Starview 4 PVR HDD Recording Problem

[ianparks]

Hi,

Just got the new Starview 4 PVR (The Box Super USB) and a Trekstor Datastation maxi n.u. 160GB external hard drive, and i'm having a problem with the recording facility. I have done the following:

1. installed firmware V1.02 beta
2. autoscanned and turned emu on
3. formatted the external drive with the starview 4's format option

so far so good...

All the normal & premium channels have a great, clear & stable picture but as soon as I press record (and it starts recording) the picture starts jumping, freezing and displaying digital interference as though the signal is being disrupted or the decryption of the channel is not working properly. This 'interference' is present on the recorded program also, but as soon as I stop recording, the picture returns to being crystal clear with a strong signal. Sometimes after pressing record, the screen goes blank but the recording still works, only with a distorted picture.

Any ideas on what could be causing this? I am already p***ed that V1.02 beta does not have a timed recording facility, so It would be nice to have the only PVR feature actually working!!

Is it the beta firmware causing this problem, or is my hard drive a lemon? Any assistance on this would be appreciated.

Ian Parks.

[amit1_uk]

Hi Mate I had issues in which my screen would go blank every time i tried to record.

Just unplug it all and take the usb out from the box... leave for a few minutes and once you reboot it should fix it self....for some reason if anything happens with the box if you unplug for a few mins it works!!!

[Radge10]

amit1_uk is correct but another tip would be to only press the record button once. With my set up, it normally takes the box about 30 seconds to respond, and then the recording begins. If you press the record button repeatedly then there is more chance of you experiencing the problems you have described.

Even then its still not very good and the same thing happens with the pause facility. I once pressed it near the end of a film I was watching, the thing froze and I missed the ending!

[ianparks]

Hi,

I've figured out that if I have the cable running directly into the Starview 4 PVR (not split) the recorded picture remains stable, so at least I know it's a matter of signal strength.

The other issue is when I press record, there's a 50/50 chance that the screen will remain black. When this happens it is still recording in the background only you can't actually watch the programme...not very good at all! I've tried unplugging everything then re-booting but this problem remains. Coupled with the fact there's no timed recording option it just doesn't make sense. What's the point in taping something you are watching?

I'm now considering sending this pile of poop back in exchange for a PVR cable box (with twin tuner) that actually works....any suggestions?

Thanks,

Ian Parks.