TechniSat HDFS start up problem

dacogawa

Hi All,

I've got a TechniSat HDFS which has been working fine until last night, after turning it on there's no picture & on the display it stuck on welcome ?

I've found on the internet that if you hold down the power & up buttons while plugging it in that it will do a factory reset, I have tried this but it doesn't work

Has anyone got any other advice or tips on how to fix this please, any help would be very much appreciated

Thanks

STB

Download the firmware

Unzip the 2 files to a USB stick. (you dont need the TXT file which is just a explanation TXT file)

Put in the USB port of box switch on box. Let it do its own thing.

Box should reboot.

dacogawa

Thanks for the quick response STB! I'll try that now & let you know how it goes, thanks again

dacogawa

Hey STB, I tried the firmware update on the USB stick & it didn't work

It's just stays on welcome on the display on the front of the box, I also tried the factory reset with the USB in to no avail.

I think I'll just bring it back to Maplin as it's only 13 months old & I have the receipt unless there's some other thing to try ?

Thanks again for the help

STB

I have previously read about the problems with these boxes sometime back. It didnt seem that technisat were particularly helpful.

I though that the USB might load at boot and force a new flash of the new firmware. You are inserting the usb stick and then flicking the switch on the back of the box ?

The hard reset option for technisat(telestar) boxes is.

1) Put the receiver into Standby mode.
2) Press your finger on the Standby button on the front panel.
3) At the same time as following step 2), turn the receiver on/off at the mains.
4) Do not release your finger from the Standby button, until you see the word 'FLAS' appear on the front panel display.

If none of those options work, then you have the choice of flashing the firmware via a null modem cable from a PC to the R232 port at the back.

Or return it.

dacogawa

Hi STB,

Yes, I've read that Technisat aren't very helpful & have had no reply to my email yet...

I have been inserting the USB & then plugging in the power (my box doesn't have a power switch on it)

I did also try your other suggestion with no luck, my box wont go into standby it just comes on & goes to welcome when you plug the power in, when it was working it did have a red ring around the power button but now it just flicks red for 1/4 sec & goes straight to blue. I did try to make sure I pressed it in the red & then unplugged it & back in but it just goes to welcome.

I'm going to get on to the shop now & see if they'll sort it out, will let you know how it goes, thanks a million for your help, it's very much appreciated

dacogawa

Back again, since it's 13 months since I bought it & they have no more in stock the shop wont replace it, they've said to contact Technisat, which I have twice now & no response.

How would I go about flashing the firmware on this since it has no R232 port please ? I've jtagged an old silvercrest before when it was bricked so I'm ok-ish with this stuff, I've put some pictures below of the box it is

Thanks again

byte

Take it back to Maplin and don't take any of their nonsense. Tell them it's not fit for purpose and you need it fixed free of charge. Sure it's only 13 months old. Manufacturer may only have 12 month warranty but that is neither here nor there.

The problem is Maplin's problem and it is up to them to resolve it. Not fob you off to TechniSat.

dacogawa

Hey Byte,

I had a good long chat with them in Maplin & since it is past the 12 months they don't have to replace it (1 year retail warranty, 3 year manufacturer warranty) They were generous to me on another product I wanted & gave me all the details to contact TechniSat as they don't stock TechniSat or have stock of them any more. I've contacted TechniSat this afternoon & asked them when they are going to pick it up for repair as the retail outlet have asked me to have it returned to them, I hope to hear from them tomorrow. I'll keep the thread informed tomorrow. Thanks for the replies & help

dacogawa

Just to let you all know, Technisat are sending a courier to pick up the box tomorrow & will have it back to me ASAP. They were very quick (heard bad things about them) sent me a RMA request this morning & when I sent it back they responded within 30 minutes with a pick up time. Very happy I didn't have to take it apart.

Thanks for all the help

byte

Glad to see you're getting looked after, finally.

Amusing to see Maplin wiping their hands of you with their "1 year retail warranty" just lucky (for them) that TechniSat offer a 3 year manufacturers' warranty.

STB

Check what you get back is not an refurbished old box. Plenty of stories of same giving up the ghost 6 months later from the repair contracted company in Scotland afair.

Aside, I am very surprised that these boxes didnt have a safety mechanism ie r232 port recovery solution. Its nearly standard these days. It cuts out on the chips having to sent off to be jtagged like this.

liamtech

theres a 3 year manufacturers warranty on Technisat HDFS - regardless even of this there are EU regulations with regards to electronics goods breaking down so soon - not sure of the time frame - in any case id contact Technisat about where you can ship it for repair

dacogawa

Hi All,

Just to let you know the box couldn't be repaired (or they didn't try too hard) so they gave me a brand new in box one, at least for the wait I have got all new cables, warranty extended & 2 remotes now, I'll have to play tricks on the missus

Thanks again for the advice & help!

byte

dacogawa wrote: »

Hi All,

Just to let you know the box couldn't be repaired (or they didn't try too hard) so they gave me a brand new in box one, at least for the wait I have got all new cables, warranty extended & 2 remotes now, I'll have to play tricks on the missus

Thanks again for the advice & help!

Did they specifically say the warranty was extended?

Nice one though, getting a new one.

dacogawa

byte wrote: »

Did they specifically say the warranty was extended?

There's a new warranty card inside it the only thing filled out is 05/06/2013 on it so I take it that means it's extended!