AZBOX, no HD or 4:2:2, firmware?

[delta_charlie]

Hi all, my new AZBOX Elite came in last night and I took it for a test drive this morning. So far I can get plain DVB ok but when I tried the fancy HD and 4:2:2 on G16 all I get is a black screen. I had a solid lock on each TP I tried and had audio but no video. I tried the HD, GDMX, and ABC Mux with the same black screen and audio.

My first thought was to check the firmware version and found my receiver has 0.9.996 TD210S

When I checked the online update to see what was available I found:
0.9.2372, 0.9.2880, 0.9.3661 and 0.9.3686

Looks like the update is older then what is already on my receiver, what gives?

Might the black screen be caused by something else? Any ideas?

BTW - I did check and change the video res to 1080i (the highest my TV supports, should I try dropping it down?

Thanks for any help, DC

Just had a thought - I have the AZBOX hooked up to my TV using the Component video connectors, could that be part of the problem? I plan to hook up using HDMI when I get a chance to get a cable.

 

[Lak7]

My first thought was to check the firmware version and found my receiver has 0.9.996 TD210S

First thing to do is update the Firmware, start at 2880, seems the most stable.
With the older Firmware, you need to "Insert HD Flag"
Using the remote:
Select Channel, wait for Lock
Press "OK"
Press "Edit"
Select "Insert HD Flag"
Exit
You should see Video now.

Anyway, update ASAP, Channel list are not compatible from the old Firms to the New, so everything you are doing now will be lost.

 

[B.J.]

First thing to do is update the Firmware, start at 2880, seems the most stable.
With the older Firmware, you need to "Insert HD Flag"
Using the remote:
Select Channel, wait for Lock
Press "OK"
Press "Edit"
Select "Insert HD Flag"
Exit
You should see Video now.

Anyway, update ASAP, Channel list are not compatible from the old Firms to the New, so everything you are doing now will be lost.

I'm still using the 0.9.2372 firmware, and it's perfectly stable, and doesn't need any HD flag insertion or anything. I've never upgraded past that, since every firmware since that haven't added any significant features, but have resulted in people posting about problems, although I don't remember about 2880 problems.
I have been considering the most recent firmware, however, since it does seem to have mp3 audio improvements, but I keep hoping for > 20,000 SR recording and blind search, so that I don't have to do this twice.
But anyway, the 0.9.2372 firmware is also a good stable firmware. I haven't had any problems with it other than the washed out video on mpeg4 channels, and I don't think the newer firmware fixed that. It also works fairly well with the version of editor I have, although I seldom use the editor.

 

[Lak7]

BJ, reason I suggest is for the better Channel Editor.
Channel List are not compatible Pre-2880.

 

[delta_charlie]

BJ, reason I suggest is for the better Channel Editor.
Channel List are not compatible Pre-2880.

Hi Lak7, thanks for the info. I will try 2880 tonight.

BTW - I see the error in my version missmatch. 2880 is bigger then 996 DOH!

Later, DC

 

[Mr Tony]

That seems to be the 3rd "requirement" when you get a azbox
1. open cover and make sure all connections are tight
2. plug in receiver
3. update software

 

[gremlin411]

I know iceberg is right on that one

 

[Mr Tony]

That seems to be the lines that folks who have azbox's tell the folks who just get one. I know Lak7 told me to check connections and update firmware 1st

 

[phlatwound]

That seems to be the lines that folks who have azbox's tell the folks who just get one. I know Lak7 told me to check connections and update firmware 1st

That's weird.

When I first got mine and had trouble with it, Lak to me to box it up and send it to him, for repair.

Said it would only take a couple years to fix.

 

[brentb636]

That's weird.

When I first got mine and had trouble with it, Lak to me to box it up and send it to him, for repair.

Said it would only take a couple years to fix.

I understand that he is VERY meticulous !!

 

[Lak7]

Hey now!

 

[AcWxRadar]

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

 

[Mr Tony]

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.

still havent seen that on the elite...maybe its just the premium model

 

[Lak7]

still havent seen that on the elite...maybe its just the premium model

Correct, that is just for the Premium

 

[AcWxRadar]

I didn't realize that, but it makes sense. Since the Premium is designed for an internal HDD.

Still, you'd think that they would implement it for an external USB HDD unless they are assuming that all external USB HDDs have a built-in sleep mode of their own. I don't know if they all do. I believe that my Maxtor One Touch USB drive does, but that is just one example, and I am not entirely certain of that.

RADAR

 

[delta_charlie]

That seems to be the 3rd "requirement" when you get a azbox
1. open cover and make sure all connections are tight
2. plug in receiver
3. update software

Hi Iceberg, I did not remove the cover but I did have trouble plugging it in. It came with a little adaptor for the power cord. When I plugged it in with the adaptor I got nothing and started to think the receiver might be DOA but I remember others posting about power cord issues so I looked around the house and found another power cord from my digital camera that had the same end connector for the receiver but it had the normal outlet connector that we use here in the US on the other end. That got it going. Whew!

I took the power cord adaptor to work this morning and checked it with my volt meter and found it was defective. It would pass AC if the power cord was not fully seated but not if you pushed it all the way.

Later, DC