Updating firmware

[glen4cindy]

Is updating the firmware of your reciever a good thing? I know it can be dangerous and turn it into a paperweight if anything goes wrong.

I have a Lifetime Ultra and there is one version newer of firmware available from Fortec. It says that the update corrects a spelling change in an Italian menu. Would this be the only enhancement that would be seen or could there be unseen unlisted things addressed?

I'm having a problem with channel lists being properly downloaded by gTools and do not know if a firmware update will change this at all or not.

Thanks.

 

[Mr Tony]

Is updating the firmware of your reciever a good thing? I know it can be dangerous and turn it into a paperweight if anything goes wrong.

I have a Lifetime Ultra and there is one version newer of firmware available from Fortec. It says that the update corrects a spelling change in an Italian menu. Would this be the only enhancement that would be seen or could there be unseen unlisted things addressed?

I'm having a problem with channel lists being properly downloaded by gTools and do not know if a firmware update will change this at all or not.

Thanks.

I dont use Gtools for channel editing (I use ChannelMaster) but the "newest" software fix gfor the Ultra fixes the clock. I know the old software I had the clock would be off right away. I reset it the other day and its held accurate for 3+ days now

I had no issues updating the software. Just make sure you have the right cable

 

[kstuart]

I dont use Gtools for channel editing (I use ChannelMaster) but the "newest" software fix gfor the Ultra fixes the clock.

Ooh... I wonder if they included that fix in the latest Mercury II software... perhaps I should try the clock again...

 

[Lucky53]

Ooh... I wonder if they included that fix in the latest Mercury II software... perhaps I should try the clock again...

downloaded latest v1.39 on my mercury II...clock keeps perfect time.

 

[kstuart]

downloaded latest v1.39 on my mercury II...clock keeps perfect time.

I already installed 1.39 some days ago. I had given up on the clock prior to that, so I just reset it and will keep an eye on it...

 

[sikma]

I've updated the software for my Pansat 2700A (pansatusa) which went flawlessly, plus the CLOCK KEEPS THE RIGHT TIME.....FINALLY!

 

[glen4cindy]

Neither of my Fortec receivers keep the time very well.

I have only had the Ultra hooked up for about 4 or 5 days now and it is already off by about 6 minutes.

I think I will go ahead and update. According to the Fortec website I will have to do a factory restore before and after the update. I hope I can use Channel Master that I downloaded and am now using thanks to Iceberg to reprogram the Ultra. The worst part of the factory restore is many of the satellite names are really old and the orbital degrees are not on there like they are with the Lifetime NA. I want to rename all of the older named satellites so I know which one is which.

 

[voomvoom]

Good Luck glen! I'm sure you will do just fine!

Al

 

[Mr Tony]

on Channelmaster you can change the names of the satellites. On my Ultra I have all KU satellites only (exception is G4 where the nets are on C-band) and they're in order with the semi new names (IA6, IA8, etc)

 

[kstuart]

With new firmware 1.39 on the Fortec Mercury II, reset the time to the correct setting... a couple of days later, it's off by several hours !

 

[dougruss]

With new firmware 1.39 on the Fortec Mercury II, reset the time to the correct setting... a couple of days later, it's off by several hours !

That Firmware did nothing to fix the clock issue on my Merc II .

 

[SatelliteAV]

Are you running the Mercury II with GMT ON or OFF? If ON, it will sync timing from the transponders. If OFF, try leaving the receiver's power turned on (not in Standby) and see if the time stays constant.

 

[updatelee]

and to add to that note, syncing the time with the transponders may seem like a good thing, but keep in mind many of these feeds are coming from different timezones, therefore watch 5 channels and you'll often end up with your clock wildly swing by hours 5 times, lol.

 

[Mr Tony]

or in some cases, they dont change it so it shows as "Jan 1 1970 0:00"

 

[kstuart]

Are you running the Mercury II with GMT ON or OFF? If ON, it will sync timing from the transponders. If OFF, try leaving the receiver's power turned on (not in Standby) and see if the time stays constant.

GMT OFF (due to the disadvantages mentioned in this thread).
The receiver was on all the time - except during short periods of time to disconnect and reconnect LNBFs and switches.

 

[Lucky53]

That Firmware did nothing to fix the clock issue on my Merc II .

The merc.II does have some issues..my clock runs perfectly..here's what I did when I downloaded v1.39...fact.reset..delete all channels...fact reset agn.and then download the newest version...fact.reset and start from scratch with settings.. ( yes I know its a pain in the ass,but you will have to re-do the sateliites and channels..this is one of the issues with the merc...If you do a channel save prior to downloading a new version..the newer version info will not take properly and you will have some scanning problems..Fortec has to work on this problem)..so now I have all the new satellite names installed and the clock works like it should...plus the power and auto scan works much better..I never turn my Merc. II off.. hope this helps a bit..

 

[kstuart]

I did do a factory reset before and after 1.39 (mostly in order to get the new satellite names, but partially to clear out extraneous channels), and the clock still does not run even close to Mars time, let alone Earth time.

Scanning has always worked just fine on mine.

 

[Lucky53]

I did do a factory reset before and after 1.39 (mostly in order to get the new satellite names, but partially to clear out extraneous channels), and the clock still does not run even close to Mars time, let alone Earth time.

Scanning has always worked just fine on mine.

Do what satelliteAV suggested...GMT off...set the time and hit "OK" and leave the set on all the time..

 

[SatelliteAV]

The Mercury II must be kept on and not placed into standby mode in order to keep correct time. Each time the Mercury II is placed into standby mode, the clock's seconds are reset to zero. This appears to be related to the NEC coding and not the Fortec firmware.