freeview box and £50 marks and sparks vouchers (merged)

DJBenson

kiebee wrote: »

Actually the boxes never conformed to the original Freeview specs, THATS why they don't work. The boxes will still work (in a fashion) anyway, just DON'T do a channel update!!!

Here is the list of the 6 affected boxes - around 1% or less of total sold boxes...
http://www.freeview.co.uk/help/faq/id104963

2.I can't imagine all those Freeview boxes being made useless, look at DAB, more efficient standards exist by FAR. Who knows.

3. Even if software is not developed anymore, the boxes will still work. Many people still use the ONdigital/ITV digital boxes, last update was in 2004 and that only really fixed TopupTV issues.

Don't be so pessimistic :D:D

1) Not sure how true that is - I have visited several people who reported their boxes are no longer working properly and many of those only just know how to turn it on, never mind doing a channel update. I cannot find any reference to having a split NIT anywhere in the UK DVB-T specifications.

2) DAB is a lame duck - poor quality audio and lack of take-up have meant this will NEVER be as good as it could be (should AAC or similar have been adopted and a bigger drive to onboard new clients then the story might have been different). Not a logical comparison I'm affraid - Sky are already in the process of experimenting with MPEG4 - Europe is on it's way to adopting it as it's DVB standard accross satellite, cable and terrestrial mediums. MPEG2 is NOT here to stay - why do you think the BBC are so keen to trial MPEG4 for their HD service, and why Sky are pushing it as a solution to their "Picnic" pay service on DVB-T in the UK?

3) "Working" is not the same as being acceptable - you cannot argue that these boxes are not budget brands, made by a generic company somewhere in Asia and that the software is very weak (when compared to that of the larger more established manufacturers).

Nobody is being pessimistic- just realistic. My original claim that these boxes (free or not) will be obsolete in the next 12 months still stands.

I didn't sign up because the box was free, I'm well in to my broadcast stuff so it's an interesting insight into what exactly Teletext are up to. Bush is a budget brand that I personally would not buy - but the software that Teletext have produced seems to make the best of the hardware available.

On a slightly different note...

I bought one of these from Sainsbury's and was asked to produce my TV license. When I protested I was shushed through the checkout and told to tell anybody that asks that I have a TV license. Now I DO have a TV license, but the only license I carry is my driving license. Are we now expected to carry our TV licenses??? MADNESS!!!:eek:

oldwally

Money_saving_Diva wrote: »

Sorry SuperMoneysaving hon, but it has to be left on standby so that means leaving it plugged in 24/7. Otherwise it wipes all the data clear and I assume messes up their data collection.

Oh and So Mental - I had that problem this morning, tho it worked fine yesterday! I ended up having to unplug it at the mains and plug it back in again. Not sure if the heat had affected it, but nothing was responding. I know it isn't ideal and I am emailing them to tell them I had to do it. Hopefully I can keep the window open in the room now so it shouldn't overheat!:rotfl:

There seem to be a hell of alot of people saying these boxes crash. I've had one since last years "distribution" its ok'ish,well it was "free" and I've only got another 20 texts to go for the vouchers ,assuming they do send them out ofcourse,not that they have sent anyout yet. From what I've read online, I thought they were sending out new "improved" boxes,well if they crash as much as has been reported on here,not much of an improvement then !?

One tip to help keep 'em cool,have a couple of bits of blue tack or similar underneath them,to raise the unit up abit,lets the air flow round 'em.and underneath. Works for me ! Save running a fan,or leaving a window open,BURGLARS etc !!!!!!

Money_saving_Diva_2

One tip to help keep 'em cool,have a couple of bits of blue tack or similar underneath them,to raise the unit up abit,lets the air flow round 'em.and underneath. Works for me ! Save running a fan,or leaving a window open,BURGLARS etc !!!!!![/quote]

One tip to help keep 'em cool,have a couple of bits of blue tack or similar underneath them,to raise the unit up abit,lets the air flow round 'em.and underneath. Works for me ! Save running a fan,or leaving a window open,BURGLARS etc !!!!!![/quote]

I meant leaving a window open during the day when I am sat in the room, not 24/7! :rotfl: Plus I live in an upstairs flat so anyone trying to break in would have to have a very long ladder!

Thank you for the tip about the blue tac, I shall try this. I was sent a new box but the old one hasn't frozen since so I haven't swapped them over yet!

oldwally

Money_saving_Diva wrote: »

One tip to help keep 'em cool,have a couple of bits of blue tack or similar underneath them,to raise the unit up abit,lets the air flow round 'em.and underneath. Works for me ! Save running a fan,or leaving a window open,BURGLARS etc !!!!!!

I meant leaving a window open during the day when I am sat in the room, not 24/7! :rotfl: Plus I live in an upstairs flat so anyone trying to break in would have to have a very long ladder!

Thank you for the tip about the blue tac, I shall try this. I was sent a new box but the old one hasn't frozen since so I haven't swapped them over yet![/quote] Oh,well it will help stop flies getting in then !

Actually,after I posted, I recalled it's not this box that had the Blue Tack,but a previous one, an Echostar that cost me 40 quid,(4 years ago)used to get very hot,'til I helped it cool down and often crashed .A friend has it now and it still crashes...........she used her own Blue Tack !!!

dnl05

Has anyone had problems texting their code this Monday? It was my first time of texting the code to Inview. I sent 4 texts on Monday morning with the correct code, but each time I got a text back to say that it was unsuccessful. I emailed them that day and they said they had some technical problems at their office that would last a few hours. So I texted the code one more time a lot later on Monday evening, but I got the same result as before. I've emailed them again about it. I hope this is just a one off, because I want to get my M&S vouchers at the end of the year!!!

ged1980

dnl05 wrote: »

Has anyone had problems texting their code this Monday? It was my first time of texting the code to Inview. I sent 4 texts on Monday morning with the correct code, but each time I got a text back to say that it was unsuccessful. I emailed them that day and they said they had some technical problems at their office that would last a few hours. So I texted the code one more time a lot later on Monday evening, but I got the same result as before. I've emailed them again about it. I hope this is just a one off, because I want to get my M&S vouchers at the end of the year!!!

yes i had same problem worked ok next day though

dnl05

ged1980 wrote: »

yes i had same problem worked ok next day though

Thanks for that. I might try again - even though they say that they only want to receive the data on Mondays! I want those M&S vouchers!

sexymouse

When you first connect your box, how long did it take to update? Ours has been going now for 30 mins or so, and OH is getting fed up and threatening to put our old one back?

mattyccfc

shouldnt take that long, just wait

oldwally

dnl05 wrote: »

Has anyone had problems texting their code this Monday? It was my first time of texting the code to Inview. I sent 4 texts on Monday morning with the correct code, but each time I got a text back to say that it was unsuccessful. I emailed them that day and they said they had some technical problems at their office that would last a few hours. So I texted the code one more time a lot later on Monday evening, but I got the same result as before. I've emailed them again about it. I hope this is just a one off, because I want to get my M&S vouchers at the end of the year!!!

Err,just read your post,only 3 weeks old, DOH! Sorry ! Anyway,I think you will be lucky to get any vouchers,before,say June 09 ?ie one txt msg per week and if you only started a few weeks back ,that will take you to the middle of next Summer..............One other thought ,I noticed just before the ad was taken off Page 107 on Teletext,it no longer stated "M&S Vouchers"just "vouchers",so if you set your heart on M&S ones,you might not get 'em !! Good Luck, Mine,if they ever turn up,should be here by November.........