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Humax Foxsat-HD No Signal
Hi, I've had my Humax Foxsat HD for about 3 years, suddenly in the last couple of weeks It's No Signal on everything, tried First Time installation and again No Signal.
I know it's been a bit rainy/windy recently but didn't think it had been strong enough to move the dish, so just wanted to ask if anyone else had had an issue with the Humax Foxsat HD causing this issue and if it was likely to be the box rather than the dish, obviously I don't want to be phoning around to try and find a non rip-off dish installation company and having it replaced/repointed and it turn out to be a box issue.
I know it's been a bit rainy/windy recently but didn't think it had been strong enough to move the dish, so just wanted to ask if anyone else had had an issue with the Humax Foxsat HD causing this issue and if it was likely to be the box rather than the dish, obviously I don't want to be phoning around to try and find a non rip-off dish installation company and having it replaced/repointed and it turn out to be a box issue.
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Sad to hear Humax freesat boxes are suffering capacitor failure.
Good thinking, I will take to the mother-in-laws and see if it works there!
Many Thanks
It only appears so far to affect the Foxsat-HD. Not used mine in a while but it did run very hot compared to the HDR model.
Found this
http://www.avforums.com/forums/14186815-post7.html
So need to start phoning around for someone who can pop up a ladder and repoint for me! (I'm in a second floor flat, so not in the mood to do it myself!)
Oh and Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated :-)
I know all the arguments about the Sale of Goods Act, but I suspect many will be looking for a quick and inexpensive fix.
The Skyman
If Humax used CapXon capacitors in the Foxsat PSU I am not surprised they have failed. CapXon is a cheap poor brand and premature failure is very common. Thomson used CapXons in the original Sky+ HD boxes and these have all pretty much either died or been repaired by now. The photos I linked to above are all of failed CapXon capacitors. They are a cheap rubbish brand and I am surprised Humax went down that route as they (Humax) have a good reputation for build quality. Thomson were well known as a bunch of cheapskates who would use any old cheap crap in their PSUs as long as most of them lasted 13 months.
Any decent repairer (such as the excellent Michael Dranfield mentioned above) would replace these with Panasonic capacitors (preferably FC grade) as these are far higher quality and should never fail again. Satcure supply a repair kit for the Foxsat which is £8.95 + VAT & P&P. I have not ordered one but I would be surprised if the kit did not feature Panasonic parts as Satcure do not sell cheap rubbish. Obviously there are cheaper sources of kits on eBay, but do you want to fit it and forget it or install a cheap kit and repair again in 12 months or so (there are even worse brands than CapXon out there so beware).
PSU repair kits have been available for some time from Satcure. I have repaired two Humax boxes recently using these PSU kits. Both boxes were over two years old.
Here's another thread about the Foxsat HD PSU failure:
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?p=45898891
Post #35 got pictures of a failing C12 - CapXon KF-series.
C12 (2200uF 10V) failure will cause boot issue.
C23 (680uF 25V) is on the 12V supply and supplies the LNB, hence it could cause loss of signal, although I'm not convinced this is the case here.
£8.95 + VAT & P&P for the kit is quite expensive, if it's only replacement for C12 and C23.
Key thing for replacement caps is ultra low ESR - I've now got one 2200uF with 21mOhm ESR.
Knowing Satcure, their prices are not the cheapest but very fair given the quality of the parts they supply, I would guess there are probably more than 2 Caps in this kit. Satcure generally supply Panasonic capacitors, which as I mentioned above, are fantastically reliable in Satellite receiver power supplies. They generally like repairs carried out with their kits to last and last. Provided you do not do anything stupid, you should expect to get at least 3 years from any Satcure kit (normally much more). Obviously any brand can be used Rubycon & Nichicon are also good (as long as you can ensure you have bought originals and not been supplied with Chinese fakes) but Panasonic usually have the edge in long term reliability IMHO.
Will sit down with the box over the weekend and let you know what I find :-)
Thanks again, really appreciate it.
Post back here with further questions and links to pictures if you need to.
I have had it several times in the past week and we have a communal dish. In my case it is obviously down to reception conditions. I have put it down to heavy showers interupting the signal but ir not actually raining here as the rain has been very patchy but intense.
A communal install that loses signal in all but the most extreme weather (I am talking the dish coated in wet snow) is totally inadequate. In nearly 4 yrs I lost the signal once and that was caused by a a 6 inch layer of wet snow on the dish face (shifted in a minute by Mk1 broom), that includes monsoon conditions. You need to contact your local services management. That is certainly not normal.
Thomson actually bought in the PSUs ready made from Samsung. The rest of the build quality of the Thomsons is very good and very little esle causes problems except the HDD. The poor quality capacitor even occurs very frequently on at least one model of Technomate as well - the TM9100.
I have recently rebuilt the PSU in a Thomson DTi 6300 Top Up TV box to use as a FreeView PVR for my parents (I got it for £20.00 on eBay!). The PSU was loaded with CapXon capacitors, but as with the satellite boxes the rest of the build quality is very good for domestic kit. Since the repair (I changed all the caps for Panasonics) it has been rock solid reliable.
Opened it up, and sure enough, both caps mentioned were bulging - with one actually leaking. So, 2 capacitors costing £2.25 - job done - fixed.
Joined the forum just to say thanks
from the other thread about this subject