Bad HDD or Bad Hopper 3?

[brianohio]

Ok guys, so before I have to contact and deal with DISH, I am trying to troubleshoot if I have a hard drive issue or an issue with the Hopper 3 itself.

Hopper 3, about 8 years old I believe, no Joeys. I did replace a failed hard drive about 5-6 years ago. Current software is H387. No error codes or error messages but I have done a couple hard resets restoring to factory settings but problems remain and are as follows:

• Unit won't always wake up from standby. It shows the sleep/screen saver but unit won't respond or wake up when pressing the "Sat" button on remote. I have to press the red reset button on the Hopper 3 to reboot it then it works, for a while.
• Paused channel won't always start playing when paused for the max 60 minutes. I will switch back to a paused channel (maxed at 60 minutes) and it just hangs there and won't do anything, won't skip forward or play.
• Sometimes when skipping forward 30 seconds on a paused show, it will instantly advance all the way to live with just one skip press.
• Sometimes when a show is paused and I skip forward several key presses, it acts like it is stuck in a loop and will actually skip backwards to where it was when I started.
• Sometimes a recorded show is not actually recorded. It will display it is there in the DVR menu screen but if I try to play, it says "recording not available" or something similar.
• Usually when any of the above issues occur, the whole unit becomes very sluggish and takes forever to respond to any user input. I have to reset the unit from the red button on the Hopper 3 to make it work again.

As I said, no Joeys, and it's been the same installation for several years. No hard drive errors or messages. Factory resets don't seem to help. I don't know if DISH will replace The Hopper 3 with a new unit (I've heard they just use reconditioned ones) or if I should just buy my own new one and get it activated or if this is just an ongoing software issue yet to be resolved. Just wanted to know what you all think.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[navychop]

There are no new ones. Manufacturing stopped years ago.

Why not lease? Less money upfront and same monthly rate.

And with Dish declining, I don't see much of a resale market.

 

[HipKat]

Ok guys, so before I have to contact and deal with DISH, I am trying to troubleshoot if I have a hard drive issue or an issue with the Hopper 3 itself.

Hopper 3, about 8 years old I believe, no Joeys. I did replace a failed hard drive about 5-6 years ago. Current software is H387. No error codes or error messages but I have done a couple hard resets restoring to factory settings but problems remain and are as follows:

• Unit won't always wake up from standby. It shows the sleep/screen saver but unit won't respond or wake up when pressing the "Sat" button on remote. I have to press the red reset button on the Hopper 3 to reboot it then it works, for a while.
• Paused channel won't always start playing when paused for the max 60 minutes. I will switch back to a paused channel (maxed at 60 minutes) and it just hangs there and won't do anything, won't skip forward or play.
• Sometimes when skipping forward 30 seconds on a paused show, it will instantly advance all the way to live with just one skip press.
• Sometimes when a show is paused and I skip forward several key presses, it acts like it is stuck in a loop and will actually skip backwards to where it was when I started.
• Sometimes a recorded show is not actually recorded. It will display it is there in the DVR menu screen but if I try to play, it says "recording not available" or something similar.
• Usually when any of the above issues occur, the whole unit becomes very sluggish and takes forever to respond to any user input. I have to reset the unit from the red button on the Hopper 3 to make it work again.

As I said, no Joeys, and it's been the same installation for several years. No hard drive errors or messages. Factory resets don't seem to help. I don't know if DISH will replace The Hopper 3 with a new unit (I've heard they just use reconditioned ones) or if I should just buy my own new one and get it activated or if this is just an ongoing software issue yet to be resolved. Just wanted to know what you all think.

Any ideas? Thanks

The Skip Forward and Back thing is a software issue that affects all the Hopper, not just yours.
The not waking from standby is something though, that implies to me that the Hopper has issues

 

[brianohio]

There are no new ones. Manufacturing stopped years ago.

Why not lease? Less money upfront and same monthly rate.

Ok I was under the impression DISH only sent out reconditioned units and I thought the Hopper 3's I saw on SolidSignal were new, but I guess not. Makes more sense then to just get another one from DISH if I can do it without them hammering me into another long term contract.
Been with them for 20+ years and was looking at switching over to just streaming services but as silly as it sounds, to get all of the 7 or 8 networks I actually watch, it would take two streaming services plus add ons and then I'm getting back up close to what I pay for DISH. Not to mention I've grown accustomed to the dual DVR thing where I can pause one live show and switch back and forth to another one. If it weren't for that, I probably would have gone full streaming years ago.

 

[navychop]

Cue Bruce…..

 

[brianohio]

Cue Bruce…..

I don't know what that means? Is Bruce a god?

 

[Bobby]

I don't know what that means? Is Bruce a god?

No, it is navychop's attempt at humor aimed at a certain poster who often extolls streaming as advantageous, financially, over satellite/cable. It could be seen as a personal attack. I know that poster would see it that way.

 

[navychop]

Certainly NOT a personal attack!!!

 

[Bobby]

Certainly NOT a personal attack!!!

Probably not meant that way navy but I am certain he would see it that way. Just sayin'.

