Plugging the receiver into a computer

[elgemcdlf]

Ok might sound like a very simple basic question but I want to know how to go about plugging in the receiver to a computer for things such as update of sat list or pulling down the channel list for later upload to another receiver.

Do I need some software installed on my computer to handle this? What should I expect to see once I do plug it in? The receiver in question is the Fortec Star Platinum. The computer I will be using is a very capable hardware wise WinXP machine. Also If I update the satellite database will USALS see it?

TIA
Steve

[starman]

Hopefully your receiver came with a data transfer cable? If not you can get one at radio shack, or a computer store. There seems to be two common types of cables out there, some receivers need a null modem cable, others need a straight through cable. If you don't have one you will have to find out what your receiver requires. I'm not sure if Fortecstar has channel editing software, you could check their website.
All you need to do is connect your transfer cable from the rs232 on your receiver to a serial port on your computer. Load the software and read the list from the receiver, then you can modify your list if you want to add or delete information, then write it back to the receiver.
I have a Pansat and Coolsat and have been using editing software called Channelmaster, it is very slick, allows for bulk changes, which would take a long time doing in the editing section of the receiver software. You can find it here:
http://www.sharpc.com/projects.htm
If you decided to use it, I would make sure it is compatible with your receiver before trying.
I blind scan with my receiver, then within Channelmaster export that list to a MyTheatre list format, giving me an up to date blind scanned list for my twinhan dvb card.
I'm not sure what you mean by "will USALS see it"?
It is a convenience to be able to save your list, then do a re-set of your receiver, as needs to be done occasionally, then write back the list, freeing you from going through all that manual work.

[elgemcdlf]

The USALS issue. With the Fortec you have some empty sat entries which are for user entry. They come with 0.0 as the location and I have yet to find where in the receiver to set this value. Was kinda hoping to be able to make this entry so that USALS would utilize it for autolocation of the sat. Another issue I have with the Fortec is being able to delete a sat. I have yet to figure that one out either. I can overwrite it but what if I want to just blow it away? A perfect example is the Asiasat entry. For me useless and it has the USALS location entered. So I can always rename the sat and point it elsewhere but the USALS entry is still there which would not be correct for the sat entered.

Another reason for deleting sats would be installs that do not need many of the sats. Example a customer who wants only the Spanish language channels out there. I have found it is far less confusing for them if I only program the sats that have the channels. A step further would be to just eliminate any sats they do not need.

[starman]

I"m not familiar with your receiver, however when I discovered channel editing software it made my life a whole lot easier. Import the list into your software, add satellites where those 0.0 positions are, delete satellites, make it so the satellites show up in ascending or descending order, by degree or alphabeticallly with one click. I never use the editing feature in the receivers now. If you are installing as a business, you could have pre-made lists for all the popular different packages that you program, it would only take two minutes to setup a new receiver for a customer, just copy the appropriate list, it would be clean with only the satellites and programming they want to watch.
I can't be of much help with your receiver in how to add, delete satellites, although I'm sure it can be done easily, just will take longer.

[elgemcdlf]

Thanks a ton. Will make my first effort tonight

[vj9999]

I really only use my receiver to scan satellites and not to be fixed on one satellite for a long time. I deleted all my satellites and created 2 new ones. I named them c-band and ku-band. They are both set to use correct lnb types and other specific setting.

When I want to blind scan the satellite, I change it's location so diseqc moves it correctly, scan it, look at whatever interests me and when I am done I usually go ahead and delete all the transponders.

I know this is not the cleanest way, but it keeps my Fortec's memory in check and it really works well for me (although I haven't seriously used my equipment in 4-5 months - which accidentaly coincides with the birth of my child )

[starman]

Something I should have added to my last post in this thread, anyone who hasn't used channel editing software before, BE CAREFUL! when writing a channel list to your receiver. If you interrupt the transfer, power in your home flickers off then on, you could have a mucked up receiver, maybe useless for good. I have done this many many times without problem but that doesn't mean its foolproof. Also there is the warranty thing, if you write and things don't go well, I believe at least some of the receiver manufacturers won't cover the damage.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by starman

If you interrupt the transfer, power in your home flickers off then on,

Say WHAT !!??

kat

[wejones]

EDIT: I've deleted my response here, because it was in error for this specific model number, and I didn't want to mislead anyone.

