>>> BREAKING NEWS: £70 offer from Beko for FVRT145 Owners – 4TV/InView EPG Switch-off: Latest News <<< The company that provides the 14-day EPG updates to various Freeview boxes has said it is stopping the service with immediate effect. DigitalSpy forum members had reported that, in the last few days, their Digifusion boxes had failed to receive any new EPG updates. The last update has programme information up to Wednesday 7th July. albertd contacted InView on 28th June 2010 to report the fault and received this response:
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we are discontinuing the service as we are no longer able to have access to the delivery method that has been available until now.
I know that this is not good news for you so I can only deeply apologise for your loss of service in advance. Your box should otherwise operate normally and have the now and next option.
The 14-day EPG provided by InView is used by several Freeview boxes including:
- Digifusion FRT101
- Digifusion FVRT100
- Digifusion FVRT145
- Digifusion FVRT150
- Digifusion FVRT200
- Digifusion FVRT400
- Inverto IDL-7000T
- Inverto IDL-7000M
- Thomson DHD4000
- Sony SVR-S500
Forum member marcdavis spoke with InView by phone and posted the following:
I had a conversation with Inview about an hour ago and apparantly the contract to playout these EPG services has come to an end. No company has stepped forward to renew, either because they no longer exist or they have chosen to not to.
The removal of this service renders the recording facility near useless. Without the EPG updates the boxes will only provide now/next information. To set a recording users will have to manually enter the date, time and channel number.
It’s not known how many of these models are currently in use in the UK but judging by forum comments most users have been very happy with the reliability of these boxes; indeed many returned to the Digifusion after trying other brands like Topfield and Humax in the past.
It’s surprising that large companies like Sony and Thomson are prepared to let down their customers by allowing this service to expire – a move that’s certain to make customers think twice before putting their trust (and pounds) into these corporations. It’s perhaps telling that no public announcements regarding the impending demise of the service have been made.
What now for Digifusion owners? The search is on for a reliable replacement: Freeview HD, Freesat, Sky, Virgin, BT Broadband. This may take a while…
If you’re thinking about switching to Sky follow this link for free Sky+HD box, free installation plus £50 M&S vouchers.
Sources:DigitalSpy Digifusion forum: No Epg download again
DigitalSpy Thomson forum: DHD4000 – No EPG download last 2 nights
Inverto forum: EPG not updating -again
LATEST NEWS
I’ve moved all the updates to another page. Keep track of the latest news here:
4TV/InView EPG Switch-off: Latest News
Tags: digifusion, epg, freeview, fvrt100, fvrt145, fvrt150, fvrt200, fvrt400, guide, inverto, inview, sony, thomson
This is a sad day. I’ve had my Thomson DHD4000 for less than six months (it was my first PVR, albeit second-hand). I really like it even though I can’t update the software from 1.7.7. I needed a second box and bought a Humax 9200T, then I heard rumours that the DHD4000 might not work after switchover so I obtained a Toppy 5800. I thought I might get at least a year (until DSO affects me) but now the Thomson will become a backup at best. I know it’s an older box but Humax recently did an update for the 9200T to cache the EPG to disk, can’t something be done for the Thomson, I never liked it waking up at 3am to update the EPG. It should be updated more frequently. If we can get together, let’s hope we can give this excellent box a longer life.
Typical of the big corporations like Sony. Yake your cash, promis you the earth, then a few years later say up yours!
Digifusion bought by Beko or someone. Same story.
Typical of this new wonderful digital age. TV’s that last only 18 months, PVR’s that are useless within 3 years.
When will the buying public realise that if we banded together, we could teach a brand or two what for. If we all stopped buying a brand like Sony (or an other) they would learn that they have a duty to stand by their word.
But i think we are all blind. Roll up, Roll up, Lets all get stuffed by the big names.
Now where is that Argos catalogue?
My Digifusion has been perfect since I bought it six years ago. It was and remained till today the best thing on the market. Stopping the EPG service renders it useless despite the machine working PERFECTLY. In times of crisis, this is really crappy from “the private sector”. I will not replace with a Sony or any of the other brands that have let down their customers. And without even informing us. Absolute disgrace.
