283 replies to this topic

[lottos]

Inaccuracies and ommissions may be present in this thread - if you have anything to contribute in that manner, please post them onto this thread:
http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=19898
to ensure this thread is kept clean.

Edited by lottos, 20 April 2006 - 08:38 PM.

[jokiin]

This in reference to firmware for the Digicrystal SDT9000PVR after a conversation that I had with the engineer from Digicrystal, have reposted it here so it doesn't just get lost in the other thread and potentially overlooked, if nobody wants to email their ideas it will still get done but will based on my own ideas of what's needed, I would prefer it be a result of user requests rather than what I think is needed.


I have to compile a list of what's needed and a recommendation of what firmware is best as a starting point, rather than it just be my opinion it would obviously be better to see a variety of opinions, perhaps others will look at it from a different perspective also, others will likely have different ideas about what features they have seen in these alternate versions that should be implemented in a version for Australia. It would be resonable to assume that if it has been implemented in another version that adding it to ours should be reasonably easy. If anyone wants to contribute please email me (firmware at jokiin dot com) and I'll put it all together, anyone that wants to contribute will be cc'd on the suggestions from others so that everyone has exposure to what is being discussed, hopefully this will add to the integrity of the process, anyone that wishes to contribute will also have first access to any firmware version that is produced as a result. Once it's all compiled I'll post details on the forums so that anyone that may be interested can check out what's happening, once I can get a firmware done I will also make it available for all.

[cssbarnes]

What if you replace the HDD but the unit does not recognise the drive ie.. PVR button does nothing? I have replaced a (suspect) faulty drive with exactly the same type and it cant be recognised...help

lottos, on Jun 22 2005, 12:03 PM, said:

Inaccuracies and ommissions may be present in this thread - if you have anything to contribute in that manner, please post them onto this thread:
http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=19898
to ensure this thread is kept clean.

Thanks!

Digicrystal, Wintal and Supernet PVR's Firmware & other FAQ Information
Info on Firmware Releases:

All 'standard' firmware is based on the German Digenius  platform.

Why upgrade to a later firmware release or hacked firmware?

Additional functionality, bug fixes and stability.
Examples: ability to install larger hard drive, ability to edit saved programs, fix to playback-abort bug amongst many other items.

You can check the current firmware version in use on your PVR via the "system info" menu.
Background Info:

Apart from the 'official' firmware provided by the hardware manufacturers, GDRGuy69 produced a "hacked" firmware for Digicrystal, Wintal and Supernet PVR's that allow any size hard drive. (These units currently all use the same firmware from Digenius so all units are compatible).

Grobi, a PVR available in Germany also use Digenius firmware that appears to have functionaility in later firmware releases that unfortuanetly are not part of the standard Digenius releases - Ie - they check what hardware the firmware is running on.

One issue is that a lot of the information we hear on firmware releases is that it's in German language (digenius, grobi, pvr forums from Germany) - das ist nicht so gut! (that is not so good!)
How to upgrade:

Digenius info: http://www.digenius.de/UpdateTerm_en

GDRGuy69's any size hard drive (based on Grobi 3.40):
PCPro's instructions on installation and GDRGuy69's install file: http://users.bigpond...rmwareflash.htm
Please remember to thank both GDRGuy69 and PCPro on this thread.

Serial cable info: http://wintal.com.au..._X10_Manual.pdf
Firmware Downloads:

Digicrystal 3.41 download and installer (should also work for Wintal & Supernet):
http://www.digicryst...au/Support5.htm

Digenius latest firmware download: http://www.digenius....wnload_mlstr_en

Grobi firmware (most recommended by experienced users of Wintal/Supernet/Digicrystal) is Grobi 3.40 or Grobi 3.41( unless of course you happen to be German or are proficient in German as all other Grobi versions are German language only.

3.41.9,  3.41.8,  3.41.7,  3.41.6, 3.41.5, 3.41.4, 3.41.3, 3.41.2, 3.41.1 (German only, likely future versions will be German only, but previous version (3.41) was in both German and English.
Firmware Hacking:

Anyone experienced with hacking around with code and proficient in German and English would be appreciated by all and sundry here!
GDRGuy69 requested that if anyone is interested in the sources and has good knowledge of C and assembler, they could work in parallel to improve functionality for the firmware.
GDRGuy69 said that chances are good that the new ucLinux kernel 2.4.29 for ARC will appear soon and then a new start will be tried with running a ucLinux project on the boxes.
If you have the skills and time, please signify your interest in this thread:
http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=20135
PVR to PC Program Transfers:
To transfer recordings digitally from the Digicrystal SDT-9000PVR, Wintal PVRX-10 or Supernet to the PC in order to archive them onto DVD, PC Pro has written a comprehensive guide on how to do this.
The process is fairly involved and therefore will not suit everyone, but it will suit video enthusiasts who demand maximum video and audio quality.

