dreambox repair

settopbox

Can anyone recommend a place where I could get my dm800 fixed.

I have a issues with a component on the mother board I think.

I know is should have bought an original or people will say bin it as it will be costly to fix but im just curious as to what my option are.

Any advice is much appreciated.

redout

Give Satworld in Kimmage a bell http://www.satworld.ie/

garrycann78

what exactly is happening to the box.

settopbox

garrycann78 wrote: »

what exactly is happening to the box.

First things frist the box is a clone so I realise my options and sympathies are limited.

Its completely dead.

Was watching the world cup final and It was as if someone just pulled the plug.

Tried plugging in and out numerous times no good.

Tried connecting to dream up No good.

Left the box plugged in for a few hours and it was not even getting warm.

The light on the psu is working and it is able to power other boxes I have and other psu that work cannot boot this box.

Its essential dead.

Im assuming the is some power inlet problem or some capacitor has blown.

ANy Ideas appreciated.

makeorbrake

Did you buy in the uk/irl or the far east? If the former, you should still be able to return it. If the latter, depending on which vendor, you may well get some good support as regards whats wrong with it. Give as detailed info as you can - send them screenshots of the inside of the box (so that they can identify which factory it came from, what components are in it. Some of the better chinese vendors will mail you on the necessary parts if they can work out what is wrong with it.

Where did you source it by the way?

tomslick

I think I had the same problem as you with a clone. When you turn it on does the power light come on but no LCD screen? I have found from experience, if you open the box, then power on and press down firmly on the circuit board where the card would sit, the the ethernet connection will light. Still holding the board down, unplug and replugin the box and it'll start up again. I was told it was "dry joints". Try it it worked fine for me with my clone.

garrycann78

i was given a box recently with the same problem (at least it seems). The light on the power supply was lighting up and would power another box but when i used it on the original box nothing happened. one good way to confirm that the box is the problem is if you have a sky power lead-plug this into the dreambox power supply. I used this to test the dreambox.the amp output is lower but ultimately it should tell you if its the box or not

settopbox

No there is zero lights of any sort working in the box.

will try the suggestion about pressing on the motherboard as it sound promising,

No fear That I will be electrocuted I hope I can come back tomorrow and report my findings.

redout

settopbox wrote: »

No there is zero lights of any sort working in the box.

will try the suggestion about pressing on the motherboard as it sound promising,

No fear That I will be electrocuted I hope I can come back tomorrow and report my findings.

Did you contact Satworld like I suggested.

They sell the damn things and have seen them repair them in the past.

settopbox

will give satworld a try but they only sell genuine boxes and they might as well go and tell me to get lost.

Worth a try anyway.

redout

settopbox wrote: »

will give satworld a try but they only sell genuine boxes and they might as well go and tell me to get lost.

Worth a try anyway.

No they sell official dreambox and clones.

They do a clone of the 500 and 800.

cormacl

Folks,
I've commented on this activity before... dreambox clones are illegal as they infringe on proprietary software copyright of Dream Multimedia. They use old or modified proprietary front-loader software to aid in booting and flashing the boxes.

The precedent on this goes back decades.. Apple vs Franklin was one of the first of its kind of cases in this regard, where Franklin used ROM portions from Apple ][ computers to get their reference models to boot from disks. They lost the case on the basis of unauthorised use of copyrighted machine code. Most software copyright practice in the US and EU is based on this and several others as a reference case.

So please, respect the law and indeed the policies of these forums.. no illegal stuff.

Stick with the VU+ or Qbox if you want to say on the right side of the law or beter still by the genuine article.

garrycann78

why are you are getting so worked up about a satellite receiver. its only a hobby to us and if you need to start quoting precedents and court cases then you need to get out more.

joe250

Anytime someone mentions dreambox we get the same old rant.

cormacl

hobby or not.. clones are illegal.. these forums do not encourage discussion of illegal stuff.

Nehaxak

Here we go with the same old crap and backseat modding again :rolleyes:

If people would just refer to their "so called clones" with the name that is on them, ie., InetBox, then it's nobodies business to moan about them being so called dreambox clones. You can call them super Mario condom vending machine clones if it helps placate the few moaners, but really, apart from one or two who post on here complaining whenever they're mentioned, nobody really cares whatsoever.

They're not illegal, otherwise they wouldn't be on sale and continue to be sold by reputable retailers in Ireland. End of.

It is also not against any law to talk about them, purchase them or use them.