Well, I’m p1ssed off by this to say the least!
If Inverto manage to get the listings re-instated, will it mean that my DHD4000 will get listings again? If so, I’d gladly send Inverto some money by way of thanks.
In fact if anyone were to re-instate the listings I’d make a contribution. Failing that if anyone provided an OAD to DHD4000 boxes to enable them to use the Freeview EPG I’d pay ’em some money.
There must be thousands of people out there affected by this.
I have started an online petition in order to persuade Freeview to come to our rescue:
http://www.petitiononline.com/4tvepg/petition.html
Obviously, I understand Freeview is in no way to blame for this situation, but it’s well within their power to resolve it.
Please distribute the link (By email, forums, facebook etc) to anyone affected by this move and ask them to sign it.
If we don’t make a stand now, manufacturers and big business will continue to trample on the customer
Thank you for the information.
I was baffled by the sudden disappearance of the 14-day EPG.
This does not fill me with confidence when contemplating having to find another few £100s.
RodIoW
posted 9th. July 2010
Whats so frustrating is the lack of standards that are making landfil full of perfectly good but now useless kit.
I’ve recently binned two very good SETPAL boxes as the standard changed..and they were rendered defunct…
now I’ve got one of the more reliable PVRs with a lot less functionality
its time Freeview got its act together and insisted that stuff like this is supported… Inverto or who ever dropped running the EPG really are pretty cowardly to do this…
Its not like they dropped a 405 line transmission for kit thats not there.. there are 1000’s of people out there MOST of whom dont know of this change and now think their kit is broken…
How much does it take to get the feed from someone and convert to the 4TV standard…would be nice of them to be kind to us …
GRRRR
Steve
What a joke, when I discovered this problem on my Digifusion box, I e-mailed them on Friday 9th July. Reply was prompt, but their soluution was to turn it off and reset the box. No mention of the real reason. What a pain- the Digibox is actually very good, and all other boxes seem to only have a 7 day timer.
I may use the 6 year EU warranty rule.. this item is now not Fit for purpose! and as such should legally be Replaced.
I’m well gutted, I’ve had my FVRT200 since new and its been perfect, had experience of other boxes through friends and they have all had their flaws. I’ve just replaced the HDD (To be expected being used 24/7) and hoped to get another few years out of it.
I think you may have a point Anon. I’m not sure Thomson exist any more, can’t find any contact details anywhere (but do they supply Sky boxes?) – so who would I sue?
Thanks for organising the petition Dave but disappointed to see only around 130 people signing.
Some numbers for Thomson posted here, don’t know if they’re any good. Petition’s only been going for 48 hours, early days yet.
I have a Thomson box and this is annoying to say the least! I have just signed the petition. Fingers crossed!
Big tjumbs up to everyone here for taking the initiative. Found this by googling yesterday but it doesn’t seem like it’s being widely reported. Would it be worth whacking this story up on something like the Money Saving Expert forum? Might end up in the weekly email that hits a great number of people and could help the petition no end.
The digifusion hard drive was advertised and recommended by all the best assessors– What HI Fi etc as a result tens of thousands of these machines have been purchased by people who know nothing of contracts software firmware or all that tosh.
There is a committment by the purveyors of these clever instruments with their complicated contracts to fulfil the obligations which they made albeit indirectly to the purchasers of the electronic hardware and I am sure even with the “silence “, a lot of noise is going on at the office of fare trading and the ombudsman not to mention the Eu as Anonymous has already indicated.
But a wee bonfire lighted under the bottom of EPG providers in the form of a petition should help things on their way.
Furious and roused to action
reply Jeanetta hulme,
I am sure Jeanneta the small response is due to the fact so many people do not even know that there is a problem at inview and think as I did that my machine is at fault or that there is a temporary problem with the programme originaters Ie BBC or ITV. Others with no access to the net will have not knowledge of what is going on and will buy a new “box” or give up on digital.
