Updating Humax 9200T firmware from Linux

After unpacking my Humax 9200T PVR and plugging it in the next geek thing to do is update the firmware. Humax supply a firmware update which is downloadable from their website. Alternatively it's possible to receive the update OTA (over the air), but they don't send those particularly regularly from what I can tell.

The firmware file is supplied with a couple of applications which can be run on a Windows PC to send it to the player. The player has a serial port on the back, so a null modem cable is required. I got a null modem cable and have an old laptop PC which has a serial port. My computers don't run Windows though, so I thought I'd try using the Humax Windows firmware updating tools with WINE.

WINE makes it possible to run some Windows applications on Linux based systems. After a few failed attempts, it worked. I now have the latest firmware revision on my Humax. Yay!

Firstly I turned off the PVR.

Here's what the firmware updating tool "Formula for NEO" looks like under Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper) Linux.

I followed the instructions on the Humax site. Choose "Config" from the "STB" menu.

Set the speed and serial port to use. On Linux my (only) serial port is known as /dev/ttyS0, but under WINE (and of course in Windows) it's COM1. Click OK when done.

Next choose "Download Firmware" from the STB menu.

Go find the firmware file downloaded from Humax. Then click "Open".

It then sits waiting for the PVR.

Turn the PVR on. The tool should start uploading to the PVR. It takes a couple of minutes to send.

The PVR reboots and you're done.

A few times it did crap out on me and stop uploading. I just ran it again and again until it went through. It took about 6 tries before it went through. Here's what you get on the TV when it fails...