Thanks for the clarification.

The loud "click" is something I don't recognise. Is this at the point where after entering LP mode the clock display goes off (usually about 2 min after setting to standby on my LP250)?

It seems like you may benefit from a FTI, although these issues may be a "feature" of the Hitachi software.

Colin

The loud "click" is at the point when the clock goes off entering the LP mode which is about 2 or 3 seconds after the unit has been put into standby.

It took roughly 35 seconds from pressing the on button for a message that said "Please wait while the unit initializes the hard drive" and the picture came on about 5 seconds after the message.

The power cycle seems to have sorted whatever problem the unit had earlier so maybe related to the possible reboot overnight.

I'll post tomorrow with the result of disabling the auto updates.

That's different from my LP250. Typically it takes about two minutes to go into full standby, even longer if the HDD is running at the time you press the button. At least the delay gives you time to change your mind without having to wait for it to re-boot otherwise.
Thats' faily typical but HDD initialisation takes longer on mine.

Colin

The "click" is probably just the HDD shutting off. Some may click, some may be silent - just depends on the HDD. And HDD initialisation length depends on how much stuff is stored on the HDD.

The other issues can perhaps be accounted for by my ramblings at http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=64 and http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=65 - both of these bugs started a long time ago in the T816 software, but were only ever triggered by using the EPG search function.

Both issues are related AFAIK - either the picture freezes (might explain your blank screen) or it starts displaying another channel's stream without changing channel just as you describe. Usually it is enough to put the unit in standby (when nothing is being recorded) to clear this problem.

People have seen these issues on the T825 too, and I've been seeing it on a new box that I'm testing. Given that it only happened with EPG searches on the T816, it is my suspicion that the fault can be triggered by the T825's internal EPG search function which I think is continually running checking the EPG against the timer list - certainly it happens without manually searching the EPG.

Ahh! I see. I had assumed that Ajay737 was referring to a loud audio click.
I've experienced the another channel issue once or twice on Vestel PVRs but it's such a long time ago so I can't remember the version. I've also experienced it several times on a Technotrend (Technosonic/Tevion) PVRs usually on recordings and it's been reported on the Daewoo 9200 units a few times. Because of this I associated it with the Cabot "middleware" which all three of those PVRs use.

Colin

Maybe, and hopefully not a bug in the STM5100 chip itself. I don't recall ever seeing it on the T810, and only I think on the T816 after using EPG search, whereas on the T825 and higher (guessing the T845R is affected too) the problem materializes after long uptimes - maybe there is a specific trigger, but nobody has found/mentioned this thus far.

I'm on my second Hitachi 160gb hdr and its developed the same fault as my first.
after about three weeks of good service, just out the blue the hard disc fails and a message appears on screen saying 'Hard drive failed to initialise. All recordings and playback functions are not functional'.
It thern shuts down, reboots and repeats this.

I have left it unplugged for an hour rebooted and done all the text book checks to no avail.

I don't really want Argos to replace yet another as my bad experiences with this model has put me off.

I understand your feelings, but you could experience this with any PVR unfortunately. A major case of bad luck with two dodgy drives, which possibly indicates a bad batch of hard drives. If it is a bad batch, you can only hope that a replacement Hitachi is not from the same batch.

Do you need/use the HDMI connection and/or CI slot? If not, an alternative is the Alba ALDTR160, although this has no HDMI, CI slot or low power mode. Apart from that the old T825 model is very similar to the Hitachi, although new stock is using the new T845R model which uses SATA hard drives (the Hitachi T825 uses IDE drives) so at least you would be guaranteed the hard drive is not from the same batch.

Or another alternative would be to get Argos to exchange your HDR163 with a HDR253 - £5 cheaper at the moment and again obviously a drive from a different batch.

Would like to really keep the hdmi connection if poss.
I liked the machine when it worked, it served well and recorded acuratley.

I dont fancy the sagem that is out in Asda and argos as i have heard too many bad things about them.

I did like the low power option, that was one of the attractions to the Hitachi, that and the HDMI.

Argos seem to be doing their usual crazy Christmas pricing ATM. Selling the 250GB Hitachi for £5.50 less than the 160GB equivalent is silly. That's the cheapest a 250GB Vestel has ever been at Argos I think. It makes the Hitachi HDR253 250GB HDMI the best buy Vestel IMO.

Colin

Hi Futaura

The blank display was something to do with the box searching for an update and rebooting (do Vestel based units need to reboot so it can look for an OAD?) as the display was on and it last went to the last channel I left it on last night (forgot to add that it was on BBC1 when switched on previously).

As you said, it could have an advantage of speeding up the EPG as it was very slow again this morning and had to do a power cycle so I might leave it on unless I'm away.

After doing the power cycle yesterday when it decided it didn't want to behave, I had a couple of frame drops during tea time and no problems at all after that or today.


