4000 - Latest Problems - any answers?

[Darkman]

Hi All,
I noticed, my model 4000 lately acting up with the guide...
anyone else? or any suggestions/solutions?
Here is what happening:

When i press Guide...i get the screen with what is ON...
Of course i see everything is kind of slow..but that is nothing
new - it is 4000 after all..
So anyhow - all shows are there...But if click on Info to see what is the show about - i get something like : Retriving sat. information, stand by... - usually i do not mind waiting..
but it is no use for most of the time..the information never comes up...
Also - when moving forward on guide - couple of clicks - and i see - "Info not available" all over the place...
So it kinda sucks..
I think even previous version(s) behaved somewhat better on Guide then that...
At the same time - IRD works fine otherwise..shows the video/audio - no prob..

So any suggestions or ideas?

If nothing could be done to help this problem, but Dishnet's engineers can do something to improve things - Join me please
to kindly request that from them...to maybe come up with new version for 4000 - to fix above problems...

Thanks for listening...

[Marcus S]

Hi Darkman, same problems with the 5000. It all started on Thurs. I am assuming that the legacy receivers are not handling the new ECM well.. I keep thinking about replacing it with another 6000 or used 4900 but it's more fun to give E* hell.

[Darkman]

ya....not sure though if started Thursday..
could have started earlier then that..
do not know exactly when now

[gcutler]

Sadly it may be that the "Limited memory" systems like the 1000/2000/3000/4000/5000 are running into problems dealing with all the locals and other data in the guide. So even if you don't get any locals, they are all still streaming in the guide and taking up resources to be read and then ignored?

Unless you are attached to the DD adapter or the UHF of the Model 4000, replacing it with a 301 may be pretty inexpensive (under $100) and get you away from alot of the bugs. My 4000 was starting to drive me crazy (especially when the UHF remote went bad and there was no IR component to use with a Universal Remote) the 301 brought be back to Normal (if you can ever call me Normal :D )

[scooper]

And you can the UHF remote upgrade kit for the 301 if you REALLY have to have it :)

[Skates]

All:

It's not us, or our receivers. This is E*'s problem.

This issue was covered on E*'s tech forum last week. They mentioned that they were aware that all non open-TV products were beginning to experience severe delays bringing up the info guide. As gcutler said, they attributed it to all of the add'l local channel info they need to stream to the guide. They said they are getting the "team" to take a look at the problem to see if they can improve things.

My model 4000 has been doing the same thing...luckily, it's not my primary receiver.

[scooper]

It would seem to me that they could save alot on the guide if each transponder did the guide for the channels that are on them - at least for the spotbeam transponders, anyway. Maybe keep all CONUS beams guide data on one transponder for each slot.

[Darkman]

ya - that "team" should take a look at the current problem, and do it soon maybe....
I know they are concentrating Mostly on the Newer Receivers...
And other issues..
But if they are Reading this - they should also concentrate on a fact, that AS IS - there are a whole bunch of "Unhappy Campers"
around...

[AllieVi]

Originally posted by Darkman
So any suggestions or ideas?
This is certainly not a perfect fix, but here's a work-around I've been using with a 4000...

When it's apparent that a long group of commercials is starting, when a show ends, or when it's time for a potty break, I hit the guide button and walk away. The 4000 eventually fills up its EPG memory as far into the future as it can - that's about 10 hours on mine. The guide feature times out in about 3 minutes and returns the receiver to the program. If you use this procedure late in the afternoon. you should be set for an entire evening's worth of viewing.

Immediately after performing this action I find that I can usually go at least 8 hours into the EPG future ("guide", 8 "right arrow).

If you ever reach the screen that says


Retrieving program information
from satellite.
Please wait or cancel.


you've lost the near-term information. I try not to do that...

As I mentioned, this is not a perfect fix, but it does allow you to have better EPG response.

[Darkman]

Allie Vi - how about if you are on the guide..and see for example:
"Boxing" - and you want to press Info button to view who is fighting - your method - will it give you the Info or it will be "Retrieving program info" (even though the name "Boxing" is on guide?

[AllieVi]

Originally posted by Darkman
Allie Vi - how about if you are on the guide..and see for example:
"Boxing" - and you want to press Info button to view who is fighting - your method - will it give you the Info or it will be "Retrieving program info" (even though the name "Boxing" is on guide? I responded to a question, it just wasn't the one you asked. In the future, please be considerate enough to ask the right questions... :)

Sorry about that - somewhere along the line I lost track of the issue.

[Darkman]

haha - touchy or what?

why are you getting upset Allie Vi

If you read carefully my original post - i was describing/asking for suggestions on 2 problems with 4000 - one was future guide ...
(you answered this above thank you)
the Second question was the one you see again above in my Post to you (about being in the guide (let say Present guide, not even future guide) and seeing something, ex: "Boxing" or "Gone with the Wind"...then i want details and press INFO button, but instead of getting details for the show i get same old "Retrieving program information, please stand by"..but it doesn't retrieve...

