EyeTV Hybrid USB error

Had same problem. Gas Mark 6 for 15 mins fixed it.

Thanks a lot, KamPr! It worked for me, too.

I currently have an active support case with Elgato. They told me that judged by the description I sent them the device was probably broken. I was advised to do a lot of things to verify the Hybrid is the culprit and not the computer. I was half expecting they would send me an exchange unit since it is obvious that a lot of people have the same issue. But alas, they want me to buy a new one.

Thanks to you I don't have to.

For unbelivers ;-) ! 10 min 200°C

Thanks

Shame on me and apologies to Elgato. I received an E-Mail from them where they offered to take back my old device and send me a new one after I informed them about my unsuccessful attempt to run it on my wife's computer and about the repair as KamPr had described. I also pointed them to this thread.

I wrote:

.... I was half expecting they would send me an exchange unit since it is obvious that a lot of people have the same issue. But alas, they want me to buy a new one....

Alltogether, people at Elgato's are my friends again. This change of mind wasn't too difficult after all, since I still loved their EyeTV software.

I have plugged in a freecom DVB-T usb stick and it works. This is working with the eyetv3 software and the freecom sticks are really cheap.

Same problem..

Elgato refused to replace my eyetv hybrid. Now baked it third time in 2 years and it works again. I bake it for 20 - 30 minutes at 200 degrees celcius.

We know the problem and we know the temporary solution. If I owned the company I would replace all defective units immediately to avoid a thread like this. Its embarrassing for you Elgato!!

I use a slightly different variation on this.

Testing the assumption that I only needed to raise the device to its normal working temp. (which is quite hot!) I tried using my wife's therapeutic heat pack - a sort of mini pillow with wheat inside that you heat up in the microwave and apply to aches and pains. I heat this up to a bit hotter than would be comfortable to apply to yourself and then wrap it around the unit. After waiting a minute or so for it to warm through nicely I reboot and am away with no usb errors.

My wife has gratefully donated her heat pack to my box of bits and bobs for fixing computer problems. This has worked every time so far (year or so). It only works with a full reboot but it only takes a few minutes to do.

I also tried getting a response from elgato, but their attitude seemed to be that if anything they made was still working when the warranty expired then they had done their bit and customers should be grateful for anything beyond that and stop whingeing.

I've tried this since my device was no longer under warenty anyway and guess what???

It worked!!

No problems for 4 days in a row. I think it is solved. Weird, but great solution!

I have two devices, I think a 2007 and a 2008 model. Last night I put my 2007 in the oven for the 12 minutes, but I didn't realize that the gray covering was the plastic case you were talking about, so now, it looks all wrinkled and busted on the sides. One side of the plastic actually popped off, and I saw that the inside was fine. It's still not working, even though everything plugs in fine and it heats up as it is plugged in. I have another one, a 2008 model. Can you please tell me how to fix the 2007, or how to get the plastic case off the 2008?

Hello Txau-me and KamPr,

Cool practical solution!

Thanx for solving also my problem! Twelve minutes in the oven, while it was cooling down from 200 to 50 degrees, did the trick. I forgot to remove the plastc case, fortunately it came out in original state... i'm very pleased!

Merit.

Wow! My eyeTV hybrid has been sitting on my drawer for a few years after that dreaded USB error comes up, and I bought an EyeTV DTT since, but still wished that the hybrid would work again as sometimes I want to record 2 TV programs which happen to be on at the same time. I was about to put it in the bin and buy another EyeTV, and voila! Found this simple and wonderful solution by KamPr (which I was somewhat skeptical about initially, but the responses from different people gave me so much more confidence), followed the instructions last night (Easter Saturday), and today, being Easter Sunday, after coming back from church with it's brilliant resurrection message of Jesus, the EyeTV got resurrected as well after emerging from the now emptied tomb (oven) from lying there for just one night!

So well done and thank your KamPr and Txau for sharing your brilliant insight!

My joy from this doesn't compare to the ressurection of Jesus of course which meant salvation from eternal condemnation and reconciliation with God, but nevertherless, it's a nice bonus, and somewhat symbolic of what Easter is about.

Yep, it works. Hair dryer got mine going again. I have now located it on top of my Apple TV box which runs very hot. Hopefully that will keep it going. I can't believe there hasn't been a recall or an offer to replace all the defective items. I love my EYE TV but this is rediculous and Elgato has gone down in my opinion of them. They should have a note on their Systmes Technical Support page. Thanks everyone.

Hi KamPr,

I cannot believe I found myself in the middle of the night contemplating cracking open my EyeTV hybrid device and baking it, in foil, at 200 degrees for the recommended time!

I have had intermittent issues with my device, which people here are describing.

I have written to Elgato, asking them to consider swapping my device, as it is clearly a manifacturing issue, and pointing them to this thread.

I hope that they will be reasonable and swap out this device for a reonditioned one. Otherwise, I can see a very funny video posted on Facebook and YouTube showing the fix. I wonder if I can get someone from Masterchef to help with the baking...

Nic

I’ve just cooked mine for the fourth or fifth time in as many years ... and it’s working again (second time this year though). I came here via google to remind myself of the time & temperature required 20mins at 200°C works for me.

Tim Martin

Hi,

It really DOES WORK !!! It's magic.

Thank you KamPR.

On eyeTV revision 3, the error message changed to "Unable to initialize the device" so my first Google searchs don't include "USB Error" message, which I finally saw on revision 2.5 on my MacBook Pro.