It seems easy to “make money” in this modern world
Has anyone spoken to Beko about this? It seems outrageous that they can sell a product, then just a few years later render it almost completely useless by removing the data that they indicated would be free for life.
I have 4 Invertos and a Digifusion box dotted around family and friends; this is a disaster. My boxes have been brilliantly reliable, but are useless without the epg; 14 days planning has been great for hoildays etc.
I now also don’t even have a program guide; so much for the digital age; next they’ll turn off FM and other 10 or so items around the house/cars will stop working ! Is the 6 year EU rule a possibility ?
This is an absolute disgrace I am totally p1ssed off!!! I have had my Digifusion PVR FVRT-145 for many years now and all of a sudden these to55er5 decide to pull the plug on the 14 day EPG!! My device is now rendered fully useless. It’s like having a toaster that will only brown one side, utter 5hite! To think I will have to fork out a few more hundred to replace the PVR they can think again! I am going to contact there customer support and get some answers! Watch this space!
I have 2 digifusion boxes rebuilt them when the hard drives crashed the component output on my LG screen TV is vastly superior to the LG internal DTV receiver , even the kids agree and they watch most of their TV on U Tube.
Very sad state of affairs .
So much for the great Digital Switchover this is the big Switchoff ,even my not used unless it id HD signal Freesat arrangement has switched off the EPG ,maybe that is what they want us to do.
It would be nice tothink we could all go out and buy a Freesat HD box with an harddrive ,but sadly most of us cant get HD Freesat yet plus when we finally get HD in 2102 it maybe old unsupported” model ?
We haven all got loads of money to just “bet” on next novelty ,gadget whim ?
May be a long shot, but I have sent a message to the BBC Click team to ask if they are aware and/or interested. I have sent a link to this forum….
“Hi. Is ‘Click’ aware of and/or interested in the news that several makes of Digital Television Receivers have had their 14 day EPG downloads halted, without notice? This leaves thousands of equipment users with kit that is effectively no longer fit for purpose. The units are left only with a now/next facility.
Online forums are slowly picking this up and an online petition launched but we think that awareness is very limited.
Please see this link
http://stuckinstandby.freehostia.com/digifusion-inverto-epg-updates
Yours hopefully,”
You’re all absolutely right. Annoying enough when you know about the issue and why it’s happening, but there are surely thousands of consumers who are effectively being defrauded without even being aware.
Lets hope that some publicity gets rolling and that some accountability and a solution is found. Personally, I don’t HAVE £150+ to replace my unit right now. I’m sure I’m by no means alone in that.
At least with the Digifusion FVRT200 you can add programmes to the Record List manually – a bit messy but it can be done:
Press Menu, use arrow keys to highlight Record & press OK to enter Record screen
Press OK to add a programme to the Record List manually
Select Channel, enter a programme title (doesn’t have to be as shown in listings) and enter Start Time & Duration (unfortunately this must be done with arrow keys rather than directly entering numbers)
Press Green Add button twice to add it to the list
Press Guide to return to Programme Guide
Not sure about other makes & models
I have 3 digifusion boxes! I suggest that the TV Critics of the major newspapers are targeted with the petititon
So you get some publicity
I have two Thomson DHD4000 boxes. Both had problems following digital switchover, but having persevered with a soldering iron, and after spending many hours online researching possible solutions, I managed to get both working perfectly again.
This is now a bitter blow a mere six or seven months later.
I am supporting Dave Hills petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/4tvepg as I’m sure I heard that the government funds provided to Freeview for the Digital Switchover have been more than actually needed. I believe that Freeview should be in a position therefore to fund the continuing provision of the 14 day EPG. More than this, in fact, I think they have a moral obligation to do so.
Hi! i have a digifusion fvrt145 and i have been messing around with my aerial for days thinking the problem was at my end so to find out here that the epg has just stopped is amazing. i have had my digifusion for 4 years now, i have tried more expensive pvrs like the humax 9200t but found myself coming back to my good old reliable fvrt145. Im sure there are thousands of people that feel the same, (as i can see from your messages!) so for them to just turn off the epg and not notify us is disgusting. i have just signed the petition and i hope you will too! im not ready to give up on my fvrt145 yet! cheers!
