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

[HugeMaximum]

However, reading the CF Documentation around the Channel Editor it's unlikely to work I feel...
See CF Documentation: Channel Editor: Some Important Information Tab as the 'nothing stored' data probably trumps the CF channel editor update...
Certainly seems to on mine (showing a very old Channel Edit list in the WebIF but no dice for watching the recordings on a connected TV, other than via streaming after reboots). It'd not been switched on in a very long time.

I have two Foxsat-HDRs:
The one, mentioned above, now stuck in the tuning/no signal (as LNB disconnected and factory reset).
Both running CF so I can, potentially, do the necessary file copy/paste manipulations before (re)connecting the second one to my dish to (re)gain access to the Media files in the Humax UI after a proper freesat tune.

On a Foxsat-HDR (with custom FW) with no tuned channels (in "setup Wizard" state), maybe can telnet in and copy the FOXSAT-HDR_channels_backup.fcl file back to /dev/mtd6 - then reboot the box. If by some chance /dev/mtd6 can't be copied over (e.g. because it may be 'locked' as in use), then maybe try stopping the settop process, copy the file, then reboot the box.

 

[HugeMaximum]

Important to say the the commands are those issued on a telnet session into a Foxsat-HDR that has custom firmware! Edited earlier post to point that out.

 

[Rodders53]

So, from the machine root: it's in

mnt/hd4/opt/channels/

Note that after a reboot one needs to OK / EXIT out of the retune prompt to the MENU dialog screen for the CF ethernet connection via WebIF to work... including FTP access... not sure wrt Telnet, I never tried.

Test 1
Copy FOXSAT-HDR_channels_backup.fcl from my Lounge -HDR to the Bedroom one (via FTP).
Reboot via the CF restart now plugin... and wait...
Traipse upstairs to EXIT from the retune prompt screen: so that didn't work, then.

Test 2
Copy FOXSAT-HDR_channels_update.fcl from Lounge via FTP.
Reboot via the CF restart now plugin... and wait...
Traipse upstairs to EXIT from the retune.
As that didn't work either.

Even a full mains reboot did nothing useful.
So it needs connecting to a working (universal) LNB.

 

[HugeMaximum]

So, from the machine root: it's in

mnt/hd4/opt/channels/

Note that after a reboot one needs to OK / EXIT out of the retune prompt to the MENU dialog screen for the CF ethernet connection via WebIF to work... including FTP access... not sure wrt Telnet, I never tried.

Test 1
Copy FOXSAT-HDR_channels_backup.fcl from my Lounge -HDR to the Bedroom one (via FTP).
Reboot via the CF restart now plugin... and wait...
Traipse upstairs to EXIT from the retune prompt screen: so that didn't work, then.

Test 2
Copy FOXSAT-HDR_channels_update.fcl from Lounge via FTP.
Reboot via the CF restart now plugin... and wait...
Traipse upstairs to EXIT from the retune.
As that didn't work either.

Even a full mains reboot did nothing useful.
So it needs connecting to a working (universal) LNB.

Worth a try (via Channel Editor)!
As per my previous post, maybe try bypassing Channel Editor... copy the box's actual channel data /dev/mtd6 out to a file (on the 'tuned in' box), and copy it back from the file to /dev/mtd6 on the box in setup wizard / tuning mode.

 

[Rodders53]

Worth a try (via Channel Editor)!
As per my previous post, maybe try bypassing Channel Editor... copy the box's actual channel data /dev/mtd6 out to a file (on the 'tuned in' box), and copy it back from the file to /dev/mtd6 on the box in setup wizard / tuning mode.

One has no ftp access in that state... Dunno about telnet... only use it once in a blue moon to get into maintenance mode for fixdisk; and have to follow the instructions in the Documentation to do that!
But exiting to the -- MENU -- mode on the display will allow FTP.

If/when I get inclined to fire them both up and go searching for wherever that directory lurks.... (see post #23) There's numerous /dev/ folders on my machines!! I'll give that a try.

 

[prpr]

I can't help but think that most (if not all) of the answers are in the channel-editor package already.
/opt/sbin/chanlist save creates a backup on the working machine into /opt/channels/FOXSAT-HDR_channels_backup.fcl
Then transport this file to the non-working machine, rename it to /opt/channels/FOXSAT-HDR_channels_update.fcl and then /opt/sbin/chanlist load (or better, just copy the file into
/tmp/ and run the equivalent commands manually as found in the script).
Reboot and see what happens.
I have no idea what the file format of the .fcl file/tuning data is, as it's been ages since I looked at it, but possibly you could eliminate the backup step and just fabricate something instead, but it always helps to start with known good data.
Reading the help for the package tells you how it all works.

 

[Rodders53]

I can't help but think that most (if not all) of the answers are in the channel-editor package already.
Reading the help for the package tells you how it all works.

See above post #23. In my no Linux knowledge untrained way done via FTP file copy and replace plus machine reboots. From my Lounge Foxsat to a once working but factory reset Bedroom Foxsat with no LNB connection. No joy. Having read the Help Documentation of the Channel Editor plugin myself prior to doing it, I was fairly sure it wouldn't/couldn't work; and it didn't!

The only place I can find a /dev/mtd6 is a zero bytes file in both boxes' /ROOT/dev/ folder dated 09/02/2014 (on both). So nothing to see or do there either... unless I'm missing summat special about Linux on the Foxsat?

I conclude that I now need to reconnect the LNB to the Bedroom unit to get it to function properly. Unless others conclude differently. I'll wait a few days.

PS FTP was via my Qnap NAS (Linux, probably) File Manager not my windoze laptop. Should that matter.

 

[prpr]

In my no Linux knowledge untrained way done via FTP file copy and replace plus machine reboots. From my Lounge Foxsat to a once working but factory reset Bedroom Foxsat with no LNB connection. No joy. Having read the Help Documentation of the Channel Editor plugin myself prior to doing it, I was fairly sure it wouldn't/couldn't work; and it didn't!

The only place I can find a /dev/mtd6 is a zero bytes file in both boxes' /ROOT/dev/ folder dated 09/02/2014 (on both). So nothing to see or do there either... unless I'm missing summat special about Linux on the Foxsat?

You can't write stuff to /dev/mtd6 using FTP, so stop pi55ing about with it and follow the instructions above, or at least read the script I mentioned. You need to use Telnet for this. I assume you can get that to work.
If not, then things are even harder. It might still be possible by crafting a package, putting on a USB stick and plugging it in, but that's a whole new level of complexity.

/dev is for devices on Linux, either character or block, alongside a smattering of directories, links and possibly an odd regular file.