[Radio Enginerd]

Anyone noticing better performance if the HR20 is powered on and off instead of being left on fulltime?

The reason for my question...

I got one of these great Harmony remotes which I highly recommend!!! Since I've been using the Harmony I could swear I'm getting more lock ups. I find that I power everything, the HR20 is running, BUT unresponsive to commands from the Harmony remote AND the original IR remote.

When I looked at the configuration of my Harmony remote, I realized I have it set to leave the HR20 on ALL THE TIME. Prior to the use of my Harmony, my HR20 went off every time I used the "off" button on the original HR20 remote.

I know the box never really goes off, but anyone notice better performance if the unit is powered off instead of left on all the time?

 

[hasan]

Anyone noticing better performance if the HR20 is powered on and off instead of being left on fulltime?

The reason for my question...

I got one of these great Harmony remotes which I highly recommend!!! Since I've been using the Harmony I could swear I'm getting more lock ups. I find that I power everything, the HR20 is running, BUT unresponsive to commands from the Harmony remote AND the original IR remote.

When I looked at the configuration of my Harmony remote, I realized I have it set to leave the HR20 on ALL THE TIME. Prior to the use of my Harmony, my HR20 went off every time I used the "off" button on the original HR20 remote.

I know the box never really goes off, but anyone notice better performance if the unit is powered off instead of left on all the time?

I have never turned mine off (and use a Harmony 628 remote) and have had no freezes/lockups in the 4 weeks I've had the HR20. Nor have I ever had a remote problem. I don't think that on/off has anything to do with your problems.

 

[DustB]

I turn mine "off" whenever I turn the TV off.
I have had very few isues thankfully, mostly just software issues like the FF bug, etc.
I've only had to do one reset since I got the HR20 in early September.
Not sure if "off" has anything to do with it though

 

[GA20646]

I turn both of my HR20's "off" with the remote and I've had almost no problems with either but I doubt if it really makes any difference. Even though the one in the bedroom is off, we can hear the hard drive "scratching" while doing who knows what all night long.

 

[walters]

If it's like the R15, apparently standby (what everyone is calling "off") is a hint that the system is not in use and may therefore do some processing that might interfere (slow down) interactive use of the box (whatever sort of stuff this may be--indexing the program guide, checking the to do list, etc.). All of this is stuff it will eventually do anyway after not being used for some period of time (four hours?)

 

[litzdog911]

Some users here have reported problems with the HR20 not coming back "on" after it's placed in Standby.

 

[Slyster]

Doesn't having it on 24/7 mean the hard driver is working 24/7 (buffering)...?

That would make a HUGE reduction in the units lifespan.. especially if you only watch a few hours per day.

 

[litzdog911]

Doesn't having it on 24/7 mean the hard driver is working 24/7 (buffering)...?

That would make a HUGE reduction in the units lifespan.. especially if you only watch a few hours per day.

The hard drive is powered whether you place in Standby or keep On. Many studies actually suggest that it's less stressful for the drive to continuously operate and it will last longer than drives that are frequently powered on/off.

 

[Radio Enginerd]

The hard drive is powered whether you place in Standby or keep On. Many studies actually suggest that it's less stressful for the drive to continuously operate and it will last longer than drives that are frequently powered on/off.

This is true... If (while in standby) the drive continues to spin, its easier on the bearings of the drive to continue spinning then have to spin down and spin up each time it is used.

My question was more along time lines of what maintenance routines happen when the unit is in standby?

 

[matto]

Doesn't having it on 24/7 mean the hard driver is working 24/7 (buffering)...?

That would make a HUGE reduction in the units lifespan.. especially if you only watch a few hours per day.

Yes, I suspect that putting the unit in standby mode means it stops buffering whatever channel you've set the tuner to- and not doing the constant seeks and writes means less stress on the hard disk.

However, I seem to recall people mentioning that they've turned on the unit from standby and noticed they had a 90 minute buffer anyway- so who knows with this thing...

 

[bonscott87]

I believe on the HR20 it keeps recording the buffer. Should be easy to test.

Anyway, in the 4 (5?) weeks I've had the HR20 I've only powered down/put in standy twice and both by accident. It's running just as fast today as the day I got it. And the only times it's rebooted was upon initial setup and any software updates. I've hit the red button reset once and that was to get the 2nd tuner activated.

 

[uncrph90]

I believe on the HR20 it keeps recording the buffer. Should be easy to test.

Most of the time, it does keep the buffer, but not always. I just turned mine on, and tried to rewind--no buffer.

 

[TheNukeMan]

Some users here have reported problems with the HR20 not coming back "on" after it's placed in Standby.

Mine never comes back....Power button won't turn it on. Nothing. Have to pull power to get it back running. What a pain..No answers yet...

 

[Draconis2941]

Most of the time, it does keep the buffer, but not always. I just turned mine on, and tried to rewind--no buffer.

I've noticed this as well. I think it comes down to if there recordings scheduled or not.

If you power-off (stand by) and there are no recordings that would use both turners at once it seems to keep the buffer. If the unit changes the channel from where it was left when switched off, presumably for a recording, then it doesn't seem to buffer.

 

[ITrot]

I give my wife a hard time when she puts the laptop in hibernate, then a minute later she wants to use it again for a minute, then hibernates again. It just seems to be better to leave it on and not have the hard drive work too hard.

But for my TV viewing I usually plop down for a cuple hours or so. I turn the unit off when not in use.