OptimumOnline → Re: STB Power Use

My understanding is the box firmware is downloaded every time after a reboot (that's why it takes so long), so keeping it on to get new firmware loads is unnecessary.

Huh? CV makes the box reboot after a download. Whatever you said didn't make sense.

The box is Re-Authorized (Cable card/Account verification) and Cable Guide/daily programming content is downloaded every time the box is rebooted, but Not the Firmware itself.

Looks to me like it downloads at least the entire GUI every time the box is booted. "Please wait - We are preparing the service for you". It takes so long, I figure they're downloading everything except the boot software. Hell, the box output even switches resolutions during the process. That's more than updating the guide info.

matcarl, CV reboots the box so it downloads the new firmware, of course. But that doesn't mean it doesn't also do the same download after every boot.

The point is, I don't think the box will be "missing out" on any firmware updates if you keep it unplugged at night. It will get the new firmware on the next power-up.

Some of the Guide and some of the settings are cloud based. It would not surprise me if the box did download the complete guide on a reboot.

See

»Re: Can't get to advanced settings with new programming guide

There is a front panel key sequence (on the SA boxes) to force a manual reboot (hold Vol-/Vol+ and press Info)... The box will display "-nu-", then "hold", etc.
There is another key combo to force a F/W Download (Edit: Quickly press both Select and Power WHILE the "-nu-" is being displayed)... That causes the box to display a numerical "countdown" as the firmware is erased and reloaded, (sort of like doing a BIOS Update on a PC)

-Tursiops_G.