Quick update... there were some problems during testing of the OAD, hence the delay and now the OAD is planned for April. This will probably be something newer than v12.8.

Is the update likely to be available for T816 boxes too? Or are we left with expensive doorstops!

I'm not even going to attempt to mention that again just yet to Vestel, given that it has taken a month to get a reply about the OAD ETA. I imagine they are having major headaches due to the number of OADs required as there were many different brands and differing T825 hardware configurations which all require their own separate OAD. Anyway, when the T825 OADs happen, I'll ask Vestel about the T816 again if T816 OADs don't appear - they have already been told that the units are suffering the same symptoms. Unfortunately, as I have no idea what was causing the problem or what the software fix involved, I don't know whether the same applies to the T816, although I would guess it does.

Just to clarify, does the word 'planned' mean that Vestel have a slot provisionally booked in April (this means that they are ready to go but the DTG haven't passed the download yet) or does it mean that they are aiming for April but haven't booked anything yet?

The latter, AFAIK. The information I was given was sketchy, and really nothing more than I wrote here. I'm not aware of the procedure on releasing updates via the DTG, so I'm not sure where/when the problem occurred, but probably the OAD has to be approved and tested by the DTG first before it can be released.

Yes that's correct. The DTG test the download to make sure it doesn't cause issues with other hardware. (many years ago a Bush model of Freeview box were all rendered inoperable when they downloaded firmware intended for a different box)
Thanks for the clarification, I appreciate all the work you've done on this.

Hi futura, any chance of emailing me the software? bandit_mother@hotmail.com

Cheers!
Dave

Still waiting for the upgrade for my digihome T825, thought it would be April 26th but it appears this is only fo T845. Have had to put up with stuttering for over 5 mnths getting fed up.

I notice the downloads up to 9th May are now on the DTG website and there is no Vestel download listed.

Looks like the problem could be spreading as I am a new owner of an Alba (vestel t825) and in the Mendip transmitter area.
Plugged in the unit for the first time last night and hey presto! It jitters like hell on Ch4/5 more 4 etc when the HDD is recording (BBC is fine). Signal strength is Very good.

This is a replacement box from ebuyer as the first (a t845) although didn't have the jitters did have a flakey hdd. Not happy.
Should I just call up ebuyer and say take it back and refund me (assuming they can find a fault as it's outside of my reception area) or should I update the software?

As the DTG are not listing a OAD yet and there's no way I can wait a few weeks with a dud recorder.

If I do decide to give it another chance, does anyone have the updated v12.XX software that I can load via rs232?

I noticed someone else reporting this on AVforums happening from Mendip. Its strange because I have a T825 receiving from Mendip and have not YET noticed any problems.
Naturally I'm anxious that this OAD happens soon, in case my unit develops the issue.
I'm trying to locate contact details for Vestel, Futaura has been very helpful and persistent in contacting them, I'd like to add my voice.

Futaura posted the Vestel contact info in the post here.

Colin

Thank you.

As someone who has tested the 12.8 software I can tell you it doesn't always work. I have two working fine and two showing further problems. Only takes minutes to load, so not suggesting it's a waste of time. It is just puzzling why on one box it cures it, and on another causes other problems.
And I can tell you when the download will be. Smack at the start of my holidays.

Do you have an actual date?

I'm getting increasingly worried by Vestel's recent apparent lack of action and communication on this subject - it is very strange given they put so much effort into fixing it back in Jan/Feb, having initially said an OAD would come later in February. Clearly, some problem put a stop to the OAD, and I fear that there is a serious possibility that an OAD will now never come. When there was a problem with the T810 software when DSO started, the OAD was quick to come and was repeated frequently. I'm still waiting for clarification on Vestel on this matter, but in the meantime I'd suggest those whose boxes are still under guarantee may want to seriously consider returning the box in case a fix does not come before the guarantee expires. On the plus side, pressure is going to build as it seems some users are having the same problems after DSO on the Mendip transmitter, and no doubt as more transmitters are switched over the amount of affected users is going to escalate.

Just to add, my box started to show these problems from Mendip last night. Why it should start now, when others were previously affected I don't know.
I have noticed a post on another forum, from someone who claimed a hardware tweak to the power supply cures the issue (but did not say what the tweak was). Presumably, the implication is that something in the decoding of the signals causes a change in the power consumption of the chipset?
Last week, I emailed Vestel, so will see if I get a reply. The box is still under guarantee so could be returned.

Good luck with that . Despite numerous e-mails about the T825, the only reply I have managed to get from Vestel since receving the v12.8 software for limited testing back in February was the end of March which was when I relayed the information here about the OAD delay during testing, with an OAD expected for April.

IIRC, the hardware tweak you mention about involves rerouting the 5v power to the HDD from the PSU directly, instead of via the connector on the main board. So, yes, my assumption would be the same as yours - something is causing the chipset/tuners to consume more power, resulting in the HDD not having enough (or maybe the other way around, the HDD starving the main board of power during peak usage). But, only Vestel know the root cause of the problem obviously, and I guess we will never find out the reason, so it's hard to say if such a tweak is correct or safe. Obviously, Vestel are concentrating on a software fix because it is the easiest way to reach all existing hardware out there.

I notice over on AVforums that owners of various set-top boxes, DVD/HDD recorders are now experiencing the issue on the Channel 4 family of channels. Perhaps, if Vestel will or cannot issue a fix, the broadcasters could be persuaded to change the transmission.
I just noticed that the previously scheduled Panasonic OAD for next week has been removed from the schedule. Ever the optimist, I hope its replaced by a Vestel fix!

I have noticed that most of the jumping problems with the T825 boxes have occurred in the Granada area. Cumbria was the first region to go fully digital did people with the T825 boxes in this area have problems?

In the Cumbria region, (or was it the Borders which came later) there were problems affecting the T810 Vestel PVRs. But these problems were due to the fact that the PVRs could not handle the 8K transmission protocol introduced at that stage. Vestel quickly produced a software update to Version 5.7 which solved this issue.

I don't recall any reports of the current issue affecting users in the DSO activities prior to Granadaland.

Colin

My mother - who is nearly 80 and can ill afford it - still has a useless Vestel based box after 5 months.
What a dreadful company Vestel are for producing such untestested, ill supported rubbish.
Argos are as bad for not admitting liability and swopping out these faulty boxes.

I would suggest that anyone thinking of buying a PVR doesnt buy any Vestel based equipment.

Of course they are tested - AFAIK, they pay DTG to test them in the UK, otherwise the boxes wouldn't be able to carry the Freeview+ branding. The trouble is, there was no test case for this scenerio because the symptoms did not service until DSO at Winter Hill in December 2009, and that situation is something that was not available to test in the DTG labs when the boxes where tested in the DTG labs and manufactured.

The situation is obviously far from ideal and I think all the retailers (plus Hitachi and Sharp) can be blamed just as much as Argos. They generally have no clue in any detail as to what they are selling. It really should be the retailers who should be hassling Vestel to fix the problem - after all, it is the retailer who is presumably taking the financial hit on returns. They are Vestel's customers after all.

Perhaps Vestel don't care about the failure rate of their boxes, although they perhaps aren't even aware since it seems all the boxes that get returned get resold to other companies and end up as B grade sales on ebay or elsewhere, and this only makes things worse because people buy them only to find they are broken because the seller did not test or repair them before reselling.

Are the DTG able to be referred equipment for retest?
Do the DTG know of the problem?
Would Argos or other retailers accept DTG's advice that these were now faulty?
If this were the case, may be able to get the retailers to accept that there is a problem?
(what is AFAIK?)

As Far As I Know.