Az-Box HD-STB User manual

This is an Az-Box User Guide: Put together with information by numerous
Az-Box users.
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Table of contents:
Page: 3::-------AZ Box Quick Start Instructions
Page: 4::-------Setting up the az-box as a slaved receiver
Page: 5::-------Directions to bring box from PAL to NTSC format
Page: 6-11::--Setting up the Network / Formatting the Application Area
Page: 8-11::--Clock / Time & Internet Settings
Page:12-15:--FTP’ing to the Azbox using az-box editor programs
Page:16::------Deleting unwanted satellites instructions
Page: 17-20::How to North Americanize your Az-Box
Page:21::-----Hard Drives for the Azbox Recordings
Page:22-23::-Timed Recording with Azbox using MazEdit
Page:24::------How to change the Boot Logo on the azbox
Page:25::------Changing the order in how channels are stored
Page:26-30::--Questions & Answers from different users
Page:31-34::--Useful tips on the Az-Box
Page:35-36::--How to- completely clean your Azbox HD & Configuration settings
Page:37::------Western Satellite Chart from 5.0 °W to 85.0 °W
Page:38::------Western Satellite Chart from 87.0 °W to 139.0 °W
Page:39::----- ToolBox AzBox HD 2.0 Program info.
Page:40::------What program are you using for your FTP Client?
Page:41::------To move your screen capture pictures from the Azbox to your pc
Page:42::------Transferring files from the Azbox to your pc
Page:43-48::- Secondary Tuners for the Azbox
Page:49-50::- How to Stream Video from the Azbox
Page:51:: ----- Installing New Firmware update using a USB stick
Page:52-53:: - Links to Azbox Editor Programs and Tools
Page:54:: ----- How to downgrade your Azbox firmware version
Page:55:: ----- You-Tube Update for Older firmware versions
The Azbox is a Linux based receiver: All Linux boxes require the owner to gain basic skills in operating.
This manual will give you those basic operating skills.
All the information contained in this user guide for the Azbox has come from many different people who are
actually using this receiver, It has been put together in one place by Stargaze with the help of Radar who
has given much information about this receiver. This was done since we enjoy this hobby and wanted to
share with others & help them as there is no real manual for this receiver.
January: 2011
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AZ BOX Quick Start Instructions
Here are the basic steps to Scan in Channels.
Press the HOME button and go to Settings. Press OK.
Cursor down to TV Channel and press OK. Right Arrow to DVB-S and
Press OK.
Go to Antenna Setup and Press OK and pick the Satellite Name that you
want to use and Press OK.
Set up your Satellite. LNB Freqency to 5150 for C-Band or to 10750 for
Standard Ku-Band and set your DiSEqC Switch to match your setup.
Press the EXIT Button and cursor down to Sat/TP Edit and Press OK.
Cursor down to the TP Frequency Line and then Press the GREEN Button
on the Remote that says: TEXT, just above the up arrow.
This will allow you to add a TP. You then add the Frequency, Symbol Rate,
Polarity, Modulation, FEC and Pilot Setting. (Pilot Setting / 0 = Off / 1 = On.)
Then Press OK to Save this addition. (Standard DVB-S feeds will not
require you to input the FEC or Pilot Options.)
Then Press EXIT Again and this will take you back to the Setup Menu.
Cursor up 1 line to Advanced TP Scan and Press OK.
Cursor down to the Frequency line and Press OK and then go through the
Frequencies to find the one that you just added and Press OK.
Now see if you have Quality. If you don't, then you might need to change
your FEC or Pilot setting, until you do have a lock and then go to TP Scan
and Press OK.
The Channel will scan in and then ask you to save it and say YES.
Then exit all of the way out of the menu and when the bottom bar comes
up, right arrow to TV and Press OK. Then you can select the TV Channel
and view it.
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3

The following has been tested on the AZ-ULTRA & AZ-PREMIUM PLUS
receivers.
Setting up the Azbox as a slaved receiver
Items you should have…
1) 2- high frequency splitters with power out only to one side.
(I use Tru-Spec HFS-2/2150 : 900-2150Mhz splitters)
2) 1- 4x1 switch: (I use a quail-tv NDS-7014)
3) 1-HDMI cable
4) extra cable line for the new connections
5) optional**quick connectors for the end of your cable wiring**
Run the C-Band line from the dish that is already in your home to the input of one of
the splitters. The side the line going to the “OUT” on the splitter now connects to
your main dish moving receiver as this controls the dish and polarity settings.
The other side of the splitter without the line towards the “OUT” will go to the 4x1
switch Line 1 for C-band.
Now if you have ku on your dish do the same as you did above but now for ku, and
run it to the 4x1 switch Line 2.
The line marked “Receiver” on the 4x1 switch goes to the Azbox. So you may need
some extra cable wiring to do this setup.
Now mark your Tru-Spec HFS’s (C-for c-band & KU for ku-band)
With this setup you now have one line going to the Azbox for C&ku and are not
changing out the lines whenever you want to view something on the different bands.
==============================================
Later you will need to make the following changes in the Azbox
The receiver will make the changes for you in the Settings menu under TV Channel-
Tuner-Antenna setup under the “DiSEqC settings.
LNB 1 for C-Band
LNB 2 for KU
Now that you have the dish connections set up your now ready to turn on the Azbox.
=======================================
Let’s assume you have the latest firmware in your Azbox.
This now relieves all the pressure on you for details you may not understand if you are
new to the Azbox.
Hook up a HDMI cable from the Azbox to your monitor/tv set.
Now you can Power on the Azbox.
The Azbox defaults to the PAL format when first booted up unless this setting has
already been changed for you so you need the following instructions:
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4

