Technisat HDFS broken EPG

Puggy

My Technisat HDFS stopped getting EPG data about a week ago:( Did the usual, reset etc, but still not working. Contacted their support number and was told it was a known issue and our devs are working to fix it.

Anyone else got this issue? Only the station being watched gets full 7/8 day EPG, all others get the next 4/5 programmmes worth of EPG data.

Will try to load an older version of the software tomorrow to see if it fixes it.

You can contact them at http://www.technisat.co.uk/indexb1b7.html?nav=Kontakt_Hotline,co,34

woidoi

Got exactly the same problem with my own HDFS. Was working perfectly until about a month ago. Now no EPG. Like you I have reset it numerous times, no joy. Like you I have written to Technisat but I didn't even get a reply. From trawling around the net, it seems to be a common problem.

Trying various things. Tuned in Radio Caroline which shares the transponder with the Freesat Epg and adjusted my dish, lnb and skew to get it as strong as possible but it didn't help. so not a reception issue. I went into non Freesat mode (Technisat Mode) and in that mode there is a setting for checking and texting the Epg channel. It locates it no problem and even goes off and downloads it!. However it still doesn't populate the Epg in either mode afterwards. So not a reception issue there either. Seems to be a strange software bug but why did it crop up only now. It has been working on the updated software since I bought it in March.

Let me know if you get a solution! I'll keep pestering them in the meantime. Make sure you register with Technisat to get your extended three year guarantee. If they don't sort this out they can send me a new one, 'cos as far as I'm concerned it's broke!

cjt156

I've got a different problem with the HDFS; one day EPG. Full EPG for the current day, each of the next 6 days is "No Programme Information Available"
Bit annoying; don't use it that much but its supposed to be part of the functionality.

woidoi

Someone over at Digital spy actually managed to get a response from Technisat. Quoted as follows:

"The problem you described is actually known. We forwarded it to our software developer. At the moment we can’t tell you when there will be a final solution. Please be sure that it is important to us to solve the problem as quick as possible.":rolleyes:

Bated breath and all that. Well at least they are acknowledging that there is a problem!.

Puggy

No luck with the older versions of software. EPG is still a little random, and often has little or no data. There are also plenty of posts on joinfreesat.co.uk, in the section on the Technisat HDFS.

Last update I got over the phone from Technisat was it was being worked on. But they told me the very same about the Windows 7 fix. Not holding my breath.

Shame, it was a good box with EPG and recording.

woidoi

I have been writing to Technisat trying to get them to confirm that they will rectify the problem but haven't received any reply. Decided to get Freesat themselves on the case. They responded immediately - good for them!

"You are correct in pointing out that there has been a recent issue with some Humax and Technisat receivers getting delayed guide information. This is being looked into by Humax, Technisat and freesat and should be resolved soon. We have had correspondence with both companies and both Humax and Technisat have confirmed that it is a software issue that will be rectified as soon as possible. However, we can confirm that freesat did increase the amount of EPG data that is transmitted and that is the reason why Humax boxes are delayed in receiving the EPG data. We are currently unaware of why there is a Technisat issue. We apologise for any inconvenience this issue may have caused."

Maybe the reason for Technisat Epg problems but still we wait.

mahargwa

I bought one of these from Amazon and after a while the EPG stopped working. I emailed Technisat but as I had not received a reply from them within a couple of days I returned the item to Amazon for a refund. I then ordered another one hoping it would be OK. Not so- the new one arrived today and the EPG works only for a few hours ahead of current time. Not a sausage for the next and subsequent days. I did eventually receive a reply from Technisat stating-"The problem you described is actually known. We forwarded it to our software developer. At the moment we can’t tell you when there will be a final solution. Please be sure that it is important to us to solve the problem as quick as possible.

Thanks for your understanding and you patience.

Best regards
[snipped]

TechniSat Digital GmbH"

Anyone know how long have they been saying this for?
If there isn't a fix soon it will be going back to Amazon like the previous one.
Beats me how they can advertise it as having an 8 day guide when it clearly hasn't. Is there a similar box on the market with a competitive price?

Puggy

mahargwa,

its only been broken for a couple of weeks. I'd expect it to be sorted soon, as in weeks. Something similar happened to the Humax after an over the air update for ITV player I believe.

If its not fixed, I'll be getting my money back. Remember to e-mail and ring them on a regular basis. Also post on joinfreesat.co.uk, as they do contact Technisat on a regular basis.

woidoi

Just noticed this in the joinfreesat.co.uk website regarding HDFS.

TechniSat have confirmed a fix for the HDFS EPG issue is underway. The fault appeared a few weeks ago which prevents you accessing programme information more than 12 hours ahead, where as the standard Freesat EPG should allow you 8 days listings.

