Satpros DSR500 - self-help support

[Anole]

Okay, some of us got a great deal on the Satpros DSR500 FTA receiver.
We have a manual, but no other official support.
I'd like to propose this thread for Questions and Answers to the use, operation, and setup of the receiver, including the editing software.

To prevent this thread turning into a giant 1000-post mess like what you see on AVSforum, I'd like to propose some guidelines:

proposed: #1). read the manual first.
If you still have a question, or if something doesn't seem to work as advertized, mention the section or page of the manual that's giving trouble.

proposed: #2). if you find something interesting or different from your other FTA receivers, post it here.
You might answer a future question before it is even asked.
Please mention the page or section of the manual for others, if relevant.

proposed: #3). we have other threads for posting that your unit just arrived.
Please don't tell us about it here.

proposed: #4). we have another thread for those wanting more units.
Please don't tell us about it here.

proposed: #5). if any of the moderators don't like this thread or suggestions, they will edit it.
Please re-read this list before posting.
I might change some of the suggestions, based on good info from members.

proposed: #6). if SatAV is kind enough to answer any question/problem in this thread, that's great.
Please do not direct any questions to him.

proposed: #7). I'm sure we'll have some first-time users, and I think we should answer those basic questions as well.
If someone has a switch or motor question not directly related to a problem with the Satpros, we have plenty of published threads to direct them to.
If it's a real Satpros-specific problem, then it belongs here.


Units should arrive with some members on Monday, the 12th of March.
Let the delight begin! :up

 

[ussexplroer]

Support

I have owned a satpros dsr-500 for a while now.

Edit software to add stuff:

Using a null modem cable between the computer and Receiver. Start software and press upload. Then turn the receiver power on. Using the main power switch in the back. If all goes well you will get a box that comes up to save a text file. Save the text file and now you can start to work on editing information. I have yet to download anything back to the receiver yet.

Card Slot:

As for the card slot. This was used for a paid porn service. I never confirmed this. Just what I was told. No way to do anything else with the card slot.


Additional Stuff:

There is a Orasat receiver that looks the same as the Satpros. I think it is orasat. Just cost more money. You can flash the firmware but then your remote stops working. The orasat and satpros uses different signals on the remote.

That is about it for now. they are a pretty simple receiver and I got mine for a great deal on ebay. To bad I missed out on the current deal. Wouldn't mind having another one.

Problems:

If you remove all the sats or change sats around or just add sats without another sat in the list. Then don't do a scan for channels. Sometimes it will lockup. At least my receiver does. So a quick power down solves the problem. Just have to remeber to do a channel scan. Also if you add a sat and do a channel scan. It can mess up your current channels in the reciever. One more thing I noticed. On the current firmware. When you turn the receiver on. It comes up and asks for what language. Another good reason not to use the new firmware. You be the judge.

 

[Mr Tony]

removed link to other site. Do not post links to hack sites

 

[ussexplroer]

Sorry about that

Sorry about the link. That was what I was told was the official site. Though when I looked it up months back. It did have all the makings of a hack site. So if anybody does find the website please post. I do know the original factory bin is around on other websites that I know are hack sites as well.



later,

Josh

 

[GreatFTA]

I had that same problem as far as finding the Satpros DSR 500s firmware. I downloaded what I thought was a factory bin but turned out to be one of the "hack" sites. It nearly missed up the DSR 500s but finally did find the actual factory software that restored the receiver. Give me a little time to find that software and I will post it.

 

[Anole]

software versions

I got mine powered up tonight.
That's all reported in another thread, but what is significant is the firmware revision.

The box comes with: ver 4.106, dated 14 Nov 2005
Now, that's just begging for an update.
I read somewhere you need a later version to get it to remember that you've turned off the password (default is: 0000)

Posted in the above thread, was this same version: 4.106
Not exactly inspiring.

The hacker sites had ver: 4.142, dated last week.
It almost looks like the official source of firmware is hack.
Sounds like it all comes out of the one place.
So, frankly, if 4.142 doesn't compromise normal FTA operation, I might give it a test run.

Many receivers ship with a diseqc switch and a programming cable.
This one didn't, so I won't be in a hurry to find/make/buy a cable and test the firmware.
But, given that we have the 4.106 around to restore, we do have options.

I'll look forward to any posts by other with better intel...

 

[Mr Tony]

The box comes with: ver 4.106, dated 14 Nov 2005
Now, that's just begging for an update.
I read somewhere you need a later version to get it to remember that you've turned off the password (default is: 0000)

everywhere I checked that is the factory software version. Heck my Pansat 1500 has software from June 05

 

[timmy1376]

Does this receiver have the chip that allows for blindscanning?

