Problems with Hopper 3 is it just me?

[BostonMA]

Last couple of days I've been having numerous problems:
- channels going black or freezing or appearing as a screen full of colorful dots
- started happening on picture in picture but has happened in random situations
I use that feature often, tried multichannel app but appears to just be infomercial for Dish and not working

I updated to latest version but problem but problems still persists

 

[thomasjk]

I'm not seeing any issues like this. Pull the plug and reboot the receiver. If it still does this verify your line of sight is clear. No trees etc. Call Dish you may need a tech visit.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[BostonMA]

I'm not seeing any issues like this. Pull the plug and reboot the receiver. If it still does this verify your line of sight is clear. No trees etc. Call Dish you may need a tech visit.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

I have rebooted numerous times and it is not a line of sight issue. Just was checking before calling Dish. Thanks.

 

[DishSubLA]

Yeah, OP, ME TOO. I've seen all the problems you've cited. The black screen, etc. The PIP function--especially the 4 PIP Bar Mode has been a mess since the dismissal of many of the coders from Dish some time ago--a coincidence, I admit. The 4 PIP Bar Mode reaches new heights of UN-reliability. The latest is that while I can now CLOSE the PIP Bar Mode withOUT a mass failure and reboot, if I dare to Skip Back after having recently closed the Bar Mode PIP, the H3 will FAIL and reboot, just about every time. To be clear, I have also see the same colorful junk on screen as you have for a few seconds, but not often.

The PIP--especially the 4 PIP Bar Mode, is still temperamental and I can count on it, sometimes immediately upon closing Bar Mode, to FAIL and REBOOT 85% of the time, a slight improvement of the previous 95% of the time . We can only hope and wait. Meanwhile I've not had such problems with using PIP for 2 channels.

If it turns out you have a different problem OUTSIDE of rebooting after PIP, then my apologies. I couldn't tell if you problems were part of the PIP exclusively.

 

[BostonMA]

Yeah, OP, ME TOO. The PIP function--especially the 4 PIP Bar Mode has been a mess since the dismissal of many of the coders from Dish some time ago. The 4 PIP Bar Mode reaches new heights of UN-reliability. The latest is that while I can now CLOSE the PIP Bar Mode withOUT a mass failure and reboot, if I dare to Skip Back after having recently closed the Bar Mode PIP, the H3 will FAIL and reboot, just about every time. To be clear, I have also see the same colorful junk on screen as you have for a few seconds, but not often.

The PIP--especially the 4 PIP Bar Mode, is still temperamental and I can count on it, sometimes immediately upon closing Bar Mode, to FAIL and REBOOT 85% of the time, a slight improvement of the previous 95% of the time . We can only hope and wait. Meanwhile I've not had such problems with using PIP for 2 channels.

My experience has been different. I have been using PIP regularly for the last moth or two without issue unless I fat-fingered the buttons on the remote. It was great having the three business channels and a news channel on to track what was going on. It was sporadic the last week or two, then the last couple of days that it has crapped out totally. Now if I try to use it everything hangs and I have to reboot.

 

[DishSubLA]

My experience has been different. I have been using PIP regularly for the last moth or two without issue unless I fat-fingered the buttons on the remote. It was great having the three business channels and a news channel on to track what was going on. It was sporadic the last week or two, then the last couple of days that it has crapped out totally. Now if I try to use it everything hangs and I have to reboot.

Ah, thinks; I understand. I think while are experiencing particular problems are somewhat different, we both probably suffer from the 4 PIP Bar Mode frustration. Funny thing is that I most often use the Bar Mode to prevent a news channel's "bug" from "burning" onto my TV screen . But I do like monitoring a few other channels, as well, and Bar Mode allows skipping back and forth and Closed Captions that the "Multi-screen" mux does not. Let's hope this post makes it on the summary of the CEO . Best of luck to you.

 

[HipKat]

My experience has been different. I have been using PIP regularly for the last moth or two without issue unless I fat-fingered the buttons on the remote. It was great having the three business channels and a news channel on to track what was going on. It was sporadic the last week or two, then the last couple of days that it has crapped out totally. Now if I try to use it everything hangs and I have to reboot.

