Is there a 'sticky' of things to try when your Aura goes bonkers?

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DevsAd

New Member
It started with many issues a couple of days ago - no sound, no terrestrial picture, not responding to some remote buttons, iPlayer 'working' with picture but no sound, etc. and then a grainy image with a strange 'source' and 'display' setting of 704x576@25fps and 720p50.

Is this normal? I mean, is it 'normal' for when an Aura goes bonkers? Is it terminal, or can it be expected to resolve with updates and stuff? I tried a reset, but no improvement. So, is there a set series of things to go through and try?

Thanks.

Pics show FreeviewPlay guide, but no preview image showing - and it goes to a blank screen when you select a programme. Another shows Lawd Shoogar on iPlayer, but there's no sound. And then the grainy screen which came up.
 

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DevsAd said:
It started with many issues a couple of days ago - no sound, no terrestrial picture, not responding to some remote buttons
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I've seen this. It happens to me sometimes when I've used VLC to view downloaded files. Often I can't get the Freeview part of the box to restart. A reboot has usually sorted it - but trying to reboot can be a problem and I've had to restart the box by unplugging the box and then plugging it back in.
iPlayer 'working' with picture but no sound, etc. and then a grainy image with a strange 'source' and 'display' setting of 704x576@25fps and 720p50.
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First part - don't know. 704x576@25fps is the display setting of BBC1-4SD on Freeview. That version is often available on the iPlayer. 720p50 is probably what you've set (or the default) upscaling that the Aura does.
Is this normal? I mean, is it 'normal' for when an Aura goes bonkers? Is it terminal, or can it be expected to resolve with updates and stuff? I tried a reset, but no improvement. So, is there a set series of things to go through and try?
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I wouldn't say it's normal, not even when the Aura's playing up. As I said, I've seen some of what you describe - sometimes.
How did you reset? You can restart apps, reset the device(supposed to preserve recordings) or, if you choose the wrong reset, reset the device and lose access to your recordings. I'll assume you did the reset preserving the recordings. If that didn't work it may be worth setting the Aura to standby. Wait until you are sure the disk has stopped spinning, disconnect from the mains, wait a couple of minutes or more, reconnect the mains and wait for the Aura to reboot. It has been known to work.
Can't say at this stage whether it is terminal. We have been waiting a long time for a promised update which is supposed to cure we don't know what. I'd say it is unlikely that this problem would be resolved by an update as you are the first to report it.
 
It shouldn't need two days of unplugging. Try two minutes unplugged instead.

I've noticed that if I'm farting about in the menu systems/settings, the memory of the box becomes clogged which seems to stop Freeview operations taking place. The only way to clear it, is to unplug at the 13amp socket for a couple of mins.
 
Trilobite said:
The only way to clear it, is to unplug at the 13amp socket for a couple of mins.
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A reboot ought to do it. But if you've had a problem similar to me the F button doesn't work and you can't access reboot on the menu. Unfortunately the Aura doesn't seem to support a long press on the box top on/off switch as a reboot. A fault in the design! Pulling the plug is the only option.
 
What's the 'F' button?
Anyhoo, it's gone back to being bonkers... I'll try a 2-minute unplug and see what happens.
Is this likely to resolve itself properly, tho', or am I destined to have a dodgy-acting Aura?
 
DevsAd said:
What's the 'F' button?
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IMG_20260314_111101256~2.jpg

DevsAd said:
Is this likely to resolve itself properly, tho', or am I destined to have a dodgy-acting Aura?
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Does the box behave normally if you do not use iPlayer? Once you have the box behaving after a restart does it go wrong if you just use the Aura for recording and watching those recordings? If it doesn't misbehave then it's likely the iPlayer app is causing the problem. If it still misbehaves I can't see it resolving itself.
 
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Not sure how an HDMI problem would explain the first two of the OP's photos. The third, maybe. However the resolution pop up is okay but the picture from iPlayer (?) is snowy.
 
DevsAd said:
Should I just go for a cheap FVP-5000T instead?!
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Another alternative is getting a cheap BT/EE TV Box Pro off Amazon or eBay.

Fortunately we have been very lucky with our Aura which we have had since its release and it has been very reliable, apart from the odd quirk every now and then.

As the Aura has been discontinued now and not wanting to spend too much for a unit in the bedroom I purchased a brand new EE box from Amazon for £115 (even cheaper used). I didn’t know anything about these boxes until @woodbar mentioned he had purchased one in another thread.

They can be used without an EE TV subscription and can record four channels at once just like the Aura, have a very intuitive interface and are very quiet in operation. The only thing you cannot do is add your own apps as they run on the YouView platform so that could be a dealbreaker for some.
 
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