Hi

I have purchased a Humax PVR-9200T and after playing with it have found several annoying bugs in the software and problems with the way it works. i want to know if this is a common problem with the current software (PGXTF1.00.00, Loader a4.07) or i simply have a dodgy box. Here are my observations and thoughts, pls feel free to comment:

Radio Record Bug: Most annoying - I have not yet had a successful scheduled radio recording. Have not exhaustively tested all the circumstances when this occurs, but all I know is that this occurs when the unit is in standby mode before it starts a scheduled recording.

When its time to record, REC is shown on the display and everything seems to be working ok but once recording is finished it is not visible in the “recorded programmes” list, no space is used according to HDD control so I can only assume it hasn’t actually recorded in the first place. Scheduled Radio Recording doesn’t work if the unit has been put into standby mode before a recoding is scheduled to start – not sure if this is the reason for the problems.

Instant replay feature in radio mode doesn’t work. Seems to skip forward rather than replay.

Chase Play: Limited Functionality - The second most annoying problem with the way this box works (and I’m not sure if it will even be possible to change this with an update – please tell me if this is not the case) is the inability to allow the user to playback a current recording. This after all, in my opinion, is The Major function of a PVR. I know you can, as with my PVR-8000T model, rewind the current recording - but that is only any good if you happen to have manually switched on the box first, as this box seems to schedule record in Standby mode, and if that wasn’t inconvenient enough you have to make sure you select the channel that the scheduled programme is on and you then cannot change channel or you will loose the record buffer. So, having to leave it on a particular channel you’re recording seems to defeat the very purpose of a twin tuner box.

Chasing Playback – loss of current playback position of buffered recording i.e. after a pause or rewind when a scheduled recording starts.

Editing a TV Recording Bug - When editing a recording stored on the Hard Disk the navigation buttons (”Control the Bar” Buttons) aren’t even selectable.

Schedule Recording Bug – When editing a TV or Radio “Scheduled Recording” changing anything such as end time or repeat frequency causes the programme name disappear.

Features to add:

Auto Pad Feature – ability to extend scheduled recordings automatically by 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 or 10 mins. Perhaps as option in within the menu.

Ability to add more than 20 scheduled recordings. AND / OR If the box knows what day it is, perhaps instead of just once, daily or weekly repeat modes perhaps expanding weekly and daily options further by using a tick box selection for Mon, Tue, Wed, Th, Fri, Sa, Su. This would help cut down on number of scheduled recordings necessary to regularly record a weekday programme that doesn’t occur at the weekend as an example. If not an individual day selection maybe once, weekly, weekday, weekend, weekday+weekend options instead.

If days are known by box can they be displayed in the EPG? Use DAY/DD/MM Instead of current DD/MM format displayed in the top right hand corner.

TV Record Simultaneous recording Bug – When recording a second channel for less than a minute only video is recorded - no sound is recorded.

ITV2 only has a thin white bar that keeps on bouncing up and down just above the bottom black bar.

Does fan really need to be on all the time even when in Standby mode? Surely only required when in use, or when recording in standby mode.

Cheers

givemestella

A good read. I am sure I have read this post line for line somewhere else stella but this apears to be your first post. wierd

The 9200t thread (for the released box) Barry has been collating the issues or requests and been passing them to a contact at Humax. Today he has posted the list so far. http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=292764

Radioand telly forum perhaps

With respect to your missing radio recordings.

You are checking the audio playlist I presume.......I ask because I have carried out numerous test recordings, and all are recorded OK.

yep i have posted it on both forums - not answering my questions on radioandtelly. yes looking in the audio menu and the main recorded programmes list within the main menu.

Has any one tried Humax Support on this? Maybe you need to get another one or maybe its an inherent problem. Having said that if it is inherent I should be able to replicate it. What exactly are you doing?

1. I am just adding a radio recording using the guide.
2. then putting the box in standby.
3. then after recording has finished (after little REC light goes out in the display top Left hand corner) switching on box and looking for recording and its not there. recorded programmes list via main menu nor the shortcut button "Audio list"

The only way i can record a radio prog is for the box to be left on which then allows either a manual record or a scheduled record to work correctly. I see user Rog on radioandtelly forum also has this problem, so its not just my box. Are there any more of us with this strange bug? or have we both got faulty boxes???


Cheers
givemestella

We need to try and get to the bottom of this one if at all poss.

Any chance you can set a recording for Book of the Week Channel 704 BBC radio 4 00:30 til 00:48, I am setting from the radio EPG now, and then placing box in st/by

Edit... mine has just started to record.
Last edited by Barry : 27-10-2005 at 00:33

I wonder if it's anything to do with the clock losing time. Mine has started to loose time quite badly.

Might be....mine is OK when compared to the other PVR's in the same room. I will be querying the time problem that some are suffering from when my contact is back next week.
Last edited by Barry : 27-10-2005 at 00:48

Well it recorded OK on My box.

Oh and BTW chase play in Radio mode works fine on mine as well.

Barry can you query the standby radio record issue as well please?

Not sure where to put this in the sea of 9200T stuff but mine periodically freezes/locks up and I have to turn the power off to get it going again. I'm new to PVRs so is this normal/acceptable?

