DSTV Decoder HELL! (Urgent help needed)

Garden Router said:
Multichoices hardware leaves much to be desired IMO. They supply you with a decoder that has less processing power than a digital photo frame and then try and send you 400 encrypted mpeg streams through it alongside a ton of useless interactive rubbish nobody uses. Tell me why do the things run so hot and keep breaking down? It's like running Vista on a 486.
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first of all, what has the processing power have to do with a decoder?
the "400 encrypted mpeg streams" is perfectly handled by the DSTV decoders of witch i have the PVR
the "useless interactive rubbish" like the SuperSport Active and News & Weather services are actually very useful and cant imagine being without it.

"Tell me why do the things run so hot and keep breaking down" I think your decoder are in a place with too little airflow

I have my PVR for years and was a first adopter and never had any "break down" and still love it.
 
wcoetzee said:
first of all, what has the processing power have to do with a decoder?
the "400 encrypted mpeg streams" is perfectly handled by the DSTV decoders of witch i have the PVR
the "useless interactive rubbish" like the SuperSport Active and News & Weather services are actually very useful and cant imagine being without it.

"Tell me why do the things run so hot and keep breaking down" I think your decoder are in a place with too little airflow

I have my PVR for years and was a first adopter and never had any "break down" and still love it.
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Hi wcoetzee, would you mind sharing with us if there is a levy to be paid for using the pvr, specifically the duel view (if you have it?)
 
DDV TECH said:
Hi wcoetzee, would you mind sharing with us if there is a levy to be paid for using the pvr, specifically the duel view (if you have it?)
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Just hijacking DDV's question.

How much a single normal, PVR would cost etc?
 
DDV TECH said:
Hi wcoetzee, would you mind sharing with us if there is a levy to be paid for using the pvr, specifically the duel view (if you have it?)
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the SD PVR is a dual view and its R50 a month extra because of the dual view functionality.
 
wcoetzee said:
the SD PVR is a dual view and its R50 a month extra because of the dual view functionality.
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Only a R50 month extra on the current normal bill? Then I could just get a SD PVR and all would be fine?
 
Linoman said:
Only a R50 month extra on the current normal bill? Then I could just get a SD PVR and all would be fine?
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a dual LNB is also needed to replace your single LNB
get a reputable installer list from the nearest MC offices and get the details from them
you will never look back to your standard decoder days;)
 
Thank you wcoetzee, last question, any idea how much these decoders cost?
 
wcoetzee said:
first of all, what has the processing power have to do with a decoder?
the "400 encrypted mpeg streams" is perfectly handled by the DSTV decoders of witch i have the PVR
the "useless interactive rubbish" like the SuperSport Active and News & Weather services are actually very useful and cant imagine being without it.

"Tell me why do the things run so hot and keep breaking down" I think your decoder are in a place with too little airflow

I have my PVR for years and was a first adopter and never had any "break down" and still love it.
Click to expand...

From the user manual DSD1110:

Processor: ST5107
Flash memory: 8Mb
RAM: 32 Mb SDRAM
EEPROM:16k bytes

Every decoder I've had (4) and all others I've seen ran hot - regardless of whether they were in a cupboard or out in the open. Decoding an encrypted MPEG stream takes processing power, and that creates heat, and decoders don't have fans. If you compare the specs of older and newer decoders, it is plain that the main upgrades are in the area of the processor and on board memory.

The older decoders simply can't handle the interactive portion of MC's broadcast - they lock up and must be "rebooted" - either by switching them off and on again or by removing and re-inserting the smart card. What makes this annoying, especially for someone like me who does not use the interactive services, is that, were it not for all the interactive content, forced on you by 'software upgrades', the older decoders would probably still be fine to use.
 
Garden Router said:
From the user manual DSD1110:

Processor: ST5107
Flash memory: 8Mb
RAM: 32 Mb SDRAM
EEPROM:16k bytes

Every decoder I've had (4) and all others I've seen ran hot - regardless of whether they were in a cupboard or out in the open. Decoding an encrypted MPEG stream takes processing power, and that creates heat, and decoders don't have fans. If you compare the specs of older and newer decoders, it is plain that the main upgrades are in the area of the processor and on board memory.

The older decoders simply can't handle the interactive portion of MC's broadcast - they lock up and must be "rebooted" - either by switching them off and on again or by removing and re-inserting the smart card. What makes this annoying, especially for someone like me who does not use the interactive services, is that, were it not for all the interactive content, forced on you by 'software upgrades', the older decoders would probably still be fine to use.
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"decoders don't have fans" The PVR has a fan btw
"interactive content, forced on you by 'software upgrades'" Its not forced on you. use it or don't. doesn't make the decoder unstable. the 710 my parents use still runs fine.
get a PVR, " i dont stay home without it :D"
 
I got a problem, where the decoder sometimes decides its too hot. This message comes up saying that the decoder is too hot and that i should let the DSTV people know. It then wont record any programs and wont let me open any recorded programs or any DSTV on demand programs!! Anyone got any advice? Its happening at least once a day now!!
 
Oldseen said:
I got a problem, where the decoder sometimes decides its too hot. This message comes up saying that the decoder is too hot and that i should let the DSTV people know. It then wont record any programs and wont let me open any recorded programs or any DSTV on demand programs!! Anyone got any advice? Its happening at least once a day now!!
Click to expand...

is your pvr fan still running?
take it to a MC office and they will replace the fan and rid the PVR of dust
 
Mu$tang said:
ROFL
Let's not even compare.

Let's just say that the boxes DSTV uses are cheap and nasty. The reason you can't load the EPG in the thing for more than 4 days in advance is because they didn't give it enough memory.

When you've seen real speed, you will know.:p
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"load the EPG in the thing for more than 4 days", its because the EPG stream goes to all versions of decoders that does not have enough memory. PVRs have enough epg memory space for 8 ( 30 maybe ) days or more (to be used for series recording in a future upgrade) but will only hold 7 days and 5 days program specific info for now to be compatible with the epg stream.
 
wcoetzee said:
hd pvr is R2500 from some vendors. sd pvr? no idea , go to the nearest MC branch and get a quote. i'm sure its like R1999 or something
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Thank you so much for all your help:)
 
We have the new Hd pvr and the small dstv thingy for extra view... still hangs.
 
Had the hanging issue with my ancient dsd660 (going on 9 years old). Just replaced it with a new dsd1110(?) (Got it for R389 from hifi craporation), and so far so good. Haven't noticed any hangs yet, and it's been running for a couple of days.
 
thisgeek said:
Had the hanging issue with my ancient dsd660 (going on 9 years old). Just replaced it with a new dsd1110(?) (Got it for R389 from hifi craporation), and so far so good. Haven't noticed any hangs yet, and it's been running for a couple of days.
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LOL - you've just gone from dos to vista :D
 
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