Bargain Alert: New Ferguson HD DTT/Sat Combo Box - €63 before postage

Tony · 25-08-2011 10:13AM

dulpit wrote: »

Bought a cheap signal booster in Argos for 7 quid, terrestrial was immediately fixed

Thats Kool and the gang

gkp1 · 25-08-2011 10:21AM

Tried out the PVR function of this box for the first time last night. Set it to record the 9 o'clock news on RTE1. It powered up, recorded the correct program and went back to standby nicely, however it named the recording "Champions League Live". The last channel I was watching on the box was RTE2 which was showing Champions League and when the box powered up to make the recording I noticed it still had "002" on the front display.
Is this a known issue? A major bug in PVR function if it is.

mongoola · 25-08-2011 10:48AM

gkp1 wrote: »

Tried out the PVR function of this box for the first time last night. Set it to record the 9 o'clock news on RTE1. It powered up, recorded the correct program and went back to standby nicely, however it named the recording "Champions League Live". The last channel I was watching on the box was RTE2 which was showing Champions League and when the box powered up to make the recording I noticed it still had "002" on the front display.
Is this a known issue? A major bug in PVR function if it is.

Had the very same problem. Any cure for this?

stwome01 · 25-08-2011 11:08AM

This is a known issue. Hopefully it will be fixed in the next firmware update.

Johnboy1951 · 25-08-2011 12:08PM

Just wondering .......

is anyone keeping a list of known bugs and desired functions that might be addressed in a future firmware upgrade?

Tony · 25-08-2011 12:42PM

I'm relaying this back to ferguson but it would be really helpful if everyone emailed them too to put some pressure on.

mongoola · 25-08-2011 02:58PM

Tony wrote: »

I'm relaying this back to ferguson but it would be really helpful if everyone emailed them too to put some pressure on.

Agree, I'll do that now, Tony. Just got my box this day last week, very quick service. Happy with it apart from fairly minor problems.

Johnboy1951 · 25-08-2011 05:57PM

Tony wrote: »

I'm relaying this back to ferguson but it would be really helpful if everyone emailed them too to put some pressure on.

Is there a list of bugs that should be addressed, so that we could all mention each of them when we email?

Tony · 25-08-2011 06:05PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Is there a list of bugs that should be addressed, so that we could all mention each of them when we email?

It might be best if you just mentioned issues that you are personally aware of, otherwise problems that people think are firmware issues might get included .

PSol · 25-08-2011 08:28PM

givecredit wrote: »

When I first tuned in my DTT channels i found the tuner was able to receive Digital channels from Mahera, Truskmore and Cairn Hill. (My aerial is ponted at CairnHill) The Rte channels from Mahera and Truskmore were prone to breakup. Make sure you have selected the RTE digital channels coming from Mahera, not some other nearby transmitter,. My other DTT tuners do not pick up Mahera or Truskmore, so must be a good sensitive tuner in 120

givecredit - many thanks to you and Tony (by email). It looks like we're picking up 2 transmitters, so I re-scanned today on the stronger signal and we've had no skipping for the last hour!

Great relief. It never occurred to me that i could be the wrong transmitter - duh.

Will keep an eye on this thread and try to report back with a review, but so far very impressed.

theoneeyedman · 25-08-2011 09:01PM

Hi

mentioned this a while ago, someone(think Tony) mentioned a verbatun 320GB drive. Does this drive have to be powered yea?(I'm picking up options for both) If someone could link to a recommend a specific one I'd appreciate it -just for for day to day recording and stuff nothing too heavy

mmmmcl · 25-08-2011 10:40PM

Does anyone know if the .abs channel listing for the ariva 120 can be used to update the Ariva 220?

STB · 25-08-2011 10:49PM

mmmmcl wrote: »

Does anyone know if the .abs channel listing for the ariva 120 can be used to update the Ariva 220?

.abs files contain the firmware etc.

13.3 Updating by RS232

This menu allows you to send software, settings or channel lists from one receiver to another receiver of the same type.
Connect the receivers using an RS232 Null Modem cable. Select allcode in order to send all of the software, or userdb
to send only current settings and the channel list.

The channel lists should be fine. I wouldnt try anything else. I dont know if its possible via USB mode without dragging the firmware accross. Tony should know (I dont have one of these boxes).

Tony · 26-08-2011 12:21AM

STB wrote: »

I dont know if its possible via USB mode without dragging the firmware accross. Tony should know (I dont have one of these boxes).

Its not possible as far as I'm aware

darth_maul · 26-08-2011 08:51PM

mmmmcl wrote: »

Does anyone know if the .abs channel listing for the ariva 120 can be used to update the Ariva 220?

If the Ariva 220 also uses ABS files I would say the below may work

Open ariva editor and open the A120 channels list.
go to file export and save it as a udf (user database)
close arivaeditor and open again
open udf file
the goto file export and save it over the new firmware abs file (basically overwrite the new firmware file "A220Combo_20110805_2.15B5.abs")
this now has A220 firmware and your channel list (still has same file name A220Combo_20110805_2.15B5.abs)

put usb drive back in combo box
goto upgrade by usb
upgrade mode userdb (or Allcode+bootloader if you haven't yet upgraded the firmware)
select the new firmware file (A220Combo_20110805_2.15B5.abs)
click start

Should work

***EDIT***
Just checked and the A220 does uses ABS files so 99.999% sure this would work, Please report back after you have tried

Stoner · 26-08-2011 09:30PM

I got the box and antenna from tony yesterday, stuck them in when i came in from work, bar a small issue with not having a type f joiner connector all was good, great little box, easy set up, super picture, reminded me a bit of years ago when you have to tune in the TV stations in a certain order for my father,

1= RTE 1
2= RTE 2
3= BBC 1
4= BBC 2
5= UTV
6= Spare
7= Spare
8= Spare

Very fast delivery from Tony again, thank you.
The BBC HDs are better than the UPC "HD" stations.

givecredit · 26-08-2011 11:46PM

darth_maul wrote: »

If the Ariva 220 also uses ABS files I would say the below may work

Should work

***EDIT***
Just checked and the A220 does uses ABS files so 99.999% sure this would work, Please report back after you have tried

I have been transferring channel lists between 220 and 120 using above methos for about a month now with no problems...