[elgemcdlf]

I looked on the Fortec site and could find nothing in the way of software for the Platinum receiver. Now I can not find the cable that came with the thing or any of the other cables that I have. Must be in a safe place I did get a copy of the channel editing software Channel Master but have yet to install it.

As to the two entries for sats I actually have 4 feeds coming into the receiver at this time. Makes it a bit cumbersome. I like the way BEC does it much better. You set the sat and the TP and then you can specify which port you want for LNB. Up to 32 different LNB settings. You define the port in a different area of the menu. So in the case of sats that run let's say circular, Ku and C I only need one sat entry and just set the lnb for the tp. If I do better with the big dish on some tp's I can make that distinction.

Could also be that is where I started so maybe just most familiar with

Steve

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

I looked on the Fortec site and could find nothing in the way of software for the Platinum receiver. Now I can not find the cable that came with the thing or any of the other cables that I have. Must be in a safe place I did get a copy of the channel editing software Channel Master but have yet to install it.
........

Please ignore most of what I had in my response. I have deleted it because it had bad info. I just stupidly assumed that the Platinum receiver was like the Lifetime receivers, but it isn't.
I just went to the Fortec web page, and as you say, under "PLATINUM", they don't list a channel editor program, however under Platinum NA" they do list one, see:

http://www.fortecstar.com/downloads/...roducts=81%2C1

I assume that the Platinum NA is the North American version. Under this URL, they don't list the uploader program, but that is listed under the PLATINUM heading. So, assuming that you have the North American version, I'd use the channel editor listed at the above URL.

HOWEVER.... I also notice that they indicate that for the Platinum receiver, that null modem cable should be used rather than the straight through cable that the lifetime models use. So ignore what I said about the straight through cable... that "MAY" be in error. I say "MAY" though, because it isn't uncommon for the documentation to be in error in this regard, because these things typically use one cable for receiver-receiver and another for receiver-PC.
So ignore everything I said in my response. I've deleted my response so it doesn't confuse anyone else. I guess that since this model is different from the Lifetime models, you'll have to get help from other Platinum owners, and there aren't too many of them yet.
I'm not sure what your Channel Master channel editing software that you mention is, but I would be hesitant to use anything which is not specifically designed for that receiver.
Anyway, sorry for the response with bad info.

[starman]

I'll add two more cents here, I checked the Channelmaster editing software and it does not support the Fortec Star Platinum, the only supported Fortec receivers are the Lifetime and Ultra. I didn't pick up on the Platinum part, sorry for leading you down the wrong path.

[elgemcdlf]

Worse come to worse I end up having to replace the receiver Not like they cost as much as the 922

[elgemcdlf]

Just an update. Thanks to all who offered input on this subject. I followed the instructs at the Fortec site and everything went without a hitch. I wish there would have been an explanation of what the firmware was fixing/altering and the channel edit software lacks a few features I would have liked to see but it is miles ahead of doing it through the tv screen.

In the process of building lists to use in different situations. Thanks again.

Steve

[starman]

Yea, I hate that too, go here for the update but they don't say what changes it will make

[briand]

Well... spurred on by this discussion, I finally made a cable to connect my computer to my Fortec Lifetime Classic NA. I first downloaded and installed the software from Fortec -- and, as you say, it leaves a lot to be desired. I still see no way to -delete- a satellite, or to move it's position within the list -- I'd prefer to have them in physical order of appearance, from eastern horizon to western horizon.

So, I downloaded the Channelmaster software mentioned earlier in this thread -- the software wouldn't directly read from my Classic NA, but it was able to read the file saved from the Fortec software... In Channelmaster, I was able to edit out the transponders I didn't need (C-band, mostly) on some satellites.. remove the c-band only and otherwise non-visible satellites from my location... and then export to the same Fortec file format. Unfortunately, loading that file back to the receiver with the Fortec software made a real mess -- any satellite that I had added to my receiver (from the receiver itself, last week) such as Amazonas, showed up with no name in the receiver -- just the location in parentheses. Satellites that I had edited (again, last week, on the receiver itself) were not there at all.

So, I guess not only is the protocol slightly different between "Lifetime" and "Lifetime Classic NA" receivers --- but the standard file format is also slightly different.

I ended up just re-uploading (or, in Fortec parlance, downloading) the original "before editing" file that I had captured from the receiver with the Fortec software.

What software are folks using with the Lifetime Classic NA receiver to manage channels, satellites, etc?