[farpoint]

Has anyone instructions on how to do this? There was a link I found here which had the files, but it's since disappeared and I accidentally deleted the file off my PC

[diesel22]

Hi
The actual firmware file is still at this link:-

http://rapidshare.com/files/4180307/bins.zip.html

I have downloaded it but haven't tried to install it yet.

I assume a standard "null modem" serial cable which I already have will do the job.

If you have success let us know!

[farpoint]

Worked a treat, thanks for the link

[Captain Cod]

Wow! I'll try it tonight! Anyone know how this software came about?

[Aldridge Andy]

I wonder if it will ever be released at an OTA update?

Or will boxes be released with this software as OEM as a new product range in 2007?

[farpoint]

God knows how it became available but I doubt it will be offered OTA as this version only gives you about 2 days EPG. If you want to go further ahead, you have to wait for the EPG to be populated.

My guess is that in order to get a second recording to work, the manufacturers needed some more memory and took it from the EPG. Why could they not remove PIP as I never use it?

However I like the new colour scheme, much easier to read on my telly.

[Captain Cod]

Does it eventually load a 7 day epg?

[farpoint]

No it looks like it only has enough memory for 1-2 days at a time. If you jump forward a few days, you have to wait a little while for the EPG to be populated for those days. If you then jump back to where you were, the EPG is blank and you have to wait again for it to be populated.

So I guess you have to make a choice, either

a) Single record with full EPG or

b) Dual record with partial EPG

It depends on how you use your box I guess

[Captain Cod]

I suppose if you delete every channel you're not likely to be interested in, then that'd help? Possibly unwanted radio stations and shopping / quiz channels?

[farpoint]

I'd not thought of that, perhaps there is a use for the favourites list after all . I'll try that out tonight

[sparky_paul]

If using the favourites list doesn't help, you are also able to delete any unwanted channels from the channel list completely which might help.

[farpoint]

Well I used the favourites list (just had channels 1-5) and I was able to get 6 days of EPG.

This is good enough for me as I only tend to watch 4 main channels anyhow. If I want to look at another channel then I can just drop out of the favourites list and wait a short while for the EPG to populate.

I've noticed that the EPG performance is quicker if you change to the channel you want to look up on the EPG. i.e. If you want to see what's on Channel 5, change to that channel first before bringing up the EPG

This is good enough for me!

[Bonburton]

Originally Posted by farpoint

Worked a treat, thanks for the link

How do you physically do this, is a null modem cable needed ?

I've downloaded and unzipped the Bin files.

[farpoint]

Yes, use hyperterminal and set up an xmodem transfer then power cycle the box and the download starts. This seems very similar to the method used to update my old Goodmans GDB3

[Bonburton]

Thanks for prompt response, I'll get myself a cable and have a go.

[Haggisuk99]

goto pcworld and find yourself a male/female rs232 lead otherwise known as a serial cable. if pcworld tell you it is a file transfer cable they are wrong as it is a male/female lead you want ie a serial extension cable and bend the screw locaters back for a quick fix if you cant find one £9.99 out of pc world then follow these instructions http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeremy.pick/gdb3/guide.htm (where he says reset the machine just unplug it and replug it back in)

and use these files http://rapidshare.com/files/4180307/bins.zip.html they have the twin record and the 4.9 version, if you use the 4.9 version it will cure any of the previous firmware issues and if it doesnt then you probably need to sort your ariel out
the twin record will also give you the ability to record two channels at once or pause live tv whilst you are recording, however it isnt an official release and should be used at your own risk (though i use it and its great )
hope this helps you

the only issue that I have had is the EPG however it has 5 favourites and we have just loaded our most watched in to fav 1 and so on and so on and it has helped it out, still takes longer than we were used to with ver 3.5 however for a twin record it is something that I am willing to put up with

[Bonburton]