TechniSat have confirmed that they have located and solved the issue and the revised software will be tested week commencing 31st October 2011. Providing all goes well, they will be released shortly after via their website and presumably by over-the-air download too.

Hopefully they keep to their schedule if not beating it. Lack of EPG is driving me slowly I N S A N E ! :eek:

cjt156

Technisat HDFS full 8 day EPG back in business last night.
Looking good.

woidoi

Not on my box yet. Did you have to do a software update or something? 'll try that myself when I get home. Good that something's happening finally though.

cjt156

I did nothing at my end. I usually power down completely overnight but lately I'd tried leaving it on standby for updates. Was left that way saturday night; no change sunday. Off sunday night; full EPG monday.
?
Wait & see I suppose.

woidoi

Looks like you may have gotten lucky with an over the air test! Still no sign of it as an update. At least we know that it works! :rolleyes:

Has your software version number increased by any chance?

woidoi

Switched on my HDFS last night to be greeted with BBC 1 Oxford. Strange as I used a Manchester Post Code so as to get the higher quality ITV1. Tried to watch the boring Arsenal match on HD but there was a lot of breakup.

Got fed up with it and did a factory reset. Entered the Manchester Post code once again and after it picked up the channels lo and behold the epg started populating for the first time in nearly two months.:)

I have a feeling that Freesat themselves have corrected something with the Epg stream rather than Technisat issuing an update as the software version is still the same.

Hopefully the Epg will remain working from now on, it's nice to be able to plan ahead again!

woidoi

Dang! Gone again. Why does it do that? It had the full 8 day schedule now it has lost it and I left it on standby. Guess I'll have to wait for the update after all.

mp3ireland2

Just wondering when this is fixed if all software downloads are available via the satellite or do we need to go online to get it?

Also anybody know anything about the PVR format? is there a way of viewing a technosat formatted usb stick with programs on it on a computer? only have a 4gb stick in it and would be handy to store stuff somewhere else....

woidoi

They will be available over the air via satellite. You can force an update check in settings or it'll pick it up automatically over night. You will also be able to download it via their website when it goes up. Interesting that the epg came back for a couple of days for most people both here and in Britain and then disappeared again. Lends some weight that when Freesat added more bits to the Epg the Technisat was not able to adjust. We might have got the Epf back because Freesat went back to old format for Technisat to check (Just guessing here!)

Though the Disk format is notionally Fat32, the old format that Windows used, the PVR recording format is actually encrypted, a Freesat requirement of Digital Rights Management and so far no one has been able to copy files off a USB drive written to by the HDFS. Though I wonder if you recorded in non Freesat mode (Technisat mode) would the same apply?

mp3ireland2

woidoi wrote: »

They will be available over the air via satellite. You can force an update check in settings or it'll pick it up automatically over night. You will also be able to download it via their website when it goes up. Interesting that the epg came back for a couple of days for most people both here and in Britain and then disappeared again. Lends some weight that when Freesat added more bits to the Epg the Technisat was not able to adjust. We might have got the Epf back because Freesat went back to old format for Technisat to check (Just guessing here!)

Though the Disk format is notionally Fat32, the old format that Windows used, the PVR recording format is actually encrypted, a Freesat requirement of Digital Rights Management and so far no one has been able to copy files off a USB drive written to by the HDFS. Though I wonder if you recorded in non Freesat mode (Technisat mode) would the same apply?

ah right, didn't know that about the requirement... the usb stick wasn't even read in my computer when i plugged it in, said it needed to be formatted.... Had been googling a bit but if nobody has managed to do it you'll save me some time! Too lazy to try recording in non freesat mode! interesting point though!

mahargwa

The evil spirit within the HDFS EPG will be driven out tonight. It's HALLOWEEN ! But don't hold your breath.

cjt156

Funny enough mine's sorted since Monday. Full 8 day EPG again now, after dropping it for a week or so.

mahargwa

Hi cjt156
Mine is still not working. Post code in Belfast. What post code are you using to get the 8day guide ?

woidoi

It shouldn't matter which post code your on for the Epg. A lot of people use a Manchester Code because the ITV HD data rate is the best from there. Try M60 7RA which is what I use. There doesn't seem to be any new software update yet, though due soon. However try turning to the Freesat Channel 999. Let it load for a while (enjoying the tinkling music) then look at a few pages. If you're lucky you might find that the Epg has updated! It transmits on the same transponder as the Epg signal. It would seem that the HDFS was always able to pick up the Epg but something confused it when Freesat changed the Epg stream.

cjt156

mahargwa wrote: »

Hi cjt156
Mine is still not working. Post code in Belfast. What post code are you using to get the 8day guide ?

