News TV Update will brick 20,000 set-top boxes

Well actually some of the over-the-air updates that were sent out to some boxes (including the type I own) did give you a device that wouldn't come out of standby thereafter. Apparently EchoStar have been reasonably good about taking these back and forcibly re-ned-ucating them on a test bench, but I suspect they'll have quite a few back after today. Mine, for instance, which for some reason never got the update. Possibly because I so rarely watch TV.

 

I seem to have lost 5 on my HTPC, but I'll give it a few days for the EPG/frequency lists/tuner drivers to update and the box to reboot before I moan about it.

 

fairly new tv so my update worked like a dream. FINALLY no more of those blooming popup messages i've been getting all week - THEY were the biggest pain in the butt over all this

 

I almost wish my TV got bricked. Tuning went through fine on the Bravia, missing channels reappear and then the we*anycar advert came on. I hate that advert with great fervour. Can't hit the off button fast enough.

 

Got drafted into helping family and friends of family retune their TVs and Freeview recorders yesterday, my final Freeview box is one that demands a reload of the EPG every time it's plugged and unplugged so retuning's actually quicker. First thing that popped up? The bleedin' retuning message (though at the bottom of the screen this time). Still, it's over with until next time.

 

You can get a freeview settopbox for 10pounds in the UK?
Can I hook it to a sattelite dish and get BBC in the rest of europe?

 

We lost ITV3 but found it again. Its on channel 401 for whatever reason. We also can't switch from 24 upward unless we type in the next channel for whatever reason lol

 

Cheapest I've seen and bought myself was £15, but they sometimes get that cheap in sales.

 

Technically yes, if you want to get a 1.3m dish at least.

 

I was all "what the hell is he talking about" until I remembered this is a UK website. When it's all text there's no accents to remind you so it's easy to forget!

 

No, because Freeview isn't broadcast by satellites. And you wouldn't be paying the license fee.

No, but we spell things correctly. Like "flavour" for instance.

 

As if it was hard to get Sky UK outside the UK...

 

I have to say, I think it a disgrace that the powers that be can just arbitrarily decide that so many set top boxes are redundant. OK, for most people, they will be stand-alone boxes, but what if, in future, they pull this stunt again and it affects digital tuners embedded in other devices like TV DVD Combi sets or HDD recorders?

 

Would there be a case for the product not being fit for the purpose it was bought therefore the manufacturer would have to "fix" it

 

Nono...not Sky..BBC ;-)

The lisence fee in Germany is so high i should get Radio Bejing for all I care

Besides, German TV is broadcast (by sattelite) and free to receive all over europe without you guys paying for it, so why shouldn't I watch BBC in return?

 

A 1.2m satellite dish is needed to receive BBC in Vienna. Further south it's a bit closer to 3m.
Then again, if I ever need help I'll just ask a couple of people who work for the UN and they'll sort it out. There's always someone at the UN to sort out things like that.

 

I live at the same latitude as London, so that might help reduce dish size ;-)