• Freesat Box Replacement

    From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 08:06:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been
    put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat (today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may
    be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as possible:

    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam
    input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android
    TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    George Washington was a British subject until well after his 40th birthday. (Margaret Thatcher, speech at the White House 17 December 1979)
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Scott@newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 12:02:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a >Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been
    put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat >(today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may
    be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as possible:

    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam >input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android
    TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 13:19:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 12:02, Scott wrote:
    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a
    Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been
    put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat
    (today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may
    be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as possible: >>
    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam
    input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android
    TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    From what I understand the OS is on the hard disk and it's not possible
    to copy it across to a new disk. BICBW...
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Scott@newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 13:33:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:19:37 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid>
    wrote:

    On 27/06/2026 12:02, Scott wrote:
    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a
    Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been >>> put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat >>> (today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may >>> be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as possible: >>>
    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam
    input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android >>> TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    From what I understand the OS is on the hard disk and it's not possible
    to copy it across to a new disk. BICBW...

    It was just a thought that might be worth checking. I think I have
    heard of people replacing the drive on a Humax. I thought there was
    software the police use to make an exact copy of a disc for forensic examination while preserving the original as evidence.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bob Latham@bob@sick-of-spam.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 14:50:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    In article <7kgv3ld4bml5v2diedjn4s6c1flsmv74dh@4ax.com>,
    Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

    It was just a thought that might be worth checking. I think I have
    heard of people replacing the drive on a Humax. I thought there was
    software the police use to make an exact copy of a disc for forensic examination while preserving the original as evidence.

    I think it very likely CloneZilla could copy the disc provided the
    new disc was at least the same size of larger. The question though is
    the source disc in good enough condition to be properly read.

    https://clonezilla.org/

    Bob.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 14:19:55 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 in message <kcbv3ldqq2l01b7sm419gp3dob97s9qt7b@4ax.com>
    Scott wrote:

    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a >>Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been >>put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat >>(today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may
    be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as >>possible:

    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam >>input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android >>TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available >>because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a heat problem.

    An AI search suggested a GTMedia GT Combo which seem to exist everywhere except on GT Media's website!
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    If Bj%rn & Benny had been called Syd and Dave then ABBA would have been
    called ASDA.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Indy Jess John@bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 16:15:58 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 15:19, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 in message <kcbv3ldqq2l01b7sm419gp3dob97s9qt7b@4ax.com>
    Scott wrote:

    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a
    Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been >>> put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat >>> (today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may >>> be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as
    possible:

    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam
    input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network
    Android
    TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it
    went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a heat problem.

    An AI search suggested a GTMedia GT Combo which seem to exist everywhere except on GT Media's website!

    Many years ago I bought a dual disc docking Station. It connected to a computer via a USB cable and the PC could then read 1 or 2 discs
    depending on how many were inserted. However, if the USB interface was
    not connected, the unit could be used to clone the front disc onto the
    back disc. It was called Winstars Communicator D2.

    I can't find any exact match with a google search, so I imagine that it
    is well and truly obsolete, but I did find a current device that also
    claims to be able to clone: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/358324686279

    The other thing you might try is just taking out the current disc and
    putting another one in. I have an also obsolete Manhattan Freesat
    Recorder (but I never throw away anything that still works) which came originally with a 250gb disc or 500gb disc option. I decided to try it
    with a 1TB disc, which I had to format using the unit's "Format" option
    and it did, and it ran OK. It appears to have a copy of the operating software on a chip somewhere.

    So if you try just replacing your disc with another, you might find that
    when you do it just works. You can check that with another 1TB disc if
    you have one spare. If the replacement 1TB runs OK then you could try a
    2TB. Anything that runs with a 1TB disc will probably stand an upgrade
    to a 2TB. After that you might have index format problems.

    Best of luck,
    Jim
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Max Demian@max_demian@bigfoot.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 19:01:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 13:33, Scott wrote:
    On Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:19:37 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid>
    wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 12:02, Scott wrote:
    On 27 Jun 2026 08:06:32 GMT, "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:


    I have a Freesat-4k-Recordable-PVR2020v38, also known as a
    Freesat-4k-Recordable 1TB.

    It has started to put a message on screen saying the hard drive has been >>>> put back online and recording is now available again. It may be the heat >>>> (today the lounge is 26 degrees, first day below 30 this week) or it may >>>> be wearing out.

    What options should I look at to get as close to the following as possible:

    Receive programmes via satellite (NOT terrestrial) using dual wide beam >>>> input.
    Record such programmes, perhaps up to 4 at a time.
    Ability to pause and rewind live programmes.
    Stream programmes over the Internet with / without subscription.
    Ability to install apps like Kodi for streaming over home network Android >>>> TV seems best for this.

    Record anything I view via any method, I suspect still not available
    because or DRM?

    Suggestions welcome :-)

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    From what I understand the OS is on the hard disk and it's not possible
    to copy it across to a new disk. BICBW...

    It was just a thought that might be worth checking. I think I have
    heard of people replacing the drive on a Humax.

