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How can the upgrade feature work? Are they generic or manufacturer specific?
How are they transmitted (if ever?)

--


--
John

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In article , john says...
How can the upgrade feature work? Are they generic or manufacturer specific?
How are they transmitted (if ever?)

Manufacturer specific transmitted over the air. Specific manufacturers
on specific dates.



--
Conor

Windows & Outlook/OE in particular, shipped with settings making them
as open to entry as a starlet in a porno. Steve B

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In message , john
wrote

How can the upgrade feature work?

Assuming Freeview,

Mostly, they are broadcast over the air in a certain time slot. Some
manufacturers have upgrades on their web sites which can be downloaded
and then sent to the box via the serial ports on your computer


Are they generic or manufacturer specific?

Manufacturer specific.

Some boxes need upgrading on a regular basis because they were not
properly designed/developed at the time of purchase.

Some boxes still work after 9 month without problems without upgrades :)

Some (older) boxes don't have the necessary electronics to be upgraded
for the latest features.

Sometimes an 'upgrade' will result in a worse performance from the box


How are they transmitted (if ever?)


If the manufacturer chooses to transmit an upgrade it will be over the
air from the same transmitter from where you obtain your TV signals.
Your set-up (aerial + box) will need reliable reception of the MUX on
which the upgrade is transmitted - often the MUX that includes BBC1.
You will need to leave your box in standby, typically for 15/30
minutes, at some time during the few days when the upgrade is being
transmitted..

The period between the upgrades slots from a manufacturer is often many
months - or never.

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

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On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:12:57 +0000, Alan
wrote:

In message , john
wrote

How can the upgrade feature work?

Assuming Freeview,

Mostly, they are broadcast over the air in a certain time slot. Some
manufacturers have upgrades on their web sites which can be downloaded
and then sent to the box via the serial ports on your computer

Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

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Scott wrote:
On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:12:57 +0000, Alan
wrote:

In message , john
wrote

How can the upgrade feature work?

Assuming Freeview,

Mostly, they are broadcast over the air in a certain time slot. Some
manufacturers have upgrades on their web sites which can be
downloaded and then sent to the box via the serial ports on your
computer

Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

Probably because it's a lot cheaper for them.
--
Adrian A

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Scott wrote:
Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

Cost and simplicity. There is not much circuitry or software required to
implement a serial port compared with a USB port, and USB is overkill
for downloading just a few hundreds of kilobytes of infrequent software
updates. If another purpose (uploading video, downloading MP3 & photos,
network connectivity) exists for it then fine...

--
Adrian C

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In message , Adrian
wrote
Scott wrote:
On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:12:57 +0000, Alan
wrote:

In message , john
wrote

How can the upgrade feature work?

Assuming Freeview,

Mostly, they are broadcast over the air in a certain time slot. Some
manufacturers have upgrades on their web sites which can be
downloaded and then sent to the box via the serial ports on your
computer

Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

Probably because it's a lot cheaper for them.

The 'S' in USB = Serial.

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

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"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Scott wrote:
Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

Cost and simplicity. There is not much circuitry or software required to
implement a serial port compared with a USB port, and USB is overkill for
downloading just a few hundreds of kilobytes of infrequent software
updates. If another purpose (uploading video, downloading MP3 & photos,
network connectivity) exists for it then fine...

So why does the Humax PVR 9200T have both, with only the serial port for
upgrades?

--
Max Demian

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On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 13:17:17 +0000, Alan
wrote:

In message , Adrian
wrote
Scott wrote:
On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:12:57 +0000, Alan
wrote:

In message , john
wrote

How can the upgrade feature work?

Assuming Freeview,

Mostly, they are broadcast over the air in a certain time slot. Some
manufacturers have upgrades on their web sites which can be
downloaded and then sent to the box via the serial ports on your
computer

Just as matter of interest, why do they use the serial port when USB
would be much more convenient?

Probably because it's a lot cheaper for them.

The 'S' in USB = Serial.

You win the prize for the least helpful reply. I think most non
technical users would think of serial port, paralllel port, USB port.
Granted, the post does say 'serial ports', which may have been a clue.

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Max Demian wrote:
"Adrian C" wrote in message
...

Scott wrote:
If another purpose (uploading video, downloading MP3 & photos,
network connectivity) exists for it then fine...


So why does the Humax PVR 9200T have both, with only the serial port for
upgrades?


Maybe cost and simplicity again? I could suggest that the serial
software functions and the USB functions are in different memory
locations on the product, and that the USB interface functions at a
higher OS running state (more busy) than the serial port - that,
probably supported through basic "BIOS/Bootstrap" like routines. This
would then avoid a problem where if the USB interface (and the whole
operating system) was in use for downloading an update, it would
reprogram/cripple itself midway in progress. Using the serial port would
be safer and could presumably rescue a device where the stored code for
the USB, OS and other software functions had been corrupted.

However, some devices (Netgem I-Player) DO do updates via the USB port
(or built in modem) - but in this case it's an online TCP/IP network
connection handled by an inbuilt embedded linux failsafe aware script.
Interesting to watch when it does it's stuff!!!

I could suggest other stuff... but I'll be eventually pontificating
fiction like Spiney, so I'll think I better shut up now...

;-)

--
Adrian C