UPC releases update to reduce set-top box energy consumption

UPC is rolling out a firmware for its set-top boxes. The update is mainly intended to reduce the energy consumption of new set-top boxes: the set-top boxes consume the same amount of energy in standby as when they are switched on.

The new firmware is gradually coming to all UPC set-top boxes, reports chello. The firmware adds options, including to set the power consumption and determine when the set-top box goes into standby. The firmware has the serial number 4.xxx. Other small changes have also been added, such as the fact that an eye is placed with a viewed program and the ability to set the flush time yourself.

Especially the newer set-top boxes Pace HD DCR7111, Thomson DVR DCI6221UPC and Cisco HD DVR 8485 benefit from the energy savings. The energy consumption goes down from 23 Watts in use to 16 Watts when the set-top box is turned off. When a few minutes later the UPC Mediabox really goes into standby, the consumption is less than 1 Watt, according to tests conducted by Chelloo.

The energy savings with older media boxes is much less, although the hard disk is also switched off there. That could lead to savings. Until the update is done, there is little difference in power consumption between if the media box is turned on or not. UPC provides the set-top boxes to customers who take digital TV.

The energy-efficient set-top boxes were announced in September last year. UPC claims that the three set-top boxes, partly thanks to new chipsets, consume an average of about 5.5W measured over a whole day. This figure applies when the so-called ‘eco mode’ is active, assuming 4.5 hours of active television viewing per day.