn't give you the chance to press OK) and then powers off and restarts.

There was some test firmware updates to try to fix it but seemed like it was some extra signal being sent by Mediaworks channels when it occurred previously. Problem went away completely but now I have it again.

MurrayM

2455 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992204 22-Feb-2014 10:02

cb1: Any one else having the 'auto restart' problem again - power on the unit with the remote, shows the picture/sound briefly, then shows a screen that it's going to restart (with an OK, but doesn't give you the chance to press OK) and then powers off and restarts.

There was some test firmware updates to try to fix it but seemed like it was some extra signal being sent by Mediaworks channels when it occurred previously. Problem went away completely but now I have it again.

I haven't noticed this problem returning, but then I don't use my Magic TV every night.

evanh

152 posts

Master Geek

#992212 22-Feb-2014 10:21

I can't say I've seen that particular behaviour here in Chch.

However, I have regular issues with menus/controls getting extra sluggish and I know it's time to turn the power switch off at the back. This always initiates the above auto-restart process when I turn the power back on.

I try to re-power the unit every few days now to be on the safe side. If I don't it will eventually freeze, usually a few seconds into the first programme to be recorded for the day. I get back from work late only to find nothing useful recorded. When I pop away for a few days at Christmas I don't think it's lasted beyond Christmas day every year I've had the thing. :(

MurrayM

2455 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992215 22-Feb-2014 10:25

evanh: I can't say I've seen that particular behaviour here in Chch.

However, I have regular issues with menus/controls getting extra sluggish and I know it's time to turn the power switch off at the back. This always initiates the above auto-restart process when I turn the power back on.

I try to re-power the unit every few days now to be on the safe side. If I don't it will eventually freeze, usually a few seconds into the first programme to be recorded for the day. I get back from work late only to find nothing useful recorded. When I pop away for a few days at Christmas I don't think it's lasted beyond Christmas day every year I've had the thing. :(

I run my Magic TV for months between full power-offs. Have you run the test that checks the hard drive for errors?

evanh

152 posts

Master Geek

#992218 22-Feb-2014 10:30

MurrayM:I run my Magic TV for months between full power-offs. Have you run the test that checks the hard drive for errors?

Yep, replaced the HDD twice over the years. Each time I also copies the recordings over. It never reduced the occurrences of the problem. I'm a little suspicious this behaviour is getting worse with the number of recordings I have stored. I've got something like 600 odd recordings at this stage. One day I might get adventurous and put an empty HDD in and try it for a week, Christmas time even.

Nutts

65 posts

Master Geek

#992254 22-Feb-2014 11:54

I have been having this issue for sometime now. As was reported earlier, it did go away for a while but has been back for at least six months now. I know of three units experiencing this.
It might be worse than some realize as well. After it has rebooted and is operational again I go to recorded programs and press the green button to get the folders view. Then go to the not in folder and sort that by name.
Next time I go to watch a program that has been recorded often but not always it is back needing the folders view etc setting up again. This tells me that it is restarting when it turns on to do a timed recording not just when I turn it on to watch something. So far it has always recorded what it was meant to and I have not had a lockup for ages.
I have two 3600's and both do this as does my daughters one. I know that the two I have do not restart at the same time. For instance I watched a recorded program on one of them this morning and it did not restart and had not since last time I used it.shortly after that I turned the other one on to set up a series record and it restarted when I turned it on.
I can't find anything common that causes it either. For instance I thought maybe it was one channel or group of channels that caused it. Like tvnz channels but it seems to happen if the unit is left on tvnz channels or on tv3 or 4. Of course this is not that easy to verify as you can't tell what channel the second tuner is on.
Well that's just my two cents worth..
N.

butlerboy

457 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992257 22-Feb-2014 12:00

Yeah mines started restarting regularly again.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992282 22-Feb-2014 12:31

Imagine if you could get mysky hardware and uhf tuners.

JefWright

85 posts

Master Geek

#992289 22-Feb-2014 12:38

cb1: Any one else having the 'auto restart' problem again - power on the unit with the remote, shows the picture/sound briefly, then shows a screen that it's going to restart (with an OK, but doesn't give you the chance to press OK) and then powers off and restarts..

I wondered if it was more widespread than just me. I've seen it (in Auckland) a few times over the last week or two (perhaps not this last week; I haven't kept a record). I'm running patched 3.18 with 60/8 second skip intervals.

I don't think anything inside the 3600 (like the HDD) is deteriorating to cause this failure. I think this is the result of an inherent weakness that is stimulated by some outside influence. My 3600 goes for months between re-starts and it is our family's primary TV control so it's hammered daily.

While overall I've been remarkably happy with my 3600, I've found a few shortcomings:

sometimes it reboots a few moments after turning on. Others have said this is stimulated by transmission data; it reveals a significant fragility.
sometimes it gets itself in a few second duration loop and I have to press play or FF to resume normal playback again. The recorded content repeatably stimulates this weakness; there must be a bug in the mpeg decoding algorithm.
sometimes it can't manage alternate serieslink time scheduling for programs and I have to delete all affected and re-schedule them in the right sequence so it just works. I find the program scheduling interface is unnecessarily difficult to use.
sometimes I wish it could record 3 or more muxes at once
the tuner is either not very sensitive or selective; my TV had no issue with my incoming signal but my 3600 was unhappy till I got needed a 20dB amplifier/UHF filter.
I always wish the box didn't run so hot (but the cat loves that about it); 0.020KW * 24h * 365d * $0.28 = $49 per year!