Here are the directions for bringing the Azbox from Pal (default format) to NTSC.
If your receiver defaults to pal format
to changed the setting in the Menu from PAL, back to NTSC
You need to do the following steps using the remote keypad.
1) Reboot the receiver by the switch on the back of the unit.
After it powers up and you see the menu rolling, follow these steps:
2) Down Arrow 6 Times
3) Press the OK button
4) Right Arrow 1 Time
5) Down Arrow 1 Time
6) Right Arrow 1 Time
You will now have changed the setting in the Menu from PAL, back to NTSC.
7) The receiver will ask you if you want to save your change and Press YES.
======================================================
Now you’re in the NTSC mode and you should have a picture on your TV.
You need to be careful while in these menu screens. If you make a change that you are
not aware of you can change the settings that will take affect after you power off the
receiver and will have to come back in and re-do the settings. Take your time!
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5

Setting up the Network:
The first items we must contend with are our Network Settings - setup parameters and
addressing. Go to the HOME button on your remote and select the SETTINGS area -
Internet and take a look at what you have set up for IP addressing and all the other items.
If your in this area now write down all your settings as they will all be reset or erased
during this process:
NETWORK: WiFi (Only on the Premium Azbox)
IP SETTING: STATIC IP (recommended when using FTP)
IP ADDRESS: 192.168.1.102 (assigned to your Azbox by you)
SUBNET: 255.255.255.0
GATEWAY: 192.168.1.1 (this is our router's base address)
DNS1: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (fill this in from the information from your provider if you don't
know it.
DNS 2: 0.0.0.0 or just leave blank if you don't know it or if it does not apply.
This is all the information that you should have set up previously to get the WiFi or the
WIRED NETWORK to connect. If nothing is recorded here (all zeros) then you haven't
set up your NETWORK yet and should do so.
After this is set up you need to write down this info in case you need it later on.
=========================================================
Beginners should skip down now to #20 below =====================
Items 1 thru 19 should be for seasoned users only! Do these at your own risk!!!
Seasoned Users Here, we are simply starting with the basic instructions from loading
a new firmware via the USB, but we need to take a detour somewhere in the midst of the
process. Let's start with the USB instructions that I mentioned earlier, and then I will
branch off when necessary.
1] Download the firmware to your PC (all Azbox’s use the same firmware). Create a
folder for Azbox IMAGE FILES and individual folders within that main folder for each
firmware. This is for archiving purposes, but not entirely necessary. You can save all the
firmware files simply for your own personal reasons.
2] Copy and paste the firmware you wish to update your Azbox with to a USB flash
memory stick and rename the file on that device as "patch". NOTE: You may need to
rename the file as patch.bin, but do not do so unless the Azbox does not recognize the
patch file when named simply "patch". The LINUX operating system is a little picky
about the filename format, so be careful here. No harm will become of anything if you
rename the firmware file incorrectly, it (the file) will simply not be recognized by the
Azbox and nothing will happen - no harm and no foul.
3] Now that the firmware file is copied to the USB drive and renamed "patch", remove
the USB drive from the PC and insert it into the USB port of the Azbox.
4] Press and hold the STB POWER button on the remote for the Azbox until it enters the
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REBOOT mode (4-5 seconds).
5] When the Azbox reboots, somewhere during the process, it will read the USB drive
and should identify the new patch file automatically. If and when it does, the Azbox will
present you with an option menu of what to do next. This menu will contain the
following five options:
1) USB
2) NETWORK
3) OTA
4) Format Application Area
5) Boot without updating
6] This time around, you will select option #4, Format Application Area. Select that
option and press OK.
7] Position the cursor or arrow at option #4 (format the application area) and press OK.
You will be prompted to press OK to confirm this selection, so press OK and the
application area will be formatted.
8] Formatting the application area is fast and it is now complete, next you’re prompted to
press the EXIT button to return to the previous menu. So press EXIT.
9] Now that you are back to the UPGRADE menu, you will see the same five options to
select from, now select option #1, upgrade via USB and continue from step #6.
10] You DO want to upgrade to the "patch" file found on the USB device, so press OK.
11] Your Azbox is now extracting all the features to install.
NOTE: DO NOT turn the power OFF during this process!
If you do, you are on your own!
12] When the process is finished, you will be returned to the option menu. Now select
option #5 (Boot without update).
13] This process (because of the formatting of the application area) will erase all your
user settings, so now you are starting entirely from scratch.
14] The first item you need to contend with is not having any display on the TV. This is
because the system has reverted to factory defaults and unless your TV and entertainment
center matches these defaults, you will have no picture/video to view.
15] First step to recover from this is to reset our resolution settings. Observe the front
panel display of the Azbox Premium Plus. It should say "SETTINGS".
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16] Press the remote button labeled "resolution" once. The FPD (front panel display) on
the Azbox Premium Plus should say COMPOSITE.
17] Press the < or > arrow buttons to navigate between the output video connections that
will be used. Your choices are: COMPOSITE, COMPONENT, SCART and HDMI. Stop
on the option that you are going to use and press OK.
18] Once you have selected the output type in step #17 you will be prompted to select
either PAL or NTSC. The display should default to PAL, but press the < or > buttons on
the remote and you may toggle between these two selections. Select the one that is
appropriate for your setup and press OK.
19] Select NTSC and pressed OK. Now you have new options for your resolution.
Now for the Non-Seasoned user (beginners)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pressing “home” on the remote then left arrow 1 time (<) to settings then hit “OK” arrow
down to “display” and then hit “ok” to get to this screen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20] 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Stop on 1080i if that fits your TV format and press
OK. Now the "settings" menu appears on your TV screen. Select what resolution is
appropriate for your own equipment.
21] Now, you have a bunch of items to reset as all have been reset to factory default
selections. Simply go down the list as it is presented.
22] Language/Time: The language for all parameters default to ENGLISH, so you don't
need to adjust them if you want English, but the time is incorrect.
23] TIME: use the > button to navigate over to the selection area and the up/down arrow
buttons to navigate to the selection you wish to adjust.
24] Highlight the DATE STYLE and change this to "AMERICAN".
25] Highlight the TIME STYLE and change it to "24 hour format". You select which you
like to use best.
26] Scroll down to TIME OFFSET and set it to GMT -6.00 hours (which will be correct
for central time zone). Set this to correctly reflect your time.
27] Scroll down to Daylight Saving Time" and select NO as this is now standard time
here and not DST. Again set this to reflect what is now current for you.
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8

