To test this theory, I alternate between using all zeroes and using my correct zip code. I have noticed no difference. The longest trouble-free run so far was with my correct zip code, but only by a few days. I am currently on 00000.

- Kerry

I just ran setup and set the zipcode to 00000 on my test unit. Oddly, I didn't lose my time or lineup. I did lose the guide button. I set it to record daily for thirty minutes so it isn't going to be just sitting there. Still using .21 firmware, host is blank and host id is 0.

Interesting. That suggests that the freeze-ups/restarts are also a function of use.

You mentioned earlier that your DHG is still your only DVR. In my case, most of the heavy lifting has been moved to TiVo.

How many shows are you recording per week? Do watch & record at the same time?

And do you "chase" shows? (I remember that this use to crash my DHG's in the "old" days).

I just did that yesterday. My son is home from TCU for the summer, so we got another TiVo (#4) to put in his room. I ordered a refurb Premier XL direct from TiVo.

On this forum, I've noticed a wide range of "symptoms" and differences due to the variety of configurations and usage habits. (especially antenna / cable / cableCARD) I also wiped out a bit of info/settings with my "clear NVM" operation, and hard resets. I mostly credit that, and the .13 firmware for my "smoother sailing".


I record 17-20 shows per week. (13 daily/weekly, the rest are TCM movies)

I do watch and record another simultaneously, and I do chasing play as well. Neither of those actions seem to correlate with my lock-ups, but overloading the input buffer did it a few times (entering commands faster than the DHG felt liked processing them). Since the end of TVG data, my crashes usually come on power-up; often with a new cable channel automatically added to my +/- list. (presumably from a cableCARD update) But sometimes the Sony will just reboot itself when I am simply watching a live program without touching any buttons. That one is rare; especially because it is rare for me to watch a live program in the first place.

The good news is that all crashes are rare now.

- Kerry

Interesting...
Since I have done the change in firmware from .21 to .13 and changed the Zipcode from 12568 to 00000 there has not been one lockup or crash/restart...
I do watch recorded programs while I have another being recorded and do fast forward at 90X or just do 1 minute jumps to avoid the commercials with no problems yet!
Cable with cable card no OTA everything is SMOOTH SNAILING.....
And yes I agree with Kerry, New channels added to the lineup seem to cause the unit to hang, but I have not had any new channels since the changeover...

Cold Reset Update / Power Blink:

 

I did the Cold Reset Thursday at 12:15:05am.   Correction on clock drift:  Approx. 10 seconds per week (not 15).

 

Only hours later, there would be a power blink.  Squirrel?   This blink was so short, that the oven clock, while it ended up blinking, still kept the correct time.   My DHG?  Frozen clock until I turned it on near 10am, brought up the menu clock, and saw it was 6:00am.  

 

Is this typical for the DHGs for not holding up on such short power interruptions?   I will have to get a UPS.   A quick look at some Amazon reviews show some nasty negatives on some of the CyberPower units. 

 

Does anyone want to chime-in on his or her favorite small UPS units? 

 

 

I ended up resetting the DHG at 12:15:05pm and redid the schedule accounting for the 12-hours behind time.  What a mess.   Nice that it happened on a Thursday, I guess. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

["...get UPS", Correction:  "...get a UPS")

 

. . .

 

 

 

Edited by CleCakYngMfd - 5/13/13 at 3:28pm

Anything on walmart.com for about $60 that you can pickup at the store.

 

I use my microware clock also. Everything else is on a UPS including the small FM amplifier in my attic. The government considers an outage under 6 minutes as minor. Over 6 minutes is major. My electric company has a good web site to monitor an outage. My DHG is on a 1500VA APC with extra battery. This computer and all the little stuff is on a 1500VA CyberPower. It does feel that it should run for 20 minutes a month to let me know it's still working.

 

And then there is my two 2500w inverters. Different story.

I have been without TVGOS since the 2nd week of November, but have managed to use the Sony DHG 500 to regularly record CBS programming. Last week I made a change in my Dish equipment that means I'll have enought satellite tuners to retire the Sony. Got a Hopper with Sling. It has only one more satellite tuner than the 722 it replaces, but that extra tuner can record the satellite locals for FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS channels at the same time, so it is like having as many as 6 tuners available. Works well for someone like me who watchs a lot of local programming.

The Sony which is on a UPS required another reset last night. After 4 or 5 resets since I lost TVGOS, it is now 4 hours and 13 minutes behind the correct time with the Date being correct. Still usable for recording the prime time slate on CBS, so I think I'll finish recording this TV season on it, then retire it after I have watched all the progamming that is stored on it. Bought it in September 2005, so I've gotten a lot of use out of it. The OTA picture on the Sony looks great and is superior to satellite picture quality. I'd keep using the Sony if TVGOS was available, but the loss of that data means I needed to find an alternative.