 

[SatelliteAV]

The receiver has a ST5518 chipset (same as a Fortec Ultra, Pansat 2500 /2700, and dozens of others). Yes, it is Blind Scan capable, but not coded for that function.

 

[ChuckBoozer]

The receiver has a ST5518 chipset (same as a Fortec Ultra, Pansat 2500 /2700, and dozens of others). Yes, it is Blind Scan capable, but not coded for that function.

What does that mean? Can it somehow be coded to allow that function?

 

[timmy1376]

Makes you wonder if someone was motivated if they could get this thing to blind scan.....

 

[ussexplroer]

I'll put in a ruquest

I'll put in a request on a msg board for the person who fixes things like faster channel turning. But as with most requests he is pretty busy and the #1 request he gets is well you know. But he does other requests. Maybe he will respond back with a answer.

Later,

Josh

 

[timmy1376]

I also wonder if this box is a clone of anything, meaning could we load a factory image on it that will blind scan?

 

[iafirebuff]

Well I been playing.....I have G10 all set up how I like it. Now to swap some cables. I am still VERY happy with this receiver! I wish I had bought 2!

 

[digiblur]

The channel editor deal is a little weird. It lists all the TP's in one list and you have to cross reference the SAT number with the TP. I'm trying to modify my list to the SATS that I can see and add the TP's I need.

 

[Anole]

clone & blind scan questions ?

The receiver has a ST5518 chipset (same as a Fortec Ultra, Pansat 2500 /2700, and dozens of others).
Yes, it is Blind Scan capable, but not coded for that function.

Well, in my reading, only one PCI card ever had blind scan capability, and that is a certain version of the Skystar.
What I read said blind scan was rare due to the use of particular tuner chip-sets.

The ST5518 is a CPU chip with -many- peripherials, which is the heart of a good number of older stand-alone satellite receivers, including Dish * and DirecTV.
The processing horsepower of a PCI card -could- put a ST5518 to shame, if that were a requirement.
...and yet, where are the blind-scan PCI or USB devices?


As for a question of who's a clone, I have run across references to the Orasat 5.0.
When reading the specs, they are written almost identically to the Satpros 500, with just one exception.
The Orasat has Svideo and Component Video outputs.
Oddly the cardslot (not very useful in north America) as well as exact memory size, and other features, are common on both.
There was one reference to a single release of firmware that ran on both models, but other research suggested the IR remote codes were different.
The latter -could- be propaganda; I have not tested the question.

However, neither unit claimed to be able to do Blind Scan.
So, there is little or no incentive to experiment with the Orasat firmware.


ussExplroer - by all means, do follow up on the blind scan question.
I've found a number of forums, one of which looks like where the Satpros firmware is released, but no -hint- that the releaser (or the guy who pays others to update it) would be interested in any non-hack feature.
I hope I'm wrong, but as best I can tell, the unit is on the market for one purpose, and we're not it.


*btw, the 5518 is used in the Dish family of PVRs: 501, 508, 510, and the 310.013 family (and possibly the 311).

______________________
Invacom SNH-031, Fortec 36", Satpros DSR500s, Twinhan 102g & USB StarBox I.
Thanks to Sadoun & SatelliteAV for good deals, and SatelliteGuys for good reviews.

 

[iafirebuff]

I hate to ask, but is there a "legit" site that has the firmware updates for the SatPros? Just curious if there is an update that has more current TP and Satellite info in it.

 

[Anole]

original factory bin file

I've done a lot of searching, and I'd have to say a resounding: no.
If I posted links to any of the sites I've located, they'd be removed by moderators for linking to hack-sites.
See my lengthy post #6, above.

The factory bin (same one on my receiver) is posted in the "I just ordered a DSR 500" thread.
On page 7, CharredPC provided the factory ver 4.106 firmware, dated 14 Nov 2005.

edit: well now that we have the factory bin here, I guess we are the only legit site with a copy.
....and just to be clear, so far as I can tell, all subsequent releases are for hack purposes..

 

[iafirebuff]

Thanks! I did a little searching, and all I found was hack sites. I will leave my firmware alone.

 

[digiblur]

Has anyone played with the channel editor yet?

The file format is odd...very odd...for satellite boxes. It's a fixed width human readable format. But I will warn you! If you make changes, only make a few at a time, then save it to a different filename, and open it with the satedit program to see if it gets any errors. It's very picky!