ViewSat VS9000HD User manual

VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual.
•is manual was constructed for the FATDOC growing population of new VS9000HD users.
•Use the manual for a quick reference guide when things go wrong with your unit. Answers are listed below.
•Please read each section of this manual and familiarize yourself with key features for troubleshooting.
is manual was created for all VS9000HD owners of the world..... enjoy.
A paper life raft
Table of Content:
•1............. HOW TO CONNECT YOUR RECEIVER
•2............. 8PSK CARD
•3............. SET-UP SYSTEM
•4............. MENU STRUCTURE
•5............. INSTALLING FIRMWARE / BIN FILES
•6............. SPDIF AUDIO
•7............. RECORD/PLAYBACK
•8............. CABLES
•9............. HOW TO RECOVER FROM BOOT-LOOP
•10........... COPY FILES TO FLASH DRIVES
•11........... SAVING CHANNELS/SATELLITE INFORMATION
•12........... SATELLITE DISHES AND LNBs
•13........... SWITCHES
•14........... ANTENNA SET-UP
•15........... CHANNEL SCAN
• 16........... TROUBLESHOOTING / QUICK TIPS
SAFTY PRECAUTIONS:
Do not block the receiver ventilation holes. Ensure that free airflow is maintained around the receiver. Never
set the receiver on soft furnishings or carpets. Do not use or store the receiver where it is exposed to direct
sunlight, or near heater. Never stack other electronic equipment on top of the receiver. Place the receiver at
least 30mm from the wall.
CAUTION:
Changers or modifications not expressly approved by manufacture responsible for compliance could void the
users authority to operate the equipment. Main Software still resides in BETA.
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VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual. April /2008

(1) HOW TO CONNECT YOUR RECEIVER: REAR PANEL:
•1. Satellite IN Connect RG6 Cable.
•2. Loop-Out
•3. UHF Remote Antenna Module / Replace with 8PSK Module
•4. Serial Port
•5. USB Port
•6. HDMI Output
•7. SPDIF Digital Output
NOTE: When 8PSK Card is used RG6 Cable connects between 3 and 2 this allows HD with US
Providers.
NOTE: With Revision 1 VS9000HD unit here is only one port showing as I have shown , Revision 2
has two ports for the UHF Module insert.
(2) 8PSK CARD INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION:
•1. Remove the cover and face the front towards you.
•2. is is Important GROUND your self or DISCHARGE any static electricity by touching METAL
before you continue.
•3. e 8PSK Module come with two cables one black one white and they will only connect to their
connectors, you can not cross them.
•4. Remove the UHF Remote Antenna Module and replace it with the 8PSK Module.
•5. Connect the black cable to the connector at the bottom side of the 8PSK to connector of MLB
(main logic board) connect the white cable 8PSK to the top/left connector of the MLB.
•Replace the cover.
Complete Installation guide go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QB58hjyjXA
VS9000HD 8PSK UHF Adapter Module:
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VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual. April /2008

