In November, 2010, we got rid of Sky, and went to Freesat+ (it was a Humax unit). We had 6 months of great service, and then we started to loose picture and sound, just for a second at random intervals.
Hughs have been out several times, and could offer no explanation. I have changed HDMI leads, I have also plugged them into different HDMI ports on the back of the television. I have reset the unit, and I check for undates, at least once a month.
In the end, Hughs gave us a new 500GB unit, and for two months, it was perfect. This unit has now started doing the same. It has got to the point, where I have even checked the dish for loose connections.
This problem does not happen when watching normal television, Freeview, DVD, Bluray or video.

Any ideas?

Do you get the same problem if you use a scart lead ?. If not it could be a hdmi problem with the TV. Check to see if there is a firmware update for the TV.

TV up to date. Have tried different HDMI leads, and different ports in the tele.
Found this as well, http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1602711
looks like I'm not the only one.
When we had the old television, before HD, we used a scart, and I cant recall the problem then, now you mention it.

Do you have the same TV as the other poster ?

No responce yet. Would be interesting to find out!

Don't rule out that the 2 Humax boxes could be faulty! If they were from the same batch it is a possibility. I had a similar problem with a customers Humax receiver which I sent directly back to Humax (I am a trade partner) when I got the new one, no problem!

Should have asked before. What software version does menu/system/diagnostics say you have ?

Checked this with the Humax site. All upto date.

Really getting hacked off with this problem now. Hughs TV and Audio, have now agreed to supply unit number 3! Hopefully this is going to be 3rd time lucky!

Sadly, the answer is no, not 3rd time lucky...
So what would you recommend instead of Humax?

For you to get a third box (of any electronic item) with the same fault has to be very slim indeed.

I would wonder if it's not a problem with your TV rather than the Humax boxes.

Having read through the posts that seems to be the only thing you haven't tried, so it could well be your TV at fault.

I can't recommend any other Freesat boxes as my three year old Humax HDR has never had any problems at all, apart from a couple of missed recordings, but my Sky+ used to do that often!

Or something else about the domestic environment in which it is being used such as dirty power supply, satellite signal feed or some device (eg laptop power supply) causing interference. If it is only affecting the Foxsat design then a change of brand may indeed be a solution.

1 box faulty, could of been, 2, could be a remote chance, now 3 playing up?
Hughs seem certain it is a Humax problem, I think it is a communication problem between the television, and the freesat box.

Paul 15--What tv do you have? 3 Humax to be faulty seems unlikely, maybe not compatible with your tv for some reason.

It is a Samsung. I have spoken to Hughs about a communication issue between the TV and Humax, they don't seem to think it is. I have also emailed Humax on a number of occasions, but they never reply.

Hi Paul, I think it would be a good idea to give more information as to which model of Samsung TV you have so better advice can be given, Samsung probably make hundreds of TV's mine is a Samsung UEB7020 and I have no problems with my HDR500. I think there maybe too much assumption it's a problem with the Humax (3 of them!) and not the TV. Most other users have no problem, maybe the writing is on the wall!

Have you checked the dish for spiders?

TV is a Samsung LE40C750R2KXXU (3d model) - Humax is FOXSAT HDR 500
AS i SAID, Hugh's insist it isn't the TV, but it is now the only possible thing!

Hughs have told me they have found the problem!!! It is the auto power down on the FOXSAT they say. I wait to be convinced...

That can be turned off in setup - somehow I doubt it is the problem.

Paul15,
did you ever connect with a scart instead of HDMI when you had the problem?

Or did you try substituting another TV?

These were suggested earlier by savvy posters.

David

Had the spare tele and FOXSAT for a week, and no problems. Ours are back, will wait and see what happens tonight. Never noticed a problem when scart was detected.

It could be a problem with the LNB being a bit marginal, or perhaps a signalling issue on HDMI. What resolution do you run the HDMI connection at?


Clem

The Humax puts out the tuning control signals to the LNB in the dish. The common factors that could be causing the problem are the TV and the LNB/cables from the dish to the Humaxes. If there is an intermittent fault on the LNB or cabling this would have the same effect that you describe.

Intermittent faults are the worst to find, as you have discovered! My guess is that it is a faulty LNB. It may be worth changing it?

Hughs have now given me my 4th (yes 4th!!!) box. The last one went in for a test, Hughs told me they had done a mod, and when we got it back it just kept locking up.
I run HDMI at 1080i. Makes no difference whatever it is run at. As for the LNB, (forgive me if I sound dumb here I guess that is the arm on the dish the cables plug into?), it is a possibillity, even tho' my signal strength was better than the shop today!
If this 4th box starts to play up, I will get the dish checked out, even tho' Hughs have already checked it, and told me there is no problem with it.