Passion+ P2_av_107_20081031

[Andrew0568]

I recently installed the latest official firmware update with the 7 day EPG which worked fine until I tried to make recordings . It won't make recordings from the EPG , it will make timer recordings from standby but when you turn it on next time it says HDD not ready not fat 32 , it will make manual recordings but even then if you put the box in standby before trying to watch you can't.
So I've reinstalled P2_av_105_20080915 and the machine is now working properly again. Has anybody installed the 107 firmware and still got a properly functioning PVR. I'm using a WD 250 passport HDD.
Andrew

[mshannon]

It's hit and miss with recording, more miss in my experience. I have the same problem, I'm using a Maxtor basic 160Gig external USB (2.5 inch drive, USB powered). I have also used a spare 80Gig EIDE (3.5inch) HDD with a USB adaptor with a separate power source and get same problem. I managed to successfully record a 1 Hour HD prog Little Dorrit, and this played fine but have not watch it through as I've the previous episode to watch which failed to record on the Passion+ but I have it on my Freeview HD PVR.

I then recorded another BBC HD prog on the Passion+, the USB HD in action icon displayed on the front OK, but after recording I get the error "No Video or Audio signal" and have to reboot. Then when I tried to view it I get the "Drive not FAT32 or not ready" error as you do. Both files appear when I view the USB drive on my PC, but I always get the error when trying to view on the passion+. I've come across this before the only cure I've found is to re-format the drive and thus loose all the recordings.

This is frustrating and annoying as I bought the Fortec Passion+ specifically to record HD progs and it does not do this.

See my previous posts on this and Laurels53 replies.
http://sataid.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16563

The Passion+ must be a popular piece of kit as every time I come onto this DG there are 20+ viewing so I'm surprised you have not had more feedback, unless we are the unlucky ones and everyone else is happy, or there are a dozen Fortec engineers viewing the DG.

I accept the Passion+ is the least expensive HD receiver available and the HD picture is outstanding, but for me it does not seem to do what it says on the tin - i.e. record.

[shrimpfarme]

Dont get dishearted just yet. I had exactly the same problems you described but I have also had a great deal of success with the passion +.

I often go away for a couple of weeks at a time and I have found the passion+ to have been incredibly reliable in recording everything I have set it to record via timers.

I posted a work around to the dreaded Fat32 message in another post on this forum today.

If you get the message no video or audio in a recording its actually a fault with the channel not being tuned properly, not a recording fault. The proof of this is that you are seeing the message on screen, i.e. a recording of the error message.

I generally only record from BBCHD which appears no problem when the box is first setup as the channel information within the box is good for that channel, however, if you flick through the channels you will find many that are wrong and on each of these you will see first a black screen, then after a few seconds the message, no video signal (or similar). Thats because they channel info must have changed since they burnt it into the box (guessing here as I have no idea how they do it :) )

So, the solution is you need to force the box to rescan for channels on the Astra satellite and it will then pick up all the ones your missing. I did this yesterday as I was missing film 4, and film 4 plus 1 etc. These channels once found will be tacked onto the end of your channel list but they will have the right titles, so all you need to do is move them to the right place in the list and they will then be in the right place for you to select them from the timer recording drop down menu.

The passion+ is proving to be a reliable recorder for HD and SD material.

All I need to find now is a software player that will allow me to watch the recordings on my laptop when I take the hard drive away with me. :)

[mshannon]

Dont get dishearted just yet.

I'm only disheaterned with recording problems but intend to persevere.

I have been doing what you suggest re the FAT 32 error. But lose the recording in doing this.


the message no video or audio in a recording its actually a fault with the channel not being tuned properly, not a recording fault.

This "no video or audio" error only occurs after a failed recording (or if a channel is not transmitting.) After a recording it happens with every channel selected and as well as the error the OSD bar shows the channel is tuned e.g. BBC1, Signal 90%, Signal to noise 85% and the EPG data, as you flick through all the channels (BBC2, ITV1 etc) it's the same error and OSD data is displayed as if it's tuned.

I have now managed to load the current version via the USB HDD rather than the USB memory stick (the memory stick loaded the other upgrades OK but not this one). So some success as I can record from the EPG. The STB display shows it's recording, the USB HDD also flashing but after the recording the same no video error and only option is to reboot, then the FAT32 error. This is both when the usb is removed or not prior to reboot.

[shrimpfarme]

Apologies mate, you are of course completely right in what you report as I have experienced it now with the latest beta firmware. Sometimes i too get the no signal message yet I know the channel tuning is good. I had not experienced that before I updated to the latest beta firmware.

Last night I found my box had locked up and this morning I cant get it to see my usb drives no matter what I do, so I am going to roll back to a previous firmware to see if that cures it. No complaints though, after all its the beta firmware I have been using and so there may still be issues with it.

I will update here how I get on.

Just found this post http://sataid.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16562 which gives details about a cure for if you hard drives are not recognised ever. I connected it to a laptop, created a small text file and then deleted it from the drive. Plugged back into the Passion and hey presto it recognised it.

[gadget6660]

Just noticed that there is new official firmware here http://www.fortecstar.com/downloads/index.asp?products=114,1 . Hope this helps everyone

[barry]

Thanks for this info

[geoffhx]

Hi,
I found on the October 31, 2008 firmware that if you press the green 7 day epg button within the epg menu, then press the red recording button it adds the proramme to the timer and records with no problems.

G

[sabilton]

....All I need to find now is a software player that will allow me to watch the recordings on my laptop when I take the hard drive away with me. :)



Have a look at GOM Player. Not the sexiest piece of software, but it's lightweight, it plays back my HD recordings from HDD without any issues and best still - it's FREE !!

http://www.gomlab.com/eng/GMP_download.html

Enjoy.

S