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Messages - warkus

#16
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
November 04, 2015, 01:53:49 PM
+1 Simon...I have to agree.

I understand the situation, i understand Australian Company Law, I understand its a different company, I understand all of it, so don't preach to me about how all that works, i get it... but this isn't about that any of that.

Its about making those that lost out, feel at least a teny tiny bit valued, in an effort to keep them as a customer. Even friggin $1 or $2 off a month for the duration of your existing subscription as a token gesture would show that they actually have some understanding of how people are feeling. Nobody really is going to care so much about the discount itself, but its just the fact that its been offered, it would go a LONG way to retaining people.

I have to agree wholeheartedly, if new people had purchased this business, they would be looking at every way possible to retain subscribers based on what has happened, the current arrangement does not appear to be doing that.

** Oh sorry, we went broke, and now we are back but you all gotta pay $7.99 for our awesome most wonderful product... ** That's about all we have had from them...

I appreciate they are funding this themselves and they too have lost out in this, but they could still go further than they currently are to make previous subscribers feel that they actually matter to the "new" company.

Many subscribers have little choice but to re-subscribe - like skippa owners, and people like Paul55 who have older wizes that don't support series functionality. It would seem that this is what they are banking on, people needing the guide for their device to function in the way they want it to or to function at all, and also banking on those being too "accustomed" to the features and functionality of the IceTV guide, or those that simply can't be bothered looking for a different solution.

I understand why people are re-subscribing, and i'm not telling people either way to or not to subscribe. I have stayed well and truly out of that debate. It's your personal choice and nobody should tell you what choice to make.

That aside i think the least the owners could do is make those that are re-subscribing feel like they are more than just a funding source, especially when those funding sources are the life blood of your business and kind of an important requirement to your company survival..

Mark


#17
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
November 04, 2015, 01:49:02 PM
Quote from: IanL-S on November 04, 2015, 01:24:11 PM
If the IceTV services is to continue it must be cash flow positive. So far, the new operators have had a lot of cash going out (rent, wages, licence fees to the old IceTV) and none coming in. Once the business is on a firm footing they may be able to reduce the cost to subscribers (either monthly rate or discounted longer term subscription).


The only problem with that is to get your business on a firm footing you need subscribers as its kind of essential to IceTV's survival. If people don't resign up, there wont be an IceTV...

#18
SKIPPA / Re: Choice PVR review - November 2015
October 30, 2015, 11:23:49 PM
As listed on choice...(I did have to have a little laugh I'm sorry)...

Good points   
•Automatic commercial skip
•Supports Freeview Plus EPG
•Supports IceTV EPG
•Series recording picks up all instances of the selected program, regardless of time or channel
•Can record up to six programs simultaneously
•Internet access required

Bad points   
•Company has gone into voluntary administration
•No facility to edit recordings
•No manual scheduling facility
•Can't rename recordings


So they still reviewed it and at least mentioned that the company was in administration, that's one thing at least...

Mark

#19
SKIPPA / Re: Choice PVR review - November 2015
October 30, 2015, 11:19:20 PM
I have an electronic choice subscription Ian, what is it you would like to know?

The humax 4tune seemed to come out on top.

The Skippa scored 64% overall, same as the Beyonwiz T4. No idea how, they are light years apart.

#20
I agree 100% Paul. If indeed altech are the reason for the icetv demise, I cant see any further cooperation between these parties. Its unlikely at best anyway.

Who knows. Stranger things have happened.

#21
They won't be...

Definitely not as skippas anyway...
#22
SKIPPA / Re: What are your Skippa plans?
October 29, 2015, 11:51:18 AM
FMB,

Something to note...

Once recordings cleared, format HDD just in case and allow unit to reboot in order to do this (there are cached files on your HDD that need clearing) and then after that has been done you should do the factory reset, let the unit reboot and when initial screen comes up with the circle on it, unplug power immediately.

Don't let it boot further.

Reason for this is in initial factory reset state the unit will scan for TV Stations and other things on initial boot and saves that data before it gets to the "enter your ICETV credentials" screen. So unless the person you sell it to is in the same area as you, this will clearly not be helpful to them.

Just thought this might help that's all. To format HDD, it's under storage 3 down from your recordings folder.

Mark
#23
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 25, 2015, 08:04:42 PM
It's not too late, you have 180 days with PayPal, and my calculations from May 25 it's not 180 days yet...

Mark
#24
SKIPPA / Re: skippa & paypal claims
October 25, 2015, 08:02:09 PM
The manufacturer is in business, most definitely. Just not in Australia.

