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Hi all, I’ve had my unit since about late 2011 and have never been able run a software update on it, the version showing is UPTTF 1.00.26 July 7 2011. Auto or manual updates do not work. Is the only way to force an update to connect to my laptop with a special RS232 lead?
I have many problems with my PVR, mainly due I think to a poor Freeview signal: recordings with start and ends cut off,skipping, jumping, not recording at all and EPG being unpopulated. Its all very frustrating but I wonder how I can tell what is due to my poor signal and what is down to the Humax that could be fixed?
Any advice is much appreciated – thanks.
Steve
Steve983 – 28 minutes ago »
I’ve had my unit since about late 2011 and have never been able run a software update on it, the version showing is UPTTF 1.00.26 July 7 2011. Auto or manual updates do not work.
You have the most recent software which is why there has been no OTA software update.
I have many problems with my PVR, mainly due I think to a poor Freeview signal:
What is the signal strength and quality as reported by the 9300?
Thanks for your reply, that’s good, at least the swr is ok. The signal strength varies for the main channels like BBC1 its about 75% for others its around 64%. Other channels like Dave and Sky News come and go all the time. One week I have them, the next week I don’t. Film 4 is not worth recording now because of all the skipping caused by poor signal. I wonder if I should just invest in Freesat (but I’ve had problems with that in the past too!).
Steve983 – 24 minutes ago »
Thanks for your reply, that’s good, at least the swr is ok. The signal strength varies for the main channels like BBC1 its about 75% for others its around 64%.
I assume that is signal strength; what is the quality?
Other channels like Dave and Sky News come and go all the time. One week I have them, the next week I don’t.
Have you tried a manual tune (instructions are at Link to manual tuning FAQ)?
Film 4 is not worth recording now because of all the skipping caused by poor signal.
Your signal strength is fine. I believe there is a problem that affects the 9150/9300 on certain channels and I think Film4 is one of them.
I wonder if I should just invest in Freesat (but I’ve had problems with that in the past too!).
The later HD Humax Freeview boxes are significantly better.
The signal quality is often 100%. I do use manual tuning, I got the codes from Digital UK. Maybe I should re tune every week but surely that shouldn’t be necessary. So perhaps if I bought the new model it might work better, although that is an expensive gamble.
Steve983 – 12 minutes ago »
…perhaps if I bought the new model it might work better, although that is an expensive gamble.
Buy from a reputable retailer, and try it out. If it’s no better, return it in line with the seller’s returns policy.
^ Ok, thanks very much for your help Martin & James.
Steve983 – 9 hours ago »
The signal quality is often 100%. I do use manual tuning, I got the codes from Digital UK. Maybe I should re tune every week but surely that shouldn’t be necessary. So perhaps if I bought the new model it might work better, although that is an expensive gamble.
Are you doing the Manual Search as per my instructions? You say you get some channels one week and not the next, is this because of large signal strength changes? If so a new box won’t be the answer, try looking at your aerial installation and ask your neighbors if they get the same signal strength variations.
^ I do the manual search per the users manual. My aerial is pointing at the Rowridge transmitter so I key in the codes 24,27,25,22,28 and search and save in turn. I have also tried the Default setting method but this is really an auto tune and doesn’t seem to work as well.
I have been told by a local tv dealer that my area has poor Freeview reception and spending £200 on a new aerial might help but might make no difference.
Yes, some channels come and go, when the signal is too weak they simply vanish. Interestingly though it seems that some channels are good enough to watch live but not good enough to record – I have been told a recorder needs a stronger signal to work properly. For example sometimes I can watch Sky News via the TV’s freeview tuner and its fine but when I try to watch via the Humax it halts and stutters. This seems to suggest the 9300T is at fault? thanks for any advice.
Steve
Steve983 – 2 hours ago »
I have been told by a local tv dealer that my area has poor Freeview reception and spending £200 on a new aerial might help but might make no difference.
Your signal strength is relatively high though. Do you have an amplifier in the aerial circuit?
^ No amplifier.
Steve983 – 9 hours ago »
^ I do the manual search per the users manual. My aerial is pointing at the Rowridge transmitter so I key in the codes 24,27,25,22,28 and search and save in turn. I have also tried the Default setting method but this is really an auto tune and doesn’t seem to work as well.
…..
Steve
Your signal strengths are more than adequate, my guess is your problem channels are coming from a distant transmitter due to your method of Manual Search. Have you checked the UHF channel numbers (multiplex) of these problem channels, are they really Rowridge channels? Do you have channels numbered 800 and above, if so are these duplicates of your problem channels?
The problem with the Humax manual instructions for doing a Manual Search is that they don’t tell you to delete all existing channels first which means you’ve probably got channels from a distant transmitter still saved. Having channels from more than one transmitter causes two of the problems you report, inaccurate Accurate-Recording and incomplete EPG.
Quote:I have been told a recorder needs a stronger signal to work properly.Bull.
^ Ok thanks, I’ll double check all this.
Did another manual retune. I deleted all the existing channels first. It took quite a while (hours)for the EPG to fully populate after this, then was finally able to program things for yesterday evening. Again it cut off the beginning and end of some of the programmes! Just spoke to Digital UK, they are about as helpful as a chocolate teapot! At least they confirmed I was using the right codes.
I could get a new aerial (£200) installed and point it at Midhurst which is nearer and I could buy a new Human box (£140) and still be no better off. Freeveiw sucks.
Steve983 – 4 hours ago »
Did another manual retune. I deleted all the existing channels first. It took quite a while (hours)for the EPG to fully populate after this, then was finally able to program things for yesterday evening. Again it cut off the beginning and end of some of the programmes! Just spoke to Digital UK, they are about as helpful as a chocolate teapot! At least they confirmed I was using the right codes.
I could get a new aerial (£200) installed and point it at Midhurst which is nearer and I could buy a new Human box (£140) and still be no better off. Freeveiw sucks.
Were those programmes on channels that actually use Accurate-Recording? Tell us the programmes and somebody will no doubt tell us whether AR is used on those channels or not. I recorded some stuff from Quest a while ago and it was obvious that their implementation of AR was to start and stop at the schedule time.
What about your channels that are there one week and gone the next, were they from Rowridge? Did you have duplicates of those channels at channel numbers 800 and above?
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