Hughes E86 Passcode Problem

[laker-fan]

Help, My Hughes E86 receiver keeps locking it's self every 30 minutes. I enter my passcode to override the rating limit, then approx. 30 minutes later, screen goes blue with a message saying that my rating limit has been exceeded, please enter pascode. Hughes had me call DirecTV and get a new access card, cause they said the problem was in the access card, but after installing the new card same problem. Hughes is now saying that this is a normal operation. Sorry for the long post, but I'm getting tried of all this. :mad:
Has anybody else experienced the same problem?

[beccher]

Hey Laker fan....

I'm in the market for a STB....Have a sony KV36XBR-450 HD-ready TV...and have been researching the STB's for over 2 months....(a little before my Celtics beat you @ the Staples Center)....

How do you like the Hughes? Whats good....Whats bad about it?

[ywu2001]

Hi,

I have used 2 E86 receivers without problem (each less than 2 weeks, one from BestBuy and another from Tweeter, both selling for < $500, better than many mail-orderer that I don't understand why). I got the 2nd one for a discount coupon when the 1st seller couldn't match a better price.

I have directv for 2 months and I don't see much video difference comparing to the earlier basic receivers (Hughes model too). The Dolby (and 5.1 sometimes) digital sound tracks are good. All receivers are hot when touching the box, which is common as I read from various forum. The remote (with RF feature that I haven't try) is different and the channel list was managed different, where the channel update in the smaller "window" in the basic model.

I don't have HDTV yet but I feed HD signal with a Radio Shack double bow antenna (was $18, now < $10 on sale, one of the best and well known model) and watch S-video output. Got some channels, CBS, ABC, PBS, etc, plus the HDNET (ch.199 on DirecTV). Need to adjust antenna angle (in metro-Boston area). Plan to get HDTV soon.

Never use other HD receivers and thought of Samsung OTA-only model. But with D* 1-year contract, I got a combo and am quite happy so far.

Hope my 1st post here helps.

[kevinw]

Heat is a killer to Hd STB's. If the chip overheats you often recive fatal errors and have to reset by unplugging.

[ywu2001]

Hi,

I guess I am try to defense the receiver I am using now. After reading many posts from other forums, I understood that many brand (e.g., Toshiba, Mit., Panasonic, Pioneer, RCA, Philips, Sony, etc) DirecTV receivers are (OEM) made by Hughes. And, most, if not all of them, feel hot which as I mentioned previously is common if not OVER-heated. (BTW, even the cable box I used before for a long time was hot as I touched.) Within a reasonably close price range, the difference in design and even parts used, I guess, could be minor.

The basic Hughes receiver has 90 days warranty which is short but very common these days for comsumer products, including DVD, VCR players. The Hughes HDTV receiver (E86), on the other hand, has 2 years parts and labor warranty, which I believe is on the better end for the similar product and that gave me some more confidence to go with this particular model.

I typically watch 2.5 to 3 hours DirecTV on weekdays and more time over weekend, and I never need to "re-boot" the receiver. But, since I am fairly new for this kind of system with limited running time, I can only express the fact and keep my fingers crossed. If one would particularly worry about the long term quality issue, extended warranty is always there as an option; that I will definitely consider for a HDTV in the future.

I would definitely like to hear more about problems and solutions associated with E86, that's why I am poking at various forums.

[kevinw]

Hey, Not Knocking just commenting that the chip for HD can overheat.
As to best I have examined is the Hughes and the new Samsungthat is coming out with Direct,HD and analog ability. ..Now get yourself that TV
:D

[ywu2001]

Thanks, Kelvin. Any suggestion on HDTV? I have been looking for postings on Pioneer 533HD in particular excepted that unit is somewhat more pricer.

As far as E86, I was trying to give my feedback so that beccher can make his own decision. I also felt sorry for laker-fan and wonder how customer service with Hughes goes. This is my 1st time to use products from a "un-conventional" comsumer electronics maker (Hughes).

Wish more HD programming to come soon.

[kevinw]

The one thing about TV's is that your choice is subjective...Base your choice in what you can afford. They all in general give a good picture. I am partial to Toshiba 50H81 because I own one. Every TV has some type of plus or minus to it. Get the largest that will fit your room and price. When I started looking my choices were Hitachi,Toshiba and Sony. I could not pass up the deal. I got mine for 1495.00 at a Sears outlet. It was returned because of a small scratch on the cabinet.( Can't see it unless you look just right). The same TV is now going for 2000 at Bestbuy on closeout.