Cheers,

Richard

No Richard its not normal. Before swapping it I would recomend you speak to Humax support about it so that if this is happening to others then they can try to pin it down to something as they get cases. Then in the future they can add something into software releases to cater for those boxes displaying th same behaviour. If its something to do with one faulty componant then their may never be a fix or workaround in software. And in that case they can look into the componant manufacturer processes or quality control.

Whilst I will of course be mentioning this to my contact, I can only echo the last post in that anyone who has problems be it Non recording of radio, lock ups, time keeping, or anything else for that matter, should telephone the UK customer helpline

Re - Humax freezing -

Thanks for the response Marc - I have now emailed them or am I better off phoning?

Richard, I would ring them if I were you.

Earlier today i posted in reply in the other Humax topics to a comment about lossing time wich i was having as well. So i phoned Humax tec support very nice people and very helpful.
I was told they hadn't had any reports about time loss yet (so if you are having time loss issues phone them). They then walked me through a reset and i also commented on long boot up time. The tec support phoned back after 30 mins to see if i had any time loss (which with any tec support is nice that they DO phone back). No time loss so thought great.
Then we tried the start up from standby. Turned unit to standby using handset and then asked to turn back on this took about 2 mins, the tech support guy was not happy with that and told me it should be seconds not mins so he gave me a returns number and told me to take it back to Comet and get a new unit.
Now i have a new yet which is keeping right time and booting from standby in about 15 sec total.
The tech support guys were great and WANT to hear of any problems and get feedback about the 9200t.

ukrad, mine is 15 seconds also which I think judging by other posts is about right for the Humax.

Thinking about it, its good that Humax gave you a retuns number directly. When your faulty box gets back to the manufacturer their database will show what the tech support guy described as the fault. They can then have a reference machine to debug. If the machine was takn straight back to Comet and swapped, they may not have information as to why it was swapped.

Hello everyone I am also a newbie to the PVR scene and have purchased the 9200T after our old VCR died.

I am no newbie to Humax products though and currently use the humax IRCI 5400, NACI,5700,CRCI5500 satellite receivers on a daily basis.

All the above have the rear black on/off switch and have different Cams embedded, as well as two CI slots.The new PVR does not seem too different to me except for the freeview tuners instead of satellite and the top CI slots are blanked off. And off course the hard disc and the relevant software to access it.

I feel a word of warning may help people avoid possible future problems here though.

With the Humax satellite range if the rear black switch is turned on again to soon after a cold re-boot/reset ,the loader etc can be corrupted and you then have to reload the firmware/software for your model making sure one has the correct loader /software version from the humax site to get it working again!

IF YOU USE THE REAR BLACK SWITCH TO RESET AFTER A LOCKUP I WOULD SUGGEST YOU WAIT AT LEAST 60 SECONDS BEFORE YOU PWR ON AGAIN.

Lets hope that in time the software will be available on the humax site, then if we do have any loader /corrupt problems it is easily solved by re downloading the software via a null modem cable.

Sorry for rambling on so on to the Radio/record problem

@Givemestella

Don’t send your 9200T back the problem is a software bug and the same has happened to me. If you select a radio programme to be recorded from the guide using the OK button, the programme is reserved and the 9200 comes on at the correct time and record is shown in the display. However it fails to record radio ! in my case BBC7 using this method?

If you manually enter the desired Radio programme in the record schedule it works without a problem even from standby, a bit longer to set up but at least it works.

Humax have always updated their satellite range with new software on a regular basis and to be honest the quality and reliability are one of the best I’ve seen.

Lets hope. They sort out these few bugs with the new PVR soon.

With the Humax satellite range if the rear black switch is turned on again to soon after a cold re-boot/reset ,the loader etc can be corrupted and you then have to reload the firmware/software for your model making sure one has the correct loader /software version from the humax site to get it working again!
IF YOU USE THE REAR BLACK SWITCH TO RESET AFTER A LOCKUP I WOULD SUGGEST YOU WAIT AT LEAST 60 SECONDS BEFORE YOU PWR ON AGAIN.
Humax have always updated their satellite range with new software on a regular basis and to be honest the quality and reliability are one of the best I’ve seen.

I had a 5400, can confirm the above is true.
Tanya

Hi Northen Soul,
I found your post very interesting. not least the comparisons to other Humax products and you experience with Humax releasing softwre updates. thanks.

Re the radio problem that you have mentioned, I haven't replicated it but nor have I tried to record radio yet. If it is a bug and you cant return it for a working replacement, should find I have the sme problem when I try it tonight?

Yes my friend you can return it but sorry to say you will have the same problem with a new 9200T

The only way imho to cure the problem is for Humax to rectify it in a new software update.
How long that will take I don't know but i'm sure they will be onto it soon.

Thanks Northern Soul
Last edited by Northern Soul : 27-10-2005 at 14:36

Whenever I return anything of this nature, even if I have spoken to someone about the problems on the telephone, I always include in the box a written note of every bug or problem encountered in order to help those who receive it know why it is being returned.

But just out of interest I have had a look at the PVR satellite version (CI-8100PVR ) ,you can find it @ the link below.

imho the same case may have been used, just changed it a bit and added a couple of mirrors

_http://www.humaxdigital.com/global/products/ci-8100pvr.asp

Not sure if live links are allowed so just copy/paste link into browser and delete the underscore

Thanks Northern Soul