Official Humax statement on the PVR issues
Paul_Jones
--------------------------
Humax UK We are writing to provide more detailed information on the
recent issues that have been affecting our PVR-9150T, PVR-9300T and, in
particular, the PVR-9200T Freeview+ digital TV recorders.
Humax is very aware that, for several months, some customers have been
experiencing a slowdown in operation and usability issues with our PVR
models. Resolving these issues has been a priority for our technical
team who have been working diligently on a fix, but unfortunately, due
to the complex nature of the issues, it has taken much longer than we
had hoped to develop new software to sort out the PVR issues.
The increasing complexity of the UK�s broadcast infrastructure and
requirement to process a substantially higher volume of information has
put the PVRs under pressure and significant performance issues became
particularly apparent through the digital switchover. We recognise this
has regrettably caused frustration and problems for some of our
PVR-9300T and PVR-9150T users, and in particular those with the older
PVR-9200T models.
However, I am pleased to be able to inform you that our technical team
has developed a software solution that will dramatically improve the
user experience and address issues such as freezing and locking up.
We have also ensured the new software mitigates the risk of future
problems and have taken this opportunity to introduce a new feature as
part of the upgrade to significantly reduce the time it takes to display
the on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG) information, from many
minutes to seconds.
Humax will be scheduling an automatic over-the-air software download for
the fix in a matter of weeks, and we hope to confirm the exact dates
shortly. We will ensure these are communicated to you through email, and
across our Twitter and Facebook pages.
Finally, I would like to reassure you that, while our research and
development team continues to work on a number of new products and
services, Humax remains committed to maintaining its existing product
line for long standing customers and partners.
We value your support and feedback, so if you have any questions about
the PVR issues and areas raised in this letter, please contact our team
directly on 0844 669 8800 and uksu...@humax-digital.co.uk.
Yours sincerely
Graham North
Commercial Director
Humax Electronics Co. Ltd
--------------------------
Steve Thackery
back on what they say.
SteveT
tim....
"Paul_Jones" <Paul_...@news-only.invalid> wrote in message
news:2malt5ha63evqvd1h...@4ax.com...
Do they mean for all models or just for the 9200?
Whilst the most recent software has made my 9150 much better than it was
before (i.e. it no longer hangs) I am still suffering from delays when using
the remote. One this week was for approaching 30 seconds.
tim
Dr Zoidberg
"Paul_Jones" <Paul_...@news-only.invalid> wrote in message
news:2malt5ha63evqvd1h...@4ax.com...
> part of the upgrade to significantly reduce the time it takes to display
> the on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG) information, from many
> minutes to seconds.
>
memory which will be handy
--
Alex
Ivan
"Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOOO!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hreljk$5qp$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Agreed, but why are they saying there are problems with the PVR 9300?..
Admittedly I don't use mine all that often, but when I do it always seems to
perform perfectly OK.
Steve Thackery
where I could download the final version of the software (rather than
waiting for OTA). It isn't very clear, but it does sound as if the final
software isn't actually available yet.
Anyway, make of it what you will.
SteveT
"At the moment there is no final version of the software that will got OTA,
we only have the previous beta version that still has a slow EPG loading, I
can send this If you want to test it, once the software is available we will
make a post,"
Graham.
"Steve Thackery" <nob...@nowhere.com> wrote in message news:K_-dnezpEaeDbkfW...@bt.com...
That rather put me in mind of the homeless person who asks a woman if
she had any spare change,
and the woman responded she didn't know, because she hadn't finished living her life yet
--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%.
Victor Delta
"Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOOO!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hreljk$5qp$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>
This should be good news. However, forgive me for being suspicious but I
hope they've thoroughly tested this, and that the 'new feature' doesn't just
create new problems. It's perhaps surprising that the latest beta doesn't
cache the EPG if it's nearly ready for OTA release.
Dr Zoidberg
"Ivan" <ivan'H'ol...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4uBCn.366546$0t.3...@newsfe17.ams2...
hasn't been done yet.
--
Alex
Dickie Mint
But according to :
http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php ,
no update scheduled yet for this or next week! :-(
Richard
Peter Duncanson
How long is the queue for getting an OAD slot?
--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)
Scott
<richard_ta...@trapyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
The clue lies in the words: "in a matter of weeks, and we hope to
Dickie Mint
> The clue lies in the words: "in a matter of weeks, and we hope to
> confirm the exact dates shortly".
Which they've said several times over the last few months....
