How to JTAG a DM500

[stone_db]

I have tried to fix my crashed 500T Terrestial. With no knowledge I downolades Gemini 4.6 and installed the image. After a few hours I got embarrsing message from the Gemini team.... Totallay dead with no LED.
This DB500T has a Philips tuner. Is it the some one as the cable tuner? maybe not in frequencies but is the bootloader image the same?

I have prepared a JTAG cable with 5 resistors and tripplechecked the connention between the DB500 and PC LPT1.

There is no success on connection with jtagwinxxx or the DOS version. The chip is JS28F640.
I can get the "one" error line message and the "four" line message pending on how the DB500 powered up up with JTAG connection.

Now I haved runned out of ideas on how to proceed. Can anyone give me a hint to get into contact with the box.

Hi

For weeks I was trying to jtag my DM500S (chip JS28F640) using the cable with 5 resitors. The connection with the dm was ok but the writing was not, there was always errors (using -C option with dos version)...
I solved the problem asking a friend (electronician) to help me. He used a Jtag made with a chip 74HC244 and it was a success. Now it is working fine with Gemini 4.60 and a new mac address of course !

Good luck guy !

[jbvid]

Feedback from a succesful repair with a homemade 5 resistor jtag cable.

Thanks everyone in this thread that has supplied guides and given ideas on how to repair a dead clone because of using Gemini 4.3 or higher or for some other reason having a corrupt bootloader.

This DB500T clone has a Philips terrestial tuner (TU1216L....) with chip JS28F640.

I used an old centronics printer cable and cut of the centronic plug an soldered 5 resistors at the end as described in different guides.

After some faultfinding a found a soldered shortcircuit between two connections on my jtag cable. Fixed, and first my try succeded.

For my personal interest I checked the voltage after the resistors an found it to be 3,4 volt, thats god enought compared to the specified 3.3 volt.

With the Dm500JtagAIO guide using the DOS version it was no problem at all to get a stable connection to the clone, just first send the jtagdm500... DOS commando and immediatly apply the voltage to the clone.
It was a little confused wich commands I should use for my clone.
1. It is a Philips tuner, yes.
2. It is a terrestial tuner, yes
3. ALP, no
All three options are available in the DOS software. After som tests I found that No. 1 Philipstuner is inteded for 500S boxes only.
No 2 [terr] was the correct choice for my terrestial Philips tuner.
On some other place I found another MAC code for this tuner type. I dont konow if it has any practical effect but i works.

Shift cables and with dreamUp download a safe image.
The clone is now back in service again.

Thanks once again.
Rawcorn

Hi
Nice post rawcorn, hope a lot of people read it when they get stuck, you always do need patience, determination and especially time to read, study, and make the jtag lead connections correctly, then the software will work as it should.
If you rush don't spend the time or can't be bothered to look back in relevant threads you won't make it.
jbvid

[smehdi]

I have tried to fix my crashed 500T Terrestial. With no knowledge I downolades Gemini 4.6 and installed the image. After a few hours I got embarrsing message from the Gemini team.... Totallay dead with no LED.
This DB500T has a Philips tuner. Is it the some one as the cable tuner? maybe not in frequencies but is the bootloader image the same?

I have prepared a JTAG cable with 5 resistors and tripplechecked the connention between the DB500 and PC LPT1.

There is no success on connection with jtagwinxxx or the DOS version. The chip is JS28F640.
I can get the "one" error line message and the "four" line message pending on how the DB500 powered up up with JTAG connection.

Now I haved runned out of ideas on how to proceed. Can anyone give me a hint to get into contact with the box.

I suppose there is no different boot loader for different tuner type . I did my first jtag on db-500s with a db-500C boot loader !

[El_meu]

I suppose there is no different boot loader for different tuner type . I did my first jtag on db-500s with a db-500C boot loader !

Yes they are. The most of the boot is the same, the only change are the bytes where the tuner type is defined. In my experience I have seen three diferent types of boot:

sat-ALPS
sat-Philips
cable NXP/Philips

[Spacer76]

Trying to fix my bootloader, so ... very useful

[smehdi]

Yes they are. The most of the boot is the same, the only change are the bytes where the tuner type is defined. In my experience I have seen three diferent types of boot:

sat-ALPS
sat-Philips
cable NXP/Philips

of course you are right but I mean the whole boot loader without changing them for different tuner type are same ;-)

[miroesq]

I was flashing my DM 500 with the latest PLI image and it froze at 84%. I tried dreamup 500 and a null cable to get it going again, but all the buttons including flash and erase are greyed out. Could JTAG help me revive this thing?

Thanks

[jbvid]

I was flashing my DM 500 with the latest PLI image and it froze at 84%. I tried dreamup 500 and a null cable to get it going again, but all the buttons including flash and erase are greyed out. Could JTAG help me revive this thing?

