Reloading maps method
All one has to do is record 30 mins of the raw L-band input on a Digital Recording Oscilloscope that has a sufficient data rate and frequency capability.
We used the cable split from the main line that normally runs my rack of DVB/*Choice/SA equipment. It is DC blocked.
A EE friend of mine has already done this on his $13,000 Tektronix.
I had a spare 922 and we did a master reset on it and played back the 'Stream', and it restored the digital maps. They were from around June 2010 [that's when we experimented - you know when the voices said the 'Sky was Falling]. We did our experiment on G1-3 and toward the end of this 30 min record time I also got an online authorization hit from one of the providers. The recorded 'hit' did authorize the unit, but I doubt it will work in a different month, and/or when the 4096 emm is gone - especially if you have changed emm providers. I'm gonna try and p/u another low cost 922 soon and change the emm to Comcast on the 5th. Then try a MR on that one. May need a Auth. reset [6,7,7,8,0] to get the recorded maps to load. And then again the recorded maps may have calendar data encoded in them and it may not work at later date. We recorded and experimented [MR] all on the same day in June 2010. Keep in mind you need a robust pc of equipment to accurately record a raw input. It contains ALL the analog and digital data from 12 [or more] transponders. I'm pretty confident head-ends probably can do this. It takes less than 30 mins to load the maps, but you have to allow time to [possibly] manually tune a digital signal and achieve a lock, before it starts loading the maps. An hour w/b better, but as we recorded, we ran out of available memory.
What is really needed is someone with a computer based Oscilloscope [or a regular one with a way to export the file] so a recorded file can be produced and offered to people who need it. But then they would need a way to 'play' it back in it's original signal form, from which I can determine would only be an Oscilloscope or similar pricey instrument. Our attempt to transfer the recorded raw signal to a computer was unsuccessful. The computer based digital recorder programs apparently don't possess sufficient specs to save and/or replay the data. It has to be replayed at the original carrier frequency which is somewhere between 970 and 1430Mhz for the 922 to recognize it. And his Oscilloscope is an older one that doesn't have a memory stick or USB out. And he is not real pleased about having to 'hold' my file for ......who knows years? His is normally used to analyze circuits looking for transients signals that aren't supposed to be there. So you record for 'x' period of time, mark down when the circuit fails or does something unexpected, then review the traces looking for some clue of an extraneous signal at that time and then figure how to block/prevent it. Very handy looking for intermittent issues that you know are occurring, but haven't a clue why.
I've considered renting a modern one that's appropriate for this task, but that is VERY expensive I discovered.
Given all this, the best way is to be able to set the map parameters ourselves through 4Play or similar. Maybe a mail-in service? You send your unit in need of a MR to someone and they reload the maps for a price. That way everyone doesn't need an interface board/cable.
Gotta be a way.