Update.
With a 5-1000MHz Variable Attenuator (0-20dB):
1) Brings the unboosted signal when on BBC1 down from 48% signal strength to an understandably unusable 24% when on max attenuation.
2) Brings the boosted signal when on BBC1 down from 100% signal to 87% when on max attenuation.
3) Brings unboosted signal on BBC1 HD from 48% to unusable 24%.
4) Brings boosted signal on BBC1 HD from 100% to 91% with max attenuation.
It would suggest that an unattenuated boosted signal is way more than 100%, hence possibly overloading the tuner.
When I had the set-up with signal boosted with max attenuation, as per 2) and 4) above, the problem of HDD access recurred and factory resets usually did little.
After many attempts at doing factory reset which failed to address the HDD access / recording issue and maintained the whirring sound every second or so, I left the box switched off, with all cables unplugged overnight in a state which was at the start of the set-up. Next morning, it set-up normally and was able to access the HDD. It showed some recorded programmes (from the first 'failed' attempt; and this was after doing a factory reset with HDD format!) which I could not see previously and showed stats for HDD Status. A HDD Test was normal. It recorded live TV. I set it to record programmes overnight. The next morning, we were back to the same issue - no HDD Status, no access to PVR Settings, whirring noise every second or so.
I again left if off overnight unplugged, with no cables attached, in the state at the start of the set-up. This morning it again worked fine, HDD Status normal, HDD Test passed, PVR Settings accessible (though not changed), no whirring sound. Despite the factory reset including HDD Format, the programmes which had been set to record the previous night were now accessible (suggesting that the HDD format did not work). Again, I was able to record live TV. All good.
However, I noted that the Time Shift Recording (TSR) was not working (first time I recall trying to use this function). Live TV could not be paused (and this was after being on the channel for at least 5 minutes or so). A crossed out yellow circle appeared in the top right corner of the screen whenever Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind was pressed. I could not see anything in the manual or troubleshooting guide to help, so decided to do another factory reset. This led to the same problem of HDD access (as described) recurring. It also did not fix the TSR issue. After the reset, the Pause button now has a message "This function does not work while retrieving data for time shift buffer. Try again in a few seconds." (ie not the crossed out yellow circle this time!) Whether a few seconds or minutes, the same message keeps reappearing and the TSR does not function.
The issue does not seem to be resolved in any stable manner and there is some sort of recurring HDD access issue that makes this box unusable or highly unreliable. One wonders if a box exchange would help.
Further thoughts welcome. Thanks.
