FORTEC LIFETIME RECEIVER - MANY PROBLEMS - PLEASE HELP

tuli · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2004, 08:45 PM

Hi,

Problem1: memory gets erased? many times, even though I make sure I SAVE the changes, a day later the changes disappeared. Is it me ?

Problem2: sometimes, when I try to edit some TPs, it won't let me. when I save, and press OK, the old TP with the old properties shows up.

Problem3: last wheek, when I did some changes, but it hang when I was on some channel and the remote could go channel-only up and channel-down. Could not get into the setup.

Q: Is there a way to get into the SETUP and go back to 'FACTORY SETTINGS' without the remote?

Software problems
- Went to FORTEC website and downloaded the STB EDITOR.
- Read the manual.
- bought a modem cable with a inversion adaptor

tried to use the software:

Problem 1: no communication. when I press upload I get this message:PLEASE TRY STB POWER ON AND OFF.
What does this mean? the manual says that the receiver SHOULD BE OFF during transfer and turning on and off could create damage
In short I was not able to upload/download anything.
I did check the com1 port and it didn't fail.

That's it for today.
Am I doing anything wrong?
Please advise

Tuli

xwolfs7 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 11:36 PM

Hi! I tried that one myself I found one I was able to use it`s called
STB GTools 1.85 there are two versions one for Xp and one works for 98/Me..
it allows you to transfer to and from stb to computer and you can edit and rename channels..

wejones · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xwolfs7

Hi! I tried that one myself I found one I was able to use it`s called
STB GTools 1.85 there are two versions one for Xp and one works for 98/Me..
it allows you to transfer to and from stb to computer and you can edit and rename channels..

I have downloaded every version of the Gtools or the Lifetime that has appeared on the Fortec web page over the last year, and none of them work with Win98. They only work with Win2K or WinXP.
I'm really curious where you found a version that works for Win98?

Re the original poster's message, I'm curious where you found in the manual anything about the use of the Editor? My manual has no information at all about the use of Gtools, and Gtools does not come with a manual. I think I remember that there is information about using the uploader program to download firmware to the receiver, and there was some description about the use of some computer program that is not available at the Fortec site, but nothing that I could find about Gtools.
Fortec only recommends using the Gtools specific to the Lifetime, so it is risky to use other software.
Also, I don't remember any mention of doing transfers with the receiver off. I've done all my transfers with the power on. Also, don't confuse the Gtools channel editor with the firmware Uploader.
Re the other problems, that is very unusual. I'm not sure what memory is being "lost" but that sounds like a bad battery or some hardware problem with the receiver. However the remote control for that receiver is VERY flakey. When you use it, take great care that the keys don't stick on, or you can get very strange results. As a last resort, it is possible to program some universal remote controls to work with the Lifetime, but that is more complicated than what you are trying to do now, so it's only a last resort.

tuli · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 12:29 PM

I found the software on FORTEC website. they have a DOWNLOADS section for channel editing and firmware upgrade.

tuli · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 12:36 PM

I don't know about Win98. I use Xp.
I also didn't try uploading anything because there is a warning (on FORTEC website) saying that if you didn't use 'professional advise' and you blew it, you broke the warranty.
I was just trying to download whatever was in the receiver to a local file, but, as mentioned in the original porting, without success.

Can you really use othe remote?The one provided is very bad. you need to press like 5 times before you get somehting

What really made me mad was the inability to edit some of the TPs.
There are obvious errors in some TPs that I was trying to eliminate but it won't let me so I had to add new TPs; now in some Sats I have like 40 TPs; I really sucks.

tuli · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 12:39 PM

I have a Globaltec receiver for T5 (Fixed Ku only). A search function caN DOWNLOAD from the sat all the new CHannels. It is very user firendly.
I guess FORTEC life Ultra does not have it, or I missed that?

wejones · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuli

I don't know about Win98. I use Xp.
I also didn't try uploading anything because there is a warning (on FORTEC website) saying that if you didn't use 'professional advise' and you blew it, you broke the warranty.
I was just trying to download whatever was in the receiver to a local file, but, as mentioned in the original porting, without success.

Can you really use othe remote?The one provided is very bad. you need to press like 5 times before you get somehting

What really made me mad was the inability to edit some of the TPs.
There are obvious errors in some TPs that I was trying to eliminate but it won't let me so I had to add new TPs; now in some Sats I have like 40 TPs; I really sucks.

Re software, as long as you got your editor under the pulldown menu for the Lifetime (not the lifetime ultra or the main menu) then it should work with XP.
One possible problem. Fortec reverses "upload" and "download" from what most people think. Ie I think if you clicked download it is actually trying to upload, but it seems to me that that button wasn't enabled untilI had done an upload, so I may be remembering wrong.
Re using another remote, yes, but you need to buy or make a JP1 cable to program it. I think I gave some URLs in another thread on remotes. But if you have a JP1 cable, there are many remotes that will work. I use a RS2116. Using the RS2116 remote, it isn't always better with respect to the Lifetime seeing the keystroke, but it completely eliminates the sticking key problem,
Re editing transponders, you should be able to either edit or delete a transponder with the remote. You shouldn't have to add new transponders just to change parameters. I just tried it with my receiver, and it worked.

mikrodoctor · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 08:03 AM

download = from pc to receiver
upload = receiver to pc

This is for the Fortec

Yes Gtools does work with win 98 that's what I use on my laptop.
You will not see the top menu bar though so you right click mouse in the satellite section - click tools

wejones · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikrodoctor

.....
...

Yes Gtools does work with win 98 that's what I use on my laptop.
You will not see the top menu bar though so you right click mouse in the satellite section - click tools

The missing upper menu items is what I was referring to with respect to it saying that it didn't work in Win98. Yeah, I've been using it with Win98, just for viewing the listings I've downloaded (uploaded) from the receiver using another computer with Win2k.
I didn't realize that you could get to the missing menu items by doing the right click trick, but I just tried it and you are right. I haven't checked yet though, are all the missing menu items accessable this way? If so, that will be handy for me. I now run the program on a Win2k computer, but the computer I use most of the time and is more convenient, is a Win98 computer.
Thanks for the tip.

truckracer · #10 (**permalink**) 09-23-2004, 02:15 AM

My fortec ultra with firmware version 2.44 has lost transponder data and position data about 4 times. its seems that the picture at times has geometric distortion and does not like to store transponder on more than 6 or 7 satellites, the clock is not accurate either. When if first got my fortec ultra it came loaded with firmware version 2.29. When i purchased my h-h dish motor the diseqc commands were erratic and the motor could not understand the receiver's commands. ###vj9999 - since this is Sadoun's forum, it is only fair not to post names of competitor companies (especially ones that sell the same product) ### technician told me to go to the fortec star website and download the new version 2.44 and use their fortec uploader program . I did this and it said upload was successful. Now it controls the motor quite well, it just seems to have memory problems now. I kind of wish now i had not bought this receiver. I know they all have their issues but this one seems to have serious problems. It sometimes say free to air channels are scrambled and you have to wait a few seconds for them to decode.