Homecast HT3000 Problems

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Jordan2004

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#29137 25-Dec-2008 12:39

Hi

Has anybody else had the problem where the Homecast HT3000 locks up whilst in standby mode??
Its quite annoying having to switch the power switch at the back of the unit off, to get it working again...

Cheers
Jordan

PickledHamster

36 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#191382 22-Jan-2009 21:10

I have had a number of lock-ups, with the unit occasionally being unresponsive to the remote.

Interestingly, on turning the unit on this evening I just received some sort of forced firmware update over the air.

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Jordan2004

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#191383 22-Jan-2009 21:19

hmmm... i cant seem to get the update over the air...
What firmware version is it??

PickledHamster

36 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#191384 22-Jan-2009 21:29

My hardware version is 1.01.00
The old software version was 1.02.4A which was upgraded to 1.02.7A by an OTA upgrade
The company DTV Solutions which supports this product in New Zealand have a downloadable firmware they list as being 1.02.7b at
http://www.dtvs.co.nz/forum/index.php?topic=34.0

http://www.nztechie.com - IT news, reviews, and discussion!

ronstev

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#191393 22-Jan-2009 21:49

Hi,

Bought the HT3000 over two months back and experiencing exactly to same problem. Even upgrading the firmware to 1.02.7B - done a couple of weeks ago - didn't help. Had two lock-ups since! Also noticed that the unit is running rather hot (too hot for my liking), even when on stand-by. Wonder why that is?

I'm now checking regularly on DTV Solutions website for a firmware fix. If they can't fix it within a reasonable time frame it will have to go back for a refund.

Cheers

Ron

PickledHamster

36 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#191787 24-Jan-2009 12:38

Mine does not run hot. But then, I have ample ventilation on top, back, front, and sides.

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lokhor

2858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 171

Trusted

#192795 29-Jan-2009 21:22

Has anyone else had issues with the sound randomly stopping requiring a hard reset with the power switch on the back?

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

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Fish

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#196514 18-Feb-2009 14:46

I have the exact same issues. Purchased this unit a week ago (11 Feb) from JB HiFi. Since plugging it in it runs very hot (even when on standby overnight). Also its locked up about 3 times in the past week. (Freezes the picture and the remote or front buttons wont do anything). Ended up having to switch it off at the back each time.

I took it back today and they suggested I try a firmware upgrade first. Not sure what version its on so will check it out tonight and try a factory reset.

Cheers

lokhor

2858 posts

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+1 received by user: 171

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#196691 19-Feb-2009 13:03

Yeah my gfs parents ended up taking it back and they don't want to bother with HD now, they just had too many issues with it locking up. They tried 4 different receivers and they all locked up even with the OTA firmware upgrade and a firmware upgrade i put on usb stick from the net.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

Jaxson

8172 posts

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+1 received by user: 1332

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#196718 19-Feb-2009 15:23

My experience has been with the ET box but I did have the DSE Zinwell for a few weeks initially too. Both required reboots and this has just become a regular part of freeview TV watching for us.

If you're from the older generation mindset of everything that goes wrong is for a reason, and you just have to track that reason down and fix it, then the rebooting for no reason can be extremely frustrating and confusing. If you're from the Microsoft PC era it doesn't even register anymore.

Either way there is a distinct lack of product testing in the field with the HD boxes. The sat boxes are MPEG2 so we can use tried and tested models from overseas. The HD boxes are almost all from China and there doesn't seem to have been enough actual testing in the field here in NZ prior to release. In my opinion.

ronstev

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#196826 19-Feb-2009 23:36

My HT3000 still locks up; about once a week (even after a firmware upgrade!).

After talking to numerous people in the industry, I came to the same conclusion as Jaxson. The HD boxes have not been tested thoroughly enough prior releasing them on the NZ market. (Don't know if this is only limited to NZ though.)

But, I have great difficulty accepting that we should just put up with it – because, if you are from the Microsoft PC era (generation), you are supposed to be used to it –> so, if it stops functioning, reboot it! Wow, have we become so desensitised by Microsoft crap that we now put up with inferior products from everybody else?

For what its worth, trying to legitimise that it is ok when software/firmware needs constant rebooting is plain wrong and should not be acceptable! It simply is faulty! Not suitable for the task intended and must be fixed/replaced under warranty, or money back in full. I'm sure if enough people take this stand we will see better PC based products entering the market.

lokhor

2858 posts

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+1 received by user: 171

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#196863 20-Feb-2009 09:42

Yeah so basically my gfs parents don't want anything to do with HD if it's going to lock up like that. I'll recommend another box to them when there are actually some reliable ones on the market.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

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butlerboy

457 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 53

#196865 20-Feb-2009 10:08

lokhor: Yeah so basically my gfs parents don't want anything to do with HD if it's going to lock up like that. I'll recommend another box to them when there are actually some reliable ones on the market.

The Draco HDTV5500 is reliable. I've only had 1 lock up in 4 months. The only problem I've had is my original one had a faulty power supply that made a whistling noise. But I got it swapped over for a new receiver and that's going fine, no problems to speak of.

From everything that I've read the Draco and the Zinwell/DSE are the only ones without major software issues and run as they should.

ronstev

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#197002 20-Feb-2009 19:01

One lock-up in four month is one lock-up to many in my humble option. Even a lock-up once a year is unacceptable.

Well written firmware does not lock-up. Software (firmware) does not ware out or deteriorate like hardware, so why should we tolerate for it to lock-up?

Only my 2 cents worth :-)