Over the last couple of days a number of people who own a Thomson DTi6300 Freeview set top box have been experiencing problems with their box failing to switch on/come out of standby mode and typically showing an amber light on the front panel display.

This problem is the result of a corrupt file having been broadcast and loaded onto the hard disk of the box as part of the auto-update service and it is not down to faulty equipment.

If you have been affected with this problem, the advice is to initially switch off the box at the mains for a period of approx 20 seconds and then switch back on again.

If switching off and back on doesn’t cure the problem, then you’ll need to reformat the hard disk in the box and then perform a retune. Instructions on how to carry out the procedure are on the Top Up TV website in the Help centre section HERE.

Reformatting will cause any recordings in your programme library to be lost and you may have to try the procedure a few times in order to resolve the issue as it requires complete attention and precise timing.

I replaced the 15″ monitor on my desktop PC today, with a new 22″ Samsung SyncMaster T220 model.

The T220 monitor has two connection interfaces, a DVI interface (HDCP supported) and standard analogue SVGA .  My last monitor was only analogue but my Hercules Radeon 9000 Series graphics card does have a DVI output so I’ve switched over to using that.

The monitor stands on an oval base and is adjustable to approx 30 degrees of backwards tilt.  The black frame has slightly curved edges along the top and bottom and the bezel has a translucent rose red finish which is most noticeable along the bottom edge.  The bezel is covered with a clear plastic coating which extends past the display’s frame to create a narrow border around all four sides.  This design mirrors that of Samsung’s current LCD TV range.

The on/off button is located on the panel’s front righthand corner and is touch sensitive.  A set of more conventional buttons are located on the right edge of the screen and can be used to adjust the brightness, switch between analog and digital inputs, and select among seven image presets - Custom, Text, Internet, Game, Sport, Movie, and Dynamic Contrast.  Choosing further settings can be achieved with these buttons once you’ve entered the On Screen Display. 

The screen boasts a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (meaning the backlight is automatically manipulated to improve black levels in dark images).  The static contrast ratio is rated at 1,000:1.  Brightness is 300cd/m² and maximum resolution is 1680 x 1050 pixels.  To reduce blurring of fast moving images, the response time is only 2ms.  Samsung claims the T220 consumes only 65-70W in operation mode, and a mere 0.3W when on standby.

I really like this monitor, and the extra screen size is great for working with photos in Paint Shop Pro.

I finally received my iPod car integration unit in the post today, ordered on 27th Jan.

The Dension unit plugs into the CD Changer socket on the back of the Alana radio in my Ibiza, and so it is necessary to withdraw the radio from the dashboard. I purchased removal tools from Halfords - ‘European Radio Removal Keys, Autoleads Item Code 256065′. These keys just fit into the little slots under the buttons at each end of the radio and release the spring retaining clips. Some people manage to improvise with feeler gauges or cut strips from an expired credit card, but I’m the sort of guy that would no doubt break something if I tried that.

I also wanted to store the iPod in the glovebox and so I removed the glovebox liner from the car by unscrewing the torx head screws and disconnecting the passenger airbag on/off keyswitch. N.B: if you don’t turn the ignition on with this switch disconnected the car will never know and thus you’ll avoid any warning lights coming on that would have to be reset.

The Dension kit I purchased was the Gateway 100 GW16AU2/VW1 model. This means that it comes with a short ‘piggyback’ wiring loom suitable for the Alana MP3 radio in the Ibiza. You remove the SEAT 20 pin mini ISO connector from the top socket on the back of the radio (on my car this only contained one yellow wire for the steering wheel controls) and plug the cable you’ve just removed into the female end of the Dension wiring loom. The 20 pin male end of the Dension loom then goes into the radio’s socket where the SEAT connector used to be, and the one remaining connector in the loom goes into one end of the Dension unit.

There is a thin black wire in the Dension wiring loom that is unterminated. You must strip the insulation off the end of this wire and attach it to a good earth point. I partially unscrewed an existing little screw on the side of the radio and wrapped the earth wire around it before screwing it back in place again.

With the Dension Gateway 100 you can opt to have an active docking cradle to mount an iPod on the dashboard or, like me, you can opt for just a trailing docking cable. The docking cradle/cable attaches to the round mini DIN connector on one end of the Dension unit.

The docking cable in the kit I ordered is labelled IPO3DC9 and allows for the battery in the latest iPods to be charged whilst connected. Charging is controlled by the Alana radio on/off switch. If your iPod is connected to the Dension Gateway and the radio is switched on (regardless of whether they key is in the ignition or not) the iPod starts charging. When the radio is switched off the iPod stops charging. Apple recently moved away from FireWire charging to USB charging only, therefore older Dension Gateway models GW15xxx with an earlier docking cable/cradle would not have charged my iPod Nano.

