The #1 loading problem is communication between PC and IRD. This is usually a serial and null modem cable problem. Several Dealers are shipping units with the wrong cable and new laptops do not have serial ports. The following should answer most of your questions concerning these issues.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Null Modem cables look like straight serial cables and the only way you can tell the difference by looking is most Null Modem cables are marked with "NM" or "Null Modem". Some dealers are shipping Pansats with straight modem cables and NOT Null Modem. If your cable is not marked, the only way you can tell them apart is with a multimeter or continuity tester. With a straight thru serial cable, pin 2 should lead to pin 2 and pin 3 should lead to pin 3.
A null modem cable pin 2 should lead to pin 3 and pin 3 should lead to pin 2.
If straight thru then all pins should point to the same number on the other end.
Your local rat shack has the replacement adapter for under $10.00 , Part # 26-0264 ~ female DB9 to male DB9 ~ pins 5 straight & 2 & 3 crossed ..
Want to know what cable you need to flash that shiny, new receiver ? There are two types of cables used, and both look the same on the outside, but are wired differently internally. They are the straight DB9 RS232 female to female cable, and the Null 9 pin RS232 female to female cable. The straight DB9 cable has all pins connected the same at both ends(pin 1-1, 2-2,3-3,etc.). The Null cable(also known as a Null-Modem) has pins 2 and 3 crossed(pin 2-3, 3-2). You can use a straight DB9 cable to program receivers requiring a Null cable, by purchasing an inexpensive Null adapter to attach to one end of the straight DB9 cable. This allows one cable to be used for any receiver.
If your PC does not have a serial port (several new PCs do not have serial ports) you can purchase a usb to serial adapter from any computer store, such as B**t Buy, Rad** Shack..... But please be advised ALL SUB TO SERAIL PORT ADAPTERS WILL NOT WORK ONES THAT DO WORK have chips from FDTI or Cygnal. Ones that don't have chips from Prolific. They cost less, but don't work. If you can't tell what kind of chip is in it, it's probably a Prolific chip.
If your PC has a card slot, a card slot to serial port is also available and I understand they work better than the usb converters
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Here is a list of the most popular receivers on the market and the cable needed to program them.
Ariza Ultra 400/500- Null Astrovox 2600-Straight DB9 Blackbird and all Blackbird clones(BOB, Max 1000, Stealth II, MS1000, ,etc.)-Null Cool*sat 4000 Plus-Null Cool*sat 4000 Pro-Straight DB9 Cooltec-Sraight DB9 Coship (All)-Null Digiwave 6800/7000-Null Digiwave Diamond-Straight DB9 Dreambox (All)-Null Fortec lifetime-Straight DB9 Fortec Lifetime Ultra-Straight DB9 Lava 2600-Null Max 2500-Null ******* (All)-Straight DB9 Microroyal (All)-Null Pansat 2300a/2500a and all clones-Straight DB9 Pansat 2700-Null Pansat 3500-Null Pansat 5000HC-Null(Also can program through USB) Pantec/Multistar Max (All)-Null Pantec/Multistar MS (All except MS1000)-Straight DB9 Pantec MX/Ultra-Straight DB9 Rex1-Null Silver bullet/ST 1000/2000-Null Skyview 500-Straight DB9 Spacestar DVB500-null Stealth 2000a-Null Ultrastar 5000-Null Viewsat VS2000-Null __________________ (Thanks goes to "masagsxr"