Buy whatever receiver you want, they're not illegal in any way whatsoever to use, talk about/discuss, sell, import or purchase locally.

Don't listen to people telling you they're illegal unless it's official word and official and particular legal ruling from either the Irish courts/justice system or the government themselves saying that they are.

Saying that, the quality of them can be generally crap, a bit hit and miss, but sure people should know that already.

snaps

cormacl wrote: »

hobby or not.. clones are illegal.. these forums do not encourage discussion of illegal stuff.

And a real dreambox is not illegal for what it is used for??

cormacl

It's all about copyright.. inside these boxes, there is copyrighted proprietary software called the front-loader. Its like a BIOS that is used to boot the OS and also flash an OS onto the box. Without it, you can't use the box. The source of this is not released to the public.

The vast majority of the dreambox software is OSS.. so there is generally no issue with that being used by non-DMM boxes.. but this FL part and the tuner drivers are proprietary and copyrighted.

Amuse me.. reboot your "box" into firmware upgrade mode.. holding down the power button as you power up. Then, assuming you've got the device networked, you should get a STOP *** prompt on the display with a DHCP IP address shown... you probably know this procedure.

Then do two things..

1) point your web browser at the IP address shown and paste a screenshot of the page you see and also a shot of the "device info" link on the botom left of that page.

2) Using a telnet client, telnet to this IP Address. This should access the console version of the front-loader.. post a screenshot of that landing screen which gives information about the receiver.

Then explain to me why these screens both refer to Dream Multimedia and their hardware models DM800 etc.. how is it that they even refer you to their support forums, if the box is not using their software?

Its that simple. I've worked in the software industry for over 14 years.. this is how we protect our IPR.. we copyright our software.. any 3rd party copying of part or all of it is a violation of that copyright law. Maybe you dont see the issue here.. but it rings home to me.

I'm sure that DMM will not bother to prosecute any of you or the shops you sourced these receivers.. but that does mean that its legal.

As for owning a genuine dreambox and then using same to illegally watch encrypted services etc... the act is the violation, not the ownership. Just like owning a PC is not illegal, but using same to illegally download music, movies etc is. Don't confuse the two.

M5

a clone is a counterfeit , hence illegal. I imagine the only reason they are not clamping down on cloned dreamboxes is the fact that dreamboxes are used by some to carry out illegal activities! thats my take on it anyway. Either way clone talk is common place on boards. Until told otherwise by a mod its OK. From previous threads i believe its a grey area

On the quality of the clones, some are actually better. For example some cloned dm800s are a completely reworked mainboard which is more stable and does not suffer from heating issues. Others are balls of crap, no way you will be able to tell which is good and which is bad unfortunately.

garrycann78

Ya sure if i can have €200 or €400 to buy a vu+ or a qbox then i'll get one. is there anyone person who can say that they havent got a piece of equipment or a piece of software that isnt from the registered manufacturer. both the boxes you mention can and are bought from sources other than the real manufacturer so how do i know that anyone who has a vu box or any type of receiver, let it be humax,comag or technomate is the real thing. i get your point but not everyone has the bucks to go out and spend €200 on a receiver. the original post is only looking for assistance on repairing the box. he's not looking for loaders or images.

cormacl

garrycann78 wrote: »

Ya sure if i can have €200 or €400 to buy a vu+ or a qbox then i'll get one. is there anyone person who can say that they havent got a piece of equipment or a piece of software that isnt from the registered manufacturer. both the boxes you mention can and are bought from sources other than the real manufacturer so how do i know that anyone who has a vu box or any type of receiver, let it be humax,comag or technomate is the real thing. i get your point but not everyone has the bucks to go out and spend €200 on a receiver. the original post is only looking for assistance on repairing the box. he's not looking for loaders or images.

I'm not actually 100% sure what you're asking here about knowing the boxes are legit. For a genuine dreambox verification, the stock and derived images ship with a mechanism to tell the end user that the box is legit. Its a plugin that when launched provides a serial code. The user then goes to DMM's homepage and can verify if the box is the real thing. The released enigma2 images also contain nobbling code that will wipe the FL-EPROM of a clone box.. so on loading an official image or one from Pli, Gemini etc.. you'll know very quickly if the box is a clone. The clone images have to be doctored to prevent the bundled FL-code from doing its nobbling.

I don't know if Vu+, qbox and others have any similar mechanisms. I'm also unaware if they have been cloned themselves.. But they probably are as vulnerable to the same theft and if they do get cloned, I'd expect the same draconian measures to help curtail the cloners.

