CommsBlog

UPDATE: 12th May 2008

Sorry if you have experienced ‘spam’ or URL redirections from this page. This has been caused by someone hacking my Blog (again!) – Let me know if you spot any more dodgy pop-ups going on. Cheers, Paul

Hi All,

We can you believe it? Finally we get WM6 (for Free!) from Samsung for our sexy little Euro-Blackjacks!

The link is: http://www.samsungmobile.com/promotion/i600/index.jsp

Countries now supported; Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine – Austria still greyed-out….

OK, here are the steps required:-

1. Visit the link above and click on UK
2. Enter your version number, this should look something like i600???? to get this information, simply dial *#1546792*# on your phone, select 1 (Version), 2 (Software Version) and then make a note of what is detailed next to PDA Version
3. Complete the contact details, along with the serial number on the back of your phone (under the battery). The Serial should be under the bar code and look something like R7WP44????? (*last 5 digits hidden for obvious reasons!)
4. You should now see a screen that looks like this
   • 
5. Install ActiveSync 4.5
6. Right-Click save the Samsung Driver and then unzip into a folder somewhere and install using the “Setup.exe”
7. Connect your i600 (It will re-detect the drivers for the phone at this point)
8. You may be asked to ‘delete’ a profile (e.g. Windows PC 1) as it the Samsung only holds 2 profiles… just delete both as it makes no difference…
9. BACKUP EVERYTHING!!!!! using ActiveSync… Well… Sync everything anyway. The Samsung FAQ’s state “During the update, all of your data, including your applications, contacts and games, will be erased Please note that it is possible to re-sync your outlook data once your new Firmware is installed, but this depends on your Active Sync settings and saved PC data before you upgrade.” – Browse to the phone and backup all your pictures, sounds etc.
10. Download the Firmware Updater (I suggest using something like “GetRight” as its 90Mb!!!)
11. Run the Updater…. wait a looooonnnnnggggg time
12. Let the phone reboot as required, and there you have it…. Windows Mobile 6

Of course… all you need to do now is restore all your files and applications back again

NOTE: i600XXGD1 firmware (i.e. “De branded” WM5 as detailed in my other listings) seems to come up with “Invalid Version Number” when you run the Updater…. I will post more as and when I solve this….

Is it a conspiricy? I think so….

If you visit the Samsung upgrade site (http://www.samsungmobile.com/promotion/i600/index.jsp) you can download Windows Mobile 6 (WM6) for your Samsung SGH-i600, so long as you don’t live in the UK.

The only provider for the Euro version of the Blackjack in the UK is Orange, and they seem to have an agreement with all the manufacturers that ensures that the software on the phones is branded, and sometimes crippled!

If you visit the site, you will see that many countries are now supported… but alas no UK

[photopress:samsung_upgrade.jpg,full,centered]

Countries now supported; Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands (Holland), Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine – in addition, it appears that Austria and Italy will be available soon as well.

Windows Mobile 5 and 6 Comparison 

I also found a great comparison document that shows the differences between Windows Mobile 5 and 6

Click on the Thumbnail to open the full PDF document in a new window.

Hi gang,

I have a new list of goodies for your Samsung i600 – the only thing I can’t seem to solve yet is the WM5 Bluetooth DUN issue. For those of you who are unaware, Microsoft (in their infinite wisdom) have removed DUN [dial-up networking] from the Bluetooth Stack. The net effect of this is that things like TomTom can no longer access the phone as a data modem for traffic downloads etc… Really bloody annoying….

Anyway, some more top tips and software for you:-

More Codes

*#1546792*# – this code provide access to the Network & Call Settings – This allows you to switch off 3G functionality, which will considerably increase battery life if you don’t use your phone for data. Once in the menu, select 3, then 5 and then change to GSM

Ringtones from Storage Card

If you want to store all your ringtones on your memory card in order to save space, you can make it show them automatically by placing them in the \Storage Card\My Documents folder.

