Upgrading your 9600 to DVB2000 by John Rainer

Last updated 20^th September 2001

 Thanks to Giorgio Cuccureddu for Italian translation at http://www.digital-sat.net/ (under Articoli)

Now in Russian - thanks to Jessica - see THIS PAGE

There is also a French translation of how to change the bootloader at http://www.multimania.com/dvb2000/boot1.html , together with much more Nokia and DVB2000 information off the main pages - thanks to Daniel.

1. Please note that DVB2000 is shareware and while not crippled, requires payment. Please send Uli your money! 

2. DVB2000 V2 BETAS DO NOT WORK WITH BOOTLOADER CI106.

3. The information on this page relates to using software called Transbox Pro or Edition by Mario Bohn. Transbox Pro, used for upgrading Nokias for the past few years, is now no longer available but the same functionality plus much more is provided by Transbox Edition. Existing registered Transbox Pro users can get an upgrade to the final Transbox Pro version from Mario's website for free or buy an upgrade to Edition from Satshop. The screengrabs shown are from the final Pro version, v2.0.3.0.6549, which is essentially a cut-down version of Edition, and is very different from earlier versions of Pro. If you have an old Pro version, you will find that the information on this page is not appropriate as the DVB2000 loading method it uses is very different to that in the final version. The Help information dates from older Pro versions and may or may not be relevant to Edition users.

4. Please do not mail me for information unless you are a registered Transbox user.

THE NOKIA TUNER

A cautionary note: Newer versions of some Nokia receivers have tuners whose autosearch capabilities are not fully functional - they will not automatically obtain the symbol rate for a transmission if it is not provided in the Network Information Table. This is not good news if you want to search for feeds! Channels will still be received ok if the parameters are known and entered exactly. If your 9600 came with v2.4 software or higher from new, you may be affected. Users of these receivers report that the auto option for SR in the advanced search menu of the Nokia software is disabled from new.

If the tuner contains the following lettering: DF1ST1173 Art. No: 55-50075-01, then it is a non-autosearch type. If it is marked NDT1006A and Art. No. 567009002 revB or similar, then it is OK. This can be determined without opening the box (thanks Lou and Stephan) - the tuner numbering is on a white label on the tuner can and is visible through the grille on the top of the receiver - it is the small metal box immediately behind the lnb input to the receiver. Please note the safety warning under 'Changing the Bootloader' below if you do remove the cover from the box - components inside can be at mains voltage even in standby!

See the two tuner types HERE

I know of at least one person who, after contacting Nokia to complain about the lack of autosearch on their new tuners and the discrepancy between the receiver's capabilities and the specification in the manual, got and accepted an offer of a replacement tuner from Nokia customer services. However, there are now very few of these tuners left.

CHANGING THE SOFTWARE

This may look complicated but it seems this way as I have tried to explain every step. In fact, it is all fairly straightforward. It invalidates your warranty and you may be left with a dead receiver, so be warned - I can't guarantee success and can take no responsibility for what may happen as a result of following these instructions! Current DVB2000 versions have vastly improved CI cam support but I am not a cam user and I cannot help with queries - look at the history file included with the current DVB2000 file for more information. This is a long page, which I may be splitting up, but the intention is that you print it out and have it as a paper manual, as it is not a good idea to run other programs while using Transbox Edition. This procedure assumes you have CI software already in the receiver, such as CI2.3, CI2.6 etc but TR5 and CIE users are also catered for.

Newer receivers have revised flash memory and may come with Bootloader CI107 rather than CI106. There have been several reports of problems loading DVB2000 with CI107 and I would not recommend trying it if you are a beginner - see the Help section for further information. These receivers can have the bootloader changed but it should be changed to B2.10uns rather than B2.00uns as this is compatible with the memory used. It is not clear whether Transbox Edition supports this change - see Mario's Transbox Page for details but your German needs to be good.

 1. Determine what bootloader you have in your 9600. Switch off the mains and switch on again (putting it into standby is not sufficient) - the bootloader will be displayed for a second or two. Blink and you miss it! It will probably be CI106 - if so, you do not need to upgrade the bootloader to run DVB2000 if you use Transbox Edition. However, another version, B2.00uns, is recommended for compatibility purposes for other serial software, such as DVBedit, Nokia Serial Download Server and Nokia Settings Editor. These programs are normally easier to use than Transbox Edition but cannot be used to change the software with CI106. The number displayed during a normal boot is the software version, not the bootloader version, and will show something like CI2.3, 2.6 or whatever. It is this software that you will be replacing with DVB2000. If your bootloader is CI107, beware - see above.

