Replacement / extra card reader?

[mynameisEarl]

Hello,

I am referring to the TM-6900 HD Combo Super.

Is it possible to buy a card reader, maybe for plugging in via USB?
My reason for asking, is that I have been too forceful with the built in card reader and broken it although it still technically works.

I have opened the receiver to have a look, and the top of the reader no longer stays attached. This means a card in the reader is now hard to keep in contact with the reader, due to the lack of pressure from above.

Thanks for any advice,
Lee

[seti]

Hi
Don't know what card you want to use, but a you could use a old multy cam (ice, xcam) to run the card in.

Hope it helps..

[mynameisEarl]

Thanks seti,

However, the receiver has one card slot and one CAM slot; I am already using the CAM slot for a Viaccess CAM + viewing card.
ie I basically want to restore my functionality to the same or an equivalent of what I had before I broke the card reader.
Obviously I can change the card in the CAM because both cards are Viaccess, but ideally I want to be able to switch between all channels without doing a card change.

Lee

[seti]

I have the TM-6900 HD Combo (not super) it has 2 cam slots.

Don't know what sort of card reader is in the receiver, but would it be possible to fit a card slot taken of a old season card or old programmer ?

I have one each of these if any help..

[holmroad]

@mynameisearl:- There are TWO cam slots in MY TM6900HD Super too M8 - bit odd if YOURS hasnt?:confused:

[mynameisEarl]

Hello again seti and holmroad,

Where is the second CAM slot? :) All I can see under the front flip down panel is one card reader slot and one CAM slot ... ??

Lee

[satwyn]

they usially are one above the other below the card reader

[mynameisEarl]

hmmm I can't see it. Is there a chance my machine has been built wrongly? I really can't see a second CAM/CI slot ....
The manual indeed says there is '1 smart card reader and 2 common interfaces (2CI)', although there is no actual diagram of the front flip panel and it seems to be a fairly generic manual.

???

Lee

[^^COMPASS^^]

Technomate TM-6900 SUPER HD Combo high
definition satellite receiver with BLIND SEARCH.


Specification. Main features,

* 2 High Definition Tuners: DVB-S/DVB-S2 Satellite & DVB-T Terrestrial Compliant (MPEG-II/ MPEG-IV/ H.264)
* Output Resolution: 576p & 576i, 720p & 1080i
* 1 Smart Card Reader & 2 Common Interfaces (2CI)
* HDMI & Component Output (YPbPr) with Upscaler to Improve Picture Quality
* 10,000 TV & Radio Channels
* USB2.0 PVR Ready via external HDD or USB Flash Drive (memory stick) with Timeshift, Record & Playback functions
* The Super also has a built in UHF modulator.

[mynameisEarl]

Thanks Compass, yes, but I'm darned if I have that second CI slot.
All I have above the card reader slot is a dummy 'gap' that goes nowhere.
Maybe I might conveniently have a reason to request a replacement model....
hmmm
!

Lee

[satwyn]

I think you are getting confused the ci slots are one obove each other if you have a cam installed remove and have a proper look with a torch there will also be two push in thingy's to eject the cam

[mynameisEarl]

Hello satwyn,

Unless I've gone completely round the twist I really can't see it! If I find it I'll post back later, but I really don't think I have it.

If I do pursue an exchange on this item, is there a HD Technomate that is known to work better than this model? ie without the Symbol Rate inaccuracies and other bugs? If it helps, I'm not that bothered about Terrestrial Digital and I could live without the _front_ USB port. PVR/disk recording capability is also something which I don't plan to start using.

Maybe I can end up here with a more robust model generally.

Thanks a lot,
Lee

(I'm going offline now but will catch up later)

[^^COMPASS^^]

Well you can get a replacement card reader for the 1000 series for 28 quid

Ring Technomate to see if this is compatible for your 6900 super im quite sure the will be able to help you out

regards Compass

[teassoc]

Thanks Compass, yes, but I'm darned if I have that second CI slot.
All I have above the card reader slot is a dummy 'gap' that goes nowhere.
Maybe I might conveniently have a reason to request a replacement model....
hmmm
!

Lee

Are you looking in the right place? Under the flap from the left you will see the USB, then in the middle quite a large area for your card. To the right should be space for 2 CI's.