Software

Registry Editing – Something we have to do from time-to-time in order to hack our little phones… well here is a nice free one for you; Total Commander [link]

Screen Capture – This freeware application from Iliumsoft lets you capture your screens so that you can show them in your blog [link]

Customising the Main Screen (Cardwheel Theme)

First, copy the following files from the Samsung and save them (make a backup copy as well!!!!!) – All are located in the \Windows folder on the Phone; background_320x240.bmp, center_tile.png, top1.png, top2.png, low1.png, low2.png, low3.png

[photopress:sshot001.jpg,full,centered]

Edit all the images, based on these rules;

Transparencies figure a lot in this template – use a decent editor like Photoshop or PaintShopPro 9/10

background_320x240.bmp – This is the main background when the screen is first drawn.

top2.png – First menu bar (Where it says ‘Now Playing’)
top1.png – Second menu bar (Where it says ‘Favourite Contacts’)
Both of these have different degrees of transparency set in the Alpha channels… Don’t mess with this! (Keep it the same on any new image)

center_tile.png – Main Card Area (Where is shows ‘Gmail’ and icons)
Ensure that this is a solid image (no Transparency) with hi-contrast to make the text show.

low1.png – 1st lower menu Bar (‘appointments’)
low2.png - 2nd lower menu Bar (‘profiles’)
low3.png – 3rd lower Bar – visible when card wheel scrolls
Again, both these images have transparency set in the alpha channels, which should stay the same on any edited image.

Once you have edited your images, change the theme, copy the files over the top of the originals (back them up first!) and then change the theme back to Card Wheel.

• Installation Guide (Alignment / Angles) – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/1.pdf
• European Alignment Angles – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/2.pdf
• Installing a Link / Magic Eye – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/3.pdf
• Remote Control Codes – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/4.pdf
• Advanced Channel Tuning Guide – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/5.pdf
• Sky Minidish (43cm/48cm) Assembly Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/6.pdf
• Sky Zone 2 (60cm) Assembly Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/7.pdf
• LNB (Quad/Octo) Adapter Kit Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/8.pdf
• How to fit the new ‘type 4′ LNB’s – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/9.pdf
  
• Dish Alignment with Google Maps – http://www.dishpointer.com/

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Hi All,

I’ve compiled list of UK Sky Satellite Guides here, and NO, before you ask there is no “Get Sky for Free” – It’s impossible…

What I have done, is list some of the common issues that arise, how to extend your system, and where to get FTA (Free-to-Air) or ‘FreeSat’ cards.

My Sky Box keeps Freezing / Forcing a Software Update

This is a common issue, usually caused by a dodgy software update. All Sky Digiboxes download updates “over the air”, and sometimes you get a bad one. To Force a new update, follow these steps:-

1. Switch off the receiver’s power at the wall
2. Wait 10 secs…. Then press and hold the Backup button on the front of the receiver whilst switching the power back on
3. Keep holding the backup button until all the LEDs on the front switch on.
4. Wait 10-20 mins (A message on the screen will say something like ‘Don’t switch off….’)
5. Resist temptation to start playing with the box when it reboots… give it a few more minutes
6. Voila! Latest software loaded.

Upgrading to Sky+ or Adding another receiver to the same dish

This is actually very simple… Buy yourself a QUAD (4 outputs) or OCTO LNB (8 outputs). Unscrew the ‘F’-connectors that are currently attached to your existing LNB. Swap the LNB for the new one. Reconnect the cables. Simple!

Once you have done this, you can then run additional cables for Sky+ (required 2 x LNB feeds) or for additional receivers.

I want to control my Sky Box from upstairs

You need a ‘Link’ (sometimes called a Magic Eye) – These are cheap enough to get hold of (check eBay), but you have to enable the ‘Link’ on your Sky Box. Here are the steps:-

To install your TV Link you will need to run a length of coaxial cable from the socket marked RF2 on the back of you’re the Digibox directly to the TV you wish to watch Sky on. Plug the cable into one side of the Link and then plug the Link directly into the TV aerial socket.

The Link requires power from the Digibox, and you will need to enter a hidden engineers menu to achieve this. Part of the process involves entering a menu without any on-screen prompts. Simply follow these instructions, and do not worry if you do not see any change on the screen as you press the ‘0’ and ‘1’

• Press SERVICES
• Press 4 for SYSTEM SETUP
• Press 0 then 1 then SELECT - Do this sequence VERY QUICKLY
• Press 4 for RF OUTLETS
• Press down to RF OUTLET POWER SUPPLY and turn it to ON.
• Press down to SAVE NEW SETTINGS and Press SELECT to store the changes
• Press BACKUP to go Back to your Sky channel

Update: If you are using a SkyHD receiver with the new EPG, replace 4,0,1 with 0,0,1

Once you have done this, you will find that the little light on the TV Link will now be lit confirming that there is now power being sent from the Digibox to the remote link. Once you have tuned your TV to the Sky channel you will find you can control your digibox functions from here using a Sky remote control (or Sky+ remote control if you have a Sky+ machine)

Should you wish to use the Sky remote control to work your TV in this room (volume, mute, standby etc) you will have to program the remote to perform these functions – see “Programming your remote to control your TV functions” in your Sky digibox manual.

