Walmart US Digital STB Questions - Page 12

Tried to get through to USDigital but couldn't. Are they still in business? Or have they gone under. Wanted to see if they might have a solution for my problem. My sound and video don't sync on ABC in Detroit. It only happens in primetime 8:00PM to 11:00 PM when watching HD programs. It later fixes itself in time for the evening news. I don't seem to have this problem with a Magnavox lcd with built in tuner.

Looks like they're probably going out of business. They just filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There's a thread about it over in HDTV Programming.

Alright - i finally managed to snag one for 40 bucks

The walmart, close to my residence had two, and had them priced at $129 each - i had been checking frequently hoping that they would reduce the price as had a lot of other Walmarts around the country - no such luck

Then i found another walmart which had reduced the price to $40, but was all sold out. I went to the first walmart, bought it at full price, then took it over to the other walmart to return and rebuy it - the look on the customer service representative was priceless, when he returned it for $129 as per the receipt and then bought back for $40

Incase anyone is looking for these - i know there is one available at the walmart in south plainfield NJ and another one at Hamilton, NJ

I must say, it took me about 5 mins to get this puppy up and running, and it catches way more digital channels than my Dish 811. Great picture quality. Using it with deck mounted Silver Sensor.

Any chance I could talk you into sending me the USDigital upgrade? I'll pay postage both ways. My box has a pretty bad audio clipping problem and I can't get any help from the manufacturer as they are out of business.

Thanks

Tom Best
2903 Oak Park Drive
Austin, Texas 78704

Larry posted that back in April. I can't speak for him, but my upgrade (in March) was accompanied by an envelope for sending it back to USDTV. I wasn't supposed to keep it. I sent mine back because I didn't want them nagging me for it. If I had known that USDTV was going to go bankrupt in a few months, I might have kept it anyway so I could make a few bucks renting it out.

(just kidding)

Are you sure they are out of business? I got mine 03-05-06 and mailed it back the next day. To my surprise, I opened the mailbox today and found the returned envelope with a "RETURNED FOR POSTAGE" stamp on the front. I mailed it over 5 months ago. What the heck is going on?

I'm not sure I understand the previous post. If I understand correctly, it sounds like the Post Office had the USB stick for 5 months, not USDTV.

Additionally, I had a thought that maybe, just maybe, someone who has a lot of time on their hands and can read Chinese could check the Hisense websites and see if maybe they have a support page for the DB-2010. And if there is none, maybe Hisense could be contacted via email to see if they have (and would be willing to share) the DB 2010 update file.

Sorry about the confusion. In my previous message I was referring to the software update. Yes, apparently the post office had the USB stick for 5 months. I have emailed USDTV, and they have yet to reply. But I figure after over 5 months, do they still expect to get it back?

I would suggest that you hang on to it for awhile anyway. (see if they ask for it back) I tried to copy mine but the copy did not work (you know it works if you try update and it responds with already updated if it did not copy correctly -- nothing happens) it must have had a boot sector or something that I did not copy with the files (used linux to copy) or the memory stick I have is not compatible.

I think the software is proprietary with US Digital and not Hisense so they may not have the software. ??

It's possible Hisense may have a generic version of the software or firmware or whatever you call it.

Sort of like when you flash the bios on a brand name computer (HP. Compaq, Dell, etc.) with one from the motherboard manufacturer. All the HP/Compaq/Dell logos are replaced with the motherboard manufacturer's logo, but it still works the same.

Anyway, it was just a thought.

They did reply and asked if I sent it to the correct address. It seems like they have no idea what's going on.

It is Maryland Public Tv's problem. Their PSIP is not right; never has been. I get the same problem on my Dish 6000, and my two latest-firmware USDTV boxes. No such problems with WETA -- they send PSIP info for the subchannels even when they are not actively 'on the air'.

I have contacted MPT engineering several times. Each time I get ONE email reply saying they'll investigate. No response to follow up emails. Nothing ever changes. No one ever writes back.

The upgrade files have to be on a bootable Linux USB stick. I made one today that does work (I get the 'already updated' message).

There are sites that explain making a bootable stick. I made mine using a Slax CD.

From the command prompt, 'fdisk' a usb stick that does not contain your firmware files. Delete the existing partitions. Create a Linux partition on it. Set the bootable flag. Write changes to the stick.

Now run 'mkfs' on the new stick device. Slax defaults to ext2.

Reboot and mount the source stick and a the Linux stick. (use 'tail -f /var/log/messages' to see where your USB drives show up as you plug them in)

Copy the files and directories from the source to the Linux stick. (I used Midnight Commander ('mc'), but any copy method should work.)

I used a 64 meg USB stick. $10 at Staples. Plenty of room.
_________________
What I want to figure out is how to convert a subscription USDTV reciever to a free-to-air box. The USB upgrade will not work for this.