Richard
Zathras
wrote:
I'm not sure over-the-air updated cached EPGs are all they're cracked
up to be. Unless the device is on all the time such that it can keep
its cache up to date it can be misleading for a while after power up.
You can end up switching on, setting up a recording based on the
cached EPG then find something else has recorded because the EPG fully
updated some 10 minutes after power on. I've found it rare for all the
requirements to match but, I have seen it on my DVD recorder when
planning a recording a few days in advance. At least with the Humax,
when the EPG does eventually present itself, it's been as accurate as
the Broadcasters allowed.
--
Z
Steve Thackery
"Zathras" <webnew...@nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cqovt5p4gqneoll8q...@4ax.com...
> I'm not sure over-the-air updated cached EPGs are all they're cracked
> up to be. Unless the device is on all the time such that it can keep
> its cache up to date it can be misleading for a while after power up.
That is clearly true. It's a judgement call, really: do you want instant
access to an EPG that may have become slightly inaccurate, or delayed access
to one which is up to date?
On balance, I prefer the former, mostly on the grounds that I'm far more
inconvenienced having to switch on my Humax ten minutes before I actually
want to use it, than by the occasional alteration in the broadcast schedule.
I think the majority of PVR manufacturers tend to agree - the Humax is rare
in not cacheing the EPG.
Incidentally, it occurs to me that a cached EPG might still work OK if the
PVR follows all the Freeview+ rules. Won't a recording reservation "follow"
the program to its new broadcast slot when the EPG gets updated?
By the way, I'm only guessing, but it does look as if the fix to the 9200
software has taken place at the expense of a very slow EPG load. Presumably
they've been messing about changing the various task priorities to put more
emphasis on the UI tasks. So perhaps the decision to cache the EPG is
really a bit of a "bodge" to get around the slow loading time, so you can at
least use it. I suspect it will still update itself very slowly.
Still, it's a compromise I can live with.
SteveT
Zathras
<nob...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>"Zathras" <webnew...@nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:cqovt5p4gqneoll8q...@4ax.com...
>
>> I'm not sure over-the-air updated cached EPGs are all they're cracked
>> up to be. Unless the device is on all the time such that it can keep
>> its cache up to date it can be misleading for a while after power up.
>
>That is clearly true. It's a judgement call, really: do you want instant
>access to an EPG that may have become slightly inaccurate, or delayed access
>to one which is up to date?
>
>On balance, I prefer the former, mostly on the grounds that I'm far more
>inconvenienced having to switch on my Humax ten minutes before I actually
>want to use it, than by the occasional alteration in the broadcast schedule.
I tend to agree but it's still a bit of a Hobson's choice - you can
have any flavour of EPG you like but it will be broken for several
minutes after power-up.
>I think the majority of PVR manufacturers tend to agree - the Humax is rare
>in not cacheing the EPG.
>
>Incidentally, it occurs to me that a cached EPG might still work OK if the
>PVR follows all the Freeview+ rules. Won't a recording reservation "follow"
>the program to its new broadcast slot when the EPG gets updated?
I'm not sure this works if the scheduled programme is deleted or moved
to another channel. In the case of deletion, my DVD recorder just
failed safe and recorded using it's memory of what I'd asked for. It
was a bit puzzling to sit down the next day to watch a recording to
find something completely different recorded instead.
--
Z
Wilf
> AIUI OTA software updates, e.g. the long-awaited update for the 9200T,
> are received while the PVR is in standby mode. If I've got that right,
> then surely it would be possible to broadcast and receive the EPG in a
> similar manner, given the will of the PVR manufacturers to build their
> machines or write the software accordingly, so that the machine was
> continuously being updated without actually being 'on' (but in standby
> mode), IYSWIM.
>
> Or am I being daft?
I've a feeling that the PVR9200T actually wakes up at something like 4am
to look for updates.
--
Wilf
Peter Duncanson
Isn't it the case that none of these boxes does anything in standby
except "watch the clock"? They have to partially wake up to perform OTA
updates or to update the EPG.
The idea of a box sufficiently awake to be continually updating the EPG
would mean that it would never be in standby.
Paul_Jones
-----------------------------
Humax UK For all owners of the PVR-9200T, PVR-9150T and PVR-9300T
models.
We can confirm that Humax has received the new software for the
PVR-9200T, PVR-9150T and PVR-9300T models and extensive testing of this
beta software will take place throughout the rest of May.
We want to ensure the software stands up to real world conditions,
across all parts of the UK, and are keen to involve Humax PVR owners in
the field testing process. To participate, you will need to have already
downloaded software via serial cable onto your 9200T, 9150T or 9300T, or
be confident that you know how to do this unaided.
