MagicTV 3600.. my quick impression report (updated)

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27 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 651665 6-Jul-2012 08:48

Hi Latimers

The freeze up sounds more like either a fault with the unit itself , has it always done it from new

The argument that the freeze up can be caused by signal is not an acceptable one because most people will experience signal glitches for a brief time or longer due to local interference or similar - so any DTT or for that matter sat box must be able to cope with a glitch in the signal and should not freeze due to this - if tech support are suggesting this then this needs to be sorted at there end with a firmware update, I would ask them to have a look at the unit for you if it has had this fault for some time - obviously put in the latest non patched firmware and retest and see if the freezing still occurs, how often does it freeze

latimers

52 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 651699 6-Jul-2012 09:46

Thanks Bob.

The history is:
Purchased April 2010
Replaced by Magic July 2010 (They attributed several problems I was having to the HDD and so replaced the unit, but when the problems continued they decided it really was a software problem.)
Froze:
September 2011 twice
December 2011
January 2012
June 2012 twice

I'm running 3.17 firmware (since that's currently the "official" one).

I tend to agree with you about the signal issue.

They've offered to have a look at it but is means shipping it down to Hamilton and being without it for a few days.

Bob.

Jimmy22

373 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

Reply # 651717 6-Jul-2012 10:06

two different boxes and the same issue , i would get my signal sorted , you seem to have something unique going on , or you are highly unlucky. some have had this error but not so much since the upgrade. i found that only a repair/restore upgrade fixed this issue for me. the recordings were in a different section so all good there. Also i deleted every record and series record and re programmed the lot after upgrade, i have a clean box , pretty trouble free for at least months now

latimers

52 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 651761 6-Jul-2012 11:16

It's not actually the same issue. The first one didn't freeze (that I can remember) in the three months I had it. Its problems all turned out to be software-related. Which means there's a good chance the freezing is also software-related. Others seem to be having fewer freezing issues as newer software releases have been made available.

How do I get my signal sorted (just in case that's the problem)? Can anyone recommend a good signal-sorter that does house calls on the North Shore.

Bob123

27 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 651778 6-Jul-2012 11:32

Do you have a TV with built in DTT or any other TV's in the house wit DTT/DTT boxes , some TV give an idea of signal quality but of cause this is not that accurate , you could ring a antenna company and see who they would recommend , do you have Line of sight to a transmitter/translator

Jimmy22

373 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

Reply # 651779 6-Jul-2012 11:35

i think the box has a signal level indicator in the menu , check other houses uhf alignment , check every joint in the chain for nasty stuff and clean it up . eliminate joiners if possible. Dont make the poor magic the last in the chain make it the first , then on to tv etc ...

you are aiming for 75-85% signal 100% is too much and can cause issues the same as sub 60% can , all rule of thumb sorta stuff but close enough for this discussion. mine has 5-6 lights i like 4-5 lit up once all joints are sorted cable is in good condition and correct ,

latimers

52 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 651839 6-Jul-2012 12:55

I've checked my signal using the built-in strength meter in the MagicTV. (It's the first in the chain, by the way.)

The 19 channels that I get are all on three frequencies (538, 570 and 666 MHz) and they have strengths of 79, 80 and 78, respectively, and all have qualities of 100.

That, to me, indicates there's no problem with the signal, unless they fluctuate wildly from time to time.

I'll try to find a professional to check it anyway.

evanh

152 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 651872 6-Jul-2012 13:56

Data corruption, from transmission, network or even the file structures on the HDD, should never cause a crash. Glitching and unplayable recordings sure but not a crash. It's poor quality software if that is the case.

This should not be treated like a computer system, it is an appliance and should be treated as such. The fact that there is a computer in there and has a full OS that can be hacked around with is just a bonus. Albeit a nice bonus that I'd choose to have again.

PS: Signal strength for me is 74-78 range.

Jimmy22

373 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

Reply # 651880 6-Jul-2012 14:16

if you have that signal then i would not suspect that at all , unless you arc weld in the basement !

i would take up the offer to send it back to the Tron , i think the base is actually Raglan.

Often they say no problem dont know what you mean etc etc but when the item returns it runs Sweet forever more even though they found " no fault " yeah right.

ELShah

25 posts

Geek

Reply # 660682 23-Jul-2012 23:10

Surely if you've had this much difficulty, and kept them informed, they should be happy to send up replacement unit while yours gets a trip to Hamilton for a full bench test. It would be the least they could do, just to protect their reputation I'd think!

latimers

52 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 660742 24-Jul-2012 07:34

@ELShah - Well that's what I thought too, but no joy.

In the end I bit the bullet (after Wimbledon was over) and sent it down to Hamilton. (They returned it pretty quickly.) A full bench test did not reveal any problems with the HDD or with the rest of the machine. They replaced the HDD just in case it was an intermittent fault. They also suggested adding a UHF bandpass filter to make sure that there weren't any extraneous signals getting through (e.g. from a nearby cell tower).

So far I haven't had any problems, but it's only been a couple of weeks. Time will tell, I guess.

One random thought I had was to wonder whether the freezing was due to the software having problems when the disk was full. After I watch a recording I delete it and it goes in the Trash. (I really like that feature.) In theory when the disk is full of stuff in the trash, it deletes the oldest stuff to make room. Perhaps that process doesn't work correctly but it will cause problems only after a long period of time then the Trash has had a chance to fill up. I started thinking about that because my son had a cell phone a while ago that was supposed to delete the oldest messages when the Inbox filled up. His phone started doing funny things but only after a long period of time after the repair people had had a go at it. We finally traced the cause of the fault but the phone manufacturer never did anything about it.

MadKiwi

18 posts

Geek

Reply # 661231 24-Jul-2012 19:48

Where has the digital signal gone...... Christchurch viewer with updated signal on freeview hard drive & tv ok but magic tv fails to find any channels now !!! any ideas

Dunnersfella

3136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 359

Reply # 661238 24-Jul-2012 20:03

An obvious question...
But you have reset the unit and retuned it huh?

latimers

52 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 661326 24-Jul-2012 21:23

Did you not see this?

"Announcement from the Ministry of Economic Development for Freeview HD viewers in the CHRISTCHURCH region:

There is a planned outage of up to 6 hours on Tues 24 July between 00:01 and 06:00. You will need to retune your Freeview HD digital TV, Freeview HD digital receiver or Myfreeview HD recorder after this outage.

For retune instructions, please visit www.retune.co.nz or call 0508 336 633."

MadKiwi

18 posts

Geek

Reply # 661414 25-Jul-2012 07:19

It was retuned after 7:30, switched off, reset, & abused !! Frustrating to say the least. hopefully email to magictv helpline will be sucessful.

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