Check out his guide here: http://users.bigpond.net.au/pcpro
Digicrystal, Wintal, Supernet Manual:
http://wintal.com.au..._X10_Manual.pdf
Remote Controls:

Having a PVR adds another remote control to your collection.

If you have a Universal Remote Control you may be able to use it for your PVR if a suitable model is available in Australia:

http://www.digenius.de/Tools_en#unifb
Advanced (hidden) Menu:

To access advanced settings, highlight the "save settings" button in the menu and then hit the "menu" button on the remote. Don't forget to save settings after you adjust it.
Other Forums discussing Digenius and Grobi Firmware (German):

http://forum.digital...sehen.de/forum/

http://www.digitvfor...forum/index.php
Acknowledgements:

All the dtvforum PVR contributors for the above hardware, especially those that this info was gleaned from.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[lottos]

Please edit and delete your post from this thread and then repost in the correct area.

[kramoz]

lottos, on Jun 22 2005, 12:33 PM, said:

...snip...

All 'standard' firmware is based on the German Digenius  platform.

Why upgrade to a later firmware release or hacked firmware?

...snip...

Hi People,

I have just purchased a Wintal PVR-X10A.

It the "hacked" firmware relevant to this model, ie the A model as opposed to the non - A?

I notice wintal have a warning on their website about uploading the latest firmware to the A model?

Just like to know so I dont kill my new box when I deceide to put a larger HDD in it.

Thanks for your time

Kramoz

[Neon Kitten]

kramoz, on Dec 17 2005, 10:58 PM, said:

Hi People,

I have just purchased a Wintal PVR-X10A.

It the "hacked" firmware relevant to this model, ie the A model as opposed to the non - A?

I notice wintal have a warning on their website about uploading the latest firmware to the A model?

The only difference between the X10 and the X10A is the letter "A" and the firmware revision. They are *identical* units in all respects. The firmware in your X10A is identical to what they offer for download, therefore there's no point in flashing it. However, you wouldn't kill your PVR if you did.

I'd generally take Wintal's "warnings" about their products with a grain of salt. You'll notice the word "may" is in italics in their "warning". Kind of the same way Epson qualify that "using third-party inks may damage your printer." In other words, it won't damage it at all, but don't tell anyone because the consumer having the power to do what they wish with their own equipment is something that seems to gall the tech companies.

Edited by Neon Kitten, 19 December 2005 - 05:31 PM.

[vk4vsm]

Who has the upgrade software or firmware to use la arger HHD & change the Skip timing ?  

[rafdafer]

hi, need this cracked software too. can someone send it to me or send link to download this software crack?

@GDRGuy69 can you say how we "flash" another higher version of firmware?

i cannt open *.app to change something. are ther a hexeditor to change hd options?

[bobster05]

rafdafer, on Jan 28 2006, 02:29 AM, said:

hi, need this cracked software too. can someone send it to me or send link to download this software crack?

@GDRGuy69 can you say how we "flash" another higher version of firmware?

i cannt open *.app to change something. are ther a hexeditor to change hd options?

I think u need to have another read of this thread. I still have the hacked firmware if anyone still needs it just email me @ bbb_12@hotmail.com and I will send it to u:)

Edited by bobster05, 28 January 2006 - 08:43 AM.

[Yimin]

Neon Kitten, on Dec 19 2005, 06:29 PM, said:

The only difference between the X10 and the X10A is the letter "A" and the firmware revision. They are *identical* units in all respects. The firmware in your X10A is identical to what they offer for download, therefore there's no point in flashing it. However, you wouldn't kill your PVR if you did.

I'd generally take Wintal's "warnings" about their products with a grain of salt. You'll notice the word "may" is in italics in their "warning". Kind of the same way Epson qualify that "using third-party inks may damage your printer." In other words, it won't damage it at all, but don't tell anyone because the consumer having the power to do what they wish with their own equipment is something that seems to gall the tech companies.

I

Yimin, on Feb 9 2006, 05:02 PM, said:

I tried to upgrade the PVR-X10A with the new firmware for PVR-X10 and lost some of the function fo the box (recording and playback).
Can any one help me to resovle this problem? Do not try it again.

