STB crashes

David Butler wrote:
I have a number of set top boxes - none of them entirely satisfactory.

Two often crash when changing channels, another has lip synch issues after
being on for a few minutes and another has a mind of its own - deciding to
completely trip out to standby whenever it feels like it.

My question is this. Do integrated digital TV's have similar issues or is it
just (older) set top boxes?


Yes, it is fairly typical as there is so much tat out there. Sticking
with a decent brand like Sony should reduce the chances of problems, but
its not unheard of them having problems too. I would not expect
problems with a new Sony, but mine has had at least 1 problem in 6mths
that I had to resolve with a full reset (the AV1 logo would not go away
when I was using an external source).

The standards are very complex with loads of options, its impossible to
test for all options. Then you have broadcasters changing what parts of
the standard they are using and then you have them changing things mfrs
thought where standards (Eg D-Book), and then you have them introducing
new ones (EG DVB-T2) when we havn't even fully changed to the
intermediate ones yet.

The best thing about a high end brand is that they will support the
product better and you should get any problems resolved with an OAD at
some point.

--
Tony

"Tony" wrote in message
...
David Butler wrote:
I have a number of set top boxes - none of them entirely satisfactory.

Two often crash when changing channels, another has lip synch issues
after being on for a few minutes and another has a mind of its own -
deciding to completely trip out to standby whenever it feels like it.

My question is this. Do integrated digital TV's have similar issues or is
it just (older) set top boxes?


Yes, it is fairly typical as there is so much tat out there. Sticking
with a decent brand like Sony should reduce the chances of problems, but
its not unheard of them having problems too. I would not expect problems
with a new Sony, but mine has had at least 1 problem in 6mths that I had
to resolve with a full reset (the AV1 logo would not go away when I was
using an external source).

The standards are very complex with loads of options, its impossible to
test for all options. Then you have broadcasters changing what parts of
the standard they are using and then you have them changing things mfrs
thought where standards (Eg D-Book), and then you have them introducing
new ones (EG DVB-T2) when we havn't even fully changed to the intermediate
ones yet.

The best thing about a high end brand is that they will support the
product better and you should get any problems resolved with an OAD at
some point.

--
Tony

Yes - I presume all my set top boxes are tat but never the less you would
expect them to be relatively glitch free which clearly they are not.
Interestingly the only (stb) device I have that works perfectly is a very
small dongle that plugs into my laptop.

What's OAD?

I Googled it and http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/OAD
comes up with 33 examples ranging from Open Abdominal Drainage to Office for
Addictive Disorders.

David

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
Roger R wrote:

Now I am confused.
The Wiki article speaks of the national change to 8K as having already
happened in August, as it is written in the past tense.

The Wiki article says that there was a nationwide change to a split NIT in
August 2008, that is correct.

The national retune day is stated as 30 Sept, so are these separate
events?

The retune day is to start the process of clearing space on Mux B for the
eventual conversion of that mux to DVB-T2 working. The same day Redruth
and Huntshaw Cross transmitters complete their 3 step DSO process (most
other Tx have/had a 2 step process). The two events are not directly
linked.

I was under the firm
impression that the 2k to 8k switch would not occur until the switchover
in
each area, 2012 at here. I'm sure i read that somewhere...

That is correct.

Thanks for your clarification.

AIUI now, the change that has already happened is from 2k to a mixed 2k and
8k environment, the change to 8k mode alone happening at DSO day.
(I don't understand 2k-8k but it doesn't matter here)

I was confused by difference between the Wiki term 'obsoleted' and 'no
longer works'. Obsoleted appears to mean something like 'still works for
the present but won't after DSO'. Something like the expression 'having its
card marked', though i think it a somewhat unusual use of the pp of
obsolete.

Anyway for info of those who read, my Pace DTR 735 still function ok this
morning here in Rowridge area.

Roger R

Roger R wrote:

AIUI now, the change that has already happened is from 2k to a mixed 2k and
8k environment, the change to 8k mode alone happening at DSO day.
(I don't understand 2k-8k but it doesn't matter here)

Yes, the 2k/8k mixed currency only occurs during the month long DSO
process at each transmitter, when PSB 1 is there at 8k/64QAM but the
remaining muxes are still at low power using 2k,

Anyway for info of those who read, my Pace DTR 735 still function ok this
morning here in Rowridge area.

And will (as long as Ofcom don't attempt any more bright ideas) until
March 2012, when Rowridge/Midhurst/Hannington have their DSO.

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:34:32 +0100, "David Butler"
wrote:


What's OAD?

I Googled it and http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/OAD
comes up with 33 examples ranging from Open Abdominal Drainage to Office for
Addictive Disorders.

It's the one that isn't in that list: Over the Air Download.

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

"Dr Zoidberg" wrote in
message ...
"David Butler" wrote in message
...
I have a number of set top boxes - none of them entirely satisfactory.

Two often crash when changing channels, another has lip synch issues
after being on for a few minutes and another has a mind of its own -
deciding to completely trip out to standby whenever it feels like it.

My question is this. Do integrated digital TV's have similar issues or is
it just (older) set top boxes?


Are they cheap tat by any chance?
I've had a Nokia and Sagem boxes that never gave any trouble , and since
then two Humax PVRs that probably crash once a year if that.

You're lucky. Mine has hung 5 times since I bought it last November. Two
times whilst I was away meaning that lost half my scheduled recordings (that
is, I lost the ones it had yet to record)

tim

Peter Duncanson wrote:
(snip)

My experience is similar (with boxes of different makes).

