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

trellis

New Member
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!)?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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