Help with 5402 M3

[moulin]

I'm probably being rather feeble here, but I am not finding the instructions for this box much help when it comes to installing the Phantompatch software, or a set of softcam keys....

They appear OK as files on the USB menu screen (obviously I've unzipped them) and I uploaded the Phantompatch (well I think I did) by pressing INFO and then selecting Upload STB. A new file appeared in the list after about a minute called 20140529-200243.STB, but the operation of the box is unchanged - is this because I need to do a factory reset now? If that's the case could some kind bod guide me with idiot-proof steps for anything else that needs doing after the reset? I'm loathe to do anything which might cook the box when I've only just got it.

As to the softcam key set, I followed the INFO procedure as above but was unsure whether to choose UPLOAD STB or UPLOAD CHANNEL DA. So I tried both (one after the other) and ended up with two new files on the list, with different titles and sizes. Should I have done the factory reset for the Phantompatch part first? Which option should I have chosen?

Problem is that this is quite a new box and if the info is out there on the net (ie preferably at idiot level for people like me) I can't find it, so any guidance would be very helpful.

Thanks.

[moulin]

Just as an afterthought - some info suggests that when the Phantompatch has been loaded the machine will reboot - well mine didn't, which is what is puzzling me.

[moulin]

Well it seems the INFO button (one of the options listed at the bottom) is a complete red herring - no one said choose Phantompatch and press OK, now did they? Maybe too obvious!!!!

I magically now have a machine that rebooted and has come up with a menu for CAM

[moulin]

Thanks manic01; like all these things once you get it to work it's obvious, grateful for the prompt.

Am even getting a few channels to clear, although not TNTsat on Astra 1 which I thought was normally included in the softcams - it's academic as I have two official cards for it but I just wanted to see if I could get it on the Technomate, which would be more flexible in the recording thereof....

Cheers - thanks again. Next project is to try and clear the BBC on 27.5 W - even though I'm in Britain and don't actually need it!

[moulin]

Oh - cool, thrice cool. I've just rescanned some of the channels (TF1 HD and France 2 HD) and there they are - gloriously clearing.

Thrice thanks to you too manic01

Won't put the Humax TNTsat box straight in the bin but very useful to have escaped from the "cahier des charges techniques" which prevent one reading even recordings of FTA channels on anything but the decoder itself.

[holmroad]

Must admit it CAN be a little confusing with the new M3 software - even knowing to press yellow to highlight correct USB from/to which to upload/download, often via Info button, but NOT always!!
(I also have the PVR USB in action, which CAN add to complications, until yoiu get used to it all!)

[TheBadger]

I don't know about the M3 but with the Phantom patch loaded, if your box is networked you can update over your network but you have to have STBDaemon on your computer and have run it to share the relevant folder so your 5402 can "see" it. A lot less hassle than using the USB method.

[moulin]

Thanks for the further comments. I'll look into the networking thing but TBH it's probably too complicated for me.

But I'm very pleased with the box, and grateful for the help on here. Having had a Technomate 1500 previously I know that once you master them they're pretty good.

[Barney]

Just got my new TM5402 M3 HD box today
been messing about its certainly a lot faster than the Tm5402 M2 HD
quicker to boot up ..quicker to zap thro' recordings and not any massive difference with USB Data transfering its just renamed as FTP as far as i can see ..i put my channel list already on it from my M2 box via USB loaded latest phantom patch from April 30 2014
already had the Addon loaded for 8281 menu .
most of all the Tuner in M3 is not really any different same readings in signal levels which is crucial
but the 100 Biss key lines is by far its best feature ..ive noticed a lot of the IPTV channels dont work all that great
loaded a new list of iptv channels and are much better watching Bullet movie now ..All iz good cant wait to play around with my new toy the TM5402 M3 HD seems to be better in a lot of things if im honest about it ,
cheers .
-
Barney

[holmroad]

Just got my new TM5402 M3 HD box today
been messing about its certainly a lot faster than the Tm5402 M2 HD
quicker to boot up ..quicker to zap thro' recordings and not any massive difference with USB Data transfering its just renamed as FTP as far as i can see ..i put my channel list already on it from my M2 box via USB loaded latest phantom patch from April 30 2014
already had the Addon loaded for 8281 menu .
most of all the Tuner in M3 is not really any different same readings in signal levels which is crucial
but the 100 Biss key lines is by far its best feature ..ive noticed a lot of the IPTV channels dont work all that great
loaded a new list of iptv channels and are much better watching Bullet movie now ..All iz good cant wait to play around with my new toy the TM5402 M3 HD seems to be better in a lot of things if im honest about it ,
cheers .
-
Barney

Really pleased with my M3 too guys - true IPTV dont ALL always load up, but then these channels arent 'guaranteed' to last anyway surely?
Plus you dont need the Add-on with this patch as its all a part of the main one - I'm currently on 116P, although we currently await another new patch for various relatively minor issues being experienced!

