Help Required Weird Issue With BBC Channels?!

[RandyHuggins75]

Hi All,

I've just puchased a FREESAT UHD-4X Smart 4K Ultra HD Digital TV Recorder (500 GB version) to replace an old Bush Freesat HD box & have managed to get everything running fine. Signal stregnth & quality are showing as good (Using a Standard LNB with 1 cable - LNB Status shows as stable)

The only issue I am having is with regards to the BBC channels, for some reason whenever I select any of the BBC channels, the picture appears then disappears until I press the Home & then the Back buttons, where it then decides to grace my TV with its presence. All of the other channels work straight away with out any issues.

I've done a re-tune as well as a hard reset with the same result.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks,

Keith.

 

[ozumo]

If you go to system settings and choose non-Freesat mode, does the same happen when selecting a BBC channel? You'll probably need to do a scan first.

 

[RandyHuggins75]

If you go to system settings and choose non-Freesat mode, does the same happen when selecting a BBC channel? You'll probably need to do a scan first.

Hi,

Thanks for the help!

I've done as you've suggested, that method only gives a handful of channels & 2 BBC channels (Tried scanning in that mode twice)
When I click on those two BBC they load up straight away.

But as soon as I revert back to the original Freesat mode it continues to stay blank until I press the Home button (Although BBC2 comes in on it's own after around 5 seconds?!)

I've noticed that the box is currently running software version 5.3.p1_ui_v1.1.3 dated 14/2/2021 & not the latest version listed on the Freesat support website. Would the latest version help? (Not that I can see any update button!)

Also, would changing the Standard LNB to a Wideband LNB help? (I'm hoping not as the dish is a real pain to get to easily!)

Keith.

 

[ozumo]

A non-Freesat scan should find over 300 channels, if there is an option for network scan or NIT search then make sure it is turned on.

Unfortunately we've had quite a few people who've had various problems with this box. Your problem does seem to be firmware related so updating may solve the issue. I wonder if it has anything to do with BBC connected red button services - these would not be active in non-Freesat mode. If the box is connected to the internet try disconnecting it.

Assuming the LNB worked OK with your previous box there shouldn't be a need to change the LNB, however it will give more flexible recording options.

 

[RandyHuggins75]

A non-Freesat scan should find over 300 channels, if there is an option for network scan or NIT search then make sure it is turned on.

Unfortunately we've had quite a few people who've had various problems with this box. Your problem does seem to be firmware related so updating may solve the issue. I wonder if it has anything to do with BBC connected red button services - these would not be active in non-Freesat mode. If the box is connected to the internet try disconnecting it.

Assuming the LNB worked OK with your previous box there shouldn't be a need to change the LNB, however it will give more flexible recording options.

Thanks for that.

I'm going to leave the box overnight & see if it updates itself.
I've also just realised that the firmware currently installed is dated 14th Feb 2020 & not this year! So over a year out of date!

I disabled the internet but that didn't help.

I'll have another look over the weekend & report back.

Keith.

 

[ozumo]

As it's only on a single LNB feed I'd leave it in standby, if it's left on a channel it may not automatically check for updates (if they are delivered by satellite).

 

[mikeisyou]

You're the third person on this forum in the last 3 months to report problems with this receiver. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole

 

[Lazarus]

You're the third person on this forum in the last 3 months to report problems with this receiver. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole

Quite. Humax may have been plain-vanilla, but they were quality. My HDR hasn't blinked in years.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Quite. Humax may have been plain-vanilla, but they were quality. My HDR hasn't blinked in years.

That will be the capacitors in the PSU.

 

[scopus]

Quite. Humax may have been plain-vanilla, but they were quality. My HDR hasn't blinked in years.

From my experience with this box it blinked if you used live pause an the end of the programme was reached it just cut off so you missed it, absolute PIA, I had to set a recording going to compensate..

 

[Topper]

I have not come across a good one and no longer have one, catchup TV is just as good for most things

 

[RandyHuggins75]

As it's only on a single LNB feed I'd leave it in standby, if it's left on a channel it may not automatically check for updates (if they are delivered by satellite).

Well,

I've left the bugger on standby connected up in the other room since I last posted & it's still not updated itself. I've even connected it to the internet via an ethernet just in case the wireless was the issue. I know the satellite signal is working fine as the other box is fine.

I'm going to contact help@freesat to see if they're able to help otherwise I'm contacting Currys for a refund!

Keith.

 

[statalite]

Is usb update not an option? Or selecting an update via internet style option?

 

[RandyHuggins75]

Hi All,

Just wanted to provide an update regarding the state of the box....

Well, at some point overnight the box updated itself to the latest version (March 2021) & everything works fine, all of the BBC channels appear pretty much straight away once selected. So I'm happy that I now have a working box!

One final question, as I only have 1 cable running from the dish to the box, would it be possible to use a signal splitter to utilise both aerial inputs to allow for more recording options?

Thanks for all of the help that you've all provided!

Keith.

 

[ozumo]

Hi All,

Just wanted to provide an update regarding the state of the box....

Well, at some point overnight the box updated itself to the latest version (March 2021) & everything works fine, all of the BBC channels appear pretty much straight away once selected. So I'm happy that I now have a working box!

One final question, as I only have 1 cable running from the dish to the box, would it be possible to use a signal splitter to utilise both aerial inputs to allow for more recording options?

Thanks for all of the help that you've all provided!

Keith.

Glad to hear it's sorted Unfortunately splitters won't work, you will need a wideband LNB with two outputs to fully utilise the recording abilities.

 

[Channel Hopper]

You might be able to achieve something with a stacker/destacker upgrade, though you will need to adapt the dish front end and you may find a long cable run impacts on the signals receiveable.

 

[RandyHuggins75]

Glad to hear it's sorted Unfortunately splitters won't work, you will need a wideband LNB with two outputs to fully utilise the recording abilities.

Sorry for the very slow reply!

Thought that this might be the case, not that essential so may look into it in the future.

Thanks again for your helpful advice!

Keith.

 

[RandyHuggins75]

You might be able to achieve something with a stacker/destacker upgrade, though you will need to adapt the dish front end and you may find a long cable run impacts on the signals receiveable.

Things are working happily now, so am going to let sleeping dogs be for the time being!

Keith.