Hi All,

Not sure if this is connected to the OAD last night, but this morning my ALBA DTR160 seems to have bitten the dust. The front panel display is blank.

I tried powering off and on again a few times, but although I got the Starting... message, eventually the box goes quiet, and nothing else happens, and I get no display on the TV

Is it dead? It's about 18 months old I reckon, maybe two years.

Unfortunately that doesn't sound to good - maybe "knocked out" is a better way to put it than dead . Do you remember which software version it was running before the update?

I think it could probably be revived by uploading the v10.2 software to it via the RS232 port - it seems something did go majorly wrong with the over-the-air update .

Hi-

Sorry to hear about your box dying on you.

My Alba DTR160 received its v13.0 update and is still working, but the info button does not seem to work now. You cannot view the now/next info while watching a programme, nor when viewing a prog you have recorded. Wonder if this has something to do with the update?

Yes, as has been mentioned in other threads, that is one of the feature changes in V13.0 that was made to avoid infringing the infamous Gemstar patents. The info button should still work in the EPG, library and timers screens though.

Futaura, i'm still not clear about this!

Are you claiming that Vestel - alone - are refusing to pay any epg royalties, but all other PVR manufacturers are doing so?

Wouldn't that be extremely odd?

Bad news about your box, I had a similer problem after the update (although not as severe as yours sounds) If you're getting the starting message you could try unplugging your box then plug it back in while pressing and holding the ok button (i think) on the front, if it worked "reset" will flash up and you'll get a display on screen asking if you want to format your hard drive. All your recordings will be gone but you'll have your box back.

Hope it works for you.

I'm not claiming anything - I'm not clear on it as I don't know all the facts either. However, one fact is that TopUp TV pulled features from their software because of Gemstar some time ago, generating a similar uproar. It's slightly strange that Vestel have gone all this time keeping the features in their software, given that Vestel made/make TopUp TV boxes. I don't know why the change of heart, but one theory is that maybe Gemstar's lawyers have been in touch with Vestel (or one of their clients, such as Hitachi), as they did not appear to care about it until now.

Wouldn't suprise me with the recent 4tv issues.

But are many boxes, tvs, pvrs based on vestel firmware.. if this was a vestel issues, surely we would see more boxes failing.. (well more than we have had in the last 2 weeks)