FITTING MULTIPLE TV LINKS – Should you wish to fit more than one TV Link and be able to watch Sky in many rooms around your house, a powered distribution amplifier is required. These are available in 2, 4, and 8 way versions and can be found from many vendors

FAULT FINDING – Most faults are caused by badly fitted connectors and short circuits. This causes the problems as power does not reach the link along the Coaxial cable. If there is no LED on the link, then there is either a short on the cable or the link is faulty. Try plugging the link directly in the RF2 socket of your digibox. If it lights up there but not on the end of the cable you have run then the fault must lie in the connectors or cable. If the link LED is on, but you cannot control the Digibox, use a short length of cable from the RF2 socket on your digibox and try the TV Link functions from there, if it doesn’t work by doing this then the TV Link could be at fault.

FreeSat / Freeview

Call Sky on 08442 410 595 and tell them that you want a ‘Card Only’ – It should cost £20 and work on any Sky Digibox – Ideal for the [cough..] Villa in Spain [cough..]

The BBC and ITV also provide ‘Freesat’, but although it can use a standard Sky dish without realignment, it does need a different receiver (Sky Digiboxes won’t work)

Turning a SkyHD Remote into a Sky+ Remote

The SkyHD Remote will work just fine with a Sky+ receiver. Just follow these steps:-

1. Press TV
2. Press and Hold i (Info) and Select until the LED flashes twice
3. Press 1, Select, Sky

Replace the 1 with a 2 to change back to a SkyHD remote.

Getting the Sky+ Remote to control your Surround Sound / Amplifier

The Sky+ Remote (NOT the standard Sky remote unfortunately….) has a hidden ability to control your surround-sound or audio AMP. Once programmed, the Navigation UP/DOWN buttons become the volume control for the Amp, and the LEFT button becomes ‘standby’. Various other functions may be mapped, but it is dependant on your Amp.

The steps are as follows:-

1. Turn on the AV amplifier you wish to operate
2. Press the TV button on the Sky+ Remote
3. Press and hold down the Select and the 0 (zero) buttons on the Sky+ Remote until the LED blinks twice (if it doesn’t, then your remote doesn’t support this function)
4. Input the 4 digit number from the Sky+ code list below. The LED should flash twice to confirm that the code was entered successfully (again, if it doesn’t, your remote is probably too old to support this function)
5. Use the Left navigation button on the remote to try and switch the AV Amplifier into standby. If this works then the other AV Amplifier functions should also work and the correct code has been selected. If all functions do not work correctly then repeat steps 1 – 3 and work through all the alternative 4 digit numbers from the code list until you find the code which supports all or as many of the AV Amplifier functions as possible.
6. If your Sky+ remote is pretty new, or you have the Sky Navigator Remote, you may be able to set the normal Volume controls to become the amplifier ones. To try this; Press TV, Select and 1 together until LED flashes twice (if it doesn’t, then its not supported on your remote), then press Sky.

AV Amplifier Codes:

Manufacturer	Codes	Manufacturer	Codes
Aiwa	0149, 0186, 1433	Akai	0143, 0468
Alba	0587	Amstrad	0830, 0772
Arcam	0669, 0297	Audiolab	0297, 1217
Bat	0297	Bush	0297, 0449, 0875
Clatronic	0772	Denon	0032, 0188
Elta	0772	Garrard	0468, 0772
Genexxa	0468	Goldmund	0297
Goodmans	0468, 0772, 0449, 1081	Grundig	0297, 0875, 1217, 1117, 0772
Harmon/Kardon	0138	Harwood	0772
Inkel	0055, 0530	Intersound	0772
JBL	0138	JVC	0102, 0492
Kenwood	1055, 1341, 1597, 0341, 0342, 0055	Koss	0772
Linn	0297	LXI	0772
Marantz	0297, 1117, 1217	Mark	0297
Matsui	0772	Mafui	0342
Meridian	0297	Micromega	0297, 1217
Minton	1123	Mitsubishi	0468
Mx Onda	0772	Myryad	0297, 1217
Naim	0297	Nikkei	0772
Okano	0468	Orient Power	0772
Panasonic	0336, 1336, 1337, 1546	Phontrend	0530
Pioneer	0297, 0317	Pye	0875
Quad	0297	Radioshack	0772
Revox	0297	Roadstar	0875
Sansui	1117	Sanyo	0772
Schneider	1081, 0138, 0772	Sherwood	0530
Sony	1086, 1186, 1286, 0186	Taekwang	0468
Teac	0449	Technics	1336, 1337, 1546
Telefunken	0875	Thorens	0297, 1217
Thorn	0772	Universum	0297, 0772, 0468
Victor	0102	Videologic	1123
Wharfdale	0468	Yamaha	0204, 1304
Zenith	0772

