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

[slugworth]

targus

you're right,i have an laptop with pin but the grafic schedule is broken,i have an other netbook acer machines who is a bastard netbook dont have support for pin conector and i dont want to lose even it with some experimental job ....so i wait for an friend with old pc so test my box....thanks all for info

on my netbook the only usb device that worked was an old targus pa070 interface that has serial parallel ps2 and keyboard connectors.

[slugworth]

my openbox s11 can't boot on after updated firmware. When I turn the power on the power light is still showing off. Please I need help. Thanks.

help started on page 1

[mycharlieboy67]

my openbox s11 can't boot on after updated firmware. When I turn the power on the power light is still showing off. Please I need help. Thanks.

[gerry4287]

re

but some people shouldn't be sticking their fingers into a pc or they will have a dead pc also and no way to tell us about it.I can't believe people only have one pc.I still have the 1st one I ever bought.

you're right,i have an laptop with pin but the grafic schedule is broken,i have an other netbook acer machines who is a bastard netbook dont have support for pin conector and i dont want to lose even it with some experimental job ....so i wait for an friend with old pc so test my box....thanks all for info

[slugworth]

but some people shouldn't be sticking their fingers into a pc or they will have a dead pc also and no way to tell us about it.I can't believe people only have one pc.I still have the 1st one I ever bought.

[Hadron]

Thanks for that i am not sure why people struggle with an RS232 even Motherboards available now still have the RS232/Com Port header on the board itself like mine they just did not come with the adaptor but these are easily obtainable for a few quid from ebay

Yep. Either look up the mainboard specs or open the case to see if you have the serial header.

Just had a look on ebay & Amazon. Cheapest at the moment is just ?2.02 on Amazon & ?2.31 on ebay (includes p&p!)

[digicon]

I think digicom was refering to tower or desktop pc's having the RS232 header connector on the mainboard rather than laptops/netbooks.

The symptoms of a bricked box are the same as that of one with a PSU fault, i.e. no display or power LED's. I had an S10 the other day with those symptoms. What I usually do is take the lid off & check that the 3 voltages from the PSU are there. Although I obviously wouldn't advise doing this unless you know what you are doing, as there is mains voltage on the PSU board.

Thanks for that i am not sure why people struggle with an RS232 even Motherboards available now still have the RS232/Com Port header on the board itself like mine they just did not come with the adaptor but these are easily obtainable for a few quid from ebay

[Hadron]

yes i will go to try null modem port on older,but how can i know my netbook acer machines have connector for externall rs232? do i open it? and you think my situation of skybox f3 is the same of other members or problem hardware? cause i'm afraid the not turn on power or a real signs power,tell he are problem hardware. thanks

I think digicon was refering to tower or desktop pc's having the RS232 header connector on the mainboard rather than laptops/netbooks.

The symptoms of a bricked box are the same as that of one with a PSU fault, i.e. no display or power LED's. I had an S10 the other day with those symptoms. What I usually do is take the lid off & check that the 3 voltages from the PSU are there. Although I obviously wouldn't advise doing this unless you know what you are doing, as there is mains voltage on the PSU board.

[slugworth]

people that kill their receivers should mention how they killed it,so that others won't do the same thing.

[jandial]

usb nul modem don't work,my situation....my skybox f3 was dead and dont turn on anymore,no signs,no led,nothing (i dont know if has an hardware problem or software problem so i ask who have the same problem,have you an skybox f3 with no turn on?) my skybox when i switch on related on TV with hdmi not have any signs so is problem of hardware?.... how can i know the firmware factory? so all people tell yes i got,i'm able to revive my skybox,please tell more details what type of problem and how you have solve.....there is my situation,anyone can tell me where is the problem,thanks....i will go to test it with null modem serial rs232 but i want to know if are problem hardware so i not go to spend for cable,i have spend 7 euro for rs232 null modem usb that not work....thanks again.