 

[brianohio]

Ahhh ok. I get it. Heck I've been called old fashioned by the younger folk because we still have satellite and DVD's in the age of streaming and digital media. I mean, I stream stuff too but like I said, I really don't want to give up my dual DVR when the net monthly cost if I switched to streaming is within 20 bucks or so of what I pay now. Plus I like having almost everything in one menu with DISH and not having to switch back and forth between different services to see what's on. Back when streaming sites were much cheaper it may have been worth it but now after being spoiled with the dual DVR for eight years, and needing at least two services plus add-ons to get what I have now, not so much.

 

[KAB]

Probably not meant that way navy but I am certain he would see it that way. Just sayin'.

Nah. The two of them have sparred good in good fun for a long time.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Nah. The two of them have sparred good in good fun for a long time.

Since both have the ability to put each other on ignore and they choose not to, I too feel that its just the having fun with another.

As far as Hopper 3's go, believe it or not they go through more testing procedures then a new one straight off the factory line. I would not fear getting a refurbished Hopper 3.

 

[Bobby]

Ahhh ok. I get it. Heck I've been called old fashioned by the younger folk because we still have satellite and DVD's in the age of streaming and digital media. I mean, I stream stuff too but like I said, I really don't want to give up my dual DVR when the net monthly cost if I switched to streaming is within 20 bucks or so of what I pay now. Plus I like having almost everything in one menu with DISH and not having to switch back and forth between different services to see what's on. Back when streaming sites were much cheaper it may have been worth it but now after being spoiled with the dual DVR for eight years, and needing at least two services plus add-ons to get what I have now, not so much.

You keep mentioning "dual DVR." If you have a Hopper 3 as stated you have 16 tuners. Hopper 2000 and Hopper with Sling have 2 tuners. You can tell which one you have based on the following photos or simply going to the diagnostic page (Home, Home, Home on a 54 remote) or ( Menu, Menu, Menu on a 40 remote) and look at the top of the page and it will tell you exactly which model you have.

Hopper 3

Hopper with Sling

Hopper 2000

 

[dweber]

Since his software is H387 he has a Hopper3. What he means by dual DVR is that pause one program, watch a different one, and go back and forth between the two programs.

I also will not give up my Dish account even though streaming would be cheaper. The ease and convenience of Dish Hopper 3 is so much better than streaming. I don't have to deal with multiple streaming apps. Everything I need is instantly available. PTAT is fantastic. I have tried streaming and the picture quality is only marginally better. I never watch commercials. Now if Dish would keep all of the advantages of a Hopper 3 but use streaming delivery instead of satellite that would be the ultimate. You notice that Dish has been adding more and more streaming content.


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[Bobby]

Since his software is H384 he has a Hopper3.


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Good point! So he actually has 16 tuners and thinks he has but 2...

 

[brianohio]

No sir, I know exactly what I have LOL, but I've always referred to being able to pause one channel then switch to another and go back and forth seamlessly between the two as the "dual DVR" feature for some reason. I think it was marketed as such at some point but it always stuck with me.

 

[Bobby]

No sir, I know exactly what I have LOL, but I've always referred to being able to pause one channel then switch to another and go back and forth seamlessly between the two as the "dual DVR" feature for some reason. I think it was marketed as such at some point but it always stuck with me.

Gotcha!

 

[brianohio]

So I opened up the hopper3 and blew out the dust, cleaned the fan, and reinstalled the unit on risers so it has better airflow underneath. It wasn't really that dirty truthfully but the fan had been running very slowly almost continuously but now it only comes on for a couple seconds at start up and didn't come back on for a while at low speed so I think that must have helped. I have never gotten any overheat errors or messages and the unit was not spontaneously rebooting as I've read it will do if too hot, so I don't think whatever issue mine has is an overheat problem. Dunno...I'll see how it goes.

 

[brianohio]

Since his software is H384 he has a Hopper3. What he means by dual DVR is that pause one program, watch a different one, and go back and forth between the two programs.

I also will not give up my Dish account even though streaming would be cheaper. The ease and convenience of Dish Hopper 3 is so much better than streaming. I don't have to deal with multiple streaming apps. Everything I need is instantly available. PTAT is fantastic. I have tried streaming and the picture quality is only marginally better. I never watch commercials. Now if Dish would keep all of the advantages of a Hopper 3 but use streaming delivery instead of satellite that would be the ultimate. You notice that Dish has been adding more and more streaming content.


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H387 actually, but who's counting. You are exactly where I am with this so there are still some of us out there! LOL. I think folks who never had a hopper3 just don't realize it's not the same as simply using an online DVR at a streaming site. Yeah, I have also noticed DISH has much more streaming content so have to wonder if something is in the works or just trying to stay competitive? Now, if DISH moved to all streaming AND could make the hopper 3 "dual DVR" feature (as I call it) work the same way it does now, I'd be all over that. But with them apparently barely hanging on as it is, who knows what the future holds.

 

[charlesrshell]

H387 actually, but who's counting. You are exactly where I am with this so there are still some of us out there! LOL. I think folks who never had a hopper3 just don't realize it's not the same as simply using an online DVR at a streaming site. Yeah, I have also noticed DISH has much more streaming content so have to wonder if something is in the works or just trying to stay competitive? Now, if DISH moved to all streaming AND could make the hopper 3 "dual DVR" feature (as I call it) work the same way it does now, I'd be all over that. But with them apparently barely hanging on as it is, who knows what the future holds.

Charlie knows the future. I wish he would share with us!