Upgrading Tivax Digital Converter

I need to upgrade my Tivax Model STB-T8 digital TV converter using my computer. I have a female DB-9 to female DB-9 patch cord and have attached the unit to my computer, but the program failed to open the serial port.
Here are the instructions:
Execute the downloaded file. The software will extract to C:\Tivax. Open that folder and double click on the Update executable. Double click in the "Down" Icon to run the Upgrade. If the Software complains about the serial port not being available make sure that you have COM1 available and there is no other software using it. Assisting in helping you with your computer is beyond to Tech Support we can extend to you. If there is no warning or error displayed, a Dialog will pop that the software is now waiting for the converter to be turned on. Plug in the power for the converter and the software will download the update to your converter. After a successful download, the software will be written to permanent storage on the converter. When this process is finished you need to turn off the power to the converter, unplug the serial cable, and reconnect the converter to your entertainment system. The software will prompt you when that time has come. You can then exit the software and power cycle your converter. Consult the manual addition for information about how to use the new functionality.

My motherboard is an MSI KT4VL with 2 serial ports (port A and port B). I tried both ports with this program and got the same results. I would appreciate any help in discovering whether my COM1 is available, or how to make it available, so that this program can be upgraded.
Thank you.

 

I don't know that hardware (the TV converter). Can you supply a link to their website (or more specifically, your model)?

If the serial port (COM1) can't seem to be found, first I would update the chipset drivers at the MSI website. If there was no automatic identification of the port, I would go to Device Manager and uninstall the COM ports and reboot.

COM ports can be "switched ". I just wonder if a switch has "held open" that port and it cannot be used for the converter. One I might think of is an internal dial-up modem that switches ports. Do you have any other hardware (or software for previous hardware) that could block the port? Check in Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs for software that could affect the port.

Matt

 

Hi Matt,
Thanks for the help. Maybe this additional information can be helpful. My modem is set for COM3, and this program uses COM1. I understand that 1 & 3 can't be used simultaneously. In modem properties I am able to change the COM port, but I don't want to mess anything else up, so am not sure which COM port to use. I've added my Everest readout for device resources, in case that would be helpful. I don't need my modem to do this upgrade, so I could uninstall it during the upgrade process. What are your recommendations?
--------[ Device Resources ]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMA 02 Exclusive Standard floppy disk controller
DMA 03 Exclusive ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
DMA 04 Exclusive Direct memory access controller
IRQ 00 Exclusive System timer
IRQ 01 Exclusive Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
IRQ 06 Exclusive Standard floppy disk controller
IRQ 08 Exclusive System CMOS/real time clock
IRQ 09 Shared Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
IRQ 13 Exclusive Numeric data processor
IRQ 14 Exclusive Primary IDE Channel
IRQ 15 Exclusive Secondary IDE Channel
IRQ 16 Shared NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
IRQ 19 Shared SoftV92 Data Fax Modem
IRQ 21 Shared VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 Shared VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 Shared VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 Shared VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
IRQ 22 Shared Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Memory 000A0000-000BFFFF Shared PCI bus
Memory 000A0000-000BFFFF Shared NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Memory 000A0000-000BFFFF Undetermined VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Memory 000C0000-000DFFFF Shared PCI bus
Memory 50000000-FFDFFFFF Shared PCI bus
Memory CDC00000-DDCFFFFF Exclusive VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Memory D0000000-D7FFFFFF Exclusive NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Memory DDC80000-DDCFFFFF Exclusive NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Memory DDE00000-DFEFFFFF Exclusive VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Memory DE000000-DEFFFFFF Exclusive NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Memory DFFEFF00-DFFEFFFF Exclusive VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
Memory DFFF0000-DFFFFFFF Exclusive SoftV92 Data Fax Modem
Memory E0000000-EFFFFFFF Exclusive VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Memory FEE00000-FEE00FFF Exclusive Motherboard resources
Memory FEE01000-FFDFFFFF Shared PCI bus
Port 0000-000F Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 0000-0CF7 Shared PCI bus
Port 0010-001F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0020-003F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0040-0043 Exclusive System timer
Port 0044-005F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0060-0060 Exclusive Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Port 0061-0061 Exclusive System speaker
Port 0062-0063 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0064-0064 Exclusive Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Port 0065-006F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0070-0071 Exclusive System CMOS/real time clock
Port 0072-007F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0080-0080 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0081-0083 Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 0084-0086 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0087-0087 Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 0088-0088 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0089-008B Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 008C-008E Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 008F-008F Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 0090-009F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 00A0-00BF Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 00C0-00DF Exclusive Direct memory access controller
Port 00E0-00EF Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 00F0-00FF Exclusive Numeric data processor
Port 0170-0177 Exclusive Secondary IDE Channel
Port 01F0-01F7 Exclusive Primary IDE Channel
Port 0274-0277 Exclusive ISAPNP Read Data Port
Port 0279-0279 Exclusive ISAPNP Read Data Port
Port 0290-0297 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0376-0376 Exclusive Secondary IDE Channel
Port 0378-037F Exclusive ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Port 03B0-03BB Shared NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Port 03B0-03BB Undetermined VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Port 03C0-03DF Shared NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Port 03C0-03DF Undetermined VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Port 03F0-03F1 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 03F2-03F3 Exclusive Standard floppy disk controller
Port 03F4-03F5 Exclusive Standard floppy disk controller
Port 03F6-03F6 Exclusive Primary IDE Channel
Port 03F7-03F7 Exclusive Standard floppy disk controller
Port 0400-040F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 04D0-04D1 Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0778-077B Exclusive ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Port 0800-087F Exclusive Motherboard resources
Port 0A79-0A79 Exclusive ISAPNP Read Data Port
Port 0D00-FFFF Shared PCI bus
Port DC00-DCFF Exclusive Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Port E000-E01F Exclusive VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Port E400-E41F Exclusive VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Port E800-E81F Exclusive VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
Port EC00-EC07 Exclusive SoftV92 Data Fax Modem
Port FC00-FC0F Exclusive VIA Bus Master IDE Controller - 0571

