Problems with UPC box

da_shivsta

Hey, looking for any help with this:

- UPC box seems to be over heating but only when in standby - its fine when properly on. It just gets hot and then keeps turning itself off fully, then the fan goes crazy and it turns back on and this keeps happening. We have moved the tv (which is beside it) to give it more air and it hasnt really helped. We were gone for christmas and only back last week so it had been turned off & plugged out for a while - maybe two weeks just in case this helps at all? But it only started since we came back, well that we have noticed anyway.

- Also, there seems to be a problem with the recording. We have Digital+ and most of the time it works fine but for over a month now it decides to stop recording about five or ten seconds in to a programme, whether I'm watching it or not doesn't seem to make a difference. I've got a few series set to record and today it didn't record two separate ones, not even for a few seconds, there's nothing there.

Gonna ring NTL customer service tomorrow or sometime in the next couple of days but if anyone could help it would be great since customer care is always so much effort!
Thanks

10000maniacs

You could upgrade to a HD box. The monthly cost is the same(I think) and there is a once off payment of €40 for installation.

da_shivsta

Thanks for the suggestion but I think in my case it would be a bit pointless. I dont have a HDTV so that would be €40 wasted, really, no? What do you think?:o

I will ring them anyway like I said but just looking to fix the problems with the box I have before I go to the effort of ringing. Customer care calls take so long and you're stuck on hold for ages. Well, with most companies anyway. Plus, I'm missing some episodes of series and will probably miss more until I get this sorted so I want a quick solution for now, rather than the long term. I will probably cancel subscription in April or May as I'm in college and will be leaving this house.

Maxtor

You can't really tamper with them because most likely you'll end up calling an engineer out and they'll put the blame on you, I had the black UPC box, kept deleting my tv planner so it wouldn't record anything, kept freezing and turning on and off. The guy from UPC came out, said they did some sort of upgrade to the boxes and there "compete sh*t" his words not mine, so now I have the sliver box and its working perfect... free phone UPC from you mobile 1908

HattieMcDoogal

Maxtor wrote: »

free phone UPC from you mobile 1908

Word to that Call but lead with the box is over heating and appears to be shutting itself down. If you mention the recording first you'll only have to go through the troubleshooting factory reset etc before a decision is made on whether to send a tech out.

da_shivsta

Yea it's the silver box I have and thought it seems a lot better than the older versions I see in friends houses. But there we go, I always get the faulty ones trust me to get a dodgy one! I don't want to go screwing around with the box as it's so dodgy if they do end up sending someone round. I just thought maybe there was some common problem with it that someone might know about. Will ring this evening if I get them in time...... :rolleyes:

da_shivsta

Will post what they say in case it helps with any future problems for anyone else.

da_shivsta

OK.. so, it's still not fixed!! Had a guy come round, do a factory reset, didn't help. Got a new box (same type). Didn't help. Had new cables put in and it's still not working so very frustrated. Another guy coming round tomorrow so like I think we're getting a new type of box so that might fix it, the old type of box we had was meant to be crap enough! ......

Slidinginfinity

I have this problem too!
It has to be one of the most frustrating cable TV related problems I have had in years.

The box shuts off at least once a day (more often two or three times a day).
All of the future recording get erased every third time or so.

I don't want to lose my current box (with all the shows I have not as yet had time to watch), but they won't let me keep it, until I have the time, and fix the problem!

datk

I'm in the same boat - the last few weeks my 'Planned' items have been wiped at some stage during Tuesday afternoon (Tuesday morning programmes taped - the evenings ones didn't). It didn't happen this week but it did shut down and give the 'updating software' message but luckily the planner stayed. This happened me regularly about 18 months ago and then it stopped but it's started again.

I also have problems with sound and picture going out of sync and it taking ages for channels to change. Sometimes the new channel comes up and it can take a good 30 seconds before the sound comes on.

I think I'll have to take a lazy weekend and watch the stuff I really don't want to lose and just dump the rest because it's getting more and more annoying having to reset the planner.

djbproductions

I have been having problems with my UPC box switching itself off and I cannot turn it back on for a while. So far I have 2 or 3 techies come out and say that its ok, reset and fine but I am not happy with this, especialliy when I am watching my favourite sport (it would have to be world cup on now). This time he said that its because batteries are dead in remote, I dont even use the damn UPC remote, instead using a Logitech Harmony. I am not impressed with their service. I called them last sat and havent had my digital channels back till today, happens too often. Would I be better to move to sky?

I have been able to reset the unit myself on the odd occasion. I shouldnt have to do this.

UPC Techie also said that I should unplug unit more often, best excuse ever!

gar

check if there is energy saving enabled on your tv. Caused my box to stop responding but has been working brilliant... i mean as it should be since i turned off the energy saving on the tv.

Now must plant a tree for my bigger carbon foot print!

dreababyluxe

I just got upc in (sky isn't an option here as we're not allowed install a dish) and I have been experiencing the exact same problems with the box. The screen freezes, the box switches off and makes some really odd noises and eventually comes back on, and it always has to happen at the climax of a programme/movie, so I miss everything. So annoying. Plus I just realised it wipes the recordings when it does this so I've missed loads of shows. Paying for the premium package and I am not impressed!! Then again Chorus, NTL, Upc, it's always had a reputation for being sh1t. A name change won't fix that.

Kristopherus

Are you cable or MMDS?

dreababyluxe

You're talking to a girl here....

I haven't got a clue.

lucernarian

dreababyluxe wrote: »

You're talking to a girl here....

Should that make a difference somehow


Kristopherus, I think it's likely to be cable as I thought Digital+ wasn't available on MMDS except in Dublin, Waterford and Galway. Would it make much difference in any case?

The HD boxes are more reliable I hear and faster and easier to work with. Even if you don't have a HDTV it could be worth it. If the other box UPC send you doesn't work out so well then it could be worth €40.