I just got this usdigital receiver a few days ago-was working great-until all of the sudden it won't display any video on my tv(via component cables)-only sound coming through. changed the component cables-no luck.Anyone know what problem is?

States comes with 1 year warranty-but # provided is out of service-any other way to get this fixed or refunded? It was a brand new item.

Version 2.5

Any help would be great-thanks...

You may have pressed some buttons to put it in a different mode.
Press POWER
Press *RED* USDTV guide button
Press ASPECT
Press *RED* USDTV guide button again

Press 1 for regular (not hi-def) output
or
Press 5 for 1080i hi-def

2,3,4 are other choices for 480i, 480p, 720p

ok-thanks-will give it a try

I want to update my reciever. Could you send me the files for it?
madlobster@gmailcom

Here is a response to a query I sent to USDTV several weeks ago. My question *was* addressed to USDTV VP Steve Morse.


--

We apologize for the delayed response. USDTV is currently undergoing restructuring and new ownership.

We need to see whether you are or were an existing customer to verify that the receiver is yours. If you live outside of our four service areas, you need to have a receiver that was FTA to begin with. If you purchased a subscription receiver from an unauthorized dealer, such as on E-Bay, you should return it for a refund.

In order to activate it for local, FTA service, you will need to have it set up with antenna. We need to have the UID and the serial number. The serial number is printed on the back side of the receiver and begins with 3 or 4 zeroes. The UID is displayed in system information. It begins with five or six zeroes.

Our customer service line was previously not staffed for about 30 days. However, we are now available:

877-438-8738
Week days until 8pm MOUNTAIN
Saturday until noon MOUNTAIN

Sincerely,
USDTV Customer Service

---

[Received Sept 1, 2006:]

We expect our new ownership to be finalized in the middle of this month (September). The new ownership will decide whether to continue the previous service of converting service boxes to FTA boxes and how much it will cost.

We recommend you contact us after the 11th to inquire about this possible service.

Sincerely,
USDTV Customer Service

R these boxes still avaliable to buy?

Yeah, they're still around. I bought one in Williston, Vermont on Aug 19 for $129 but there were only 3 left in that store. They are definitely getting scarce.

I emailed the company about a week ago and haven't had a reply re: getting a firware upgrade.

Does anyone have still have a USB upgrade key in their posession? I would be willing to pay all costs.

For the most part, my box is working just fine, but the one issue I have is that it freezes up on autoscan on one strong channel. I just manually add all the channels. Bu the strong one can't be detected.

I'm in Canada and I bet USdigital wouldn't bother sending me the firmware upgrade even if they weren't facing financail difficulties....

Can anyone help me out? Andrew

Paula,

I would like to update firmware but when I call US digital - they are in bankruptsy
protection - nothing coming out of there for now or maybe never.
Can you send the file to me to create the usb key ..thanks

Andyman,

I have the same problem, I live in the Toronto area and local channel 9 cfto
has this issue. It is a problem with the psip - apparently CFTO has a problem with
a rotating psip - I don't quite understand but for a few weeksin early july cfto worked great.

Thanks for confirming that you've had issues getting 40 as well. I live in Toronto too - southern Etobicoke).

I get everything from Buffalo with an external UHF antenna except WB. I guess I'll try scanning again for CTV again sometime in the future. I'm amazed how well digital signals look coming across the lake. Forget old analog and snow.

Still wondering if anyone has the USB firmware key?

Was ready to buy the Samsung while in the States. but fairly happy with the USDigital...

I think the US Digital is definitely a better product than my Samsung. It switches channels faster, the guide works better, and it does a better job of zooming in than my Samsung T-451. It also doesn't have those annoying random reboots that the Samsung has.

The only thing good about the Samsung are buttons on the front if you happen to lose the remote.

Too bad Samsung isn't the one filing for bankruptcy, I hate their products, and could do without them. And I hope US Digital can get through this.

And it doesn't have those annoying gray bars.

I have had the usdigital box for just over a year now, with no major problems.
Had to hold the power button down to reset it a few times.
But now however the thing just stoped working, the power and signal lights just keep blinking, anyone had this before?
I have tried unplugging with the power button held and nothing.
Any sugjestions?

I just got one of the locked US digital tuners from eBay. When turning on, it shows the USD logo screen in yellow. Does anyone know if by flashing the firmware will unlock it for me to use it as an over the air tuner?

Thanks!

It will not even notice the USB thingy.

However, it will work as an OTA receiver with some limitations. That screaming yellow color not being the least of them.

My receiver when turned on goes through the antenna scanning process then asks for activation by US Digital. It won't allow me to do anything else. Is there anyway I can unlock it?

Thanks!

The scanning on these boxes can get weird.

Mine locks up on a particular channel so I manually add them.

Still looking for a firmware upgrade.

USDTV has been silent to my requests.

Can anyone help me out?