2. You cannot use the Nokia Serial Download server to install DVB2000 with bootloader CI106 (you can, though, if you install B2.00uns).

3. To install DVB2000, you need either a BDM interface, which plugs into a connector inside the 9600, together with some software (it replaces both the bootloader and software), or Transbox Edition, which only needs a serial connection and can load DVB2000 into a receiver that has the CI106 bootloader present. Transbox Edition can also upgrade the bootloader but you will need to open the 9600 to short a jumper first. Note, though, that there is a dodge to avoid this - see the 'Changing the Bootloader' section later. I've only experience of Transbox, so you will have to go elsewhere for BDM info. Only registered Transbox Edition versions can change the bootloader

4. Transbox Edition is obtainable at http://www.satshop.com/transbox.htm It is sent to you by email within a day or two - some people have reported the occasional delay, but chasing up seems to work eventually. The company accepts Visa online, American Express and Mastercard, but you may need faxed (or scanned and emailed jpg) proof of identity, such as a driving licence, passport etc owing to site losses from the use of fake cards. You will also need a null modem cable - check how it is wired - this info is in the Nokia Serial Download Server help file.

 A Null modem Cable consists of a cable with two D-sub female connectors.

The cable is intended to be connected between the PC's serial port ( 9 or 25 pin ) and the RS232 port ( 9 pin ) of the MediaMaster.

The cable should be configured in the following way:

5. So, you have the cable and you have Transbox Edition. All you need now is the software. The latest version of DVB2000 can be found at http://www.dominance.net/overflow You will also need a list of channels to download into the receiver once you have loaded DVB2000 into the receiver and some software to do this with. These are found at the Overflow site, (www.dominance.net/overflow), http://www.rehtec.com/ and also at http://sat-digital-tv.provider.com.pl/starte.htm in the Settings section. In the Utilities section of the last site you will find the software for downloading the settings list. I recommend DVB Settings Editor by Rod Hewitt.  DVBedit is now into v5 with many more features and the author asks for payment - well worth it. You will also come across v2.3 or v3 beta 11 - these may not be fully compatible with current DVB2000 versions

6. Run Transbox Edition and make sure it is configured properly - i.e. you have set the right com port in Options/Serial and set the Device box to 9600. To get English menus, click Einstellugen/Sprache/English. Right click on the Device: Mediamaster 9600 and then left-click the pop-up menu that appears. Make sure the settings in this dialog box match your receiver. Ignore the bootloader section for the time being - make sure its File Offset check box is clear, ditto for the Channel settings section. Right click on the Software section and choose Insert (or use the Edit menu). In the middle box of the dialog, navigate your way to the DVB2000.bin file you have downloaded and select it. In the left box of this dialog, give it a name. In the Offset section insert 000800 and click Save. You should now have whatever name you gave DVB2000 in the Software section and 000800 in the Offset section. The 000800 offset is only for use with bootloader CI106 (it is 000000 with B2.00uns) and is very important - your receiver may crash if this setting is incorrect. Check the Software File Offset checkbox. You are now ready to start! Wave goodbye to your warranty.

The dialog obtained by the Insert command. Write a suitable name in the left-hand box; use the button of the middle box to navigate to your chosen bin file.

This should be roughly what Transbox should display when set up to load DVB2000 with a CI106 bootloader. Note that the Bootloader and Channel Settings descriptions are irrelevant, provided the File Offset boxes are left unchecked.

This is the menu displayed after right-clicking on the Device window and left-clicking on the pop-up. Make sure your settings are correct - note that what's shown here may not be right for you. See Part 4 of the Help! Section below for some further advice on the Software version setting if it doesn't work at first.

 7. With the Nokia not connected to the mains supply, connect it to your PC with the serial cable, press Start and follow the on-screen instructions.

