DTT trial MPEG4 email?

flogen

Did anyone else on the DTT trial get an email about upgrading to MPEG4 in order to watch the HD trial content?

I don't have a HD TV so I can't trial it properly, but I could see the content already on my normal TV (although it obviously didn't look all that special as a result).

So is this just a precaution for some boxes that didn't come pre-loaded with MPEG4-ready software or do all boxes need to be updated?

nava

flogen wrote:

Did anyone else on the DTT trial get an email about upgrading to MPEG4 in order to watch the HD trial content?

I don't have a HD TV so I can't trial it properly, but I could see the content already on my normal TV (although it obviously didn't look all that special as a result).

So is this just a precaution for some boxes that didn't come pre-loaded with MPEG4-ready software or do all boxes need to be updated?

Hi

I also got the e-mail, we need a "Null modem cable" any ideas were we can I get 1 of them? or if anyone has 1 to spare .

Did we get 1 with the box? if we did have to start searcing for it.

Thanks

flogen

Don't think we got one in the box - can you not connect it via the USB cable?

Anyway - you should be able to get one for a few quid in an electronics shop like Maplin's or Peats... just make sure you get the right one (there'll be various ones with male-male, female-female, female-male etc.)

tapfit2004

a null modem cable is used to flash a lot of set top boxes. it is a 9 pin cable that plugs into the serial port of a pc. the pin out is 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 5 to 5. you should get one handy on ebay for less than a tenner. you can also get long ones if it doesn't suit to move the box or your computer every time you want to update the box

nava

tapfit2004 wrote:

a null modem cable is used to flash a lot of set top boxes. it is a 9 pin cable that plugs into the serial port of a pc. the pin out is 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 5 to 5. you should get one handy on ebay for less than a tenner. you can also get long ones if it doesn't suit to move the box or your computer every time you want to update the box

Thanks, my laptop doesn't have a serial port (only Pinter) do they sell something to connect USB to the box? What's the name or even better link

Thanks

VERYinterested

Well I'm in trouble as I have a Mac! I'm going to see if DCMNR will do the update for me if I bring it back. I tried to do the update with a pal, but when we plugged the Null cable into his laptop and my Humax, the Humax does not show up. Secondly the file sent in the mail is a stuffed file, so make sure you have the required software to unstuff it. Why can't the upgrade be made available and updated using the software update facility on the machine? This upgrade seems to be a lot of hassle. Has anyone successfully applied the update?

VERYinterested

I decided to try something different and buy a new Null cable (also called AT cable), got one in MicroPro Computers on Nutrove Avenue beside Silvio's Chipper. It cost €6.40 and I legged it in to work, connected the Humax to my PC. The PC on finding the Humax asked for a re-boot, on re-start, I double clicked the stuffed file and as per the DCMNR instructions, the PC displayed a message saying 'waiting for stb' I switched on the Humax and away we went, the file was transferred to the Humax. Took about two minutes and it displayed the 'end' message when it was finished. Waited about ten seconds and disconnected the null cable. Brought it home plugged it in and on channel 25 there are pictures to match the Sky News audio and also the SD test on 18 displays pictures to match the BBC News 24 audio. It also has removed the annoying freezes that occurred if you were channel hopping between 18, 20 and 25. So all in all it is a very worthwhile update, worth going to the extra bit of hassle.

Richie Blackmor

Ok I got it working but had to overcome some difficulties first. My laptop does not have a 9 pin serial port, USB only so I have a USB-to-serial converter which is configured to work on Com 2.
I saved the file as 'Humax.exe' as instructed but double clicking just gave me a brief flash of a Command Prompt Window (my machine is XP Home).
So I had a look inside 'Humax.exe' with Winzip and found 3 files:
test.bat
FlashWriter.exe
HDXTCI10002_1-AVC.HDF

I had a look at 'test.bat' which is a just a command
% flashwriter 1 115200 HDXTCI10002_1-AVC.HDF

I edited it to
% flashwriter 2 115200 HDXTCI10002_1-AVC.HDF
Because I needed Com 2

Double clicked on 'test.bat' and hey presto! It loaded the file and now I have sound and vision on the Mpeg4 Test Channel.

Hope this is helpful to other head scratchers out there.
Richie

nava

HI

It looks like you can connect USB PC to the USB port in the box directly from the pic on the Humax website



Regards

Richie Blackmor

Any idea how that might work? Would probably need a 'USB File Transfer Cable' (A plug to A plug)?
Richie

watty

USB would require a driver on PC and is likely for a different purpose as it is a HOST port.

Krusty_Clown

Can anyone please post the contents of the letter?
I didn't receive it (reckon it might have been spam filtered) but would like to process the update... Thanks..

Richie Blackmor

Krusty, check your PMs
Richie

Mayo Exile

Did not get this letter either. When was it sent?:(

Mountjoy Mugger

Mine was sent Friday, 20th July.

nava

Hi

I got if Friday afternoon

Hello,

Please note you will need to update your set top box with MPEG 4 software in order to view a trial of High Definition content. Please find attached instruction on how this can be done and a copy of the software required.

Please note you will need to save the humax.000 file as a .exe file before you can use this.

Regards,

You can get a copy of the ZIP file here

I'm using te Humax HDCI-2000T so not sure if will work in other models.

Regards

Mayo Exile

nava thanks for that zip file! One of the I.T. techs in work bunged together a null modem cable as tapfit2004 talks about further up the thread. We connected it up and followed the instructions in the supplied word document. It seemed to go ok. Will check tonight to see if it worked! But surely an over the air upgrade would have been far easier for everybody concerned?

Mayo Exile

Reconnected box after doing the software download (see previous post), however no vision or sound on channel 18 SD Test 1. Only getting a "this channel is scrambled or not available message". Channel 25, MPEG4 Test, after a couple of seconds became Setanta Ireland.

Did a default setting to initialise all values (should I have done this? I wonder did I unintentionally wipe out the new software download?) and rescanned. Now at channel 16 there is Setanta Golf, and at channel 17, Setanta Ireland. Channel 18 SD Test is still there (still a "this channel is scrambled or not available" message showing), as is HD Test at channel 20. However channel 25, MPEG 4 Test has now gone.

VERYinterested

Mine is the same, they must have updated the channels some time today.

Mayo Exile

Originally posted by VERYinterested: Mine is the same, they must have updated the channels some time today.

Ok. I wonder though by doing a default setting, initialising the box, did I wipe out the software download or are such downloads unaffected by this procedure?

VERYinterested

Not sure, but are you getting freezes either side of the HD test if you channel hop like we all were previously? If not, well then the update is still intact.

Mayo Exile

No. Nothing freezes anymore. Flicked up and down through channel 20 HD Test and everything still worked! So hopefully the download has been unaffected.:)

moonstomp

nava wrote:

Hi

I got if Friday afternoon



You can get a copy of the ZIP file here

I'm using te Humax HDCI-2000T so not sure if will work in other models.

Regards

Hi,

Couldn't get that link to work. Any chance you could e-mail me the zip file to: Many thanks,

moonstomp

nava

moonstomp wrote:

Hi,

Couldn't get that link to work. Any chance you could e-mail me the zip file to:
Many thanks,

moonstomp

On the way, you can edit the post to remove the e-mail address, lt me know if you don't get it.

Regards

moonstomp

nava wrote:

On the way, you can edit the post to remove the e-mail address, lt me know if you don't get it.

Regards

Wow !

Thanks for the super quick reply Nava. I've received the zip and will give it a go as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Moonstomp.