31 replies to this topic

[donhe7]

jayeff, on 17 April 2013 - 11:47 PM, said:

Hello donhe7,

Thanks for the reply.
I've already downloaded from pvr-tools.com the latest and apparently last firmware update file, (Version 1.05.3A), for the Homecast HT8000  

Which is the more reliable way to update, the Main Power switch on whilst holding the on button, with the USB drive inserted (update file in root of drive), until "updating" visible in the viewing window method or the update through the menu options way?

Cheers,
Jayeff

p.s. I solved the signal level problem. It was between the aerial lead plug and Homecast socket. The "inner" male plug connector was thinner than the "inner" female socket connector, ( found by wriggling the plug up and down). So I crimped the socket connector so that it is a snug fit. (for snug read tight). The signal level readings are now the same as it was for the DTV alone.

I also have had problems with the so-called PAL connectors as fitted to various TV related devices, and also the after-market ones fitted to aerial leads and/or purchased from component suppliers, there seems to be no adherence to any supposed standard, and the answer seems to be either distort the socket on the offending device or flatten the "pin" in the plug so that contact is made, either way, I feel it is a less than satisfactory state of affairs, but what can we, as the customer, do about it, as the manufacturers are all "offshore", and as such, unreachable.

ElCaito, welcome back, my question to you is, you say you have all firmware updates, up to V1.07A, I must admit, to not having seen any later versions than V1.053A, (for the HT8000), from where did you obtain your Version 1.07A?

donhe7

[jayeff]

ElCaito, on 18 April 2013 - 08:23 AM, said:

Jay,

Your are correct. The power button and switch with usb trick is the easiest. Forget rs232.

Hi ElCaito,

Thanks for the confirmation re updating. Also, like donhe7, I am interested in where you obtained V1.07.0A? firmware update from. Is it for the HT8000 model?

Regards,
Jayeff

[Baloney]

Hi Guys

I have a Homecast HT8000, which, a few days ago, decided to (seemingly) reboot when I tried turning it off with the remote control. The front panel said "Loader V100" then the S/W (which was 1.03A, but I have successfully installed 1.05, thanks to previous instructions in another post!), then it went through a complete set-up, including scanning for all channels. I thought this may have been because of the switching off of the analogue signals (here in Perth, Western Australia on April 16th), so I was happy to go through the process.
However, once this was completed, I tried switching the PVR off again, only for the same sequence to start all over again. After the fourth time, I gave up and turned the PVR off at the plug. When the PVR was switched on again, it immediately went the through the set-up process again, and again. It would not switch off at all this time around (via the remote), and would "automatically" return to the "Loader V100", etc., over and over, until unplugged.
As I said, I have now loaded the most recent software/firmware onto it, and will try to plug everything back into the TV to see what happens, but I don't hold out much hope...
Any ideas as to what is wrong, and what can be done to fix it? There are a few TV programs we'll need to record soon (this weekend...) and it would be a shame to miss them (apart from trying to find them on the internet).

[donhe7]

Baloney, on 25 April 2013 - 12:36 PM, said:

Hi Guys

I have a Homecast HT8000, which, a few days ago, decided to (seemingly) reboot when I tried turning it off with the remote control. The front panel said "Loader V100" then the S/W (which was 1.03A, but I have successfully installed 1.05, thanks to previous instructions in another post!), then it went through a complete set-up, including scanning for all channels. I thought this may have been because of the switching off of the analogue signals (here in Perth, Western Australia on April 16th), so I was happy to go through the process.
However, once this was completed, I tried switching the PVR off again, only for the same sequence to start all over again. After the fourth time, I gave up and turned the PVR off at the plug. When the PVR was switched on again, it immediately went the through the set-up process again, and again. It would not switch off at all this time around (via the remote), and would "automatically" return to the "Loader V100", etc., over and over, until unplugged.
As I said, I have now loaded the most recent software/firmware onto it, and will try to plug everything back into the TV to see what happens, but I don't hold out much hope...
Any ideas as to what is wrong, and what can be done to fix it? There are a few TV programs we'll need to record soon (this weekend...) and it would be a shame to miss them (apart from trying to find them on the internet).

