Brand New Latest Official F5S/F3S Software Released:22/01/14

[bigade1]

Hi,

Skybox has released a new software to fix the issue of the box failing to record while in standby. This is the official software which can also be downloaded from the official Skybox website and it is for the F5S and the F3s only. This post has been updated because a newer version of the software was released 2 days later on the 22/01/14 and the older software withdrawn. The top attachment is the new software while the bottom one contains the latest Skybox PICON files ( 24/12/13 ) which adds a channel ident image to the Channel info display bar and the Epg.

Skybox release notes state:

• 1.Fix bug:Timer not work in standby mode.
  2.Add descriptor for timer event.

• 
  Enjoy!
• Regards,
• bigade1.

Any upgrade is done at the user's own risk but here's a short tutorial.
As always, first back up your original files before performing a software update. Using a USB stick that has been formatted to FAT32, enter the " Dump By USB " menu of your Skybox and first select the Image file ( which is your software backup ) and dump to the usb. Then change the image setting to miscellaneous files and select TP_PROG.dbs ( your channel list ) and CCcam.cfg ( your gift provider ) and dump these also. Make sure that you place a tick in each file you are dumping to usb by either selecting OK or the yellow button on your remote. Copy these files to a safe place on your PC. To upgrade, download the new software and extract it using the appropriate programme e.g. Winrar etc., then copy it to your usb stick. Once inserted, navigate to the " Upgrade By USB " menu option, select the image file, making sure it is ticked, do not alter any other settings and select upgrade. Wait for the upgrade process to finish and the box should reboot. If it does not reboot do it manually by powering off then on using the remote control. Then extract the PICON file and place the relevant .ics file for your satellite e.g. 0282E directly onto your USB or hard drive. Once this has been done using your remote control check and navigate through the relevant menus of your Skybox to ensure that the " Epg and Time Setting " is set to the default setting of " Internet ", the " XML TV Epg Setting " is set to " Automatic " ( you may prefer to do a manual download by pressing the red button for your first epg download ) and the " PICON view " setting is set to " On ".

[bigade1]

Observations so far:

Time display on my box and my EPG time is currently 2 minutes fast for some unexplained reason.

Scheduled my F5S box to do 2 recordings at 2 different times on 2 different channels. First recording was successful and the box went into standby after the recording finished but the second recording was only part successful as the box successfully came out of standby at the correct time then switched channel and started recording but returned to standby before the programme had finished. Admittedly it was only a 5 minute kids programme for test purposes and my box is 2 minutes fast. Nevertheless, this is a further step in the right direction and each consecutive software version is an improvement. I think perhaps a good idea for a future update if it is possible with the hardware limitations of these boxes is to change the behaviour of the box so that if it is switched on before a recording then the box remains on when the recording is finished. Similarly, if a box is in standby before a recording starts then it should remain in standby while the recording takes place unless switched on manually by the user. A definite thumbs up from me at the moment though.

[stewy101]

Thanks for the update....

[slobo2712]

just want to say .................. you skybox support because you abandoned F3 version,and continue to support f3s which is almost the same device....tnx

[Hadron]

just want to say ............... you skybox support because you abandoned F3 version,and continue to support f3s which is almost the same device....tnx

Well they haven't abandoned the F3 completely. There was an update just a few weeks ago to get You P0rn working again.

Hopefully they might update the F3 firmware with this timer update. (fingers crossed!).

[bobhope1]

first time i have updated the software

i am correct in saying i will need to re-enter other "details"?
If i update the channel list at the same time as i havemt done the latest channel list update yet, will i lose all my customised favourites?

[slobo2712]

Well they haven't abandoned the F3 completely. There was an update just a few weeks ago to get You P0rn working again.

Hopefully they might update the F3 firmware with this timer update. (fingers crossed!).

Yes they are abandoned comletly here are two private messages from user MemoPrince who sayin he's a skybox support.....