[moulin]

Something that's puzzling me: I've successfully recorded (as trials) various bits and pieces, and they are saved as *.ts files in the record folder on my USB stick.

However, they won't play back on VLC player on my computer.

At first I assumed that they were recordings that were off encrypted channels (TF1 for example via TNTsat) but it seems that even FTA stuff won't play back except via the Technomate.

Is this really the case or am I doing something stupid?

For example, FTA stuff recorded off my Aston Fransat HD box does play back on the computer.....

[kencam]

You could use for example video Freemake Converter,this willl enable you to convert the file to one of your choice.

[moulin]

I'll have to investigate that. What's puzzling me is that a while back I had the same problem reading recordings from my Aston Fransat, but the trick was simply to change the *ts to *trp (or maybe it's the other way round, I'd have to check) and the recordings would play. Then a version of VLC came along that wasn't so bothered by the file suffix and read them direct (as it does to this day).

So I was just wondering whether anyone had managed to get Technomate recordings to play back WITHOUT converting them (which is presumably going to degrade the quality...?).

Thanks.

[holmroad]

All MY Technomate recordings - all made on successive stbs, TM6900HD Super, TM5402HD M2 & then currently M3, are fat32 produced - but the ones made on my TM6900HD Super wont currently play back on my M3, yet did play back ok on my M2, so Phantom is about to release a new patch to sort this out - we HOPE!! lol!!

[holmroad]

Dont hold your breath, but you never know.
M3 is different type stb more like 3000 series lol

Thought M3 was supposed to be the new all singing all dancing Technomate non-Linux stb mate?

[holmroad]

Who told you that?
Now as for your recordings, as its different stb os compeltely you may struggle to view them again on M3 unless you convert them.

Ok, so why has Phantom stated that he will sort it out in his next patch mate?

[holmroad]

Yes I understand what you say mate, but all I'm saying is that Phantom did sound as if he was genuinely offering to sort out the PVR problem, maybe I'm being over 'optimistic' - most unlike ME? lol!!

[digicon]

Manic01 is probably right about the PVR problem as its based on a different Receiver O/S it may not be possible. And i cannot see phantom downright saying so as everyone over there is lauding all the plaudits of how good the F3/5 and the new M3 are.

Makes good business sense to keep stringing people along just so that Sales keep going, You got to admit holmroad its not without its faults and the main one being as again Manic01 pointed out even last year that since shifting manufacturing from Korea to china to maximise profits TM's STB's have slowly gone down hill in my estimation anyway even a few of the hardened Fanboys have noticed too.

[moulin]

FWIW I've found this thread - which makes depressing reading on the subject of playing back recordings (*.ts) made on the 5402 M3 on anything else....

http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=86844

Which - as we in the best circles say - is something of a bummer.

So is it the case that had I bought an M2 I'd be able to watch recordings "just like that" by moving a USB stick from sat box to computer?

[holmroad]

So we are DEFFO saying that the M3 is of a difference country of manufacture to the M2 here?

[digicon]

Looks to me like TM and most other Closed source manufacturers such as Clarke Tech and the DrHD Brand shifted there manufacturing from Korea to China to cut costs.

So as manic01 rightly states above the M1 is Korean manufactured the M2 and the rest of the current TM range are Made in China which would probably collaborate the theory that when TM said they had introduced a so called Security chip in the M2 what they actually meant was its being made in China from now on

[holmroad]

Still cant see why it should make DRASTIC differences, provided one country manufactures the boxes to identical specifications?
Surely drawings etc are drawings etc?
Suppose some countries' ideas of meeting standards in manufacture - especially in the Far east - will be much different to OUR ideas on standards however? lol!!

[holmroad]

The M3 has nothing in common with the M1/M2 except name.

Ok, so suppose as ALWAYS its a case of 'suck it & see what transpires'!!

[moulin]

FWIW I've just finally got round to downloading "Any Video Converter" (free version) and have successfully converted a *.ts file over to mp4, playing it via VLC.

The file was a recording of TF1 in HD and it took about six minutes to convert 500 MB, the resulting file is 150 MB approx. It certainly made the fan whirr on the computer!

So it is doable, even if it would be preferable had the files read direct.

[holmroad]

Holmroads friend the phanthom has promised him personally and unreservedly that its def getting fixed.

You sarcastic s*d!!! lol!!

[moulin]

Unlike the problem of holmroad (AIUI) that which I have achieved is to record on the M3 and then play back on the computer.

But it would of course be nice if both difficulties could be resolved at the same time....

[holmroad]

I want my ball back!! lol!!!
No - I DON'T!!!