Hi there, Baloney, I would suggest that you have a look at the power supply capacitors, and also, take note of whether the fan is working, (this can be heard without opening the case, as it is close to the top cover of the unit, and was a cause of concern with the earlier versions of this unit).
The failure of the capacitors is mentioned in a number of posts in another thread devoted to the HT8000, on this forum, (and other forums as well), and the fan failure was often the reason for their failure, along with the unit being placed in a poorly ventilated area, in fact a lot of PVRs of various makes suffer from capacitor failure, with a number of different symptoms, including yours.
The capacitors most prone to failure are the two 3300 uFd units, and if possible, should be replaced with the same value, but next higher voltage units, as the ones fitted are a little on the low side voltage-wise, (but do not use "Suntan" brand, as they have been found to fail after a very short time)
Let us all know how it all turns out

donhe7

[jayeff]

Hello Baloney,

If you have tried what donhe7 suggested and it didn't solve your problem, you may wish to try the following,.

Unplug the power cord from the power point, remove the cover from the unit, unplug the hard drive cables (power/data) and remove the hard drive from the unit (bracket held in by 4 screws - you will have to unplug the fan as well). Underneath the hard drive on the motherboard, there should be a button battery. I'm not sure but I think that this battery is there to retain the settings when the power is off.
It may be that there is some corrupted data (caused by a power flick perhaps) being held and therefore reflashing may not solve the problem. Remove the battery and then hold the "power" button on the front of the unit, "on" for a little bit. This may drain any residual power being stored in any capacitors and hopefully will reset the unit back to normal. You may wish to check (if you have a multimeter) the voltage of the button battery before you reinsert it, it may be flat (no pun intended). Pay attention to the way it was installed before you take it out so that you put it back the correct way.

Reassemble the unit and see how it goes.

Also did you try switching it off with the power button on the front of the unit as opposed to using the remote? If that works, at least switching it off without it restarting that is, it may be that you have another problem as well, with the remote.

Cheers,
Jayeff

Edited by jayeff, 25 April 2013 - 11:25 PM.

[Baloney]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. I went with donhe7's, by getting a couple of 3300uF capacitors (25 volt). They are quite a bit bigger than the old ones (one of which had a brown mark and had "expanded" - the tell-tale sign of failure, the tech at the shop said).
Anyway, took them home and undid the case, unscrewed the board withe capacitors on, unplugged everything connected to it (but forgot which plug went into the power!), then tried to get the old capacitors off. I was also told at the shop that unsoldering could be difficult, if they had used ?gold" solder? which melts a t a slightly higher temperature than the usual solder, and it proved to be the case. Still after a fair bit of persevering, I managed to get he old ones out, then put the new ones in (facing the right way - the negative side pointing in the same direction as the old ones). There wasn't rally enough room for the one that had blown, so it sits a little higher than the old one. I also wasn't at all confident that my soldering would actually be good enough (it looks a little, ahem, "rough"), but I put it all back together, and plugged everything back in (and hoped I had the power connectors around the right way!), and turned it on - with a fire blanket over the top in case of a capacitor blowing up!
It worked!
So far, it seems everything is OK. The new software (1.05.03A) has a couple of new features the old SW didn't, so we'll have to get used to that, but it turned off (and told me it was going to [Sleep]!), and it's all fine. It will remain to be seen as to whether the soldering holds up, or blows up...

Thanks, Jayeff for your ideas. I will keep them in mind if what I've done fails somewhere down the line.

Cheers

Baloney

It's good to know there are guys out there who are willing to help by sharing their experience and knowledge.

[donhe7]

Baloney, on 26 April 2013 - 06:51 PM, said:

Hi Guys


Thanks, Jayeff for your ideas. I will keep them in mind if what I've done fails somewhere down the line.

Cheers

Baloney

It's good to know there are guys out there who are willing to help by sharing their experience and knowledge.

It's also good to hear back from a successful repairer, as we stated in our previous post, that is a common complaint nowadays, with a number of different makes and models of PVRs,
I hope the fan is working on your '8000, the early ones apparently had a problem due to a poor quality fan (another thread on this forum, going back several years old, mentions this)
I hope you have many hours of pleasure from your unit

donhe7