Hello, I’ve just bought a Technika T816 off ebay.
The problem I’ve got is…. I can’t tune it in. The previous owner has put a parental lock on. So when I press “Menu” it just asks me for a PIN that I don’t know (the default 0000 doesn’t work).

Does anyone know if there is an “override / master” PIN that I can use.
Did Vestel consider the possibility that a personal PIN may get forgotten from time to time?

Thank you.

If there is a chance that you're going to forget the PIN, it's probably a good idea to not select the option to disable the menus that provide AFAIK the only user-level way to reset the PIN (that is the first time installation option).

I think the only hope is the RS232 socket. There are two possibilities... I don't remember if the T816 has the testtool available via RS232, but if you link it up to a PC and the "testtool>" prompt appears, type 'help' to see if it does anything (should list available commands). There are a few commands that would help, starting with the "startFTI" command.

Failing that, the only other thing I can think of is to upgrade the box to the v6.8 software, which might trigger a FTI (I don't remember for sure) and then downgrade it again, but this depends on what software version the box currently has in that you may not be able to downgrade to the exact same version.

Thanks futaura.
Not the simple answer that I'd hoped for but as I'd expected.

I've never updated any of my box's manually before. I'm not very tech savvy.

Would this lead ( Item number: 180727958541 ) do to connect the box to my computer & if so is it a fairly simple procedure?

Probably. I've not used one myself, but others have said they work ok. That said, I do not remember for definite if updating the box to v6.8 will trigger a FTI. The update process is fairly simple though. Maybe there is some other way to reset the box, via the front panel buttons or something - I seem to recall someone mentioning that holding the OK button down while plugging the box in, or something like that, would reset the box, but that might just be for the TUTV boxes.

Presumably, the seller that you bought it from does not know the PIN code?

Futaura… you’re a STAR!

Holding the OK button down whilst I switched it on at the plug worked – it brought up the “first time installation screen”.

In case you wondered why I might want a T816, it’s for a bedroom. The T825 when it springs to life by itself & spins the hard drive every few hours. Whilst in the day this might be fine, in the middle of the night at the end of the bed when everything is quiet it can sometimes disturb.
Incidentally the T845R I have is even worse as the spin-up statrs with a loud “click”. Is this normal for the SATA drives or have I just got a bad one?

Thank you.

Glad my memory held out in the end . I'm not sure if it is normal for SATA drives in general, but certainly the WD AVGP drives that all the Vestel PVRs now use do click relatively loudly when spinning down (presumably heads parking). Not sure about spin-up noise though - not sure I'd describe it as a click, but HD seek noise. Sometimes, they can make a "buzzing" noise when powering up too - my first T835 did this and I thought the drive was maybe dodgy, but all the other units I've used since then all do exactly the same. They are reasonably quiet when running, but certainly they are one relatively loud when starting up and spinning down.

The T816 is certainly a good choice if you are not worried about series recording, and is probably the fastest and most reliable model. The main problem it can tend to have is sometimes an issue with the accurate recording signalling, triggering the additional 3 hour recording fallback.

Futaura, you are a wealth of info regarding Vestel, do you happen to know anything about the Logik Freeview pvr's? I understand they are a Dixons/Currys "own-brand" are they Vestel? I recently acquired a Logik 160gb STB11 and it seems to have a mind of its own recording/pvr-wise.I opened the box up and it looks brand new, with a Western Digital Scorpio Blue HDD. Sometimes it records fine, then the HDD/PVR menu disappears and we are unable to set a recording, and the option to "re-build memory device" appears on screen after a re-boot of the box .Bizarre. Thanks

No, I don't think the STB11 is made by Vestel - certainly doesn't sound like it from the "re-build memory device" message. Only the older LPVR88 and LPVR168 models were made by Vestel (T825 based) AFAIK.

Thanks for replying Futaura, pity its not Vestel, because at least there is plenty of info regarding Vestel boxes. I'm finding it pretty difficult to find out much about the Logik stb11 pvr, hardly any reviews, the box was only released last year but the menu's/functions seem so out-dated! One thing to note is that the remote control is practically identical to the Technika stb's, same with the menu's/epg's which are definitely the same as the Technika's, right down to the "press Exit button twice" to show Signal+Quality info on a tv channel. Leads me to believe the Logik is made by Hylab in the Far East. Thanks

definately the same remote as the technika hd box, looking at the manual, http://documents.knowhow.com/TV-Home...50STB11_IB.pdf even the menus look the similiar

Yeah Librarian,its identical in every way, but the Logik box is not in the same league as the Technika HD ones, a lot slower, I really bought it as an extra recording option,for Quest, Yesterday etc that i can't get on Freesat, it was very cheap, guess I hoped that because it was identical to my Technika it might perform just as well. I've been searching to see if a firmware update is available to no avail. Oh well

looks like they have moved on to hd sets now,so no more support

Hi Librarian, I have e-mailed Currys/Dixons Group customer support today, (the Logik is part of their "own-brand" stable) inquiring about any firmware/software updates, to be fair to them i got a reply telling me they will "get back to me" in due course. Fingers crossed. My Logik box was released 1yr ago, if support is no longer forthcoming for a 1yr-old box, then its time to worry!. Thankfully the Logik L160STB11 only cost me £20 on e-***, with a 12-month warranty, it works, records and has its quirks, but to be so similar, in fact identical to the Technika stbhdis2010, and yet to underperform is strange?.
Last edited by ty webb : 31-07-2012 at 22:52

good luck, hope you get a result

Just a little update on the Logik 160gb pvr Librarian, I got an e-mail back from currys/dixons group telling me to phone a certain number, the price/length of the telephone call would probably cost as much as the Logik box cost me to buy from"flea-bay"!! Just got to laugh at the absurdity of a large electrical store not being able to give me an answer about software updates or via e-mail from their so-called "technical support team". Makes me think that the object lesson is to steer clear of currys/dixons, I'll stick with the box for now as the seller gave a 12-month warranty (more than dixons or currys it would seem!), it records and is working(for now) Cheers

hmm sounds like pass the buck time, I do think with most store branded stuff you dont get much support, i'm sure there are exceptions to the rule but few and far between