Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

spooner_j · 19-06-2020 12:36PM

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

If the box and your laptop are on your home network it should be possible to access the HDD through your laptop file manager and copy the contents that way. You might need to use "filezilla" a free FTP utility to access the box.
The box OS is stored on internal flash memory. Once you have saved the contents of the HDD that you want to keep, movies, backups etc. Swap out the old HDD. Boot up the box with new HDD. "Initialise" the new HDD using the box software. Then restore the contents you want from your laptop.

Ah great that sounds grand, means I dont have to re-setup the entire box from scratch. Just a few old recordings to backup and restore so, can grab them over the network first and then go from there.

Thanks for the help!

Gerry Wicklow · 19-06-2020 01:40PM

spooner_j wrote: »

Ah great that sounds grand, means I dont have to re-setup the entire box from scratch. Just a few old recordings to backup and restore so, can grab them over the network first and then go from there.

Thanks for the help!

It's no harm to run the backup utility on the box first and save the backup files off the HDD before doing anything else. You can NEVER have enough backups

andy1249 · 20-06-2020 05:01PM

Im setting up another box here , all is fine except whatever way Ive set it up Channel 4 HD and CNN HD are not showing up in the channel lists , what have I done wrong folks ?

I have them on my first box !

Thanks

swoofer · 20-06-2020 05:26PM

You can copy channel list from first box using dreambox edit. Or look at autobouquets setup in first box. Or you can scan in manually.

andy1249 · 20-06-2020 05:58PM

I think Ive got it ,
in ABM providers , I didn't have Sky UK enabled.
I did that , and now they show up in my openwebif bouquet editor to be added to my favourites.

Funny though , that is not enabled on my first box , but Ive still got those channels.

spooner_j · 28-06-2020 09:26PM

spooner_j wrote: »

Hi all

Been happily using my Tiviar for the last two years but starting to have some issues with it now. Frequently now I see the spinning "loading" icon appear on the screen for a second or so at random times. It happens just while watching TV and the box doesnt seem to be doing anything else.

It's started crashing a bit too, screen gets stuck to the one channel and the remote doesnt respond. I've had to button it at the back and reboot.

This morning after I buttoned it it didnt boot back up first time. Heard a bunch of clicking and whirring noises. After another power cycle it then successfully boot and came back to life.

I'm worried the internal HDD might be on the way out. Is there any way to do a repair on this? I've tried logging in over SSH but there's no disk check tool like fsck installed, and not sure how to install it as apt-get isnt there either. Also not entirely sure how I can check the drive as I think it needs to be dismounted first which might not be possible.

Anyone have hard drive issues with their Tiviar before? Any suggestions for ways to repair or fix it?

Thanks!

So this issue is unfortunately getting worse...

I had thought it might be the internal HDD but I did manage to remove this and hook it to another machine and everything came back clean. No filesystem errors, no bad blocks, SMART passed...

Sometimes when I power it on nothing happens. Some clicks and whirrs and then nothing. Maybe after 4 or 5 power cycles it then boots up and works away for a while, then gets stuck.

When it gets stuck I can continue to watch the channel I'm on but everything else stops working. No remote, EPG, no web interface. Hard reboot needed.

Tried updating the image today but no better. I'm on the latest OpenATV 6.4 I think it is.

Anyone else using the very latest builds? Anyone with similar issues ever? Bit confused as to what it might be. Rather not have to buy a brand new box...

swoofer · 28-06-2020 09:41PM

Did you try the box with the hdd disconnected? Is it under guarantee? 6.4 is very new but it may bring new problems best to sort out the first one. Try with no hdd and do you have a backup of previous image.

There was a similar case on here and box was reaalced by WOS under guarantee.

spooner_j · 28-06-2020 10:25PM

swoofer wrote: »

Did you try the box with the hdd disconnected? Is it under guarantee? 6.4 is very new but it may bring new problems bes to sort out the first one. Try with no hdd and do you have a backup of previous image.

There was a similar case on here and box was reaalced by WOS under guarantee.

Maybe, it was bought July 2018 so if the warranty is 2 years I might just be in time.

Didn't try boot it without the HDD, will try that and see.

I was thinking of trying OpenVix and flashing that to see if it works any better. If it crashes too then I'd be fairly sure it's hardware at fault

Paul2019 · 29-06-2020 04:39PM

spooner, I had a similar (but maybe not exactly the same) problem in the early days with my new Tiviar.

