HR20 Routinely Stops Responding - Requires Reset

[MikeekiM]

My HR20 just stops responding from time to time...

I thought I had increased stability by keeping it out of standby 100% of the time (and yes, this actually has reduced the occurrences of this problem)...

But tonight, I was in the Active screen...and it indicated "updating" before painting the entire screen, and would not come out of it...

No response to remote buttons...no response to front panel buttons... tried to bring up the guide...tried to bring up the recorded lists... no response...

Yet the inset video windows of the active screen were still displaying smoothly with all the appropriate sounds...

I thought I'd let it sit and "unfreeze"...but 30 minutes later I decided to press the red reset button...

Anyone else running into these problems?

[Ken S]

Mike,

Which model of HR20 do you have? 100 or 700?
Do you have it connected to a network? If so disconnect and see if the device becomes more stable.

[clarkjrmac]

My HR20 does this as well from time to time. It will be stuck on whatever channel was last watched. Remote has no effect, nor do any of the buttons on the unit itself. If you had any scheduled recordings, they do not take place. The reset button is the only choice at this point.

It is an HR20-700 and I am not using the Ethernet port.

[Ferretguydave]

My HR20 does this as well from time to time. It will be stuck on whatever channel was last watched. Remote has no effect, nor do any of the buttons on the unit itself. If you had any scheduled recordings, they do not take place. The reset button is the only choice at this point.

It is an HR20-700 and I am not using the Ethernet port.

I had the same thing happen last night for the first time. I have the HR20-100 and when I turned on the set the screen was frozen (although the sound was working properly) and the two shows I had set to record earlier in the evening had not recorded. It took pushing the dreaded red button to get it working again.

Any thoughts? (Oh, I'm not using the Ethernet port either.)

[MikeekiM]

Mike,

Which model of HR20 do you have? 100 or 700?
Do you have it connected to a network? If so disconnect and see if the device becomes more stable.


It's a 700, and I just connected it to the network yesterday afternoon...

I have had the unresponsiveness pre-network setup...and post-network setup (last night)

[Ken S]

MikeekiM,

Do you have the HR20 plugged into a UPS?

[MikeekiM]

MikeekiM,

Do you have the HR20 plugged into a UPS?

I do...

[Stuart Sweet]

How often? Is it always while on an interactive channel?

[MikeekiM]

Not always on an interactive channel... sometimes it will happen in the "List" mode...again, the show in the upper right hand corner will continue but just won't respond to the remote or front panel buttons...

I am trying to recall whether it happens just watching TV (no guide, no list mode, no interactive mode)...

It happens a few times a week...

[Ken S]

MikeekiM,

Hmm...

Okay, what's your internal temperature? Is the device getting ventilation?
You can get the temp by holding INFO for 3+ seconds and then scrolling down just a bit.
If the temperature is running over 130 degrees that may be a problem.

If it's not high...I guess I'd suggestion...

1. Make sure all connections are tight
2. Make sure the UPS is in good shape.
3. Run the system test.
4. Try disconnecting everything for a few minutes. When you re-connect only do power, sat feeds and basic connection to your TV.

You may want to try a full format, but let's hold off until we've tried everything else.

[MikeekiM]

Thanks for your help and attention Ken...

My internal temperature is 122F...pretty consistently... I have to admit that I used to have a DVD player on top of my HR20 which probably raised the temperature considerably since it blocked the ventilation holes... I never took a look at the temperature at that time... I am hoping that the increased temperature did not cause any irreparable damage...

I'll check all the connections and the stuff you mentioned shortly and get back to you... Thanks again!

[Ken S]

Mikeekim,

My pleasure. I'm just trying to go through all of the minor issues that may be causing the problem before suggesting a full format and/or returning the receiver.

Although at some point it may just save you more time to call DirecTV and report it as defective...especially if you're still under warranty (90 days) or have the protection plan.

[MikeekiM]

It has been more than 90 days...and I am not under the protection plan...

However, it was my understanding that leased units belong to DTV, and that they would cover leased boxes by default... Is this not true?

[Ken S]

Mike,
They're not obligated to, but it seems that they will replace the box for the cost of S&H ($21.00) and reset your two-year commitment. This is all just hearsay though.