What is this 6 Year EU rule ?
Does it mean we have some hope of redress ?
I have 3 Digifusion boxes and I am not happy
BTW I have signed the petition also emailed which (dont hold out much hope of anything from them)
Link to Which story should have been in last post
http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/07/…pdates-220295/
@John Gallagher, thanks. Not a very helpful article from Which, but any publicity is good I suppose. Looks like they’ve cut & paste the model list directly from here. Sadly no credit or link. 🙁
I bought my Inverto PVR in January this year, having bought one for my daughter for Christmas.
It is certainly not ‘fit for purpose’ any longer and I’ve a good mind to bombard Maplins, where I bought it.
I’m totally missing EPG – Had my Digifusion since new and never had any issues with it. Having to enter manually and look up when programmes are on is a complete step back – even my old VCR had videoplus!!!!
Lets hope the petition works!!
Typical just got my digifusion out of the loft and plugged it back in as an extra freeview box, and they’ve just shut off the epg.
Freeview need to sort this out – there are many, many boxes out there that aren’t working. It reflects badly on Freeview even though it isn’t their fault. I could understand this after 10 years from manufacture of the boxes but not just a couple of years. Not good enough.
This is an absolute disgrace on the manufacturer’s part.
i have a Digifusion FVRT200 which like everyone else is still working fine apart from the EPG. Can anyone tell me how to contact Digifusion/Beko to make a complaint? Also does anyone know what boxes haven’t been affected by this? and what is the 6 year EU Rule? thanks for any help in advance.
I’m on my 2nd Digifusion box and had no complaints….. until now!!! I used to use the 14 day EPG all the time for recording. Now I’m stuffed.
Why did noone publicise the switch off? Were they too embarrassed? Anyway, it’s disgusting to do this without any warning, leaving loads of innocent people thinking their own equipment was failing before discovering the TRUTH.
I’ve signed the petition (No 511) and I hope loads more will. I hope Dave Hill sends daily updates on the total signatories to Freeview to get some action on this.
I’m a happy digifusion owner of 5 years or so and am really p***ed off about this.
I have added my name to the petition (now at 500+ signatures) , and would like to contact the manufacturers (Beko?) and Freeview – it would be useful is someone has contact emails that they could post these up on this site.
I cant believe this is happening, My box is now not fit for purpose
I am very annoyed that this has happened. Have had my Digifusion for many years and have always been delighted with its capabilities and have never had a moments trouble. It’s just not good enough that I (like many others) will have to scrap an excellent working piece of technology if I wish to set up forward recordings easily in future.
Ive got a thomson dhd4000 and really miss the 14 day epg. Anyway ive signed the petition. tallulahbee I found this site about eu rules but its a bit of a maze. Maybe if everyone studys the site and finds the 6 year guarantee on goods. Most people believe its only 12 months guarantee when you buy something.
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
I am not a lawyer – but
Anyone who bought a box within the last year should simply return it as no longer fit for purpose.
Anyone within the last 6 years may have a claim under the sale of goods act – If they do, the claim is against the retailer, not the manufacturer. I suggest you band together to investigate.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&r.l1=1073861169&r.lc=en&r.l3=1074027367&r.l2=1074400662&r.i=1073792523&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792524&lang=_e&r.t=RESOURCES
I’m sure many more people have experienced this issue than have signed the petition. I became aware of the issue a couple days ago and even though I’m on the internet all the time, it didn’t occur to me until today to google the issue. Good to know that my Digifusion 145 isn’t malfunctioning but now we’re all stuck. Is there any way to get the word out faster – maybe by setting up a facebook group and sending it to all contacts?
I am also very annoyed that this has happened, although not surprised.
During a period when our transmitter was changed, in preparation for the Digital Switchover due on 2012, we went several weeks without the EPG, which was a real pain!
As others have said the box still works fine, but has been it has now been reduced to a “dumb” recorder.