(3) SET UP SYSTEM:
•1. From your Satellite RG6 cable connect it to Dish In.
•2. Loop-OUT is connect to the 8PSK Card Module IN.
•3. 8PSK IN is connected to Loop-OUT.
•4. Serial Port is connected to your LapTop for File Transfer as needed.
•5. USB Port is used STB Software upgrades and for Recording to a External Hard Drive. Front/Rear.
•6. HDMI is used to connect to Receiver or HDTV or other.
•7. SPDIF is used to connect Optical Digital Audio to a Receiver or Other Device with same interface.
NOTE: Make sure all connections are in good order and connected to there right IN/OUT-PUTS.
Problems are found when this is not achieved or components are not in good order.
NOTE: Turn VS9000HD Unit ON and load software.
(4) MENU STRUCTURE: SEE VS9000HD MANUAL FOR ALL CHANGERS:
(5) LOADING SOFTWARE:
•1. loading the (BF) Bin File via USB Flash Drive, insert it into the front panel USB connector behind
the front panel cover by pushing the cover in to unlock.
•2. Change you TV INPUT to Satellite INPUT and press OK.
•3. On the Remote Control press Menu and this will bring up the Main Menu of the VS9000HD
receiver.
•4. Scroll down to System Information / Receiver Upgrade and select USB at the bottom of the Menu.
•5. Firmware upgrade and Bin Files are uploaded here using USB flash drive. Press OK
•6. Select the firmware / Bin File upgrade file from the USB Drive and press OK.
•7. When file transfer is completed, the receiver will be automatically rebooted.
NOTE: If the transfer stops or gets distorted just turn the receiver offin the back and start again.
After you restart and the display just shows BOOT refer to BOOT-LOOP section. In this section you
can recover from Boot-Loop. Boot-Loop is common when a wrong or corrupted file is loaded.
Set Up Receiver User Settings:
Settings that need to be turned on:
•1. Time Settings: You can change the time Zone of your receiver and also switch on/offthe timer
function in this menu.
•2. Parental Control: is function prevents children or unauthorized persons from watching
programs. Also you can change PIN (Personal Identification Number) code in this menu.
•3. System Settings: Make sure the EXT Tuner is turned ON if Installed.
•4. System Settings / Options: Sort by SID is ON, Auto TP is ON, Auto Roll is ALL, Full Channel
Name is ON, BEV Channel Mapping is ON, Audio Select Method is Method 2, USB Port is Front.
•5. EPG Settings: Reservation Notice is ON, EPG TP set to E:12224 N: 12676
•6. Factory Default: Use this when you install a new Bin File or you are having problems with any
part of the software. is operation will reset the receiver back to Factory Default so you can start
fresh again. Factory Default will not load new FIRMWARE.
(6) SPDIF AUDIO:
•1. SPDIF Digital Audio require a special optical cable to connect between the VS9000HD receiver
and a Digital Audio Receiver or HDTV. SPDIF data is transmitted as a stream of 32-bit data words. A
data frame consists of 384 words in total, with 192 data words transmitted for the A stereo channel,
and 192 data words transmitted for the B stereo channel. Belkin makes High Quality SPDIF Optical
cables.
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VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual. April /2008

(7) HOW TO RECORD AND PLAYBACK:
•1. If recording time is less than 30 seconds, the event will not be saved.
•2. Make sure that Reservations is turned on in the EPG Settings.
•3. Install a External Hard Drive Formatted by the VS9000HD receiver or the Drive is in FAT 32
format. Use the REAR USB connector to record.
•4. In the Guide you can select Record now or Future Events by selecting a time to record and then
press F1.
•5. F1 will give you a selection RECORD / VIEW choose Record.
•6. Once the selection starts recording a RED (R) will display but will turn offin about minute, you are
still recording if there is a RED indicator light on the VS9000HD Display.
NOTE: Format External Drive via VS9000HD receiver. With the External Drive connected to USB port
select Menu / Main Menu / Media / USB Storage / OK / Yes.
Playback:
•1. Select Main Menu / Menu / Media / DVR and a list will show with your recordings as
VSHD_DATA / Press OK. In side this folder your recordings will be listed.
NOTE: is software still resides in BETA and problems do accrue so keep a new copy of the
FIRMWARE / Bin File handy, when problems can not be resolved, it’s best to select Factory Default
and load a new Bin File. is will save time and frustrations and get you up and running a lot quicker.
(8) CABLES:
• 1. RG-6, Copper Coated Steal Coax Cable.
Standard Shield with Waterproof Layer, FR-PE Jacket, For Direct Burial.
60% Aluminum Braid Over Foil Provides 100% Shield Coverage.
18AWG Solid .040” Bare Copper-Clad Steel Conductor.
Gas Injected Foam Polyethylene Insulation.
Ideal for RF Applications Like Outdoor TV Antennas and Cable Television.
Aluminum-Mylar Shield and a 60% inner Copper Shield.
CM/CL2 Rated PVC Jacket.
Sweep Tested to 2.2GHz.
Sequential Foot Marking.
UL Listed.
•2. Snap-N-Seal Connectors are the most effective.
•connectors used with RG6.
•3. SPDIF. Optical. Belkin make the best SPDIF Audio Cables in the US.
•4. RCA Cables. Belkin Make the best RCA Cables in the US.
•5. HDMI. (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first and only industry-supported,
uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. By delivering crystal-clear, all-digital audio and video
via a single cable, HDMI dramatically simplifies cabling and helps provide consumers with the
highest-quality home theater experience. HDMI provides an interface between any audio/video
source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A.V. receiver and an audio and / or video monitor, such
as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable.
• 6. 8PSK cable should be RG6 about 7” in length connected between 8PSK Tuner and Loop OUT on
the VS9000HD Receiver.
NOTE: All cables are only as good as they are kept.
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VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual. April /2008