The ongoing nature of the first couple of bugs suggests that the 3600 isn't feeling much love at MTV (and probably won't). I guess the long term fix for most of these bugs would be to buy some 3700s (one for me and at least one for twolostkiwis) and find a way to get sensible skip intervals.

bmoff

158 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#992298 22-Feb-2014 13:08

I have a 3600 and recently bought a 3700, The 3600 resides in Auckland and it too does the regular restart thing. The 3700 is here in Hamilton.

The 3700 is OK, but still has it's problems and to a degree I regret not buying one of the alternatives. I was also looking at the Panasonic Blu-ray combo. The thing I miss most is the ability to skip like the patched 3600. Wouldn't be such an issue if the FFWD/RWD worked properly, but it still has the same issues that the 3600 has. It annoys me that the unit is crippled to comply with Freeview requirements but the alternative (ie FFWD/RWD) doesn't work properly anyway. Why this can't be fixed beats me, the analogue Samsung I used to have and the Panasonic don't seem to have this problem.

Anyway think hard before you buy a 3700, definitely look at the alternatives, personally I find it hard to recommend. I'll stick with it meantime but I can see myself ditching it out of frustration eventually.

evanh

152 posts

Master Geek

#992309 22-Feb-2014 13:26

JefWright:
sometimes it gets itself in a few second duration loop and I have to press play or FF to resume normal playback again. The recorded content repeatably stimulates this weakness; there must be a bug in the mpeg decoding algorithm.

That one has been so bad for a few of my recordings I ended up deleting without watching.

bmoff: ... The 3700 is OK, but still has it's problems and to a degree I regret not buying one of the alternatives. I was also looking at the Panasonic Blu-ray combo. The thing I miss most is the ability to skip like the patched 3600. Wouldn't be such an issue if the FFWD/RWD worked properly, but it still has the same issues that the 3600 has. ...

Thank you for this info. Even with the crashes and poor RF and stuttery playback I think the uncontrollable FFWD/FRWD is my biggest hate of the 3600. The 3700 is absolutely not on my to-buy list.

The only reason I still use the 3600 is because I can copy and view the recordings on my Linux desktop.

bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#992356 22-Feb-2014 15:29

However, I have regular issues with menus/controls getting extra sluggish and I know it's time to turn the power switch off at the back. This always initiates the above auto-restart process when I turn the power back on.

Use the Restart option in the System menu if possible as it's safer than flipping the switch at the back while the hard drive is running.

I don't think anything inside the 3600 (like the HDD) is deteriorating to cause this failure. I think this is the result of an inherent weakness that is stimulated by some outside influence.

Like summer heat causing an overheating crash while in standby mode?

I always wish the box didn't run so hot

Are there any points inside where a small fan could be powered from?

theoldfarter

233 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#992361 22-Feb-2014 15:45

Live in Masterton & yes, have been experiencing the restarts a second or two after powering on. Running 2lostkiwis I min/8 sec hack.

When it is time to replace the 3600, I also won't be getting a 3700 because of the FF/RW problem.
Seeing that I will be stuck with not being able to jump forward in 1 minutes steps and having to rely on the FF/RW capabilities to get past advertising, I will be looking at the Panasonics. The Panasonic DMR-EH67 analogue tuner HDD recorder & the Pioneer DVR-540H analogue tuner HDD recorders that I own, both had excellent FF/RW.

Mind you, if 2lostkiwis did a hack on the 3700, then I would consider that model but, don't think that is about to happen.
The 3700 has been out for quite some time now, I wonder if a new model is in the works? It would have to have the FF/RW fixed though.

JefWright

85 posts

Master Geek

#992363 22-Feb-2014 15:48

Good point about using the "Restart" option.

I routinely test electronics at over 120°C. It isn't good for a plastic case, cable insulation or electrolytic capacitor lifetime but there is generally a HW or SW design flaw if it screws up in the short term due to high operating temperature.

The case is bristling with vents so an effective fan is difficult to install. A fan will consume another few watts (another few dollars per year).

RingoTB

118 posts

Master Geek

#992545 22-Feb-2014 20:47

Yes I too have been having the restart issues. It has been doing it for a couple of weeks, almost once each day. I am in West Auckland. I think it is something to do with what is being broadcast. My unit can be in a nice cool room (air-con running) and it will still restart. It seems to do it the first time the unit is turned on each day.

I also get mine stuck in the "few second loop" occasionally. The only time it does this is with something recorded from Prime. I've never had it happen on TV1, 2, 3 or 4. I once had one program recorded on Prime with the loops so bad, it would not play at all. As I am running the hacked firmware (3.17 with 1min fwd, 8sec back & http server), all I did was copy the file onto a computer and played it from there. There was no issues with the recorded content when playing on the computer.

1 | ... | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92