Originally Posted by Haggisuk99

goto pcworld and find yourself a male/female rs232 lead otherwise known as a serial cable. if pcworld tell you it is a file transfer cable they are wrong as it is a male/female lead you want ie a serial extension cable and bend the screw locaters back for a quick fix if you cant find one £9.99 out of pc world then follow these instructions http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeremy.pick/gdb3/guide.htm (where he says reset the machine just unplug it and replug it back in)

and use these files http://rapidshare.com/files/4180307/bins.zip.html they have the twin record and the 4.9 version, if you use the 4.9 version it will cure any of the previous firmware issues and if it doesnt then you probably need to sort your ariel out
the twin record will also give you the ability to record two channels at once or pause live tv whilst you are recording, however it isnt an official release and should be used at your own risk (though i use it and its great )
hope this helps you

the only issue that I have had is the EPG however it has 5 favourites and we have just loaded our most watched in to fav 1 and so on and so on and it has helped it out, still takes longer than we were used to with ver 3.5 however for a twin record it is something that I am willing to put up with

I've ordererd a null modem cable from http://www.mkcables.com/contents/en-uk/d159.html

Should arrive Saturday, I'll let you know how I get on, I'm not worried by lack of EPG and like you I'll delete unwanted channels.

Ive got a standard serial cable M to F you reckon that ll do it ?

[Haggisuk99]

Hi not sure if that will be the right cable for you as you basically need a straight through cable and null modems tend to be crossed over (someone correct me if i am wrong) simply put the cable you have linked to there is for connecting two computers which means that is it normally a cable with two female ends. If you read the extra details it will tell you that it is two females.
The one that you need is a cable that is the equivalent of an serial port extension cable it has a male and a female end and is a straight through cable
I think that it would be this one from the site you showed me
http://www.mkcables.com/index.html?l...d135.html#p717
CGA/Serial Mouse DB9M to DB9F Extension Cable at the bottom of the list
Maybe if your quick you can get them to change the order
best of luck

[Bonburton]

Originally Posted by Haggisuk99

Hi not sure if that will be the right cable for you as you basically need a straight through cable and null modems tend to be crossed over (someone correct me if i am wrong) simply put the cable you have linked to there is for connecting two computers which means that is it normally a cable with two female ends. If you read the extra details it will tell you that it is two females.
The one that you need is a cable that is the equivalent of an serial port extension cable it has a male and a female end and is a straight through cable
I think that it would be this one from the site you showed me
http://www.mkcables.com/index.html?l...d135.html#p717
Maybe if your quick you can get them to change the order
best of luck

Thanks, I'll have a go tomorrow, I got the file on my PC now.

[Haggisuk99]

CGA/Serial Mouse DB9M to DB9F Extension Cable
at the bottom of the list

[Owch!]

Originally Posted by farpoint

No it looks like it only has enough memory for 1-2 days at a time.

Has anyone taken one of these to bits? I wonder where the EPG is stored because it sounds like it's in RAM. Would it not be possible therefore to throw a little more RAM at it?

Just a thought!

[farpoint]

These things aren't like PC's where you can just plug in extra memory.

The RAM is soldered to the board and the software would be configured to only use a certain memory size. That's how most embedded systems work

[Bonburton]

Originally Posted by Haggisuk99

Hi not sure if that will be the right cable for you as you basically need a straight through cable and null modems tend to be crossed over (someone correct me if i am wrong) simply put the cable you have linked to there is for connecting two computers which means that is it normally a cable with two female ends. If you read the extra details it will tell you that it is two females.
The one that you need is a cable that is the equivalent of an serial port extension cable it has a male and a female end and is a straight through cable
I think that it would be this one from the site you showed me
http://www.mkcables.com/index.html?l...d135.html#p717
CGA/Serial Mouse DB9M to DB9F Extension Cable at the bottom of the list
Maybe if your quick you can get them to change the order
best of luck

Thanks. I followed the instructions scrupulously using a straight thro cable. No joy. The final window per the instructions showed the devices connected but they weren't talking. Its an Evesham 160 gig I have (v3.9), I picked it up for £75 as part of a deal they were running on flat pannel TVs. I understand these are the same machines as the Digihome ? Its not a big deal, my main PVR is a topfield but it would be nice to get the dual record up and running on it. Any ideas ?

[diesel22]

Well I'm no expert, but I thought a straight cable was no good because you need some of the lines crossed over - which is what a null modem serial cable does. I use one to update my Humax sat box through the rs232 port.

[Bonburton]

Originally Posted by diesel22

Well I'm no expert, but I thought a straight cable was no good because you need some of the lines crossed over - which is what a null modem serial cable does. I use one to update my Humax sat box through the rs232 port.

Thanks, I'll give it a go in the morning.