SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND DECODER PERFORMANCE

Stages in Decoder Software Upgrade

There is always a general warning you see when upgrading your digital decoder software. The warning tells you not to  power off your device until the process is completed. From the start to finish process, the decoder is engineered to remain actively connected to a power source. Thus, this is the genesis of the common problems encountered in the decoder software upgrades. However, there are 4 processes involved in the decoder software upgrade. We have;

• Software Data Download
• Data Parsing
• Writing
• Data integration, installation and re-initialization

The above software upgrade stages listed above are typical of DStv decoders. Some other satellite and terrestrial decoders also obey similar procedures when upgrading operating systems.

How Decoders Detect and Download New Software Releases

When a service provider releases new software version, your decoder detects its availability upon switch-on. Thereafter, it connects to the service and prompts to commence download. Depending on your decoder type, it may prompt you to press a certain key on the remote control.

A single action on your remote control initiates the download and subsequent upgrade process. Generally, your system expects you to ensure that its power supply is not interrupted until its final process and restart. Unfortunately, so many regions still suffer from eratic electricity power supply which is not good for the software upgrade process. However, your decoder may still be safe if power accidentally goes off during software upgrades. but this depends on the stage of completion for the process.

Upgrade Stages that Determine Decoder Safety

If power is interrupted during data parsing stage, your device stands a 70% chance of not being damaged. Data parsing is like trying to reorganize the received data into a format that your decoder can fully interpret. During this stage, the old software version is still active on the decoder.

Data Writing Stage – Software Upgrade

However, there is almost no chance of restoring your decoder if power is lost during data writing. This is because, the decoder is giving up its old version to provide space for the incoming software. Here, old software data deletion and new software writing takes place simultaneously. Only a miracle could save a damage if there is a power shut down at this stage of software upgrade. Therefore, it is strongly advised not to do decoder software upgrade if you do not have a reliable power supply.

Data Integration Stage – Software Upgrade

Once the software data writing is complete, integration or re-initialization commences. This is the stage where the written data is re-converted into a format which is fully understood and assimilated by every hardware or component of your decoder system, for both software and hardware to work as one. It is an important stage which should never see any power outage. If power goes off at this critical stage, your decoder might be completely damaged, the software interface not entirely responsive or a part of the decoder functionality might not work properly.

Faulty Software Upgrade Releases

Is it Possible for your Service Provider to release a Problematic Software Version? There is no perfect system. Therefore, it is absolutely possible that after a completely successful software upgrade, your decoder begins to malfunction. This is highly indicative of a problematic software version released for download. Although this is rare, it occurs. Sometimes, decoder malfunction could arise when weak signals are forcefully used to upgrade decoder software. Certainly, there is a close relationship between signal reception and decoder performances. This gives rise to an unwholesome data download. Other times however, incompatible software versions downloaded into a decoder model causes malfunction.

What to do When Dealing with Incompatible Software Versions

All you can do is wait for the release of another compatible software version to run another automatic download. Alternatively, take your decoder to your service provider for a software flush operation. In summary, a good signal strength makes for faster software detection and download. if the process is run seamlessly on good signal strength, it gives no issues.