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Old 08-04-2011, 06:55
Secret-Squirrel
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Anyone else had trouble with the BBC Teletext working with the DHT 8520 during the last few days?

Sent Philips support an email asking what was wrong and they gave me a number to ring Pace. The person I spoke to at Pace asked what was the problem was and I explained. He then tried it on a box he had there and that didn't work either. He said he would make a few phone calls and get back to me.

He rang back and say the techies were aware of the problem and were trying to sort it out. Coincidently the Teletext started working again soon afterwards.
You need to rescan for channels as the BBC Red button service has changed muxes.


Any news on when this firmware update will materialise, then?
I believe it's due to be released very soon. Word has it they have finished the testing of it so fingers crossed. Keep an eye on this location for the next software:-
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...ctn=HDT8520/05
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Old 09-04-2011, 08:31
Charenton
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You need to rescan for channels as the BBC Red button service has changed muxes.
Thanks for the tip. However, I still can't get teletext on the BBCHD channels, which I can on our Sky+ box in another room. Should they be available on the BBC Freeview HD channels too?
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Old 11-04-2011, 08:10
Secret-Squirrel
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Thanks for the tip. However, I still can't get teletext on the BBCHD channels, which I can on our Sky+ box in another room. Should they be available on the BBC Freeview HD channels too?
Currebtly no. I believe that after full DSO once the channels have been swapped around then BBC text services will be available on HD channels.
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Old 11-04-2011, 11:34
Charenton
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Currebtly no. I believe that after full DSO once the channels have been swapped around then BBC text services will be available on HD channels.
Thanks for that. I will have to be patient.

Hopefully the next update will fix the other problems I'm having:-

Box not switching on via remote two or three times a week.
Fast forward taking ages to respond to the remote more often than not.
I still get recordings on Channel 5 duplicated when the repeat shows on 5USA too. Does anyone else?
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Old 11-04-2011, 13:42
jonl60
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v7.19 of the software update is available at
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...ctn=HDT8520/05
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Old 12-04-2011, 08:54
Secret-Squirrel
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It seems it does fix the key problems people were having. Some say you should do a factory reset after implementing the update. I think you just need to shut the box down then turn off/on to do a full reboot.

Fingers crossed the update is going on tonight.
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Old 12-04-2011, 08:57
Secret-Squirrel
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Hi, Phillips have released the new software for this box taking it from vers 6.21 to vers 7.19

It's not yet available as an OAD but you can install the update from a usb memory stick. You can the get the update file and instructions from:-

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...ctn=HDT8520/05
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Old 12-04-2011, 12:24
Charenton
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From Philips' site:-

Software update for the HDT8520 Freeview+ HD recorder
The new software 7.19 is available
1 - On the Philips web site (www.philips.com/support) from the 5th of April 2011 onwards to perform
software update via USB.
2 - Via over the Air Download (OAD) from the 13th of April (10:00) up to 15th of April (9:00)
For date/time confirmation consult www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php
The new software 7.19 includes bug fixes and new features
Following features have been released:
 With appropriate audio settings Dolby Digital 5.1 is available at audio output (HDMI and/or
SPDIF)
 Multi-PLP improvements (to make the recorder compatible with future broadcast conditions)
 Improvement of the trick-mode (Fast Rewind, Fast forward, Slow motion modes)
Bugs fixes include
 STB not waking up from Standby
 Improvement in the behavior of Audio description levels
 Ability to playback JPEG files up to 10 Mega Pixels
 Improvement of behavior when 2 USB sticks are connected simultaneously to the recorder
 When Switching to HD channel after selection from SD/HD Linkage popup, the STB switches to
the default list instead of staying on the selected favorite list even though both SD and HD
channels are present in the favorite list
 Audio level changes suddenly after zapping or Vol+ / Vol

I have downloaded and installed update via USB and can confirm the FF appears to work properly at least.
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Old 13-04-2011, 21:57
davedpg
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New update seems to stop me from muting or turn the volume up or down
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Old 14-04-2011, 08:22
Secret-Squirrel
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New update seems to stop me from muting or turn the volume up or down
Hi, the mute button & volume only seem to work if you have the HDMI audio set to PCM.
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Old 14-04-2011, 08:24
Charenton
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New update seems to stop me from muting or turn the volume up or down
The mute button never worked for me before the update. I use the TV remote for mute and volume.
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Old 14-04-2011, 22:58
steveb4793
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just updated to V7.19, when watching an earlier recording in hd, the picture started to judder after about 10 minutes, could only stop this by pausing for a few secs then starting play again, have done a factory reset but not yet played anything to see results, anyone else had this issue?
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Old 15-04-2011, 19:29
professorhat
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just updated to V7.19, when watching an earlier recording in hd, the picture started to judder after about 10 minutes, could only stop this by pausing for a few secs then starting play again, have done a factory reset but not yet played anything to see results, anyone else had this issue?
Yup, seems this is quite common - have a look at the posts from this point on on this thread over at AVforums.
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Old 16-04-2011, 12:02
Jimjimjeroo
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Anyone had any problems watching recorded HD programs? Recorded the F1 this morning on BBC1 HD When I watched it back it was pretty much unwatchable play back was very jerky no issues with the audio though
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Old 16-04-2011, 15:11
Charenton
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I have got jittery playback too at times. Have to stop and restart to cure it.

