Diamond 9000HD question for those with 1.31p

[SpiffWilkie]

So, I have the eyepatch gang software on my box and I know that I can't go back to factory without sound loss (But I knew that when I bought it, so no big deal). I was trying to record a show for the first time tonight with no luck. I have a fat32 formatted drive and when I plug it in, the receiver recognizes it. When I hit the record button, the time line thing pops up, but the thing doesn't record. I can stop the recording, but when I go to see if it's there...nothing. I hooked it up to the computer and I see "hoppy drive" with the "records" folder but the drive is blank.
Also, when I stop a recording (that really isn't recording!) the screen goes black and I can't get video back unless I turn the box off and back on.
One more thing is that I can't change the volume when the recording is going. Is that normal?
If I can't get the PVR function to work, it's no biggie. Just wanted to see if anyone had some workarounds.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

Well, I know it's definitely the firmware. I loaded up the factory just to check and all the record features work flawlessly.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

Is 1.04 the only factory software available? Is there an earlier version?

 

[SpiffWilkie]

O.k. one more post from me. There is sound. I just can't hear it
I recorded a snippet of a show and when I played it back (after reinstalling the hack firmware) the sound was there.

 

[techno935]

As for you're issue, I feel for you. There is a previous review thread on the Diamond 9000. I'm hearing mixed reviews.

I'm surprised there has been no fix for this receiver from the eye patch gang. You would think they would be all over this one but they probably have bigger fish to fry.

This is why I'm very skeptical in the 1st place on buying a stand-alone hi-def FTA receiver. I'm leaning more and more towards a HTPC. (home theater PC)

I can't see any reason to do otherwise. It's just a matter of what you wanna spend.

 

[Lak7]

Is 1.04 the only factory software available? Is there an earlier version?

The units shipped with version "0.04" which had a ton of bugs.
1.04 was the only factory release
All the hackware for the Diamond comes from the Euro versions of the Diamond, that's why the sound does not work. The Euro versions had an issue with sound, and "somebody" tried to fix it.

 

[B.J.]

So, I have the eyepatch gang software on my box and I know that I can't go back to factory without sound loss (But I knew that when I bought it, so no big deal). I was trying to record a show for the first time tonight with no luck. I have a fat32 formatted drive and when I plug it in, the receiver recognizes it. When I hit the record button, the time line thing pops up, but the thing doesn't record. I can stop the recording, but when I go to see if it's there...nothing. I hooked it up to the computer and I see "hoppy drive" with the "records" folder but the drive is blank.

I haven't noticed this problem at all. My 9000 records OK, at least on OTA and SD and medium bitrate HD. It will NOT record high bitrate HD, like the 32362/30000 type SRs. It tries, but apparently it just isn't fast enough, and gets all bogged down. I mainly use mine for recording OTA HD stuff, and it works very well for that. I'm not sure though if I've ever tried just hitting the record button. What I generally do is do a timed recording, which brings up another annoyance since the real time clock won't hold it's setting in this thing, and I have to set the time in it about every other time I use it.

Also, when I stop a recording (that really isn't recording!) the screen goes black and I can't get video back unless I turn the box off and back on.

Have never seen that either, except again when trying to record high bitrate stuff.

Well, I know it's definitely the firmware. I loaded up the factory just to check and all the record features work flawlessly.

.....

O.k. one more post from me. There is sound. I just can't hear it
I recorded a snippet of a show and when I played it back (after reinstalling the hack firmware) the sound was there.

Well this is good news to me, because it means that I could extract the recordings to the PC, and play them back by other means.

I'm curious though, when using the factory firmware, was the sound gone for OTA ATSC too, or just satellite stuff? I also wonder if it is out for all the various output ports, ie the HDMI, RCA, spdif (I think it has this). Seems like there MUST be a workaround for this thing.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

I didn't try any OTA stuff. I don't have my antenna hooked up at the moment as I'm still using tivo for all my non-satellite recording needs. I only tried the RCA connectors as well. I'll try the optical if I can find my cables. If an external decoder would work, that would be awesome.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

As for you're issue, I feel for you. There is a previous review thread on the Diamond 9000. I'm hearing mixed reviews.

I'm surprised there has been no fix for this receiver from the eye patch gang. You would think they would be all over this one but they probably have bigger fish to fry.

This is why I'm very skeptical in the 1st place on buying a stand-alone hi-def FTA receiver. I'm leaning more and more towards a HTPC. (home theater PC)

I can't see any reason to do otherwise. It's just a matter of what you wanna spend.

That's actually the way I'm going. I need to do some research, but a PC would be the ideal solution for me. But, for the price I paid for my receiver, I can't complain. I knew what I was getting into when I purchased it. I really don't have much to complain about otherwise. The stuttering that has been reported doesn't seem to happen too much. All-in-all, I'm pleased.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

I assume all the audio outputs are dead when other software is reinstalled. I tried the optical route and it's a no-go. Perhaps the 1.31p overwrites a part of the chip that isn't meant to be written to and when the original software is reinstalled, it's missing that portion. I say that due to the size difference between the factory software and the previous hackware when compared to 1.31p.
But I'm not expert.

 

[Lak7]

Perhaps the 1.31p overwrites a part of the chip that isn't meant to be written to and when the original software is reinstalled......

I believe so.
If you decompress the firm ware, and compare 131P to say 125P, you will see an extra hidden file at the end of 131. If you decompress that, from what I can read, it has to do with sound.
The Euro boxes had the same issue, but they made a "cleaner" file. DO NOT attempt to load the "cleaner" file on the Diamond, it will fry the box. I already tried.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

What type of compression do these files use?

 

[Lak7]

WARNING:
Do not try to edit and load, you will need the proper cable to upload Factory Firmware via RS232 and that does not always work!

Compression is "LH5"(aka LHA) the program "7 - Zip" can decompress it.
You have to remove the Firmware "header" first, then decompress.
The "header" ends 2 places before "-lh5....."
Would look like: "..-lh5-........."
See Pic

 

[SpiffWilkie]

WARNING:
Do not try to edit and load, you will need the proper cable to upload Factory Firmware via RS232 and that does not always work!

Compression is "LH5"(aka LHA) the program "7 - Zip" can decompress it.
You have to remove the Firmware "header" first, then decompress.
The "header" ends 2 places before "-lh5....."
Would look like: "..-lh5-........."
See Pic

Thanks, as you can tell I'm not too experienced in this. Java is my only programming experience.


And the warnings are needed .

 

[SpiffWilkie]

I believe so.
If you decompress the firm ware, and compare 131P to say 125P, you will see an extra hidden file at the end of 131. If you decompress that, from what I can read, it has to do with sound.
The Euro boxes had the same issue, but they made a "cleaner" file. DO NOT attempt to load the "cleaner" file on the Diamond, it will fry the box. I already tried.

Were you able to recover your box, or is it a permanent brick?

 

[Lak7]

I have 1 that's a brick, tried to use the "Cleaner File". I was foolish thinking that a "P" version would fix some of the short comings, like DVB-S2 entry via remote.

 

[1captain]

Is 1.04 the only factory software available? Is there an earlier version?

Yes their was a 1.00 dated Aug-22 2007, an 1 of my receivers has the 1.00 on it an the other receiver has the 1.04 on it. an the 1.00 seems to work a little better than the 1.04. but the 1.04 is the only file that I have seen on the Diamond web site.