how do i marry virgin 102 to ex subbed 501???

[moneyfarmer0]

just got my rom 102,rev103 in..its a virgin,open,unlocked,w/ valid atr...but i have no idea how to get started..i think i am gonna go w/ romcode since i hear its easist for newbies, but dont i need to marry cam to ird..FIRST, or do that later,,,how do i get started...what do i do?
thanks...im lost
just need to marry card to ird first ...b4 i subscribe to romcode...right????? how? does anybody know?
peace

[aposton]

no,you dont have to marry card to rec.,Butmake sure you read all instructions,before you try to program card or receiver

[Ohms]

Only Dish can marry a card to an ird.

The first thing you need to do is make a backup of your card the way it is before you do anything to it. Use N2Edit to save the card image.

Then you need to decide what "fix" you are going to use. You might think about going (for now) with a NO RSA fix so all you have to do is change the IRD# and BK of your IRD.

[moneyfarmer0]

im so freaking excited to be getting some help...thank you all for this
here we go...
i have ex-subbed pvr 501 w/ updated firmware(p308), have virgin,open,unlocked, rom 102 rev 103 w/valid atr string. i have never tested w/ plastic, b/c i tried avrx and messed up solder job..decided i wanted to try and learn something i have more control over...i dont know, what modded,rsa,glitching and many more words i have read in forums w/ out context or explanation of their meaning. boy i feel vulnerable right now...

[Ohms]

Ok big boy. Stay calm :)

Can you jtag the 501? you say you messed up the solder job. You will have to be able to read and write the tsop on the 501 to be able to get it up and running with any method except AVR-X. The only exception is if the card is already married to the IRD, and in your case, it is not.

So...jtag....is it working?

[moneyfarmer0]

i got to hold the freakin pins to jtag port...guy who sld this thing to me called it hads free...my ass!!!

[moneyfarmer0]

apparently i cant jtag it...am i completely screwed?

[moneyfarmer0]

its an exsubbed ird, does that matter..i know the box key# and ird#, and firmware is up to date...does that help?

[Ohms]

get someone to help you. you need to jtag it a couple of times. It's tricky so take your time. don't be afraid to fail 10 times.

What we need to do first, is to get a good copy of your tsop saved onto your hard drive. have someone else work the computer while you hold the jtag.
Open jkeys. it should detect the 501. If it dosen't, mess with the pins and keep hitting detect until it does.
There is a pull down called "Region". Make that say FLASH 2
There is a button on the right hand side called "Save Mem". Push it. :)
It will then ask you where to save it. USE THE DEFAULT FILENAME AND DON'T FORGET WHERE YOU SAVE IT.
Hole the jtag steady as you can. it will take a little while to read the tsop. you should see a progress indicator.

You need to get through this part. You will have to write it back again later so get used to doing it. Try Try Try again.

The first time i jtaged my pvr, it took me days to get it right. Had the wrong pins, got corrupt image, couldn't write and the ird wouldn't power back on. It seemed hopeless until someone on this site, I think it was skinerd, helped me get it back. Don't give up.

If you messed up on the soldering, it could prevent jtagging. IF there is a solder bridge between two points that should not be connected, that would be a problem. There is a few ways to deal with that too. The bottom line is.... don't give up on it. Keep reporting back and we will help.

Report back.

[funtime007]

LOL oh man that;s funny talk about holding the hand grate work guys
TOO FUNNY

[moneyfarmer0]

I guess you was born knowing all this $hit huh!?!
get bent
mf

[Ohms]

Happy to provide some entertainment. :)

The thing is, walking a new guy though stuff not only helps the new guy, but also helps masses that read this thread. Everybody says READ READ READ but if there is no walk through to read, it's hard to piece it together. It's threads like this one that can help a lot of folks. That's why I take the time.
Anyway, moneyfarmer seems like a nice guy. If he was being a whiner, I would not bother.

[moneyfarmer0]

thank you ohms..everybody starts somewhere...i wish i didnt have to lower and humble myself to ask how to do this... i just ordered a ird already done,.... but I do need to learn a backup. And I do appreciate it...Im not sure if jtag is possible, due to avrx header, but I will keep trying and post back tommorow. thanks again Ohms..may peace and good karma find you.
I know it will

[Ohms]

thanks mf. I think you will just need to get the solder cleaned up on the header pin install. Stop by radio shack tomorrow and pick up some solder wick or a solder sucker. The wick is a little copper braid and the sucker is a vacume thing. You need to get that unwanted solder off of wherever you got it. It's easy. Besides, you want a PVR for the bedroom don't you?