28] Now, you want to synchronize the time clock with the rest of the world, so scroll
UP to AUTO SYNCHRONIZE option and select INTERNET. When you select OK,
the Azbox will go to a specific URL and update the box's internal clock with the
internet clock from a specific URL. Press the GREEN button on the remote to select
or update/edit that URL if needed.
(If you are a beginner and set the internet up earlier you should be alright so
continue on at #30 below, the following is for other users)
29] Oh! Guess what! This feature failed! Why? You failed to set up your internet
connection after formatting the application area. The connection was reset and you have
to go back and restore it all.
≤
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Let’s try to restore the connection.
1] First you need to go to SETTINGS > INTERNET.
You will see that the system (Azbox) has defaulted to a WIRED NETWORK and
DYNAMIC (DHCP) protocol. You want to use STATIC and WiFi.
2] It is best if you start with a "WIRED" network connection first. Therefore, you are
going to reconnect an Ethernet cable between the router and the Azbox.
3] It is recommended to utilize a STATIC IP ADDRESS if you intend to use FTP and
TELNET
4] Now you are back at the INTERNET SETUP menu within your AZBOX. You are
going to select WIRED NETWORK and STATIC IP. Next, you need to fill in the blanks
once again as they have all defaulted to 0.0.0.0
5] Earlier you were asked to record these addresses and now is when we need them. Enter
the information as necessary for IP address, SUBNET MASK, GATEWAY and DNS1.
You may not require DNS2.
6] Once you have set all these addresses up, highlight SETUP and press OK.
7] It should connect just fine. If not, you will have to take a further discussion about
NETWORKING on later.
8] Let us say that all went without a hitch in step #7 and continue.
9] Now, if you wish to use the WIFI connection for the Azbox Premium, you need to
alter one setup parameter.
10] Simply remove the hard-wired Ethernet cable from the Azbox and in the INTERNET
MENU, change the selection from WIRED to WIFI.
11] The moment you do this, my Azbox begins searching for "wireless connections" that
are available and in range.
12] It finds the wireless router and the Azbox knows that it is an encrypted connection
and displays, "This WIFI requires Security Encryption Key".
13] If you press the > button, it takes you to the identified encryption option.
14] If you press > once again, you will enter the field to type in the required encryption
key.
15] Type in your encryption KEY and press OK. Now the button on the menu display
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