Digibox Problem, Vacuum & Car Heating

[chickensexer]

Hello Dear All,

1. I have a very basic Nokia digibox. It's connected to my TV, to power in the wall, to antenna in the wall, and to something else, I didn't check, may be to the TV, too. There's no buttons on it, just one small light that normally is green...

Well, I had to unplug it recently and when I plugged it back in - the light didn't go green, but started blinking red. It has happened a couple of times before but then usually after 5-10 minutes it would get to green and I'd see TV channels again. But not this time.

I must've misplaced the manual, so I can't check any troubleshooting there. Anyone has any idea what might be the problem and how to fix it?

Someone told me that unplugging it while it's working, without turning it off first, is very bad. Something might burn out in there because of that.. Is it true? I did unplug mine in that way. In which case - what can be done to fix it, what are repair options, or do I need to get a new one?

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2. I have an old (4yr) vacuum cleaner that I don't need anymore. Originally it cost 60eur in Gigantti. It's pretty primitive, but nothing is broken in it, I just got a better one. So, is it worth offering to people as a giveaway or noone would want it and I should just trhough it away? Then how? Can I just trhough it into garbage or do I have to dispose of it in some fancy-shmancy environmetal way?

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3. When I get to my car in the morning I usally first start i, turn on seat and window heat, then scrape ice off windows outside. it takes 3-5min, then I get in and drive away. Somehow I'm having a feeling that it's not really legal to have a car running idly and I should FIRST de-ice, THEN start it. Is it so? Or doing it in my order is ok?

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Thank you all very much in advance. But especially those of you who'll figure out my stupid digibox.

[Jukka Aho]

1. I have a very basic Nokia digibox. [...] Well, I had to unplug it recently and when I plugged it back in - the light didn't go green, but started blinking red. [...] Anyone has any idea what might be the problem and how to fix it?

Could be a hardware fault, could be a software glitch. There’s no way of telling.

Many Nokia digiboxes have a serial port on the back for firmware updates. Maybe you could try connecting the digibox to your PC and update the firmware. This should also reset it to factory settings. The Nokia support site used to carry firmware updater support software at least for some models.

In order to do a firmware update, you would need a so-called “null-modem” serial cable between the Nokia and your PC. These are readily available at computer stores. Or you might additionally need a USB-to-serial converter cable if your PC didn’t come with a serial port. (RS-232 serial ports are quite old technology and they’re getting rare on new PCs... especially on laptops.)

I must've misplaced the manual, so I can't check any troubleshooting there.

A copy of the manual is probably available on the Nokia support site as a downloadable PDF file. You may need to navigate there using Google, though... (Nokia has discontinued the Mediamaster product line and the product support site has gone through some changes since then. I can’t seem to find the Mediamaster digiboxes through the front page any more but Google still finds the individual support pages on their site if you search using the model number.)

What is the exact model designation of this digibox? If it is not spelled out on the front panel, there should be a sticker on the bottom or the backside of the unit.

Someone told me that unplugging it while it's working, without turning it off first, is very bad. Something might burn out in there because of that.. Is it true? I did unplug mine in that way. :(

Depends on how the device was designed but at least the basic digiboxes are usually not sensitive to unplugging them on the fly. I wouldn’t recommend that method for those digiboxes (PVRs) which have a hard disk drive inside them, though.

[Upphew]

3. I'd say everyone does their car that way. Legal limits are 4 min if under -15, else 2 min.

[Pursuivant]

The vacoom someone will want it, otherwise you can take it to the kierrätyskeskus or say FIDA they take donations.

As for the digibox, you have the menu pop up usually? That it wants to check for channels? Or there is no menu at all?

Car... yeah, I start mine first as whats the use scraping if I need to take the bus (or even get into the car)

[rinso]

I got the same effect with my digibox after a power failure.
It never recovered. It seems to be a software problem.

[chickensexer]

Thank you all for answers.

Digibox. By the way, it's Mediamaster 110-T. I did find my manual. It says "Red light blinking means it's recieving signals from remote control". Which in my case not true anymore. It doesn't react to remote in any way at all anymore.

I doubt it would be firmware update or whatever, cuz that procedure is described in the manual, and it seems it would have at least some stuff appearing on the screen of TV prior and during that procedure. In my case it's just dead. besides, I don't have a PC, let alone some cables and stuff.

In old times when I would turn it on - it just starts showing TV, like normal TV thing. And only during initial setup some setup stuff appeared on the screen. I could invoke it again by using Menu button on the remote. But now, as I said - it's just dead, on TV screen and through remote - just dead.

So, seems it's just kaputt? But is it worth takin it in for service at least!? Or bye-bye 100eur?