[moulin]

Further investigation with Linux (at which I am a complete numpty so I have to consult our local guru, even though I do use Linux day to day for browsing/email etc) shows that a program called smplayer opens the *.ts files direct, including my benchmark test of TF1 HD (scrambled AND HD).

There is also a Windoze version which I'm about to put on to a Windows 7 machine to see if the success can be replicated on that platform.

It's not often I find something that VLC won't do but SMplayer may be the answer.

Laters: can confirm that SMplayer does play back 5402 M3 recordings under Windows, although in my case the HD recording was obviously at too high a rate for the laptop to cope with properly, it kept repeating little sections (it sounded like what I believe is modern disco "scratch" music (?)) but the SD recording was fine, albeit that the time slider bar was up the creek.

[holmroad]

Downloading Smplayer as I type - but AVG not liking it so having to wait until AVG scan completes then can switch off protection while download running!

[moulin]

I'm no great fan of Linux (I wish I could be, but there are too many stupid STUPID failings with it, and too many assumptions that everyone is capable of using a "terminal window" and typing meaningless strings of instructions into it) but (with my mischievous hat on!) if you too ran Linux you wouldn't need AVG!!

I've in fact finally ended up with the best of both worlds, as I have a computer that when switched on gives one the choice of loading Windows 7 or Linux. So everything is in the same box, I use Linux 95% of the time (word processing, browsing etc, with the advantage of no need for virus protection) but can switch to Windows if I or the machine are stumped by something that only Windows can handle.

[TheBadger]

Have you got both HS1 and HS2 in the "Entertainment" menu? HS2 is showing "Connection Failure" on my M2. Maybe more patches needed all round ;-)

[holmroad]

Had to give up on Smplayer as it and its associated connections etc constantly gave me virus warnings via AVG so decided it wasnt really worth the hastle in the end!!
As for HS 2, yes its down too on my M3 The Badger mate!!

[moulin]

Would it help if I put the SMplayer file onto a private link on Dropbox for you? That way it might get past AVG.

The only thing you have to be careful of is that during installation it will try and add a toolbar or two to your browser, but you just choose Advanced Option and then untick the relevant box.

Let me know if that would help.

[holmroad]

Would it help if I put the SMplayer file onto a private link on Dropbox for you? That way it might get past AVG.

The only thing you have to be careful of is that during installation it will try and add a toolbar or two to your browser, but you just choose Advanced Option and then untick the relevant box.

Let me know if that would help.

Yes please if that's no trouble to you mate?

[moulin]

I've PM'd you .

[moulin]

I'm probably being dense but could you please be a bit more specific...? What download centre? On here or elsewhere?

Sorry to be so half-witted....

[moulin]

Thanks manic01

Got lost amongst the stickies. Note to self - try scrolling down next time!

Dohhh!

[holmroad]

New patch looking good so far - just that never had to decipher 'decibels' from '%' before!
The new patch appears to express signal quality in decibels (as requested by certain people!) instead of the good old faithful percentages as used on a multitude of boxes over the years - so not sure what's good and what's bad any more!! lol!!
I also find it quite difficult to actually read anyway, it being in dark blue! Maybe I can change the colours - will investigate further, but still hope someone tells me whats 'normal' in decibels!!!
e.g. whats 90% in decibels?

[digicon]

Just for you holmroad buddy

100% - 16.6db
95% - 15.7db
90% - 14.9db
85% - 14.1db
80% - 13.2db
75% - 12.4db
70% - 11.6db
65% - 10.7db
60% - 9.9db
55% - 9.1db
50% - 8.3db
45% - 7.4db
40% - 6.6db
35% - 5.8db
30% - 4.9db
25% - 4.1db
20% - 3.3db
15% - 2.5db
10% - 1.6db
5% - 0.8db


Hope thats of some help

[holmroad]

Cheers mate - just happens that the new patch 117P has a new option in Settings - where we can choose 'decibels' or '%', so naturally I'm now back to % - just as previously with my old EchoStar, Manhattan and various Technomate receivers!

Anyway thanks again digicon. just 'in case' I get converted!! lol!!!

[holmroad]

Oh yes - sorry nearly forgot to mention that Phantom patch 117P now DOES allow old PVR recordings made originally on TM6900HD Super PVR to now play ok on M3!!

[digicon]

No problem holmroad but i just tested the values in .db and % and as expected in the lower end readings the F3/5 and M3 are a little out compared to that table which was done with the correct mathematical equation

[holmroad]

No problem holmroad but i just tested the values in .db and % and as expected in the lower end readings the F3/5 and M3 are a little out compared to that table which was done with the correct mathematical equation

Oh dear mate - so is that bad?

[digicon]

Oh dear mate - so is that bad?