(9) HOW TO RECOVER FROM BOOT-LOOP:
• 1. Make sure that you are in fact suffering from BOOT-LOOP. (BOOT) will be steady on your
VS9000HD display and not move to the time setting.
• 2. Make sure that you have a Laptop and a NULL cable to connect between the Laptop and the
receiver. REMOVE the receiver from all connections.
• 3. Find a solid copy of LOADER 2 and (VS9000HD Boot fix_v2.pgm) to recover your VS9000HD
receiver.
• 4. Connect the NULL cable to the receiver and Laptop and don’t power the receiver on at this time.
• 5. Launch BOOT-LOADER 2 from your laptop and open the file (VS9000HD Boot fix_v2.pgm)
make sure that you select (PC-STB) and click (OK).
• 6. Once the VS9000HD Boot fix_v2.pgm) STARTS: turn on the receiver this will take about 6
seconds to get under way. Now because the fix file is about 33 mb it will take some time to complete.
My first try it took about 45 minutes but it works. You will see the indicator bar get out of sync and
do strange stuff, don’t worry about what you see just let it finish.
• 7. When completed you will see completed on the laptop screen so select OK and turn the
VS9000HD receiver OFF.
• 8. Locate a good copy of the (VS9000HD FIRMWARE) and load it into the laptop the same way you
did with the (VS9000HD Boot fix_v2.pgm) file. Start the file and turn the receiver ON. and let it
complete. e receiver will now reboot and you will feel joy. Disconnect every thing and reconnect
the receiver back to the Satellite position.
•9. You are now back to normal and at this point you can load the current bin file via USB
Tools you will need.
• 1. A fast Laptop with a NULL cable.
• 2. e Application LOADER 2.
• 3. e file VS9000HD Boot fix_v2.pgm).
• 4. e file VS9000HD Factory FIRMWARE v108.
• 5. e copy of the latest bin file, you can load this via USB.
NOTE: I have discovered a faster way to recover from Boot-Loop and that is you can just load the
FIRMWARE File v108 Via LOADER 2 and this will saves time. After the Firmware is loaded you can
now load a new Bin File.
(10) COPY FILES TO FLASH DRIVES:
• 1. Select Menu / System Information / Receiver Upgrade. In this Menu you can copy your Channel /
Satellite List to a USB Flash Drive to save them.
(11) SAVING CHANNELS / SATELLITE INFORMATION:
•1. After you saved your Channel / Satellite List to your USB now you can Upload them back to the
VS9000HD Receiver. After you have installed a new Bin File go to Menu / System Information /
Receiver Upgrade / USB and press OK. is will take you to a directory on your USB Flash Drive
where your information is saved. To upload the Data, select it and press OK. Your saved Data has
now been uploaded.
USB Flash Drives: Of all the Flash Drives I have tested I have found Sandisk / Memorex the most
reliable of all Drives.
NOTE: is is a good practice to put back all Favorite Channel / Satellite List after a new Bin File has
been upload.
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VIEWSAT 9000HD User Troubleshooting Guide & Manual. April /2008