508 Unable to get guide info and random freeze

[Ron Barry]

My mother in law has been using her 508 for some time without any problems and recently she started having a problem with not being able to download guide information. She gets the "need to update the guide" prompt and when she says yes it does not download the guide. Resetting the box by pulling out the smart card results in a successful download during bootup. Is anyone else having this issue?

Also, tonight it froze when she hit pause and after she tried to turn it off and on it when black. I was able to get it back on by turning it off waiting 30 seconds and turning it back on.

Are these known issues? anything I should look for next time this happens. I believe 196 is running on it.

We have a 508 upstairs and that is not showing any of the problems that the downstairs one is having.

ANy ideas would be appreciated.

[boba]

I would try a power button reset at least once a week. If you aren't under Digital Home Plan I would suggest investing in the $1.99 extended warranty. You are probably developing a hard drive problem.

[davhol]

PVR's need to be put in "standby" (AKA "turned off") every night to take the guide download. Is the unit being left "on" all the time? If so, that is likely the problem. The solution is to turn it off at night.

[pbrown]

I honestly belive this problem is related to P196. My 508 has performed flawlessly until the new software came out. Now I get the EXACT same problem with the guide. I also have a bonus issue related to the search function. About half the time I go to do a search, I get a "search error" and have to do a smart card reset. I had to pull my card 3 times on sunday for guide and search problems. I can't belive we are the only two that have this problem. Please post if you have a fix. I have tried unplugging also, no real luck.


EDIT: I do turn my reciever off everynight.... but I work a swing shift and am often watching until 3 in the morning.

[Mike D-CO5]

My 3 /508 units are all on the same software and they are not having any problems with the guide.

It has been said many times on this thread you have to turn the receiver off every night or you won't get the latest guide. This will cause you a screen to pop up when your out of guide and you will have to answer yes to download the guide and then you'll have another 8 days of guide. But if you think that we are wrong, call Dish and get another box to replace them . Just be warned it will continue to happen with the replacements if you don't turn them off at night.

[AllieVi]

My two 508's have no problem downloading new guide information when the "need to update the guide" box appears and I click on "yes." My software version is P196.

I have to manually cancel out of the opeartion when the update is completed, though - I would expect that to happen automatically, but it doesn't.

[gcutler]

My machine started to exhibit exactly what the original poster described. I used to never turn off the reciever (I would manually update the guide when I went into the guide, which was rare). Now I turn it off (via front panel) once a week and that seems to solve the problem