Yes, my DHG could not remain booted up during even the shortest blip in power, even though almost all my other clocks kept going. And like Joe, my microwave has the shortest threshold now that the DHG is on UPS.

- Kerry

Well, actually the microwave clock is the only clock that isn't run by batteries except for the one on my oven. Also, the microwave doesn't work until I set the clock, so a power failure can't go undetected for long. I had to go to eBay to find a clock that ran on 115vac so I could track the run time on my inverters. Most modern alarm clocks have a battery backup or can get time from the power line (don't know how but I have one).

 

You'd think Sony could have put a small battery in the DHG. What I wouldn't give for a schematic.

We use APC units both at home and at our business. They include both battery/surge and surge only outlets.

How well the UPS holds up is more a function of the internal battery (which can be replaced) than the unit itself. The APC will run $40-$80 depending on what you want. If you're a clever shopper, good quality batteries can be had for $20-$30.

The DHG, TiVo, SlingBox, and cable spillter/amplifier are plugged into the battery backup. The rest are plugged into surge only.

I like this configuration. There are times when the power has gone out but not the cable signal - and the DVR didn't miss a minute of recording.

No router/switch? That's what I run off my smaller UPS since even if power fails I want internet access through my DSL and/or cable modem. Surge only is good for sub-woofer and computer speakers.

Yes the router and cable modem are on a UPS, but that's in the furnace room. I was referring only to the UPS in the TV room (actually 2 rooms).

We have a few of these. My husband was on a job and the company had a bunch of APC's on a pallet marked "to be recycled". He asked if he could take them and was told he could since they "stopped working". He replaced the batteries in 4 units for about $85.00. They all work great.
Edited by mac24 - 5/14/13 at 9:23am

That's outstanding. My main APC UPS is in the basement with a 50' 12-2 cable to a special outlet. My initial APC didn't have a sensitivity adjustment and was always turning on. The newer black units have better features. Last year I had only 6 minor power failures. This year none, but there is room to grow.

While the "smart" units are better if you really need to know what is going on, I use the Back-UPS since I always turn off my computers when not in use.

No only do we watch the same shows, Joe, but it looks like we have similar computer habits as well. I had to ask my husband if he was signed in to this thread under the name JoeKustra.

I know we're a bit off topic here, but I think it will help the DHG users to implement a UPS. A DHG battery was deemed unnecessary because it got the time from the broadcast signal and restarts were no big deal in the "old" days. Now, they're a HUGE deal (unless of course you have tapes). With the Izzy method, setting the correct day and time after a reboot takes a week.

I'll bet many out there use a surge protector for their computers and HT components already. A decent UPS will provide as-good or better protection and don't cost that much more.

In addition to you modem and router, my advise is to plug your DVRs and (if present) any cable signal amplifiers and network switches into the battery backup side of the UPS. None of these draw that much power and will keep running for an hour or more. If you're using a desktop computer you could plug that into a separate UPS, but I don't bother (I'd use the laptop).

Don't bother with the TV, receiver, speakers, or any other components. They'll drain the battery too quickly. Plug them into the "surge only" outlets.

I'm up to 9 weeks with no restarts on either DHG. Smooth s[n]ailing !!

Oh, and 24 is coming back so my husband has forgotten about Vegas (and Sarah Jones) already.
Edited by mac24 - 5/14/13 at 12:15pm

The UPS issue is always subjective. If you have infinite free time then it would be logical to spend zero on a UPS.

 

It's nice that Fox is bringing 24 back for a limited run. I will still miss Sarah Jones. All I can say about Fox and ABC programming is that they don't use a lot of disk space. And to stay off topic, it might be a good fall for The CW to kick some butt. So far I can either keep my DHG running or get a better TiVo.

 

Not having a UPS is like driving a car without a spare tire.

UPS Update:

 

Thanks to all on the UPS posts.  

 

 

I searched and decided on the APC Back-UPS 450.  It has been ordered (from Best Buy - I had a Gift Card).  I would have gone for the 350, but that one is not software driven to SHUT OFF THE BEEPING!

 

With thunderbumbers and critters getting fried, plus the state of the Sony DHG, it is a must for me to have this.   This should take care of all the short power blinks and keep my DHG250 going. 

 

Tonight is reset night. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . .

You won't be sorry.

 

Yeah, I have the APC NS 1250 at my command center (computer, monitor, TV, Philips DVR, DigitalStream converter box, Speakers, and an external hard drive). 

 

The DHG is in the living room. 

 

My first UPS was from Sutton Designs.   I got it back in the day for when I had a CRT TV (transformer - needed a true sinewave) plus a computer system and other electronics hooked up to it.  It held up nice until I ran it to death and the batteries partially melted.  

 

Should have replaced the batteries much sooner.  Pay attention to the blinking LEDs!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . .

Good move. After a few extended power outages, I elected to snip the little beeping oscillator thing. :-)

- Kerry