[mynameisEarl]

hello again, re: the last 2 replies;
Presumably replacing the card reader involves soldering etc which I wouldn't want to do. I can probably fix the card reader anyway with 2 little spots of glue, but this has made me realise I'm missing a 2nd CI slot anyway. It really isn't there unless it's fiendishly disguised !
I would take a picture to show you, but I have no means of getting a digital photo off my camera phone onto the pc.
EDIT : I've thought of a way, so stand by for an exciting photo at some point. :)

In case I can engineer an exchange, maybe for a different model (even though I appreciate I have invalidated the warranty by opening the unit up to look inside), which HD Technomate works better then this model regarding the bugs I've described? Is there one?

Thanks again,
Lee

[mynameisEarl]

Well, I was just on my knees taking a photo and I have just found the second CI slot. Sorry for being so sure I didn't have one. It is tightly adjacent to the other slot and this is the first time I've actually been eye level to have a really good look. Sorry again.

So my options are now get a second CAM and put a card in it, or fix the card reader.

I'm still interested though if there are any less buggy HD Technomates available (or known better brands/models), in case I decide to sell this on e b a y or something. I've had it for almost 2 months and am not hugely pleased with it.

Thanks,
Lee

[^^COMPASS^^]

Presumably replacing the card reader involves soldering etc which I wouldn't want to do.

Thanks again,
Lee


A replacement Card Reader Plugs in theres no soldering involved :D

[mynameisEarl]

A replacement Card Reader Plugs in theres no soldering involved :D

Thanks Compass, but presumably the reader itself would still need to be attached/soldered in place?

I've currently 'rested' the viewing card in such a way that it stays in contact with the reader, although I have the top of the receiver unscrewed ready for me to periodically go inside and adjust the card's position if it gets nudged out of place.
I think I'm going to try what I mentioned, and try glueing the top of the reader back on.

By the way, I see no replies on this or another thread about my bug queries; does this mean those issues are still something of a mystery?

Thanks again,
Lee

[dxman]

the bugs on this receiver forget it, they are to many,when they make a new firmware they never check it properly ,the last bug i found was today if you record something on the hd ,you then change satellite you can't view the recording infact it doesnt even work,i can mention others but I'm sure i will be waisting my time,for example why the HDMI is not auto ,like when you start the receiver instead you just have to find manualy,in same cases the receiver turn it off then on.
often get double channel very close frequency ,lots of them on 1west,tuning by day time loosing the late night movies,tuning night time loosing 1 sport channel shall I go on.
At the end of the day it is just a cheap low cost receiver,so don't expect miracles
Well i'm glad you find you CI Slots
Some peeps they think they got a good receiver,as for me i would like everything perfect.
Almost every receivers have bugs because they run with some kind of software,why do you think they upgrade the firmware so often,the only good thing that is almost 100% it is the patch.
I myself I'm not satified at all i got the receiver because The High def,by the way my receiver it is the 6800 super more o less the same,and with the same bugs

[mynameisEarl]

Hello dxman and anyone else interested,

Yes, I too am not impressed with this receiver. I paid around £270 new for it for which I expect something pretty good. I wouldn't call that cheap ... how much should we have to spend to get something that literally works properly?

I chose mine, my first HD receiver and my first Technomate, as I believed they were a solid UK satellite receiver manufacturer with a good track record. Maybe I was wrong.
I just wonder how long we have to wait until maybe one day, a firmware upgrade actually fixes the various problems many of us (presumably all of us?) experience. If indeed a 'remote' upgrade can address all the bugs.
I haven't yet, however, pinpointed any bugs that are caused by the unofficial patches (if any) rather than the official firmware.

After using an appliance for a couple of months, as in my case now with this receiver, do we have any rights as consumers to approach the manufacturer (not the seller/dealer although they may be the go between) and say 'I'm fed up with this now, do you have something better or can I have my money back' ?
Is that in fact any different to using it for just, say, a week?
How do our user disappointments square up relating to the 12 month guarantee? At all?
(I appreciate I may have invalidated _my_ warranty anyway by opening the unit to look at the card reader I broke)

Thanks for any thoughts,
Lee

[Aldo]

Hi M8

It would appear that you have already answered you own question with this statement:

(I appreciate I may have invalidated _my_ warranty anyway by opening the unit to look at the card reader I broke)

How on earth do you think that you can return any item of equipment that you, yourself have broken, and possibly expect a replacement, and you probably wouldn't have invalidated your warranty, by opening the receiver (As other have done so to move the USB Port from the front to the rear of the receiver) but you will most certainly have by the fact that you have broken the card reader.

[mynameisEarl]

Hello Aldo,

Yes;
I was meaning more in general, not just my situation. (My only options now really are to keep it or sell off yet another unit (this one) at a loss on eb@y ....)
ie what rights do we have as consumers to request a replacement or refund on the grounds of 'bugs'?
Do manufacturers take the stance of 'you primarily bought the appliance for other/general functionality which does work, yes? So go away and put up with our partly defective product'.
??

