hi all,

I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).

However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.

Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.

I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
pull out of the unit, but to no avail.

Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?

Cheers, z.

Update: I have found the echostar2.exe Software Downloader, and tried
to connect this. I got the error:

Invalid Protocol: M3000_FUNC

zii kell wrote:
> hi all,
>
> I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
> moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).
>
> However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.
>
> Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
> get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.
>
> I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
> pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>
> Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?
>
> Cheers, z.

On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:21:49 +0100, zii kell
<huj22mlikzq9ez6@temporaryinbox.com> wrote:

>hi all,
>
>I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
>moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).
>
>However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.
>
>Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
>get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.
>
>I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
>pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>
>Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?

AFAIK the serial port on this box is for updating the firmware. You
can also make a backup copy of the firmware that is already installed.
You need a small Windows program to do both these tasks, which is (or
used to be) available from the Echostar support website in the
Netherlands.

http://www.echostareurope.com/

--
Walt Davidson Email: g3nyy @despammed.com

Walt Davidson wrote:
> On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:21:49 +0100, zii kell
> <huj22mlikzq9ez6@temporaryinbox.com> wrote:
>
>> hi all,
>>
>> I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
>> moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).
>>
>> However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.
>>
>> Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
>> get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.
>>
>> I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
>> pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>>
>> Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?
>
> AFAIK the serial port on this box is for updating the firmware. You
> can also make a backup copy of the firmware that is already installed.
> You need a small Windows program to do both these tasks, which is (or
> used to be) available from the Echostar support website in the
> Netherlands.
>
> http://www.echostareurope.com/
>

I have successfully copied the existing firmware. Great. I have found
two firmwares named, AD3000IP_V1100_20040108_w.bin and
AD3000IP_Boot_OLD2OTA.bin.

I think the v1100 is latest, but it is from January 2004. Was there a
later version?

z.

In article <et6csh$31o$1@registered.motzarella.org>, zii kell <huj22mlik
zq9ez6@temporaryinbox.com> writes
>Update: I have found the echostar2.exe Software Downloader, and tried
>to connect this. I got the error:
>
>Invalid Protocol: M3000_FUNC
>
>zii kell wrote:
>> hi all,
>>
>> I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
>> moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).
>>
>> However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.
>>
>> Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
>> get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.
>>
>> I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
>> pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>>
>> Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?
>>
>> Cheers, z.

Its all on their website, as I've done a couple here recently upgraded
the software that is, and it was all rather straightforward!.

Read the instructions carefully!...

http://www.echostareurope.com/support_stb_software.asp
--
Tony Sayer

On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:46:36 +0100, zii kell
<huj22mlikzq9ez6@temporaryinbox.com> wrote:

>> http://www.echostareurope.com/
>>
>
>I have successfully copied the existing firmware. Great. I have found
>two firmwares named, AD3000IP_V1100_20040108_w.bin and
>AD3000IP_Boot_OLD2OTA.bin.
>
>I think the v1100 is latest, but it is from January 2004. Was there a
>later version?

I don't think so. The AD3000IP is rather an old receiver. They
stopped issuing upgrades for it some years ago. However it does have
the advantage of working in both digital and analogue modes, which not
many current receivers do.

--
Walt Davidson Email: g3nyy @despammed.com

zii kell wrote:
> hi all,
>
> I have just picked up an old Echostar unit (AD-3000IP) and, for the
> moment, don't have a dish or television set to test it with (Don't ask).
>
> However, I have connected the unit to my pc via the serial port.
>
> Ther serial port settings are 115200 8/N/1 hardware flow control and I
> get output. There is a prompt > and this is all.
>
> I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
> pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>
> Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?
>
> Cheers, z.

I have one of these receivers, and I have never used the serial port, or
tried to update the firmware. You can (or could) check on the Echostar
website as to what problems the various revisions of the firmware fixed.
I think the upgrades also incorporated the latest satellite
transponder data (which they presumably don't any more!). I think you'll
find that applying a software upgrade resets everything in the receiver
- no fun at all if you had it set up to view things.

With any flash firmware upgrade, there is a small risk that a failed or
interrupted upgrade can leave you with a piece of unusable junk.
I advise you follow the well-known proverb: "If it's not broken, don't
try to fix it."

zii kell wrote:

>I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
>pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>
>Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?

As you have learned, you can use the Echostar software to
import/export the firmware.

However, if you use SetEdit you can also import/export all the
transponder/positioner settings.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/8vef5
UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
BBC/ITV reception trouble? ; http://www.astra2d.com/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

Thank-you everyone for your advise and information.

I managed to upload the current firmware, and when I have found a tele
to connect it to I shall see what is what.

Jomtien, Where could I find SetEdit?

Jomtien wrote:
> zii kell wrote:
>
>> I have tried to search for information about what useful stuff I can
>> pull out of the unit, but to no avail.
>>
>> Would someone know what one could do with the serial port on this unit?
>
> As you have learned, you can use the Echostar software to
> import/export the firmware.
>
> However, if you use SetEdit you can also import/export all the
> transponder/positioner settings.
>

zii kell wrote:

>Where could I find SetEdit?

http://www.setedit.de/firstpage_en.html

There may well be some free software somewhere that does a similar
job.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/8vef5
UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
BBC/ITV reception trouble? ; http://www.astra2d.com/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)