Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar? If
so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?

Thanks,
John
jls667@yahoo.com

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

John wrote:

> The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
> problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
> loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar?
> If so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
>
> Thanks,
> John
> jls667@yahoo.com

Replace the battery every 10 years or earlier. To make that easier, replace
the existing battery with a battery holder and, of course, a battery that
fits in the holder. That way you can change the battery at some future date
more easily. If you solder the battery holder in parallel with the existing
battery and then have the battery prepared for immediate insertion into the
holder, you should then be able to pop in the new battery immediately after
cutting the leads of the existing battery. Be sure that the new battery is
good prior to attempting this and don't forget to insert the battery
properly. You shouldn't lose anything if this is done quickly but I won't
guarantee that. I've done this procedure on my VC II board without any
problem. So, it should work on the Digicipher board also.

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

I am not sure if I have the guts. It's not the soldering I am worried
about. I would hate to need another new board.


<johnny@n0sq.net> wrote in message
news:xppEc.18325$w07.16132@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> John wrote:
>
> > The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the
only
> > problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
> > loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar?
> > If so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > John
> > jls667@yahoo.com
>
> Replace the battery every 10 years or earlier. To make that easier,
replace
> the existing battery with a battery holder and, of course, a battery that
> fits in the holder. That way you can change the battery at some future
date
> more easily. If you solder the battery holder in parallel with the
existing
> battery and then have the battery prepared for immediate insertion into
the
> holder, you should then be able to pop in the new battery immediately
after
> cutting the leads of the existing battery. Be sure that the new battery is
> good prior to attempting this and don't forget to insert the battery
> properly. You shouldn't lose anything if this is done quickly but I won't
> guarantee that. I've done this procedure on my VC II board without any
> problem. So, it should work on the Digicipher board also.
>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

Its not that hard. Solder a new battery in parallel with the old one and
snip out the old one Above the solder joints you just made. So for a short
time you will have 2 in parallel, then when you cut the old one the new one
will be still there.

"John" <jls667@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:RApEc.47410$OT6.19146377@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> I am not sure if I have the guts. It's not the soldering I am worried
> about. I would hate to need another new board.
>
>
> <johnny@n0sq.net> wrote in message
> news:xppEc.18325$w07.16132@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > John wrote:
> >
> > > The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the
> only
> > > problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes,
it
> > > loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds
familiar?
> > > If so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > John
> > > jls667@yahoo.com
> >
> > Replace the battery every 10 years or earlier. To make that easier,
> replace
> > the existing battery with a battery holder and, of course, a battery
that
> > fits in the holder. That way you can change the battery at some future
> date
> > more easily. If you solder the battery holder in parallel with the
> existing
> > battery and then have the battery prepared for immediate insertion into
> the
> > holder, you should then be able to pop in the new battery immediately
> after
> > cutting the leads of the existing battery. Be sure that the new battery
is
> > good prior to attempting this and don't forget to insert the battery
> > properly. You shouldn't lose anything if this is done quickly but I
won't
> > guarantee that. I've done this procedure on my VC II board without any
> > problem. So, it should work on the Digicipher board also.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:12:23 GMT, "John" <jls667@yahoo.com> wrote:

>The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
>problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
>loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar? If
>so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?


A batch of 920's must be reaching end of battery life as I encountered
another yesterday.
Soon I will have enough to build a monument...

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

"kryppy" <kryppy@.> wrote in message
news:lamae09b1c59954ebr132haf2sbjeuvgqk@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:12:23 GMT, "John" <jls667@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
> >problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
> >loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar?
If
> >so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
>
>
> A batch of 920's must be reaching end of battery life as I encountered
> another yesterday.
> Soon I will have enough to build a monument...
>
>


What exactly goes away when the battery fails? Do you lose all of the
satellite "types" that are resident in the receiver? Do you just lose the
data that the user has set-up?

TIA,

Tom


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.712 / Virus Database: 468 - Release Date: 6/27/2004

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 12:34:44 -0000, "Tom Morse" <tmorse@nospam.com>
wrote:

>
>"kryppy" <kryppy@.> wrote in message
>news:lamae09b1c59954ebr132haf2sbjeuvgqk@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:12:23 GMT, "John" <jls667@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> >The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
>> >problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
>> >loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar?
>If
>> >so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
>>
>>
>> A batch of 920's must be reaching end of battery life as I encountered
>> another yesterday.
>> Soon I will have enough to build a monument...
>>
>>
>
>
>What exactly goes away when the battery fails? Do you lose all of the
>satellite "types" that are resident in the receiver? Do you just lose the
>data that the user has set-up?
>
>TIA,
>
>Tom
>
>

In addition to everything you programmed into the receiver (which can
be replaced), it loses its authorisation identity, the Unit ID and
keys, which cannot be replaced.

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 11:10:23 -0400, Gary Tait <classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid>
wrote:

>On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 12:34:44 -0000, "Tom Morse" <tmorse@nospam.com>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>"kryppy" <kryppy@.> wrote in message
>>news:lamae09b1c59954ebr132haf2sbjeuvgqk@4ax.com...
>>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:12:23 GMT, "John" <jls667@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> >The main board in my 4DTV just needed replacing. It sounds like the only
>>> >problem in the board was a dead battery. When the dead battery goes, it
>>> >loses all of its memory and needs replacing. Does this sounds familiar?
>>If
>>> >so, how can I avoid this problem in the future?
>>>
>>>
>>> A batch of 920's must be reaching end of battery life as I encountered
>>> another yesterday.
>>> Soon I will have enough to build a monument...
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>What exactly goes away when the battery fails? Do you lose all of the
>>satellite "types" that are resident in the receiver? Do you just lose the
>>data that the user has set-up?
>>
>>TIA,
>>
>>Tom
>>
>>
>
>In addition to everything you programmed into the receiver (which can
>be replaced), it loses its authorisation identity, the Unit ID and
>keys, which cannot be replaced.

