I need some advice on how to force a software update to one of my receivers. I currently have 4 311 receivers hooked up to a Quad dish. 3 of them updated to the new P4.31 software update that was released on 3/5 for the 311's the next day, on 3/6 during the night when all 4 receivers were turned off. My fourth receiver however is still stuck on the P4.19 software release from last October. I am not a complete novice, having tried several check switches, resettting the receiver with the green power button several times, and even unplugging the receiver from the wall socket for an hour twice today. Nothing seems to work, it is still stuck on the P4.19 software release.

1. Firmware Update Modem

I've noticed that when I run the check switch on this receiver, everything comes up just fine, but when I hit cancel after the test is run, my tv returns to regular programming without reloading the program guide. That doesn't seem right to me. Also, after having the receiver unplugged from the wall, when I plugged it back in, I expected it to display the error 61 screen, telling me not to touch anything while new software was being downloaded, but instead all it did was search for satellite signal for afew seconds, then downloaded the guide info, and went to regular programming, and the software release in the SYS INFO screen still showed P4.19, instead of the new software, P4.31. Interestingly, this is a replacement receiver I received from Dish about 4 months ago under the DHPP plan, so it has never been thru a software update while in my possession. Is there a way to force a software update that I have not tried yet, or do I have to request a new receiver replacement from Dish since the software will not update on this receiver at all? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I also made sure that I have selected the option 'without my permission' on the system upgrades part of the Installation process menu screens. Click to expand.Not true. You can force one (if there is one), by going to the check sat page via the menu (Menu 6, 1, 1 if I remember). Put the transponder on 13 THEN (eithe 110 or 119 bird) THEN PRESS & HOLD the POWER button on the Receiver. Release the button AFTER the power has gone off and you have waited a few seconds. IF there is a firmware update it will start shortly after the hard reboot.

One of the Level 3 TSRs got me to do this on a 3100 & a 6100 and she said it works on all the IRDs prior to the 622. You can force one (if there is one), by going to the check sat page via the menu (Menu 6, 1, 1 if I remember). Put the transponder on 13 THEN (eithe 110 or 119 bird) THEN PRESS & HOLD the POWER button on the Receiver. Release the button AFTER the power has gone off and you have waited a few seconds. IF there is a firmware update it will start shortly after the hard reboot. One of the Level 3 TSRs got me to do this on a 3100 & a 6100 and she said it works on all the IRDs prior to the 622.

Click to expand.This is to clarify my earlier post. I should have been CLEAR that this works on Bell and MAY NOT work on Dish. First we don't know if Dish enabled this 'feature' and we don't know what transponder triggers it!!!!

Firmware Update Modem

The Bell 3100 (301s) and 6100s (811s) (actually all their boxes) will do a forced software/firmware dload IF: 1. It is an older software/firmware version 2. You change the 82/91 bird transponder to 13 on the sat install screen 3. Leave it on that screen AND THEN press & hold the power button (hard reset) 4. When it reboots it will do the upgrade. This was from Bell level 3 TSR after the latest Bell 6100 screwups.

Now considering that the Bell boxes are the same as Dish, there MAY be a way to force it the same way. Check switch, power reboot, Holding power button. Removing the card. All will reboot the reciever.

But will NOT force a software download. All take time to reboot and go through the startup process. It's simple and cut and dried. TURN off the receiver and WAIT. If there is a software update available, it will kick in and take it.

If none available then nothing is going to happen. Can't remember waiting more than 5 minutes for download to start if there is one. All the other reboots and such will get you a EPG update. If a software up date starts during one of these it's just by pure coincidence that one might be being forced. If you have outdated software and turning it off does not get you the update, then it's time to call DISH and get your box replaced. All this of course depends on whether you are getting a working signal from the 119 satellite in the first place.

According to, your software is still valid for the 311. P4.19 and both p4.31 are both current. Is there something that your receiver is not doing correctly that there is a problem that you might think is software related?

If not, just let it be. When its times for it to update, it will update as RandallA stated. Im will admit im not a rocket/satellite scientist, but i think that if dish allowed every 311 at once to update, there might be some bandwidth issues there.

Side note, the easiest way to force epg update is to upen the epg, press 999 then browse. You will get the attention 330 screen rightaway if your epg does need updating. Thanks RandallA, you had the answer to my problem. My fourth receiver updated during the night of 3/18-3/19 to the new P431 software. It was a recent DHPP replacement and had a high receiver number starting with 69. I found that this receiver was not in the range of those 311 receivers getting the new P431 software update until you had it listed in your software update thread on 3/18. That was the answer all along.

Nothing was wrong with the receiver at all, as it now has the P431 update and is running fine. I learned something from all of this, that all receivers don't get the new software update on the day it becomes available, but getting it depends on the receiver # (the R#), and when that receiver # falls in the range of those being updated on any particular day. Thanks, RandallA, for providing that new info to me. This thread did provide alot of valuable info that alot of us did not know before this discussion.

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