The click sounds like switching a light off so I'd say you were correct on that and I've only got 20GB used so far so that would explain why the HDD initialized in the time it did.

Just tried a timer recording while switched off in LP mode and it recorded fine apart from the 1st few seconds of the program.
It just showed two red icons in the display with the clock off and the recording light on the front of the unit above the record button.

Thanks to both you and Colin for your help and info as it would probably have gone back without your input.

I notice the price has been up and down in Argos for the 250GB one. It stays at £94.49 for a week or so and then goes up to about £106 before coming back down again within a few days.

I think they may have more 250GB units than 160GB units in stock.

My local store had 14 in stock when I got mine.

The 160GB is out of stock in Blackpool, Cleveleys and Preston.

I am a little bemused regarding why Vestel boxes reboot at 3am - you'd think it'd only be necessary if they actually downloaded an update. But, anyway, that's what they do. It may be related to the way updates work over RS232, in that the box listens for updates over RS232 before booting up.

BTW, regarding power cycling - not sure how easy it is to get at your sockets, but I find it more convenient to hold the power button down (approx 5 seconds) on the front panel instead. This will reboot the PVR, just as what happens when you plug in back in.

Thanks for the info.

I can get at the socket quite easily but I'd rather reboot with the above procedure.

The 250 Gbyte Hitachi was that same price (95 quid) a few weeks ago. But only for a week. Then the price went back up again. Certainly crazy for it to be priced less than the 160 Gbyte version.

Pete

Had an issue this morning.

Decided to leave the auto update enabled yesterday to see if the EPG would be refreshed after the reboot.

The display was off when I got up as before.
When I switched the unit on, it was still on the same channel I left it on and not on BBC1 as it usually was.

I selected the EPG and once on, the unit froze up completely and did not accept inputs from the remote to cancel the EPG or any other option.
It wouldn't reboot by pressing the standby button even though I held it in for about 20 seconds and had to unplug it.

I'll leave the auto update disabled from now but it does seem to get slightly worse with each problem. I also had quite a few more picture problems last night as well (probably the worst since I got it a week ago).


Their seems to be a lack of the 160GB version but plenty of the 250GB version and maybe they are both being discontinued from the next catalogue.

I tried a different connection on Friday as my aerial won't reach the PVR. That didn't work, so I connected it back up using the splitter/booster which is when I had all the picture problems on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The splitter has 2 output points for an aerial so I placed the aerial into the 2nd output point (I think it was in this before) and it cured the picture problems. So its seems that for some reason, one output gives a better picture than the other.

Really thought it was going back yesterday morning so I think a new aerial cable will be 1st job in the new year.

Where's the booster? If it's one of those plug-in behind the TV jobbies, you may be better off without it, since boosters can sometimes create problems rather than solve the ones they are supposed to solve, especially if the incoming signal is too strong for the booster to cope with.

Its Blu-Tacked on the side of a cabinet as the theirs only about a foot of aerial left. The rest got damaged as the tv is in a bay widow recess and I must have been standing on the aerial when closing the curtains etc.

I think its more of a splitter that needs a power supply as theirs no difference in the signal strength and quality (signal at least 90% and quality very good on all muxes with or without the splitter).

Tried using an RF lead connected to the aerial plug to cut out the connector (which is needed for the extension I have) in case that was causing the problem.

I had more problems connected as above for some reason.

Its been fine since I put the extension aerial (a sealed unit with a male connection at each end from Argos a year or ago) into the other output on the booster.

EDIT: I've just found a different connector upstairs so have connected the aerial and extension with it. Will see how that goes in case the other connectors not to good.

I changed the coax plug earlier as well because the connector seemed to be a bit loose on the one that was on.

Since I changed the coax plug and the connector, I've not had a single frame drop or sound hiccup (unless its done it while I was not watching). Hopefully I can put the splitter away now.

Signal strength around the 90% mark except the ArqB Mux which varies slightly around the 85-95% but this is running on very low power for some reason. Quality very good on all muxes.

Its looking good now to disconnect the Sky+ box which I connected up again yesterday as insurance.

Excuse my ignorance....but what is the HDMI slot used for
on a non-HD box ?
Thanks
Grey

The box 'up-scales' the picture to the equivalent of an HD signal.

It gives a slight improvement in picture qaulity.

It upscales the picture to look like HD (don't have a HD TV so don't know if its any good).

You also have an extra connection if your scart sockets in the TV are both in use.

Although this largely depends on how good the TV's own SD handling and upscaling is. For older TVs with rubbish upscaling, the PVR's upscaling will most likely be better, but with TVs that have better upscaling, there probably won't be a lot of difference (not sure how good the PVR's upscaling is, but it's possible that the upscaling of the TV may be better).

Thanks for info , Secret-Squirrel, Ajay, Futaura

Grey