The government is forcing everybody to upgrade their systems. When we do upgrade in good time we are punished by the incompetence of these manufacturers! There should be some form of consumer protection in place to force service providers to make alternative provision if they cannot/will not.
I have also signed the on-line petition.
Although I would consider it a last resort, I would be interested to here more about this EU 6 year rule.
Unfortunately I don’t think any sale of goods act will cover this.
I doubt anyone would get anywhere if they tried to claim for a TV or video that no longer works after DSO.
Anyway all these boxes still work OK.
The timers can still be set for future recordings, even if it is a pain and you need a TV guide and have to enter them the same way as in an old VHS recorder.
I’m a high street TV retailer but no, I’m not rubbing my hands with glee at replacement sales prospects! I’ve sold many of the affected boxes (mostly thomson DHD4000) to good customers and family. Had a reply from Digital UK confirming that any solution is down to renewing a contract between InView / 4TV (EPG provider) and Arquiva (transmission provider). InView provide EPG data to other boxes – how different is this data I wonder? Someone needs to bang some heads together. Meanwhile, sign the petition & spread the word!
Anyone tried complaining to Ofcom?
Further to my earlier posting, this was the response I had from InView.
“Thank you for your email. We have had to bring to an end the broadcast of the 4TV 14 day guide.
Unfortunately this has been caused by circumstances beyond our control – simply put the bandwidth contract has run out and we have been unable to secure a new arrangement.
As you know Inview has tried hard over the last few years to keep this service running but it seems that its time has now passed. We do hope you will manage to find a suitable new arrangement.
Just to clarify one point – when the current listing expire on your Digifusion device will revert to a simple now/next guide.”
It would seem that they could not get enough money to continue the service. This means that any any system which relies on the provisions of a contract is in severe danger of loosing it’s full functionality without warning.
Once again, the consumer is not protected against the greed of the of supplier/manufacturer.
I have owned two digifusion boxes for 4 or 5 years and they’ve been fantastic. I expected for a long time that the custom 14 day EPG would stop being broadcast one day, but not so soon and with so little notice. It’s a real disappointment.
Whilst it’s still possible to program recordings manually, it’s a bit of a faff and will turn most people off. Consequently lots of perfectly serviceable electronic hardware will just end up in council dumps. Very sad.
Having a Digifusion PVR (fortunately as my secondary one), and searched re the discontinuation of the EPG downloads, I found all the comments here very helpful. I have been setting all my recordings manually – but I’m fortunate enough to be retired, and can quite understand why those with less free time can’t or won’t do this, so intend discarding their affected PVRs and buying replacements which use EPG downloads which do still work (either because the makers operate it themselves, or acquire the service from a company which can still provide it). I contacted Beko (as the parent company) and asked whether they planned on procuring the service from elsewhere, or doing it themselves. This was their initial reply:-
” ‘InView Technology,’ (formerly ‘4TV’) the company which provides the 14-day Electronic Programming Guide to your Digifusion Digital Video Recorder as well as to a variety of other manufacturers Digital Receivers, has terminated the service not just to Digifusion but to many other Manufacturer’s Receivers from July 7th 2010.
This has come about due to ‘InView Technology’ no longer being given access to the necessary bandwidth that delivers the information to your Recorder, and not in any way because of contractual issues with Digifusion.
This is unfortunately completely out of our hands as we have no control over changes in Bandwidth usage or Broadcasting Transmission’s in the UK, which are constantly changing with the Digital changeover, and has seen other loss of services in the past such as ITV discontinuing broadcasting it’s Teletext service. ”
I responded to this repeating the question about why they cannot find an alternative method, and pointing out that it seemed mad that people were being forced to throw out perfectly functioning electronic items just for the lack of a third-party information service service which no longer operates. This was their response:-
” Please see below for your information.
Invision have confirmed to us in writing that the reason for the service being withdrawn is as a result of the contract between Invision and its supplier for carrying the signal had reached the end of its term. We understand that this supplier was unwilling to extend the contract further and Invision have chosen not to seek an alternative supplier. The termination of the service has not related to any contractual or commercial issues between us and any supplier.
