721 Guide Woes

2437 Views 28 Replies 10 Participants Last post by LadyTalia, Oct 5, 2002

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · Oct 1, 2002

Hi all,

My PVR721 performed flawlessly for the first two weeks I had it, doing everything I asked of it and more. Sunday night, however, when under extreme duress due to my daughter's power-user channel surfing, the thing locked up. Wouldn't respond to remote or front panel commands.

After reboot, the machine looks generally healthy, but refuses to load the guide more than 60 minutes ahead. Browsing thorugh the guide, you see all the shows currently playing, but a sea of "Not available" to the right that extends out forever.

I've rebooted in the three ways I know how: power button, unplug, smartcard, and none have had any effect.

I spent an hour with Dish tech support, got escalated twice, to no avail. (Last guy wanted to get rid of me: "turn it off for 30 minutes so it has time to do the download.")

I've verified that I'm getting good signals from my three satellites: 61.5, 110, and 119.

What's left? I love the 721, and I'm willing to forgive it this one transgression if it is going to behave well in the future, but I paid full price and feel obligated to RMA it if it can't be brought back to a fully operational state.

Is there any way to remaster it to it's initial state? That would do the job, and I don't have anything on disk that I can't live without.

- Mark

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1 - 20 of 29 Posts

jannlinder

· #2 · Oct 2, 2002

This has happened to me too...**AND** to the Advanced Tech support in Texas (They duplicated the problem on their demo 721) ...it seems that they may not be downloading spools on 110 transponder 21 like they should. The reason you are getting about 60 minutes is that each transponder carries THAT PROGRAM plus the next one encoded in the signal. So, therefore you never get NO guide information, just limited guide information. I am awaiting a solution from tech support.

Jann

G

· #3 · Oct 2, 2002

I am having this exact same problem on my 721 too. It started last night.

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 2, 2002

I am having this exact same problem on my 721 too. It started last night.

In the interest of working together, let me tell you what I've done in addition to the steps mentioned in my first message.

Naturally, when talking to tech support I've gone through all three types of reboot at least a dozen times by now. (Smart Card, hold button, power cord.)

We've verified my signal strength on 110 transponder 21.

We've verified my switch configuration to death.

And most exciting: we've gone to the secret diagnostic screen and erased my non-volatile-RAM! I had high hopes for a fix from this, but no joy. All I did was erase all my timers and customized guides.

I don't know what's on tap for tonight's exercise, but I'm glad to hear that the problem has been reproduced by ATR. That's a step in the right direction.

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Scott Greczkowski

· #5 · Oct 2, 2002

I have a feeling it has something to do with E8 getting ready to park at 110.

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 2, 2002

I have a feeling it has something to do with E8 getting ready to park at 110.

Hi Scott,

For the uninitiated, what does that mean?

- Mark

jannlinder

· #7 · Oct 2, 2002

E8 is EchoStar Satellite # 8 and it is moving into postiion (behind or in front of) the same orbital slot as the current satellites parked in 110 orbit. this MAY mean that there are problems with them moving SOME data (like 110 transponder 21) over to that satellite and not on the older satellites currently there. This MAY mean that there are problems with transponder signal and/or data traveling over it during this transition. HOWEVER, i am having no problems with VH1 Classics which is on 110 TR 21.

Jann

jannlinder

· #8 · Oct 2, 2002

Can anyone tell me why they placed the guide for the newest machine on their least powerful satellite postition? i mean, REALLY!!! I know FEW people who own a 500 and can get anything approaching a 119 signal strength on 110!!! ATR says they can position their 500 within 5 minutes and get a 125 signal on both 110 and 119 , but I never have been able to (live in California with no obstructions).

--me

DmitriA

· #9 · Oct 2, 2002

Originally posted by snorkelman
And most exciting: we've gone to the secret diagnostic screen and erased my non-volatile-RAM!

How do you get to that screen btw?

mistcove

· #10 · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
I have a feeling it has something to do with E8 getting ready to park at 110.

:hi: do you think the 721 is worth the cost now with only the 119 sat , will it even work correctly?
(was burn't with the frist dishplayer)
bob

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 3, 2002

do you think the 721 is worth the cost now with only the 119 sat , will it even work correctly?

IMHO, most folks should wait another few months until some of these bugs are fixed. Right now you have to have a little bit of courage, a lot of patience, and a genuine love of new gadgetry.

It's a great box, but for existing customers like me it's still pretty expensive, and still a bit unstable.

But if I didn't already have the 721, and I had to buy a PVR today, no way would I settle for a 501 or 508!

- Mark

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by DmitriA

How do you get to that screen btw?

Hey Dimitri, I'll be happy to email you the steps - right now your profile is blocking private email, so just send a message my way and I'll respond.

I don't want to be the guy who posts the instructions in a public forum and is then responsible for a dozen goofuses a day blowing up their machines.

- Mark

jannlinder

· #13 · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
I have a feeling it has something to do with E8 getting ready to park at 110.

Maybe their guide updates are accidentally already being spooled at E* 8 even though it is only now (8:17 PM Pacific time) at 114°45' and not 110....but anyway..they are not supposed to take over spooling on E*8 until 10/10 when E*8 takes over 110 TR 21!!!

Oh well. Ce La Vie! (sp?)

Jann

rolou21

· #14 · Oct 3, 2002

721 Epg update..........2am 10.3.02

Spoke w/Tech support. I complained my epg only goes up to Tues 10/8 7p. It does not go further. He acknowleged that there is a software problem with the 721 as far as only showing the guide up to the next 5 days. There will a software update soon to correct this problem....

bfennema

· #15 · Oct 3, 2002

Mine was only going till Monday at like 10pm like 10 minutes ago, but I just checked again and now its going to a week from Friday. Very strange =]

I did reboot, and that didn't seem to solve anything.. but then I turned it off, so maybe that did it *shrug*

Bill Mullin

· #16 · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by rolou21
I complained my epg only goes up to Tues 10/8 7p. It does not go further. He acknowleged that there is a software problem with the 721 as far as only showing the guide up to the next 5 days. There will a software update soon to correct this problem....

Mine cuts off at the exact same date/time. I'd be calling Dish support except it looks like a lot of people have beat me to it. Anyway, I'm looking forward to a fix!

G

· #17 · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by Bill Mullin
Mine cuts off at the exact same date/time. I'd be calling Dish support except it looks like a lot of people have beat me to it. Anyway, I'm looking forward to a fix!

At least you guys have 5 days of the Guide. I only have the currently playing program and the one right after it.

jannlinder

· #18 · Oct 3, 2002

721 Guide Problem Fixed. 110 TR 21 spooling issue is now corrected!!!! 4:24pm 10/3/2002.

YEAH!!!
Next 9 days are back!

Jann

snorkelman

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 4, 2002

Mine are back too! One bug down, a few left to go....

- Mark

Scott Greczkowski

· #20 · Oct 4, 2002

I am told there was a data error in the guide data which caused to problem. I am also told that there has been a check put in place that should keep this from happening again.

Kudos to the 721 team!

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

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