Also, its not about loading or images... possession of a clone is a copyright violation in that there is proprietary software on board.. the box will neither boot nor allow you update its software without this being present. Just think about that for a second.. to work in the first place, it must have violated copyright.

It does not become a "grey" area because nobody has been prosecuted yet.. Dream would have to pursue vendors or importers to do this and that's unlikely unless the volumes are large and worth the legal costs. The Customs are not going to recognise these as fakes unless they are explicitly equipped to search for such things. They look for the other merchandise.. tobacco, fake watches etc.

But bear in mind the kind of people involved in distributing these boxes. Way back in 2009, not long after a large distributer was taken out in Poland, this happened.. http://www.derwesten.de/staedte/luenen/Luxuskarossen-brannten-aus-id549844.html
.. nice people indeed!

garrycann78

You can buy any cloned box from china. I understand and am aware of checking for cloned receivers however my point is that if you have a box other than a dreambox, say vu box for example which is a clone and you are looking for assistance with a problem,, that person will get assistance because the assumption is that this brand is not cloned. Now I have a Dream box 500S and a Technomate Tm500 Linux. What if i were to tell you that neither is fake. Just because the DM500s isn't in production any longer doesnt mean that every single box in operation is a clone and it is wrong for people to conclude that dreambox users only have them for one reason only. What if i like using a DM500s instead of a SLY box and also what if i have a valid SLY subscription. Can you still assume that what i do is wrong just because i have a satellite reciever that when it appears on a post here it gets closed.

cormacl

say vu box for example which is a clone

A vu+ is not a clone. Neither is a qbox. Both have their own motherboard designs, licenced tuners and their own enigma2 ports. Most importantly, they have their own front loaders. They are openly on sale all over Germany, the one place where DMM has taken actions left right and centre on clone sales. In fact AFAIK, you flash a Vu+ via USB only and not using a web-server like DMM.. again a strong confirmation that they have not cloned the front loader.

it is wrong for people to conclude that dreambox users only have them for one reason only

I could not agree more.. mine is for FTA only. It used to be used in conjunction with a UK FTV card and for a very short period with an Irish Sky card, until I cancelled Sky. I take the position that if subscription TV is something I want and worth its price, I'll get it.. otherwise do without. But don't steal. As it happens you can at this stage do key loading and sharing on a load of receivers. Granted its much easier on a dreambox but its not exclusive to them. These receivers are way better than most of the combo **** out there and are more reliable and easier to use.

My only issue with this thread was that it was mentioning cloned dreamboxes and even a shop here in Dublin that is selling them. Thats putting boards.ie at risk as far as I'm concerned and suggesting its OK to steal.

redout

cormacl wrote: »

A vu+ is not a clone. Neither is a qbox. Both have their own motherboard designs, licenced tuners and their own enigma2 ports. Most importantly, they have their own front loaders. They are openly on sale all over Germany, the one place where DMM has taken actions left right and centre on clone sales. In fact AFAIK, you flash a Vu+ via USB only and not using a web-server like DMM.. again a strong confirmation that they have not cloned the front loader.



I could not agree more.. mine is for FTA only. It used to be used in conjunction with a UK FTV card and for a very short period with an Irish Sky card, until I cancelled Sky. I take the position that if subscription TV is something I want and worth its price, I'll get it.. otherwise do without. But don't steal. As it happens you can at this stage do key loading and sharing on a load of receivers. Granted its much easier on a dreambox but its not exclusive to them. These receivers are way better than most of the combo **** out there and are more reliable and easier to use.

My only issue with this thread was that it was mentioning cloned dreamboxes and even a shop here in Dublin that is selling them. Thats putting boards.ie at risk as far as I'm concerned and suggesting its OK to steal.

Are you not breaking the law by using your Sky card in a dreambox and are UK FTV cards only meant for UK customers ?

cormacl

redout wrote: »

Are you not breaking the law by using your Sky card in a dreambox and are UK FTV cards only meant for UK customers ?

