Recover Dead Skybox/Openbox Flash Using Serial RS232 Null modem Cable

[Barry Doherty]

Cheers,
Will do.

[slugworth]

never heard of x6 so probably no support files

[digicon]

read this thread from the start it tells you everything you need to know and explains which sites to get Openbox firmware from after you have read through and you have the RS232 lead and are still struggling then ask away but your question has been answered in this thread countless times

[Barry Doherty]

I bought an openbox x6, judging by the price it must be a clone, I tried to 'upgrade by usb' changing the channel list and the box went dead, it was ok before I tried to upgrade, apart from it being amazonas sat.
I have ordered a null modem cable and I'm going to try the steps in this post, will this work for an openbox x6? Does anyone know what firmware I will need?
Thanks in advance,
B.

[the engineer]

Hi guys ist post on here, if any of you guys have problems with you open s9 , theres a 1000mf cap 10v on the power supply which causes it to be totally dead as well.
Hope this is a usefull 1st post

ps this was showing stb memory error, After changing the cap i didnt have to reflash the box, all was ok..

the engineer

[mahrkpat]

i have to USB 2.0 TO RS232 DB9 PIN FEMALE when i conneted to openbox s10 and my desktop nothing happen........why pls help me

Have you followed instructions in the first post?

[muji elias]

i have to USB 2.0 TO RS232 DB9 PIN FEMALE when i conneted to openbox s10 and my desktop nothing happen........why pls help me

[mahrkpat]

The trouble is these are good boxes but the manufacturing is very bad:

1. Heatsink badly fitted on some boxes a little pressure on the top leading to short circuit.
2.Misaligned infra red sensor means a unresponsive remote (people have to by separate usb infra red sensor).
3.Use of cheap components burning out.
4.Lastly bad soldering leading dry joints or short circuits.

But even so lot people are lucky and have no problems at all.

[thefreak]

thanks mahrkpat for the reply
i finally calmed down enough to apply abit of logic to the whole fiasco you were right of course about the nil comms i just thought it was somthing else regarding the loader or something i had missed so when in doubt ask for help
as i am a total noob regarding the skybox
anyway got it stripped and on the bench and it turns out it was just a dry solder joint so a quick blast with the reflow and bobs yer uncle full comms and flashed in minutes thanks to all advisers in the last 23 pages

[mahrkpat]

My F3 box fugged up this morning i loaded aj new channel list, powered off then on now the screen is stuck on load and thats it no power off or on , no on screen action
i read this post from top to bottom and went ahead with the null modem repair and it wont connect all i get is synchronizing stb reset target
i'm using a genuine serial port and so far i have made three null cables one based on the first post pinouts with full handshake. second based on the reality of f3 internal connections 2-3,3-2, 5-5 third was breakout jumper board modded to include all possible connections and still no luck and each cable has been tested over 10 second increments upto 2 min then to 4 mins on each attempt i've used different ports different pc's different OS, win 7 vista and xp and still cannot get past sync stb
i've used different verions of the recovery software . erom_upgrade_8Mflash, Upgrade_PVR800 HD Tool, F3_X3_M3_Q3_RS232_UpgradeTool
so i am currently at my wits end on this one

You get the 'synchronizing stb reset target' when your pc is not communicating with the stb:
1.Check you are using the correct com port by going to device manager
2.Make sure you have ticked the include boot loader option

Try using the recovery tool I posted above

Good Luck

[mahrkpat]

i got the same problem. My Skybox F5 stuck when I trying to connect to the Wifi. After waiting about 15 minutes, i plug turn off the power supply. After that nothing shows on the Skybox's screen, only got dimmer red LED.

You might have to reflash your firmware you will need a null modem cable and follow the instructions on this thread.

Rs232 tool for F5: 201303230709376560.rar

[thefreak]

My F3 box fugged up this morning i loaded aj new channel list, powered off then on now the screen is stuck on load and thats it no power off or on , no on screen action
i read this post from top to bottom and went ahead with the null modem repair and it wont connect all i get is synchronizing stb reset target
i'm using a genuine serial port and so far i have made three null cables one based on the first post pinouts with full handshake. second based on the reality of f3 internal connections 2-3,3-2, 5-5 third was breakout jumper board modded to include all possible connections and still no luck and each cable has been tested over 10 second increments upto 2 min then to 4 mins on each attempt i've used different ports different pc's different OS, win 7 vista and xp and still cannot get past sync stb
i've used different verions of the recovery software . erom_upgrade_8Mflash, Upgrade_PVR800 HD Tool, F3_X3_M3_Q3_RS232_UpgradeTool
so i am currently at my wits end on this one

[slugworth]

some loaders just have the loader files and not firmware.
Sounds like you are trying to load the loader .abs file instead of the firmware .abs

[kriss]

after hitting next i get a small box saying wrong filr i have followed instrutions to the letter thanks

[slugworth]

if getting stb error message
SWITCH BOX OF AT WALL (OR SWITCH ON BACK )
WHEN SYNC APEARS
SWICH BOX ON AND LEAVE ON (DONT DO SECOND RESET)
IM WRITING THIS AFTER RATERLING BRAIN FOR LAST 20MINS WONDERING WHY THIS MESSAGE WAS APPEARING

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT WORKS FOR YOU

CHEERS

TRIKY1984

stb error means using the wrong version of loader for the receiver or you are turning the receiver on too fast.
the loader gives you many minutes to turn the receiver on after hitting next.