[nandrews]

I am having a problem with the Red Button service on BBC HD channels (BBC1 HD and BBC HD).
When I tune to those channels, just as the 'Red Button' currently showing as "Olympic Extras" appears the display goes black whilst the sound continues!!!
If I select any menu on the HDFV then the display appears behind it. Then when I clear the menu and then the "Olympic Extras" appears again, the display goes off!
I am waiting an answer from Technisat but I expect they will blame the BBC.

Nigel

[petchj]

You are not alone!

Thanks for posting this, could you post the reply from Technisat if/when you get one.

thanks

[nandrews]

petchj,

Should I gather that you are experiencing the same problem?
In the meantime I am interested if you have recently experienced it or has it been on for awhile?
I suspect it is related to the Olympics and the re-arrangements that have been made to provide extra facilities under the Red button.
But I think the problem is down to Technisat since selecting a menu makes the display return albeit behind the menu.

Nigel

[mgm100]

Have just purchased TechniSat HDFV and have same problem with red button on BBC One HD. I somehow figured out a solution whilst waiting for the bods at TechniSat to get there figure out.

Go to channel 304 which will display in the TV master list as 301HD access red button then press ok. You will now be able to scroll to BBC One HD and not miss tomorrows opening of the games.

Not sure if it is a TechniSat problem as you cannot view BBC One HD on channel 50 or 301HD on channel 304. Strange I know but it may be the French interfering with the BBC's output as revenge for not getting these olympic games.

Hope this helps.

[Pomco]

Same problem here, started yesterday when the red button first appeared on the HD channels. The odd thing is that if you push the red button and then OK until the Olympic menu bar appears at the bottom of the screen you can use the < & > buttons to select the other red button channels which display just fine. For the moment I am selecting one of the HD channels I don't want to watch first and then navigating to the one I do want to see after getting the menu bar! If you try and go back to the channel you started from then it still has blank video - bizarre.

Similar problems reported with Sony TVs so it does seem to be some flaky coding by the BBC, not holding my breath for a fix. So I will use the workaround for the moment.

[nandrews]

mgm100,

Thanks for that!
It works for me too.
It seems to be something to do with that 'Olympic extras' prompt which appears.
Doing as you suggest seems to stop that appearing, like the back-up button does on Sky.
I also found that even tho' the display wasn't showing I could record OK and playback with display.

Thanks again
Nigel

[qazx]

Am having a similar problem and its driving me mad just pleased I am not the only one!

[nandrews]

mgm100 and pornco,

The curious thing is if you do the trick on BBC1 HD that one stays black and you can see BBC HD and 301 HD.
If you go to either BBC HD or 301HD then it is each of those that stays black and the other two display!
Weird!

Nigel
btw have you noticed a second after changing channels the display does a brief 'flinch'? Could that be related to this problem?

[Fred Smith]

Off topic but do the Standby and volume buttons on the remote work on your Technidsat HDFV's? Mine does not, but a remote from an old Technisat satellite receiver does work OK on the HDFV. So I'm not sure if I have a duff HDFV remote or not. I suspect it is though, but just wanted to check with others first.

[nandrews]

Fred,

Yes my volume and red power buttons still work.

Back on subject - I notice, currently, there is no Red button showing on BBC HD channels! Could it be they have discovered a fault?

Nigel

[Fred Smith]

Originally Posted by nandrews

Fred,

Yes my volume and red power buttons still work.

Nigel

Thanks.

[qazx]

Hi all have just spoken to TechniSat they are well aware of the issue being discussed on this thread and other forums they believe the problem is the unit's software their engineers are working on it.

I presume if and when they manage to work out a solution they will post a software update in the meantime I might be tempted to get my old Humax Freesat box out!

[mikeondaweb]

I've found another workaround. If you record the programme it seems to keep the picture!

Enjoy the opening ceremony!

Mike

[MorganUK]

I suppose that I'm glad to have found this thread but sorry that others are also having the issue.

I too have got one of these...

TechniSat HDFV Freeview HD Digital Terrestrial TV Receiver Set Top Box with External PVR functionality: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

and my Technisat HDFV box is not playing ball at the moment with the BBC HD channels. Sigh one of the most anticipated things to watch on TV in HD for a while and now we are stuck in SD.

[SATM]

Originally Posted by qazx

Hi all have just spoken to TechniSat they are well aware of the issue being discussed on this thread and other forums they believe the problem is the unit's software their engineers are working on it.

I presume if and when they manage to work out a solution they will post a software update in the meantime I might be tempted to get my old Humax Freesat box out!

I would not hold my breath waiting for a software update from Technisat.
Every time I complained about the box freezing I was told to carry out a factory reset,which did nothing to cure the known inherent problem with the existing software.

[qazx]

Got the old Humax Freesat box out just in time to see the Olympics opening ceremony on BBC 1 HD since then have had no problems accessing and viewing the events schedule and 20+ dedicated HD channels that can be accessed via the red button.

[mgm100]

I have enough of TechniSat I suggest we send all the boxes back. Their customer service stinks, they do not reply to emails as they have switched their server off. They had prior warning of the red button olympic and choose to do nothing about it. I am going to visit every review sight and reduce their rating to zero.

