Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:51 am
It gets worse.
I phoned BMD support about the failed upgrade on the 16x16 Smart Videohub router, and was advised as follows:
1) There are known bugs in the v6 Smarthub firmware.
2) Do not install v6 on ANY Hub until it's fixed (in a few days); stay with v5.2
3) Remove v6 from my PC, reinstall v5.2 and force a firmware re-install on to the 16x16 hub.
I tried this but despite it accepting the roll-back to v5.2, the hub still crashes.
I've decided to wait until the sanitised v6 is released and see if it fixes everything. If that doesn't work, the device has to go back for servicing, which may be charged for, including a real possibility it's now totally stuffed/zorched/bricked and will require purchasing a full replacement.
I also wonder whether v6 was ever compatible with this router at all, as it's a discontinued product.
If so, was v6 ever tested on this model before release?
How did a reportedly known buggy firmware update get released at all?
If BMD know v6 is buggy, why isn't there a "read-me" on the support page or inside the download bundle to warn us of what they apparently already know?
Who would be liable for any loss or damage to customers arising from this apparent oversight?
Can a rogue firmware upgrade totally zorch your hardware?
If this has happened, why might I have to pay to fix this?
If not, then the router has survived less than two years in light-duty service before becoming bin-food.
Then, why would I be expected to pay a second time for a pissweak piece of junk?
Another possibility is that this particular Hub might have been running on even-older firmware, and that the last two or three updates were all incompatible with it. I'll try further roll-backs.
All the above scenarios suck. I've abandoned this zorched router for another, to get my work done safely, until the mystery is solved. I'm really glad this fault didn't appear just before a live show!
Either way, I'll keep you all posted on how this interesting problem develops.
BTW, the support folks were very cluey and good to talk to. Time well spent.