Storm wounded my T4 - Looking to replace it.

[Recusant]

Hiya,

The storm makes the HDMI output glitchy. It flickers. I first thought it was the AVR, but i have the Chromecast in the AVR and there's no such behaviour. BluRay player similarly seems ok. Assuming insurance comes through (there were other things that died too), i'll be looking to replace it. If insurance doesn't come through, i'll probably have to endure it for a while.

So i guess the V2 is the go nowadays. Is there anything i should be aware of, extras or optionals i should consider? I like that it has 265 playback. It'd be cool if it could handle AV1 which i see is starting to gain popularity (slowly).

My first Beyonwiz was a DP-P2, i'm pretty happy with the brand but the T4 was overkill for me and too complicated for my dad.

[blip]

Unfortunately Beyonwiz products are no longer available.

[Recusant]

oh what?! What do i replace it with?

[vader1111]

Hiya,

The storm makes the HDMI output glitchy. It flickers. I first thought it was the AVR, but i have the Chromecast in the AVR and there's no such behaviour. BluRay player similarly seems ok. Assuming insurance comes through (there were other things that died too), i'll be looking to replace it. If insurance doesn't come through, i'll probably have to endure it for a while.

So i guess the V2 is the go nowadays. Is there anything i should be aware of, extras or optionals i should consider? I like that it has 265 playback. It'd be cool if it could handle AV1 which i see is starting to gain popularity (slowly).

My first Beyonwiz was a DP-P2, i'm pretty happy with the brand but the T4 was overkill for me and too complicated for my dad.

When you say it "makes the HDMI output glitchy", and that "it flickers", is it flickering constantly - or only during lightning strikes? Lightning produces RF interference, which is definitely capable of interfering with either the input signal (from the antenna), or the signal being transmitted in the HDMI cables.

If it's flickering constantly, then your wiz might be stuffed.

There's not much you can do if the problem is RF interference with the antenna feed. However, you might wish to consider switching to a shielded HDMI cable, which would be less susceptible to RF interference from the lightning.

No promises that this will solve your problem, but it's worth investigating before you bin the Wiz completely.

[vader1111]

oh what?! What do i replace it with?

My suggestion would be an IceBox: https://www.icetv.com.au/icebox/

** Full disclosure - I am a beta tester for the IceBoxes.

[peteru]

It's unlikely (though not impossible) that a lightning strike would give you glitchy HDMI output. The symptoms you describe could be a result of poor or deteriorating cabling / connection.

I'd try a different (high quality) HDMI cable and would also test a different HDMI input on the AVR / TV.

And of course, being a T4, if you didn't have the tuner heatsinks (or regulators + heatsinks) replaced, you might be seeing the first signs of the T4 dying. If that is the case, having the T4 serviced promptly (by NASA Electronics) may save it.

[Recusant]

Will arrange it. I've been slow, too slow.

The timing was bang on though. Pre storm: no problems. Post storm: glitchy output. Literally to the day.

Cheers.

[Recusant]

When you say it "makes the HDMI output glitchy", and that "it flickers", is it flickering constantly - or only during lightning strikes? Lightning produces RF interference, which is definitely capable of interfering with either the input signal (from the antenna), or the signal being transmitted in the HDMI cables.

If it's flickering constantly, then your wiz might be stuffed.

There's not much you can do if the problem is RF interference with the antenna feed. However, you might wish to consider switching to a shielded HDMI cable, which would be less susceptible to RF interference from the lightning.

No promises that this will solve your problem, but it's worth investigating before you bin the Wiz completely.

It happened since the strike. I've more recently discovered that if i turn it off and on again, it sometimes temporarily fixes the glitching.

I wouldn't ever throw it away completely I'd rather send it to NASA so that he/they could use it for parts than to just chuck it.

[Recusant]

oh what?! What do i replace it with?

My suggestion would be an IceBox: https://www.icetv.com.au/icebox/

** Full disclosure - I am a beta tester for the IceBoxes.

I just posted a question about it vs the Fetch Mighty to see peoples opinions.

I like the idea that the IceBox seems more like a PC with software, rather than a factory-built single-purpose device.

Am i right that, for example, i could simply install Linux, or even Windows on the IceBox and use it as a NUC?

[IanL-S]

The IceTV IceBox uses generic components for the NUC. You can load whatever OS you wish if you do not like the IceBox experiences ( which is getting better as time goes on).

[peteru]

Your best option is to get the T4 repaired.

The other options are in the "second best" category.

[Recusant]

I'll get it repaired. Waiting for the school holidays to finish so i can send it off. It gets used more often during the school holidays.