UPC DVR turning itself off randomly and signal stuttering

Auscast

We have a black UPC DVR (not HD) that we've had for a good 6 months now. It's probably a Thomson one. In the last 2 months we've been quite bothered by 2 things:

First is that during random times during the week, the signal and audio will stutter every 5 to 10 minutes. It happens mainly during evenings (prime time?) and normally means that I'll miss the punchline of an Ant and Dec joke or that essential ingredient for the Xmas Turkey.

Second and more importantly, the box completely randomly decides to turn itself off and shut down. This can happen anytime during the day (it just happened 10 minutes ago), and it tends to turn itself back on to standby (with the clock showing). We have to turn the box back on via the remote and this often means that if it's recording a show, that is stopped.

Anyone aware of a fix for this? I'm resisting getting a replacement box due to our recorded shows.

chillyspoon

I'm amazed to see no replies on this - two years on from that post and I've had a UPC digital box for less than a year (also Thomson) and it does this almost every day.

Generally it happens about 10 minutes after switching it on. There's a "pop" sound and it restarts itself.

coylemj

That post is 18 months old, there have been umpteen s/w upgrades since then so it's almost certain that if it's s/w it's a different problem to yours and much more likely that there is a h/w problem with your box and you shouldn't be amazed that nobody replied to the OP, his problem was probably a h/w fault as well.

Buyingahouse

Our box developed a habit of switching itself all the way off from Standby. No rhyme or reason, just complete shut down, so nothing would record, etc. Had to get two separate call-outs from UPC, which were non-strategically placed 6 months apart (we've had a lot on). Got satisfaction this morning as the lad called out with a "new" silver box. No joy on a new remote, though, so I'm trawling around the interwebs for a new one of those, too.

KenH

Just started getting this from standby recently too. Going to have to call them. Wish me luck.

yanek

and the box is doing exactly the same thing. so before I call them, is there any positive reaction to its replacement solution? The post might be mighty old, but god damn relevant.

Buyingahouse

It took a couple of trouble-shooting attempts over the phone, but eventually, they sent a man out and they replaced our box. Now, it wasn't a brand new box by any means, but that particular problem is no longer an issue. Our remote is another matter altogether. We'll be plunking down something like €25 for a new one from those people in the new year. Such is life, I suppose.

Best of luck, yanek.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Our UPC box has started to shutdown randomly. It'll restart and go into stand by.

It has been randomly freezing for the past few months as well. Only way to get it working is a power cycle.

I actually thought it was maybe the latest update to the box, but I guess not. Time to give them a call