Vu Duo hangs randomly onchannels zapping

Discussion in 'VuPlus Duo Hardware troubles and Repair support.' started by DS-1, Sep 28, 2018.

  1. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Hi guys,

    I've bought a original used Vu+ Duo, which I'm using only with usb dtt stick thru a 5v powered hub.

    The box seems to work good, but sometimes, while i'm zapping thru channels, it looses the signal and no channels show anymore until I completely reboot the box.

    Sometimes, while I switch it off from the main power button and I reboot it too quickly, it only shows red light without any "starting..." display. If I shut it off for 4-5 seconds, it reboots without issues.

    Now I'm running OpenPli 4, but this problem shows with any image.

    BTW, I have another Vu+ Duo that works fine.

    Anyone can help me to find out what's the problem?

    THanks!
     
  2. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Seems to me a power supply issue, or else some cap issue onto the motherboard.
    But, I would first see if it's related to the power supply, before thinking of another cause.
     
  3. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Are you talking about the main power supply, or the hub power supply?

    What should I check?
     
  4. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Main power supply, if the voltages stay stable etc..
     
  5. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Thanks a lot, I'll check all the voltages as soon as possible!
     
  6. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Okay but before you do that, check if the famous C807 already has been replaced, if not then it's better to replace it for a new one.
    Normally it's a 220uF cap, but you may also use a higher cap as for example a 330uF or 480uF and better is to keep the cap voltage between the 10v till 50v.
     
  7. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    I've only checked it "esthetically" and it doesn't seem to be damaged. How should I check for it with a multimeter? Do I need to desolder it first?
     
  8. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    By doubts, just replace it, because this is a weak spot of the VuDuo's.
    In any case, it's always better to replace it, before thinking of other things which could cause a issue.
     
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  9. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    I'm doing it right now... ;-)

    330uF 25v

    EDIT: it was already swapped with a very small 330uF 25v...

    RE-EDIT: i swapped the old - already changed - cap with a 330uF 25v (not the small one) and now I'm testing the decoder...I'll let you know what happens in these test hours!
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2018
  10. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Ok, the first hours after the cap swapping seem to be fine: no issues at all. I turned off everything and went to bed.

    Today I turned everything on and after 30 minutes I had the first issues, like before swapping the cap. What happen to me is similar to this:

    Sometimes it doesn't go to loop, but simple it goes to black screen after a channel zapping.

    If I try to reboot the decoder from the remote, sometimes it hangs on "reboot" screen. I have to turn it off from behing button.

    Now It's running good, it's about an hour that there's no problem at all. But I know that sometime here and there the issue will be back...
     
  11. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm thinking of a bad/outdated solder ball under the cpu.
    This can be tested by using a fan, and to let it blow to the cpu, and to see if the receiver stays working.
    If so, then it needs a reflow job.
     
  12. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Are you saying that using a fan on the would reduce the CPU temp and let the decoder works without hanging?
     
  13. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes indeed, it's to check if it's caused due the cpu, because the solder and pcb under it become warm after a time of use and may give this issues when it has bad or outdated solder balls.
    It does not have to be this case, it may also be caused due a bad voltages/amps circuit, but it's a easy test to exclude the possibility that it could be related to the cpu.
     
  14. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Where should I take a +5v pins on the main board to use the fan on the cpu?

    Now, after an hour of normal use, the loop-freeze starts. But after a couple of minutes it disappears, then appears again. On the net I've found only another guy with the same issue, and he also had this issue while using dtt usb.

    Tomorrow I'll change the usb dtt tuner first of all!
     
  15. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Just use a 12vdc pc fan and feed it with the hdd power connector, or use a usb fan.
    Other idea is to play some movies from the hdd (if present) or usb and see if it gives the same issue.

    In any case, this are not so easy to find problems because it happens after a while of use, you need to try some things to figure it out.
     
  16. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    However, if you only have this issue by using a usb dtt tuner, then it may have nothing to do with the hardware of the receiver, or the 5v for it is to weak.
    Maybe it helps if you use a usb hub with a own power source.
    Or else it could maybe be caused due the type usb dtt tuner you use, or a driver issue, or try a blackhole version, one which is build for the use of the usb dtt tuner.
     
  17. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Playing a movie or a video thru Youtube hasn't showed the issue. The fact is that the issue doesn't show all the time I use the box and, when it happens, it is alway after 30 minutes/1 hour of use.

    Now I'm trying with different hubs-dtt tuners.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2018
  18. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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    Now I'm using a different hub and as102 dtt usb stick instead of a867 (af9035).

    Let's see what happens!

    EDIT: after 10 minutes, the image freezed, zapping thru the channels showed black screen and If I put a usb pen with a .mp4 file (that usually the decoder plays) it told that no playable files are in the pen...!!!!!!

    I'm going to upload a video to show better what's happening.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2018
  19. DS-1

    DS-1 Member

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  20. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    hmm, see if it's make a differences if you use the front usb, because the front usb port is separated from the back usb ports chip.
    Also, I think that a openblackhole version could give better results with a usb dtt tuner but this is more Toysoft his knowledge.
     
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