As a former Digifusion devotee, I purchased a Luxor TUTV2500 DTR when Inview terminated the EPG transmissions for my FVRT200 DTR's.
I have no intention of using the TUTV facility on the Luxor and find the EPG screen an absolute mess with all the TUTV info displayed which restricts the Freeview EPG data displayed (I am using the Freeview+ 8 day EPG).
As far as I can determine the Luxor is a Vestel T845 unit and I was wondering whether it is be possible to replace the TUTV software (via the RS232 serial port) with suitable Vestel software to improve the EPG appearance and usability.
Has anyone done this?
If it is feasible I suspect that the remote would need replacing for one which can send the codes required by the replacement Vestel software.

Judging by the deafening silence I guess no-one has tried to "upgrade" from the Top-Up-TV (T845) software/firmware to use Vestel's own software/firmware as per the T845R.
Looking at futaura's web pages on Vestel manufactured pvr's it states:

Vestel T845R based PVRs first appeared in October 2009, apparently as a direct replacement to the T825 models, and are pretty much the same as the T845 hardware-wise, but use an evolution of the familiar T825 software instead of the Top Up TV software. Again, the T845R uses a SATA HDD, unlike the T825 and previous models, and this is probably one of the reasons that the T845R was made due to SATA drives being cheaper than their IDE equivalents.

Based on this info it seems to me that it's possible that the "evolved T825" software/firmware used on the Vestel T845R models should be a viable substitute for the T845's TUTV equivalent........or am I over-simplifying matters?
Is the v.13.0 software/firmware currently being transmitted OTA the latest compatible version for the T845R (and also for the T845 by implication of the above)?

Or........is it best not to bother trying to make this change and grit my teeth and suffer the irritatingly "over busy" presentation of the EPG screen via TUTV?

If you try it, you risk irreversibly bricking your box, seeing as I don't think anybody has tried this. It may not be relevant now, but before the existance of the T845R, I was once told that the Vestel software would not work on the T845. Like you say, you'd probably need a new remote too.

The main problem is that the software files have unique identifiers, and this needs to match otherwise the upload will simply be ignored. Also, I'm not aware of anybody who has a software file for the T845R - I'm pretty sure the T825 software file not work on the T845R, and therefore the T845. The v13.0 software is for T825 models only. AFAIK, the latest T845R software is v0.7.

If you're interested, you could try hooking a serial cable up to the Luxor and see what serial output occurs when you plug the Luxor in (115200 baud and no handshaking). Normally on boxes running Vestel software you'll see some version text in reference to the bootloader - if this is the same on the T845 there is a slim chance that uploading T845R software may be possible.

I found this thread whilst looking for information about Vestel-based TUTV boxes. I have two "dead" machines - Luxor TUTV 2500 and Techwood 1020 and I thought I'd try linking each of them to my PC through the RS232 slot, as you suggested.

The Luxor gave no response (it says "error" on the front panel display) but the Techwood came up with information about the bootloader. It even seemed to let me load the T825 software, which I found through the links on this forum. (That didn't make any difference - it still says "Pls wait" and then "Fail")

However I am encouraged to think that the machine can't be as dead as I thought. Does anyone have any experience of fixing these machines by renewing the software? If so, is there a source for the proper T845 software file so that I can give it a try. Probably a forlorn hope, but maybe worth an experiment.

You'll most likely need a T845R software file to have any chance - unfortunately I've not seen anywhere that somebody has such a file. I certainly don't have one in my collection . What was the bootloader information, btw? Would be interesting if it is the same as their non-TUTV boxes.

Thanks for your response.
The bootloader information from the Techwood, as displayed through Hypertext is:

cabot nagra bootloader
version: nagra_bootloader_02_20080724_112136
Jul 24 2008 13:03:21
CBB0

(The 2nd character in the final line is the same as the guidelines example but doesn't copy on my keyboard.)

I guess I will have to scrap the machines after all - the hard drives are good so all is not lost. I'll wait a while though, in case I can find one with a working mainboard.

I wonder how many of these boxes have to be scrapped because of corrupt software? Seems a pity.

The bootloaders on the T825 and T835 use Gordian in their id/name, and I suspect the T845R does too although I don't know for sure. So, it may well be the case that the T845 will no accept software files intended for the T845R either . However, just because there isn't a v0.7 T845R software file out there doesn't necessarily mean it is unobtainable - I can't really go into details, but you could always pretend that you have an Alba ALDTR160 with v0.5 software when asking the appropriate company for v0.7 .

I would have thought v0.5 would be the best to try and get as it's likely to still have the 'Gemstar' features. But I'm sure that would be very difficult indeed.....

Sure, but if you pose as an Alba ALDTR160 owner, this model was originally shipped with v0.5, so it may not be suspicious if you are asking for the v0.7 file. There is no real reason to ask for v0.5 because the boxes were never shipped with a version older than that.

I get the idea. Thanks for the tips. I'll see what I can find.

Not much luck so far looking for T845 software. Argos seem to want loads of purchase information before they will even talk to you. Alba support is very elusive!

I notice a few contibutions to this Digihome thread at the end of 2009 and around April 2010 describing what seem to be the same symptoms as on my Techwood 1020 ("pls wait" then "fail"). The suggestion then was software corruption after an overnight download.

I wonder if anyone ever got to the bottom of this problem? Was software failure the likely cause, or was there some underlying hardware failure? I'd love to know whether anyone ever fixed one of these boxes by replacing the software - on any of the Vestel based machines.

Lots of users have replaced software on the non-TUTV Vestel PVRs. However, as futaura said above there have been no reports of this being done on the T845 TUTV hardware.

You may have more success by asking your question in the Top Up TV forum here where most discussion of TUTV PVRs takes place.

