email Current IceBox issues qusestion

nathgreco · June 01, 2023, 11:36:34 AM

Hi, I have just received this email regarding issues with the icebox, is it possible someone can elaborate on the issues? as usually if I find an issue I will do some research myself, and I don't want to waist my time researching issues if its a currently known by Icetv

Thanks
Nathan

MD · June 01, 2023, 11:48:10 AM

The main problem has been the SSD going into read only and the fix has been to leave the box unplugged for 12+ hours. The reasons for the failure and fix working are not properly understood and we are working with the manufacturer to get to the bottom of it with a solution.

nathgreco · June 01, 2023, 12:06:43 PM

thank you, luckily I haven't experienced that. Fingers crossed a solution is found soon

IanL-S · June 01, 2023, 12:08:49 PM

You only need to unplug the IceBox for 10+ hours if it fails to boot (startup), or (repeatedly) jams while starting up. If the IceBox starts up in the normal way, as a matter of prudence, I do a soft reset.

MD · June 01, 2023, 02:11:23 PM

Although we don't believe that is anything like acceptable hence the free sub until we get to the bottom of the darn thing.

It's random so accurate fault finding has been difficult but we believe we are near to understanding the reason (which is not overheating so the long time period unplugged, measured in hours, to successfully restart is a puzzle best left to a physicist specialising in silicon!).

IanL-S · June 01, 2023, 02:41:59 PM

I have seen no evidence of my IceTV IceBox overheating; the demands on CPU of running the IceBox hardware are relatively modest, even when simultaneously recordings multiple recordings and playing back a recording or watching live TV.

I had a BYOB IceBox that overheated, but that was (I suspect) due to its significantly more modest hardware specifications. Cannot be said to be at all representative of what BYOB users can expect - the BYOB power supply died with sparking - also killed it. My current BYOB setup, an ancient Intel i5 NUC also runs cool - cooler than the IceTV IceBox.

raymondjpg · June 02, 2023, 10:15:12 AM

Quote from: IanL-S on June 01, 2023, 02:41:59 PMMy current BYOB setup, an ancient Intel i5 NUC also runs cool - cooler than the IceTV IceBox.

+1 with an 8th generation Intel i5 NUC, In my case running cooler than with Win10 or Win11.

DeltaMikeCharlie · June 04, 2023, 04:42:56 PM

Quote from: MD on June 01, 2023, 11:48:10 AMwe are working with the manufacturer to get to the bottom of it with a solution.

Are you also able to ask the manufacturer if they have a BIOS version that supports wake-on-USB?

Hati · June 05, 2023, 07:16:45 AM

I am one of those people with the issue above mentioned. Lost a bunch of recordings twice now. But also found a workaround that has now "performed" adequately twice.

The SSD issue sends you into the BIOS. If you just use "save and exit" option, it puts you right back into BIOS again, however selecting the "save and" or "exit and reset/reboot" option (can't remember exactly) actually makes the drive usable again.

First time this happened was at the latest firmware change. I was doing something else at the time so only paid half the attention to it, but after one try I got the box back to normal. The second time this worked I was away and had my wife do the same and worked again I think the third try did the job.

At the moment we have too many recordings to save them all and play with this, but if someone else having this issue could try the "fix" would be great.

Edit: I just came across a screenshot of the BIOS page posted by DeltaMikeCharlie (thanks). It's the "save changes and reset" option I used.

nathgreco · June 05, 2023, 01:20:35 PM

the issue just hit me save and reset didn't do anything, just waiting i guess

Hati · June 06, 2023, 07:36:01 AM

Quote from: nathgreco on June 05, 2023, 01:20:35 PMthe issue just hit me save and reset didn't do anything, just waiting i guess

How many times did you try the "save and reset"? I had to do it multiple times and there is a bit of wait involved.

nathgreco · June 06, 2023, 08:06:07 AM

was a few times, gave it a rest then tried again eventually it came good,

PeteRyde · June 10, 2023, 12:57:40 PM

My icebox has the issue (again). Unfortunately the "Save Changes and Reset" multiple times didnt help. Nor did waiting an hour and trying the "Save Changes and Reset" multiple times again. Hopefully the unplug for 10+ hours will resolve it.
Not sure if it it was a coincidence but mine was running fine for a number of weeks including late last night. Had a short power outage (10 min) this morning and found it in the stuck boot state.
I'm hoping I dont need to re-install and lose another week of recordings (again).

IanL-S · June 10, 2023, 01:56:05 PM

Not good news. I do not recall having this particular issue. That could be because my beta testing IceBox has slightly different hardware (has third video out - VGA) and different bios date (but same bios number - how is that for potential confusion).

It is very annoying if you end up loosing your recordings. For the computer savvy, if it is possible to use a USB stick with Linux installed on it and copy the content of the \media\recordings directory to a USB drive, then copy them back when the IceBox is up and running. Then do a soft reset and the recordings should be back.

Earlier this week I had a Beyonwiz T2 which stopped recognizing its HDD. For some reason PVRs running Linux have a propensity for file system corruption. I have also had it happen with my Topfield PVRs. Fortunately, in most cases the recordings are recoverable if you have the appropriate software (which I have).

PeteRyde · June 11, 2023, 12:08:52 PM

Unfortunately the waiting 12+ hours didnt work for me. I left it unplugged for 14 hours and no change to the symptom. Tried again doing numerous "Save Changes and Reset" with no luck. Need to rebuild it (again!). I really hope a fix is available very soon. It kind of defeats the whole point of having IceTV.