Deleted. Question already answered in another post.

Colin

futaura, thanks for a rapid reply. Am I correct in assuming T816 units will be unaffected (i.e. not pick up) these series of OADs intended for the T825 variants? Have T816 units been also suffering stuttering in DSO areas does anyone know? If they have, do Vestel have any plans for an OAD for T816 units?

Yes and no - see http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=167 - basically, the most reports came from T825 owners. There were some reports from T810 and T816 owners, but also there were reports from people who own both a T825 and a T816 or T810 who said the T825 didn't work, but the T816 and T810 were fine. I am trying to find out from Vestel whether the T816 and T810 would benefit from the same fix as the T825 and indeed whether it is relevant. I don't have any firm answers on this yet, but Vestel should be aware from the above link that it is not only T825 users that were having problems.

Hi, a question for futaura....

As described on post #36 the new V 13 SW has not fixed my PVR.

I would like to try the PSU modification as described by DAVIDTV on futaura's website

http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=167

DAVIDTV has offered to send more details to another poster on futaura's website if he sent an e-mail address.

How can I send my e-mail address to DAVIDTV to see if he would be kind enough to send me more details?

Richard

Thanks Futaura.

Partial success. Downgraded to 2.7 and the functionality returned; great I thought. Now to upgrade to 10.2 and get back to where I started. No such luck, as 10.2 switched off the functionality again. So back to 2.7 it is for me, with auto scan disabled!!!

Does anyone know what differences there are between 2.7 and 10.2? After a quick check I noticed the following :

1) Mheg "loading" screen different.
2) No language selection for GUIDE in 2.7 .
3) Volume not muted when selecting library or timers in 2.7 .
4) Image file for 2.7 is 1.44Mb vs. 1.54Mb for 10.2 .

As an aside, did 12.8 switch off the functionality too, or was this only added in 13.0?

Cheers.

DVB has two distinct mechanisms for over the air firmware updates: OAD and SSU.

SSU is the newer mechanism and is used on Freesat. I think Freesat has also used OAD for older boxes that cannot cope with SSU. I'm guessing that Freeview HD will also use SSU (but until PC based DVB-T2 tuners become available cannot confirm that). I'm not aware of any PC based software (commercial or otherwise) that will download and save SSU firmware updates.

Freeview uses the older OAD mechanism. This is based on the object carousel used to deliver MHEG applications and services (i.e. red button).

So, what you need to save the Vestel firmware updates is a software application that will save the object carousel from PID 0x028D carried on the main BBC mux. You will then have a set of files that represent the firmware image(s). In the case of the Vestel firmware, a further complication is that each firmware image is broadcast as six separate files. These need to be concatenated (simple DOS window copy command will do) to produce the final firmware image. This should be loadable via the serial cable update mechanism.

So what software is there to capture object carousels? Not much unfortunately. There are a few commercial apps. I think that both TSReader and MPEG Analyser will do it. It's been a while since I looked at either so am not absolutely sure what the latest versions will do. I think these apps have demo/lite versions (TSReader certainly does) but it is quite likely that the saving function is disabled in the free versions.

The only freeware app that I know of that will save the object carousel is something called "DC-DVB Source". Unfortunately development on this seems to have stopped and it can be a pain to get working. But when it does work it does do the job.

One day I may release a companion application to DVBGuide that would download and save firmware updates. But with the provision of ethernet & USB ports on newer TVs, set top boxes and PVRs the trend is actually moving away from over the air updates. So I'm not actually sure that it is worth the development effort.

So saving the OAD firmware images can be done but does take time and effort to set things up.

pclare thanks for this comprehensive answer, I'll study it in detail and let you know how I get on downloading the files

Ok, so your Alba had v10.2 on it when you bought it? If so, the most likely explanation is that the v10.2 available to download is not actually the exact same build as what was shipped with the Alba, even though the version numbers are identical (build date/time probably is different).

I think David uploaded a document to the page that you previously mentioned which is probably what you're after, if you haven't already found it.

For those that have v13.0 and are still interested in helping troubleshoot the problem, please see http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=197.

Apart from the lack of info box when info is pressed during playback or when watching a channel live already discussd on this thread, I've noticed that the behaviour of the unit when gong into timers is strange. It seems to wait ages before showing the info details of a timed entry but can be kicked into life with the Pr + and - buttons. Also the behaviour when doing a search in the epg is suspect. When a list of entries matching the search criteria is produced, bringing the info box up and then moving down to the next entry in the list causes the info box to disappear and it has to be brought up again by pressing info. This becomes very tiresome as the info box disappears every time you move to a different entry in the search results to examine it.

Anyone found other strange behaviour? Any good things noticed?

Hi Futaura thank you fro responding.

Despite a good look around I cannot find an uploaded document. Can you provide a pointer?

