DM500 so many cables!!!!!

[lucast2007]

hi guys im a long time admirer of this site, first time poster.
i recently flashed an image to my box using "flashwizard" and a "ethernet crossover cable", however during the flash it froze and my dreambox seems to have died.

i know the only way to get my box back operational is to use a "null modem cable" female 9 pin to 9 pin female. and "dreamup".
is there many types of these "null modem cables"?
if so which one do i need as i will probably go to maplins this week.

i know there is such thing as a "rs232 cable" i just want to know exactly which one i need before i go there.

cheers guys sorry if the above post wrecked anybody's heads.
just i see how helpful you all are and am at my wits end with this box i tell ya.

[caveman_nige]

if you just ask them for a null modem cable they should sort you out bud, it is down to the way the cable is wired up to the pins in the RS232 connectors. Its always worth having one in this game as it brings your box back from the dead. I only flash mine with a null and dreamup...

[dedge_10]

if you dont have a serial port on you pc or laptop you can get a serial to usb lead from maplins : http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...68&doy=4m6#faq

[lucast2007]

thanks very much boys your input is greatly appreciated

<--lucast2007 added 10 Minutes and 34 Seconds later...-->

sorry for the double post. just looked up the maplins website and it seems the only null modem cable they have is: "Serial Null Modem (reverse) wired serial cable" its a female- female 9 pin so hope its the right one ha

[caveman_nige]

Sounds about right (9 pin fem to fem)...

[Gueststar]

Great thread, just to clarify cable/s needed to connect to dreambox if you dont have a 9 pin port on laptop are----- USB to 9 pin male connector and then connect this to the female to female nullmodem cable to connect to dreambox. Hope this is what you mean guys or is ther a easier way. Just found this for all you laptop owners without serial port like me......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-to-RS232-S...QQcmdZViewItem

[kagon]

If you're in a bind with the wrong gender you could also use a gender changer/bender:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_changer

Often these also come in null modem varieties.

[Hejira]

A null modem (reversed) cable as above is typical for connecting 2 serial ports (eg 2 PCs) that are wired with the same pin connections on the 2 serial ports.

The cable will have pins 2 & 3 crossed over as they are Transmit Data & Receive Data Pins.

To be able to communicate between the 2 serial ports the Transmit Data @ one end needs to be linked to the Receive Data @ the other end.

As an old modem knew it would be connected to a PC the manufacturer would reverse the pins inside the modem itself and supply a straight through cable (Pins 2 & 3 @ one end go straight to pins 2 & 3 @ the other end).

Therefore although 2 cables may look the same don't count on it and make sure you markup a cable as being crossed when you know it's crossed! It's important to know how a serial port is wired to know if you need a straight through or crossed cable!

A bit long winded I know but I thought it might help you understand why you would need a null modem (reversed) cable for your DreamBox.

As I understand it a DreamBox Serial Port is wired the same as a PC Serial Port so that cable should be fine.

RS232 is the communication protocol and not the only protocol that can be used on a serial port!

[lucast2007]

brilliant that is alot of info to take in but very usefull indeed cheers man