When switching on, it began to stick on the same channel and not respond to anything. Buttoning it at the back would sometimes fix it. Another problem at the same time was the EPG would only partially update so some of the channels were blank in the EPG. I had the remote programmed to switch on the TV and the Tiviar but sometimes one or other or both would respond to the on/off button.

Anyway, long story short, as a last desperate resort I changed the batteries in the (still new) remote and the whole problem was immediately fixed.

My Tiviar is now about 6 months old and I couldn't be happier with it - not to mention the €40 a month sub that no longer goes to Virgin Media

Kagawa · 30-06-2020 01:00PM

Hi All,

I’ve lost Sky News on my Alpha Plus HD box, only that channel, does anyone know how I get it back?

TIA

Kagawa · 30-06-2020 01:01PM

Hi All,

I’ve lost Sky News on my Alpha Plus HD box, only that channel, does anyone know how I get it back?

TIA

swoofer · 30-06-2020 02:02PM

You can tune it back in using signal finder and then add it back to bouquet. Use these

dvb-s
12070H
27500
QPSK
5/6.

logonmar · 01-07-2020 12:57PM

I have one programme among those I recorded on Tiviar box that just won't delete for me. I can select to delete it but when I confirm selection it disappears for a second & then reappears.
No problem deleting other programmes

Has anyone else encountered this issue & if so did you manage to delete the problem recording?

andy1249 · 02-07-2020 09:13AM

logonmar wrote: »

I have one programme among those I recorded on Tiviar box that just won't delete for me. I can select to delete it but when I confirm selection it disappears for a second & then reappears.
No problem deleting other programmes

Has anyone else encountered this issue & if so did you manage to delete the problem recording?

I have attached a screenshot of the folder contents for recordings as viewed over the network.
There are five or six files associated with each recording , one of these support files is what keeps flagging the recording back from deletion, highlight them all and delete , this will get rid of it.

logonmar · 03-07-2020 09:57AM

andy1249 wrote: »

I have attached a screenshot of the folder contents for recordings as viewed over the network.
There are five or six files associated with each recording , one of these support files is what keeps flagging the recording back from deletion, highlight them all and delete , this will get rid of it.

Thanks Andy however I can't find the page as shown on your image.

When I go to Networks I get the screen as per this attachment and can't find a path to the types of files you show

swoofer · 03-07-2020 10:25AM

You need to use FTP and what this means you access the file structure in your box via the network. A lot of people use filezilla and its free. If you use windows I prefer WINSCP. You need to get the ip address of your box so go network and write it down. on the screen you has a pic go to device setup and click ok. then click adapter settings.

have you got filezilla?

I have the tiviar

NewClareman · 03-07-2020 02:24PM

logonmar wrote: »

I have one programme among those I recorded on Tiviar box that just won't delete for me. I can select to delete it but when I confirm selection it disappears for a second & then reappears.
No problem deleting other programmes

Has anyone else encountered this issue & if so did you manage to delete the problem recording?

You can view the program using windows explorer, just find the Tiviar under network. You should be able to delete it there. You can also do the same using iPadOS.

Another option is to install the Filebrowser plugin, this allows you to delete programs using the remote.

If you're not experienced with managing files you need to be careful that you only delete the unwanted Program, and not any other files that could impact the boxes operation.

wilsixon · 20-07-2020 09:22PM

Can anyone help by giving a link to a usb stick that will work for flashing an image? Or is there another way to do it?
I have tried 2 different ones (SanDisk and verbatim) and both fail (it boots into existing image).

Thanks

swoofer · 20-07-2020 09:38PM

Have you tried the usb slot in the front and have you checked the files are correct on the usb stick?

wilsixon · 20-07-2020 10:11PM

swoofer wrote: »

Have you tried the usb slot in the front and have you checked the files are correct on the usb stick?

Yes, tried front slot.

Files are correct as far as I know - unzipped onto desktop and copied the whole tiviaraplus folder to fat32 usb stick

swoofer · 20-07-2020 11:37PM

I forgot to ask is this a new box or does it have an enigma 2 image already on it?

greasepalm · 20-07-2020 11:52PM

3 working usb sticks i use are kingston.integral and cruzer and 8gb in size.Inserted into rear of box when powered off and powered on
Any buttons need pressing to start the flashing process?

