hardware issue?

[REDark]

Hi, not sure where my problem fits so hoping it will be seen here.
I have a T3 that's about 11 years old - all up to date with software etc.

I've had ongoing issues with it turning itself off and have read about opening it up and messing with bits that may be too close to each other. I decided to live with the problem!

Now I have something new. I'll be watching the TV through the T3 and the channel (generally the ABC as that's what I watch) will start pixellating and/or the sound will disappear. If I just channel up/down the new channel will be fine and then back to the ABC which will have fixed itself.

This will also happen with recordings/streaming - sound or picture will go. Stopping the recording and going back in will generally fix it.

Until about 10pm when we've been watching for a few hours. The recording/streaming will flicker/blackout over and over. At some point the sound will go too. We'll try the on and off thing a few times and then give up. (could it possibly be overheating??)

I don't think it's a problem with our TV which is a Sharp and not smart. We stream through an Apple TV box. If we watch the tv without the T3 it's fine.

So it seems to me to be T3 issue but is it the machine itself? Could it be cabling?

Thanks, Lynne

[Paul_oz53]

Hi Lynne.

I had a problem with my T3 going into standby at random intervals. After eliminating the possibility that it was due to electrical noise pickup in the wires you mentioned I sent it to the repair specialist in Perth. Sadly, Warkus has shut up shop now.

He discovered my problem was due to faulty general purpose capacitors in the power supply. On the forum there are details of replacing the main capacitors. That's highly recommended too but in my case it involved replacing ALL the capacitors.

If you can find someone to do it then you might be able to fix it but probably you would be better off buying a V2.

The repair cost probably rivals the cost of a V2 and a repair may not work.

PS This is not the best thread for discussing a repair problem. Maybe a moderator will move our posts.

[REDark]

Thanks but the standby problem was a bit of a red herring. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it as it just confused things.
My real issue is with the picture and sound going intermittently.
Cheers
Lynne

[Paul_oz53]

Hi Lynne.

Reception problems can have many causes and are often hard to resolve. If there's a weak signal the picture will pixelate and the sound will drop out.

Possible external causes include a corroded antenna, broken elements on the antenna, a poor connection at the aerial or at the wall plate, a poor fly lead from the wall to the T3 or water in the aerial cable. Aerial problems can affect only one or two channels so these things are possible causes.

The easiest thing to try is replacing the fly lead. After that, see if there's any visible damage to the aerial. If not, then you will need an aerial specialist to check the installation. This can get costly so don't rush into it. Does the TV suffer a similar issue if you watch it directly?

If not it could be an internal problem with the T3. Overheating is a possibility. The tuners are back left corner and generate a lot of heat. If it's in a cabinet try moving it to free air. A cheap and nasty option is buy a 120mm USB fan. Place it to blow into the case over the tuners.

Anything else would involve internal repairs. The power supply unit could be the real cause of these problems. T3s have a history of PSU troubles. Has yours been rebuilt?

It could be a fault on the motherboard too. I have a spare if someone can install it for you. If you pay the postage you're welcome to it.

This does sound more like an internal problem but it's hard to be sure.

[REDark]

The TV works fine by itself so I'll explore your other simpler suggestions to start with.
The machine has been to Warkus once but I can't remember what for but I doubt it would have been a rebuild. Didn't cost enough!! I'm sorry to hear he's not in business anymore.
Thanks for all your help.
Lynne

[Paul_oz53]

Hope it's something simple.

If Warkus has worked on it he will have fixed the PSU. He was always incredibly cheap. I once paid a bonus and he told me off!

[REDark]

Sorry to bother you again but I suspect I've done something simple (but wrong) and you've been so helpful so far...

I now have no picture at all on the tv through the dvr. Sound is fine.

I unplugged and replugged the aerial cable between the wall and the dvr. Pretty sure that didn't do any harm.

Then I unplugged what turned out to be the S-video plug at the back of the TV - I was looking for the aerial cable.
When I plugged it back in it the TV asked me to rescan my channels.

