[Dear Viewer]

Can anyone with experience of this model clarify what must be done to apply this update to an Echostar T101.

Did a re-scan on a box at the end of September and, as some have also posted in other threads, only 2 Mux's had their channels placed in the right order - the rest were sent to the 800's.

I understand a software download intended to solve this is due next weekend from 10am on Friday 6th.

I could not see anything in its setup menu regarding how to accept software manually.

I know that for the box to be ready to accept the software update it has to be tuned to BBC One, or another BBC channel on the same Mux.

After that, will it be a case of an on screen notice directing us to accept and apply the software?

I realise this might be covered in other threads, but with the update imminent I thought it best to start a fresh thread.

[Bob A Job]

Alas, my T101 no longer tunes to any of the necessary BBC channels, not even in the 800's, so it won't grab the download. Catch 22.

If yours does, then these are the instructions :-

Google Docs

or PDF

or :-

Over the air download (OAD) instructions
1. To receive the OAD the set top box must be tuned to one of the following BBC
channels: BBC1 (1), BBC2 (2), BBC3 (7), CBBC (70) or BBC News (80).
2. When the set top box recognises that there is an OAD that applies to it, it will display
a menu form indicating that the OAD is available, and advising of the present system
version number and the new version available (version 1.10.0). It will invite the user
to accept the OAD. However, if the user declines, the box will not provide a normal
service until the OAD has been accepted.
3. When the opportunity to take the OAD has been accepted, a new menu form will
indicate that an OAD is in progress. The state of progress will be indicated on a bar at
the bottom of the form.
An initial amount of progress will be indicated as the process starts, and there will
then be a pause while the box synchronises with the beginning of the download data.
It may take some time for the progress bar to continue incrementing and this should
not cause concern.
If under unusual circumstances, the bar has not incremented further having waited for
30 minutes, the set top box can be briefly switched off at the mains supply and then
switched back on again.
The box will recognise that it was interrupted while doing an OAD. The user should
retry taking the download by following the prompts displayed on the screen.
4. When the progress bar begins incrementing again it will complete the download quite
quickly. At that point the box has not been updated but has had the new version of
software downloaded to it.
5. The box then needs to overwrite its operational software with the new version.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL THAT THE SET TOP BOX IS NOT SWITCHED OFF
DURING THIS OPERATION and a warning will be displayed on the screen indicating
that the box should not be switched off.
6. After updating its system software, the set top box will then go into a Stand By state.
The user should then bring it out of Stand By using the remote handset.
The box will display a Welcome screen and invite the user to press the OK button and
wait for services to be scanned. The scan will complete and the box will become
normally operational.
If at any time following a subsequent re-tune, the Guide is found to be fully populated
with “No Information” messages, switching the mains power off and back on will
restore the Guide information.

[Dear Viewer]

Thanks, Bob.

Do you still use your Echostar box?! I would say, in return for your advice.

Take the occasional leap of faith, and try and re-scan for those channels.

[CoolboyA]

Nothing is happening with our box yet... has anything happened with anyone else?

[Sandees50]

Originally Posted by CoolboyA

Nothing is happening with our box yet... has anything happened with anyone else?

Hi Coolboy, nothing is due to happen until the 6th November starting at 10:00am. Check on http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/download_schedule.php there are 2 downloads listed.

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by Dear Viewer

Can anyone with experience of this model clarify what must be done to apply this update to an Echostar T101.
.

First of all, the OAD will install System Version 1.7.11. It was the earlier OAD that was withdrawn that installed 1.10.0. That version worked for some but not others.

There is a note on the Echostar Europe web site that has been posted today. It suggests that the OAD will not be compatible with some boxes and in those cases the user will receive no prompts from the box.

All you have to do is tune to any of BBC1/2/News/etc

If your box will take the download because it is applicable, then shortly after tuning to the channel you will get a display telling you the OAD is available. It will tell you to press OK to take it.

If you don't want to take it, I suppose your only option to avoid it, is to steer clear of being nagged by BBC channels until the OAD is over. I can't imagine why anyone would not want it.

When you've pressed OK it will get on with doing the download which might take a bit of time. Then it will tell you to keep your hands off while it writes the download to flash. Then it will go into standby. All you do is use the remote to bring it out of standby. As long as it works it is painless and you really have nothing to do.

It will then put up a splash screen telling you to press OK to start a scan for services. There is an alternative however.

Everyone and his dog knows that there is a hidden manual tune menu. You can enter 17052002 slowly on the handset while the splash screen is being displayed to open the manual tune menu. Then you can select just the UHF channels you need to scan to get services from the transmitter of your choice. That should save you getting the DSO blues.

[3dom]

I have version 1.10.0 now so is v1.7.11 a new version? I'm a bit confused now after reading this.

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by 3dom

I have version 1.10.0 now so is v1.7.11 a new version? I'm a bit confused now after reading this.

Nothing to worry about. Your version (like mine) is okay and your box wouldn't want or need to take a download anyway. In my line, the assignment of version numbers doesn't have to go up and within limits can be chosen to affect some existing versions and exclude others. I suppose this is the same.