[1one]

Yoy are right on one thing ohms. I consider myself an advanced tester and I will be following this thread myself. Sure helps not just for a newbie but an old drunk to.

[sheepdog1969]

I have the same setup- 501 PVR never subed with open ROM 102 rev 103 that came with the IRD. Have JTAGed both Flash 1 & 2. Would appreciate next instructions. Thanks.

[Ohms]

You need to decide what form of solution you want to put on the card. The public stuff is working right now, but may become a target for ecm due to a couple of issues.

1. Cloning or sharing an IRD# and Box Keys with multiple boxes. When the #s are public, they become an attractive target for an ECM. We have not seen one for a while, but you never know what is in store.

2. Modified TSOP. When you mod the pre shared key portion of the tsop, you are also open to ECM.

In the past we have seen cards destroyed, tsops corrupted so box won’t power on, recorded shows wiped out… I believe the worst is yet to be seen.

The nice things about the public fixes is they are free and currently working. The tough thing is you have to learn how to create tiers, set time zones, zip codes, remap locals, apply patches, all using a variety of different programs. This stuff is not hard, but takes some investment of time with a fair amount of trial and error before you start getting it. If you’re a newbie, plan on programming your card over and over again until you get it the way you want it. I am not an expert on these things, and can barely get it done with spoon feeding from the smart guys. :)

Then there are private solutions like ROMCODE. There are others out there, but this is the one that Mili brokers and that I know about, so I will only address this one. This type of solution uses less distributed IRD and BK info than the public fixes, and also uses a (hopefully) different type of blocker. You are still open to ECM, because the providers can sub to ROMCODE just like you can. It is certainly less widely distributed that the public fixes, and you would think that would make it less of a target for an ECM.

The REALLY nice thing about ROMCODE is that it is SUPER easy. Check box tier selection, check here for porn, here for sports, and so on. Point and click remapping of locals to the lower channels they are supposed to be on. Pull down timezone menu. Option to use their IRD/BK info, or use your own married card if you have one. One click clean. One click programming. Automatically checks if card is locked when programming is completed. It’s literally a 60 second process from start to finish. Point, Click, WatchTV.

So………

If this is fun stuff and a hobby that you would like to become better at and learn as much as you can, then public fixes are the way to start. Actually emulation is probably one of the best ways to learn, but lets not go there. This is the Rom102 section right?

If you want to hurry up and watch tv, and don’t want to mess around any more than absolutely necessary, go with Romcode. You need to pay for that convenience.

IMHO, the very best option right now (for a newbie anyway) is to use an IRD that is an ex sub, and still has the yellow card it was subbed with, along with the ROMCODE software. An example would be Mili’s ex-sub 510 with married Rom102. In this situation, you do not need to do anything to the tsop at all, and you will have a very small ecm target. You just program the card, and away you go.

I sincerely hope this helps someone.

I hope this helps someone.

[Ohms]

Sheepdog. You say you jtagged 1 and 2. It's really only 2 that matters. 1 will take care of itself. You need to make sure your saved copy of 2 is not corrupt. Do this by opening the file you saved with flashedit, and make sure the CRC is ok. If it is, make another copy of it somewhere else on your hard drive. Then make ANOTHER copy. :) You will need one to edit the BK and IRD# info on.

[t160hq]

I have the same setup- 501 PVR never subed with open ROM 102 rev 103 that came with the IRD. Have JTAGed both Flash 1 & 2. Would appreciate next instructions. Thanks.

Sheepdog do a read on that cam and check for tiers. This process gets real simple as ohms said if that puppy has been subbed at one point. Then it's just a matter of adding tiers and blocker to the cam with no mods to the receiver. If you bought it used a lot of sellers tell you it's never been subbed even if it has. Usually because a lot of unpaid PPV are on it and charlie won't turn it on until they are paid for. For your purposes this is not a issue since you can clear them yourself.

t160hq

[sheepdog1969]

Checked the card. No tiers. This was a new IRD when I bought it. I have successfully programed one of Mili,s DP311's with and internal 102 with blocker and tiers. Think i could do this 501 with some help. I assume the plastic is the same as what I did with the DP311's internal 102. What I am not sure about is the TSOP mod. Had to erase part of a TSOP and let it restream once before. Let me know what I need to do and I will give it a shot. Thanks.

[Ohms]

PVRs are the most difficult. Whenever you change the IRD# and Boxkeys, you have to remarry the hard drive. This is a procedure that many people find very frustrating.

