Cable boxes reboot for no reason? (screen, HD, channel, channels)

[robertpasa]

I have the charter HD box. Last night it suddenly went blank and lost the clock on the front. After five mins I could repower it, and it reloaded all the channels which took 5 minutes. It's normal now. I have a neighbor with the same box and this did NOT happen to them.

It did something similar a few weeks ago when they dropped all analog channels and renumbered some channels but that was scheduled. I think it's because the memory in the box got lost.

It should only do that if (a) the cable company sends a reset signal, (b) there's a power outage or (c) something's wrong with the box. But I was just changing channels like usual.

P.S. the startup screen says Scientific Atlanta. It's because Cisco bought them, I think.

Isn't there a "hard disk" in the cable box? Then it wouldn't have to reload every time it lost power or crashed.

[NHDave]

It may also do it if they update the boxes firmware. If it keeps doing it the simple solution is to have your provider replace it.

A standard STB does not have a hard drive, only DVR boxes have them.

[Dude111]

Yes I think thats what they are doing with my DirecTV box also...... I have an RCA DRD 430 and it keeps rebooting........ I AM GLAD I HAVE AUTO UPDATES DISABLED!!!! (They are trying to force everyone off of these older boxs)

Its pretty scary.... They can make it so my box wont even come on!!!!!! -- BUT THANKFULLY BECAUSE I HAVE UPDATES BLOCKED ALL I HAVE TO DO IS RESET IT AND IT COMES BACK........ (Otherwise it would be static)

They want everyone renting one of their boxs...... (YES THEY HAVE BECOME QUITE GREEDY)

[texdav]

Normally if you call they will inform you what day and time they do updates. her mine is wednesday at 2:30am.

[robertpasa]

Why do satellite boxes update themselves so often?
I've heard horror stories about how they update themselves really often, usually in the wee hours.

[Bo]

Could be a thermal problem. Blow out any dust in the cabinet and make sure it's well ventilated wherever it's set up.

[Dude111]

If they send FIRMWARE UPDATES,the box WILL REBOOT to apply the update!

My box goes to channel 100 when it reboots.......

[ebbe]

This isn't the box but it's annoying just the same. At midnight, without fail, all the information for each station disappears on every channel so you don't know what you show you are looking at. I hate it.

[Dude111]

Yup and at 5am everyday the song info on Directv music channels dissapears also! (For about a minute)

[robertpasa]

My cable box has crashed three times in seven months. I should exchange it, but the new one might do the same thing.

Does yours crash very often?