Hi,

I have two different models of Digihome PVRs. The disk has died on one and now the PSU on the other (at least that is my thinking). I can't put the working disk in the other PVR as they aren't the same (SATA and IDE)....so my question is can I replace the dead 16pw810-2 psu with the working 16wp810s from the other PVR?

The mounting and connectors are identical and the circuitry looks nearly the same. Can't find any reference to a 16pw810s anywhere online so any advice appreciated.

I don't know the answer to your question, but have you read http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1309563 ? If you are handy with a soldering iron, this contains some useful info which could allow you to fix the dead PSU.

BTW, to be pedantic, I guess one of the PVRs you mention is in fact Alba branded, which will be the T845R model that has SATA? There was never a Digihome PVR that took SATA drives - if you have one, I guess it is a cut'n'shut refurb (Digihome chassis, with Alba inards).

Thanks for your advice. I'm better with a screw driver than a soldering iron, so will have to think about that.

BTW the PVR with a SATA is a Digihome DG250DTRA08, unless I'm getting the wrong end of the stick.....it seems to verify this looking at the unofficial vestel website http://www.vestelpvr.futaura.co.uk/ (your namesake??). But I'm no expert

Cheers

Ah, ok, sorry - I didn't think you were talking about a TopUp TV box since you were talking about swapping HDDs. So, the other one isn't TopUp TV, in which case swapping HDDs would not work anyway even if the SATA/IDE incompatibility was removed from the equation.

I wouldn't like to say if a T845 PSU could be used in a T816 or T825. Hopefully somebody else can help answer that.

What are the failure symptoms of both boxes?

Hi again,

I actual fact I have three PVRS all broken, I'd love to try and compile one working one if possible!

DG250DTRA08: Get PLS WAIT cycling round and round. Can invoke REVERT (doesn't fix it) but not invoke FORMAT. Guessing disk is caput?

DIGIHOME T810: froze on STARTING (I think) then never powered up again.

ALBA T825: this is a spooky one - froze during a play back. Wouldn't power up again. I tried several times over a week. Then a month later I tried and it started but only lasted a couple of hours.

I've got a bit confused with the PSUs as one is 16PW810-2 and one is 16PW36-2, I've switched disks and PSUs between the T810 and the T825 but no combination works.

My last chance I hoped for was that the 16PW810S could be used instead of the 16PW810-2. I've read a lot of advice on this forum but I'm not confident to start soldering parts to fix it.

Hope that wasn't too confusing!

I agree with you in that most likely that both the T810 and T825 PSUs have failed. Specifically, the added symptom you mention with the Alba strongly indicates a capacitor failure.

Unfotunately, I'm less familar with the T845 TUTV box. Is "REVERT" the proceduce that happens when you plug the box in whilst holding down the OK button on the box? If not, try that - AFAIK, this will reset the box. Does PLS WAIT ever end up with a FAIL message? Whatever, it may be worth reloading the software onto it via the RS232 port.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Yes the REVERT is done holding the button down, there is also a way to invoke FORMAT but that doesn't happen. It doesn't end up with a FAIL. I'll look at the RS232 option as I haven't considered that.

Would it be worth trying the 810s in the 810-2 PVR as it is all the same connectors and mountings and it only looks like some capacitors are different (but I'm still no expert!)?

Maybe - I'm hesitant to answer this either way as I don't know the tech specs of the PSUs. Perhaps the 810s is just a new improved version which is compatible with the 810-2, but equally maybe the outputs are different despite the connectors being the same which in the worst case could destroy the board if you tried it in the T810 or T825. It might be a good idea to wait to see if anybody else can shed any light on this.

If anyone does find out can they post back here as I think that this will solve my problem (if it works)

tim