My 9200T has a faulty aerial connection (eg the RF in connector is loose).

Humax has offered to either exchange it with a Factory Graded machine or Repair it (which means the box may be away for up to 10 days)

What option should I choose bearing in mind the box is only within warranty by a few days (purchased march 2006)?

I realise that my recordings will be lost if I exchange but I can copy them to the PC tonight if need be.

I guess my worry is I have looked after my machine very well and would a factory graded one be in a1 condition?

If you look after your stuff like I do mine then get it repaired. 10 days is a small price to pay to get YOUR machine back, a lot of people don't care a toss about their possessions.

I can see benefits (and downfalls) of each options!
My 2 year warranty ends very shortly - what happens if the exchange unit (which is obviously a refurb or similar) fails in a couple of months? Do they offer an extended warranty as its a new box to me?
I know my box may also fail , but I at least know its been generally looked after. Also being an older box it is near enough silent (in terms of fan etc).

I would be surprised if they offered you any sort of warranty beyond two years from your original purchase date (but you might be lucky!).

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

In that case I think i will have a repair - i don't want to end up with a box that is worse than the one I have!

I've just opted to have a repair on my 15 month old box as it is in pristine condition - still with the protective plastic on the front. I'm still waiting for them to confirm a collection date.

Depends where you bought it from. John Lewis swapped my 11 month old one for a new one, which is why I bought both of mine from John Lewis

I have decided upon the repair- DHL are coming on monday to collect it......

After some confusion with the pickup, DHL should be coming on Tuesday for mine. Perhaps they'll meet on the workbench.

Perhaps they have a date?

Maybe. But I fear I have seen the last of my original machine. I ask for a repair and the DHL man brings me a replacement. Doh. They only asked me THREE times whether I wanted a repair or replacement and STILL got it wrong.

At least the new unit works and is cosmetically okay - just one minor scratch on the rear panel which isn't an issue. However, the exchange unit was dusty around the SCART sockets and fan. You'd think they could at least send a clean unit out.

Maybe (unlikely but not impossible) it's the equivalent of a courtesy car - so you're not left without freeview in the mean time (although I'm sure most people have a cheapo freeview box as a backup anyway).

I'd phone them to check as DHL might send you the original box back (once fixed) and expect the dusty one in return.

Well I've emailed them to ask when mine is coming back 'cos this replacement is a very hummy Hummy. Mine was near silent.

My box was collected on moday and was heading for a company called Teleplan.... I thought Humax did their own reapirs , but obviously not!

Alan, Thats one of the reasons I opted for a repair rather than replacement, after I heard the later 9200T's were not as quiet.

Long term I plan to go down the FreeSat route, so as long as the box lasts another year or so I will be happy. Currently I am using a USB TV tuner and media player to record this weeks stuff, but TBH its not a shade on the Humax 9200T.

Ditto!

My box has been returned today.. at work so I cannot test it but it looks like the same case , although it was returned in someone elses box!

I had to nose inside with no warranty seals and they have replaced the mainboard.... how do I know , well the serial number on it is different and its a version 1.1 mainboard - i think my old board was 1.0

Very happy with the quick turnaround, but swapping the mainboard looks like it can be done within 5 minutes!

The noisy replacement got locked in standby after recording Ashes to Ashes last night and I had to switch off the power at the back to get it to work again.

I phoned Humax today 'cos I've not heard anything from them after I queried when my box was coming back. Apparently they're aware that I want my old one back after repair and will try to track it down and let me know when they can swap them back over.

Fingers crossed 'cos the humming noise is getting on my nerves.

Wahey ! Got my old one back all fixed and wonderful. No more nasty humming noise

Got there in the end.