There is lots of information on this site about the process. Here is my suggestion.
Since you know you will have to remarry the hard drive, just forget about it for now. You can program the card and make sure you can get it working with the first. After you have it working, just copy the working tsop to somewhere you can find it, and start on the hard drive process.

Super short version.

1. get the card working with what ever box keys and Ird # you need to use for the solution you are going to use. The readme in the blocker file should tell you what these need to be. Save a copy of the working tsop.
2. get a p075 version of the PVR firmware. Don't worry about the build config, it's just to marry the drive and the build config won't matter (much) for this.
3. using flashedit, open your p075 and change the IRD# and BK to the ones you used on your working tsop from step one.
4. with the card in the box and the sat cable hooked up, boot up the box. you should hear (listen carefully) a little clicking sound from the drive. This is the repartitioning process happening. :) you want to hear this.
5. I usually let it try to update the firmware from the stream. Because the build config may not match, you probably won't be able to do a check switch at this point. Don't worry about that. Just use the remote and shut the power off. Hopefully, it will stream update.
6. Reflash the tsop with the image you saved from step one.
7. check switch.
8. watch tv., or start over if you still get the hard drive error.

I have found that if you can get p075 to stream update, it will almost always work. If you can't, it may be because your build config is so far off that it can't even see the stream. Try a check switch and see if you can even get the 119 sat. If you can't, try another p075 version till you get one that works. I've seen p080 work too. If there is one that matches your build config, use that as your first try. It might take a few tries but keep at it.

PLEASE report back with your results.

[sheepdog1969]

I need some clarification, please. I have the IRD# and the BK for this PVR. I ran the unit with a MC. Does this make any difference with regard to the procedure you outlined in you last post? Thanks.

[Ohms]

Unless you have an AVR-X or a yellow card that was subbed in that box, the only way you can avoid changing your box keys and IRD# is to do the DT08 procedure where you mod the tsop. I have never done that and can't help you there. Lots of people have. It's going to be a lot harder for any of you newer testers though.

Lots to understand before you can attempt that. I think remarrying the hard drive and using the box keys from the 3m/blocker you are going to use is easier. But again, that is just me, and I could be wrong, as I often am. :)

Only 2 ways not to have to write to the tsop.
1. AVR-X
2. Use ex-sub box with yellow card that it was subbed with.

[1one]

Can you explain the firmware update? My question is why is this necessary? Will it not automaticaly update if you use an exsubbed yellow?

[1one]

Just noticed your avatar! What part of country?

[sheepdog1969]

Ohms-

Used Flashedit to open TSOP 2. This is my first experience with this program. In the CRC box. the color is "green" and it says "6f4a". I assume "green" means it is good, correct?

[Ohms]

Sheepdog1969, you are good to go. The green means it passed the crc test and you have a good saved copy of your tsop. Copy it to another location so you have a version that you will NEVER touch. It will be the backup of your original.

Now you need to decide what testing method you are going to use. You have an open rom. Are you considering Romcode? Or do you want to "go cheap" :) and use public files? BTW, the public stuff is working just fine right now and will force you to learn some stuff if you go that way. Whatever you decide, if your going to use that open rom, you will have to remarry the HD.


1one, I assume your asking me about my "Master Angler" title. Mili gave that to me because I'm a fishing fool. I am ashamed to admit I live in California. :(
Catfish, Trout, Bass, and then whatever is biting are my favorites in that order. I also believe going fishing is more important than catching fish. It's a great excuse to do nothing.

[sheepdog1969]

Think I will go the public route, not because of the cost, but because I in this hobby to learn. The personal satisfaction is worth more than the free TV. I already have a sub. In one of your earlier posts, you talked about getting the ROM to work. Have already done one of Mili's DP311's successfully, so have a little experience with apllying patches and tiers, but would love to have you walk me through this one. Thanks.

[Ohms]

I don't know about a total walk through, but I'll try to help. Tell us which file you have. Which ever one it is, you will first need to change the IRD and BK info on your saved tsop image, and flash it onto the box. I forgot to ask you... does your PVR have a vidmod done on it already? I am not 100% sure which ones need it, but lots of them need a vidmod before you can write to the tsop because of a write protected sector. I know some 501s don't need it if they have DT chips. The symptom of this would be something like........... If your write to the tsop gets to 99% and fails, then you need a vidmod. Let us know if that happens, otherwise, write the tsop with new ird and bk on to your box.