8.You should now have a new working receiver with around half a dozen example channels in it. Next, use DVB Settings Editor (note: also known as DVBedit) loaded with your chosen settings file. You can use Transbox itself to do this but I've never found it that friendly for doing this. There are other settings editors available, such as Nokia Settings Editor (NSE) and Setedit, but note that these may not work with bootloader CI106. With DVBedit, the procedure is straightforward and you can edit your channel list before you even put it in the receiver. The Settings file you have downloaded should have a dvb extension - click File\Open and navigate to wherever you have placed the downloaded dvb file. The list of channels are displayed as a mini spreadsheet and can be edited, deleted, copied, pasted etc. Look in wonder at them and ask yourself why Nokia couldn't be bothered to let their software do this. With the receiver on and booted, plug the null modem cable in and choose Serial/Send settings. There should be a TV onscreen message to confirm the settings are going in. Note that a couple of times with CI106, nothing happened until I disconnected and reconnected the null modem cable before starting a download. However, I've had no problems with B2.00uns and have left the cable permanently connected. You will see in the Serial menu a Firmware upgrade setting - this upgrades the software but do not use DVBedit to update the firmware if you have bootloader CI106 - your receiver will crash. You can, though, use the Read Settings command and get channels from the receiver, even in standby, edit them and send them back using Send Settings or save them to file. For the receiver to save settings sent to it, it must be booted.

9. After this, you should have a working receiver with hundreds of channels. Look smug and go and make yourself a coffee. If you can't get Transbox to work, do not despair - see below.

If you don't get anything in the Box Display, you can be 99% certain nothing is going into your receiver!

HELP! Nothing happens!

1. THE COMMONEST PROBLEM. Transbox aborts its download, and the receiver does not fully reboot, displaying Error 108. This once happened to me when I first used Transbox but another attempt loaded it ok - I probably had a wrong setting as I was testing some out. One person who had this fault emailed Mario Bohn, who gave some advice that solved the problem for him. Mario's English is not too good (not that I can talk - basic French is as far as I get) and the translation is roughly along these lines. Go to the 9600 Device option menu. Please change in this menu the software version. The CI bootloaders only allow serial access to software versions higher than the version for your software model. If the device shows Error 107, you have to set the right software model. If it shows Error 108, you have to increase the software version. After a successful download, set Transbox the software version to the right value, you can choose for the next download the old value in the Options menu again.

NB I think this means that if you see Error 107, you haven't chosen CI as the Software Model version in the Device Options menu, if you see Error 108, you have to increase the Software version setting just below this in the same menu. There are more explanations of 9600 Transbox error messages in the German help which are not in the English one

2. The port settings in win95/98 should be set (or rather, this is what works for me - I expect they're overridden by the software so they could be irrelevant) to bits per second of 19200 or 38400, data bits 8, parity none, stop bits one and flow control none. Note that if you are going to use DVBedit after you have loaded DVB2000, the speed set in DVBedit must match the speed shown in the DVB2000 menus (default 38400). Others and I have found that sometimes Transbox and other serial programs used for the Nokia do not seem to work on some PCs, particularly laptops, possibly due to the way serial port addressing is handled by these programs. The lesson to be learnt here is that if you're completely unsuccessful, even after trying these tips, try someone else's PC.

3. If nothing works at all, you may want to try overwriting all the memory with an image file. This procedure basically renews the existing bootloader and software. 

To make an image file, get the zip file from http://sat-digital-tv.provider.com.pl/stuff/sys_stan/ci26.zip You will need to create a single file from the three in this one, using the dos copy command. To create one file called ci26.bin, use copy /b file1.bin+file2.bin+file3.bin ci26.bin, substituting file1.bin etc with the actual names. To load it, right click the Software section in Transbox Pro, select Insert and navigate to your new ci26.bin file. Use only the Software section file offset box checked with an offset of 20800, leaving the bootloader and settings boxes blank. You will need to short a jumper in the receiver as you are replacing the bootloader and software all in one - see the next section for details on this and the safety warning! Once Transbox is set-up this way and the jumper shorted, load the image file as per 7 above. Make sure the receiver works, if it does, remove the jumper and you should now be able to download DVB2000. You could just load B2.00uns instead of renewing the existing software first, but the CI106/2.6 way involves only one file download which renews/resets all the software whereas B2.00uns and DVB2000 involves two file downloads. If there is a problem with your set-up, then you have double the chance of it going wrong.

