Stability problems?

[johnnybwis]

Originally Posted by doc

Dan, I can't speak for the people posting here only for myself.

I use the HD200 every day and physically power off at night when I'm finished. The only time its ever locked up on me is when my server has crashed, and so not the HD200's fault at all.

I started off using a client, then an MVP, and then onto HD100 and 200's.
The difference is unbelievable. I wouldn't go back now if you paid me.

I assume you are not using the HD 200 in standalone? I am looking to get more reliability and would consider adding the sage server. I don't really want to do that as the reason I bought the HD 200 was to run one less pc. I plan on still using my Dish receiver for HDTV so it looks like I could get by with a low power pc.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by johnnybwis

I assume you are not using the HD 200 in standalone? I am looking to get more reliability and would consider adding the sage server. I don't really want to do that as the reason I bought the HD 200 was to run one less pc. I plan on still using my Dish receiver for HDTV so it looks like I could get by with a low power pc.

You know with the HD200 in stand alone mode you have no capability of capturing any TV from any source like your Dish TV. You would need a PC and the SageTV server software to even begin recording TV.

Gerry

[comet48]

Originally Posted by danOO00

Wow- I was under the impression that the HD200 would finally make my SageTV setup family friendly. I have not bought the unit yet, but was about to pull the trigger soon. My family room HTPC client is in need of upgrade, so I figured the HD200 would be a plug and play alternative than the usual PC upgrade/configuration game.

I guess, my question is regarding the overall stability of the box.. are the posts here the norm for most users (unplug reboots needed frequently, lockups, etc), or are there actual people out here who have NO problems with the HD200? I am looking forward to the week when the old lady has nothing but good to say about the Sage setup... any thoughts?

Thanks,
Dan

I've had my hd-200 since it first shipped. I've updated to every firmware release they've had. Unfortunately turning itself off on a regular basis has been an issue from day one. It's a pretty unstable product. One has to question their development team and their testing methadology.

I won't buy another one although I'd love to have a couple more if they ever worked correctly. It's a great idea poorly implemented!!!

[johnnybwis]

Originally Posted by gplasky

You know with the HD200 in stand alone mode you have no capability of capturing any TV from any source like your Dish TV. You would need a PC and the SageTV server software to even begin recording TV.

Gerry

The Dish is a HD DVR Reciever. This fits my needs. The HD200 is fine for playing back DVD's but thats about it. I would like to view the online content from the HD200 without the lock ups, reboots etc. would running the Sage server do anything for me in this scenario?

[freedml]

"Physically power off every night" -- do you unplug it, or are you pushing 'power' on the remote?

I would say that there is a significant chance that you will have problems, and a significant chance that SageTV won't diagnose or solve the problem in a reasonable period of time if ever. As long as those are your expectations then you will probably be happy with the HD200.

[doc]

Originally Posted by johnnybwis

I assume you are not using the HD 200 in standalone?

Correct, I use it in extender mode.

I haven't really used it in standalone mode other than to do firmware updates.

Originally Posted by freedml

"Physically power off every night" -- do you unplug it, or are you pushing 'power' on the remote?

I have a 4 way extension plugged into the wall socket which powers the TV, HD200 and AV receiver. I switch the socket off at the wall when the TV's not being used.

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by comet48

I've had my hd-200 since it first shipped. I've updated to every firmware release they've had. Unfortunately turning itself off on a regular basis has been an issue from day one. It's a pretty unstable product. One has to question their development team and their testing methadology.

I won't buy another one although I'd love to have a couple more if they ever worked correctly. It's a great idea poorly implemented!!!

A voice from a happy customer.

I've had both the HD100 (x2) and HD200 since they were released (first batch for both) and I have no issues with stability..... at all.
Mine are always switched on and only ever go into standby at the end of the evening until the next day.
I probably see one lockup every other month and thats usually because I've just upgraded the firmware or Sage server. All three units get abused by family members on a daily basis and they still keep working.

It did take awhile to get my setup running like this but it was always down to user error rather than poor product design.

Love mine and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to friends and family.

[_Demo_]

Originally Posted by comet48

I've had my hd-200 since it first shipped. I've updated to every firmware release they've had. Unfortunately turning itself off on a regular basis has been an issue from day one. It's a pretty unstable product. One has to question their development team and their testing methadology.

I won't buy another one although I'd love to have a couple more if they ever worked correctly. It's a great idea poorly implemented!!!

Could you give me more details on what happens or contact support to provide logs of the issue? The HD200 should be stable for many days. I have one for example that has been running for 24 days (when I had applied the 0702 firmware update)

Thanks

_Demo_

[johnnybwis]

Originally Posted by jaminben

A voice from a happy customer.

