Auther patsfan
To start off with the USB BDM and its software is designed to be used with the Motorola 68331family of processors. This processor was used in the GI/Motorola DCT2000 and DCT2000HT boxes as well as some star choice satellite receivers. This guide will only focus on the DCT cable boxes.
About the boxes:(**All info here provided by DCTgoddess**)
Here's a comprehensive list of what all those numbers & letters after 'DCT' mean. This is only for the DCT1000/1200/2000 series, I don't know if any of this applies to the 2500. Thanks to dcomp11 for consolidating all the info.
Quote:
Options Feature
A 8 MBits DRAM for MPEG-2 with full resolution B frames
B Analog Descrambling (GI only)
C Bit Mapped Graphics
D BTSC Stereo Decoder
E Audio Loop Through Connector
F RF Bypass
G RS232 Connector
H High Power IR Blaster Connector
I Stereo Privacy on Analog Channels
J S-Video (Future)
K Home Theater Package S-Video and SPDIF (AC-3)
L Enhanced Home Theater. All Audio outputs active
regardless of content
M Analog Descrambling Zenith Only
N Analog Descrambling GI/Zenith/Tocom (Future)
The DCT1000/1200 also has a R option which is the definition of the
platform:
R1 QUOD
R2 AVI
As for the numbers, DCT1abc would mean DCT1000, DWT1abc would mean DCT1200,
and DCT2abc would mean DCT2000 series.
a=Modulation Technology (1=64 QAM, 2=64/256 QAM)
b=Return Path (1=One Way, 2=StarVueII RF (DCT2000 Integrated)
3=StarFone(300baud) (DCT/DWT: Not a option),
4=StarFone II (14.4kbps) (DCT 2000:SVT-II Integrated),
6=StarFone II (14.4kbps) (DCT 2000:No Diplexer)
Return Path notes: RF Return is standard on the DCT 2000. Telco
Return SFT-II(Option 4) is optional. Option 4 indicates
both RF and Telco return. Option 3 is for DCT 1000/1200 only.
Option 6 is for DCT 2000 only (RF Return diplexer removed.)
c=Output Channel (4=VHF(3/4), 6=UHF(46-60)
The boxes has three sets of numbers so as a example, DCT2abc/defg/options.
d=Signal Format (1=NTSC, 2=PAL-P (Future), 3=PAL-B/G, 4=PAL-N (Future),
5=PAL-M (Future), 6=PAL-D/K (Future))
e=Out of Band Frq (MHz) (1=75.25, 2=72.75, 3=104.2, 4=125.0, 5=In-Band,
6=Agile OOB) - no idea what 5 and 6 is.
f=App Memory - This one is still blank so no one knows what each number is.
g= Brand Label (1=None, 2=Comcast Logo, 3=AT&T, 4=Cablevison Mexico)
So from this we can see, that for yours:
DCT2224/1261/ would be:
DCT 2000 series, 64/256 QAM Modulation Technology, StarVue II RF Return
Path, VHF (3/4) Output Channel/NTSC Signal Format, 72.75Mhz Out of Band
Frequency,App Memory option 6, No Brand Label
and DCT2224/1161/ would be:
DCT 2000 series, 64/256 QAM Modulation Technology, StarVue II RF Return
Path, VHF (3/4) Output Channel/NTSC Signal Format, 75.25Mhz Out of Band
Frequency,App Memory option 6, No Brand Label
So assuming if the full model number was General Instruments
DCT2244/1161/ABCDEF or Motorola DCT2244/1661/ABCDEF which is basically what
AT&T Broadband gives here in San Francisco,it would be:
DCT2244/1161/ABCDEF:
DCT 2000 series, 64/256 QAM Modulation Technology, StarVue II RF+StarFone
II Return Path, VHF (3/4) Output Channel/NTSC Signal Format, 75.25Mhz Out
of Band Frequency,App Memory option 6, No Brand Label/8 MBits DRAM for
MPEG-2 with full resolution B frames,Analog Descrambling (GI only),
Bit Mapped Graphics,BTSC Stereo Decoder,Audio Loop Through Connector,
RF Bypass
DCT2244/1661/ABCDEF:
DCT 2000 series, 64/256 QAM Modulation Technology, StarVue II RF+StarFone
II Return Path, VHF (3/4) Output Channel/NTSC Signal Format, Agile OOB Out
of Band Frequency,App Memory option 6, No Brand Label/8 MBits DRAM for
MPEG-2 with full resolution B frames,Analog Descrambling (GI only),
Bit Mapped Graphics,BTSC Stereo Decoder,Audio Loop Through Connector,
RF Bypass
Enjoy!
Now on to the whole ph thing:
Motorola released different versions of the motherboard for these boxes. There is the non-ph board, the Cr4, ph6, ph7/8/9. The first three are a little different as they were earlier versions and had dip boot chip for eeprom. The ph7/8/9 are all very similar and the eeprom is mapped in to the regular memory. For beginners the ph 7/8/9 boxes are easier to work with and the best box to get is one that is from your local are if you want any premium channels. I'll explain that later. Also on the three older boards there is a hardware watchdog that needs to be disabled. It can be done by lifting a leg of C105, a capacitor on the main board. Usbbdm has created an excellent page with info about the motherboard revisions including memory locations and common memory chips for that board. Also there are many pictures. Here is the link: http://www.usbjtag.com/dct2000/
Testing a DCT (digital cable terminal):
There are three main parts to worry about when testing these boxes. The firmware, nvram and the XC420061 chip (aka XC chip). The last one we can¡¯t do anything with yet. It contains the digicipher II code and controls the auth of channels and packages. It also controls ppv purchases and spending limits. Now with the software you can read and write the firmware and nvram. The more important one is the nvram as it contains the channel map and keeps a counter of the ppv purchases. The firmware is more generic across cable co¡¯s. It also contains the guide application. Most companies use either Prevue or tvguide. Now although we can¡¯t do anything with the XC chip directly, most dct that have been shut off by the cable company can be reactivated by the nvram. This happens because they only shut the box off and don¡¯t tell the XC chip to not auth the channels. When you ¡°connect the box¡± through the bdm software it turns back on whatever channel package that was previously subscribed to. This will only work though if the box was from the same area that you are testing in. If you buy a box from elsewhere and you clone a valid nvram to it you will only get the open channels that are available in your area. Also, if your box has IPPV as either disabled or no then you can¡¯t order ppv¡¯s and it can¡¯t be turned on by the software. You can test the XC chip using spi (serial peripheral interface). There is software and modified firmware on the forum to get you started in spi. It¡¯s for more advanced users so it doesn¡¯t apply to this post.
Lasted Updated:December 09 2011
Vists since Jan 4,2009 