4. Several people have recently reported problems with an endless Selftest/Error 108 cycle, which they could not resolve with the version of Transbox that they were using at the time. I do not think the Error 108 message is relevant in this case - the cycle is very rapid and it is not the same fault as in 1 above, when the download simply aborts and the receiver reboots ok. One user found that he could stop this by using the Nokia Serial Download Server to load CI2.6, after which Transbox worked ok to load DVB2000. NSDS has very simple step by step instructions - remember to use the 2.6 version that works with bootloader CI106 and that you cannot load DVB2000 with NSDS when you have bootloader CI106. I have just had one of the other receivers sent to me to try and get it running again. It did not work with NSDS, or even a BDM interface, according to the sender, but eventually I found a way that got it working. Using Transbox Pro, with 9600 settings and the software version set to 99 (I tried 1 to 12 then decided on something silly - don't know if this is relevant or not!), I tried to replace only the bootloader, with B2.00uns, as per instructions below. (All other attempts at software changes did not work). Several tries failed - serial access started then aborted with Error ??? onscreen. What worked eventually was going through the various Transbox connection stages with the receiver switched off, plugging in the receiver immediately after the last confirmation message, starting the transfer and disconnecting/re-connecting the serial cable before the time-out. I did this several times before I hit the right part of the self-test/error 108 cycle and the bootloader went in ok. After that, it was straightforward to load the software.

5. Transbox can be very sensitive to other programs running in the background - do not run other applications while using it. If you are still having problems and know your PC, press ctl-alt-del to see what is running and end anything that is not critical to Windows operation. Do not try this if you are at all unsure about what you are doing - ending the wrong program this way can cause windows to crash and possibly corrupt the registry with the result that your PC will not reboot!! Windows 98 users can try the system configuration utility in System Information, which will stop unwanted processes running at boot but again you have to know what you are doing.

6. CI107 users. This is the experience of DrizztSA. "I had to use Transbox Pro.I tried various options but the one that eventually worked (I think) was to first set the bootloader type to manual and 108. I first tried to load B2.10UnS bootloader which failed but got a box which would boot with the addition of TransBox Pro Turbo Downloader (this was seen as a scrolling Turbo Downloader 1.b). After various tries into loading B2.10UnS I gave Up. The box still had the TurboDownloader in it. So then I tried to load DVB2000 1.8.9. I set the firmware version to Manual and 10 with Hex 008000. Various tries and increasing the number 10 after each try eventually the download began. This was at around 1:00am in the morning so I'm a bit sketchy at what number I finally ended up with. However DVB2000 was in the Box with the original ci107 bootloader."

More info when it becomes available. This issue may be resolved with Transbox Edition but I have not had this confirmed.

Feedback on this section welcomed. Thanks Franco, Mario and Stephan.

TR5 Software Users

Joe  aged several years trying to change TR5 software with the old Transbox Pro, but current versions now have a special TR5 setting in the software menu and this should not be a problem.

Changing the Bootloader

Warning! This requires opening the case of the receiver and some internal components are at mains voltage when the unit is in standby. Ensure that the unit is not only switched off but also disconnected from the mains before touching anything inside. Do not switch power back on without the cover in place. For those of you who are nervous about this, Chachi has done this using a jumper glued to a straw and putting it through the grille in the top of the case without undoing anything. Make sure that the mains is disconnected if you do this and be prepared if the jumper drops off

1.DVB2000 seems to work fine with CI106, except for version 2 betas where the box will reboot. However, not all the software out there will be so happy. For example, DVBedit includes a firmware download function, as well as a Settings transfer facility. The firmware download function will not work with CI106 and will crash the receiver, so do not use it to upgrade to newer versions of DVB2000. The favoured bootloader is B2.00uns. It is obtainable at http://sat-digital-tv.provider.com.pl/starte.htm Transbox Edition will happily change the bootloader, but a jumper inside the 9600 must be shorted first, so the cover needs to be removed or use the straw trick mentioned above. The box screws are 'tamper-proof' torx types of two different sizes. You will either have to bodge them or get a set of torx screwdrivers from Maplins. The jumper is XP06, located on the mainboard by the tuner but may be in a different location in non-9600 Mediamasters. It is a simple two pin jumper and can be shorted with a standard PC circuit board jumper. If you haven't got one to hand, look on your PC's motherboard or soundcard to see if there is a unused one there - one that is connected to one pin only with one end free - i.e. it is only there in case it has to be used in the future. Make absolutely sure you're right about this!

2.Set up the Bootloader section of Transbox Edition with your downloaded file and give it an offset of 000000. Set up the DVB2000 file at the same time, but make sure the offset is set to zero, not 0800. If you do not load both files, you may get an error message about a missing file, so make sure both the bootloader and software checkboxes are ticked.. Keep the Device set to 9600 for the time being. Once the jumper is shorted, make sure the receiver is switched off at the mains, connect the serial cable, press start and follow the on-screen instructions. When complete and the receiver has rebooted, replace the jumper.