I'm using a code from that there London; though as mentioned above I doubt that matters.

mahargwa

We mine has been slowly populating the guide for 8 days but it takes quite a few minutes to do this. I have been in touch with technisat recently and have received the following reply:

Quote:
There will be a software update in this quarter. I can't give you a definitely
date.

Best regards
[snipped]

Unquote

He doesn't state if the upgrade will fix the problem

mp3ireland2

Mine working now :-) wasn't working yesterday. As an aside should this outpuit in 1080 when connected via hdmi? I only get 720, on ITV HD, BBC HD etc. Don't know if it's the sat box or the tv which is the limting factor. TV is the LG 450 K i think... it give me 1080 on rte 2 HD....

woidoi

The Technisat does a very good quality 1080i. If my memory serves me right; go into menu > settings > picture settings. There should be an entry for output, set it to 1080i.

lucernarian

Would it be right to say that this issue has been dealt with now by a software update??

woidoi

Nope! Afraid not. Despite promises from Technisat that they would issue an update the software version is still stuck at the one they issued last February. Still losing the epg data and not finding radio stations either. I have had some luck with leaving the box tuned to channel 999 (the freesat info channel) and it usually loads up and keeps the upcoming eight days of epg. Occasionally goes pear shaped randomly though and clears out the epg again.

Block (8

Thinking of picking up a second hand one, is there still no sign of an update.

Is the epg problem so bad and annoying that I should I try something else instead?

woidoi

Depends on how much you are paying for it second hand. I got mine from Amazon a year ago for about 100 euro. The faffing around with the Epg can be a pain and as mentioned earlier in this thread my box populates the 8-day epg properly if I leave it on Channel 999 (the freesat info channel) for a while once a week. The Technisat's Picture quality is excellent and if you stick a 16 or 32gb Memory Stick in the rear USB port (and make sure you have the latest firmware) you have a very good PVR too! I actually wrote to Technisat recently and asked them how was the update coming along (we were supposed to have it before year end) and they just said that they are continuing to work on it. Apparently there are two other issues that they are working on to fix as well. Some boxes don't populate the radio channels without a reset (like mine) and it has problems streaming media from Windows 7 machines over a network (not sure if that'll ever get fixed and not of interest to me anyway).

In conclusion an excellent machine with flawed firmware, if the price is right I'd go for it.

mp3ireland2

woidoi wrote: »

Depends on how much you are paying for it second hand. I got mine from Amazon a year ago for about 100 euro. The faffing around with the Epg can be a pain and as mentioned earlier in this thread my box populates the 8-day epg properly if I leave it on Channel 999 (the freesat info channel) for a while once a week. The Technisat's Picture quality is excellent and if you stick a 16 or 32gb Memory Stick in the rear USB port (and make sure you have the latest firmware) you have a very good PVR too! I actually wrote to Technisat recently and asked them how was the update coming along (we were supposed to have it before year end) and they just said that they are continuing to work on it. Apparently there are two other issues that they are working on to fix as well. Some boxes don't populate the radio channels without a reset (like mine) and it has problems streaming media from Windows 7 machines over a network (not sure if that'll ever get fixed and not of interest to me anyway).

In conclusion an excellent machine with flawed firmware, if the price is right I'd go for it.

I've never had any problems with my EPG in months... there was an issue a few months back when everyone was having problems... but it updated itself and has been working flawlessly for months.

I haven't connected it to a network so don't know about streaming stuff.... Don't think I've ever looked at the radio channels so not sure if mine populates or not....

I think it's a great box overall!

woidoi

I've never had any problems with my EPG in months... there was an issue a few months back when everyone was having problems... but it updated itself and has been working flawlessly for months.

Lucky you! You reckon your box updated itself? When you get a chance can you go into the menu sometime and see what version of software you have running. My version is "Software Version 2.41.36.7 (1666)". Which seems to be the last update for the HDFS according to their site, the box itself and http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php which seems to be the official software tracker for Freesat and Freeview.

There was a rumour sometime back that Technisat put up a test version of a new firmware but quickly took it back down again - maybe your box managed to grab it?

Puggy

Should have posted ages ago, but my box just started working of its own accord. I had updates dis-abled, to be sure I did not get a bad update.

The epg works fine, as I would expect it to. It would appear that the issue was with the epg stream and not the box?

But no matter, its working fine, and populates within minutes of turning on, also adjusts recording timers when programmes are delayed or overrun.

mp3ireland2

woidoi wrote: »

Lucky you! You reckon your box updated itself? When you get a chance can you go into the menu sometime and see what version of software you have running. My version is "Software Version 2.41.36.7 (1666)". Which seems to be the last update for the HDFS according to their site, the box itself and http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php which seems to be the official software tracker for Freesat and Freeview.

