Beyond resetting connections before you begin (to ensure that all are seated properly), I have a few others.

UPGRADE the image file (the firmware) and when you do, be sure to format the Application Area or DOM and not just load the image file.

The newest firmware, 0.9.3686 offers some really nice perks and works very well. Some of the perks are:

Idle mode for the HDD (the HDD goes into sleep mode if not accessed for a USER selectable time period). This saves wear and tear on your HDD.

Start in TV mode (so that the box wakes up in TV mode and not the last mode accessed or some other function or menu).

Extended recording file size of 4GB (as opposed to 3GB).

Nicely compatible with MaZEdit version 2.2.0. This was a real bugger with older firmwares for me as I am quite spoiled from my years of editing channels with Channel Master and the Coolsat 5000 receiver.

There are other perks or advantages that I have not yet experienced yet with the version I now have installed.

USE HDMI output if you are able. Take advantage of the higher quality video and audio if your TV or entertainment system supports it. You will notice the difference, albeit subtle to many.

I have several input options for my TV, so I connect my AZBox via the HDMI and my Coolsat 5000 via S-Video or Component video and my Fortec Star Dynamic via Component Video or S-Video (whichever one I did not use for the Coolsat).

If you are just getting started with the AZBox, don't be too quick to load a new image file when a new version is released.

Read the release notes carefully first and then allow someone else whom you trust to experiment with the new releases for a few weeks first. Let them evaluate it for you.

I have not yet found anything wrong with any of the upgrade image versions that has made me upset or wish I hadn't implemented them, but I have also waited a couple of weeks before installing them. On a couple of occasions, the release was retracted due to some glitch or bug. So this is a good strategy.

UPGRADE your AZBox using a USB flash drive. This is the safest and most user friendly method. Download the image file and install it on a USB flash drive. Be sure that it is not in any condensed or compressed format (not a zip or rar file - most AZBox images will not be compressed unless someone has done this after the fact for some reason). Ensure that it is the only file on that USB drive and that it is not contained within a folder and that it is not renamed in any manner.

ENSURE that your AZBox's RESOLUTION output mode is set properly. If you are in N.A., you will be using NTSC (not PAL) and whatever sub-option that is suitable for your TV or home theatre / entertainment center equipment.

If you are not detecting any video on your TV, you need to refer to the front panel display of the AZBox to follow the selection process for this. You will monitor the front panel display when you press RESOLUTION on the remote and then use the [<], [>] buttons to navigate and [OK] to select the mode/s you need to use.

Be certain to observe whether the channel you are trying to detect is truly FTA. Some channels may scan in and have audio, but are encrypted and therefore the video will be BLANKed.

RADAR