    I think all the Humax software is on flash memory.
    --
    Max Demian
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sat Jun 27 20:47:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 in message <xn0prixrvbj0t9e00i@news.individual.net> Jeff
    Gaines wrote:

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it went >well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a heat
    problem.

    I have just found instructions on the Internet, looks similar to replacing
    a laptop drive except the top needs spadgering off. Straight replacement
    and the box will format it. I think it may ne a laptop drive, I will
    continue checking.

    The current 1 TB drive was down to 45 GB free and a recording failed this evening so I've cleaned off a load of stuff. The instructions I've found
    say don't use an SSD.
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    We chose to do this not because it is easy but because we thought it would
    be easy.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From MikeS@MikeS@fred.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sun Jun 28 02:46:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/06/2026 21:47, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 in message <xn0prixrvbj0t9e00i@news.individual.net> Jeff Gaines wrote:

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for
    the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it
    went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a
    heat problem.

    I have just found instructions on the Internet, looks similar to
    replacing a laptop drive except the top needs spadgering off. Straight replacement and the box will format it. I think it may ne a laptop
    drive, I will continue checking.

    The current 1 TB drive was down to 45 GB free and a recording failed
    this evening so I've cleaned off a load of stuff. The instructions I've found say don't use an SSD.

    Its not a UK Freesat box, for which choice is very limited. Its a
    satellite box which can receive the UK free to air TV channels.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sun Jun 28 07:38:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 28/06/2026 in message <111pueb$3b3gj$1@dont-email.me> MikeS wrote:

    On 27/06/2026 21:47, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 in message <xn0prixrvbj0t9e00i@news.individual.net> Jeff >>Gaines wrote:

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for >>>>the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it >>>went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a heat >>>problem.

    I have just found instructions on the Internet, looks similar to >>replacing a laptop drive except the top needs spadgering off. Straight >>replacement and the box will format it. I think it may ne a laptop drive, >>I will continue checking.

    The current 1 TB drive was down to 45 GB free and a recording failed this >>evening so I've cleaned off a load of stuff. The instructions I've found >>say don't use an SSD.

    Its not a UK Freesat box, for which choice is very limited. Its a
    satellite box which can receive the UK free to air TV channels.

    It's a Freesat-4k-Recordable as set out in my OP. Video instructions:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6LLsWv6lo
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    How does a gender neutral bog differ from a unisex bog ?
    It has a non-binary number on the door.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From MikeS@MikeS@fred.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sun Jun 28 17:08:55 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 28/06/2026 08:38, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 28/06/2026 in message <111pueb$3b3gj$1@dont-email.me> MikeS wrote:

    On 27/06/2026 21:47, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 in message <xn0prixrvbj0t9e00i@news.individual.net>
    Jeff Gaines wrote:

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for >>>>> the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and
    it went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or
    a-a heat problem.

    I have just found instructions on the Internet, looks similar to
    replacing a laptop drive except the top needs spadgering off.
    Straight replacement and the box will format it. I think it may ne a
    laptop-a drive, I will continue checking.

    The current 1 TB drive was down to 45 GB free and a recording failed
    this evening so I've cleaned off a load of stuff. The instructions
    I've-a found say don't use an SSD.

    Its not a UK Freesat box, for which choice is very limited. Its a
    satellite box which can receive the UK free to air TV channels.

    It's a Freesat-4k-Recordable as set out in my OP. Video instructions:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6LLsWv6lo

    I was referring to the GTMedia GT Combo (i.e anything from that brand).
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Sun Jun 28 20:52:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 28/06/2026 in message <111rguo$3nke0$1@dont-email.me> MikeS wrote:

    On 28/06/2026 08:38, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 28/06/2026 in message <111pueb$3b3gj$1@dont-email.me> MikeS wrote:

    On 27/06/2026 21:47, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 27/06/2026 in message <xn0prixrvbj0t9e00i@news.individual.net> Jeff >>>>Gaines wrote:

    Would it be possible to buy a compatible hard drive and format it for >>>>>>the purpose? Maybe even an SSD.

    Thanks Scott :-)

    I did that with a Sky box once, instructions from the Internet and it >>>>>went well. Ii will have to wilt a bit to see if it's the drive or a-a >>>>>heat problem.

    I have just found instructions on the Internet, looks similar to >>>>replacing a laptop drive except the top needs spadgering off. Straight >>>>replacement and the box will format it. I think it may ne a laptop-a >>>>drive, I will continue checking.

    The current 1 TB drive was down to 45 GB free and a recording failed >>>>this evening so I've cleaned off a load of stuff. The instructions I've-a >>>>found say don't use an SSD.

    Its not a UK Freesat box, for which choice is very limited. Its a >>>satellite box which can receive the UK free to air TV channels.

    It's a Freesat-4k-Recordable as set out in my OP. Video instructions:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6LLsWv6lo

    I was referring to the GTMedia GT Combo (i.e anything from that brand).

    You must have replied to the wrong post?
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    Every day is a good day for chicken, unless you're a chicken.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2