Amstrad DRX280 PVR3

[ColinR]

Hi, I've just upgraded the hard drive in my sky+ box to a WD5000AAKB. I also enabled accoustic management using http://hddscan.com/ . Copy plus worked perfectly, excellent software - copied the entire drive (90% full and anytime) in around 90 minutes.

Since the upgrade I've had a couple of interesting issues arise and wondered if someone could point me in the direction of a solution?

1. I'm unable to permanently put my sky box in standby:

- Put in Standby
- Fan continues to run for 60 seconds
- Fan turns off
- 90 Seconds later the box brings itself out of standby (to channel 998!)


I've tried doing a planner rebuild, after doing this the box goes into standby permanently, but as soon as I turn it on and put back in standby it returns to the above. I've tried searching but the only standby problems I come across are people stuck in standby - I guess I should think myself lucky!

2. Fast forward seems to skip backward about 10 minutes? Only occassionally, I don't think it's the recordings as when I fast forward to that point again and re-try it works!

I can live with point 2 as it's quite infrequent, however point 1 is driving me nuts!

Couple of thoughts myself are:

- Force a firmware upgrade.
- Power box down, remove Viewing Card, power back on and insert card.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Colin

[ColinR]

Just noticed something else that I wanted to add.

I put the box on standby to watch a dvd (the box was recording something at this time). The box remained in standby for the duration of the recording, however up to a few minutes after finishing the recording the box powered itself back on to channel 998.

Thanks again,
Colin

[pcbbc]

Thanks for your kind words about Copy+ and sorry you have had problems.

Usually box instability, reboots and drive being unavailable after placing in standby are signs of an incompatible hard drive.
Was the WD5000AAKB drive recommended for the Amstrad by someone, or are you just trying it on spec?

[ColinR]

I saw that it has worked on Thompson boxes, so thought I'd give it a go. Ideally I was after a Seagate ST3500830ACE, but was struggling to find any!

I don't really understand why it now has these symptoms. Very unusual.

I was very excited when I got the new drive in, powered it on, tested playback, tested a recording... everything works perfectly, it just won't stay in standby!

I have finally found somewhere that does the ST3500830ACE (proven to work well with Amstrad) and have ordered it. I'll copy from the WD and see if the symtoms are cured.

Thanks,
Colin

[pcbbc]

I have finally found somewhere that does the ST3500830ACE (proven to work well with Amstrad) and have ordered it. I'll copy from the WD and see if the symtoms are cured.

Well, I wish you better luck with that drive when it arrives
Do not hesitate to pop back for further information and advice if you need it!

Unfortunately it is all down to getting the correct drive - as I discovered (to my cost with a few recordings) when recently replacing my Pace V1 with a V3.

[ColinR]

Seems I've found the cause!

I've actually got a box labelled PVR3, with a PVR3 case - but PVR 2 internals!

Nice!

The company I thought I'd order a ST3500830ACE didn't actually have any... so I order an upgrade kit from xtendedplay.co.uk - but again have hit the same problems.

Was only after I did a full system reset - then copied the programs that I, by chance, noticed DRX180 written on the board!

Thanks for your help - I'll chase up xtendedplay.co.uk and see if they'll replace it,
Colin

[pcbbc]

How are you determining it is a PVR3 case?

The logo on the front:


Is the Digital Video Broadcasting logo which appears on all digital set top boxes.
Not surprisingly (without any wording underneath), a lot of people seem to confuse the stylised B with a 3.

[ColinR]

Hi,

I've got this box:


On the back it says "Amstrad DRX280" but on the system board it says DR-X180R.

I used this page to determine it was a PVR3, but now I'm not so sure:
http://www.xtendedplay.co.uk/support/in ... =9&nav=0,1

Thanks,
Colin

[pcbbc]

Oh - that is odd!

By far the easiest way to definitively tell what hardware you have is to look at the version number in Services, System Setup, System Details screen.

Amstrad PVR2 DRX180 = 4F20nn
Amstrad PVR3 DRX280 = 4F21nn

Also the PVR3s have USB ports and the Anytime service. PVR2s do not.

I am not familiar with the internals of the Amstrad boxes, but I would be surprised if you could swap the circuit boards that easily. For example you have a PVR3 case, but the interactive card slot is in a completely different location on the PVR2.

[ColinR]

I have the sky anytime service and usb ports!

Version Number is: 4F2109.

Not sure what the deal is, I'm waiting to hear back from xtendedplay.co.uk technical team.

Thanks for all your help. I'll update the post when I have more info.

Colin

[pcbbc]

Thanks! So it is a PVR3 then.

So the DR-X180R is printed on silkscreen on the board? Or on some kind of sticker?
Perhaps they forgot to update the silkscreen?! Or the R suffix means something and this was the internal model number before they decided on the 280 moniker?

[DBMandrake]

Drat. Wish I'd found this thread before ordering the drive - I'm having the exact same problems described in the first post in this thread - powering itself back on again after putting it on standby.

Interestingly I too have a case that says Amstrad Model DRX280, but the silk screening on the circuit board says DR-X180R_1 Issue 3. It is definitely PVR3 with Sky Anytime. System Details say:

Model Number: A2P0705
Version Number: 4F2118
Operating System Version: 1.31B10
EPG Software Version: 5.07.u

So I assume that unless someone has had some luck since this thread was started, we can assume this drive is not compatible and I should give up on it ?