 

Here is the link to the converter box:
http://www.tivax.com/STB-T8.htm

 

I can't see any serial/COM ports listed in those resources, although the parallel/LPT1 is.

I might go into the BIOS/startup configuration settings and check that the serial ports are enabled.

After that I would do the checks that I mentioned. The chipset drivers may not have been installed or may need to be updated. Look in Device Manager that the ports are listed.

If it came to searching for something that might be "blocking" the port, since what you are doing is a one-off, connect, run the software, disconnect, I might take the converter to another computer and run it on that, then look at why the COM ports are missing on your computer when I had time.

Matt
PS I have an MSI motherboard and found resource allocation problems.

 

The COM ports were turned off in the BIO. I turned them on and COM1 is now available. Unfortunately, when I pressed "Down" to start the program, all I get is a message that says, "waiting for ping. "
I checked the F-F serial cable for continuity, and each pin shows continuity with the same pin on the other end.
If it isn't a problem with the cable, what might the problem be?

 

Try doing the uninstall of the COM ports in Device Manager I suggested. Also reboot the system several times.

 

Though I did what you asked me to do, I don't believe that the problem has been the COM port since I allowed it through the BIOS. Once it was there, I haven't had problem with that. I'm starting to believe that the program is waiting for a signal from the converter, but the converter isn't sending it. I assume that is what is meant by "waiting for ping." Any suggestions other than sending the unit back to the manufacturer? I guess I could run it on another computer, but I'm not sensing that this is a computer problem.

 

Did their tech support specify a straight thru patch cable?

Normally you need to use a RS-232 null modem cable which comes in several flavors.
See this: http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/RS-232.html

The simplest one has pins 2,3 reversed at 1 end. Pin 5 is straight thru.
Which 1 to use depends on what their box is looking for.
Specifically what flow control, if any, is being used.

You also need to open up Device Manager, Com 1 and set port settings at whatever their software specifies.

Think you have 2 questions for tech support. Type cable, port settings.

 

Thank you. I'll run those questions by them.