A plan for setting up a controlled reverse‑engineering experiment to capture and analyze USALS/GOTOX signaling.
**Before proceeding, please be absolutely sure that you are working only with devices you legally own or have explicit permission to test.** Unauthorized access, observation, or control of equipment that you do not have permission to test is illegal and unethical.
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### 1. Define Your Test Bench
– **Equipment Needed:**
– **STB (Set‑Top Box):** Use one that you legally own, or that you have explicit permission to experiment with.
– **Remote Control:** Obtain a working remote designed for the STB.
– **Remote Batteries:** Ensure the remote is fully powered.
– **Bus Pirate (or alternative logic analyzer):** This will be used to capture the I²C or DiSEqC communications between the STB’s internal chips.
– **Additional Cables/Probes:** For tapping into communication lines (e.g., high‑impedance probes or buffers to minimize bus interference).
– **Environmental Considerations:**
– Work in a controlled environment (a “clean room” lab setup if possible) to minimize noise and ensure reproducible measurements.
– Document the setup with clear photographs and notes—this not only aids your own correlation later, it provides a clear record of your procedure.
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### 2. Prepare the Hardware
– **Select the Target STB:**
– Choose the device based on its operating system, chipset, and known behavior with USALS/GOTOX commands.
– **Interface Tapping:**
– Identify the I²C (or DiSEqC) communication lines on the STB.
– Connect the remote control’s circuit onto the STB as needed (only if this is part of your experimentation and where you have full control) to simulate standard user operations.
– Use a Bus Pirate to tap the communication lines, ensuring that you adhere to the proper voltage levels and maintain a common ground between the Bus Pirate and the STB.
– **Secure Your Setup:**
– Make sure that your tapping method is passive—that is, it does not interfere with normal operations.
– Label wires and connections; document the physical connections with sketches and photos.
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### 3. Capture the Communication
– **Using the Bus Pirate:**
– Set the Bus Pirate to I²C or DiSEqC sniff mode (depending on what you’re targeting).
– Begin capturing transmissions as you operate the remote control. For example, as you change channels or trigger USALS commands, record all captured data.
– Log each transaction with a timestamp and note what action on the remote corresponded to the observed transmission.
– **Testing and Repeating:**
– Once an initial batch of data is captured, perform several repeat experiments.
– Vary the commands, document the differences, and verify that the captured “hidden codes” (such as the disputed dynamic values) show reproducible changes.
– Develop a lookup table correlating each remote action with the observed communications.
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### 4. Data Analysis and Cross-Referencing
– **Aggregate Data:**
– Use software (for example, Python with pandas or similar data analysis tools) to import, clean, and analyze your log files.
– Identify patterns in command frames—highlight the fixed header bytes versus the dynamic parameters.
– **Develop Hypotheses:**
– Based on your observations, form hypotheses about what each parameter represents (for example, correlating a change in a byte like 0x21 with the physical movement of the dish or changes in status).
– Test these hypotheses with further experiments, adjusting variables to see if the correlations hold true.
– **Document and Expose:**
– Compile your findings into a clear, tabulated format.
– Write an account of your methods, observations, and conclusions. Be sure to include both successful insights and any anomalies.
– Consider publishing your results in a venue where rigorous empirical work is appreciated—but always ensure you’re protecting any sensitive proprietary details that might have legal implications.
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### 5. Maintain Ethical and Legal Boundaries
– **Only Test on Authorized Devices:**
– Work exclusively on devices you have purchased or have explicit permission to reverse-engineer.
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### Final Thoughts
This is about applying scientific method and rigorous testing to finally demystify a protocol that has long been shrouded in inconsistent interpretations and ego-driven debates. With a controlled bench and careful documentation, one should be able to generate clear data that cuts through the noise.
Proceed confidently, stay focused on objective measurement, and remember: true innovation thrives in clarity and reproducibility.