As soon as you change those numbers and reset the box, you will get a "serious" error message about the hard drive. don't worry about it. It's not really serious unless you have programs saved you want to watch. Just get the card working first and then worry about the hard drive after the card is working 100%.
I think it goes like this.
Clean the card, open the bin, apply the tiers, install the blocker, write back to card, try (hopefully fail) to read the card with the blocker on it. If you can't read it in N2edit, then your blocker is working. THIS LAST STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!! DON'T STREAM THE CARD WITHOUT A WORKING BLOCKER!!!!!
insert card, plug in box, check switch, watch channel 492 for about 5 minutes. :)

Please understand, I have NEVER done what you are going to do. My rom is married and I have romcode. I have done AVR-X a lot, and ROM10to102, played with CEMU, and all the N1 stuff. I do know that if you get the right file, your readme.txt file is probably the best walkthrough you can get.

If any of the plastic wizards out there see me telling these folks something wrong, PLEASE correct me. I'm just trying to help.

Post your results and good luck.

[sheepdog1969]

Ohms

Both my chips are DT's. Have not done the Vidmod. Like you, not sure if it is necessary. As far as the 102 bin, I have a 102 working in a DP311 that I just did. Would that work for the 501? It has the tiers and the blocker on and is working flawlessly. I checked it when I was done, and the blocker would not let me read the card. Thanks.

[Ohms]

I would think that would would work just fine. As long as it's a 102 bin. Just dbl check the blocker status before you stream it.

[1one]

OHMS,
Your instructions for plastic are correct. A bit simplified, but correct. Plastic is all I have ever tested. So if help is needed there...

[Ohms]

Another important issue that I've seen before. If you erase your tsop to reflash it, and for some reason (vidmod) it fails during the write, you may be faced with a box that will no longer power on and that won't be accessible via jkeys. There is a way to fix it, but we can go there when we have to.

The road ahead is riddled with potholes that could destroy your illusion of easy "free" tv.

:)

[1one]

One more thing. Do not let my join date or post count fool you guys. Hardly ever visit here. Just following this post. I have been testing for quite a few yrs. and can be reached at several sites under this name. For cc i use different nick.

[Ohms]

gotcha 1one. Please post back when you are successful with your pvr. I would like to see the actual steps you go through to make it work on the 102. Thanks for your help here.
BTW for all you peeps wanting to get into this stuff but not wanting to spend too much $$$.... I have a suggestion for ya.

There is a ton of dish equipment being sold every weekend in garage sales and flea markets. You can really get some great deals, and most of the ones I've seen lately have had married Rom101s or 102s included. These things can be had dirt cheap.
All you will need to do is pickup an unlocker to open the married rom with and you are in business.

Mili has just reduced the price on the Nexus unlockers to $99 shipped. This should open the 101s, 102, and is rumored to open the 103s as well.

[sheepdog1969]

Ohms-

Found a post that stated that a 501 with DT chips does not need a vidmod. So I am lucky. Will be on the road for a week without the ability to test. Will get back on it when I return. When you see this post resurface, please read. Looking forward to success. Thanks.

[1one]

OHMS,
I have had my 510 up and running since Jan. Got lucky when a friend gave it to me. Married 102/rev103. Simple to reactivate and no need for jtaging. Jtag seems to be where most people have problem. Reactivating an exsub in any DT receiver with a married 102 is a very simple process.

[fubr]

been a hell of a week,
Good thread guys.
So anybody heard from moneyfarmer. I was really rooting for this guy to get going by this weekend.
Sorry I could not help him more but pvr-s are not my strongest point. I did not want to leave any info out or confuse him

[Ohms]

he PMed me and said his 301 with header installed came in and is working well with the AVR-X. I think he is taking a break and watchin some tv. He still needs to get his 501 fixed. Its a solder mess. I'm going to advise him to use the rom102 with the 510 and keep the 301 with the avr-x. He just needs to be able to get that damn 501 to jtag which is not working. Looks like a job for Skinerd. :)

[Ohms]

I was messing around with my old rom10 and 11 this morning and though I'd try a program that many have talked about. It's called TCFD (Tier Creator For Dummies) so I figured, THATS ME. :)

What a nice piece of software! This thing creates the whole 3m-blocker-tiers patch. All I had to do was clean my rom11 and apply the patch. Talk about easy.. My rom10 took all of about 10 minutes to get fully up and running with the correct timezone, zip, locals mapping, and the tiers I wanted. SWEET!!!!

We sure have a lot of great coders in this hobby. Its a good thing they choose to use thier powers for niceness instead of evil. :)

I know..... Rom102 thread, but hey, it's 102 emulation right? close enough? :) :) :)

L8r