UPC Black Digital+ Box - generally unreliable?

seamus

Just been checking on this and it appears that people are having similar problems.

Basically the box crashes every so often. On the rare occasion it crashes while watching TV - it keeps displaying the same channel, but doesn't respond to any commands. But more often than not it will crash just before or just after a scheduled recording, if it's in standby when the recording starts. It will show the clock (frozen), but not respond to the remote. If it's just finished recording something, the recording light stays on. Restarting the box clears it. Happens probably once or twice a month, and wouldn't be an issue except that it interrupts recordings.

Naturally, if my wife misses Desperate Housewives because the box didn't record it, it's my fault, me being the master of all things electronic throughout the universe. So I'm eager to sort it out. Not really into ringing UPC because they'll either suggest a restart or replace, neither of which I'm confident will sort it.

Anyone know if these are known problems with the box/software? I've been thinking about switching to the HD box - does it seem to be any more reliable?

forzacalcio

doesnt happen that often to me, maybe once every 2/3 weeks, Id say a new box would fix it

shanemhoban

seamus wrote: »

Just been checking on this and it appears that people are having similar problems.

Basically the box crashes every so often. On the rare occasion it crashes while watching TV - it keeps displaying the same channel, but doesn't respond to any commands. But more often than not it will crash just before or just after a scheduled recording, if it's in standby when the recording starts. It will show the clock (frozen), but not respond to the remote. If it's just finished recording something, the recording light stays on. Restarting the box clears it. Happens probably once or twice a month, and wouldn't be an issue except that it interrupts recordings.

Naturally, if my wife misses Desperate Housewives because the box didn't record it, it's my fault, me being the master of all things electronic throughout the universe. So I'm eager to sort it out. Not really into ringing UPC because they'll either suggest a restart or replace, neither of which I'm confident will sort it.

Anyone know if these are known problems with the box/software? I've been thinking about switching to the HD box - does it seem to be any more reliable?

you can do a manual update, see if that solves the problem, plug the box out, hold the right and left arrow keys on the box and plug in, when it turns back on it will show scanning, when loading comes up release the buttons and let it update, the box will then restart, may help or may not but worth a try

lucernarian

I have read reports on here about the black DVR box being a little flakey and unreliable. One often-cited solution was to pay UPC the €40 or whatever it is for a HD-capable DVR box even if you don't have a HDTV etc. The HD box appears to enjoy better software and/or a faster CPU.