The Digifusion product was designed and manufactured by Fusion Digital technology. This company went into liquidation in the early part of 2006 and we purchased the brand name and the remaining stock at this point. Therefore we do not have access to the design team for these products.
Invision has told us that the 4TV software was “hard coded” into the product. They have explained that as a result, even if a design team were available, they would be unable to redirect the box to acquire data from elsewhere (from SI information for example).
I do understand that you may be unhappy with this situation, however we are not able to offer you any more assistance in this matter. ”
Unfortunately the fact that the 4TV software is ‘hardcoded’ into the product, added to the manufacturers having
been in liquidation for 4 years, does seem to mean that what should be a minor peripheral problem is indeed completely insoluble! Thank goodness my main PVR is a Humax (which still has daily downloads of an EPG).
I hope that this may help some fellow sufferers – not that it improves anything, but at least we know now.
Thanks Eileen! Firstly… well done on managing to dig down into the facts a little deeper!
Secondly… please humour me as I am the owner of a Thomson DHD4000 and struggling to interpret the situationin my context. Am I right in understanding that we may protest as much as we like, but the bottom line is that it is actually an impossibility for there to be any solution/resolution to the EPG problem? We’re holding off buying a replacement in the hope that we’ll get a ‘happy ever after’, but are we holding on in vain in your opinion??
A solution for this isn’t an impossibility, though it does seem unlikely. The hope is that one or more of the manufacturers or possibly Freeview themselves might step in to renew the contract with InView and re-instate the EPG broadcasts. Maybe if there’s enough negative publicity for them, they might.
Otherwise, it would require software updates to the boxes to use the standard Freeview EPG. We don’t know the comparitive costs, but this is thought to be the more expensive option. It’s not even clear if the manufacturers could put together a team to re-write the software, with related companies having been sold off, merged and changed focus.
There are some DIY investigations going on. It’s likely that an “offline” method of generating the EPG will be created, but the files will need to be manually copied to the hard disk once a week or so, by removing the disk and connecting to a PC, so probably not a solution for very many.
I’m currently looking in to the possibility of reverse engineering the firmware to use the Freeview EPG, but it’s a long long road.
To Admin:
I have a Digifusion FVRT200 and have noticed there is a serial port on the back.
Can you access the the PVR using Hyperterminal, and then, either copy direct or use FTP to copy the files onto the PVR?
Hi John. Unfortunately the serial port can only be used to update the firmware on the box – you can’t access the file system. See here: FVRT100 Firmware Upgrades.
Just to add to the general feeling of outrage, my sony svr-s500 has suffered the same loss of EPG. I have emailed Sony to see what their position is on this. As far as I am concerened if the issue is not resolved, then Sony will never receive another purchase from me. Also I will actively tell anyone I can not to buy their products as they may stop working within a few years.
I have signed the petition 649!
Thanks to everyone for their postings. I thought the Football had altered the schedules so am relieved to find the cause of the Problem. Like me there must be lots of people who still had no idea the 14 day schedule has just been turned off. I will email my address book to spread the word and publicise the petition and stop them falling of the roof when they blame their aerial.
Just written to BBC watchdog. Get as much publicity as possible; others should write to them too.
Have signed the petition (No. 512) but am wondering if there is still more we could do. In particular, would it be worthwhile complaining to our MP’s?
Is there anyone better with words than I am who could compose something we could all copy and paste into such a letter?
I intend emailing the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) tomorrow, giving a synopsis of the problem and its causes, a link to the Sky page (which I agree is very helpful to the cause), the petition page, and pasting in the information I received from Beko (as I did with my comment here earlier today). I did think of contacting my own MP (and still shall if I don’t receive a response which indicates they’ll at least investigate)…… but thought it better to go directly to the relevant Government department initially.
I have written to my MP, on the basis that the government has “forced” customers to buy this equipment, due to the Digital Switchover.
