Power supply, boot problem or something else?

Crusty Burke

Hi Guys,

I replaced my 7025's hdd last night with a 2.5 HDD in the hope it would solve a booting & performance problem I've been getting for a couple of weeks.

Basically the box takes ages to show the booting... logo in the LCD screen and when it does boot I usually have to restart Enigma to get Enigma to recognise the disk.

I changed the disk and found I had the same problem and this morning I removed the disk completely only to find it takes an age to boot still. The time taken to start the boot sequence is getting longer and longer as well.

I will get myself a null modem cable and reflash the firmware but might I have a power supply problem? This seems to manifest itself when I boot from cold.

HB13DISH

Are you using a USB flash stick (I think 7025S has a USB interface)
If not, it might help to use one and move the /var there.
If you already have one, then the reflashing might help.
Good luck.

Crusty Burke

Thanks, I will try that. I don't have a USB stick connected to the box at the moment. Will any USB stick work or are there specific ones that the Dreambox likes?

HB13DISH

I use SanDisk microCruzer 4GB without any problems.
I recently bought 8GB and I am thinking of replacing the 4GB so that I can record to it instead of the HDD, but I noticed that they have added a DVD partition in addition to the usual hard disk.
Not sure if this might cause any problems.
Plenty of USB flashes types in the Idiot Guide, but they not updated or even available in shops nowadays.

Crusty Burke

Well I've now flashed the box with DreamUp and a serial cable, using the only computer in my house with a traditional serial port! I also used the repair boot sector option in DreamUp.

I left the box on Deep Standby overnight and noticed it took about 15 minutes to boot up this morning. The LCD screen is lit up but blank when the box is powered up from the remote, however the Dreambox...Booting message takes about 15 minutes to appear. Once the booting message appears everything seems fine from then on.

If I do a reset or reset GUI the box will boot up fine, it's almost as if the box needs to heat up before it will start.

The new HDD seems to be working fine, so I don't need to restart Enigma on bootup.

I think at this stage someone more qualified than me needs to check the box out. Any recommendations?

HB13DISH

Which image version did you use and what was there before?
What happened after the reflash?
Did you scan the satellite and which one?
As you have a motorized system, perhaps you have too many channels in the channels list which is using up memory.
Why did you leave it overnight?
I suggest to check if your image is from a reliable source and is not corrupted and reflash again.
I usually disconnect all cables from the box (including the LNB coax) and leave ONLY the power cord and the null modem cable.
Shutdown PC and box and then connect the other end of the null modem cable to the PC and switch on the PC ONLY.
Then open DreamUP and follow instructions to the letter.
After reflash, disconnect the power cord wait few minutes and then disconnect the null modem cable and connect all the cables they were connected before.

Crusty Burke

The previous image was Gemini 3.7. I've upgraded to Gemini 3.8.

After the first (and second) reflash the box worked fine. However since the first reflash completed at about 1.45 in the morning I decided to go to bed and put the box into Deep Standby. I restarted the box at 8.30 in the morning.

I did not rescan the satellites the first time around, I reloaded them using Dreambox Edit. The second time around I manually rescanned everything.

I use the IHAD database for the images. Hopefully that's a reliable source.

Following the second serial reflash today I rescanned all satellites. For me this takes several hours to do so that's why I havent responded immediately to your post.

After the rescan I put the box into Deep Standby again and went out. I returned two hours later and started the box with my remote.

It now takes about 30 minutes before the Dreambox...Booting logo appears however the box is running as I write this.

I followed the instructions to the letter each time I flashed using DreamUp and the serial cable, yet it still takes an unacceptably long time to boot up. In the past the box would boot immediately from a Deep Standby but not now.

Can anyone recommend a repairer?

HB13DISH

It looks like a hardware problem, as it takes only minutes to scan a satellite.
You can try sending it to satstore for repair, but try to get an estimate first.

Crusty Burke

Well, I did call Satstore and had a friendly conversation with them in which I was told it would take a couple of weeks to get a replacement, which was fine.

However I subsequently got an email from them saying they would only send power supplies out on repairs for existing customers.

I replied back that we had spoken by phone about it but haven't had a response since. After that I contacted Dream Multimedia directly who said they would send on a power supply if I paid the shipping costs by bank transfer which as most of us know will effectively double the price paid.

Dream have now closed my call but still haven't come back to me with either a price or their bank details which is really annoying as I just have to look at my bricked Dreambox until someone decides to come back to me.

HB13DISH

Have you tried to contact the shop that sold you the box?
And why are you so sure that it is the power supply and not something else in addition?
If it is indeed the PS, then there is a high probability that it would be the largest electrolytic capacitor that need replacement.
Try to to take a look and and attach some pictures while you are at it.
Good Luck

Crusty Burke

I'm sure it's the power supply - from my conversations with satstore and the email chain with Dream all point to the power supply as the cause of the fault, that's why I'm sure.

The largest electrolytic cap on the board looks blown to me - the can top is expanded and now the box won't boot at all when powered up.

Yes, I could go back to the original supplier but they are based in Germany. I wanted to deal with a UK dealer/repairer or short of that, direct with Dream Multimedia.

I could post a photo of the board with the suspect can later when I'm not at work.

HB13DISH

Great. Just try to write down all the information that you can see on the capacitor. Closeup photos can help us to identify it.
It is a piece of cake to replace it. Just need a soldering iron and a bit of solder.
If you see any other suspect parts, then give us the details.

Warning: You should disconnect the box from the mains until you sort out this problem.
Is there any liquid on the board as a result of the blowing up?
Try not to touch it with your hands and wash it if you have already.

Crusty Burke

OK, here is the power supply:



The cap that is bulging is on the left of the picture:

HB13DISH

The capacitor is 150 Microfarad and rated 400V
You need to measure the diameter and if you can look underneath the PCB, try to measure the distance between the two terminals. It can be anything like 7.5mm or 10mm.
Here is a possibility from RS Components
_http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=519370 3
Nichicon P/N LGU2G151MELA cost 4.15 Pounds
It has 10mm leads distance and 25mm diameter and 105C (better than 85C) operating temperature rating.
You might find it cheaper somewhere else.
At least now you have a lead.
Make sure you solder the capacitor with the correct polarity. Note down which side is the (-) terminal connected.
Good luck.

Edit: Can you type all the text on the label where the ---nnel W is shown, or if you can make a focussed photo of the whole label.

Attached Files

Capacitor Nichicon GU Series.pdf (105.8 KB, 12 views)