Colin

Thanks to Futaura and his contacts, I was able to try loading the t845R software on my "failed" Techwood 1020.

Although the file transfer process via Hypertext went through as expected, the machine did not come back to life!
Either there is an underlying fault in the main board or the bootloader does not accept this variant of the software file.

I'll just have to hope that a t845 based box with no hard drive or a duff power supply comes up for sale so that I can try the machine with another main board.

Just to follow up my earlier posts, I haven't quite given up on my search for t845 software. I bought a faulty Digihome version of the recorders I was hoping to fix. This one only needed a power supply, which I swapped from one of the other machines. So I've got a working example!

I tried the working machine with Hyperterminal connected to the RS232 port. It came up with exactly the same bootloader information as the "failed" machine; there was no additional information as it completed the start up process.

Has anyone found a way of copying the software from a working machine? I guess the RS232 port connection is not capable of reading the software file back to the PC.

I just recieved my RS232 cable and am about to start playing around with the software. Is it possible transfer the firmware from TU160DTR onto laptop to save it before I play about with it. I have tried transfer files, recieve with different setting with no joy.

All I get is:
cabot nagra bootloader
version: nagra_bootloader_02_20080724_112136
Jul 24 2008 13:03:21
C$BB0

Scott.

Hi there. I'm on the hunt for the T845 software file to upload via RS232 on a Bush TUTV box displaying the FAIL message. Can anyone here help me with a copy of the firmware? I've searched all over but to no avail... Any suggestions please?

I've still not quite given up looking for a software fix for my Vestel T845 based machines! Others are obviously looking for the same solution.

Does anyone know whether the 10-pin connector on the mainboard of my Luxor TUTV 2500 is a jtag connector? It's in the area of the processor and I know that other STi 51xx
processors on satellite receivers (for example) have jtag access for software mods.

I must admit that the connector on my Luxor doesn't seem to comply with any jtag pinout I can find, judging by the pins that are connected to ground. However, someone may have some clues.

I would try to download the software from my working T845 machine if I could set up a jtag connection. I can't claim to know much about jtag workings, but there is plenty of experience in the satellite receiver world to give me a starting point to learn.

Forgot to mention it here, but yesterday I made a TUTV software file for the T845 available at http://vestelpvr.futaura.co.uk/T845.php - this was targetted at a Bush model, but AFAIK the Luxor and Digihome take the exact same software build. Uploading this should bring your boxes back to life, even if it does still mean you're stuck with the TUTV software.

Many thanks for making the T845 software file available.
Sadly for me, it doesn't seem to have been the answer for my "failed" recorders.

I tried loading the software on both my Luxor TUTV2500 and my Techwood equivalent, both showing "fail" on the display.

In both cases the link with Hyperterminal seemed to be successful and both went through the motions of loading the software file. Once the software file was completed though, the machines reverted immedialely to "fail" and there was no further response from the hyperterminal display.

In each case, the hyperterminal display showing the file transfer activity had a message something like "unrequired response" on the error panel when I switched the power to the recorder on and off to initiate the transfer. After that the transfer seemed to go ahead without a hitch. Maybe that indicates some more basic fault with the machines.

So I guess these machines have some kind of hardware fault, not fixable by software replacement.

At least that satisfies my curiosity and the "failed" machines can go to their rest! Many thanks for your help.

I would still be interested to know whether the 10-pin connector on the main board has any jtag function.

Maybe kashavsehra will pop in and offer some insight for you, since I know he fixed his box by uploading this same file, as have others. I think the "unrequired response" is normal - IIRC, I get this with my T835 too.

Unfortunately, I can't help with the possible 10-pin jtag - that's beyond my knowledge .

I have found out that this is permanently locked, so it would be pointless you wasting any more time on it.

The only way you are going to get your boxes working again is to somehow get the TUTV software upload to take - I don't know why you are still getting a FAIL message. As you say, perhaps it indicates a more serious hardware failure. Or maybe it is important which version of the software that you upload to it (i.e. might have to be the previously installed version or the the version that failed to update). That's just guesswork on my part though - just throwing some ideas out there.

A breakthrough at last! Thanks to your encouragement I downloaded the T845 software file again and tried to update my "failed" machines with the fresh version.

This time I succeeded - on one machine anyway. The Luxor went through the same HyperTerminal routine and completed the file transfer as before, but this time it showed "OAD" on the machine's display instead of reverting to "Fail". I assume that means "Off Air Download" or something like that. There was still no change in the HyperTerminal display, but after about a minute the machine's display went to "Please Wait" and eventually welcomed me to TUTV. Alive again!
I refitted the hard drive and booted up again. So far everything is working normally - fingers crossed.
The Technomate was not so co-operative, but did give me some encouragement by going to "OAD" for a while, but after a "Please Wait" it went back to "Fail". I guess this machine has a different fault, but I'm pleased that it accepted the software transfer.
So that really is a good result. Thanks very much for your help.
One odd outcome - in passing - was that when I refitted the hard drive in the working Luxor I could see the previous recordings in the library but I couldn't get them to play. The drive probably came from one of the other machines.
A recording made since fixing the machine plays without problem. There must be some marker on the recordings which associates them with the machine they were made on - in case anyone (like me) was hoping to preserve old recordings by swapping disks.
So thanks again to Futaura for your help. The software file you provided is a little treasure for all the T845 machines out there with "fail" on their displays. Sadly, I guess most of them are in landfill sites by now. If only...

Thanks for the software futaura, had me confused for a while but got-it in the end.
Luxor tutv2500 works again and my friends son is a very happy chappy.
Not a very good signal from the loft aerial so used a splitter on the feed from main aerial on the chimney no breakup now. thanks again.