Freesat update - goodmans hd fault

JIMWET

I have a Goodmans HD freesat box which seems to have done an update in last 48hrs. The menu seems to be a little crisper and so does the guide menu. Trouble is the box now seems to either loose its audio o/p or the box switches itself off and "normally" switches itself back on again after a couple of seconds. I have tried power reset, first time install and leaving box on over night but none of these have sorted the fault. Is there any way of restoring the firmware or update to a previous version and getting the box to do its update again should it have a duff update?

pls help?!

Topper

Welcome to the forum JIMWET

Well it is probably beyond the scope of this hobbyist forum to be honest, have you contacted the techies here?

_http://www.goodmansdigital.co.uk/QandA.htm

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Tivù

A lot of people are reporting all sorts of problems with the new Firmware, including the issue you are suffering from.

So far, there are no magic fixes, I regret to say.

I would hope that Goodmans will urgently produce a further update, but we shall see .........

JIMWET

thanx topper!

its such a bizare fault tivu, it seems to just reset itself then after random amounts of time come back to life on its own. I have not tried the link to the Goodmans tech site yet but i shall give it a go!

really annoying that an "update" stops a working box from actually working!

and to top it off they remove SCUZZ!

Tivù

Well, to be fair, Scuzz removed themselves ..............

The problem with doing a Factory Reset/New Install is that only your settings and stored Channels (inc. non-Freesat) are returned to the original state. The Firmware itself does not revert.

I think you'll just have to be patient and wait for the howls of protest to cause Goodmans to jump ........ but do report the issue to them yourself: If you don't, and others don't, on the assumption that plenty of other people will have, then I suspect nothing will happen!

JIMWET

i called Goodmans and they said rest the box by removing the power! i told them i have already done that! I got cut off from the call then and since struggle to get intouch, it appears this fault could be a nationwide issue!

lets hope the fix gets transmitted PDQ! no tv otherwise as no antenna on house except dish!

must grumble!

JIMWET

i note that you can tune channels other than freesat, are these "sky" channels that are on their free to air service?

Tivù

I used to swear by low end electronic goods due to a string of good experiences and a marked propensity for not spending brass - but from everything I've heard since the launch of Freesat, I am really glad I went for the Humax (albeit pre-loved!).

If it's still under Warranty, try to get a refund and then go upmarket ............

JIMWET

it was a gift from my brother, a house warming present, will have to see if he still has the receipt!

Tivù

Sort of.

They are just FTA Channels that haven't paid for a Freesat EPG slot.

They generally do have a Sky EPG slot, but can be received by any Digital Satellite Receiver. Most of us here have one or more Receivers not associated with Sky or Freesat and used to get Free To Air Channels from all sorts of Satellites.

Back to Topic: The Humax has had the ability to access "non-Freesat" FTA Channels since launch.

The Goodmans/Bush/Alba have been forced to enable this as part of compliance with European Regulations.

Even Sky Boxes have an "Add Channels" feature - albeit very clumsy and inflexible.

Tivù

If he hasn't, set fire to the Receiver - that'll help with the house warming!

JIMWET

now there is a thought! LMAO

i shall have to wait till he finishes work to ask about the receipt thing and see where it goes from there!

i only chose this unit as it gave HD o/p! and it was one of the cheaper ones! Lesson learnt!

Tivù

The grapevine has it that Goodmans will be sending out a further update within "a few days".

JIMWET

many thanks for the update Tivu!

i have just left the box switched on in auto update mode in the hope the problem gets sorted in a fresh update!

i gave in on the goodmans helpline as they couldnt offer any suitable advice!

thanks


James

Tivù

On or Standby, if you prefer. It'll still get the Update. Apparently ........... !

JIMWET

cool, im an AV engineer but the in depth satelite stuff is not my forte!

thanks for the advice there!

James

JIMWET

has anyone heard if there is an update coming out yet as my box is still playing up, must grumble!

Tivù

Yes, as previously stated.

5 days from the last release is the best info I've got.

JIMWET

harvard international have just called me following my call to Goodmans,

they have said that the only way the box can be sorted is to return it back to them!!!

they are collecting on Monday and should have it back to me on Wednesday!

the only way they are finding the boxes can be sorted is via the RS232 port on the rear of the box! :-(

Tivù

Well thanks for that - I haven't been following the issue since first thing this morning, but what you have been told makes sense.

They've really screwed up here!

JIMWET

its always good to know that manufacturers test their firmware updates before release to see if they work or not!!!!!!!


think i may turn off the auto update feature that way i shall check to see if there are issues next time an update comes out!!!!!!


royally cheesed off with it!

Tivù

It now seems to have gone beyond simply the loss of function: The shut-downs are almost certainly due to overheating.

Overheating which has been exacerbated by the Firmware "Upgrade" causing the Processor to work overtime.

There is much anecdotal evidence that they operate happily with the case top removed but shut down within a gnat's of putting the lid on.

So perhaps the obvious fact that a Thermal Shutdown is built in is a blessing rather than a curse, or we will be expecting increased fire risk.

Appalling.

Vipersan

Slightly off topic ...but this issue isn't confined to freesat boxes ..
both freeview boxes (in particular older models) ...and some TV sets with built in freeview ...have received and installed firmware updates which in turn have trashed the units ..
Not that its so terrible with a cheap £20 set top box ..
..but when you get customers bringing in their lcd tvs which are just outside of guarantee ...with reports like 'the set wont come out of standby' or 'the dvbt menu has dissappeared' ..and you have to tell them there is nothing you can do as the sets dont even have a pcmcia port or rs232 socket ..so no way to flash new firmware.
..they sort of look at you in disbelief..
Usually I just tell them to take it back where they bought it and demand it replaced as 'not fit for purpose'.
All too often the company who imported it and supplied it vanished.
A very recent one like this was an Apro model sold through Empire Direct..
..leaving a lot of very unhappy customers.
The govt in its wisdom made a disclaimer on the news recently saying no compensation will be made for equipment damaged or rendered unuseable by updates during the digital switchover'
In other words 'the punter must just suck it up- tough'.
c'est la vie.
VS

Billybass

This is a farce,just heard thay may not be a fix,and its only a few hundred old hd boxes wiped software,so up to the owners to send them back for replacement,so its getting brushed under the carpet,no press releases,no bbc comments ect,so what happens next ?

Tivù

Not sure why the BBC (in their "Freesat" hat) would be making statements as the fault lies entirely with one private venture Manufacturing group.

Freesat is still there for those with working equipment.

And the Press has now got wind of it, so expect the rumpus to get more strident quite soon.