600HD pro meter

[Vipersan]

Hi friends..
Finally got round to investigating this meter ..the 600HD pro ..bought off ebay some months ago ..
It appears to work well ..and solidly built ..but as usual ..support is difficult to find..
What I need really is a UK database for it ..
Failing that ..
I'll have to create one..
It appears to come set up for someone living in Moscow.
At least the local sats stored would indicate that.
So It does have facility to dump the meters contents to usb ...which is a start.
I assume this file could be edited in the absence of a UK based database ..then uploaded back to the meter.
The format is (.ABS)..
Can anyone help with either links to suitable databases/support ?
If not the a suitable editor.
No software came with the meter ..so I assume its probably (hopefully) standard.
rgds

..btw the sticker on it would indicate it was made by ..or at least commissioned by..a company called 'Golden Media of Germany'
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

VS, I've found this link to what appears to a Golden Media site with downloads :

_http://www.cynextra.com/en/downloads/Software/

It may even be worth emailing them.

 

[Vipersan]

Thanks Pete ..
Couldn't see anything relevant to the meter ..so have emailed them.
Hope I get a reply.
...but I guess it depends on the company ..and if they only deal direct if you buy from them ..as opposed to ebay.
We shall see.
cheers
VS

 

[Vipersan]

..done some poking around ..and found that .abs and .dbs are not that different.
So ..from memory the S9HD uses an editor capable of opening a .dbs database.
Grabbed a copy from the net ..
Sadly its spanish only ..which isn't helping matters
but ..found that simply changing the file extension from .abs to .dbs ..then opening the downloaded database from the meter on the usb pen ..gives intelligable results.
So ..maybe this is the way to go.
I still await email reply from Golden Media ...in the meantime maybe the OpenboxS9HD editor is worth further investigation ..
Anyone got an English version they can upload ?
I poked around in the Spanish one ..but can't find a language option ..but then maybe there isn't one ..or I'm just thick ..as I don't read Spanish.
Anyone ?
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

[video=youtube;3IkFvNkclEw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IkFvNkclEw[/video]...More info ..
This meter is actually listed on the web ..and youtube as 'Openbox SF50'
So ..no wonder the Openbox S9HD editor opens the file ..
Still can't find a dedicated editor in English though ..
Apparently an editor does exist ...in Russian ..
Yep ..I can see how thats helpful..
It may also explain why the Only cities listed in this meters database ..internally and uneditable are St Petersburg and Moscow ..
The meter still thinks its on Russian soil ..
It is possible to edit Long and Lat for my location ..
But angle and elevation settings are useless ..as these are for St Petersbug and Moscow.
Why are they allowed to sell stuff on ebay with no backup..
Sometimes this Global Market fiasco ...is just that..
It must be possible to make these changes..
Someone did ...as it was made in China ....Sold through a German company ...and edited and setup in Russia..
Nice..
My brain hertz...
VS

 

[Vipersan]

Ok ...
It would appear the Russian Editor is the same 'Ali' Editor tweaked to include the Russian language ..
Scoured the net and came up with this version..
And Yes ..the original English editor is still in the zip..
Useful editor for ALL openbox variants including the transponder list downloaded from my 600HDpro/Openbox SF50.
I guess there is no way to change/add cities to the internals ..unless its possible to text edit the dump.
I'm guessing the export includes all aspects of the firmware ..including the transponder lists ...but in binary form so I'll leave well alone.
A linux variation ?
Anyway ..here is the editor ..which I've no doubt will be useful to anyone with an openbox of any kind ..
..and this one doesn't need the file extension changing ...
It directly reads .abs files selectable from the drop down list.
Its _something_ I guess ..but not a complete solution.
..but does make the meter more useable as I wont have to input all transponders through the bubble press membrane.
I can use a proper keyboard and upload once edited.
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

..I've discovered the jack socket next to the usb on the meter doubles up as not only AV (leads provided) ..but is also serial rs232.
I'm guessing a special lead (not provided) allows the Ali editor to dump the entire firmware from the meter to the PC ..
..and that this is how those cunning Russian chappies ..changed the meter to include only Russian cities ..
It will be an edited menu label ..not modifiable through usb and dumping the channel/transponder list.
I'm tempted to dig deeper ..but I'm in unknown territory..and could well Burger up the meter ..
Perhaps better left alone ..and pretend I live in St Petersburg.
cest la vie..
or
......это жизнь
comrade
VS