Hi mate. Just revived my f5 yesterday. Same symptoms as you described. I bought a female/female null modem cable and used it on an old dell pc running windows xp. I used the software on page 6 of this thread and my backup .abs file. If you don't have a backup of your image just download http://www.yojiatech.com/a/Support/D.../0128/282.html
Hope this helps ya...

[slugworth]

an old pc is usually even cheaper than that.
Find a friend with an old pc and try that.

[gerry4287]

Perhaps you would be better truing the Null modem lead on an older computer that has a hard wired RS232 port, It has been reported that USB to Serial adaptors do not work on some receivers.

Even newer PC's still have an on board connector to add an external RS232 also thats what i did the adaptor cost a little more than the Null modem lead itself

yes i will go to try null modem port on older,but how can i know my netbook acer machines have connector for externall rs232? do i open it? and you think my situation of skybox f3 is the same of other members or problem hardware? cause i'm afraid the not turn on power or a real signs power,tell he are problem hardware. thanks

[digicon]

usb nul modem don't work,my situation....my skybox f3 was dead and dont turn on anymore,no signs,no led,nothing (i dont know if has an hardware problem or software problem so i ask who have the same problem,have you an skybox f3 with no turn on?) my skybox when i switch on related on TV with hdmi not have any signs so is problem of hardware?.... how can i know the firmware factory? so all people tell yes i got,i'm able to revive my skybox,please tell more details what type of problem and how you have solve.....there is my situation,anyone can tell me where is the problem,thanks....i will go to test it with null modem serial rs232 but i want to know if are problem hardware so i not go to spend for cable,i have spend 7 euro for rs232 null modem usb that not work....thanks again.

Perhaps you would be better truing the Null modem lead on an older computer that has a hard wired RS232 port, It has been reported that USB to Serial adaptors do not work on some receivers.

Even newer PC's still have an on board connector to add an external RS232 also thats what i did the adaptor cost a little more than the Null modem lead itself

[gerry4287]

skybox f3

usb nul modem don't work,my situation....my skybox f3 was dead and dont turn on anymore,no signs,no led,nothing (i dont know if has an hardware problem or software problem so i ask who have the same problem,have you an skybox f3 with no turn on?) my skybox when i switch on related on TV with hdmi not have any signs so is problem of hardware?.... how can i know the firmware factory? so all people tell yes i got,i'm able to revive my skybox,please tell more details what type of problem and how you have solve.....there is my situation,anyone can tell me where is the problem,thanks....i will go to test it with null modem serial rs232 but i want to know if are problem hardware so i not go to spend for cable,i have spend 7 euro for rs232 null modem usb that not work....thanks again.

[amsterdam]

i think one of the main issues here is people havent explained that a 'NULL' cable is absolutely essential to perform this box flash. I used a cheap ebay (?1.67 delivered) usb-rs232 lead which claimed to have automatic handshaking so it should therefore have worked with any basic female rs232 female cable like a straight-wired one but it doesnt! The only way i could get the thing to flash the firmware was to make my own NULL cable out of the straight wired i bought..(i'm an electronics techy so have a soldering iron handy etc) but anyone else should just buy a female NULL cable.

As has already been mentioned; This box uses only 3 pins/wires to connect to your computer via rs232 but they link in NULL format which is 2-3, 3-2 & 5-5. Straight wired is obviously 2-2, 3-3 & 5-5 which is not compatible even if you are using an automatic handshaking usb lead with prolific IC, at least it didnt work in my case.

To connect to the box after only a couple attempts or first time you MUST use the correct cable as i was getting nowhere!

Also on these copy prolific cables if you are getting errors installing it's because you used windows server which won't work the driver and cable won't match, delete the cable in device manager, disable your internet and then re-insert the cable and install with the CD provided and it will work perfectly.

You are right,but when box not responding by same cabel as you say,then .
I use same cabel and other cabel made myself also, one dead skybox s11 responding well and get live back but other dead skybox s11 not rsponding and box has no problem with power supply
Regard