It seems each update fixes a few problems and causes another one. Fit for purpose? I don't think so.

Did Pace have all these software problems with their Sky Boxes?
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Old 16-04-2011, 19:14
davedpg
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Playback jittering on live rewind on ITV1 HD
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Old 30-04-2011, 15:50
68474343
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Even Philips have withdrawn the latest upgrade as v7.19 made this box useless when watching HD programmes. Didn't anyone at Philips or Pace test it before releasing the upgrade.
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Old 01-05-2011, 09:38
Charenton
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Even Philips have withdrawn the latest upgrade as v7.19 made this box useless when watching HD programmes. Didn't anyone at Philips or Pace test it before releasing the upgrade.
Do they test any of their updates?

Seeing as most updates fix one problem and cause another it seems unlikely
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Old 22-05-2011, 13:02
rob1973
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Hola folks,
I got mine from john lewis on an impulse as they've such good returns policies. Anyhoo...it's on the original firmware sO i downloaded the update and it won't do the install on a brand new flash drive. What format does the usb need to be? IE: NTFS, fat 32? any ideas?
Had no real problems apart from the useability bugs (can't select a channel from the EPG etc).
Cheers folks
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Old 23-05-2011, 08:19
Secret-Squirrel
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Hola folks,
I got mine from john lewis on an impulse as they've such good returns policies. Anyhoo...it's on the original firmware sO i downloaded the update and it won't do the install on a brand new flash drive. What format does the usb need to be? IE: NTFS, fat 32? any ideas?
Had no real problems apart from the useability bugs (can't select a channel from the EPG etc).
Cheers folks
It needs to FAT16 or FAT32 and the .bin file must be in the root directory. I find it's best if the mem stick is wiped first and the .bin file the only one on the stick.
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Old 07-06-2011, 12:36
MarkA74
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Hi,

if this is the box I think it is, then Asda in Nuneaton, Warwickshire had one on the shelf last night for £149.99.

I've read through most of the posts in this thread & was wondering whether to go back & buy it.

Is the general consensus that the box is OK, as long as you don't do the latest software upgrade?

Thanks for any answers!

Mark
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Old 07-06-2011, 17:43
PhilipL
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Hi

You would be better off adding an extra £30 or so and buying a DigitalSteam which is completely reliable, with a better interface, and much better support from the manufacturer.

Also the £149.00 price might be re-conditioned units as they have been sent back in their thousands (Maplin seem to have got themselves a batch of these), so essentially consider it second hand.

Note also that Philips/Pace have had a year to sort out the issues, but nothing has really got any better.

Regards

Phil
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Old 08-06-2011, 12:36
MarkA74
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Hi

Also the £149.00 price might be re-conditioned units as they have been sent back in their thousands (Maplin seem to have got themselves a batch of these), so essentially consider it second hand.

Regards

Phil
I called into the Asda at Walsgrave in Coventry yesterday afternoon & they have two on the shelf, again at the same £149 price point.

They are both brand new packaging & surely if they are "re-con" unit's they should say so? (Sale of goods act & all that?)

Amazon for the same item yesterday was £189.
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Old 08-06-2011, 16:34
PhilipL
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Hi

I called into the Asda at Walsgrave in Coventry yesterday afternoon & they have two on the shelf, again at the same £149 price point.

They are both brand new packaging & surely if they are "re-con" unit's they should say so? (Sale of goods act & all that?)

Amazon for the same item yesterday was £189.
If you want one buy one, but for just a little more you could get something that worked reliably that's all

Regards

Phil
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Old 17-06-2011, 07:09
Bestbear
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Well, I bought one of these from Maplins, refurbished stock, for £149. I am not yet kicking myself, although I swore - after Laservision, Video 200 and the early failure of an expensive DVD recorder - never to touch anything with the Philips badge again. I was an early adopter of the Pace Twin and unimpressed with that, too. It was the price that grabbed me. The triumph of hope over experience ....

With the forthcoming digital switchover in the Yorkshire region I wanted it to record HD films for my cinema.

Although it has worked so perfectly that I wondered what all the fuss was about, I now realise the problems are HD problems .... and I only get SD at present ....

Anyway, it came from Maplins with the latest software installed. The only sign of being "second hand" was the slightly dog-eared manual.

I don't think I'll bin it yet! They do seem to be trying hard to fix the software. But it doesn't seem to have been designed to cope with schedule changes, like my Hummy. You have to wonder why not? Though I find the Hummy often misses the last few minutes of recorded programmes, too ....

I wish my old Made-in-Turkey Digifusion had not packed in and gone to its rest in the skip! It took them a long time to get that right, but they managed it in the end. My son's is still working perfectly.

Perhaps these machines are too complex for the human mind to embrace, even without HD? Every maker seems to have had early failures, even the Japanese giants like Panasonic. I expect Pace will sort it all in the end .......
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