[Dear Viewer]

Latest update.

The box in my case has had a rescan post first stage Winter Hill - receiving all Winter Hill offerings and receivable alternates from Meol-Y-Parc.

Will hope that its owner will have tuned into a BBC channel at some point, and they'll get back the Winter Hill channels in their proper order, once we've accepted the download.

[Old Dude]

OAD playout started dead on time. Mine is working on it now.

[bromsman]

Mine has updated OK at 1005 now has 7day EPG and correct channel numbers. Top marks to Echostar for the support of thos old box

[pklong]

Just did mine, everything OK, had minor panic when the remote stopped working but it was just the batteries . It's now got a 7 day EPG and all channels working.

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

OAD playout started dead on time. Mine is working on it now.

45 minutes elapsed and no progress on the progress bar. I restarted as per instructions but it just told me there was an OAD for me and let me start again. Anyone had a success?

[dsmail]

Mine's prompted for the download, has been stuck on o% for 10 minutes and has a bid-up shopping channel showing behind the OAD screen. Better just wait.......

Dave

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by dsmail

Mine's prompted for the download, has been stuck on o% for 10 minutes and has a bid-up shopping channel showing behind the OAD screen. Better just wait.......

Dave

I don't understand that. It should be getting the OAD from the BBC, so there should be a BBC channel behind it.

[dsmail]

Yep - that's what I would have thought! I re-booted box and tried other BBC channels, but Bid TV still was showing in the background as no download progress was being made. Perhaps the box knows the download was interrupted and attempts to resume where it left off on reboot.
I know this OAD will not work on all 101 boxes, but as it's been offered, I thought it might go on to complete....mysterious!

Dave

[fred bare]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

I don't understand that. It should be getting the OAD from the BBC, so there should be a BBC channel behind it.

I have been getting the same problem. I have now retuned and removed the aerial after the BBC TV stations have been indicated. I hope the BBC stations will be allocated the "correct" channel numbers and so the download may happen without BidUp Tv getting in the way.

It looks promising - BBC1 remained in the background and downloading has started. Completed in a couple of minutes.

The box has switched itself off. On switch-on it has gone into a re-scan. I assume all is well. I will repost if not.

[fred bare]

Originally Posted by fred bare

I have been getting the same problem. I have now retuned and removed the aerial after the BBC TV stations have been indicated. I hope the BBC stations will be allocated the "correct" channel numbers and so the download may happen without BidUp Tv getting in the way.

It looks promising - BBC1 remained in the background and downloading has started. Completed in a couple of minutes.

The box has switched itself off. On switch-on it has gone into a re-scan. I assume all is well. I will repost if not.

All is now fine - better than new with the 7 day EPG etc.

[Old Dude]

Mine has just tried but reported the download had failed and said I should try again later. That is good news because it does mean it is working. I'll shove it in a different room on a different aerial. Things are a bit iffy after the DSO on the 4th.

Edit:
It worked okay after the retry and everything is fine.

When that splash screen came on I just entered 17052002 on the handset to get into the manual tune menu and then scanned just the channels for Winter Hill

[dsmail]

Originally Posted by fred bare

I have been getting the same problem. I have now retuned and removed the aerial after the BBC TV stations have been indicated. I hope the BBC stations will be allocated the "correct" channel numbers and so the download may happen without BidUp Tv getting in the way.

It looks promising - BBC1 remained in the background and downloading has started. Completed in a couple of minutes.

The box has switched itself off. On switch-on it has gone into a re-scan. I assume all is well. I will repost if not.

Worked for me! Great advice. Complete update with 7 day EPG. Hats off to Echostar for providing an update on relatively old gear.

Dave

[digitl]

Box has been on BBC1 all morning but no signs of an upgrade yet.

Echostar say that as it has a software version beyond 1.6.3 it will not upgrade over the air and will need to be returned to them at their Steeton address.

[CoolboyA]

We put our box on BBC1 and BBC2 around 2pm and nothing happened.

We really could do with this update as the box is a mess...

[Old Dude]

If your boxes are 1.7.5 or 1.7.6 then the OAD was not for you. Those boxes need to be returned to Echostar to be fixed. They pay the return postage and it costs about £2.50 ish to send them.

You can find the version by going into the technical info sub menu off the main menu.

[CoolboyA]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

If your boxes are 1.7.5 or 1.7.6 then the OAD was not for you. Those boxes need to be returned to Echostar to be fixed. They pay the return postage and it costs about £2.50 ish to send them.

You can find the version by going into the technical info sub menu off the main menu.

It's ok. We didn't a message but my Dad just did a rescan and after turning it off/on the box is perfect again I remember it cost me £60 when I got it... now you can buy them in Tesco on offer for £3 in some shops!

[lawrenson]

Hi,

just done ours, it seemed to download OK, but has been stuck on the same screen for about 15 minutes.

It says in big letters
"Warning - do not switch off receiver"

but it seems frozen.

Anyone any advice please?

Cheers,
karen