No not bad just as expected before with the percentage reading it's shall we say a little bit conservative with its lower end readings so nothing to be alarmed with but the DrHD F15 with its .db reading is near 99.9% accurate compared to the F3/5 & M3

[holmroad]

Ok mate, but I'm not complaining, as the only probs I've ever had of late was attemptiong to pick up Bein Sport on 7.3W a few months ago - but thats all academic now anyway!! lol!!
(Plus I assume the box YOU quote is a lot more expensive anyway than the M3?)

[digicon]

Ok mate, but I'm not complaining, as the only probs I've ever had of late was attemptiong to pick up Bein Sport on 7.3W a few months ago - but thats all academic now anyway!! lol!!
(Plus I assume the box YOU quote is a lot more expensive anyway than the M3?)

You know yourself if you go onto the community and mention any other brands your in trouble LOL. The DrHD F15 is the same as the TM5402 HD Mark 1 version and the Blade 7000s before they all switched from having receivers manufactured in Korea to China to cut costs, on a side note the F15 and its Chinese counterpart the D15 have always had the .db reading.

I see fro the current patch though that the GUI Rendering problem has still not been fixed and is only rendered correctly in 720p mode, This little snag is also inherent on the DrHD D15 and the CT 4100 receivers which again are more than likley to be made in the same factory as the 5402 M3 and F3/5.

So all the same software writing team for all models what gets broke on one gets broken on all

[holmroad]

Ok mate - all very fine, but how does all this affect where we go from now with M3?

[digicon]

I would imagine we will all have to wait patiently to see if these little snags get fixed or not

[moulin]

Wonder if someone else could check - this morning I seem to have lost the TNTsat package (French TV Astra 1).

It's true I haven't put the very latest Phantom Patch on (the one from the last few days) but I've just updated the SoftCam with the one on here for today.

Wonder if anyone could verify whether it's a problem at my end or whether it's gone generally....?

Thanks.

(Going back to official Humax TNTsat box, which rates as a major defeat!!!!)

[mdt]

Wonder if someone else could check - this morning I seem to have lost the TNTsat package (French TV Astra 1).

It's true I haven't put the very latest Phantom Patch on (the one from the last few days) but I've just updated the SoftCam with the one on here for today.

Wonder if anyone could verify whether it's a problem at my end or whether it's gone generally....?



Thanks.

(Going back to official Humax TNTsat box, which rates as a major defeat!!!!)

key change.. already fixed on E2 machines i guess we will have to wait for a new patch,regards mdt

[moulin]

Oh right - so does this mean that whatever it is that makes TNTsat work isn't contained in the Softcam file but is part of the PhantomPatch? (You can tell my knowledge is very limited from that!!)

If you're asking the "powers that be" I wonder (and I know it's a big ask) how easy it would be to get the Technomate 1500 to work with TNTsat? I realise that it's an old machine now and you will realise that I don't really understand quite how much work it would entail, but if it was just a question of adding a few lines of code to the existing PhantomPatch for the 1500.....?

Realise that it's an old machine and that I've had good service out of it over the years, and that I have several other ways of getting at TNTsat, but it would be great to have an old machine doing something really useful again!!

Incidentally, again not necessary for me as I'm in Devon, but I was delighted to get a certain back up feed of British Channels on a certain satellite not far from Hispasat to work on the 5402. Why is it that it's such sweet joy to get things like that to work when I can already get them via Freeview, freesat, etc etc??!!

A big thanks to all who keep these softwares up to date.

[holmroad]

Wonder if someone else could check - this morning I seem to have lost the TNTsat package (French TV Astra 1).

It's true I haven't put the very latest Phantom Patch on (the one from the last few days) but I've just updated the SoftCam with the one on here for today.

Wonder if anyone could verify whether it's a problem at my end or whether it's gone generally....?

Thanks.

(Going back to official Humax TNTsat box, which rates as a major defeat!!!!)

So assuming you were still on patch 116P mate you have answered my question on another forum where I knew the TntSat package on latest softcam no longer works with THAT patch (117P), but now you've confirmed also the same with previous patch, so we cant blame latest patch alone!! lol!!

[moulin]

Yes, I'm still on 116P.

Although I can get TNTsat officially I like it on the Technomate as I can use the RF output for distribution to a CRT TV elsewhere in the house, so I'm hoping that our friend Phantom (to whom much thanks) can find a solution soon.....

[holmroad]

Yes, I'm still on 116P.

Although I can get TNTsat officially I like it on the Technomate as I can use the RF output for distribution to a CRT TV elsewhere in the house, so I'm hoping that our friend Phantom (to whom much thanks) can find a solution soon.....

I'm only on 117P because it gives me access to my older TM6900HD Super PVR recordings mate unlike 116P - so at least something good came out of latest patch for ME!! lol!!

[moulin]

Did you manage to download SMplayer from my dropbox link? If you're done I'll take it down......