Potentially cheap DTT/SAT HD Combo €129

slegs

Have sent a link to customers with latest firmware and UK channel list

OneWayBet

slegs wrote: »

Have sent a link to customers with latest firmware and UK channel list

Hey Slegs, the saortv web site says "Also, new feature allowing watch one tuner while recording from the other - between terrestrial and satellite or vice versa."

Have you tried this with the latest firmware? I only seem to be able to do this for channels on the same transponder.

My box hasn't crashed since I upgraded to the latest firmware, there was a firmware dated about 2 weeks before that which I think may have had stability issues.

slegs

OneWayBet wrote: »

Hey Slegs, the saortv web site says "Also, new feature allowing watch one tuner while recording from the other - between terrestrial and satellite or vice versa."

Have you tried this with the latest firmware? I only seem to be able to do this for channels on the same transponder.

My box hasn't crashed since I upgraded to the latest firmware, there was a firmware dated about 2 weeks before that which I think may have had stability issues.

New firmware for watch one record another is still to come....will keep you updated.

pgtipz

Tony wrote: »

I stocked Edision satellite boxes many years ago and the failure rate was appalling, hopefully they are better now.

Picked up the Edision on one a the aforementioned German Websites - (SMARTCARD24) nothing against Irish sellers (have used them in the past) but couldn't justify the extra ~€50 I was being asked to pay for the same box !
Day 1: Box arrived - tuned in DTT/Sat no issues - very happy
Day 2: Box would not power up - not so happy !!!
Kept it for a few more days before sending back to Germany at my own expense. (SMARTCARD24 were very slow to respond to my e-mails, and when they did it was mostly in German, I had to go throuht the EU consumer centre to find out that SMARTCARD24 told them they found nothing wrong with my box). Eventually got replacement box a few weeks later which I tuned up but when I changed between channels the voice/sound went all funny (smurf/helium voices). Tried different scart & HDMI cables. I then tried to install the latest version of firmware but (must have made some mistake along the way) 'cause all I got afterwards was 'ASH' on the display. Tried to reflash with the EDISION RS232 software & null modem cable to no avail - it goes through the motions but still get ASH on the display.

Would definitely not recommend SMARTCARD24 :mad: & I'm not so sure about this combo box...(early thread from Tony may be ringing through - though Slegs may not agree !)

Any help at all would be appreciated

snaps

pgtipz wrote: »

Picked up the Edision on one a the aforementioned German Websites - (SMARTCARD24) nothing against Irish sellers (have used them in the past) but couldn't justify the extra ~€50 I was being asked to pay for the same box !
Day 1: Box arrived - tuned in DTT/Sat no issues - very happy
Day 2: Box would not power up - not so happy !!!
Kept it for a few more days before sending back to Germany at my own expense. (SMARTCARD24 were very slow to respond to my e-mails, and when they did it was mostly in German, I had to go throuht the EU consumer centre to find out that SMARTCARD24 told them they found nothing wrong with my box). Eventually got replacement box a few weeks later which I tuned up but when I changed between channels the voice/sound went all funny (smurf/helium voices). Tried different scart & HDMI cables. I then tried to install the latest version of firmware but (must have made some mistake along the way) 'cause all I got afterwards was 'ASH' on the display. Tried to reflash with the EDISION RS232 software & null modem cable to no avail - it goes through the motions but still get ASH on the display.

Would definitely not recommend SMARTCARD24 :mad: & I'm not so sure about this combo box...(early thread from Tony may be ringing through - though Slegs may not agree !)

Any help at all would be appreciated

Sounds like you put the wrong firmware on it, Was it ILTV software? 50€ price difference sounds like it was a different model. The latest ILTV firmware is 1.1.54 which works perfect in all departments. Also 1.1.49 is very stable.

The sound issue is also to do with the firmware used.

Alos dont use Baff firmware on a original box, its meant for clones.

OneWayBet

I think the extra 50 might be worth it for the Edision boxes, my first box was faulty (frequent crashes/reboots) but slegs arranged a new box with a courier swap. The replacement box is flawless so far (after a few weeks). I friend of mine had a similar experience.

They carry a 3 year warranty so I'd recommend buying locally as there's a good chance you'll need it.

STB

I think you answered your own question. You went to a german site directly and decided to go it alone with the firmware. You got no support and poor customer service for that price difference you quoted.

You have quite obviously flashed your box with the WRONG firmware. Its bricked. Thats nothing to do with the product. Its human error and goes hand in hand with a little knowledge.

A question I always have. Why fix something that aint broke. The majority of firmware updates out there are from the underground community and are for mainly dodgy purposes. And for gods sake if you dont know what your doing, or you have downloaded the firmware from a source you found on the web, just dont dont do it!

