Zinwell FreeviewHD set-top box. problems?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Zinwell FreeviewHD set-top box. problems?

FletcherB

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#28770 11-Dec-2008 11:17

Hi, I'm new here...
I just bought myself a Zinwell HD decoder from Dick Smith last month when they were on sale for $250.
While generally I'm very pleased with it, I'm having a couple of issues with it and wondered if it's something in the config I can change, or if they are problems that will be addressed by a firmware upgrade (are there any yet?) of if it's an actual fault I need to get covered under warranty.
I neglected to write down the firmware version and date before asking (silly me- I can get them) but its from approx march/april 08.
Anyway...
issue 1) If you leave it on, after 24 hours the epg doesnt update any more.... it just shows you the last show info for when the 24 hours from turn-on expired. It's easy to get around, you just switch it to stand-by when not in use and its fine...
issue 2) when I first got it, the radio stations worked fine..... but now I can only hear the audio from the radio station while there's onscreen data.... if I change the volume, or call up the epg, I can hear the radio..... but as soon as the onscreen data dissapears, so does the audio!
I've tried resetting it to factory config, and that fixed it for a while but the problem came back.
If anyone can tell me some setting to change, or that they all do this :) that would be cool.
Cheers,
Fletch.

1 | 2

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#183678 12-Dec-2008 08:38

More info on the box...
Zinwell ZMT-620HP
Software version 0.12.7 dated Feb 22 2008
SMU information: K:0.4.0 R:0.4.0 A:0.12.7 SSU: 3s/w model:1 s/w version:256
(I have no idea what that stuff means, anyone care to shed some light?)
Last night I re-confirmed that the above description of audio behavior... but for clarity, its only the radio stations doing this (Base FM, Radio NZ National + Concert) the TV stations all work fine.
I tried removing power from the unit (not just standby, but pulling the plug from the wall). I reset to factory config, re-scanned/tuned the stations and I tried every combination of audio setting.... none had any effect. As long as you had onscreen graphics or icons from menus or similar you could hear the radio station selected, and as soon as you finished using the menus, or the data display timed out.... the audio would stop anywhere between immediately and five seconds later.
The fact no one has chimed in with "yeah I get that too" or "I fixed that by doing XYZ", I'm going to assume I've got a genuine fault and I'll take it in for warranty service after Christmas.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#183685 12-Dec-2008 08:57

You should have a much later firmware version than this. Firmware upgrades are all OTA so should automatically update.

FletcherB

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#183756 12-Dec-2008 16:27

How long should it take for a box freshly connected to the "system" to
1) Realize there is an update available?2) Download it?3) advise user of any special steps needed to be taken for install to be finalized?
I've had it for over two weeks now, and it's been left completely on (ie. not standby) for over 24 hours at least a few times...
I've also gone into the manual settings and selected software update (red button) but it seems to only look at the USB port (it thinks it has two, but in fact only has one) and correctly concludes none is available.
I'm presuming I dont have to plug in a USB drive for the auto-downloading update to be saved onto?
I've read of several Zinwell sattelite receiver updates, so presumably these happen reliably.
Has anyone had their Zinwell Terrestrial HD box do an auto-update over the air yet?
Thanks for the advise...
Fletch.

FletcherB

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#183775 12-Dec-2008 20:13

Also... just for clarity... could anyone with a Zinwell ZMT-620HD that's not suffering from the same issues please take the trouble to go into their menus and report back their software version number...

Thanks, I appreciate it.
Fletch.

FletcherB

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#185809 23-Dec-2008 13:03

Just a Bump....
Anyone with a 100% working Zinwell ZMT-620HD want to report their software version?
Thanks,
Fletch.

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#185818 23-Dec-2008 13:59

Software version 1.0.8 dated Jul 11 2008
SSU information: K:0.4.0 R:0.4.0 A:1.0.8 SSU 11

EDIT: Next Electronics do firmware updates so I believe.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

FletcherB

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#185829 23-Dec-2008 15:19

Cheers for that...
Now I know I have a "fault".... not just the symptoms I've described, but that it's not auto-updating over the air.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

greg256

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#185890 24-Dec-2008 07:50

OK, so here's a bug:

In the last few days we'd been having problem with TV1, TV2, and TV7 showing a silent black screen on Freeview (Zinwell ZMT-620HD). All the other channels were fine. Resets didn't work. The programme information was still present, but the EPG did not come up on those channels. However, when you tried to turn the EPG on, it had a message that it couldn't be launched because the subtitles were turned on. After I turned off the subtitles, the channels returned. Weird eh?

Greg.

rugrat

3106 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#186089 25-Dec-2008 20:30

A work mate purchased zinwell in last month, has old firm ware on it. Don't know model of Zinwell.

It hasn't done an over the air update, but he's having no problems so not worried about it.

Just from the fact his hasn't updated and whats been mentioned here makes me wonder if the update is still being transmitted?

Before update mine use to lock up, and had to go standby and back on to get it going, now after update every so often picture freezes for fraction of second but recovers by its self

ckai

45 posts

Geek

#189186 13-Jan-2009 12:53

FletcherB: Cheers for that...
Now I know I have a "fault".... not just the symptoms I've described, but that it's not auto-updating over the air.

Just saw your post after doing a search and I have the same problem with the EPG spitting the dummy. I have the latest software from July. Did you manage to sort it out?

It's annoying really, the epg is one of the reasons we have freeview. Find it bloody handy when it works.

drdrake

27 posts

Geek

#195394 11-Feb-2009 20:51

I have a similar problem with our Zinwell 620HD - every couple of hours I lose the video signal (audio is still fine). You can change the channel and hear different programmes, but it needs a power off/on reset to get the video back. Video is through HDMI, audio is through digital (optical) direct to the amp.
Last update was 12 Feb 08 according to the box, with S/W Model: 1 and S/W Version: 256. The box is is on top of an Xbox 360 (which is off whenever Freeview is on) and well ventilated. Don't think it is overheating as the video comes back straight away, but....
Is there a location to download software updates, or a method to force the box to request an OTA update?

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#195406 11-Feb-2009 21:35

There was a v1.09 in august,not sure if there has been any OTA since then.
You cant force it,they have to be transmitting it

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#195420 11-Feb-2009 22:43

Brunzy: There was a v1.09 in august,not sure if there has been any OTA since then.
You cant force it,they have to be transmitting it

It really does beg the question - why do they not transmit the over the air update on a regular basis? Is there a big cost to the importer to do this?

There will be many boxes that were sold after that last update currently sitting in cabinets with the original (and slightly buggy) software.

Should it be the responsibility of the retailer to ensure that a new STB is sold with the latest firmware?

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#195777 13-Feb-2009 23:17

I have DSE's model.

My experience tonight that I just discovered was that the channels are all jumbled up and they're not in their usual channel position and their channel numbers are in 3-digits, like 806 which is TV3. Anyhow, my TV1 has gone AWOL and then there's Sony_ and another channel at 804, 805 respectively.

I'm in Christchurch.

Is there any known issue with Sugarloaf transmitting tower? And how do I get the latest firmware? I think our FreeView|HD is 1.08.

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#195795 14-Feb-2009 10:21

chiefie: I have DSE's model.

My experience tonight that I just discovered was that the channels are all jumbled up and they're not in their usual channel position and their channel numbers are in 3-digits, like 806 which is TV3. Anyhow, my TV1 has gone AWOL and then there's Sony_ and another channel at 804, 805 respectively.

I'm in Christchurch.

Is there any known issue with Sugarloaf transmitting tower? And how do I get the latest firmware? I think our FreeView|HD is 1.08.

I'd suggest you unplug,and reboot

1 | 2