They closed their Australian office/operations, but Altech multimedia (parent company) still exist, and they have transferred sales/distributor rights including support of the Altech range across to NAS Australia.

I believe however that NAS did not agree to take on the Skippa or any aspect of that product.

#25
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 25, 2015, 07:47:28 PM
Well it just wouldn't be worth your time getting a replacement in my opinion.

Oh by the way, if anyone is interested, I know exactly what SOC is in the skippa now, as with this particular faulty Skippa I took the heat sink off and reattached it on with new thermal adhesive to see if that helped in case it wasn't contacting properly, but it didn't help.

It wasn't easy to get off either, the adhesive is tough and risk of damaging the chip is significant but got it off no trouble.

I have previously reported it as NOT being a Broadcom SOC BCM7241, which some said it was likely to be based on the Altech 9600 having a BCM7231. I think it was also stated in the specs for a short time as being a 7241 as well before that reference was removed.

I recently reported it as being likely to be a BCM7428 Broadcom SOC as it has a USB WIFI adaptor inside the unit and based on that and other things including speed (supposed to be 3000 DMIPS according to Skippa specs) this was a very likely fit, however 100% proof was not possible as I didn't want to risk taking off the heat sink from my unit to verify it.

Well I was also totally wrong. It is in fact definitely a BCM7241. Visually confirmed.

Which means their own specs are totally wrong, that SOC runs at 5000 DMIPS, and has built in 5g wifi controller too which is not being utilised at all, so why they have put this SOC onto a near identical mainboard to the Altech 9600 that doesn't have the capabilities to utilise the extra goodies of this Chip I just don't know. Not to mention it has exactly the same Sized heat sink on it to the Altech 9600 SOC that runs at 2000 DMIPS, so it's little wonder that people are saying these things get hot as they do, VERY HOT, the heat sink is grossly under spec'd.

I have to say I had a lot of respect for UEC before this unit, not so now...

It would not surprise me at all if this was the cause of many of the issues people are having, the heat sink after a few hours of operation is literally too hot to touch. My thermal infrared temp gun says it's running at a mere 84 degrees at the base of the heat sink, that's just totally unacceptable.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was in fact the cause of much of the rebooting.



Mark
#26
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 25, 2015, 06:54:50 PM
Sam,

I have a Skippa here in the office doing exactly that at the moment. It lasts between 30 seconds and 5 minutes on boot before freezing, audio still running but frozen other than that and occasionally reboots itself automatically.

I am 80% sure it's a faulty SOC (main controller). Freeze spraying the heat sink on the SOC keeps it up for an indefinite period, most I've had it up is 15mins. As soon as I stop spraying the heat sink, it locks within a very short time.

If it is a faulty SOC, it's a bin job, simple. I'm really sorry.

I haven't finished testing yet but once I've finished I will post confirmation either way...

Mark




#27
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 25, 2015, 06:47:59 PM
It's similar to the wiz Peter in terms of standby but not deep standby, the Skippa and the Altech 9600 don't have deep standby, so yes basically it's always on regardless.

It simply turns off the video feed, that's it. It is near instant on from power up.

It doesn't even power down the HDD in standby, like ever, have never heard my Altech or Skippa ever turn off the HDD in standby, not once.

#28
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 22, 2015, 06:30:07 PM
All good...

WOW that price is shocking... (really sorry to say Sam - apologies)

I realise there is a markup on these things but that is over DOUBLE what i sell em for...

I need to up my price, lol...
#29
General Discussions / Re: IceTV Resurrected
October 22, 2015, 05:41:46 PM
2.5mm plug is the WRONG plug for the Skippa.

The plug is a 2.1mm Positive tip.

I hope that was just a typo...
#30
SKIPPA / Re: Freezing causes and solutions?
October 22, 2015, 03:10:26 AM
I sell replacement power supplies if anyone needs them.

I have replacement 12v 5a packs on shelf with the correct 2.1mm plug positive tip.

Cost is $30 plus GST plus postage.

Message me if you need one. I'm not really sure though that this is the cause of many of the issues people are having.

I just received a Skippa from someone today to look at, the issue with this box is the dodgy SATA connector on the mainboard, even the slightest touch causes system lockup, and disconnection of the HDD.

Replaced the SATA socket with a better quality socket and it's not missed a beat since.

I have another in here too today, haven't looked at that one yet, but the owner said he already tried 3 power packs and it's still failing.

So just not quite sure how much of these issues really are power pack related.

Mark