HDTV box problems - dirty power supplies responsible?

[Analoguesat]

Spotted this over on the DS forum

Read a while back that the Sky+ box was very sensitive to spikes, also mentioned, this could be why so many are having unreliability problems, using a serge protector would probably be a good idea. Upon reading this I decided to buy a couple for all my amps etc, since then I have had no problems at all with my Sky+ and now my HD box. My boxes have never crashed and I have never had failed recordings with error message saying power cut.

Several other folks on the thread have agreed that cleaning up the power supply has helped their boxes stay stable

_http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=401694

[BGonaSTICK]

Makes sense I suppose :?

Good tip if it works.

[imported_Martyn]

Hi

I have spike/ surge protection on my HD box as I did on my Sky+ prior to HD install.

I have noticed a major increase in picture freeze and very slow response times from remote control command to execution from the box.

I think my problem is the fact that my Pace Sky+ box was far superior in quality etc to the Thompson HD box I now have... Thanks Sky!

It almost takes you back to the days of "unplug your box from the wall, wait 30 seconds and power up again"

Anyone else share these symptoms?

[Jimdefruit]

I can feel that bee buzzing under my bonnet again.

It is so easy for the equipment to have surge protection built into the power supply and yet manufacturers expect users to go out and buy additional protection.

I suppose that it is a penny pinching approach because 90% of users do not have serious surge problems that exceed the supply tolerances.

I have friends (yes I do ) who live in rural areas who have suffered equipment loss due to power spikes but most people have supplies that run underground and are away from industrial distribution networks and have relatively smooth supplies.

I have never fitted surge protection to my supplies and have never had trouble. Perhaps I have been lucky?

Rant over.

[stargateuser]

... try living in rurual Herefordshire >

/rant

If it rains....... power cut/spikes
if it is windy power cut/spikes
if it is sunny power cut/spikes
if too many birds sit on the overhead lines ... you probably know what's coming

Oh and brown outs - yes, just like in Eastern Europe, and constantly dimming brightening lights. Like a dimmer switch with a *random* setting :roflmao: I have lost count of the amount we have spent on replacement light bulbs over the years.

When it was MEB they said they were "investing in the future infrastructure" ... that was 10 years ago. It is now WORSE than ever. I have lost Sky boxes/tv's and pc boxes. Now all my electronic's plug sockets go via surge protectors. So, why don't houses come with BUILT IN surge protection?? They have to have RCD by law, so why not?

/end rant hahahaha

[madrat]

It's another case of the accountants penny pinching again.

The same thing as when you go and buy something that needs a scart lead to connect it, how offten dose it come with one how much is a basic scart lead for gods sake. 99p >

I think all houses should have protection built in, but then I think all houses should be fitted with lightning arrest systems. Try finding one of them in this country for the domestic market > > > > >