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

**Hadron** · 13th January, 2015, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by lex10

hi everyone new to this. just got an open box anyone knows where i can get hd channels clines. please pm me if you know something about this only got sd channels.

There are only a handful of non-FTA HD channels left (including BT sport 1 & 2, & ESPN)

Have a look here:-

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...pdates-415292/

**lex10** · 2nd February, 2015, 09:44 PM

hi mate thanks for the reply but the link is not working tried
it a few times no luck.

**Nutsandbolts** · 2nd February, 2015, 11:06 PM

You will need a motorized dish for lots of HD channels......or get yourself a receiver with IPTV function.

**Hadron** · 3rd February, 2015, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by lex10

hi mate thanks for the reply but the link is not working tried
it a few times no luck.

Hmm...it worked when I first posted it. It looks like all links to that page are now 404. Something must have moved.

Try this link:-

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...st-for-Updates-**

**miktang** · 2nd March, 2015, 12:54 AM

Hi everyone,
I have a skybox f3, sub ran out about 4 mths ago so it got turned off and put in a cupboard. last week I got it out and plugged it in hoping to set it back up again but it is dead... no power...no light on the front, nothing. ive gone through the steps on the first page and read through the thread, trying different loaders and .abs files, even ones for clones but everytime, all i get is set stb memory error. I have the rs-232 port on my desktop and a null modem cable and connecting them like this and i have used this cable with other boxes and it has worked fine before. I just want to no if anyone has got anywhere with this problem yet or has a solution or even a different angle on the matter... anything!!! Thanks in advance

**swingo** · 3rd March, 2015, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by jouhz56

I have a problem to upload a firmware by RS-232 : Synchronizing STBs... Please reset target!
you need to press the programme to start and only then plug in the power to the box and it will continue and d/load and flash the firmware

**miktang** · 3rd March, 2015, 10:10 PM

Hi,
Well i've tried a few more things and i am getting no where so i've decide to buy another psu for the unit so i hope this will sort it!

I'll post back once its arrived and fitted so you no what happened.

**DW190** · 3rd March, 2015, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by miktang

Hi,
Well i've tried a few more things and i am getting no where so i've decide to buy another psu for the unit so i hope this will sort it!

I'll post back once its arrived and fitted so you no what happened.

Open the box and look at the Caps (Small Cylinders) they should all be flat on the top. If one is rounded its blown like a fuse. Common on these boxes. Other things can cause a dead box like the front pcb panel.

**miktang** · 4th March, 2015, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by DW190

Open the box and look at the Caps (Small Cylinders) they should all be flat on the top. If one is rounded its blown like a fuse. Common on these boxes. Other things can cause a dead box like the front pcb panel.

Thanks DW190, i looked inside the box and on the psu board there is one that looks a lot more rounded on the top compared to the others which are all flat on top. Hopefully then my new psu should fix this...fingers crossed!

**Hadron** · 4th March, 2015, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by miktang

Thanks DW190, i looked inside the box and on the psu board there is one that looks a lot more rounded on the top compared to the others which are all flat on top. Hopefully then my new psu should fix this...fingers crossed!

Looks like a that domed capacitor is your problem. It's a pity you didn't look at it before buying another board. You could have repaired it for less than ?1.

If you don't know anyone that can repair it, you could get a few ? back by selling it on Ebay. Someone will buy it & repair it.

**miktang** · 5th March, 2015, 09:44 PM

Hi all
the replacement psu has arrived and has been fitted to the box and everything is back up and running!!!!

Originally Posted by Hadron

Looks like a that domed capacitor is your problem. It's a pity you didn't look at it before buying another board. You could have repaired it for less than ?1.

If you don't know anyone that can repair it, you could get a few ? back by selling it on Ebay. Someone will buy it & repair it.

I am going to look into buying the capacitor and repairing the old board and then sell it on.
I was in too much of a rush at first to get the box up and running but now its done i will have a go at repairing the old one!

**miktang** · 5th March, 2015, 09:46 PM

Thanks to all, the forums pull me through again!!!!

**slugworth** · 6th March, 2015, 12:44 AM

somebody once said there were bogus capacitors out in the market years ago that weren't up to spec.
The voltage rating wasn't what was printed on the cap,such as a 15v cap was only really rated for 12v so they failed after x amount of time.

**miktang** · 6th March, 2015, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by miktang

Hi all
the replacement psu has arrived and has been fitted to the box and everything is back up and running!!!!

I am going to look into buying the capacitor and repairing the old board and then sell it on.
I was in too much of a rush at first to get the box up and running but now its done i will have a go at repairing the old one!

Just in case anyone was interested, the capacitor that blew was 1000uf 10v and cost only 89p and took half hour desoldering old one and soldering new one on.