I've had both the HD100 (x2) and HD200 since they were released (first batch for both) and I have no issues with stability..... at all.
Mine are always switched on and only ever go into standby at the end of the evening until the next day.
I probably see one lockup every other month and thats usually because I've just upgraded the firmware or Sage server. All three units get abused by family members on a daily basis and they still keep working.

It did take awhile to get my setup running like this but it was always down to user error rather than poor product design.

Love mine and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to friends and family.

It looks like you also are using SageTV 6.5.6. I guess I will just have to load that up and see for myself if I gain anything with reliabilty when using the HD200 as an extender.

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by johnnybwis

It looks like you also are using SageTV 6.5.6. I guess I will just have to load that up and see for myself if I gain anything with reliabilty when using the HD200 as an extender.

I'm not using 6.5.6 but 6.5.20 (not updated to 6.6...yet) I just haven't updated my sig in awhile.

The biggest and most single important thing that I did to make my system rock solid was to dump XP/Vista and move to WHS. With XP I'd get a lockup or server crash at least once a week, Vista just never worked for me. However others have had good results with these OS's so I guess its down to user error on my part again.

[freedml]

I think the HD200 has a problem dealing with imperfect recordings. I am in a fringe OTA area and after varying amounts of play it just locks up and needs a cold boot. It seems to happen sooner the worse the files are.

[Dave62]

Any chance the lockups people report could be partially caused by power problems ? A UPS would solve it. I leave my HD200 powered off (power strip turned off) when not in use. I haven't had any problems with it.

[freedml]

If you're leaving it without power, then you're doing a 'cold boot' each time which is the way we solve the problem, but it takes a while to boot compared to leaving it on and ready to go.

We shouldn't have to live with any consumer electronics product having problems just because you leave it on.

[_Demo_]

Originally Posted by freedml

I think the HD200 has a problem dealing with imperfect recordings. I am in a fringe OTA area and after varying amounts of play it just locks up and needs a cold boot. It seems to happen sooner the worse the files are.

Could you try to note which files it happens on and see if you can reproduce it?

Thanks

_Demo_

[Dave62]

Originally Posted by freedml

If you're leaving it without power, then you're doing a 'cold boot' each time which is the way we solve the problem, but it takes a while to boot compared to leaving it on and ready to go.

We shouldn't have to live with any consumer electronics product having problems just because you leave it on.

Certainly you're correct. I just mentioned it to add another data point to the public discussion.

My main point was about using a UPS. You're much more likely to encounter a power problem if the device is on 24x7

[freedml]

I don't think that's much of a possibility. First, other people are reporting the same behavior. Second, it's running on DC from a wall converter, also unlikely to pass problems through to the HD200.

[freedml]

It usually doesn't happen after a cold boot from playing just one show. It's usually after a while, about once a day per HD200, so I haven't been able to find one file that can make it do that. I'll try again.

[ajuhawk]

I recently updated to the latest firmware and 6.6 on my WHS machine and now my HD200 won't stay "on". Anytime I want to use it I have to un-plug/plug to get it to boot up again. Has anyone else run into this? Is there a solution? It was working fairly well before the latest firmware and was always problematic when I tried the betas...I was hoping they'd fixed it prior to release, but I may be forced to figure out how to go back a version.

Thoughts?

Some test results:
I telnet-ed into the box so I could hopefully get some idea as to why my box keeps "dying"...well, the good/bad news is that by being connected to the box everything seems to be as stable as can be. Seems like some of the HD-200's instability may be because it isn't keeping it's network port active enough or something....??? I have switched both my server and the HD-200 to static IPs in the hope of that helping (it didn't).

[spaceghost]

My HD200 also has lockup issues and I have to cold boot it to get it to play again. Everyday it locks up and it drives me crazy. When I say lockup issue I mean I will be watching a movie and it will stop and the screen will go black. I can click stop on the remote and get back to the menus. I can navigate the menu's just fine but I will not be able to play another movie, listen to music, or watch online videos until I cold boot the HD200. I can however browse thru my pictures, but can't do anything related to playing video/audio. The Green LED on the front still blinks like crazy, like it's receiving the file/video, but no video/audio.

It works fine after a cold boot, at least until the next night when I start having problems again.

I am running Sage 6.5.20 and 20090702 on the HD200. How can I get back to version 20090429? That seemed to also cause me the least amount of issues.

I watch only bluray, divx hd, or HDPVR HD recordings. I do not watch SD material (on my HD200 at least). I pray for a firmware updates and have not submitted any bugs/requests. Each firmware version seems to be different, some good some bad as far as stability. Oh and if it matters, I'm using the component cables.

I've tried the Java Heap Size, Static IP or DHCP, rebooting the server, stop/starting the sharing again (which I found out actually shuts off the HD200). I'm a network tech by day and have tried different cables, routers and switches. Any further issues I should look into?

[freedml]

try this http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...0&postcount=16