Like a load of Humax users, we’ve been miffed off to the max with the increasingly patchy performance from our Humax PVR units.
As we reported recently, our PVRs have been slowing down to a crawl, freezing completely, refusing to turn off when the unit is switched off and – worst of all – missing vital recordings of Cardiff City’s play-off securing Championship season.
Fixes and bodges
After trying a load of fixes and bodges suggested on the web to no avail, we blasted Humax off a moaning letter and promised to post up their reply here.
They didn’t get around to emailing us back, but instead made a statement via their Facebook page (of all places) claiming to have conjured up a software solution that will ‘dramatically improve the user experience’ and address issues such as freezing and locking up.
Acknowledging the “issues” affecting PVR-9150T, PVR-9300T and, “in particular”, the PVR-9200T Freeview+ digital TV recorders, the company detailed the problems:
The increasing complexity of the UK’s broadcast infrastructure and requirement to process a substantially higher volume of information has put the PVRs under pressure and significant performance issues became particularly apparent through the digital switchover.
We recognise this has regrettably caused frustration and problems for some of our PVR-9300T and PVR-9150T users, and in particular those with the older PVR-9200T models.
Humax also say that the new software mitigates the risk of future problems, and significantly reduces the time it takes to display the on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG) data, from many minutes to seconds.
They’re claiming the latter to be a “new feature” although most frustrated users would probably think of it as a long overdue fix.
Coming soon
Obliquely, Humax say they’re scheduling an automatic over-the-air software download “in a matter of weeks”, although they won’t give exact dates right now so we won’t be holding our breath – after all it’s taken over a year for them to even acknowledge the problem.
To make sure you get your update, be sure to turn your PVR off and on occasionally, or if you’re the impatient type, check out their website regularly where they’ll be making the update available as a download.
I have had a PVR-9300T for about 3 years and love it. But last year it stopped freeze framing live TV. In that when I got back to it and set it off again, it did not continue where I paused it but immediately went to the programme in real time. I can only think this is a software glitch as it has not affected the formal recording procedure or the library that clogs the memory. I do have the software update set to auto and tried to manually updater it, but it says it is up-to-date. So, any suggestions please?
To missionary, the recording buffer has become corrupt.
There are a couple of solutions that will work. See my post of June 16, 2012 at 1:33 PM on page 2.
I have a PVR9300T Which wipes the whole recording schedule if I switch it off! It never used to do this existing recordings are still on ok but any custom settings go back to factory default too. Any ideas guys?
theres going to be a over the air download for pvr 9300t on june 11th for 3/4 days
theres also over air fix for pvr 9200 june 9th for 2 days
I have a Humax 9300 t and have the same problems also I can no longer pause live TV I was told to replace the hard drive or format the drive in the humax, I couldn’t format as I would lose all the recordings so purchased a new hard drive and put that in, the humax just kept re booting all the time so I sent the hard drive back thinking it was faulty, they replaced it but it still did the same thing re booting all the time. Does anyone know which drive is compatible.? this is my second humax as I had the same problem with the 9200 t I don’t think I would have another Humax.
I think the best thing to try and do is to leave it on all the time like me and at least it does not defort it self and have not missed a reconding since but only if you can also as you say i will not buy another humax
It’s now 2016 anD my humax pvr is still just a hunk o junk. AWFUL PRODUCT, TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Our 9300t has now given up on life, freezes every few days and erases the recording schedule. All settings default to factory and I have to reset everything I’m now done with the thing as it’s been eighteen months all fixes have failed. I will not be buying another.
If you can do what i do just leave it on all the time and it should be OK most of the time
My second PVR9300-T now suffers with playback stuttering. This product is not fit for purpose & Humax customer support very poor.
My PVR-9300T AS LOCKED IN THE GAMES WHICH I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR, it is stopping me accessing all my strored
items
Bad customer service had two Humax PVRs in the past but never again. Pete
Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me.. I have a Humax pvr-9300T it was an excellent box, we had to replace the hard drive in, we b ought a new one exactly the same and fitted it, but cannot actually find the way to Format it, can anyone tell me please.
My Humax. PVR. 9300T stutters on playback . This happens on ITV and Channel 4 but not on BBC !! It’s only 5yrs old is it time to replace , if so will buy another make . What your opinion 😳
Just retuned as instructed several channel’s don’t perform ITV channel 3 says scrambled and is now channel 800 channel 4 on 801 etc any one any ideas. Worked up to retune
My humax has been a problem for some tine – after only about 3 years it just kept switching off and had to be re-started. Now even this did not help. Kept losing volume during recording playback, Was advised to re-set but somehow couldn’t be done as only the time was displayed. Managed to do so by pressing random buttons. Support said they could not help as it was out of warranty. Bad customer service (can’t get through on the phone) so will look for alternatives.