If i download an image i extract it to my usb stick having formatted it to fat32 first.

spooner_j · 21-07-2020 12:05PM

brookedave wrote: »

Can anyone help by giving a link to a usb stick that will work for flashing an image? Or is there another way to do it?
I have tried 2 different ones (SanDisk and verbatim) and both fail (it boots into existing image).

Thanks

I had a few issues getting mine to flash before I figured out what the problem is...

For your USB you need to have a single folder on it called tiviarplus. In this folder, make sure you have your image unzipped in here.

If you're restoring a backup you made yourself (which is what I was doing) it wont work until you add another text file called "noforce". This is just a plain text file with the text "rename this file to 'force' to force an update without confirmation". Not sure that text needs to be there but that's what was in the OpenVix image file I used (see screenshot attached)

Your folder should look like the attached Tiviar image.

Once you have your USB this way, power off the box with the button at the back. Insert your USB into the back port, then power on. The front display should say "PressPWR" after a few seconds, at which point you press the white power light at the front. It should then flash for you.

21-07-2020 12:14PM

Is there a quick and easy way to rescan the channels? I've not rescanned since I bought the box two years ago. I'd be afraid to mess with it too much incase it stops working

swoofer · 21-07-2020 02:32PM

Are you missing any channels if so say what they are? Do you know the image you are using? And you are correct, if it aint broke dont fix it.

wilsixon · 22-07-2020 02:28AM

swoofer wrote: »

I forgot to ask is this a new box or does it have an enigma 2 image already on it?

It has an enigma 2 image on it.

wilsixon · 22-07-2020 02:30AM

spooner_j wrote: »

I had a few issues getting mine to flash before I figured out what the problem is...

For your USB you need to have a single folder on it called tiviarplus. In this folder, make sure you have your image unzipped in here.

If you're restoring a backup you made yourself (which is what I was doing) it wont work until you add another text file called "noforce". This is just a plain text file with the text "rename this file to 'force' to force an update without confirmation". Not sure that text needs to be there but that's what was in the OpenVix image file I used (see screenshot attached)

Your folder should look like the attached Tiviar image.

Once you have your USB this way, power off the box with the button at the back. Insert your USB into the back port, then power on. The front display should say "PressPWR" after a few seconds, at which point you press the white power light at the front. It should then flash for you.

Tried all that but no joy. Will have to get my hands on an 8gb Kingston usb. Thanks.

22-07-2020 02:59PM

swoofer wrote: »

Are you missing any channels if so say what they are? Do you know the image you are using? And you are correct, if it aint broke dont fix it.

The image is openATV. I'm missing a few channels that were there previously, don't know if they've been removed from FTA or need to be rescanned. Sky News, Quest HD, Al Jazeera HD, CNN, Pick, More4, channel 4+1, Food network are all gone

swoofer · 22-07-2020 03:38PM

Have you tried pressing the power button before you switch on at the rear and wait? And make sure no other sticks in other slots.

There is a way to update online as well and can you say the name of the image you are using ie openatv, openvix etc with version. I have 2 of these boxes and holding the power button worked quite a few times.

swoofer · 22-07-2020 03:38PM

mascher they are all there give me a few mins.

There are a few ways you can sort this so you might as well learn.

1. use kingofsat you put in channel name and then add the details to signal finder and scan, you then need to add the new channel to the appropriate bouquet, ie press menu when on channel.

https://en.kingofsat.net/find.php?question=sky+news

2. You can go to automatic scan but NB make sure you say no to clear before scan. You will then get a new list of all the current channels so you search through and add to bouquet.

3. When you are on a channel go ok arrow up , press red button that says ALL and you get a list of all channels and you may see more than one entry eg more 4 and find the one that opens, then add etc

4. You can run autobouquets but you must make sure you have the option to keep non ABM to yes. Once run you then go to each bouquet and find the channel. There is a way of creating bouquets that you can run with ABM and it will populate them as you want but thats using echanneliser but to me that's too much effort.

I use kingofsat and signal finder but I dont watch a lot of channels.

Pick is now in HD and it may not get picked up, THIS IS IT FOR YOU TO TRY SIGNAL FINDER METHOD

12363.00 V 34 Europe DVB-S2 8PSK 27500 2/3

Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

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