Also getting this problem on my Hitatchi T835

Interesting, which transmitter are you receiving from? Which channels?
I have a tentative report of this on a T835 from Mendip when recording the BBC Mux. (I say tentative because it comes third hand and so could be something else entirely)

AFAIK, when Vestel visited tblzebra while investigating the T825 issue, a T835 was tested successfully in place of the problematic T825. There have been positive reports of T835 units working fine in the Winter Hill area, and so far no real problems compared to the T825. Maybe Mendip is different, but it would be interesting to see what the signal strength and quality readouts are on the T835 on affected channels.

After experiencing the problem on BBC3, I contacted the BBC who replied that weren't aware of any issues but felt that manual tuning might solve the problem.
Presumably, they feel that the relatively close proximity of Wenvoe and Mendip may be the source of the issue. Or rather the way the box handles this. (Interestingly, a similar situation exists with Winter Hill and M-Y-P)
I'm not entirely convinced by that, but at least they responded and logged the issue. Which is more than Vestel have done, who seem unable to even acknowledge an email.
I'm not prepared to put up with the problem, so if there is no update on the download schedule I shall reluctantly return the box for exchange.

Try michael dot cattini at vestel-uk.com - it's a useful address that has been mentioned previously, although I've never used it or contacted Vestel UK before anyway. As far as Vestel Turkey goes, my journey started years ago with info.vestelforeign@vestel.com.tr (which incidentally can be found on their website somewhere). I won't be so rude to post my contact's address in Turkey, although I don't there would be much point anyway if I can't get response about the problem.

When I looked at the download schedule for next week and saw that the download wasn't listed, I decided to return the PVR for exchange. Argos happily exchanged the ALDTR160 for the T845R model.

Just don't pull the plug out. That's ANOTHER problem

Why? What happens when you do.
I turned it off to re-route some cables and nothing untoward seemed to happen.

There have been some reports from T845R users where the box reverts to the first time installation screen when removing/reconnecting power, at least with software v0.5. Doesn't affect everyone, and indeed there have even been reports that affected boxes suddenly stopped showing this fault. I believe it is a software glitch, since I think the T835 had it too early on.

I'm surprised you managed to get the Alba - must be one of the last few left considering it is not in the new catalogue.

I got one (845) in place of an 825 that started to jump as yours did. If I disconnect the mains it loses all the channels and asks to do the "first time install" routine. Yes, this is v0.5 but this is the only version available AFAIK.

Argos have got a big new batch of the Albas back in stock nearly everywhere at the moment after being out of stock for several weeks, £69.99 at the moment too although with the buggy issues still unadressed are they really worth even that much?.....

The new batches are shipping with V0.7, apparently. With it being dated March and having been told in December by Vestel that they were working on a fix for the FTI issue, it is probably safe to assume that V0.7 doesn't have this problem anymore. Unfortunately, it is no suprise there hasn't been an OAD for this either . Perhaps if you contact Vestel, they'll e-mail V0.7 (or newer) to you so that you can update your box via RS232?

So far, v0.7 hasn't shown the First Time Installation bug for me.
At £69.99 I think its a great purchase.

Took delivery of a T845R running V0.5 yesterday to replace a Digihome PVR80 that had served me well for several years. DSO on the Medip transmitter rendered this old machine virtually unwatchable though

Haven't spotted any issues with the T845R yet. Was it only the "first time install" problem that V0.7 was supposed to fix?

I notice that there's an OAD for Vestel T845s scheduled for next week:

http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php

so it looks like Vestel may finally be rolling out updates to address the problems caused by DSO

The T845 OADs listed are the TopUp TV models, and therefore the TUTV software - that update has been repeated a few times over the past couple of months. The T845R uses different software. Probably V0.7 contains a few other minor tweaks and fixes, but nothing that you're going to notice apart from the FTI problem.

Unfortunately the the downloads scheduled for next week are for the T845 and not the T845R which you have. The T845 units have the Top Up TV software installed as can be seen from the software versions listed i.e. v5.08; v4.08; v4.18.

Can you confirm that the T845R you have just received was not from Argos. The current Argos stock has been reported as having the O.7 software.

Colin

Edit:- To futaura, SNAP!

The T845R I got was a refurb I got cheap, it may well have been from Argos originally. When I received it the SATA cable was disconnected so it may have been returned as faulty. Works fine now I've reconnected it

Thanks for the info.

Colin

Looks like I spoke too soon.

My T845R will record all BBC channels with no problem but watching ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 whilst recording anyhing produces the infamous stuttering. Recording any non-BBC channels also gives me a jumpy playback.

After contacting Vestel, they have sent me the 5.08 upgrade for the T845 rather then the 0.7 upgrade for the T845R.

The file I was sent is target_T845_5.08_4.24_production.hex_ssd1.lbs if this means anything to anyone

Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade a T845R with the T845 V5.08 firmware or will this just brick my machine?

Also, is anyone else having similar problems in the Mendip area with these machines?

I would suggest not even attempting to upload this software onto your T845R - as you say, it is for the TUTV T845 model. In the best case it'll be ignored anyway, but I wouldn't want to risk it as otherwise, yes, it will just brick the T845R. I think they will be able to send you the V0.7 software - just be clear that it is the T845R with Vestel Freeview+ software and not the TUTV software.

Thanks futaura. Vestel have now sent the correct software. I'll give this a go once I've got the appropriate cable

Good luck MistaShifta

Let us now how you get on, I have the same unit and if succesful, I will have to try to get the software

Afraid I didn't have much luck. May have been due to a dodgy usb to RS232 cable. I couldn't get my PC to communicate with the T845R.

I followed the instructions given here: http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/vestel/update.htm for updating the PVR80 but couldn't get the two machines to talk. If anyone knows of a different method I'd be glad of the advice.

Dave, I can let you have a copy of the software if you want to give it a go.

I upgraded the software today after getting a lead & installing a PL2303 driver.
I used windows XP, which has the hyper terminal software already installed. The instructions do work, I installed the driver, plugged in the usb & COM 3 option appeared in the hyper terminal.
The menu's are much quicker esp in the programme guide.
0.7 software does make the unit easier to use at last.
I'll report back on the stuttering in a few days time

3 weeks ago I bought a Alba ALDTR160 from Argos. Its a T825 version running V12.8 software dated 04/10. The store had no stock a week earlier so it was obviously a new delivery as they now had 5 in stock.

The area I live in is one of the last for digital switchover..Oct 2012.

At that point is my Alba doomed to stutter? It works ok at the moment...it has the obligatory slow menus after a while and needs a power cycle to speed it up, but I can live with that.

The question is sholud I return it and try to get a T845 version or live with it and, assuming its still working in 2 and a half years, risk it stuttering.

It only cost £70 so it wouldnt be the end of the world either way but any advice would be appreciated.

12.8 is the new version which seems to cure the stuttering.