Pansat 9500 Memory Loss

Hello all, for some unknown reason my Pansat 9500 will not save the time and channel setting when I power down. Example, I can set the time using the manual setting and be on a particular channel, say Bounce on 105.0W c-band, when I power down the receiver, the correct time is showing on the front display, when I power the receiver back on the time is changed to 10:58 am and the channel has changed to channel 1 in the "All Satellite" list which is a promo channel on Amazonas 1 on 61.0W ku. Has my memory chip gone bad or what? Any help will be appreciated.

mengram

I will be glad to dig my 9500 out and see what we can find about this. What firmware are you using? The time changes? What time was it when you turned the receiver OFF? Does it display 10:58AM everytime you turn the receiver on?

EB, I am running the lastest fw V.404. The time is whatever I set it at. I can set the time using GMT set to off, when I power the unit off it will keep the correct time until I power the unit up, then the time reverts to 10:58 am and the receiver is on the "All Satellite" channel list and the last channel in that list. This receiver has always stayed on the same channel between powering up/down. For ninstance, if it was on an ION channel on 103.0W when I powered it off, when I would turn it back on, it would still be on that same ION channel. So my question is why is it acting differently now?

mengram

My 9500 keeps the correct time when switching on/off, and it plays the same channel that i was on after coming out of standby.
Try reloading the last firmware through the RS232 port. See if doing that helps.

Thanks EB, I tried that and the pc and the stb connected but it gave me an error that stated, "stb memory error."

mengram

That error means the receiver and the loader program cannot communicate.

Verify the computer com port is set correctly for the loader program.
Use a null transfer cable. verify that the cable is null and that it is connected correctly to the receiver and the computer.
Use correct loading procedure:
1 Turn the receiver OFF using the rocker switch on back
2 Insert correct transfer file into the loader program and start the loading process
3 Turn the receiver ON using the rocker switch in back

I am having to use a USB/Serial Adapter because my old laptop with the actual serial port died (RIP), I am not to sure if it connecting properly. The PC has 32 ports to choose from, all of them but port 3 says "port failed." Port 3 will connect and not give the "port failed" error, but it gives the error message about STB memory error. I tried this procedure on the Pansat using it's recovery program and I also tried it on one of my Openbox S-9s using it's recovery program and got the same message. I think this adapter may be the problem, I bought it today at Office Depot, it's supposed to be compatible with Win 7, Vista, XP, and 2000. Can you recommend a serial port adapter that you know will work with this type of application? Thanks!

mengram

Have you looked in the computer's device manager to verify the serial adapter's com port?
There are drivers that need to be installed with most serial adapters. These drivers usually come with the adapter or they are available on the internet by searching.
You may also try reinstalling the serial adapter by plugging it into the computer, going into the computer's device manager
and uninstalling it. Then remove the serial adapter from the computer and the installation for the adapter will start again when it is plugged into the computer.

Another way to check the serial adapter for correct operation is to download and install the loader program for the Raptor. This loader program is very similar to the one designed for Pansat but it is more advanced and will check the com port connection for you when the loader program is started. It also has loading instructions which should be the same for the Pansat. Of course, the Raptor loader will not work on the Pansat, but it may be used to check your com port connection.

Also, Wndows 7 has been the hardest operating system for me on installing usb to serial devices. Windows XP has been about the easiest. If you are using windows 7, make sure that you have drivers that are made for this operating system. EB

Hey EB, I tried the Optibox loader program and it says, "Not Available Serial Port." So I guess the adapter I am using is not compatible with my pc or the null modem cable. I found a cable, from a company named Star Tech, that is a one piece USB to serial null modem cable. In the product description, it states that it supports Satellite Receivers, and is 6 ft long, I will probably give it a try.
Thanks for your input with my problem.

mengram

I finally got a USB/Serial Null Modem cable and reflashed the Pansat 9500 and all seems to be working well.(That was the easy part)
I must have corrupted my channel list trying to add the PR NBC @ 99.0W. I'm glad it was not the memory chip
Now I have to rescan all the sats (Thats the hard part)

Thanks to all who took time to read this thread and provide feedback

mengram

My experience is you cannot hurt the Ali receivers by doing file transfers or by loading bad firmware.
You can damage the receiver with voltage spikes or surges, such as lightning storms.
These receivers are a big improvement over what we had a few years ago. Older receivers usually needed a jtag when a bad file was loaded. Glad you had patience and got it going! EB