Capacitors are cheap and easy to replace if you can solder, I've repaired 2 freeview boxes and 1 freesat box so far.
The new components unlike the humax ones have a very low esr rating.
If you can identify the capacitors much higher quality components can be fitted to give years of service. I use satcure.co.uk.
Humax option of £55 (if you can get it) isn't bad though you don't know how long it will last.
Humax have a monopoly on the freesat boxes, so they can use cheap components knowing you can't go elsewhere. It stinks.
My Humax Forum » Freesat HD » HDR 1000, 1010, 1100S
Hard drive issues
(622 posts)-
| Sat 9 Sep 2017 15:48:26 #531 |
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AndyT - 36 minutes ago »
Capacitors are cheap and easy to replace if you can solder, I've repaired 2 freeview boxes and 1 freesat box so far.
The new components unlike the humax ones have a very low esr rating.
If you can identify the capacitors much higher quality components can be fitted to give years of service. I use satcure.co.uk.
Humax option of £55 (if you can get it) isn't bad though you don't know how long it will last.
Humax have a monopoly on the freesat boxes, so they can use cheap components knowing you can't go elsewhere. It stinks.It is a resistor not a capacitor that is the problem.
SatCure is no longer trading as of March 31st 2017.| Sat 9 Sep 2017 16:26:36 #532 | -
Surely a resistor costs a few pence, so why not make the fix public, or recall the boxes and repair them for free.
| Sat 9 Sep 2017 16:59:29 #533 | -
I suspect that the problem with the resistor or capacitor or whatever, is actually a symptom rather than the fault. I wouldn't be surprised if HUMAX don't actually know what's happening because the source of the problem is so far down in the 'stack' of HW/SW commands/codes that only someone who was involved with design and development would have a chance.
| Sat 9 Sep 2017 17:34:18 #534 | -
roypittman - 1 hour ago »
I suspect that the problem with the resistor or capacitor or whatever, is actually a symptom rather than the fault. I wouldn't be surprised if HUMAX don't actually know what's happening because the source of the problem is so far down in the 'stack' of HW/SW commands/codes that only someone who was involved with design and development would have a chance.Thanks REPASSAC (#532) for confirming that HUMAX are certain it is a resistor (visually there appear no bulging capacitors); in which case the resistor is likely so tiny that it's probably embedded on the MB and not a replaceable item; thus an MB swap would be the only answer (easily done if they are obtainable "with processor" - it is after all a specialist PC).
But I do also agree with roypittman's opinion (#534 & quoted) that the root cause is probably obscure to all but the HW/FW/SW developers (having worked with many).
I concur with AndyT that £55 is a reasonable charge for a refurbished box but I'd like to have some confidence that it's likely to last at least as long as some of my PCs have ("touching wood" right now). Such confidence is however very low indeed.
| Sat 9 Sep 2017 19:40:40 #535 | -
Martin Liddle - 6 days ago
Try ringing again and telling the agent that you believe there is an offer of a refurbished box for £55 for people affected by this specific problem.I did this and spoke to a much more amenable lady representative who confirmed that a replacement was available at £55 if I could prove that I had the appropriate issue. She sent an email asking:
Thank you for contacting Humax.
To check if your hard disk has failed:
Menu
Settings
Storage
Tell me what it states on this screen
Best Regards,
Humax Customer SupportI responded (in the evening):
The STORAGE screen states:
Connect a USB hard drive (HDD) to the box to be able to record programmes and pause live TV.
You can also attach a USB storage device to view your own media , such as videos, photos and music.
Please advise if this is what you expect and if you can provide service how should I proceed.Her response early next morning (very good and much better than expected):
The issue you are describing is something that we have realised is happening to a few of our customers. Due to this we are offering customers who are experiencing this the chance to exchange their faulty unit for a refurbished HDR-1100S for £55 which is similar to your model but upgraded with wifi but no scart connection. You would get 6 months warranty with this refurbished model.
If you would like to take this option you will have to contact our helpline on 03443188800.
Best Regards,
Humax Customer SupportI phoned today:
The deal is definitely a refurbished HDR1100S for £55 with 6 months warranty.
This unit is the same model as being currently sold (i.e. fully featured with Netflix etc.).
The procedure, as I understand it, is that Humax take payment over the phone and despatch the new unit on an exchange basis meaning that the courier picks up the old unit at the time of delivery of the refurbished one.
No additional charges were mentioned for the courier.
2-3 days was the stated anticipated delivery.The only other thing to consider is that Humax are sending out 500Gb models ONLY so if your original faulty unit was 1Tb (or 2) you would receive the 500Gb model regardless.
My faulty box was quite well used and 500Gb may become too small it time and that's why I chose a 1Tb model.
It's now a case of the maths to consider if salvaging a 1Tb drive for another purpose (value about £65) is worth it and retaining the receiver as a spare for that purpose only.
At least this is a fair result.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.I was giving up all hope with Humax until I posted here.
| Fri 15 Sep 2017 14:31:07 #536 | -
Hats off to Humax. Replaced my box today with at no cost. I reported it first in April 2015 and followed up this week. Glad they did as due to massive house extension and growing family need at least 4 more sat boxes. Humax will be getting my business.
| Wed 20 Sep 2017 20:50:37 #537 | -
stevieee - 11 minutes ago »
Hats off to Humax. Replaced my box today with at no cost. I reported it first in April 2015 and followed up this week. Glad they did as due to massive house extension and growing family need at least 4 more sat boxes. Humax will be getting my business.Well done stevieee; I phoned Monday morning to take up the offer at £55 only to be told they didn't have any in stock. Some were due in last week but didn't arrive and so the rep. couldn't tell me when the replacement units would be available.
It's annoying that Humax didn't say they were out of stock last Friday.
Maybe I'll get a free one if I wait 2 years.
Hope springs..............| Wed 20 Sep 2017 21:13:52 #538 | -
I initially report the issue during the warranty period, Since then been using my smart TV and added a hard disk.
Had to go for a different colour as white was out of stock but as everything else is now black not a problem.
If they had wanted cash to fix it I would have probably gone for it but avoided the brand in the future.
Again, right thing to do.
| Wed 20 Sep 2017 21:23:57 #539 | -
If Humax are only sending out 500 gig boxes regardless of the HDD size of the customers box then £55 is not a good a deal as it first appears. If customer then has to source a new AV 1TB HDD this puts the price up to around £100 mark in total.
| Thu 21 Sep 2017 13:45:54 #540 |
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