HD-PVR - Really LOUD!

[yacht_boy]

I bought an HD-PVR a few weeks ago and finally got around to hooking it up today. The fan noise is terrible, it's much louder than my HTPC server. What's the consensus? Is this a rare enough problem that it's worth sending it back to Hauppauge and hoping for a quieter unit, or should I spend more time and money cracking open the case and installing a quieter fan?

Also, the device has been a bit flaky thus far, I'm thinking that overheating might be a big part of the issue. Anyone else having random shutdowns, etc.?

Thanks!

Jason

[wayner]

I started this post and it seems like some find them very noisy and others don't. I am beginning to think that the noise is pretty much the same (IMHO - way too noisy) on all units but some folks notice it more than others.

I haven't had lockup issues.

[yacht_boy]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I'll have to crack this open, then. It's by far the loudest thing in my AV center right now, even louder than the fridge nearby. So my understanding is that people have been installing 120mm case fans in this? I'm not sure how that would work, unless they are just sitting on top of the unit. While I'm in there, I might disconnect some of the blue lighting around the edges, it's a bit distracting.

Jason

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by yacht_boy

Also, the device has been a bit flaky thus far, I'm thinking that overheating might be a big part of the issue. Anyone else having random shutdowns, etc.?

There is a big thread w/a poll asking about people's lockups. That's not new & seems fairly common, though not universal.

Originally Posted by wayner

I am beginning to think that the noise is pretty much the same (IMHO - way too noisy) on all units but some folks notice it more than others.

No: as people said above, it is essentially silient on some units, including mine. I have to touch mine & feel the slight vibration to know the fan is on.

Originally Posted by yacht_boy

While I'm in there, I might disconnect some of the blue lighting around the edges, it's a bit distracting.

There is actually blue lighting around an edge somewhere on some units? I just have dots to indicate it is on & recording.

- Andy

[wayner]

Andy I am wondering if you have a very different unit from some of us, especially yacht_boy and myself. I have the blue edge lighting in addition to the loud sounds, there is a very definite whir up when the unit starts working.

[yacht_boy]

Yes, there is a very bright blue LED all the way around the top of the unit. It's pretty annoying, especially since my new rig (purpose-built for the HD PVR) also comes with plentiful unnecessary blue LEDs. Next weekend when I have spare minutes I'm going in there with some wire cutters and/or a hammer to take care of them. Who wants a glowing blue computer in an HTPC setup?

[Tobias]

Hiya

I couldn't sleep in the room next to the living room where i have my hd pvr unit so something had to be done...

Opened the box prev weekend and installed a 15db 120mm case fan from fractal design, 95sek ~ 13usd. ontop of it, there is actually a hole in the plastic frame under the silver lid where a 120mm fan fits perfectly. (used soft and thick double sided tape)
Mounted the fan to blow air onto the circuite board.
Also bought a battery eliminator giving 9v dc which i hook up the fan to, 130sek ~18usd. + to + , - to -

Took about an hour for me to carefully crack that case open with a flat screwdriver and install the fan. I found it pretty hard to do it without risping the top silver lid so i guess byebye warranty.

Hooked of the connector of the small noisy fan in the box from the circuit board.
The hdpvr is now as quite as a mouse.

cheers

[sic0048]

My HD-PVR is located in a central wiring closet, so it isn't out where I would notice the noise. But I have had to play with it enough over the last week trying to get the new drivers to work that I can say that my device does NOT make too much noise.

I don't know if it is silent or not, but I cannot hear it over the noise my Dish 211 reciever makes. It sounds the same whether it is recording or not - and that is to say I cannot hear it in either situation over the noise of the STB. So it cannot be that loud.

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by sic0048

My HD-PVR is located in a central wiring closet, so it isn't out where I would notice the noise. But I have had to play with it enough over the last week trying to get the new drivers to work that I can say that my device does NOT make too much noise.