Believe it or not you dont have to have the latest firmware update, the majority of them are unstable, especially the unofficial versions.

About help.... its probably too late. The damage cant be undone. If you have flashed it with something completely different then the boot loader has been overwritten. And in that case you would need to flash the chip directly (which requires specialist knowledge and gear usually only held in the manufacturing company itself).

Just keep trying with the right firmware and an RS232.

pgtipz

Lesson learned about having local support but should it really cost €50 extra (I don't mind paying a few quid more to support a local seller and have done so in the past but €50...?)
Box is Edision Argus Mini 2in1 IP (DTT/SAT HD)
With regards to fixing something that 'aint broke' - I was having a problem with the sound and that is what I was attempting to fix.
The firmware I used was from the Edision website (160610) v1.1.49, I was not attempting a flash for fun or extra features.
Would still question the reliabilty of this box consdering I received 2 and they both had problems and I don't appear to be alone.
I totally accept responibilty for turning mine into a brick...:o

STB

I have learnt the lessons myself the hard way myself - most internet purchases it ends up costing you more sending it back and forth and its tiring! Believe me I break things constantly, its my hobby.

There are a lot of threads out there with people bricking this particular box which I can only imagine is due to Comag anaoraks trying to write better UIs and people trying to change bloody boot logos.

Have you tried the
RS232 Serial Recovery tool for Edision Mini


Make sure that you use the latest STABLE firmware for the "IP". That there is even a recovery tool out there shows how common the probelms are with incomplete flashes. Lots of stuff is getting lost in translation with sat boxes. Programmers are changing the boot files, then people move from unofficial firmware to offcial firmware thinking there wont be a problem, but of course that is not the case as the unoffcial dudes are more than likely copying some other manufacturers SW because it has the same chipset or some idiots are cloning them and releasing their own.

Let me know how you get on.

If that doesnt work there is apparently a dodgy fix on sat universe called 3602 EromUpgrade.rar (Use at your own risk - they couldnt even name the file what it should be Eeprom chip Upgrade!)

slegs

pgtipz wrote: »

Lesson learned about having local support but should it really cost €50 extra (I don't mind paying a few quid more to support a local seller and have done so in the past but €50...?)
Box is Edision Argus Mini 2in1 IP (DTT/SAT HD)
With regards to fixing something that 'aint broke' - I was having a problem with the sound and that is what I was attempting to fix.
The firmware I used was from the Edision website (160610) v1.1.49, I was not attempting a flash for fun or extra features.
Would still question the reliabilty of this box consdering I received 2 and they both had problems and I don't appear to be alone.
I totally accept responibilty for turning mine into a brick...:o

Dont know where you are getting €50 from. Level of issue is quite small from a large customer base now. Any issues I have seen have most likely been caused by transit damage rather than component failure.

pgtipz

I've used the files from the Edision Website (same as your link to the SaorTV forum)
Re: price difference - it's a few months ago and prices may have changed but when I was looking to buy the best local price was €180 incl deliver v €136 incl delivery from Germany (not quite €50 but close enough to tempt me )

I can see there are some local sellers/suppliers on this forum - can you provide a service/fix ? (not that keen on shipping to Germany again...)

STB

Have you run the utility and loaded the abs file with a null modem cable from the software download at http://www.argus-family.de/software/edisionargusmini_software_160610.zip

Is the flash completing ? Are you sure your PC/Laptop is communicating with the box ?

pgtipz

I have been using the Edision utility & .abs file from their website(with a null modem cable).
Seems to be connecting fine and flash appears to be progressing but when I get to 100% and get a 'Finished' message on the utility software the display on the box then says 'CONNECT' - I can't get any further than this.

argus mini ip_flashing.JPG
argus_mini_flash_1.JPG
argus mini ip_finished.JPG

STB

"CONNECT"

Thats the part where you flick the switch on the back of the box! (Up to this the box should be switched off). It will then flash the box and say "finish" when it has. At that stage you click the ok on your laptop screen. Disconnect the Null modem cable and reboot it.

pgtipz

Maybe I'm missing something really obvious but if the box is not powered on (switch on the back of the box) I get a message on the utility software saying "Test serial port status" - I'm only able to begin the flash when the box is switched on

STB

pgtipz wrote: »

Maybe I'm missing something really obvious but if the box is not powered on (switch on the back of the box) I get a message on the utility software saying "Test serial port status" - I'm only able to begin the flash when the box is switched on

From what I have read on German sites the "Test serial port status" takes a minute or so. Give it a minute.



I presume you are using COM1 (you havent got anything else configured on that serial port have you ???) You are using a Null modem cable R232 to R232 ? Not a USB to R232 (in which case the port might be a diffrent comm port).