The Dension Gateway 100 also has a 3.5mm stereo socket next to the iPod cable and this aux socket can be used to feed sound in from a device other than an iPod. I purchased a lead from my local Maplin Electronics store, just in case I ever want to use this ‘aux in’ facility in the future.

I carefully fed the Dension Gateway back into radio cavity and into the back of the dashboard. With my hand through the side of the glovebox I managed to manipulate the cables enough to get the radio to go back into place with a bit of gentle coaxing.

I drilled a small hole in the roof of the glovebox liner just behind the airbag on/off keyswitch and fed the ipod docking cable and 3.5mm stereo jack plug cable through it. I then connected the cables to the Dension Gateway and used cable ties to secure the unit behind the dashboard. I then reconnected the airbag keyswitch and screwed the glovebox liner back into place.

Everything works OK and the sound quality is really good. You can set the unit to work in ‘iPod UI’ mode which allows you to use the iPod click wheel for audio selection, or ‘iPod GW’ mode whereby audio selection is made using the buttons on the Alana radio instead.

In iPod GW mode you can select from available iPod Playlists using the 1 button and then use the < > buttons to move through tracks. You can scan Artists, Albums and Tracks using buttons 2, 3 & 5. Button 4 allows you to choose Repeat, Random & Scan. The steering wheel mounted buttons continue to work as usual.

Album & Track names are not shown on the radio display (just track number and elapsed time) but this was something that the SEAT CD changer wouldn’t have been able to do in my car, so it’s not surprising really that the Dension Gateway doesn’t either as it uses the same interface.

Dension Audio Systems are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of connected car entertainment systems. Making it possible to have an easy to operate, ‘invisible’ solution that uses the car’s original equipment.

I decided to buy my first Apple iPod today.  I’ve been thinking about it for a while to be honest, but today I made my mind up to get one.

I knew I didn’t want the shuffle, but was undecided about whether to get a nano, classic, or touch.  Thanks to Tom P, Dan, Chris M, et al who throughout the course of the day all came up with different opinions on the best iPod to buy!

The classic has plenty of storage space, but it’s on a hard disk which could mean there’s a higher chance of a breakdown.  The touch looks cool but I doubt whether I would use the extra features enough to warrant the extra purchase price.  So anyway, by 3:30pm I had finally settled on a 16GB nano - in black.  I also purchased an Apple universal dock, 3.5mm mini jack to phono plugs audio lead and a mains charger.  I got 20% off the cost of it all as I used the remaining discount voucher issued last year.

My plan is to copy all my existing CD albums onto my notebook computer (hmm., I think that’s illegal) and then onto the nano.  Once I’ve done that, I can connect the nano to my home hi-fi amplifier via the dock and have a convenient way of choosing the music I want to listen to.  I also plan to get a Dension Gateway adapter for the car in due course.

Next job is to download and install iTunes 8…

It’s amazing what features are being crammed into portable GPS navigation units these days.

TomTom has announced the UK launch of three high performance, connected satellite navigation devices with a package of ‘over-the-air’ live services via a built-in SIM card.

Aimed at high mileage and daily drivers, the TomTom GO x40 LIVE units come with a new and extended version of TomTom’s innovative IQ Routes™ technology, (plans the best route) which is now based on historical travel time information for every road, every hour, every day of the week.

Other new features include:

TomTom’s exclusive High Definition (HD) Traffic service for the most accurate and detailed live traffic information, which is updated every three minutes.

As well as a comprehensive fixed safety camera database, users will have access to mobile camera data, supplied in partnership with Road Angel (UK only). In addition, the service will include real-time safety camera reporting and sharing, meaning users can keep each other informed about mobile safety cameras. Drivers will also receive warnings about unmanned railway crossings, schools, places of worship, and other potential accident blackspots.

TomTom has included a fuel price search to allow users to locate up-to-date pricing information from 12,000 fuel stations across the UK, and guide them to the cheapest fuel stations along their route or in their local area.

Google Search gives TomTom users access to information and location details of more than 11 million businesses and turns search results into a destination with the press of a button.

With safety in mind, the TomTom GO LIVE series features voice command and control in addition to existing safety options. For the first time, users can plan a route or make a phone call just by using their voice. Around 140 tasks can be activated by voice, so drivers can keep their eyes focused on the road ahead.

The new units will be available from leading electrical retailers in the UK from mid November, starting from about £300.  A free three month trial period for TomTom LIVE Services is included. Following this, users can register for a monthly, flat-fee subscription of £7.99.