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STB's gone green!
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Posted by: tonymaddocks

I use my TiVo to record from my Pace ITVDigi box (FTA stuff). All has been well but I have noticed with increased regularity that the digi box has been locking up during the evening. I have also noticed that from time to time that the digi box’s transmition has a very strong green hue to it.

It has become such a regular occurrence that I borrowed my mates digi box (same as mine) for a few nights. His has been trouble free (he doesn’t use TiVo) but after one day it has locked up. I was convinced that it was a digi box problem, I was ready to ditch it, but I think that TiVo is causing it to go weird. Is the IR signal from TiVo confusing it, I am using the recommended IR code on medium speed. Can anyone shed any light on this please?:confused:

Posted by: JoNk

Sounds like oveheating. Is the Pace out in the air or stuck in a confined space?
Or maybe some mains born interferance. Do you have fluorescent lights, or worse those low voltage diachloric lamps. Dimmers?
Have a systematic walk round turning off any likely culprits, see if things improve.
Jon

Posted by: tonymaddocks

quote:
Sounds like oveheating. Is the Pace out in the air or stuck in a confined space?

It's on a shelf above the tv. On the top of a stack of other tv related stuff (vcr, TiVo, dvd). I shall raise it a couple of inches.

quote:
Or maybe some mains born interferance. Do you have fluorescent lights, or worse those low voltage diachloric lamps. Dimmers?

I have a double dimmer switch in the room, in the opposite corner (approx 18 feet away)

quote:
Have a systematic walk round turning off any likely culprits, see if things improve.

Can't think of anything but I shall. Thanks for the advice.

Posted by: guydewdney

I have posted (some time ago) a method of adding a small CPU fan to a dodgybox -

basically rip the top off, find a 5v power line stick a fan over /under a vent hole. connect red lead to 5v, black to chassis.
disclaimer - find a responsible adult to help you, and use blunt ended scissors :D

going green sounds like a dodgy scart lead / socket (red or blue lead / pin loose)

also - add a power timer thingy to the power load of the dodgybox, powering off every day for 1/2 hour at say 3am. set a manual recording for 5 mins at 3.45am

hth

guy

Posted by: iankb

quote:
Originally posted by guydewdney
going green sounds like a dodgy scart lead / socket (red or blue lead / pin loose)

I have definitely seen that problem before.

Ian.

Posted by: barney

Hmmm..

I've seen this too, although I'd assumed it was a problem in transmission - it happened on Blackadder II a week or so ago. Flourecent green sections of the image - looks like a really bad Doctor Who special effect.

It might well be related to overheating as my box is in a cabinet. Although it has an external cooling fan, it has been inadvertantly switched off before (TiVo reports 48 degrees when fan is inactive, 38 with it running). I didn't think to check if they happened at the same time (timeshifting has the occasional disadvantage!)

Hasn't happened since.

Posted by: JoNk

I would link the overheating to lockups, but there might be a relationship to greeness :baffled: Expect a dodgy scart would cause a green hue all over, but green blotches or sections could be the STB complaining from heat.
Picked up one of these boxes in Dixons and it was pretty warm even though it was on the shelf with good air circulation.

Posted by: tonymaddocks

quote:
Expect a dodgy scart would cause a green hue all over, but green blotches or sections could be the STB complaining from heat.

This is the problem that I have been experiencing (green hue all over). Your suggestion of a dodgy scart sounds like the probable explanation.

Thank you all for, yet again, providing logic where I could see none!