Apologies if I am missing the obvious.

WRT the continuing stuttering even after updating to V13 I have posted my ansers to the questions.

Richard

http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=167 - scroll down and you should see a link in the attached files section.

Hello everyone.
I have the same problems as KB, items 1,2,and 3 and would have preferred to have stayed with previous Ver.
My box is the Tesco Techwood T825 80 gig. and I think the previous Ver. was 2.7
Is it possible to go back to previous Ver. via Hyper Terminal and if so how? and could I use a serial to USB lead or does it have to be serial to serial.
George.

Yep you can use serial to serial, or usb to serial, software here>

http://www.vestelpvr.futaura.co.uk/T825.php

serial settings >> http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/vestel/update.htm

Many thanks Krytenrobot for your reply and the Info. supplied.
Geprge

New Wharfedale OAD coming this Friday and over the weekend - presumably this will be v13.0 for the low power models.

Thanks for the updates and info Futaura.

I will be abstaining from updating my Wharfedale LP160DTR/HDMI this weekend. I will let others test it out first as I have no immediate requirement to update and I quite like having the 5 Favourite Lists and on screen Info displayed.

I live in NW London, I dont know if we have been subjected to the DSO yet.

Would I be correct in assuming this update will have a repeat broadcast sometime in the future?

All the best,

Richard

Not really - there may possibly be a repeat, but I wouldn't like to bet on that. The T825 is an old/obsolete model in Vestel's eyes in some senses because the T845R replaced it, and the T835 has since replaced that. And before you know it they'll have moved on to Freeview HD models.

Do think there are any real benefits in upgrading to 13.0 for those not in a DSO region? Most reports have been negative so far, It also seems that the problem of stuttering has not been solved for all affected users. There has been one report of possible improvement of response speeds. Is there any convincing evidence to suggest that there will be any improvement in stability with this new software or any other benefits?

Colin

I'm really the wrong person to ask seeing as I do not own a T825, so haven't tested the software. So, you know as much as I do - we just have the feedback from others to go on. I don't know what else went into 13.0, but perhaps some of the improvements made in the T835 software have filtered back into the T825 software.

That said, there have been many positive reports that 13.0 solved the jumping stuttering problems, and the EPG speed and responsiveness has improved a bit. Yes, there have been reports from some (a handful) that it has not helped with stuttering or made it worse, but it is increasingly looking like these are isolated cases. If you recall, there were many reports about the original stuttering problems, but so far only one person has filled in the new survey. Most of the affected boxes are "refurbished" ones and I suspect they were returned originally because of stuttering problems long before DSO, as the box was faulty. I'll gladly be proved wrong, but until users stand up and fill in the survey, I don't think Vestel are going to consider the problem unfixed if I tell them only 5 people have reported problems.

Obviously, generally people only report problems and not when problems are fixed. There have been far more reports about the Gemstar feature degradation than stuttering problems.

Thanks for the info. I suspect curiosity will win and I'll download it. My failure to come out of standby problem seems to be getting worse. I have noticed that the HDD runs continuously when in Low Power standby mode sometimes which probably accounts for the unit feeling hotter than usual. I've yet to test if this also occurs in normal standby. I've done a FTI but that has made no difference. The HDD switches off normally after a delay of 90s after it is no longer required, though I'm not sure this is always the case. I'm beginning to suspect a hardware fault. I can't see this being improved with a software update.

Colin

I just posted about my Wharfedale HDMI/LP T825's miraculous recovery in the V13.0 thread, should have posted it here

Like Colin, I'm wonderig now if it might be best to forego the OAD I bet Sod's Law will apply again.

I would have thought that Vestel are bound to re-broadcase v13.0 as each area approaches or passes DSO - I say "passes", because there are bound to be lots of currently non-problematic boxes whose owners were blissfully unaware of OADs and start squealing when things go wrong... except... is the T825 DSO-ready as manufactured?).

parthena

Again, I have no experience with the T825 low power mode, and IIRC the Wharfedale was the first model to have this feature so maybe there are some flaws. It could just be the HDD, maybe something more serious. With my T835, the HDD is shut down before entering low power mode - the HDD only starts up again when it wakes up from low power mode (which is either to make a recording, check for an OAD at 3am or after 18 hours).

I'm not sure that is a correct presumption to make. The theory is that all boxes would have updated themselves with the first round of OADs (automatic updates is the default option, after all), so there is no need to pay for repeat broadcasts - it might have been different if there were one or two OADs necessary, but at the current count we're talking at least seven to cover the differing T825 models. Of course, there probably wouldn't be any question of wanting or needing to refuse the 13.0 update if it wasn't for the Gemstar issue.

Oh Futaura, how could you trash my cerebral efforts so easily?

parthena