I've noticed in the last couple of days that there could be trouble
ahead with my Humax 9200T PVR.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freevie...8k_mode_switch

8k mode switch

Other boxes have been obsoleted by the change to "8k mode"[31]

* ...

* Pace DTVA-T "Wedge Adaptor".

I have some of those, but they are overdue for replacement.

And some boxes fail to work in mixed 2k and 8k environments:

* Sharp TU-R160H
* Humax 9200T
* Thomson DTi 1000

There was no ref for the Humax 9200T failing to work in mixed 2k and 8k.
Where did this info come from?

--
Jeff

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:55:23 +0100, "Jeff Layman"
wrote:

Peter Duncanson wrote:
(snip)

My experience is similar (with boxes of different makes).

I've noticed in the last couple of days that there could be trouble
ahead with my Humax 9200T PVR.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freevie...8k_mode_switch

8k mode switch

Other boxes have been obsoleted by the change to "8k mode"[31]

* ...

* Pace DTVA-T "Wedge Adaptor".

I have some of those, but they are overdue for replacement.

And some boxes fail to work in mixed 2k and 8k environments:

* Sharp TU-R160H
* Humax 9200T
* Thomson DTi 1000

There was no ref for the Humax 9200T failing to work in mixed 2k and 8k.
Where did this info come from?

I don't know where the Wikipedia author(s) got it from. It may have come
from this discussion about problems people were seeing during the
switchover on the Selkirk transmitter.
http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=NT500294&PGSTART=0

Part of the discussion is:

I have a Sony Bravia HD Ready Digital TV and Sharp Digital TV
Recorder Model TU-R160HA and had a 42 element Digital aerial
installed in April. Reception on all channels up until switchover
was very good. After switchover the only good channels are BBC, the
rest either will not tune in (ITV, CH4) and those that will tune
stutter and freeze. I have retuned both TV and Recorder time after
time but with the same results. I live about 1 mile from the Selkirk
transmitter. It is driving me mad! Can anyone help, is there
anything that I can do to get reception back to normal.
Thanks

Posted by Jim Hart (3 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
12:24:53 PM GB
------------------------------
Jim Hart: I too have a Sharp TU-R160H receiver. However I have lost
all eleven BBC programs, but I still have the rest. I used to have
all 93 channels.
Posted by Patrick Stevens (14 posts) on Saturday 8th of November
2008 12:43:18 PM GB
------------------------------
Jim Hart: The most obvious answer is probably to wait until the
20th, when all the services will be in the new configuration.

However, I suppose that the good news is that the BBC channels in
64QAM with 8k carriers IS working for you.

I presume that your aerial outside and you are not using a booster.
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
12:58:32 PM GB
------------------------------
Patrick Stevens: I suppose that the good news for you is that the
Sharp TU-R160H will work in the new mode.

I wonder if it just a problem with mixed 2k and 8k?
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
12:59:37 PM GB

A bit technical for me what is meant by "mixed 2K and 8K"?
My aerial is outside and I have no signal booster.
Posted by Jim Hart (3 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
1:47:36 PM GB
------------------------------
Briantist, I have a Humax 9200T with latest firmware and a Thomson
DTi 1000 both with the same problem, no BBC channels, very weak
signals.
I also live near Kelso and have the same problems as Patrick
Stevens.
I think they should stop and rethink the changeover if this is the
result of the very first one!
Posted by JustinG (3 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008 5:54:25
PM GB
------------------------------
Briantist: Like Jim Hart, I think I will wait now untill the 20th
and see if everything comes back. My two bedroom set-top boxes get
all the channels, I am beginning to suspect my lounge unit can do
either 2k or 8k, but not both, in one search. Pat Stevens
Posted by Patrick Stevens (14 posts) on Sunday 9th of November 2008
11:54:29 AM GB
------------------------------
David D: You may have to wait until the 20th for everything to
return to normal.
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Monday 10th of November 2008
8:56:02 AM GB
------------------------------
Jim Hart: The "2k" and "8k" modes are part of the options that can
be used for the COFDM transmissions that digital TV uses. It refers
to the "number of carriers".

Basically, "8k" mode is more resilient to interference than the "2k"
mode, but does not effect anything else.

Sadly, some very old boxes do not support the "8k" mode...
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Monday 10th of November 2008
8:58:28 AM GB
------------------------------
JustinG: It is looking like the Humax 9200T does not like the
mixture of 2k and 8k modes from the transmitter at the moment.

Try doing a manual tune on C62 to get the BBC channels for the next
few weeks, and everything should be OK after that.

This is the first time an existing Freeview transmitter has been
switched over, so there are bound to be a few problems!
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Monday 10th of November 2008
9:08:55 AM GB

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:18:03 +0100, Peter Duncanson
wrote:

I wonder if it just a problem with mixed 2k and 8k?
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
12:59:37 PM GB

Insert:
------------------------------

A bit technical for me what is meant by "mixed 2K and 8K"?
My aerial is outside and I have no signal booster.
Posted by Jim Hart (3 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
1:47:36 PM GB
------------------------------

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

Peter Duncanson wrote:
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:18:03 +0100, Peter Duncanson
wrote:

I wonder if it just a problem with mixed 2k and 8k?
Posted by Briantist (13,286 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
12:59:37 PM GB

Insert:
------------------------------

A bit technical for me what is meant by "mixed 2K and 8K"?
My aerial is outside and I have no signal booster.
Posted by Jim Hart (3 posts) on Saturday 8th of November 2008
1:47:36 PM GB
------------------------------

Thanks for the info.

--
Jeff