The consumer is not protected from loosing a service, on which the hardware depends on to be fully functional. For the contract for this service to not even go beyond the digital switchover date is a joke!
In reality, the manufacturer is only making the working life of this equipment as long as the service contract. This should have been made clear when we bought the kit.
The manufacturer should be forced to provide a form of cover for any service, which hardware depends on to function fully.
We are in the situation where our EPG is not compatible with others so we cannot move to another service. I thought those bad old days of incompatibilty had past!
I see its featured on skynews.com… so they are actively helping 😉
Googling around, I think Inview’s bandwidth contract would have been with Arqiva. Arqiva are one of the five shareholders of freeview uk (along with BBC, BSkyB, Channel 4, ITV). Arqiva owns the 1,000 some transmission sites around the UK and presumably therefore the bandwidth. If Arqiva refused to extend the bandwidth contract because it is needed for something else then we’re sunk as presumably another shareholder wanted it. If on the other hand it was just a matter of Inview no longer wanting to pay for the bandwidth then perhaps the shareholders could come to an arrangement as a result of our petition.
I bought mine within the last 30 days. Does anyone know what protection I have? The overall consensus seems to be that there is no chance of the EPG being restored.
You are covered by law.. Shop/retailer has to take the item back, as its NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.. if it has original box, that says “14 day epg”, then you have them bang to rights.
Sony are logging details to update owners of the SVRS500 when they have more information
I have joined the many today after ringing Digifusion to ask for help with theEPG.
The comments I have read are helpful in as much I now do not feel alone but why, I ask, is there a alrge advert for Sky box at the head of this site?!!
Glad you’ve found the page helpful. Most of the other articles on this site (so far) are related to Sky. If there’s no decent resolution to the EPG issue, I imagine many will be looking for alternatives and Sky may be good for some. The adverts aren’t auto-generated they’re cynically inserted manually by me, lol 😉
Besides the other points raised I have written to my MP saying that this is also an environmental issue with many types of equipment being consigned to the tip
Interestingly, does sky have spare b/w on the mux they use..
As these boxes had the freeview tick from DTG own words, these should drop back to the 8 day epg.!
The Petition to get the EPG re-instated has now reached 1,000 signatures!
If you haven’t yet signed do so soon!
The link to the petition can be found here: http://www.freeviewfrenzy.com
I’ll be mailing Freeview with a copy of the petition so make your voice heard!!
Good progress after only 7 days. I posted this earlier today on the Latest News page. I’m keeping that page up to date with any developments, media coverage, rumours, etc.
Sign the petition folks: http://www.petitiononline.com/4tvepg/petition.html
Petition signed. The reconditioned FVRT 145 I got for my family has performed flawlessly for a couple of years and I am totally stunned that they have switched the EPG service off. Please, Freeview – step up and reinstate this service, it would be such a waste not to!
Just found this forum after doing a web search to find out why the EPG wasn’t working and I’m absoultely disgusted that the EPG has been ‘tunred off’. I don’t remember reading in any of the information in the Digifusion instructions that the EPG was subject to any conditions or contracts and may be terminated at any time without notification? I assumed that the EPG was some general standard being broadcast.
Come on Freeview – make us believe you’ve actually got some clout!
Disgraceful!
Re Digital approval.
I have the Digifusion FVRT200.
At the bottom of the back page, it says:
“All trademarks gratefully acknowledged.
FREEVIEW and the FREEVIEW logo are trade marks of DTV Services Ltd and are used under licence. Freeview Logo © DTV Services Ltd 2002.”
If they were using the logo under license, does this not imply that this Digifusion model was approved by FREEVIEW?
In any case, if the boxes clearly displayed the Digitally approved tick, and FREEVIEW did not deny it, as they have with others, then surely they must bear some of the responsibilty?
Note for moderator: Sorry, I posted this on the “Latest news” section in error.
Just been on freeviews site to read the statement.Sorry,but it`s our own fault for buying a product without the digital t ick.Like I remember that at the time I purchased mine.Anyway folks,the answers simple, just get your wallets out and fork out a couple of hundred pounds for a new HD box.As freeview are only allowing around 4 companies to build these boxes I`m sure we`re not getting ripped off,are we?PS. petition signed.