I don't know if it is silent or not, but I cannot hear it over the noise my Dish 211 reciever makes. It sounds the same whether it is recording or not - and that is to say I cannot hear it in either situation over the noise of the STB. So it cannot be that loud.

How would a 211 receiver make any noise? I have both a 211 and 211K and they are both passively cooled (no fans).

[yacht_boy]

Over the last two days, this unit has locked up about 6 times and I can't leave it alone while I'm at work and come home to a working unit, so as soon as I get time it's going back to Hauppauge. Hopefully the next one works better--I really want this to work!

[rwc]

With all the overheating/noise issues, does anybody know if Haupauge is planning on a new design anytime soon?

thanks,

rwc

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by rwc

With all the overheating/noise issues, does anybody know if Haupauge is planning on a new design anytime soon?

There are unconfirmed reports that the newest revision (D, I think) includes a quieter fan and small holes for air circulation.

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by rwc

With all the overheating/noise issues, does anybody know if Haupauge is planning on a new design anytime soon?

thanks,

rwc

They are shipping revision D1

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by jerryt

How would a 211 receiver make any noise? I have both a 211 and 211K and they are both passively cooled (no fans).

OK, then it must be my network switch making the noise. The STB sits on top of an equipment rack (one without side panels) and the switch is mounted at the top of the rack. So they are right next to each other. The HD-PVR also sits on top of the rack, but behind the 211. I know the switch has a fan in it, so that must be it (it is a 24 port gigabite switch , not a wireless router). It is just hard to pin point the exact source - and to be honest, I wasn't really trying.

That may also explain why the 211 is the hottest running device in the entire rack. It probably needs a fan, but Dish obviously wants them to run quiet since most people have them installed next to their TV.

Sorry for the confusion.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by Opus4

There is actually blue lighting around an edge somewhere on some units? I just have dots to indicate it is on & recording.

- Andy

My blue edge light stopped working a month ago and I was very happy because it's annoying but when I updated the drivers the #%&* thing started working again.

[Tobias]

@TallMomof2


The blue led light connectors are easily removed from the circuite board. I still have them connected tough, as i think its nice to know if the unit is recording or not just by watching it.
I think one of the leds is on all the time while the others just turn on while recording?

[yacht_boy]

There is blue LED edging around the top on some units (mine included) that is on all the time. That's the annoying part. Then there is a small blue LED on the face that is always on, I think that indicates power or connectivity or something like that. And finally there is a red LED next to the small blue LED that comes on when it's recording. I don't mind the two small ones, it's the bright blue edging that has to go. But that's minor compared to the case lighting in my HTPC...

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by yacht_boy

There is blue LED edging around the top on some units (mine included) that is on all the time. That's the annoying part. Then there is a small blue LED on the face that is always on, I think that indicates power or connectivity or something like that. And finally there is a red LED next to the small blue LED that comes on when it's recording. I don't mind the two small ones, it's the bright blue edging that has to go. But that's minor compared to the case lighting in my HTPC...

So go into the Total Media Extreme program into the settings for the HDPVR and check the Disable LED bling option. That should turn off the upper blue ring.

Funny thing is mine is out of the original fisrt batch shipped and that blue LED ring never worked.

Gerry

[yacht_boy]

Good tip--never occurred to me to use any of the software that came with it because I've been doing everything through Sage! I have to send back that unit tomorrow (took forever to get an RMA) because of the heat issues, but if the replacement comes back with the lights on I'll do that.

Jason

[descstep]

The LED can be disable through the driver.
The fan was also disabled (when the "Disable Bling LEDs" was unckeck) with the first version of the driver (hdpvr-1.0.3.46, you can find this version on www.shspvr.com and try it).

With the heat issue, I think Hauppauge decided to remove the option to disable the fan throught the driver (support doesn't help me on this issue but you can try to contact them).

I keep the original version of the driver in my HTPC and uncheck the "Disable Bling LEDs" checkbox to disable the fan (through Arcsoft TotalMediaExtreme). If you have another solution to propose (software solution), I will be very happy.

Thanks.