DStv 4U HD Decoder Hard Freezing.

[Totempole]

While I'm waiting to see whether or not my account will be activated on the DSTV forum, I figured I'd ask around here.

I purchased a DSTV 4U decoder for my neighbour last year, since her old decoder failed. The damn think freezes every month or so and I have to go there to reset it. Holding the power button doesn't work, you have to unplug and plug in again in order to get things up and running again.

I've tried factory resetting etc, but the problem is recurring.

So my first question is, is this normal/acceptable for this decoder? The old SD one she had before never used to freeze.

If not, how can I convince Multichoice that there's a problem with it, if the issue only occurs once every month or so?

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated here.

Thanks.

 

[Geoff.D]

I presume this is the Single view HD decoder. there are 2 problems that may be contributing:

(1) The service was not set up correctly by MC when the services were transferred from the older decoder to the new one. When you are up and running on the forum, send MC Solomon a PM with the account details, the decoder serial number and the SC number. He will then be able to check all the details on MC's side.

(2) The signal levels and quality values are not good enough to run with the new decoder. When the decoder is working, verify the signal strength and quality values on at least one VER ch and one HOR ch. The 4 U decoder is very dependent on good quality values above 95% with signal strengths in the 80's.
Package dependent ch 101 is on a VER transponder and Ch 140 is on a HOR transponder. It may also be a good idea to check at least one HD channel as well, if a suitable TV is available. This is presuming that the package is a Premium, Extra, or Compact package as these are the only ones with access to HD quality.

Was the LNB replaced at the time when the older decoder was replaced?

 

[Totempole]

I presume this is the Single view HD decoder. there are 2 problems that may be contributing:

(1) The service was not set up correctly by MC when the services were transferred from the older decoder to the new one. When you are up and running on the forum, send MC Solomon a PM with the account details, the decoder serial number and the SC number. He will then be able to check all the details on MC's side.

(2) The signal levels and quality values are not good enough to run with the new decoder. When the decoder is working, verify the signal strength and quality values on at least one VER ch and one HOR ch. The 4 U decoder is very dependent on good quality values above 95% with signal strengths in the 80's.
Package dependent ch 101 is on a VER transponder and Ch 140 is on a HOR transponder. It may also be a good idea to check at least one HD channel as well, if a suitable TV is available. This is presuming that the package is a Premium, Extra, or Compact package as these are the only ones with access to HD quality.

Was the LNB replaced at the time when the older decoder was replaced?

Thanks for the info, will do that when I'm active on their forum.

The LNB was replaced less than 6 months ago, as the old one had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer functioning.

 

[Geoff.D]

Once the signal values are available, we may be able to tell if some adjustment to the skew angle is required.

 

[skeptic_SA]

While I'm waiting to see whether or not my account will be activated on the DSTV forum, I figured I'd ask around here.

I purchased a DSTV 4U decoder for my neighbour last year, since her old decoder failed. The damn think freezes every month or so and I have to go there to reset it. Holding the power button doesn't work, you have to unplug and plug in again in order to get things up and running again.

I've tried factory resetting etc, but the problem is recurring.

So my first question is, is this normal/acceptable for this decoder? The old SD one she had before never used to freeze.

If not, how can I convince Multichoice that there's a problem with it, if the issue only occurs once every month or so?

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated here.

Thanks.

^THIS^
We need more people like you in this day in age. Awesome to read...
Sorry no advice about the decoder from me tho.

 

[Lupus]

that decoder was notoriously bad, all the symptoms you're describing is exactly what they had

 

[Nigel Archer]

Does anybody know how to reset the DSD4136 4U HD single view decoder, to factory defaults, by using only the front panel buttons?
I don't have a TV connected to it anymore and I would like to reset it to the factory defaults. This is Urgently required.