Hi all,

My Alba ALDTR160 picked up the update manually this morning, and yes it did take ages to download. Went from version 10.2 to 13.0.

Not really sure if I was suffering much from the freezing issue, but went ahead with the update anyway to see if it improved things. I am a few miles from Stockland Hill transmitter, so strong signal.

Wish I hadn't.......

The software does seem slightly quicker, but several features have been removed, which for me, mean I will be returning to the previous version. They are :

1) Only 1 favourites list now instead of the previous 5.
2) No extended program info when pressing INFO button a second time (1st brings up now & next). Seems you now have to access it via the guide.
3) Favourites list no longer used by guide and arrow keys. You get all channels.

What do others think?

Cheers.

As mentioned elsewhere, those changes are apparently the result of Vestel's cold feet over the Gemstar patent infringement issue. This software functionality has always been an option as I have seen it in some beta builds for the T816 years ago, and I think even some Hitachi models were shipped with these feature restrictions, so it's not new per se. T835 users will also be getting the same treatment via an OAD at some point.

That said, I've yet to find where item #2 that you mention is covered by one of Gemstar's patents.

No2 is the only one that would affect me, as I don't use favourites. Nevertheless, No2 on its own is a major disappointment, what were they thinking?

My Wharfedale is sitting with the progress bar about one-tenth along the line, just like always when I've tested it for the hell of it. Now 1600hr so that's nearly 2 hours

parthena

Tried manual oad search on my wharfdale lp250dtr, 3 times no update found yet?

Yes that is a backward step but I have found I can hear the sound when on the Guide with only 1 press of the mute button whereas it used to take 2 previously.

It's looking like there is no OAD yet for the Wharfedale models equipped with low power mode - probably only the original Wharfedale T825 units (that originally shipped with v1.7 software) have an OAD this week.

I've given up for now. It might at least have the decency to say "I can't find anything"

Maybe next week then.

Since that fiasco I can't get live channels to display on my TV. Menu items show up, recordings are displayed, but no live TV - it can't be connections, the, can it?

I've done an auto scan but it doesn't make any difference. OK, FTI here I come

Success

parthena

It would be useful if users posted the software version on their unit before the update so we can identify which exact models are getting the update.

It would also be useful for users to post details of un-successful attempts at updating so these units can be identified.

Thanks,

Colin

Unsuccessful = Wharfedale LP250DTRHDMI v 10.8

(so far)

parthena

unsuccessful // Wharfdale LP250DTR v4.9

I manually updated my Digihome DTR 80.

It used to have SW version 2.7.

Now reports SW version 13.

The bad news is that it has NOT fixed the jumping when recording Channel 4

A BBC recording appeared to be OK

Hopes raised and dashed - bit of an anti climax!

Now I am really annoyed.

Obtained the old 10.2 software from the link on Futaura's site and successfully uploaded it, but guess what, the features that were removed by the upgrade to 13.0 have not come back.

How can that be? Does anyone have any ideas how I can get my old 10.2 functionality back?

Been wondering about "rolling back" myself

In your case, KB, surely you can manually install the 10.2 again - unless you have to have 13.0 for DSO functionality.

parthena

Hi Parthena,

That's what I was trying to say. I did manually install 10.2 again (several times). The config menu reports that it is running 10.2, but the functionality fails to return. I can only guess that the 13.0 update makes some permanent change to the firmware that cannot be reversed.

Why oh why didn't I read the post on avforums before going ahead.

Did you try a first time installation?

Yes, tried every combination of FTI both before and/or after rolling back, but to no avail.

I have four T825 units (Asda Onn) and two of them have updated themselves to V13 from V2.7. Can someone explain why this update has been issued? I also note with some annoyance (as mentioned by others) the info box no longer comes up when a program is playing. What's going on? What's this about a patent infringement?

Hi All,

My ALba DTR160 updated (I assume) last night, but this morning seems to be dead.

I've powered it off and on again, but after the Starting message on the front panel, all goes quiet.

Does anyone have any ideas, or is it really dead?

As with the two previous T825 updates, there are two separate firmware images in the third OAD broadcast. This time they are:

GordianT825UK001
GordianT825UK002

Just for the record, according to the DTG website these are version 13.0 for "Wharfedale DTR, Technika DTR, Digihome DTR, Techwood DTR"

The description on the DTG site is not entirely accurate. What I do know is that the 002 software is for pretty much all the basic (i.e. no LP, HDMI, USB or CI) Vestel UK boxes, including Alba, Digihome, Technika and Techwood, but I think also other brands like Durabrand, ONN and maybe Akura and Luxor too. And IIRC, the Wharfedale HDMI (non-LP) was the first T825 to become available, so that probably does use the 001 software.

As for the LP Wharfedale model, I'm not sure which number they use - parthena's 10.8 software uses id 006, whereas the 4.9 software I have uses id 007. Whatever, it is clear this model will not be getting an update this week.

Hi

Did a manual scan last night.

Techwood v2.7 now updated to v13.

Took about an hour last night and was too late to play and see what has happened.

Agree that taking away the 'more info' on a programme is very annoying. This will upset her indoors when she presses info.

When going to non broadcasting (or off air) channels a huge loading interactive services appears on screen before it disappears and shows whatever. i.e BBC3 shows loading interactive services before displaying the red background screen.

will play abit more later.

It's often the case that various settings are compiled into the software, and variables set in NVRAM to control them. Probably the v13.0 software changes one of these settings, which v10.2 reads too, but v10.2 doesn't reset it. I had something similar once with my T816 getting stuck +1 hour ahead on european time after I was send a wrong build by accident - I could control the additional options on the new build, but after reverting to the old build those options were still used and I could not change them. You could try downgrading to v2.7 to see if that performs the necessary reset, and if it does, upgrading to v10.2 again should bring you back to where you were.

A relative who has a DVBT aerial and card for his PC was wondering how one goes about downloading the OAD files to PC. Can you advise please? Also, futaura, my relative (who has a T825) was wondering about downloading the updates to his PC and preventing his T825 from automatically downloading the update relevant to his machine when it is broadcast. The plan would be to then decide at a later date when more is known about V13, whether to upgrade to V13 or stay with his existing version (V10 .2) I think.

Do you have available, copies of the V2.7 firmware (for my T825 units) and/or the V10.2 firmware for the units that use that version, that you are able to distribute to people who may wish to roll back the firmware on their T825? My thinking is that by having the V13 update as a PC file, one could choose which version to have loaded, perhaps stcking with the V2.7/V10.2 build until DSO comes to our area (Waltham transmitter) then, if problems arise after DSO, installing V13 to solve the problems. Does that sound a reasonable plan?

The update is primarily for DSO related stuttering/jumping recordings, as detailed in the other active thread next to this one.

Regarding the patent, google "gemstar patent" . With Virgin Media getting sued, it seems Vestel have gotten cold feet, or maybe Gemstar have been in touch. Virgin Media did win their case, but Rovi/Gemstar/Sky/Murdoch is appealing the decision - we can only hope they lose their appeal. The TUTV people modified their software long ago to avoid being sued. But, as I say, I'm not entirely sure why the the double press of the INFO button feature to view extended programme info has been removed as I have not found where this infringes any patent. I was not aware the T825 was getting this dumbed down treatment until the first OAD, having already raised the question to Vestel regarding a T835 OAD that I had the same feature changes.

Well, maybe pclare can clarify regarding saving the OADs - I know they can be saved, but am not sure if those files can be uploaded via serial cable. V2.7 and V10.2 are available via links from my website but as Vestel did not send me those files I can't verify their integrity, although people have clearly been using them without any major problems.