Vacuum. Which part of FF would be suitable for posting the vacuum giveaway?

[Jukka Aho]

I doubt it would be firmware update or whatever, cuz that procedure is described in the manual, and it seems it would have at least some stuff appearing on the screen of TV prior and during that procedure. In my case it's just dead.

The procedure described in the 110-T user’s guide (which is available for download here) concerns OTA (over-the-air) upgrades, i.e. firmware upgrades broadcast over some TV channel; not upgrades done via a serial cable and with the help of a PC. (Many cheaper digiboxes offer only this OTA method of firmware upgrades to the end-user, and the 110-T was probably the cheapest box in Nokia’s Mediamaster lineup.)

Alas, the 110-T (unlike, say, its bigger brother, the Mediamaster 150-T) does not have a serial port on its back. Surely there’s still some way to reflash the firmware if that’s the problem – be that via a special SCART cable, or by opening the case and connecting the PC to some pin header connector on the circuit board – but in absence of a standard serial port or a USB port specifically designated for this purpose, or any other standard port whatsoever which would allow an easy hook-up to a PC, end-users are not apparently expected to carry out that procedure themselves, then. In line with this, Nokia also does not seem to make any PC software available on their site for upgrading the 110-T (even though they do have this kind of software available for the 150-T.)

Of course, it could be something completely different, such as dried out electrolytic capacitors in the power supply – which is a quite usual problem in a piece of modern consumer electronics that will suddenly start behaving flaky. The caps could be replaced by an electronics hobbyist...

But I’m afraid for all practical purposes it’s dead for you, then. Best to hand it over for electronics recycling. (See this page, move the dot to Kodinkoneet (SER), type in your street address and select the city, and you’ll find the nearest recycling station that accepts that kind of waste.) At most, maybe someone who owns a 110 or a 150 would want the spare remote for themselves, especially if they’ve broken or lost theirs...

So, seems it's just kaputt? But is it worth takin it in for service at least!? Or bye-bye 100eur? :(

If vertaa.fi is to be trusted, basic DVB-T digiboxes start out from €40 or a bit less these days. It would probably cost you more if they even had a look in the general direction of your 110-T at the service center...

[chickensexer]

Hm.. Then what "real" store would you recommend to buy a new one? I don't want to buy online because those descriptions don't tell me anything and I want someone to explain me how to install it. or at least to make sure there will be English manual in the package..

[Upphew]

Hm.. Then what "real" store would you recommend to buy a new one? I don't want to buy online because those descriptions don't tell me anything and I want someone to explain me how to install it. or at least to make sure there will be English manual in the package..

I'd choose Gigantti, or any other that gives you option to return it, in case of no english manual/wrong model/whatever. Some shops/chains (G included?) have installation service, for a price of course.

[Jukka Aho]

Just make sure to get a DVB-T model instead of a DVB-C model. (Or at least your old one, the 110-T, was a DVB-T model, so I’m assuming you’re not a cable subscriber.)

T = terrestrial (reception via a roof antenna)
C = cable
S = satellite

[maxxfi]

If the digibox looks broken, before to toss it away, try the reset procedure:

3. How do I reset my Nokia Mediamaster 110T?

Note: you need to perform “First time installation” after reseting the device.

Unplug the power cable. Press the Reset button on the rear panel using a small object, such as the end of an unwound paper clip. Continue holding down the button as you plug the power cable back in. Wait 3 seconds, then release the button.

[Jukka Aho]

If the digibox looks broken, before to toss it away, try the reset procedure:

Good catch! I had forgotten the Mediamasters have this function. It’s definitely worth a shot.

[chickensexer]

If the digibox looks broken, before to toss it away, try the reset procedure:

3. How do I reset my Nokia Mediamaster 110T?

Note: you need to perform “First time installation” after reseting the device.

Unplug the power cable. Press the Reset button on the rear panel using a small object, such as the end of an unwound paper clip. Continue holding down the button as you plug the power cable back in. Wait 3 seconds, then release the button.

Wow, and I just bought a new one last night!!

Will try that tonight! If I'll find the button..

[maxxfi]

Will try that tonight! If I'll find the button..

Hmm, good question...

I wonder if it has been another cut & paste error.
The hint about reset was in a 'Nokia Mediamaster FAQ',
http://europe.nokia.com/support/product ... master-faq
that had exactly the same suggestion for both 110T and 120T models.
But looking at the users manuals, the 120T has a reset button clearly
indicated (the typical tiny hole on the back panel of the digibox)
but no trace of that button in the 110T manual.

Oops!

[chickensexer]

Didn't find any trace of any button anywhere on the old digibox...

But no big deal, I'm pretty happy with the new one.

Thank you everyone who tried helping!