Lee

Edit : I'm aware these last few posts should ideally have been initiated in the other 'bugs' thread.

[holmroad]

Well sorry but I TOTALLY disagree with the derogatory comments made about these TM receivers!
I have previously had two Echostars and two Mahnattans, but was always a little envious of all the NUMEROUS threads & posts on so many other forums regarding Technomates even then - no NOT because of their faults but because of the fantastic SUPPORT by so many people, so I can only deduce that it MUST be BY FAR the most popular satellite receiver manufacturer too - which can only be achieved by quality products!
It is always so up to date with patches - and ok both TM6000 versions may have been brought out before they should with all the bugs, etc - but how many receivers HAVENT been? Come on, this is the REAL world, not one of 'perfection' - for which we ALL strive, but very few achieve?
My conclusion is that Technomate have successfully put themselves out to correct their probs as quickly as they can - and dont forget that SO many of these probs were self-generated by the users, albeit without always realising it - e.g. the blind scan where users were filling up their channel lists with too many useless programs!
I am more than satisfied with my TM600HD Super, thank you very much Technomate!:cup-006::cup-006::respect-046:

[Aldo]

@holmroad

I would have to agree with your opinion of Technomate receivers in general, and the support that the receivers get from the manufacturers and from the likes of DM and Magic, and if the perfect receiver is out there somewhere I have yet to see or hear about it, many may have claims of being Very Good or even Excellent, but I have yet to see anyone say that they have the perfect Satellite Receiver, and then there would be the cost of such a receiver, and then there is the small problem of does that receiver come within your budget.

[holmroad]

One final point is that I think a lot of people think they can install satellite equipment themselves - ok maybe SOME can, but I believe it is a very specialist job and am so pleased I can boast of a MAGNIFICENT installer, meaning I get very few problems as I have a professional on almost constant standby!:respect-050::respect-050:

[teassoc]

I'm very happy with my 6900HD super and don't understand some of the comments made.

Agree with Holmroad and Aldo. OK it's a bit buggy but they are small things. :respect-055:

BTW 'discovered' the mosaic function last night and I'm sure there are other 'goodies' that I've yet to find.

[mynameisEarl]

hmm maybe I and dxman have especially buggy units.

Those of who who are essentially happy with the TM-6900 HD Combo Super, can you please point me specifically to which firmware release you are using? Either official or patched. (Since Premiere and Polsat going N3 I have no real use for a patch for viewing, so I wouldn't miss it if an offical release is known to be better)

One of the things I find especially unacceptable is the way the unit crashes/reboots when I am operating some of the functions, such as moving channels or setting favourites.

I'm also still interested in my question about the warranty period regardless of my specific situation, but of course I appreciate this isn't a consumer rights forum.

Thanks again,
Lee

[Aldo]

"I'm also still interested in my question about the warranty period regardless of my specific situation, but of course I appreciate this isn't a consumer rights forum."

Why then don't you telephone Technomate and explain your situation and see what they have to say, you should be able to get hold of the phone number from the TM Site.

[holmroad]

Yes, I agree with Aldo here - surely in ANY commercial situation if you have a chat with a) the supplier and b) the manufacturer I'm sure you will gain satisfaction - and HOPEFULLY more confidence in Technomate?
They dont want to lose their excellent overall reputation and I'm sure they would consider the 'last resort' of changing yours if necessary, but obviously only problem is that you have 'messed about' with yours, despite knowing the implications of your actions - so maybe been somewhat foolhardy and very quick to blame someone else for your own actions as well as the actual box? Just a thought M8!:respect-055:

[mynameisEarl]

...
I'm sure they would consider the 'last resort' of changing yours if necessary, but obviously only problem is that you have 'messed about' with yours, despite knowing the implications of your actions - so maybe been somewhat foolhardy and very quick to blame someone else for your own actions as well as the actual box?

Hello again,

I think some of you have got the wrong idea here; I am not stupid enough to think like you may be implying. My disappointments with this unit came way before the unrelated issue of breaking the card reader. Now fixed, incidentally.

As I said earlier, those of you who have a great experience, please tell me specifically which official or patched firmware you are using. I can then hopefully enjoy this model just the same as you, presumably including no crashes/reboots and correctly scanned Symbol Rates. I say 'presumably' because otherwise I fail to understand how you too would be so happy with this unit.
I suspect however that many of you simply have not often used specific functions and noticed some apparent bugs.

Thanks,
Lee