How the screen should look if you are loading B2.00uns.

3. Now B2.00uns is in the receiver, the Device setting in Transbox must be set to 9200. All future DVB2000 versions should be loaded with these 9200 settings. You can also use the firmware upgrade function of DVBEdit now, which is simpler than Transbox and does not need the power switched off to the receiver. Current DVB2000 versions may require a mains switch off and on at the end of the procedure, despite the program displaying 'the receiver will now reboot' at the end. You can also use Nokia Serial Download Server. The latter has simple step by step instructions and is available from Nokia or http://sat-digital-tv.provider.com.pl/starte.htm

DVB2000 tips

1. Tuning, courtesy of Rod Hewitt

To find a DVB compliant carrier, go to the Tuning menu, set the frequency to where you think the signal is and then set the FEC to Auto and SR to 0. Set the Acq BW to the approximate size of the carrier, make sure the Spec. Inv. is set to Auto and then leave it for a while. If there's a carrier, it'll lock. Pressing Status followed by OK will bring the exact parameters into the frontend menu. You then select Search to find the channels present on that frequency.

If Search doesn't reveal channels, go to the demux menu and set all the PIDs to 1FFF. Then press 0 and leave the receiver for a while. It'll stop on any PID where it finds a big enough stream, which is typically video.

Once a DVB complaint carrier has been locked and the frequency, symbol-rate and FEC are known, it's best to set the Spectrum Inversion function correctly. To do this, first make sure the frontend menu shows the freq/SR/FEC correctly and then toggle SLOWLY through the Spectrum Inversion options. The setting "Auto" will always give a lock, but for best performance of the frontend, try switching between Off and On until the signal lock is required.

Although the Spectrum Inversion option won't make that much difference to wide MCPC signals, it makes a HUGE difference to SCPC signals. As an example, the NBC digital SNG feeds on GE-1 Ku at 103 west take around 10 seconds to lock with Spectrum Inversion set to Auto. If set correctly to "On", the lock takes less than a second.

(The initial absence of a signal on the meter display does not mean there is no signal at that frequency -follow the steps above to see if there is anything there first - when it locks, the meter bar takes off!)

2. Remote button changes

Some of the 9600 remote buttons seem to be set to different functions than other Nokias. In addition, there are hex functions available in DVB2000. You may find that current versions have many more changes than are given here

3. NTSC

Some NTSC channels appear with the picture compressed in height and an intermittent flash every 20 seconds or so. Go to the Video Mpeg menu and change 6 and 7 from Pal to NTSC. The picture disappears for a second or two then comes back OK. If an NTSC message appears onscreen, go to the NTSC expert menu and set the osd to Off. Storing the channel with these settings avoids having to do this again and NTSC operation should be seamless. 

4. Settings updates

The settings lists can be huge but is easily edited. I don't use the radio channels, for example, so out they all go. If you can't receive sats at the arc extremes, or are out of footprint, delete them. Settings updates come out every few days and you can subscribe on the DVB2000 site to receive their new versions by email. I also use Comax's settings. In the time between updates, you may have added new channels yourself. If you've already chopped the channels that you don't want, you don't want to have to do this all over again and also lose the channels you've added, if you simply replace your existing settings with the new version. The easiest way is to open your existing settings in one DVBedit window and the new version in another. Resize them and place them alongside each other. You can now copy and paste between them. If you lose track of what you've updated for a satellite but want to keep everything else, copy a whole satellite's settings by holding down the Shift key and clicking the first and last in the list when selecting them. Worried you've got a load of duplicate channels for a satellite position? Select all the channels for a satellite and chose Edit/sort by frequency - this sorts the channels in just the selected group without affecting the others - duplicates should be plain as day then. Without DVBedit, try Nokia Settings Editor or Wolfgang Litzinger's Setedit, which can open two lists at once.

5. Other stuff

1. DVBEdit also has a satscan function which is extremely useful and V5 is quite sophisticated - see http://www.coolstf.com/dvbedit/ Some features currently do not work with v2 betas of DVB2000
2. Rod has also written a clear plain English guide on mpeg2 and digital receivers, which is well worth a look - see http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/index.html
3. There are now too many utilities available to list here - see http://sat-digital-tv.provider.com.pl/utilse.htm for more details and links to manuals.

Anyone wishing to copy large elements, or all, of this procedure on their website is welcome to do so, provided I have a credit!

Queries and suggestions to the author, John Rainer, at john.rainer@jrainer.demon.co.uk

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