channels breaking up

[cecilrhode]

my red box is about 6 months old, and suddenly all channels are breaking up. The virgin box is ok so I don't think it's the transmission.

I've removed the splitter and run it directly from the supply cable, so I don't think its the splitter or cables. It feels only hand hot, and then only in one area of the box top (right hand corner at the back) so I don't think it's overheating.

When its bad, its totally unwatchable, with picture freezes, massive pixelation, and lots of loud cracks and squeaks.

I've scanned all the channels to no effect. Does anyone have any ideas? It seems to happen when its been on for a good few hours, but it doesn't appear hot.

I'd update the firmware if I knew how, although as I said, its run ok for 6 months.

[telecom69]

Sounds to me as if you have a component breaking down somewhere inside the box but it needs sorting because it will eventually give up the ghost altogether from what you write ...I suppose it is happening every day? since the box is only 6 months old it would be worth your while getting in touch with who you bought it from and see what they have to say about it .....

You might want to read this thread,two pages of it, similar problem to yours and it was eventually cured by buying a booster,have a read,see what you think ...Can anyone help euro vox plays fine only for about an hour then there's interference

[cecilrhode]

yes, i am worried its going on the blink.

I updated the Firmware last night (july) to see if that had any effect.

I left it on overnight to see if it was temperature related. I watched it this afternoon and it seemed ok. Sat down early evening to watch football, and off it goes again.

Left it switched off, then I did a powerscan, which had no effect. later on, it settled down again. I just finished reinstalling the CDL file to sort out the channels, and its still ok - sat here watching it.

Maybe its my imagination, but it seems to be ok when its left alone, but when you start flicking through the EPG and favourites, it starts playing up.

I checked the signal strength, and its between 81 - 85% depending on channel. Its always been that since new. when it plays up, the signal strength doesnt seem to change unlike the other thread you quote Telecom.

I wondered if there maybe something loose as lastnight, it was ok, then i changed the scart lead, and it started playing up when I lifted the box. Thing is, I dont want to open it up if Im going to send it back, but if its something simple Im capable and willing to fix it myself rather than send it back and maybe be without it for a few weeks.

If anyone has any ideas or experience of things being loose or whatever that might make it behave like this, Im listening!

Thanks for your help Telecom, much appreciated

[cecilrhode]

The mystery continues. I left it on overnight. Picture was ok. this morning it was ok, and it was left on. this afternoon it was ok. watched some football this afternoon, flicked through channels, no problem.

Come to watch it this evening, soon as we change channels, off it goes. Its basically been on continuously for 2 days, but plays up only when we sit down to watch a program in earnest.

[telecom69]

Whatever it is,it looks like this fault is intermittent and I know from experience those are the worst kind to track down...it may be something as simple as a dry solder joint,or just a loose connection on the PCB ...Ive also read that too strong a signal can cause problems such as yours,this could be cured with a variable attenuator from here Find Televes Variable TV Signal Attenuator (FREE POSTAGE) on eBay within, Freeview Aerials, Satellite Cable Freeview, Consumer Electronics (end time 25-Oct-07 19:45:00 BST)

At the moment Im leaning towards the dry joint theory (but could of course be completely wrong) you could if you wish look for this by removing the top of the box and watching for any "minute" sparks from the board,whilst gently flexing the box ...nobody said it was going to be easy whatever you choose I wish you luck and post back if you have any results ....

Just one other thing come to mind,if you are using a splitter,give that a check and also its connections,Ive known splitters give problems more than once ....

[cecilrhode]

thanks................didn't expect it to be easy..............I've already checked the easy stuff

[cecilrhode]

Ok, I had enough messing around with it and was satisfied (by changing cables and borrowing another EV (blue box) that there was nothing wrong with either the cable input or the leads in the house. I contacted the trader who exchanged the main board.

i inserted the new board, but found it wouldn't come out of standby. When I tried to install firmware using the UFL (Oct) I got the message "This firmware is not fit for your receiver". I eventually managed to load firmware from July using Voxer, and downloaded by favourites file.

Its working, but there has been some picture breakup just like the old fault, maybe that was a transmission problem as it seems to have stopped now.

I still can't use the UFL to update the firmware and it worries me. This thread
Eurovox tutorials
mentions this error message for a different model and mentions a different firmware to fix it, but I can't find the firmware anywhere

Anyone any ideas as to why I get that message and what can be done about it?

[cecilrhode]

Well, it turns out that this seems to be the latest 2008 black box board I've been given. It wouldn't accept the latest Red Box firmware, but did accept the July issue. Breakup was still there

I reflashed to the Oct Black box firmware with some improvement, and have tried the latest Beta Kuro f/w. I've tried the signal boost option but there is still breakup and noises.

The problem seems to be only on some channels and at certain times. eg BBC1 from about 5pm onwards - I've had BBC1 on all afternoon with no problems, then at 5pm, its starts. Not sure what other channels are affected, but Channel 4 is, and that is on the same frequency. BBC Northern Ireland is on a different frequency, and last night when BBC1 Northwest wasn't watcheable, BBC1 NI was.

Could this be a signal problem on the line? Its impossible to know which channels are affected as its related to viewing habits - channels that are never watched may or may not have the problem and I can't spend all evening watching a particular channel to see if its affected.

I still have the original Red Box power supply board. Does anyone know if that's the same as the Black Box?