If you are willing to get involved in our software trials, please email
uksu...@humax-digital.co.uk with your postcode - using the relevant
subject header below - so we can identify which transmitter you receive
your Freeview signal from. We will then email you the software for
download the week starting Monday 17th May.
Email subject headers:
Beta software � PVR-9200T
Beta software � PVR-9150T
Beta software � PVR-9300T
Thank you again for your patience through this process
Humax communications team
-----------------------------
Paul_Jones
------------------------
Dear Customer,
Please find attached new software for your PVR that has been released to
resolve the slow response to remote commands and hang-up of the product.
The Electronic Programme Guide information is now stored to the HDD of
the product when it is placed into standby, so when the product is next
switched on the EPG will populate from the HDD within 45 seconds (the
information that was stored when the product was placed into standby).
The initial download of the EPG after the software update will take
approx 45 mins to download the full 8 day guide.
We would appreciate feedback on the slow response and hang-up problem
that you may have suffered with.
For information on how to update the software please visit
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/support/downloadcenter.aspx
Best Regards
Humax (Technical Support)
Humax Sales: www.humaxdirect.co.uk
Humax UK: www.humaxdigital.com/uk
------------------------
Jeff Layman
Anyone know if transfer from a PC to the 9200T is successful using a
USB-serial converter? Some transfers using a converter can be a bit dodgy.
--
Jeff
Paul_Jones
<jmla...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>Anyone know if transfer from a PC to the 9200T is successful using a
>USB-serial converter? Some transfers using a converter can be a bit dodgy.
I use a null-modem cable via serial port but yes, you can use a USB
adapter.
You will still need a null-modem cable.
It has been discussed a few times at hummy.org.uk forums but here is one
example (mentioned in the FAQ):
http://www.hummy.org.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3147
Hers is the FAQ:
http://www.hummy.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=451
Here is an alternative firmware upgrade tool (this is what I use):
http://www.tynecomp.co.uk/flash9200
Steve Thackery
"Jeff Layman" <jmla...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:hsugj3$4ij$1...@news.albasani.net...
> Anyone know if transfer from a PC to the 9200T is successful using a
> USB-serial converter? Some transfers using a converter can be a bit
> dodgy.
I've just done it. You still need a null modem cable after the converter.
I also had to go into the device manager and change the port for the
USB-serial converter from COM6 to COM1, and set the bit rate to 115,200bps
(I think that's right).
Then I used WDN4OAK, remembering to set it to the correct port and baud
rate.
It's important to press the 'Download' button in WDN4OAK a couple of seconds
before switching on your Hummy.
Anyway, it worked perfectly first time for me.
SteveT
Jeff Layman
news:hsugj3$4ij$1...@news.albasani.net...
>
> USB-serial converter? Some transfers using a converter can be a bit
> dodgy.
>
Thanks for both replies.
--
Jeff
Paul_Jones
-----------------------
LATEST 9200 SOFTWARE .23
PVR9200T_apps_1.00.23_release.hdf
Dear Customer,
Please find attached a new release of the BETA software for your PVR,
this release includes changes to the EPG population when the product is
recording from standby. We would recommend that you carry out a Default
Setting via the Installation menu after upgrading the software.
We would like to thank everyone who has sent us comments so far but
would appreciate it if anyone who has not contacted us to please reply
to confirm that they have updated their PVR and let us know if you have
experienced any issues. We would appreciate your feedback by Monday 24th
May.
An additional change to the PVR-9200T is that the Automatic Search now
clears the complete channel list and does a full rescan (similar to the
Default Setting option); please be aware that an schedules and
favourites lists setup will be cleared when you select Automatic Search.
For information on how to update the software please visit:
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/support/downloadcenter.aspx
Best Regards
Humax (Technical Support)
Humax UK: www.humaxdigital.com/uk
Humax Sales: www.humaxdirect.co.uk
-----------------------
Paul_Jones
<Paul_...@news-only.invalid> wrote:
>Another Update:
>-----------------------
>LATEST 9200 SOFTWARE .23
>PVR9200T_apps_1.00.23_release.hdf
I applied this update and got a message that DSO was going to happen in
my area on 28/09/2011 in my area.
----------------
Expected Date: 00:00:00, 28/09/2011 for 06:00:00 Digital Switchover is
happening in your area. In order to continue to receive Digital, this
receiver will automatically re-tune.
----------------
This is on Mendip.
Anyone else see this?
Apart for this everything else seems good.