Big Bang
No! My Freeview box emitted a loud pop this morning while I was listening to something on BBC radio7. There was a wisp of smoke and an acrid burning smell. Oddly, at the time I was writing an article for the village web-magazine saying that the forthcoming Digital Switchover may be used by unscrupulous to sell unwanted equipment or services to the unwary and ill-informed, when a Freeview box for £20 will let them continue watching with no subscriptions and more channels.
I unplugged the box and took it outside to prevent fire hazard but the wisp of smoke had dispersed and nothing more dramatic transpired. My immediate thought was about what I’ll miss on television or radio until I get replacement. I thought it might be interesting to look inside so I removed the four screws and noticed that while nothing was obviously blackened, one of the power supply capacitors looks suspiciously bulbous. Electrolytic capacitors which look like a tiny aluminium cylinder apparently dry out after long-ish term use and tiny explosions aren’t unknown. If that’s the only damage, I should be able to repair it.
Watch this space. That’s all I’ll be doing for now!