Zgemma H7s Guide

Wcool

OK I managed to get it back with a hack, I managed to find the config files for the boot and manually copied the right entry back into the default STARTUP file

Below just for people who have a similar issue:

root@zgemmah7:/boot# ls -lrt
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 163 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_4_BOXMODE_12
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 124 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_4_BOXMODE_1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 163 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_3_BOXMODE_12
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 124 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_3_BOXMODE_1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 163 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_2_BOXMODE_12
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 124 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_2_BOXMODE_1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 162 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_1_BOXMODE_12
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 123 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP_LINUX_1_BOXMODE_1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 163 Jan 18 2021 STARTUP

root@zgemmah7:/boot# cat STARTUP
boot emmcflash0.linuxkernel2 'brcm_cma=520M@248M brcm_cma=192M@768M root=/dev/mmcblk0p8 rootsubdir=linuxrootfs2 kernel=/dev/mmcblk0p4 rw rootwait h7_4.boxmode=12'

root@zgemmah7:/boot# cat STARTUP_LINUX_2_BOXMODE_1
boot emmcflash0.linuxkernel2 'root=/dev/mmcblk0p8 rootsubdir=linuxrootfs2 kernel=/dev/mmcblk0p4 rw rootwait h7_4.boxmode=1'

root@zgemmah7:/boot# cp STARTUP STARTUP.old

root@zgemmah7:/boot# cp STARTUP_LINUX_2_BOXMODE_1 STARTUP

root@zgemmah7:/boot# reboot

yabadabado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123120980#Comment_123120980

The Duo served me well ,must have nealy 15 years .Definitely earned its keep.

No idea what's wrong with the Duo 2 ,just stopped working one day .

CalamariFritti

Not that I know but according to some there is, might make things worse though if it goes arseways

https://forums.openpli.org/topic/89130-zgemma-h7-multiboot/

Wcool

OK back to the screen tearing, this is an example:

As you can see, SNR is 99 percent. So how do I find out if my box is faulty or it's just a glitch or my dish is out of alignment?

I also have trouble with most terrestial channels like RTE2 and Virgin Media, however there the SNR is 50 percent while RTE1 is 75 percent (and works). It only started today.

Is there some test I can run that diagnoses if my hardware is ok?

Note: it's not all channels, about 50 percent BBC works for instance, ITV and UTV don't.

I have a signal checker but have no idea what the bars mean nor what the manual configuration does.

swoofer

have you tried a different hdmi lead?

cathy427

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123124882#Comment_123124882

I have a picture like that on the 2nd tv. For mine its saorview cable to distribution amplifier. One cable from the amplifier to the zgemma box and working perfectly and one to the 2nd tv and picture like yours so I am guessing it's a dodgy connection somewhere.

So for you - is it coming straight from saorview aerial to the zgemma?

I appreciate this doesn't account for the missing itv so swoofers point re the cable maybe more on the ball.

Have you rescan since the changes to the itv frequency?

In addition to checking/changing the hdmi cable have you any homemade coaxial connections?

joeirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123124257#Comment_123124257

Thanks again. I've reversed the sata cable so we'll see if that does improve things. No sign of swelling on the back connectors. I've also unplugged and plugged in again the power lead.

In answer to your other question I do make backups. I have an exterenal HDD plugged into the blue USB socket and this is where the backups are. Cheers.

Wcool

Thank you for the suggestions. I replaced the HDMI cable but no joy.

I rescanned and lost ITV2 HD and ITV3 HD (not a problem). Virgin Media (terrestial) seems to work now, probably because SNR > 60 now.

To me it really seems to be a signal issue. I have no idea how to interpret the Signal Finder though.

This is what I see if I am on ITV1 HD:

Now I hit scan:

I see this list: (within 5 sec)

Whichever ITV1 I choose, it's always blurry.

Only other thing that has changed since the storm is that I have no internet on my local network.

I dunno, probably time to have someone checkout the dish alignment (I'm too old to climb the roof).

Edit: Forgot to mention my setup: just the dish straight into my zgemmah7 going into HDMI1 on telly, that's all. Kodi HDMI2 is working fine.

CalamariFritti

But then how could the dish be misaligned if the signal is perfect? My tuner has this on signal finder.

And my ITV1 is perfect.

Wcool

Really weird isn't it? Is 99 percent SNR 'normal' though? Can it be that high? All DVB channels have 99 though …

greasepalm

I do wonder if you rescanned 28.2 how many channels are picked up on your scan. Nothing blocking line of sight.

Did you unscrew your F connector and recheck your wires and if any burn marks.

CalamariFritti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127344#Comment_123127344

I'm really no expert on those values.

This is from the world of satellite forum:

https://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?23299-What-does-SNR-AGC-BER-mean

SNR = Signal to Noise Ratio - which means signal quality
AGC = Automatic Gain Control - which means signal strength
BER = Bit Error Rate - which shows the error rate of the signal.

So, SNR and AGC should be as high as possible.

BER should be as low as possible, like 0. It can be higher, if your other values are higher.

Your dB is enormous compared to mine but I have no idea whether thats good or bad.

Wcool

Connectors on ZGemma look clean.