Have a look at the latest news page, most of these models did have the digital tick.
[…] this month, the programme guide service provided by InView Ltd was suddenly withdrawn without notice, leaving thousands of consumers without programme information and severely affecting the usability […]
My picture format seems to have been affected as well. Lots of modern programmes now coming through as square screen. Has this happened to anyone else?
Great – at least I know what has happened so I can stop re-scanning….
My digifusion was not perfect, but it has done well, and has so far been reliable. The loss of EPG is a major pain – due to my work patterns, I’m never in when the programs I want to watch are on, so generally watch recorded ones. As I don’t buy a TV guide, the EPG was my only source of programme information.
Since I’m fairly technical, I think I’ll go and build a HTPC based around Ubuntu and MythTV. If there are future changes in technology (such as FreeviewHD) or alteration in EPG providers, I can then modify it myself to work with the changes.
Breaking News: Beko are offering 70£ for your pvr145 units.
Spoke to a very helpful lady, who sorted this today… mine is packed and on its way back.
Email them your model number and serial number, they will reply with yes or no… any stock that was sold since they purchased digifusion (where serial number is on their list) will be sorted.
Hope this helps everyone in some way!
Jay – have you got an email address to send serial numbers to?
Have a look at the Latest News page, there’s some more info there. Email address is service@beko.co.uk.
Re FVRT200
i’ve had a response from Beko who have said they won’t be offering any kind of help/refund for this model as it was prior to them taking over Digifusion and to contact trading standards. i’ve contacted Consumer Direct who have said that i am entitled to a proportionate refund from the shop (in my case Maplins) under the sale of goods act 1979.
Just spoken to Maplins and they will not give any refund and say my argument is with the company who provide the EPG! Back to Consumer Direct who have now said i have to write to Maplins and get their refusal in writing and they will then contact Maplins. i seem to be banging my head against a brick wall and getting no help from anyone.
Has anyone else had any joy from Trading Standards/Consumer Direct?
Hi there,
I have 2 x FVRT100’s all modded for USB, decnt fans and PSU’s, really proud of them until the swizzlers turned off the EPG. I have a 60GB laptop hard drive on one unit, and this also works great!
We are entering the programs to be recorded into it manually, as the Mrs knows how to use these, and so we are sticking with them! She would hate to have to learn how to use a different new box all over again, especially after many lessons from me on how to set it up!
I woder if they would work on EPG i I downgraded the firmware to the 7 day EPG?
I have the cable and software, as well as syphon and all the rest of it. I have used hyper-terminal etc. and flashed the firmware before now!
Surely there has to be some other firmware that I can load up and bingo, “job done”!
If only 7 days are working, then I could just put this in yes? Where do I get the 7 day EPG from I wonder?
Any ideas out there folks?
Thanks,
Mark-Lawton
Sadly all the similar models are the ones listed in the article, which use(d) the 14-day InView/4TV guide. The only slight exception is the Inverto IDL7000m. There is a nearly identical European version which picks up the standard 7-day guide. The firmware isn’t directly compatible though because it uses a different bootloader, but there may be some potential there.
If you’ve modded your boxes to add USB you might be interested in a couple of tools being worked on over on the DigitalSpy forums. One converts the Radio Times XMLTV guide to Digifusion .EPG format, for manual loading on the box – Can epg be copied?. The other allows you to add entries to the recording list – Record Scheduling Tool Idea. Still work in progress but worth a look.
nice article, keep the posts coming
[…] follows on from the withdrawal of the InView EPG service for Digifusion, Sony, Thomson and Inverto Freeview boxes, in June last […]
i have digifusion fvrt 100 the hd has fial i have replas the hd,i need the setup
i have digifusion fvrt 100 the hd is damage,i have replase the hd ; i need the setup
Usually the FVRT100 will recognise the new disk and format it, no extra setup required.
What was the original problem? Did you set it to HDD jumper to Cable Select?