I followed the detailed instructions posted on the Satforums
4dtv forum, regarding battery installation. Seems to be
working OK six weeks later.
http://forums.satforums.com

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 11:10:23 -0400, Gary Tait
<classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid> wrote:


>
>In addition to everything you programmed into the receiver (which can
>be replaced), it loses its authorisation identity, the Unit ID and
>keys, which cannot be replaced.

Too bad somebody hasn't figured out a way to back up that data so it
could be replaced....

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 13:15:23 -0500, Robert M. Bratcher Jr
<bratcher@pdq.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 11:10:23 -0400, Gary Tait
><classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>In addition to everything you programmed into the receiver (which can
>>be replaced), it loses its authorisation identity, the Unit ID and
>>keys, which cannot be replaced.
>
>Too bad somebody hasn't figured out a way to back up that data so it
>could be replaced....

The whole Idea with the way GI designed it is that that data not be
able to be backed up.

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

Gary Tait wrote:
----"The whole idea with the way GI designed it is that that data not be
able to be backed up."----

Reply:
Why? So people WOULD get ticked off with their product and not consider
anything they made in the future? I hardly think that was their original
intent.If I had known that they had designed their product in the first
place to self destruct the data like some sort of ticking "warranty's
up!" clock,I never would have bought it in the first place.My thought is
when the original R&D went into the ORIGINAL primary design,EEPROM chips
had not yet been developed that could hold the AMOUNT of data that would
be required to facilitate an inerasable memory board.They have such
storage data chips today.Back in the early 90's (when Digicipher was
first contemplated) data storage chips only had limited storage
capability.

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

No

Because if the Unit ID could be rewritten it would be possible to purchase subs for
a unit then write that unit ID to other 4DTVs. All units with the same ID would be
subscribed to the same programming.

It has happened in the past with VideoCipher. Boards with rewritten IDs were sold
to many people that expected free subscriptions for life.

So don't blame GI/Mot. Blame the signal thieves.




"SAC 441" <SAC441@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:26604-40E8315F-765@storefull-3252.bay.webtv.net...
| Gary Tait wrote:
| ----"The whole idea with the way GI designed it is that that data not be
| able to be backed up."----
|
| Reply:
| Why? So people WOULD get ticked off with their product and not consider
| anything they made in the future? I hardly think that was their original
| intent.If I had known that they had designed their product in the first
| place to self destruct the data like some sort of ticking "warranty's
| up!" clock,I never would have bought it in the first place.My thought is
| when the original R&D went into the ORIGINAL primary design,EEPROM chips
| had not yet been developed that could hold the AMOUNT of data that would
| be required to facilitate an inerasable memory board.They have such
| storage data chips today.Back in the early 90's (when Digicipher was
| first contemplated) data storage chips only had limited storage
| capability.
|

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 09:33:35 -0700, SAC441@webtv.net (SAC 441) wrote:

>Gary Tait wrote:
>----"The whole idea with the way GI designed it is that that data not be
>able to be backed up."----
>
>Reply:
>Why? So people WOULD get ticked off with their product and not consider
>anything they made in the future?
No, to thwart theives.

> I hardly think that was their original
>intent.If I had known that they had designed their product in the first
>place to self destruct the data like some sort of ticking "warranty's
>up!" clock,I never would have bought it in the first place.

Thet wasn't their plan. The battery dying and losing security is an
unfortunate consequence of their choice to use battery baced security.

>My thought is
>when the original R&D went into the ORIGINAL primary design,EEPROM chips
>had not yet been developed that could hold the AMOUNT of data that would
>be required to facilitate an inerasable memory board.They have such
>storage data chips today.Back in the early 90's (when Digicipher was
>first contemplated) data storage chips only had limited storage
>capability.

They didn't need to use EPROMS, just burn the unit ID into a PROM, or
one of the system chips, which to GIs thinking, would be less secure
than a battery kepping that data.

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

Ok,since Motorola/GI does not service receiver units anymore,and should
this occurrence happen to me where can you get the receivers repaired
for this happenstance? I have a model 920 which I purchased NEW in
April,2001(one of the LAST units manufactured in that model series.A
replacement unit).
A related question: Will this occur (loss of UID) sometime in the life
of the receiver EVEN IF constant A/C power is maintained on the unit?

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.4dtv (More info?)

AFAIK Motorola will still do repairs, but even if they don't
ATS Electronics does.

www.atselectronics.com


"SAC 441" <SAC441@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:25443-40E9B13B-278@storefull-3256.bay.webtv.net...
| Ok,since Motorola/GI does not service receiver units anymore,and should
| this occurrence happen to me where can you get the receivers repaired
| for this happenstance? I have a model 920 which I purchased NEW in
| April,2001(one of the LAST units manufactured in that model series.A
| replacement unit).
| A related question: Will this occur (loss of UID) sometime in the life
| of the receiver EVEN IF constant A/C power is maintained on the unit?
|