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
- Download Flash9200v101.zip. Extract the
executable (Flash9200.exe) to a convenient location. Note that
it is a single executable with no dlls.
- 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.
- 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.
- Start the program by double clicking on
it from Explorer or by setting up a desktop shortcut.
- 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.
- Press the "Select HDF file"
button and browse to the downloaded hdf file.
- Turn off the PVR at the mains.
- Press the "Start update" button
in Flash9200.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The commonest reasons for update failures
are:
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Serial port not enabled in BIOS if using
a built in serial port rather than a USB to serial converter.
- 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.
- 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.