A lot of Freesat users were left without access to BBC iPlayer for more than two weeks, when the app stopped working on several Humax boxes. Today, Humax confirmed to us that the bug has finally been fixed.
Affected users should automatically get an update on their Humax box – see below for Humax’s full response.
The whole issue started around April 4, when many Freesat users were facing an error notification – “Error Message 02001” – when trying to stream on-demand programmes on BBC iPlayer, the BBC’s streaming and catch-up app.
The affected Humax models were HDR1100S, HDR1010S, HDR1000s, HB1100S, and HB1000S.
Freesat, Humax and the BBC were all quick to acknowledge the issue, and were working together on a fix, but many users took to social media to voice their frustration with the long wait.
@freesat_tv Has anyone got problems accessing BBC iplayer on their Humax Sat Box? Contacted customer services and was told there's a problem but no timescale to fix! Missing iplayer progs!
— Sue Waterman (@SueWate38140689) April 21, 2022
It’s worth noting that no other Freesat boxes were affected by this issue, including the newer 4K Freesat recorders which were released in 2020 (and are not made by Humax).
Two months ago, Freesat viewers with Humax boxes suffered from another major technical issue, when scheduled recordings stopped working. That issue was fixed after a few days.
BBC iPlayer Resumes Working On Humax Boxes
Today (Thursday), the ongoing bug has finally been fixed.
According to Humax, BBC iPlayer should now be working correctly on all the affected boxes.
Although there’s a new version involved, the update should happen automatically on the affected boxes (though if it doesn’t, I always recommend a restart of the box, just to be safe).
A Humax spokesperson said:
“Customers with the affected Freesat models should find that BBC iPlayer is now working.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this issue and we thank everyone for their patience.”
Humax is urging anyone who is still facing this issue, despite the update, to contact their support team (and also, let us know here in the comments if things are working well for you now).
BBC iPlayer Alternatives
If you don’t want to be left with only one device that can run BBC iPlayer – there are several alternatives out there.
If you have a Smart TV that has streaming apps, it most likely has the BBC iPlayer app as well – so look for it, and as long as your TV is connected to broadband, it should work fine.
You can also watch BBC iPlayer directly on your browser, on any desktop PC/MAC or laptop.
BBC iPlayer also has an app for smartphones (both Android and iOS) and tablets.
And last but not least, you can also buy a cheap streaming device, such as the Amazon Fire TV, Roku or Chromecast, and connect it to your TV – as they all have a BBC iPlayer app (as well as apps for many other streaming services).
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My frees at box yesterday stopped BBC iplayer and Youtube stopped working. Netfix still works.
It checking Internet and tells me to connect now. I say yes and returns to setting. But it dose not let me watch any steming service
I have the same issue with my Humax box. Says I have connected it to WiFi then goes through a loop back to the WiFi set up.
Got home this evening Sunday the10th September 2023 to find the same problem accessing BBC iPlayer.
Hi Pete.i contacted humax Saturday I have hdr 1000 box all streaming services not working apart from Netflix. They are aware of the problem. They say new fix asp.hope that helps.
All up and running guys as of today. Thought you might like to know.
All up and running guys. As of today thought you might like to know.
So frustrated with my Humax box. Couldn’t view different courts at Wimbledon. It’s still not right.
My humax is still not Woking correctly 13/2/23.tried switching on and off still no joy.
2nd of May, tried BBC I player, still not working on my Humax
Very disappointed it took Humax so long to fix this, and the previous bug affecting recordings. I guess this is going to be the way of it now since Humax no longer manufacture Freesat boxes and so have little interest in support. Shame when they topped the lists for so long. We bought 2 boxes on the strength of the reviews they had, now seems a bad move.
Thank you so much for rectifying the bug on iPlayer. I am so happy to be able to access this once more.
HDR 2000t has experienced the same problem with iPlayer – don’t get any error number it just won’t load even though it was working just before the Easter weekend. It is still not working after the update mentioned above – please advise
Sounds maybe like a different problem, but either way you should contact Humax’s support
Thanks – I did email support when I saw this page and HDR 2000t not mentioned in the list of boxes affected but did not get a reply – perhaps I will try to ring instead.
Just tried accessing iPlayer via my Humax, out of curiosity, only to find that it’s now finally working. I note that the BBC website still shows the issue as being under investigation though.
Thankyou so much for repairing the iPlayer .so I can watch IPlayer on my humax hdr 1000
Brilliant piece of kit I love my humax hdr-1000 .had it repaired once via( digi repairs ) Ireland .still working so well.and at a great price. Don’t throw them away have them repaired .