FOXSAT-HDR: Can I gain access to existing recordings in the absence of an LNB connection and no channels tuned in?

[trellis]

Title says it all really, but just to expand a little: I have a Humax FOXSAT-HDR box which has recordings on its HDD, but the box has been "factory reset" and therefore has no channels tuned in. The box just brings up a dialogue box saying there are no channels tuned in, and the only option in to go into the setup menu and perform a scan, which of course fails because there is no LNB available. Exiting the menu just drops back to the same "no channels" dialogue box, and I'm stuck in this loop, and can't see any way out to access the existing recordings. Pressing the "recordings" button on the remote just flashes up the little "can't do that" icon on the screen.

Prior to the Factory Reset, the box was working and allowing access to the recordings, even though no LNB was connected. The recordings are still present on the HDD - it's the absence of a successful scan that's blocking access to them.

Any suggestions, other than temporarily connecting the box up to a dish and performing a scan (which would involve finding someone who still has an active satellite dish!)?

 

[Black Hole]

If you mean "play them on the Foxsat", then no. These units are crippled until the set-up wizard operations have completed (by "these", I mean HDR-FOX and HD-FOX, and I presume Foxsat is the same).

If, on the other hand, you mean "extract them to play somewhere else" – yes*. Just take the HDD out and read it somewhere else (on a Linux system preferably).

* So long as encryption doesn't get in the way. IIRC StDef are not encrypted at all, but HiDef are encrypted unless you have installed Nowster's Patch. IIRC there is no means of decrypting, so you have to avoid encrypting recordings in the first place.

 

[prpr]

On the HDR Fox-T2 you can fudge the database(s) from the command line having installed the CF.
I expect you can do the same thing on the Foxsat with CF, but I can't tell you anything specific any more.

 

[Black Hole]

On the HDR Fox-T2 you can fudge the database(s) from the command line having installed the CF.

Is that documented anywhere?

 

[trellis]

Thanks folks. I was hoping there would be some secret trick to exit the setup wizard and enter normal operation mode, but it seems not, sadly.
I don't know of anyone who still uses a satellite dish, but I'll ask around and see if I can get the box hooked up to a dish to complete the scan.
Seems a silly design if you ask me. When Freesat dies (which can't be all that far away) so will these boxes.

 

[Black Hole]

I was hoping there would be some secret trick to exit the setup wizard

Well, there might be – if you have the CF installed and can get to the command line – when prpr give us a hint.

 

[Owen Smith]

I don't know of anyone who still uses a satellite dish, but I'll ask around and see if I can get the box hooked up to a dish to complete the scan.

You don't need a dish, certainly not one properly installed. Surely you just need an LNB so that it will do a scan. Or does it need to successfully find at least one channel?

 

[Rodders53]

Oh heck. I really, really can't remember. As we used to caravan with the Foxsat-HDR in tow, I know that once or more times we had a no signal = no play nicely issue (by an accidental retune due to double bounce of the remote button)... and in the end I think we could play recordings... or mebbe I finally got the dish aligned?

NB The RESET and/or freesat scan was the problem!

They will happily play recordings with 'no signal received' from an antenna (sat dish or aerial). I did that just a week or so ago when I took down my old dish (wallplugs pulling out of wall) and fitted a shiny new one over a couple of days (needed a second person to help lift the new one in place).

With the Foxsat it will look for the home transponder to update clock and EPG overnight but failure doesn't matter... Unless a full rescan is done where the home Tp is essential (for the postcode database setup).

TRY a manual tune (non freesat mode even) to store nowt and see if it then allows access to the MEDIA list? NB There is no RECORDINGs button on my Foxsat-HDR remote, just one labelled MEDIA.

I'd do a reset/retune with my lnb disconnected if I was inclined to investigate this problem for a solution - but not right now.

Simplest action is to take to a location with a universal (not $kyQ wideband) LNB to set it up then never retune / reset it!