I'm wondering if plugging things in out of order has thrown things out?
I've rebooted the dvr and I can see it doing it's thing on the front panel. But nothing on the TV. Audio through the dvr is fine.

Hopefully you can spot the stupid thing I've done.
Thanks again
Lynne

[prl]

How is the TV normally connected to the T3?

There are a variety of possible options (but none of them are S-Video).

Are all the video connections between the T3 and the TV connected as you'd expect them to be?

When the TV should be showing video from the T3, is there no video at all, or just no TV channel video, but if you press OK, you see the infobar?

When you rescanned on the TV, did it find the channels you'd expect? And if so, can you watch the TV normally without using the T3?

How are the T3's and the TV's antenna connections done? Do both have an antenna connection that you'd expect to work? Is the TV's antenna connected from the T3's Tuner C antenna out?

[Paul_oz53]

I now have no picture at all on the tv through the dvr. Sound is fine.

The T3 can connect to the TV via HDMI, Component or Composite cables. I'm guessing that you don't go through a receiver.

If the audio is present but not the picture first check the video cables have not been dislodged by accident. HDMI is a single black cable. Composite is a single yellow lead and component are three leads: red, green & blue. Whichever it is, check both ends.

Next use the TV remote to open the TV menu, Find 'sources' (or inputs or something like that) and make sure the correct input is selected. I think it is likely the TV is set to digital TV as the input but without an aerial is giving a black screen.

Then I unplugged what turned out to be the S-video plug at the back of the TV - I was looking for the aerial cable.
When I plugged it back in it the TV asked me to rescan my channels.

I'm wondering if plugging things in out of order has thrown things out?
I've rebooted the dvr and I can see it doing it's thing on the front panel. But nothing on the TV. Audio through the dvr is fine.

Most likely the TV has selected a different input. They often do that whilst others don't. Not sure why you have sound though.

Prl has asked questions that are on my mind too. If changing TV inputs doesn't work we'll need answers to his questions. Really important is whether it's a totally black screen or if you see the info bar.

[REDark]

Dear both
The dvr connects via HDMI

Since I wrote I have taken the dvr on holiday and plugged it into a new tv with a different aerial.
Everything is working fine.
Only small thing I noticed was during booting up the tv screen flashed to black very quickly a couple of times. Never usually does that but since then it's all been good.

I'll be setting it all up again at home on Monday. The main thing you've suggested that seems a possibility is the av mode on the tv.
It looked fine - there's the TV option, an HDMI option (I can still use my apple box) and then the other option which usually runs the dvr. Maybe that option has changed somehow and I haven't noticed.

Re and other of your questions - here is no info bar on the tv - just a totally black screen

Will see how I go on Monday. Thanks for your ongoing interest!
Cheers
Lynne

[prl]

Re and other of your questions - here is no info bar on the tv - just a totally black screen

That suggests that the problem is with the HDMI connection: the cable, the plugs, the sockets, the AV input choice on the TV, or, less likely, the HDMI electronics in the TV or Beyonwiz, rather than it being an antenna or tuner issue. If there's an antenna or tuner problem, you may get no TV video, but the Beyonwiz's user interface overlay (like the infobar) will still display.

[Paul_oz53]

Hi Lynne.

Try plugging it ìn to the other HDMI input on the TV if it doesn't work in the usual input. That would help identify its a problem with the TV.

The black flashes are nothing to worry about. My TV does the same thing with the Wizzes as they boot.

[prl]

The black flashes are nothing to worry about. My TV does the same thing with the Wizzes as they boot.

They're usually associated with changes in the video output resolution at various stages of startup.

[REDark]

Hi
Issue has resolved. Appears to be the HDMI connection behind the TV. It's never been touched so not sure what the problem was but jiggling it around seems to have done the trick.
Thanks for all the advice.
Cheers and Merry Xmas
Lynne

[prl]

Glad you've sorted it. Merry Christmas!

[Paul_oz53]

Glad you've sorted it. Merry Christmas!

+1!