AdrianII · 27-08-2011 08:54PM

just set up the ariva 120 as advised by tony, fantastic job. The free sat HD is super.

Thanks for the help Tony

yop · 27-08-2011 10:07PM

Thanks Tony, got the boxes!

The terrestrial isn't mighty, there is a booster on it upstairs at the aerial, but this same booster is also used for the TV in the kitchen which has an inbuilt freeview. The quality there though is super.

Had a few freezes which needed a reboot.

Need the update I would be thinking

viking · 27-08-2011 10:42PM

Picked up my second of these from a buddy of mine who brought one over from Poznan. Moved the aerial from the loft to outside on a pole above the roof line and its made a huge difference especially in bad weather.

Sky will finally be cancelled on Wednesday when the notice period runs out and I'll have saved myself a few quid in monthly fees. Most importantly the missus is happy

Delighted to have discovered this box

Shannon_Gaels · 27-08-2011 11:17PM

mongoola wrote: »

Anyone know why RTE+1 has sound only, no pic? All other channels, DTT and Sat, very good on Ariva 120.

Hi Mongoola & Tony.

Again this issue has returned to my ariva units , (my buddy in galway rang me yesterday to inform me of the same issue) RTE JNr sound no picture.

But RTE +1 stayed ok this time.

When we switch from E3 to rte jnr, the picture from 3e appears (frozen) and rte jnr is in the backround.

Not sure why this is happening, but if i delete the terrestial channels power down the box and re-scan the channels it works fine!.

We thought the original firmware update that i uploaded was corrupt as a reflash also fixes this, but the thing is It comes back !.

I never seen this on the previous flash updates ?.

I dont know what to do next ??

Mongoola , What transmitter are you picking up the signal?

thanks

Tony · 28-08-2011 03:20AM

AdrianII wrote: »

just set up the ariva 120 as advised by tony, fantastic job. The free sat HD is super.

Thanks for the help Tony

My pleasure, thanks for your support.

darth_maul · 28-08-2011 12:03PM

Just installed 2 of these in a RTE Radio Studios, they are really delighted with them.

mongoola · 28-08-2011 12:46PM

Shannon_Gaels wrote: »

Hi Mongoola & Tony.

Again this issue has returned to my ariva units , (my buddy in galway rang me yesterday to inform me of the same issue) RTE JNr sound no picture.

But RTE +1 stayed ok this time.

When we switch from E3 to rte jnr, the picture from 3e appears (frozen) and rte jnr is in the backround.

Not sure why this is happening, but if i delete the terrestial channels power down the box and re-scan the channels it works fine!.

We thought the original firmware update that i uploaded was corrupt as a reflash also fixes this, but the thing is It comes back !.

I never seen this on the previous flash updates ?.

I dont know what to do next ??

Mongoola , What transmitter are you picking up the signal?

thanks

Truskmore, very strong signal with a 7 Euro indoor aerial! I can see transmitter from house, about 10 miles away, (maybe 6, hard to judge,) as crow flies.

Tony · 28-08-2011 05:15PM

darth_maul wrote: »

Just installed 2 of these in a RTE Radio Studios, they are really delighted with them.

Yeah they like them in RTE , guys from Prime Time and the newsroom bought some also

Suafd · 28-08-2011 05:28PM

I have bought one of these from Tony, thanks for the discount.

Have two problems with it and hope somebody can sort me out:

1. I can't pick up the NI channels i.e. BBC 1 NI, BBC 2 NI and UTV. Can get other regions (though not ITV 2 or ITV4) and +1 versions.
They appear on the search result as "No Signal"

2. If I power the box off it takes about 20mins to re-acquire signals. Is this normal and should I leave it powered on continuously?

I'm a newbie and not very techie so be gentle.

Thanks in advance.

Tony · 28-08-2011 05:59PM

Suafd wrote: »

If I power the box off it takes about 20mins to re-acquire signals. Is this normal and should I leave it powered on continuously?

This is not normal, sounds like you may have a dish alignment, lnb or cabling problem .

Suafd · 28-08-2011 06:41PM

Tony wrote: »

This is not normal, sounds like you may have a dish alignment, lnb or cabling problem .

Thanks Tony,
Should there be much difference between the old out of contract S*y box, which worked fine and this one?
I did break the connector when tightening it on the Ariva but got a new one.
Thought I did a good replacement job but will try again and let you know.

Chuck Stone · 29-08-2011 04:03PM

Could the Ariva Combo be connected to a computer moniter to watch TV?

The moniter has a DVI and VGA connection.

Tony · 29-08-2011 04:16PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Could the Ariva Combo be connected to a computer moniter to watch TV?

The moniter has a DVI and VGA connection.

HDMI to DVI converter will most likely work

Bargain Alert: New Ferguson HD DTT/Sat Combo Box - €63 before postage

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