Sorry, We don't make PICON function for F3, F3S is available.
Do a purchasing in my shop, I can give u special gift for new mdl.
****************

i will try to talk to engineer if he can make NEW picon function on F3, because toooo much copy, so we stop support F3, now only F3S and F5S .AND A3 A5 A4 OR M5. u can visit on my webshop

[bigade1]

I think you're mistaken. As Hadron pointed out - Skybox has released a software update for the F3 approximately three weeks ago. As far as support is concerned Skybox is the official support portal for Skyboxes. What a lot of members fail to realise is that due to copyright reasons Skybox have had to rebrand their boxes for different European markets e.g. due to the Sky brand in the UK future boxes for that market will be known as Libertview. Similarly, due to the Sky Italia brand in Italy and some other countries the boxes are rebranded to Memobox. They are identical in build with the only difference being the startup logos on the boxes. More importantly, both of these rebrands have their own official websites which can be found with a bit of research and they in turn are run by Skybox albeit they may not be as up-to-date with their software downloads. When the software is placed on these sites they are identical to the Skybox software but as I stated previously using a different start up image so unless you have that particular brand there is nothing to be gained by using that particular software. The site that you have linked to is merely a seller site run by the member that you named and is not the official Memobox site and furthermore I believe that while the seller is implying that he is responsible for the software releases I personally doubt that very much. His only connection to the official Memobox site that I can see is that of being an authorized reseller.

[bbb_uk]

I think perhaps a good idea for a future update if it is possible with the hardware limitations of these boxes is to change the behaviour of the box so that if it is switched on before a recording then the box remains on when the recording is finished.

That wouldn't be a hardware limitation more likely not thought of in the firmware as all they would have to do is store the state of the box (ie standby or on) before recording and return to that state after.

Similarly, if a box is in standby before a recording starts then it should remain in standby while the recording takes place unless switched on manually by the user.

The problem with that is it they would have to write into the firmware to display a warning message (and this not be recorded) if the box is turned on whilst it's recording.

A definite thumbs up from me at the moment though.

I agree definately an overall improvement.

[slobo2712]

I think you're mistaken. As Hadron pointed out - Skybox has released a software update for the F3 approximately three weeks ago. As far as support is concerned Skybox is the official support portal for Skyboxes. What a lot of members fail to realise is that due to copyright reasons Skybox have had to rebrand their boxes for different European markets e.g. due to the Sky brand in the UK future boxes for that market will be known as Libertview. Similarly, due to the Sky Italia brand in Italy and some other countries the boxes are rebranded to Memobox. They are identical in build with the only difference being the startup logos on the boxes. More importantly, both of these rebrands have their own official websites which can be found with a bit of research and they in turn are run by Skybox albeit they may not be as up-to-date with their software downloads. When the software is placed on these sites they are identical to the Skybox software but as I stated previously using a different start up image so unless you have that particular brand there is nothing to be gained by using that particular software. The site that you have linked to is merely a seller site run by the member that you named and is not the official Memobox site and furthermore I believe that what the seller is implying is that he is responsible for the software while the fact is that he is not. His site has no connection to the official Memobox site whatsoever.

I would like that you're right but,you will see there will not be any important updates for F3 except maybe fixing you p0rn....

[bigade1]

I would like that you're right but,you will see there will not be any important updates for F3 except maybe fixing you p0rn....

I agree that future support for the older models may be limited without any real major changes so as to push the sales of newer models but I would be hopeful that they would still support the older models with regards to any bugfixes. Small consolation, I know.

[johnski]

any other reviews on the update?

[svesh]

reboots on changing to encrypted channel. previous firmware was working fine.

[bbb_uk]

reboots on changing to encrypted channel. previous firmware was working fine.

I don't have that issue.

I, prior to firmware update, deleted all channels and restored to defaults before applying new firmware and choose no to NOT keep dbs info when flashing. I then restored back to defaults and proceeded to add other things back like channels, etc.

Remember to always have a backup of everything you need first.

[oganly]

reboots on changing to encrypted channel. previous firmware was working fine.

I had the exact same problem. I ended up returning the box to Factory Settings and reinstalling the updates until immediately prior this update