Thanks

Yes. looks like your bootloader is corrupted, there is all the Jtag info in the downloads section and Sticky,s.
Also look in Dreambox Satellite section.
jbvid

[domelek]

Hi guys
I am struggling with my original DM500 for some while, it have TE28F640 INTEL flash onbord, and ALPS tuner, I've used windows flash program with 3 different bootloaders, and no results. I have no green led, strange is that when I doing soft download dreamup is showing BOXtype DM56xx??!! I still can download software into box succesfully, but nothing else blank screen. Could somebody show me which BLING file I should to use. It is an original DM500S box bought 3 years ago. Thanks

[jbvid]

Hi guys
I am struggling with my original DM500 for some while, it have TE28F640 INTEL flash onbord, and ALPS tuner, I've used windows flash program with 3 different bootloaders, and no results. I have no green led, strange is that when I doing soft download dreamup is showing BOXtype DM56xx??!! I still can download software into box succesfully, but nothing else blank screen. Could somebody show me which BLING file I should to use. It is an original DM500S box bought 3 years ago. Thanks

Hi
You will have to scan through and spend time looking through earlier posts on Jtag problems, (in both Cable and Sat sections) someone mentioned the dm56xx showing as box type earlier and there are plenty of 'blimg' files in the threads about jtag onsite, in Satellite and Cable sections. Are you using dreamup to flash a full image back on with Null modem cable after a successful Jtag?
jbvid

[domelek]

Hi
You will have to scan through and spend time looking through earlier posts on Jtag problems, (in both Cable and Sat sections) someone mentioned the dm56xx showing as box type earlier and there are plenty of 'blimg' files in the threads about jtag onsite, in Satellite and Cable sections. Are you using dreamup to flash a full image back on with Null modem cable after a successful Jtag?
jbvid

Yes, I've tried even original image from dreambox site - no changes,
Update, after using BLING file generated by one of the generators available here with original MAC address box is not responding at all in DREAMUP, so I think it is just a case to find proper BLING file for genuine boxes. Unfortunetely I dont have LPT port in my laptop so I can't check it now if anyone knows solution please help me

[jbvid]

Yes, I've tried even original image from dreambox site - no changes,
Update, after using BLING file generated by one of the generators available here with original MAC address box is not responding at all in DREAMUP, so I think it is just a case to find proper BLING file for genuine boxes. Unfortunetely I dont have LPT port in my laptop so I can't check it now if anyone knows solution please help me

Hi
Are you unticking the 'use network' connection box when using dreamup to flash a full image back on? and you need to use an RS232, 9 pin com port for for dreamup image transfer. If you are using a usb to 9pin these are VERY connection proned.
jbvid

[domelek]

Hi
Are you unticking the 'use network' connection box when using dreamup to flash a full image back on? and you need to use an RS232, 9 pin com port for for dreamup image transfer. If you are using a usb to 9pin these are VERY connection proned.
jbvid

I'm sure that DreamUP part is done correctly i have rs232 port with null-modem COM lead, so image was downloaded correctly, I'm quite sure that the problem is in bootloader file, I found 2 other threads about similar problem but without clear solution, I found also another BLING file which may work, unfortunetely as I mentioned b4 I don't have LPT port in my PC to check it now, anyway if somebody can find the solution in the meantime will be great. Thanks

[sakisgr]

the green light is always on after erasing previous image with erase.img and i can not flash a new image !!!

[eFrisky]

Hi
You will have to scan through and spend time looking through earlier posts on Jtag problems, (in both Cable and Sat sections) someone mentioned the dm56xx showing as box type earlier and there are plenty of 'blimg' files in the threads about jtag onsite, in Satellite and Cable sections. Are you using dreamup to flash a full image back on with Null modem cable after a successful Jtag?
jbvid

@ domelek

jbvid is spot on with the reference to the dm56xx box type. This 'dm56xx' identifier is seen in DreamUp when the incorrect bootloader (blimg) file has been used. The basic reason for this - the default 'blimg' file that is included with the windows flash utility is for the DM56xx box type. Well, that was my experience anyway!

The good news: You have successfully flashed the bootloader for your DM500S box; the wiring and your flash procedure is sound - so you can do it again, correct? Don't change anything.

The bad news: Wrong 'blimg' file. Find a know-working DM500S 'blimg' file and take a Hex Editor to it. Edit the mac address to reflect the mac address of your own DM500S. Make sure the 'blimg' file that you've just edited is moved to the windows flashing utility directory, and the filename is correct.

I know my suggestion of using a hex editor seems paranoid, but the mac-generator-utility generated file just didn't work for my DM500C. See the thread I posted on the subject:

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums/f34/dm500-mac-generator-output-correct-not-32134/

Once you've used the correct 'blimg' file, when you come to use DreamUp, you'll see the correct box type identifier (DM500S in your case).

Good Luck! You're very close to the finish line now - don't give up.