That is my Second question...
Maybe you have some tricks for it as well :)

Thanx a lot for your Tip on my First question though...will have to try it later...was in a hurry earlier when posted that other Post above ..and forgot to thank you...
Thanks again :)

P.S. - actually - i just look at my original Post, and have a correction: - you answered my 2nd question, but not the 1st one..so i got it Mixed up above in This Post..sorry..
In any case you answered 1 of my 2 questions...and if you have any answers to the other one - i would greatly appreciate it :)
Just read my original post more closely - it doesn't say Question 1 and Question 2...but if you read carefully - you ll see - there are 2 questions in there..
and i appologize - YES - my typing could be very confusing often :(
Sorry

[AllieVi]

Darkman,

I was actually just trying to poke fun at myself. After seeing your response, I realized I missed the point of your question and attempted to make a humorous response (note my smiley face).

Good luck with a solution to the Info problem. I'm looking for one, too...

[Marcus S]

New reboot procedure seems to fix problem. For 4000 & 5000 models. Pull the smart card and turn the receiver off for 8 secs, then turn it on without the smart card. When prompted to insert smart card, insert it. Acquiring satellite.. If your receiver displays the System Info screen, do nothing. Insert the Smart Card and within 20 secs Acquiring Signal. Info now seems to work, but only for the day. No longer recommended... Holding down the the power button for 8 secs or pulling the power plug. Appears the new procedure resets the smart card, the old procedure does not. This is a bug that E* recognizes and this is a work around. Expect either a new software ver to spool, a new boot strap, or a new Smart Card in the mail or all of the above. If you have not already run a Check Switch it is also recommended as new switches are now supported, then repeat procedure above.

[Darkman]

thanx will have to try :)

[Darkman]

nope - not really
didn't work that good
gives me info ON main screen for the show
but if i go on guide...
and press INFO on anything..even currrent - says:
Retrieving sat info, please stand by...

will play with it later some more...
maybe it has to mature - as fine wine :)

[Darkman]

actually - it kinda works ..slow...half and half - but gives me some INFOs
i combined Marcus's method with Allie Vi method (of going forward on guide, and leaving it download some stuff, while going for Nature Calls..)

DID all that with the exeption of Nature Calls..
Seems to work somewhat now...lol
will definatly hope for it to mature some more now ;)

[Marcus S]

Hi Darkman, I updated the procedure above with more detail.

[Darkman]

Originally posted by Marcus S
New reboot procedure seems to fix problem. For 4000 & 5000 models. Pull the smart card and turn the receiver off for 8 secs, then turn it on without the smart card. When prompted to insert smart card, insert it. Acquiring satellite.. If your receiver displays the System Info screen, do nothing. Insert the Smart Card and within 20 secs Acquiring Signal. Info now seems to work, but only for the day. No longer recommended... Holding down the the power button for 8 secs or pulling the power plug. Appears the new procedure resets the smart card, the old procedure does not. This is a bug that E* recognizes and this is a work around. Expect either a new software ver to spool, a new boot strap, or a new Smart Card in the mail or all of the above. If you have not already run a Check Switch it is also recommended as new switches are now supported, then repeat procedure above.

Pull the card out, and turn the receiver off for 8 seconds...
Turn it off for 8 seconds with remote control or unplug from the wall?

Thanx

[Marcus S]

Turn it off from the front panel w/out smart card for 8 secs. Then turn on and wait for prompt. I did have to run the switch test after, then repeat the procedure. What a mess... On the 4000 I waited 1 min before trying to pull Program Info, but all came up within 8 secs after I waited. On the 5000 it seemed to work after I waited 20 secs before pulling Program Info. It also got rid of "Error 017 - Acquiring Access Rights", which seemed to occur on mostly the movie channels 300+.

[Darkman]

Originally posted by Marcus S
Turn it off from the front panel w/out smart card for 8 secs. Then turn on and wait for prompt. I did have to run the switch test after, then repeat the procedure. What a mess... On the 4000 I waited 2 mins before trying to pull Program Info, but all came up within 8 secs after I waited. On the 5000 it seemed to work with 20 secs. It also got rid of "Error 017 - Acquiring Access Rights".

so turn it off from the Front panel?
so not with remote control then?
or not from the wall?

[Marcus S]

No remote. The remote puts the receiver into standby mode, front panel causes off mode but only after 8 secs. Since I have a slaved receiver, the RF signal or lack there of indicates a delay of about 8 secs before the slave TV goes to snow. I suspect that the receiver is writing cashe to the smart card before off mode. Interesting discussion on the "other" forum about Smart Cards, but it appears that the Smart Card processor does not reset unless pulled from the receiver as even off mode keeps power to the Smart Card but in sleep mode. Not sure why pulling power does not reset it as well. In doubt, but did appear to fix the problem, but do rerun switch test and repeat procedure.

[Darkman]

strange - but will try

[Darkman]

No..
It still sucks for me..
Info only works on The show itself...
But in Guide hardly works...
only when Using Allie Vi method of going forward and let download some info..and then going back backwards and try on most recent shows, not too far ahead - then kinda works..
In any case it kinda sucks the way it is - E* should send an upgrade to us, and a good one hopefully this time...

Thanks..
I tried :(