[MobileUser]

Originally Posted by mgm100

I have enough of TechniSat I suggest we send all the boxes back. Their customer service stinks, they do not reply to emails as they have switched their server off. They had prior warning of the red button olympic and choose to do nothing about it. I am going to visit every review sight and reduce their rating to zero.

There's nobody in - Technisat pulled the plug on UK operations a while ago and dumped support. There's been no upgraded firmware since 2010, so it's a miracle that anything works (perhaps a tribute to the initial code).

My guess is that they found UK Freeview a bit of a mess (like DAB) and cut their losses. Pity 'twas a good box.

[MorganUK]

Currys are going to ring me back (we bought two) and I'll see what they can offer me. I can't imagine that it would be resolved as I spoke to the tech support at Technisat and they are aware but offer no resolve.

But if I got my money back that leaves me with no cheap viable alternative. I wonder if the red button issue is just a feature of the Olympics...?

[MobileUser]

The fix suggested (I can't point you to it now as I'm on a carp Voda link) works fine for me - it's not really very tedious; press the red button, wait for channel selection then do that (if I remember).

It depends how much you paid Currys. The Humax receiver from humax direct - refurbished at £69 is excellent. The Technistat is also good and dosen't get hot. I got one from eBay for £25, so I'm content - but onlya at that price point

AFAIK It's only the olympics that's causing the problem, but if it's seen as a good way to do things it may become more commonplace.

[MorganUK]

Thanks for that

I did read this over at Amazon...

NEW BUG: Olympics Extra.. Freeview have updated their software to provide a 'Press Red' Olympics Extra button appearing on HD channels during news programs currently, when the button appears on this box it blanks the picture!, pressing Green to cancel removes the button icon but blanking remains, the solution I`ve found so far is to press 'REC' the picture is restored whilst it is recorded, so this fix will only work with a hard drive attached, I suspect it works as this will not record the 'Press Red' icon (which annoyingly all others I know of do) which is a nice feature. A 2nd option is via 'Press Red', select the channel you don't want (BBC One HD or BBC HD) press red, wait for the new BBC selection menu, select the channel you do want, picture is restored, it appears this is a BBC bug, so complain to them. Currently my Humax Freesat HD box does not show the Olympics Extra button, so I don't know if this will be an issue with other boxes too.

the first "fix" works - but is not a good one. But I can't seem to get the second type to work...?

FWIW I'm very happy with the units I am sort of torn between getting my money back (if I can) and then ending up with nothing or just hoping that the red type button does not grow in its popularity.

I paid £39 for each unit in Feb of this year.

[MorganUK]

Got a full refund on both the boxes and I have bought one Manhattan HDT 700 freeview box as a replacement, to see how it is. I paid less than £40 for it.
Whilst it does not have any PVR facility it does at least work perfectly well with "The red button" services via the BBC.

[MobileUser]

From your quote:-
A 2nd option is via 'Press Red', select the channel you don't want (BBC One HD or BBC HD) press red, wait for the new BBC selection menu, select the channel you do want, picture is restored, it appears this is a BBC bug, so complain to them. Currently my Humax Freesat HD box does not show the Olympics Extra button, so I don't know if this will be an issue with other boxes too.

The above works for me - but you have to wait 10 seconds or more for the message to change twice and then I get the channel I want.

It's not appropriate for Freesat - it's a Freeview modification....

Olympics will be over soon - so the issue may go away. Your not going to get better value than the units you have. It may be that Humax boxes will cost less when the new models get popular.

[MorganUK]

Even though the Technisat boxes had PVR capability I found thta I did not use it and so the Manhattan at £39 will be perfect for on eof my TV's.
The other TV (our main one( will have the iCan HD Freeview box (just ordered from Amazon for around £31) and that supports the BBC iplayer.

So whilst the Technisat boxes have their value still I'm hoping that the Manhattan and the iCan will also fit my needs and with the iPlayer functionaility and red button working on both units it just might work out.

[mb1357]

Now experiencing same blank screen problems on BBC 1 HD following an onscreen prompt to rescan

May well get a Digistream HD box which are going cheapish on Amazon

Cant see how this problem is going to be fixed as there is no support for this box

[mb1357]

Originally Posted by mb1357

Now experiencing same blank screen problems on BBC 1 HD following an onscreen prompt to rescan

May well get a Digistream HD box which are going cheapish on Amazon

Cant see how this problem is going to be fixed as there is no support for this box

update the Technisat box seems to have righted itself

[mb1357]

I have located a more recent software update on the Technisat site but cant see anyway of loading it onto the box as the only option appears to be an OTA update; can any one help?

[Fred Smith]

Originally Posted by mb1357

I have located a more recent software update on the Technisat site but cant see anyway of loading it onto the box as the only option appears to be an OTA update; can any one help?

Are you referring to:

Software 3.6.15 (3.93MB)?

[mb1357]

Yes Fred; is it a proper update? If not is there a later one than 2.47 0 1

Thanks Mike

[Fred Smith]

Originally Posted by mb1357

Yes Fred; is it a proper update? If not is there a later one than 2.47 0 1

Thanks Mike

It not an update, its a program edit suite. Runs on a PC connects to the HDFV via Ethernet.