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DISH SETUP: Single sat, Multi-Sat & Motorised
Satellite Meters and Installation Equipment
Promax Ranger - Owners/Users Topic
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<blockquote data-quote="vma" data-source="post: 1122524" data-attributes="member: 256592"><p>Expanding a bit on this, a FW file of modern Promax field meters is actually a ZIP archive protected by a password.</p><p>Inside is the main binary, together with lots of other files and folders, mainly XML files. The folder structure does not represent the whole folder structure of the Promax meter and does not replace all files, just some of them. There are two main folders: one is for system files, the other for user files like settings.</p><p></p><p>The binary is shared between a range of models, i.e. all HD Rangers run the same binary.</p><p>What controls the different set of functionalities is partially what is defined in the XML files and then I suspect there might be a config/license file, but this is not accessible or at least visible.</p><p></p><p>The meter runs some kind of operating system (Linux? Not sure...). The upgrade proceedure uses some form of macro language, which calls the upgrade screen, select and verifies the model and does the upload of the encrypted ZIP file, remote controlling the extraction done on the meter itself. I did extract all possible commands, but without knowledge of the folder structure and file names, it is not possible (for me) to get to the license file.</p><p></p><p>The XML files specify for each model and its HW constituents, what can be done, etc.</p><p>Activating options through XML files is generally pointless, as the respective HW does normally not support that option. I can for instance activate satellite constellation diagram on my meter and the option will appear. But the constellation diagram will not be populated, I guess because my tuner simply does not support it.</p><p></p><p>Other options like said GPS option seem to be enabled through a different way. I did actually hack the binary itself and enabled most options the "hard" way (changing assemply conditions). While I see the options in the menu, they don't work, again due to lack of compatible hardware.</p><p>The only useful (?) option I was able to activate is the Spectogram option, which was not present in the 50 SE edition. Not that useful option, though... I thought it would enable a waterfall diagram, but instead it only activates some form of persistance display.</p><p></p><p>Conclusion: I know how to enable basically all options regardless of what the supposed license file says, but it is not useful, unless the built-in HW has the required functionality. I guess that models that have more capable HW fitted, automatically have the coresponding options active.</p><p></p><p>The next level of hack would be to exchange for instance the tuner with the top of the line tuner (for each DVB-S/S2, DVB-C and DVB-T). But this would require to know the exact required tuner model and being able to source it.</p><p></p><p>I have chosen to not make any of this public, in order to not harm Promax in any way. I believe that professionals should pay for their equipment and respective options.</p><p></p><p>This might be different for hobbyists (like myself), where a hack does not represent any loss to the manufacturer, but again the required information should not be made public, especially if they apply on devices being currently sold.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, I think that there is not much to hack on a regular Promax meter, there is considerable risk involved (bricking the device) and the HD Range and newer model ranges from Promax are already so versatile, that I don't see any point in hacking them.</p><p></p><p>I did so due to being bored during the lockdown...</p><p></p><p>On a side note, I have hacked the Sefram/Spaun models, too (I own two) and can easily enable/disable any option, change the calibration date, etc. But it is the same: most options require the respective HW, which a device without the option is normally lacking. I did however, enable the transport stream analyser and I think I had to hack the MIS support, too. Again, the GPS option requires a compatible module fitted, which I don't know the specs of.</p><p></p><p>Regards,</p><p>Vitor</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="vma, post: 1122524, member: 256592"] Expanding a bit on this, a FW file of modern Promax field meters is actually a ZIP archive protected by a password. Inside is the main binary, together with lots of other files and folders, mainly XML files. The folder structure does not represent the whole folder structure of the Promax meter and does not replace all files, just some of them. There are two main folders: one is for system files, the other for user files like settings. The binary is shared between a range of models, i.e. all HD Rangers run the same binary. What controls the different set of functionalities is partially what is defined in the XML files and then I suspect there might be a config/license file, but this is not accessible or at least visible. The meter runs some kind of operating system (Linux? Not sure...). The upgrade proceedure uses some form of macro language, which calls the upgrade screen, select and verifies the model and does the upload of the encrypted ZIP file, remote controlling the extraction done on the meter itself. I did extract all possible commands, but without knowledge of the folder structure and file names, it is not possible (for me) to get to the license file. The XML files specify for each model and its HW constituents, what can be done, etc. Activating options through XML files is generally pointless, as the respective HW does normally not support that option. I can for instance activate satellite constellation diagram on my meter and the option will appear. But the constellation diagram will not be populated, I guess because my tuner simply does not support it. Other options like said GPS option seem to be enabled through a different way. I did actually hack the binary itself and enabled most options the "hard" way (changing assemply conditions). While I see the options in the menu, they don't work, again due to lack of compatible hardware. The only useful (?) option I was able to activate is the Spectogram option, which was not present in the 50 SE edition. Not that useful option, though... I thought it would enable a waterfall diagram, but instead it only activates some form of persistance display. Conclusion: I know how to enable basically all options regardless of what the supposed license file says, but it is not useful, unless the built-in HW has the required functionality. I guess that models that have more capable HW fitted, automatically have the coresponding options active. The next level of hack would be to exchange for instance the tuner with the top of the line tuner (for each DVB-S/S2, DVB-C and DVB-T). But this would require to know the exact required tuner model and being able to source it. I have chosen to not make any of this public, in order to not harm Promax in any way. I believe that professionals should pay for their equipment and respective options. This might be different for hobbyists (like myself), where a hack does not represent any loss to the manufacturer, but again the required information should not be made public, especially if they apply on devices being currently sold. Anyway, I think that there is not much to hack on a regular Promax meter, there is considerable risk involved (bricking the device) and the HD Range and newer model ranges from Promax are already so versatile, that I don't see any point in hacking them. I did so due to being bored during the lockdown... On a side note, I have hacked the Sefram/Spaun models, too (I own two) and can easily enable/disable any option, change the calibration date, etc. But it is the same: most options require the respective HW, which a device without the option is normally lacking. I did however, enable the transport stream analyser and I think I had to hack the MIS support, too. Again, the GPS option requires a compatible module fitted, which I don't know the specs of. Regards, Vitor [/QUOTE]
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DISH SETUP: Single sat, Multi-Sat & Motorised
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Promax Ranger - Owners/Users Topic
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