Flash9200 - A software upgrade tool for the Humax 9200, 9150 and 9300.

Flash9200 has been tested on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Vista 64, Windows 7 (32 bit and 64 bit).

Prerequisites

You need a PC running some version of Windows, a serial port and a null modem cable. Some (older) computers will have a built in serial port but otherwise you will need a USB to serial converter. These are commonly available but one supplier of converters with support for recent Windows versions is Tronisoft (you will also need a null modem cable).

Click to download Flash9200v101

Update instructions

  1. Download Flash9200v101.zip. Extract the executable (Flash9200.exe) to a convenient location. Note that it is a single executable with no dlls.
  2. Download the correct hdf file for your PVR. The current version for the 9150 and 9300 can be obtained from the Humax web site Click for Humax download centre. I do not know where the Humax 9200 software version 1.00.23 can be downloaded from now as it appears to have been removed from the Humax web site; I can supply a copy via email on request (flash9200@tynecomp.co.uk). Earlier versions can be obtained from various sources on the web.
  3. Connect the PC and the Humax together via the serial cable. The update can be done in situ with the Humax connected to a TV and aerial or the Humax can be disconnected from the TV and aerial and moved to the PC if easier.
  4. Start the program by double clicking on it from Explorer or by setting up a desktop shortcut.
  5. Select the correct COM port. When the program starts it will probe the system and should only offer detected COM ports as options but not all are usable e.g. a built in modem will appear as a COM port. If you are using a USB to serial converter and are unsure as to which serial port it uses, start the program before plugging in the adapter. Note the available ports, plugin in the converter and press the "Recan serial ports" button; the converter port will be the additional port.
  6. Press the "Select HDF file" button and browse to the downloaded hdf file.
  7. Turn off the PVR at the mains.
  8. Press the "Start update" button in Flash9200.
  9. Within 30 seconds turn on the PVR. The transfer should start and take about three minutes. During this time the front panel on a 9200/9300 will show a slowly increasing count from L00 to L90.
  10. On a 9200 or 9300 you should then see a series of messages on the front panel display of the PVR (and the TV if connected). When the transfer is complete the PVR should display D00 to D90 (decompressing). The PVR will then display P00 to P90 (programming) NB do not turn off the PVR at this point. Finally the PVR will display END. At this point it should be turned off and then back on. A 9150 does not have a front panel display; instead the LED lights are used to indicate progress. During downloading the Standby LED is on and the TV LED flashes; during decompressing the Standby and TV LEDs are on and the Radio LED Flashes; during programming the Standby, TV and Radio LEDs are on and the Rec LED flashes; when the process is complete all LEDS are on steadily and the 9150 can be turned off and then back on.
  11. If there is a problem you may see error messages during the download. If the download fails, try again from step 3. If this fails then try setting the "slow" transfer rate radio button and trying again (the transfer in slow mode should take about six minutes). If this fails then try setting the "Very slow" transfer rate radio button and trying again (which could take twenty five minute). Finally if this fails then tick the debug box in Flash9200 and try again. This will probably fail but cut and paste the output into an email and send to flash9200@tynecomp.co.uk and I may be able to identify what is wrong.
  12. The commonest reasons for update failures are:
    1. Incorrect serial cable. A null modem serial cable has the wire connecting pin two at one end of the cable connected to pin three at the opposite end of the cable and similarly for pin three. A straight through cable or most gender changers will have pin two wired to pin two at the opposite end of the cable and this will not work.
    2. Incorrect version of device driver for USB to serial converter. This particularly affects Windows Vista and Windows 7 where the device drivers supplied with various converters, may install but not operate correctly. In this case try and identify the chip used in the converter and go to the chip manufacturers web site for the latest driver version. The easiest way to identify the USB chip manufacturer is with a free utility called USBDeview that can be downloaded from Click to download USBDEview together with a file of Manufacturer IDs that should be downloaded into the same directory. For Prolific based converters try Prolific web site (use "GUEST" for account and password), for Future Technology Devices International (FTDI) try FTDI web site, for WinChipHead (WCH) try WCH web site, for Magic Control Technology (MCT) try MCT download site
    3. This version also has a simple cable test utility. To use the cable test utility unplug the cable from the PVR and connect pins two and three of the RS-232 connector together (I use a bent paper clip Click for picture). Press the cable test button and start the test which will only take a second or two and will report success or failure.
    4. Serial port not enabled in BIOS if using a built in serial port rather than a USB to serial converter.
    5. In rare cases it has been known for the System ID of the Humax to be corrupt; this may cause E-ID or E-UT download failures. This can be checked by pressing Menu on the Humax and then selecting System>Status. The correct values are 9200T 3020.0000, 9150T 3024.0000 and 9300T 3023.0000. If they are not correct then contact Humax technical support who can supply a utility to fix the problem.
  13. If you have any other problems then please report them to flash9200@tynecomp.co.uk.

  Martin Liddle. Tynemouth Computer Services. Instructions updated 18th June 2010.