More Useful Remote Contol Codes

Turn a Sky+ remote into a standard Sky remote:-

TV, Hold Yellow+Select until LED flashes twice, 0, Select, Sky (replace 2 with 0 to reset back)

Turn a [ rev 8 ] Sky remote into a Sky+ remote (without the record buttons of course!):-

TV, Hold Blue+Select until LED flashes twice, 2, Select, Sky (replace 2 with 0 to reset back)

Setting your secondary remotes to auto-switch the aspect ratios between 9:16 and 4:3:-

If you have both widescreen and normal TVs connected to the RF2 output, then they normally have to all use the same picture format set in the ‘second location’ format setting.

Solution:

Set the ‘default picture’ format to widescreen.
Set the second location picture format to 4:3

Then on each sky remote to be used for widescreen use the following sequence:

TV, Blue + Select until Led flashes twice, 1, Select, Sky (replace 1 with 0 to reset back)

Each TV using this code automatically sets the format to widescreen. Unmodified remotes would stay in the normal 4:3 format.

Getting the code that the Sky engineer entered into your remote (Blink-back):-

Press the TV button on the Sky remote

Hold down Select and the Red buttons together for approximately two seconds until the LED blinks twice

Key in 9, 9, 0

Key in 1 on the numeric keypad and count the number of times the Red LED blinks. This is the 1st digit.

Repeat for 2 and 3

Note: no Blink = 0 (zero)

Useful Installation Tool

I found this tool recently… it uses Google Maps to show you your own house, and where you can place your dish. http://www.uksatellitehelp.co.uk/ or http://www.dishpointer.com/

My Satellite Guides

• Installation Guide (Alignment / Angles) – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/1.pdf
• European Alignment Angles – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/2.pdf
• Installing a Link / Magic Eye – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/3.pdf
• Remote Control Codes – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/4.pdf
• Advanced Channel Tuning Guide – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/5.pdf
• Sky Minidish Assembly Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/6.pdf
• Sky Zone 2 (60cm) Assembly Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/7.pdf
• LNB (Quad/Octo) Adapter Kit Instructions – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/8.pdf
• How to fit the new ‘type 4′ LNB’s – http://www.internet-tools.co.uk/ebay/sat/9.pdf
  

[photopress:samsung_i600.jpg,thumb,pp_image] [photopress:samsung_sgh_i600.jpg,thumb,pp_image] 

Specification: Samsung SGH-i600 is a HSDPA/Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Class 10/WiFi Windows Mobile 5 smartphone and with a  QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 Megapixel camera/camcorder, Music player, Bluetooth, Micro SD slot, 218MB ROM and 64MB RAM – Samsung Spec Sheet: [Link]

Official Samsung SGH-i600 User Manual – [Link] – PDF 2.2MB

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Hello again.It seems my ‘hacks’ for the i600 are going down a treat, so I thought I would list a few more for everyone…In the UK, the Samsung SGH-i600 (Called the ‘Blackjack’ in the USA) is only provided via Orange. Unfortunately this means that it has the horrible Orange branding [crippleware], and is only running Windows Mobile 5.

The Samsung site allows you to upgrade from WM5 to Windows Mobile 6 via this link: http://www.samsungmobile.com/promotion/i600/index.jspUnfortunately… the UK is not listed (to to Orange… Grrrr…), but if you are from one of the following countries, you can slide on over there and grab some WM6 (well… WM5.2 in new clothes!); Belgium, Bulgaria, Demark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.

