Reasons for intermittent, random signal loss
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SITUATION UPDATE! IT'S FIXED!
I have no idea what's going on here, but the original picture & sound breakup originally reported has gone. Everything seems to be working properly (knock on wood). Here's what happened.
For some reason, maybe a glitch in the firmware, the Hopper 3 suddenly stop responding to any commands that were directed to the DVR. We could watch any programming in real time, but everything that had been recorded just would not open when the icon for a DVRed show was clicked.
About the only thing that I figured I could try was to reset the system with the red button under the Hopper drop-down door. So I did this, and after re-acquiring satellites, testing switches and whatever else the box does, a satellite channel popped up on the screen AND... the DVR function was back to normal. AND, lo and behold, it's been working flawlessly for a couple of days now with NO trace of the picture pixelization/hesitation that I originally complained about. Sat signal levels show the same as they did when the problem was at its worst, so I don't think it was an RF-domain problem at all.
Thinking back on what we were doing before the DVR crashed, the only thing that could have been abnormal operation was that the Hopper had been left on Pause on a satellite signal for a very long time before we just shut the system down with the remote. Normally we'll do a Pause on what we're watching, or change channels, or do a playback Stop command, all just because it seems the proper thing to do. But it would seem to me that nothing a user could do in normal (or abnormal) operation could hose-up performance over the long haul; that is, create a hardware/firmware glitch that would hold over from day to day.
Anyhow, it's back to normal here, and what I've outlined is our experience... your mileage may vary. Many thanks to all who offered suggestions, I've still learned a lot without knowing what really happened.
I have no idea what's going on here, but the original picture & sound breakup originally reported has gone. Everything seems to be working properly (knock on wood). Here's what happened.
For some reason, maybe a glitch in the firmware, the Hopper 3 suddenly stop responding to any commands that were directed to the DVR. We could watch any programming in real time, but everything that had been recorded just would not open when the icon for a DVRed show was clicked.
About the only thing that I figured I could try was to reset the system with the red button under the Hopper drop-down door. So I did this, and after re-acquiring satellites, testing switches and whatever else the box does, a satellite channel popped up on the screen AND... the DVR function was back to normal. AND, lo and behold, it's been working flawlessly for a couple of days now with NO trace of the picture pixelization/hesitation that I originally complained about. Sat signal levels show the same as they did when the problem was at its worst, so I don't think it was an RF-domain problem at all.
Thinking back on what we were doing before the DVR crashed, the only thing that could have been abnormal operation was that the Hopper had been left on Pause on a satellite signal for a very long time before we just shut the system down with the remote. Normally we'll do a Pause on what we're watching, or change channels, or do a playback Stop command, all just because it seems the proper thing to do. But it would seem to me that nothing a user could do in normal (or abnormal) operation could hose-up performance over the long haul; that is, create a hardware/firmware glitch that would hold over from day to day.
Anyhow, it's back to normal here, and what I've outlined is our experience... your mileage may vary. Many thanks to all who offered suggestions, I've still learned a lot without knowing what really happened.
Sorry to point this out, but we all more than likely figured you had already done a red button reset ...
That is normally the 1st step in any issue, just in case its a simple computer issue ....
As you probably know already, a RBR basically shuts the unit down Properly, much like turning your computer off correctly ...
I'm glad this resolved your issue and all is good.
That is normally the 1st step in any issue, just in case its a simple computer issue ....
As you probably know already, a RBR basically shuts the unit down Properly, much like turning your computer off correctly ...
I'm glad this resolved your issue and all is good.
Thanks for that, Jimbo; no, didn't think a reset would have been needed for less than an unrecoverable failure, and everything seemed to be working okay otherwise. I will keep this in mind and try an RBR should anything untoward happen in future.Sorry to point this out, but we all more than likely figured you had already done a red button reset ...
That is normally the 1st step in any issue, just in case its a simple computer issue ....
As you probably know already, a RBR basically shuts the unit down Properly, much like turning your computer off correctly ...
I'm glad this resolved your issue and all is good.
Yes, keep that in the back of your head, thats always where you start ... many times it will clear an issue ... not always though.
Will do, Jimbo. In fact, next time I get that pain in my lower back, I'm going to reset the Hopper. Hey, if it fixed the TV situation, why not that too! ;-)
I always do a pull the cord reset instead of RBR. Seems to work better for me clearing things up.
Topic is about Hopper issues not a computer. Numerous times I tried the RBR and my issues didn't clear up till I did a pull the cord.
Sometimes, it's called a hard boot as opposed to a soft boot. I have had instances where a red button reset didn't fix the issue but a cord pull did.
Yup, and a Hopper IS a computer ...
Please see my previous posts, I clearly stated that, RBR is where most often times you start as that would turn off the machine , much like a computer turning off vs unplugging.
I also said that, that is where it starts, I said that it would often times fix issues ...
I never said it would Always fix your issues, but its where to start ....
Very true ....
Again, I didn't say that a RBR would always Fix the issue.
Ha! With regard to pull-the-plug Hopper resets, what with temperatures and power grids, we may have that done for us on a regular basis.
There is a difference. The Red Button is a soft reset. The chord pull is a hard reset. A soft reset is like restarting your phone and the apps you were using are still in the recently used list. In the old days, a battery pull - when you could do it, cleared that list.
Isn't that what I said in the very beginning ?
I don't know why people are jumping on my over explaining the difference ...
I simply suggested that the OP do a RBR.
I didn't ever tell him to just pull the plug ... however some others seem to think its better that way ...
I once attended an AF briefing on satellite hardening. They kept talking about "single event upsets" and "phantom transistors". A cosmic ray going through the electronics can e.g. switch bits in memory, or even turn on phantom transistors that were never designed into the equipment. The only way you can reset those phantom transistors is to pull the plug.
And guess what? Many cosmic rays make it all the way to the surface of the earth. We are bathed in radiation from before we were born until long after we die.
HipKat after couple days experimenting I have figured out why my Hopper 3 Check Status test would sometimes stall at 60%. Stalling was only happening when performing the Check Status test during Prime Time hours. So turned the PTAT setting off and now the Check Status test works during the Prime Time hours too. Go figure.
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