Not to simplify it, but your problem sounds more like a signal issue. If not the Dish needing repointing, the LNB may be going bad

 

[jct21]

Last couple of days I've been having numerous problems:
- channels going black or freezing or appearing as a screen full of colorful dots
- started happening on picture in picture but has happened in random situations
I use that feature often, tried multichannel app but appears to just be infomercial for Dish and not working

I updated to latest version but problem but problems still persists

not just you. I've experienced all those and more, to the point where after 4 months in, I canceled a few days ago. I couldn't get dish to repair my setup despite photos and tech visits. I filed a complaint with the BBB & my states AG. I sincerely hope you have better luck getting yours fixed than I did.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

With a few million Hooper 3's out there if it was a major problem we would be hearing about it. Changes are its something with your dish, possibly something slightly out of alignment or a failing LNB unit. But could even be something as silly as a cable end that has gone bad.

 

[DISH Support]

Last couple of days I've been having numerous problems:
- channels going black or freezing or appearing as a screen full of colorful dots
- started happening on picture in picture but has happened in random situations
I use that feature often, tried multichannel app but appears to just be infomercial for Dish and not working

I updated to latest version but problem but problems still persists

Hey, BostonMA! With situations like this, we would have you check the coax cable running from your wall/floor to the back of your Hopper. Please make sure both ends of the coax are screwed on hand tight.
If you are still experiencing an issue with the signal, please feel free to reach out to our Chat support here: Direct Chat They will be happy to troubleshoot further with you.
-Jessica M.

 

[BostonMA]

Hey, BostonMA! With situations like this, we would have you check the coax cable running from your wall/floor to the back of your Hopper. Please make sure both ends of the coax are screwed on hand tight.
If you are still experiencing an issue with the signal, please feel free to reach out to our Chat support here: Direct Chat They will be happy to troubleshoot further with you.
-Jessica M.

Checked the coax and it is hand tight. Did some additional testing which makes me think it could be an LNB issue. When the issue occurred, I navigated a number of apps and functions. I went to the diagnostic app and no issues were found. Was able to navigate most functions of the DVR, everything worked except the ability to view the videos. Sound works on most functions: DVR, PIP, and all channels (satellite and OTA). Will pursue Direct Chat and go from there.

It could also be an issue with the cable from the dish which was not replaced when the VIP612 was swapped out for the Hopper 6 months ago.

It is my expectation as being a Dish customer for over 20 years and a DVR user since their first model I will not experience the problems of jct21.

 

[HipKat]

Checked the coax and it is hand tight. Did some additional testing which makes me think it could be an LNB issue. When the issue occurred, I navigated a number of apps and functions. I went to the diagnostic app and no issues were found. Was able to navigate most functions of the DVR, everything worked except the ability to view the videos. Sound works on most functions: DVR, PIP, and all channels (satellite and OTA). Will pursue Direct Chat and go from there.

It could also be an issue with the cable from the dish which was not replaced when the VIP612 was swapped out for the Hopper 6 months ago.

It is my expectation as being a Dish customer for over 20 years and a DVR user since their first model I will not experience the problems of jct21.

There's a chance that the cable - if not replaced is also not 3Ghz - which the Hoppers require

 

[Darealskyy]

Last couple of days I've been having numerous problems:
- channels going black or freezing or appearing as a screen full of colorful dots
- started happening on picture in picture but has happened in random situations
I use that feature often, tried multichannel app but appears to just be infomercial for Dish and not working

I updated to latest version but problem but problems still persists

I have literally been having multiple issues with my Hopper 3(s) for years now. It's to the point that I'm considering leaving Dish completely after a total of 6 tech visits and 4 Hoppers. I've began recording each and every incident I have on video and will just host a YouTube channel to showcase them. Perhaps this will get their attention and their engineers will resolve these plagues.

 

[Howard Simmons]

I have literally been having multiple issues with my Hopper 3(s) for years now. It's to the point that I'm considering leaving Dish completely after a total of 6 tech visits and 4 Hoppers. I've began recording each and every incident I have on video and will just host a YouTube channel to showcase them. Perhaps this will get their attention and their engineers will resolve these plagues.

Please do. I would really like to see that.

 

[Pepper]

Speaking of YouTube, the YT app on the Hopper 3 seems to periodically just quit working, display a black screen or error message "something went wrong" or just cause the entire box to have no audio output even after exiting YT back to normal operation, reboot being the only solution.

 

[BostonMA]

UPDATE:
Got sidetracked with a lot of other stuff. Life goes on without picture-in-picture.

Tried PIP again before calling support. It has been working pretty well for the last few weeks in multi-channel mode. There seems to be an update. The side by side function seem screwed up, but I'm happy watching 4 channel at once.

I did have a clue on an external cause. During a recent stint of four 90 degree days, I had a couple of issues if I used a fan instead of turning on the air conditioner. Does the number of tuners you use affect the heat in the box?