As said, I am not sure what certain numbers mean: I noticed from the screenshots that my transponder for ITV1 is 11386 V 27500 2/3 while for CalamariFritti it's 10818 V 23000 3/4

Is that significant?

No idea how to find out which channels changed since last scan.

I have one more idea: I have 2 DVB tuners (of course), with Tuner B configured as Use Tuner A config. Can I force which tuner to use for a channel? i.e. Maybe Tuner A is faulty and Tuner B works (or the connector). Would be interesting to test out.

greasepalm

Do you have both tuners fitted with sat cables.

You can switch over sat cables for checking while box is powered off.

Wcool

Yes both cables are connected (to same dish).

I switched inputs , no joy but then realised it didn't test the tuner, only the cable. I managed to find a setting to change the preferred tuner to B but also no joy.

I'm giving up, I will call in someone to check the dish.

Thank you for all the suggestions, very very much appreciated.

Wcool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127374#Comment_123127374

The rescan on satellite shows 698 channels, I think it used to be in the 900s?

Final remark: also also on the channels that do work (like BBC), the 'bad weather' icon appears when switching to the channel, maybe indicating some signal problem?

greasepalm

Hmm i scanned last week and found 718 , remember plenty of channels were deleted from SD and only using HD ones.

swoofer

don't give up, that's a perfect signal, its the output from the box that has gone wonky. You should change the hdmi on TV as well ie use 2 and see if it works.

It looks as if you are using an openatv image, can you check the version, menu information, or about. I need to know image version and skin.

HDMI sockets can fail as well.

For the tuners you should have each one configured separately but the same, which I think you have. You can disable each tuner in turn just toggle until it says not configured and green to save. While on a channel press ok and it gives a signal reading, higher the better. Db is a better measure but in your case its weird. You should check video settings as well, does your box have SSD sticking out.

here are a few pics, its not a zgemma but same applies, i'll try zgemma later, cant fathom that DB figure.

You can also flash a new image to another slot and that may resolve the issue. its quite easy but you need box connected to network. You probably had a power cut and that can cause havoc. Your dish is fine. Green lock is the key.

IMG_7937.PNG

IMG_7938.jpg

IMG_7940.jpg

You should check video settings as well.

Don Juan II

I don't think it's the hdmi cable that's wrong here. If it was, then the open at OSD (on screen display) would be pixelated as well (i.e. All you settings screens as well as footer in your screenshot would be pixelated)

swoofer

no those onscreen graphics are static, they are just images.

Don Juan II

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123129271#Comment_123129271

Yes, I agree they are static images but aren't they delivered over the hdmi cable? So if it was a dodgy hdmi cable, these images would be pixelated also

CalamariFritti

If the HDMI cable was faulty the entire picture would have artefacts not just the actual TV picture portion of it.

Wcool

OK I won't give up yet!

To change tack, I am thinking of installing OpenVix in one of the free boot slots. This shows my current setup.

Is there a way to flash an image directly from USB stick from within OpenATV, to save me from fiddling with the boot buttons and potentially overwriting my current setup? This is my current situation:

I.e. slot 1 3 or 4 are ok for OpenVix. I vagually remember there is an extension?

About the latest remarks: this is what's bothering me. why is it only a subset of my channels, I just don't understand it?! I can't think of anything causing that symptom.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123124882#Comment_123124882

Had this as well , on both my VU+ boxes , the problem is ITV's end , nothing to be done about it …… its a " please do not adjust your sets" moment.

Also , you are correct about HDMI , no partial screen tearing , if it was a hdmi problem the entire screen would be corrupted.

No such thing as a static image in terms of electronics , only in terms of what the image looks like when decoded. Whether there are items moving about in the image or not , the data is still coming over HDMI at 1920x1080 x 50 pixels per second.

Wcool

So what did you do in the end? Just wait? Or did you change software or hardware?

swoofer

I would try flashing Openvix but its best if you do it online and you need box connected to internet, go menu setup software management, flash online, yellow and wait, now go to openvix BUT DONT FLASH 6.7 it only came out today, select 6.6.013 as that is stable, then follow the prompts, if you know what you are doing set it up from scratch and don't restore anything. If you get the same problem I would try box on another tv.

itv1 HD is perfect now.

That channel you showed is an SD channel!!

Wcool

I am working to restore my internet over my home router, unfortunately tethering my phone via USB didn't work. A cheap travel router is on its way though. 5G routers seem to cost a fortune so trying the cheap route first.

About the screenshot, yes I might have flipped channels between screenshots though both SD and HD ITV aren't working. Arguably SD is worse affected.

The channels affected are:

UTV, all ITV SD HD and +1, all LEGEND channels. Nothing else it seems.

Will report back when done.

Don Juan II

I think this is most likely to be dvb-s signal related. Dish or alignment, lnb issue, cable issue, connector issue. One of these

A good installer will figure this out very quickly

swoofer

Can you reach dish and check LNB, a bit weird you can get some channels, dish may have moved a tad or lnb needs a twist.

Or do you have dect phones? Its a mystery now.

cathy427

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123001502#Comment_123001502

EEdit - sorry scrap this, I worked it out.