Probably was actually.. its long since disabled.. I'm FTA-only now and all the services I was getting.. ITV, C4, Five, More4, Film4 etc... are all FTA now.

garrycann78

as far as i'm concered breaking the law is drink driving/assualt/murder,etc. Putting a subscription card into a satellite receiver is most definitely in my opinion not breaking the law. This is something i do in my own home. I still pay sky every month so they get their money regardless of where the card is stuck. I have noticed that the word "illegal" gets used very easily on this site.

redout

I think that Dream shoot themselves in the foot by pricing their products so high and thus leave the door open for companies to produce clones. I would always take an original Dream over a clone but in some instances it is no longer possible like with the DM500 which is hugely popular. I mean to price a DM8000 at nearly €1,000 is pure madness. Even a legit DM800 cost over €400. The markup on these products is scandalous to be honest and like with many other items such as perfume, watches, clothing etc it leaves itself open to copyright infringement.

garrycann78

so are you agreeing with the use of cloned receivers.

snaps

Have we gone a little of topic here?

garrycann78

not at all snaps. the original post related to a clone dreambox and this is simply a discussion regarding the use of cloned receivers.

cormacl

back to my earlier suggestion... anyone care to get their clone into recovery mode and post the screenshots?

makeorbrake

garrycann78 wrote: »

not at all snaps. the original post related to a clone dreambox and this is simply a discussion regarding the use of cloned receivers.

Dreambox repair is the title of the thread - and I would imagine this is the topic of primary importance to the OP. Furthermore, I would like to see the thread continue along those lines as its also of interest to me (given that I have a non-working dm800 also) - and i'm sure there are others who would benefit also...

garrycann78

fair enough make,whats wrong with your dreambox?

settopbox

As the op here all I wanted to know is does anyone know of a place where apart from the original shop where I bought the box, that I can get a repair done to my box.

Thankfully I have had some helpful and useful advice from some, SO thanks Lads.

The news on the box is that a capacitor has been burned out and will need to be replaced.

May just scrap it for parts so if anyone is interested pm.

Thanks.

makeorbrake

garrycann78 wrote: »

fair enough make,whats wrong with your dreambox?

It works for 10-15 minutes without issue. Then it goes to a green screen. I'm not sure how hot these dm800's are supposed to be but this one seems to be uber-hot. I have ordered a fan for it - maybe that might help (assuming thats the problem of course...).

Its not a software issue as I have tried plenty of images...

watty

settopbox wrote: »

The news on the box is that a capacitor has been burned out and will need to be replaced.

May just scrap it for parts so if anyone is interested pm.

Thanks.

A capacitor costs less than a couple of Euro. Costs more to have someone qualified open and close the case.

JHMEG

cormacl wrote: »

Amuse me.. reboot your "box" into firmware upgrade mode.. holding down the power button as you power up.

I did this out of curiosity on a DM500S which someone gave me that appears to be a clone.

It did nothing. The box booted as normal.

Where does that leave the theory that it's a DMM bootloader?

cormacl

JHMEG wrote: »

I did this out of curiosity on a DM500S which someone gave me that appears to be a clone.

It did nothing. The box booted as normal.

Where does that leave the theory that it's a DMM bootloader?

Thats because the 500S uses enigma1 which does not have a web/network-based boot loader. It only supports a serial front-loader mode.

However, if you feel the need to try and prove me wrong.. then attach a serial cable with the correct 8N1 settings and use something like hyperterminal or minicom or whatever your given OS uses. If you've ever flashed the box using a serial cable.. its the exact same proceedure, except instead of running the flash program, you run your serial terminal program (hyperterminal if using Windows). Have this connected and ready when you boot the dreambox. AFAIR, you need to have hyperterminal connected (phone symbol off the hook) to grab the output.

If you get the settings correct, then when you boot the dreambox, you will get a text output from the box at the front-loader as it does its thing. If you see nothing, then you've got the settings wrong or the terminal app is not in connected mode.

For a 500S box, this should show something like this..

Dreambox DM500
loaded at: 00500000 0060016C
relocated to: 00400000 0050016C
board data at: 004FE124 004FE16C
relocated to: 00405194 004051DC
zimage at: 004058D5 004FD918
avail ram: 00501000 02000000

Linux/PPC load: console=null root=/dev/mtdblock5 rootfstype=squashfs ro
Uncompressing Linux...done.
Now booting the kernel

JHMEG

cormacl wrote: »

Thats because the 500S uses enigma1 which does not have a web/network-based boot loader. It only supports a serial front-loader mode.

Ok, I'll try it tomorrow, but where is the proof that copyrighted code is in use?

cormacl

It will output Dreambox 500S for one. If you press enter quickly, you should get the prompt for the boot loader version and menu.

See the following details for an old 5620. The 500 and 70x0 should be similar.

http://www.football-eye.com/mivanov/dreambox/dreambox.html

An independent boot loader is not going to print dreambox for certain.