If that doesnt work when you get to the connect part switch it off and on quickly with the switch on the back and see if that completes it.


I dont have one to flash so cant replicate it. But its normally select everything, the com port, baud rate start the app and then switch on the box.

pgtipz

Looks like this box can only be flashed with the utility software when it is switched on. I did wait for the "Test serial port status" message to disappear (with the box off) but 5-6 mins later still getting nowhere.
At the flash 'finished' message (100%) on the 'Edision utility' and the "connect" message being displayed on the box, flicked the power switch off quickly (tried this a couple of times) to no avail. When did the full off/on back to boot, then ASH.
Looks like this box needs power on to flash... and I'm left with a nice looking EDISION 'brick'.

pgtipz

Thanks to all for your suggestions !

STB

Well I am reading conflicting reports on elite and hifi in germany of people that have had problems using the R232 to R232 cable and not having any joy, having sucess with a r232 to usb cable made by Digi someone or other.

You are at an advanced stage when it is getting 100% and coming up with connect. Thats a near success flash. The next step is the completion.

Give it back to Edision if you used official firmware from their site that killed it if you have no further joy - an email to them should get you clear instructions in english at the very least. Failing that they owe you a box - if their firmware is killing boxes!

slegs

STB wrote: »

Well I am reading conflicting reports on elite and hifi in germany of people that have had problems using the R232 to R232 cable and not having any joy, having sucess with a r232 to usb cable made by Digi someone or other.

You are at an advanced stage when it is getting 100% and coming up with connect. Thats a near success flash. The next step is the completion.

Give it back to Edision if you used official firmware from their site that killed it if you have no further joy - an email to them should get you clear instructions in english at the very least. Failing that they owe you a box - if their firmware is killing boxes!

I have found that Usb to serial adaptors dont work well in Vista but work fine in XP IF THAT IS ANY USE

STB

slegs wrote: »

I have found that Usb to serial adaptors dont work well in Vista but work fine in XP IF THAT IS ANY USE

Is it just one file that is flashed slegs ? The .abs ? Whats the baud rate when flashing?

I am just wondering about using that file and a dos flashwriting program that was written for hummies. Simple command line.

Want to give it a go pgtipz ?

pgtipz

I'll give anything a go rather than spend another €44 sending it back to Germany/Edision - getting no reply from Edision !!! (have emailed them twice over the last couple weeks)
Would be interested in finding out the exact/correct sequence of flashing this box (I've just been using the latest .abs file from the Edision Website).
A little frustrating as it does feel like I'm almost there - maybe it's a boot-loader issue ! Might try and get my hands on a 'USB to RS232 Serial cable', I've used the 'RS232/serial null modem cable' to date with XP (sp3)

pgtipz

Awaiting delivery of 'RS232 to USB cable' - any day now !!!

jd_darkroom

Does anybody have a copy of the user manual in English for this box?

podgeandrodge

jd_darkroom wrote: »

Does anybody have a copy of the user manual in English for this box?

Sorry if this is not the right one...


http://www.tvtrade.ie/index.php?dispatch=attachments.getfile&attachment_id=2

jd_darkroom

Thanks podgeandrodge, thats the one!!!

pgtipz

Managed to flash the box..
I re-installed the 'Edision RS232 tool' on my laptop as the original version was only allowing me a dump flash as opposed to an upgrade (mode setting). Loaded the v1.1.49 firmware and 'hey presto' - box updated !!!:D (just to note box needs to be on for the serial cable to be detected).
Sat channels working fine (as well as BBC HD - excellent picture) - will be tuning in the DTT tomorrow - when I get my aerial up !
Thanks folks for all suggestions

snaps

pgtipz wrote: »

Managed to flash the box..
I re-installed the 'Edision RS232 tool' on my laptop as the original version was only allowing me a dump flash as opposed to an upgrade (mode setting). Loaded the v1.1.49 firmware and 'hey presto' - box updated !!!:D (just to note box needs to be on for the serial cable to be detected).
Sat channels working fine (as well as BBC HD - excellent picture) - will be tuning in the DTT tomorrow - when I get my aerial up !
Thanks folks for all suggestions

Glad your sorted

jd_darkroom

I just got one of these box’s and I am surprised to find that when I record a satellite channel it won’t let me change to another satellite channel without stopping the recording. Is this the case?
It works ok on the terrestrial channels.

OneWayBet

jd_darkroom wrote: »

I just got one of these box’s and I am surprised to find that when I record a satellite channel it won’t let me change to another satellite channel without stopping the recording. Is this the case?
It works ok on the terrestrial channels.

Yes this is a limitation of the box. I have seen it posted that a future firmware will allow this, but currently it certainly can't watch DTT and record SAT or vice versa.