[arboristman]

c/p
Pay attention to the install hints!

USB to RS232 serial for laptops an $8.13 solution that works!

I already had the serial DB9 null female to female straight through (for Pansat) signal, cable that I was using on my desktop for receiver upgrades.

I used the following to get my HP Laptop model Pavilion ze5170 to download and upload to and from Pansat 2500A at high speed (less than 2 minutes) for Bin files and even faster on the channel lists.
I went on Ebay and did advanced search for seller named Superdeal-01 using USB to RS232 as search argument. Their price was the lowest total I could find with all the following included:
Buy it now Price $1.09, Shipping with insurance $6.95, Tax $.09. Total cost $8.13. Using Paypal as my payment method. It was delivered to my door in 3 days via USPS.
The product is new in package and includes:
A good quality 1 foot USB to DB 9 pin serial cable adapter.
A CD with drivers and read me instructions for installation.

Install Hints:
I recommend printing out the read me USB to RS232 serial install instructions (2 pages) to use during the install.

The DB9 end of cable has some proprietary bridge connection chips in it. Caution; this type of adapter cable remembers which one of the USB connection ports you originally installed it on, and can not find the port if you later plug it into a different USB port. So choose the physical USB port you want to use for installation and always plug the cable adapter into that same port when interfacing with the receiver.

During install when you get to the step that shows the Comm Port choice, open it to see what Comm ports are being used currently in the 1 to 4 areas. My HP said Comm1 and Comm3 were in use, so I put it on Comm 4 to avoid conflicts. Just choose any port not in use between 1 and 4. The programs G tools and Channel Master will allow you to choose comm. Ports 1 thru 4 while interfacing to your Receiver. Both programs set the transfer rate at 115200kbs even though the receiver and cable adapter operate at 19200kbs. So during install when you set the comm port to an unused one also set the baud rate to 115200kbs. Doing this lets the hardware choose the fastest baud rate for the transfer of data. If you omit this step it will take 15 minutes or longer to download a Bin file. Whereas setting the baud rate to 115200kbs got it done in under 2 minutes. I now use Channel Master exclusively as it is much better when working with channel lists.

After install check your comm ports to see what is being used I.E.: On windows XP Click Start, RIGHT click My Computer, click properties, click hardware, click device manager, click ports (LPT and Com) you should see the new one named Prolific USB-to-serial comm. Port (1-4) listed, with the number being the one you chose earlier during install, RIGHT click it. Click properties, Click port settings, Click advanced to change the comm. Port setting if needed. That is it, works great for me on both download and upload and sure beats disconnecting and dragging receivers to my old desktop for an upgrade.

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c/p



First, make sure you have plugged in your new USB to serial adapter and loaded the correct drivers for your operating system (should be on the CD supplied with adapter.
For Pansat and some other STB's, the loader utility allows you to use COM ports 1 to 4, where Captive Works and Skyview offer more ports. Either way, the COM id. may already be in use by another device (ie: fax modem, etc.)

Right click "My Computer" on desktop and select Properties.
Choose Device Manager, and check Ports
(Another way to get there is Start, Control Panel, System, device manager.)

You should see the USB-Serial adapter as COM_ (usually defaults to COM4)

If the PORT is there, you should be able to flash.
If the port is another number, you have to change it.

In the device manager, double click the usb-serial adapter.
On the top choose port settings.
Choose Advanced...
At the bottom you will see Com port #

If 1-4 are in use, back out and check those ports in device manager. If they are not needed, disable them and change the Com port for USB-serial adapter.

If you don't know which port is using a "COM" id., start by checking your modem. My laptops use COM3 for 56k modem, which you could disable and use for USB-adapter.

You can always go back, or change to other ports.

if you have a captiveworks receiver.you must use standby mode when using an adapter.boot mode will not work.