There was a rumour sometime back that Technisat put up a test version of a new firmware but quickly took it back down again - maybe your box managed to grab it?

Yeah I'll have a look this evening and see what firmware I have. I know it's set to update nightly automatically at 4am or something like that, which I think is the default setting as far as I know!

That must be annoying as the main reason I got a Freesat box was to have the EPG (and also so that the stations would update automatically).

EDIT: I remembered! My softeare version is the same! "2.41.36.7 (1666) UL2.8.2 BL2 (215)" Although I don't know if you didn't have those additional numbers or just omitted them as they're insignificant.... I also noticed I don't have any radio stations! Never tried listening obviously, and prob never would, but it still does irritate me a bit! I feel short changed!

Block (8

Bought my 2nd hand receiver and the epg seems to be working

But how do you access the favourites list after picking them
and is there a manual tuning to get sky news?

Quite pleased with the box though maybe not the most intuitve but the amount of extra channels for free is amazing!

mp3ireland2

Block (8 wrote: »

Bought my 2nd hand receiver and the epg seems to be working

But how do you access the favourites list after picking them
and is there a manual tuning to get sky news?

Quite pleased with the box though maybe not the most intuitve but the amount of extra channels for free is amazing!

Trying to remember this as I don't have the remote or box to hand at work!

To get your fabourites, press ok (or whaterver brings up the channel list) and then press the button which is a "tick" (as in like a correct mark) then you can choose between master channel list, favourites 1, or favourites 2.

As for sky news as far as I know you have to exit freesat mode to view this and other non free sat channels... Personally I think it's too much hassle and never bother, I just use BBC news.... Maybe there is a handy way that I don't know about!

woidoi

You're right. Sky News is only available in non-freesat mode or Technisat Mode as they call it. Available via three or four clicks in the menu if I remember right. You'll find all the FTA channels there and not just the Freesat ones. The trouble is you won't get the nice 8 day EPG, just now and next - that's the whole point of Freesat really, the EPG!

Block (8

After the first night playing with it I switched it off at the mains and in the next morning the epg was gone :mad:

It slowly populated itself but when I switched it off to standby last night this morning it was still the same.
Did a factory reset and still the epg doesn't seem to go far.

woidoi how long do you leave it on channel 999 and can you put the receiver on standby afterwards?
I take it that its not advisable to switch it off the mains (I'm the type that do)

Strange when I first plugged the receiver in the epg worked, I didn't do any installation as it was already done.

woidoi

Unfortunately your box sounds like most other HDFS boxes - has the epg populated - suddenly doesn't - then back again for a while then poof! gone again!

Sometimes some boxes hold an epg with no problem for a long time then bang - gone again. It's very annoying.

When I realise that the epg has gone on my box, usually don't notice it until I'm trying to record something in the future, I tune in to Channel 999 for a while, sometimes the epg fully populates in 30 secs, sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes .... you get the picture. If I'm around the house for a while but not watching television I'll just tune it to 999 and leave it to do it's thing. Lately I've started to tune it to 999 before I put it in standby when I go to bed at night! Seems to work.

I usually leave mine in standby, if you turn off the clock in the menu (i.e. when it goes into standby there should be no time on the display. just the red led power light) it uses only .2 watts per hour which is tiny. I know some people are worried leaving things plugged in at night (as am I usually) but this is the only thing I leave plugged in and it does seem to keep the epg intact for longer.

By the way everyone with a HDFS should write an email to Technisat giving out, because they are way overdue with an update to sort out these problems. The more voices complaining the better.

BTW - a useful phrase to introduce into your email is "bewege deinen Hinter". Basically move your a$$!

Block (8

Can't seem to get more than a few hours only in the epg
Channel 999 doesn't seem o work for me
On the firsy night I was messing around with it and the epg was full all the days.
I wonder if it's caused by having the receiver being unplugged for a couple of days because I don't think the seller was using it.

A shame really as it's great otherwise.
Going to write an email like you suggest woidoi and I'm going to try and sound like an old hag in it, probabaly won't make a difference though :rolleyes:

lasno

This might be of interest.......

www.uksatellitehelp.co.uk/2011/10/13/freesat-technisat-hdfs-epg-issue/

mahargwa

I was told by Technisat in early November 2011 that new software was to issue 'this quarter' I assume that meant before the end of December. So far nothing and it is now 18 January 2012.
I have today asked them to update me as to what is happening, if anything.
The EPG is very erratic and sometimes populates itself after 5 minutes or maybe longer. On only one occasion did I find a fully populated EPG immediately after pressing the 'guide' button.
Very unsatisfactory really, especially as I like to look at the programmes for a week ahead to see what I want to record using the PVR facility.