Hi All (another newbie)

diver1

Hi,
Just ordered a DM800 HD PVR. (awaiting delivery) I have installed a ethernet cable and all ready for connection.
I have read the various sticky's relating to 'set up', however I am a complete novice at this and would appreciate any advice.

What is the diference between images Gemini and Nabilo Black Hole ? (are there others)
Which should I use?
Is there a 'Set up guide' specific to the 800?
Do I need a USB Stick (my existing box is a Technomate 1600 where I used a Nul Modem cable to programme new keys/software)
My current set up incorporates a motorised dish.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry if some of my questions are basic, but I do need a basic 'step-by -step' guide.

Best Regards,

John

DanGlee

I'm on day one of the DM800 and already froze it. Need an RS232 / Serial Null modem cable to fix it by the looks of it.

So one thing I would suggest is be careful and try and get your hands on an RS232 cable!

Good luck!

andel

My advice is take it one step at a time. You only need an ethernet connection to upload an image to the dm800.
As for which image to choose, its all about personnel preference. A lot on peole seem to use the nabilosat BH images but its up to you

Follow this and you'll be fine Flash Your DM800 - The Easy Way

DanGlee

Sorry, but I followed that guide and it froze the box!!!

andel

is it an original or clone box?
what image were you attempting to install?

cs91044

What is the diference between images Gemini and Nabilo Black Hole ? (are there others) Which should I use? Dont use Gemini they have used tactics to blowout clone dreamboxes so they should not be trusted anymore. Nabilo Blackhole 0.12 is a really nice interface and very stable

Is there a 'Set up guide' specific to the 800? yes there are a few around but the image contains everything you need to get upo and runing except the settings which can easily be downloaded
Do I need a USB Stick (my existing box is a Technomate 1600 where I used a Nul Modem cable to programme new keys/software) no you can directly download to the box
My current set up incorporates a motorised dish. dreamboxes cater for motorised dishes however if its actutor driven you will need to move it with your technomate if its diseqc the dreambox will move it

Is the box genuine or clone if its clone image needs to be modified prior to loading

Get yourself a null modem cable rs232 essential for the 800 as they are not recoverable over the network if the crash

The best way to image your box is via both the null modem cable and network cable using dreamup v1.3.3 basically dreamup talks to the box over the null modem cable cable whilst using the fast network cable to flash the box

Happy dreaming

diver1

Hi Guy's
Thank you all for your replys.
In answer to some of your questions :-
1)Yes - I have a null modem cable
2)My dish motor supports diseqc
3)Not sure if my box is a clone or not (forget to ask when I agreed to buy privately)- should have read some of the posts on the forum first!!!!!!!!!

cs91044 said :-
"The best way to image your box is via both the null modem cable and network cable using dreamup v1.3.3 basically dreamup talks to the box over the null modem cable cable whilst using the fast network cable to flash the box"


Sorry if this is a silly question, (only have experience with a Technomate 1600) but is the 'dreamup' a loader for the software and used to update the box via the nul modem cable?
I have some other questions with regard to the use of the Dreambox, however, they are probably not allowed to be aired on this forum.

Once again, thank you for all your replies, and I look forward to 'having a play' when my box finally arrives (just concerned that I don't do anything to brick the box)

Best Regards,

John

B16MCC

yes DreamUp is a Windows only based loader program for the entire Dreambox range. Its notoriously buggy !! Connect your DM800 to your home lan and flash via the web interface its by far the best and easiest way to do it. You will spend ages fighting with DreamUp and you don't even need it .

diver1

Hi B16MCC,
Thank you for your reply.
The box has now arrived and I am trying to load the Sats' as described in the manual-------without success.
can you advise me ? ----Using Usals, when I load my lat /long my long is minus i.e. -2.38. Do I need to enter the minus character (-) or just the number?
Is there an idiots guide to load sat's ? I am struggling at the moment.

Regards,

John

B16MCC

if you have a minus value then enter it as normal, no plus or minus and just change it from east to west !

You don't 'Load' sats as such, using usals you simply enter the values and thats it. The motor will know where to go to.

totalacedude

depending on where you bought it from it might come with an image on
(prob gemini)
before you go changing things id get a grip with doing the basics first like programming in ur sats and cahnnels, otherwise ull be looking at a nice menu screen and not be seeing anything with ur new box for a while, as it takes soooo long to get to grips with!!!

once uve got used to that have a go with installing keys etc etc mayb evn cardsharing


have fun

cs91044

Agreed its by far the easiest way to flash a box but if you trash the bootloder you aint going to get an ip address on the box to connect via the lan

thats where dreamup comes to the rescue

tomthebomb1968

to setup your box for usals do the following
MENU/SETUP/SERVICE SEARCHING/TUNER CONFIG/PRESS OK ON CHOOSE TUNER SCREEN.

CONFIG MODE/CHOOSE SIMPLE BY TOGGLING LEFT/RIGHT
MODE/POSITIONER
LONGITUDE/TYPE IN YOUR LONGTITUDE
EAST/WEST /TOGGLE
LATITUDE/TYPE IN YOUR LAT
NORTH


If you dish is set correct and your coordinates are right the above will work.

Eek!

I'd recommend...

-satsig.net to work out your co-ordinates
-wired ethernet for upgrading images
-a package like "likra rotor" with all the sats and channel lists
-DreamboxEdit for organising your bouquets and channel lists
-Dreambox Control Centre for ftp and telnet access, editing config files...
-Nabilosat Blackhole Image - just seems to work better than Gemini for me - keys, epg, CCcam.. But everyone has their own favourite.
-I've stuck a heatsink and a fan in the case. Probably not necessary.

If it was cheap, it's probably a clone. Newer images (specifically the boot loader that comes wth them) will brick your box. Be careful!

It's driven me absolutely nuts sometimes but they're great bits of kit.

Enjoy it.

diver1

Hi All,
Many thanks to all that replied.
I am stll trying to 'get agrip' of the 800 with mixed results---------I will keep reading and trying.

Best Regards,

John