Apparently, you can override your i600 to another country + language (make sure it’s one you can read!) and then download the appropriate update, get WM6 and then change the country settings back. This is all controlled by the service menu by dialling *#1546792*# and then using the preconfig password *#81230*# – THIS WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE so don’t do this without making a full backup first! Full instructions over at vowe.net; http://vowe.net/archives/008792.html

Keyboard Shortcuts (For the European Model)

Function	Details
Task Manager	Hold Down the [Home] button to show the task manager
Quick Links	Hold in the [Jog Dial] to brings up a editable list of Shortcuts
Quicklist	Pressing the power button brings up the quicklist (Change to Silent etc…)
Voice Assist	Press and hold the “volume up” button on the left side of the phone, near the top to bring up the voice recorder
Custom	You can set the Back button on the side to open whatever app you want when held for a few seconds (by default is ‘Camera’)
Quick “KeyLock”	Hold down the [End] Key for a few seconds
Quick “Silent Mode”	Hold down then ‘#’ key to toggle Silent mode.
Numeric in TXT	Quickly enter numbers without changing input mode by holding down the according button for a couple of seconds
Page Up/Down in IE	When browsing the internet using Internet Explorer Mobile Edition, use T and V to scroll Page Up / Down

I have found lots of information and hacks here: http://i607.org/ the SGH-i607 is the USA version, but many of the ‘hacks’ work on the European version of this phone

Hidden Applications

Whilst rooting around in the \Windows folder on my phone, I found a series of applications that don’t normally show on the menu. Here is a list of the more interesting ones I found. If you want to use them on a frequent basis, use the ActiveSync explorer to right-click-drag and create a shortcut in the \Start Menu folder for any of these apps.

EXE Name	Details
CamTest_Int, CamTest_Ext	Turns on and shows the Internal (front) or External (rear) cameras. Interestingly, this takes <1sec to initialise, so why does the camera app take so long to load!?
cprog	Appears to show the last call details
instmsgr	MSN Instant Messenger (You could setup a quick shortcut to this instead of having to go through the Internet / MSN / Messenger route…
MySimMessage	Shows SMS Messages that are on the SIM (as opposed to on the Phone)
Playsound	MP£ Test app that allows you to test the Speaker, Earpiece and Headset – Handy for checking your Bluetooth headsets etc
RTCViewer	Shows the internal RTC (Real Time Clock)
SoundTest	Haven’t quite worked this one out… it appears to be a more advanced version of PlaySound
wrlsmgr	Wireless Manager – Top Tip: Set a shortcut to startmenu, then assign to a speed dial (Press Menu when the icon is selected, then choose ’1 – Menu Shortcut’) – I’ve set mine as speedfial 9, so I just hold down the ’9′ key for a couple of second to bring up the Wireless manager
TestMode	Hidden App: You need to create a shortcut to the Start Menu to access this, or use something like Resco File Explorer to see it. This shows *lots* of Engineer stuff (3G, UTMS, GSM Cell Info etc), and appears to let you do (possibly) damaging things to your phone. Only use this if you know what you are doing!

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NES Emulation

I found most of this information on i607.org’s NES Page [Link], but here is the simple guide for the UK Version of the Samsung SGH-i600

1. Download Pocket Nester Plus – http://mobile.surrealnetworks.com/Dash%20Applications/SN%20PocketNesterPlus%20D.cab
2. Download either All the ROM’s as a 40Mb CAB File (http://surrealnetworks.net/NES%20ROMs/393NESROMS.cab), or the ’50 Classics’ as a 10Mb CAB File (http://surrealnetworks.net/NES%20ROMs/50%20NES%20Classics.cab) or individual games [HERE]
3. Install Pocket Nester
4. Install the ROMS (to your Memory card!)
5. Install the Pocket Nester Update [Pocket Nester Update] by copying the .exe over the top of the one in the \Program Files\PocketNester (You only need this if you already have an older version)
6. Open the game, go into Preferences and tick “Associate .NES Files”, also set up all the keys (Try to make them memorable!)
7. The Open ROM option does not work unless you install tgetfile.dll… this is time-limited, so I suggest just browsing to the ROM Folder and select the Game you want. Nester will automatically load. The ROM’s should be located in \Storage Card\My Documents\ROMs

When playing a game, if you can’t seem to get it to exit, hold down the HOME key, this will bring up the menu.