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Dodgy set-top box


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Old 04-01-2007, 11:32
Arid
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Yesterday, our set-top box stopped working while we were on the internet. Called up Homechoice and after going through a few things discovered that there is a problem with the button. It now needs to be held down constantly in order to work. According to the guy on the phone, this has become a bit of a problem recently. Anyway, I've come up with a bit of a contraption that holds it down to make it work, but was wondering if any of you guys have had the same problem? I smell a Tiscali conspiracy myself...
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Old 04-01-2007, 11:37
dazbear
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Hehe

Only had 1 swap out of the box which was during the really hot summer when it over heated. The engineer said that was an issue at the time due to the box having no ventilation holes.

I never switch my box off at the button as I record from it through the night using my TiVo. If I do I use the plug. The button is a bit flimsy though I will admit.
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Old 04-01-2007, 11:47
iSix
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Heh, I've only just noticed it has a button on the top
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Old 04-01-2007, 13:09
bennat
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Originally Posted by iSix
Heh, I've only just noticed it has a button on the top
You need to be turning your box off from there every night. It stops the box over heating
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Old 04-01-2007, 13:19
Arid
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I usually turn everything off at the mains at night anyway It's really annoying, as we had our box swapped when we moved house and had HC installed in our new place. No problems with the last one at all

Last edited by Arid : 04-01-2007 at 13:19. Reason: typos
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Old 04-01-2007, 14:06
iSix
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Originally Posted by bennat
You need to be turning your box off from there every night. It stops the box over heating
No can do, need it on to maintain a few vpn connections. Plus my SMS server downloads windows updates overnight to distribute during the day, and my music collection synchronises with the copy at my parents house during the night.

Since you mention heat though, my box is only warmish to the touch.

I did mention it'd be on 24/7 to the installation engineer, and he said it won't be a problem.

Last edited by iSix : 04-01-2007 at 14:14.
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Old 04-01-2007, 14:15
mbear
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I don't think it matters either way. Just make sure there's space for some ventilation (ie don't stack it on top or under other hot electrical things)...
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Old 04-01-2007, 15:18
M_at
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Mine sits in a cupboard with an airport sat atop.

Since I cut the HC provided cable out and replaced it with a shorter one supplied with a modem it's been rock solid.

Before when it had nothing on top but was connected to 12m of cable it was unstable and required regular rebooting.
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Old 04-01-2007, 15:34
DrinkingBuddy
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Originally Posted by bennat
You need to be turning your box off from there every night. It stops the box over heating
My box has been on non-stop (albeit with the occasional reboot) for two years. Never had any problems.
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Old 04-01-2007, 18:22
dazbear
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Originally Posted by M_at
Mine sits in a cupboard with an airport sat atop.

Since I cut the HC provided cable out and replaced it with a shorter one supplied with a modem it's been rock solid.

Before when it had nothing on top but was connected to 12m of cable it was unstable and required regular rebooting.
Are you allowed to do that? It is still their box (hehe)
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Old 04-01-2007, 20:31
masai
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My box gets hot too and if left on for a few days the picture quiality starts to pixelate. Rebotting it sorts it out.
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Old 05-01-2007, 17:29
iSix
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Originally Posted by dazbear
Are you allowed to do that? It is still their box (hehe)
The cable just unplugs. I changed mine for a shorter higher quality one and it improved my SNR by a few dB's. The one they provide isn't much better than a wet peice of string - which is what the rest of the BT network is built from so they probably assume it's ok.
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Old 05-01-2007, 20:42
dazbear
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oh right - hehe

I thought you had cut it off or something.

I must admit that we have to reboot every now and again or the reaction times to the remote get slower and slower!
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