[bobster05]

seems that the first lot of ppl I emailed the hacked fw to recieved the ram image by mistake:( If anyone has found that there is no change to the digenius box after flashing i.e. when the power is unplugged then plugged back in could u pm me with your email addy and I will send out the permanent fw flash image...sorry bout the mixup.

[the_snark]

bobster05, on Feb 15 2006, 06:56 AM, said:

seems that the first lot of ppl I emailed the hacked fw to recieved the ram image by mistake:( If anyone has found that there is no change to the digenius box after flashing i.e. when the power is unplugged then plugged back in could u pm me with your email addy and I will send out the permanent fw flash image...sorry bout the mixup.

That's interesting... I wondered why you sent me 2. Now, I wonder if the version that's RAM resident only would be a good way for me to check whether the firmware will run on my newer box? If it doesn't work, no big deal, I just power cycle it to get back to the official version I bought it with. Yes....? Or have I missed something? Is the RAM version the same as the permanent one otherwise?

[fRuItCaKe.]

What you say is correct

[Neerav]

FYI my blog entry may help people to decide whether to buy the digicrystal 9000, it was put together from posts about it on www.dtvforum.info + some fiddling on my part

http://www.bhatt.id....box-review-faq/

[Neerav]

PS newer firmware dated 11-03-06 http://www.digicryst...V341_110306.app has been released and at http://forums.whirlp...=494688&p=2#r22 its been reported to fix the "blank screen after recording bug"
  
  I won't have a chance to upgrade until tomorrow as its being used to watch the Comm. Games at present
  
  EDIT: the guy who first tried it just told me:
  

Quote

I tried to access the menu while recording a channel and no buttons on the remote have any functionality that i could see. It's definitely an update on the original firmware i started with, but it appears to be missing some of the features of the 23/02/06 upgrade.

[boxall]

Can someone let me know what the 11/3/06 update maybe missing????

At the moment mine is how it was out of the box....works brilliantly! Love some of the new add in features that let's you do stuff while recording....

[Neerav]

boxall, on Apr 3 2006, 11:40 AM, said:

Can someone let me know what the 11/3/06 update maybe missing????

At the moment mine is how it was out of the box....works brilliantly! Love some of the new add in features that let's you do stuff while recording....

From what i’ve been told, if compared to the 23-02-2006 firmware, 11-03-2006 seems to only have the favourite lists and the text fix where it was in french before.

[surroundfan]

And the black screen when stopping recording bug...

[apester]

Thanks for all this great info on the Supernet. I have one major worry left: if I start recording is there any way to set the timer to record for 60 minutes or so as you can with a VCR? Otherwise it seems the model must be to just let the disk fill up.

[boric]

apester, on Apr 6 2006, 12:22 PM, said:

Thanks for all this great info on the Supernet. I have one major worry left: if I start recording is there any way to set the timer to record for 60 minutes or so as you can with a VCR? Otherwise it seems the model must be to just let the disk fill up.

No, you can't esaily record 'just' 60 minutes. You should set a timer if you don't want your disk to fill up. It does take a bit more effort but isn't too bad if you use the 'list' button to copy the now/next info to a timer. (can't remember exactly how to do it, but if you have a search of this forum you'll find the answer).

[fossicker]

If you press 'info' then 'list', it will set the current, or next if you select that, program to the timer.

[yabbal]

Could some one please list the features of the 11-03-06 and 23-02-06 updates on the digicrystal website?  I cant seem to find any information about these updates anywhere.

[Neerav]

yabbal, on Apr 20 2006, 01:20 PM, said:

Could some one please list the features of the 11-03-06 and 23-02-06 updates on the digicrystal website? I cant seem to find any information about these updates anywhere.

http://www.bhatt.id....box-review-faq/

[angelrose]

There is now another digicrystal firmware download at http://www.digicryst...V314_270306.app.  Does anyone know what has been fixed/altered in this version?

It was released today, but is dated a month ago.

[Neerav]

angelrose, on Apr 27 2006, 12:43 PM, said:

There is now another digicrystal firmware download at http://www.digicryst...V314_270306.app. Does anyone know what has been fixed/altered in this version?
  
  It was released today, but is dated a month ago.

  
  the last one I tested was DigiCrystal9000V314_290306.app and I could see no difference between it and the 11-03-2006 update
  
  The 11-03-2006 update was mostly worse than the 23-02-2006 update anyway so im sticking with
  23-02-2006 for now