We’ve had a number of reports that Top Up TV boxes made by Thomson have started locking up (showing an orange light) and refusing to start. It seems the problem started on the 3rd of May, over the Bank Holiday weekend.
It seems that the issue affects the Thomson DTI-6300 Top Up TV Anytime boxes. They are failing to come out of standby mode, displaying a constant amber light, or getting caught in a restart loop.
The affected Thomson DTI-6300 Top Up TV Anytime box
Top Up TV is aware of this problem and their call centre has been swamped with calls. The issue seems to relate to a faulty electronic programme guide (EPG) download on Sunday morning.
Top Up TV’s site is now providing information on a way to get affected boxes running again. The first thing to try is to disconnect the box from the mains for 20 seconds and get the box to try to start normally. If this doesn’t work – try it again. If there’s still no joy, the next step is a rather fiddly process that results in the hard drive being formatted – which will trash all of the recordings held on the box.
Obviously this is a pretty poor show, and we’re getting reports from users very unhappy at a) this happening over a Bank Holiday weekend, and b) their unwatched TV shows being zapped.
If you’re affected, for reference, here isthe procedure for formattig the box, as outlined by Top Up TV:
Procedure: Front Panel Reset (Reformat HDD)
Attention: this will unfortunately cause your recordings to be lost.
- Remove power to the unit by removing the power cable from the back of the DTR.
- Wait 20 seconds and restore the power cable while holding in the standby/power on button on the front panel of the DTR.
- Release the standby button immediately you see a light ‘blip’ on the DTR front display and then immediately press the following front panel arrow buttons quickly and in the sequence Up > Down > Left > Right
- The DTR will now show the Orange LED with the Green LED flashing until the format has been completed in about 60 seconds. The DTR will return to ON automatically.
- If requested, perform a channel scan to complete the operation
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