Zgemma H7s Guide

SkySter · 19-06-2020 6:57pm

dulpit wrote: »

Quick/possibly pedantic question - when turning it on do you have the button on front pressed before you press power at back or not?

Tried both pressing it before power on and just after. Still no joy. I know I can FTP to HD and flash from there, but that assumes the box can boot. For peace of mind I will want to have a way of recovering outside of that. Anyway thanks everyone for your help. I'll give it another go over the weekend.

Movie Maestro · 19-06-2020 7:32pm

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

I was trying so many things. But I did restart the box at one point and even plugged it out as you suggested. I think that was when I was trying other crossepg versions I was finding on the web that I don't think were compatible with the Zgemma. The version in the plugin feeds is the only one I should have been trying!

This I think is the cheapest place to get a ZGemma H7S. But I paid a little more and bought from WoS to get the two year warranty.

It came with OpenATV 6.4 in slot 1. There are 4 slots to play with which is really useful. You can switch between images in no time. I have OpenVix and two versions of OpenATV and now I'm setting up Pur E2. First impressions I really like its GUI which is modeled on Kodi. I find it easier to read the menus on it compared to the OpenATV Metrix HD skin. Actually the Simple_Ten-Eighty skin on Openvix gives me the least eye strain but I think it looks so dated.

Flex

I've finally decided to buy a Zgemma from WOS and was wondering what image would you guys recommend I get flashed on it? This my first combo box, I'm coming from a Humax Freesat box.

FlexMcMurphy · 19-06-2020 8:31pm

SkySter wrote: »

Tried both pressing it before power on and just after. Still no joy. I know I can FTP to HD and flash from there, but that assumes the box can boot. For peace of mind I will want to have a way of recovering outside of that. Anyway thanks everyone for your help. I'll give it another go over the weekend.

I had the same problem. I think what worked for me finally was pressing and holding the front button then powering up with the button at the back of the box. I had to try about ten times and think I was just lucky that I guessed when to release the front button right when FLASH appeared on the front display, because the word FLASH would flicker on and off again after less than a second.

I think that USB method is the only way to get the box working again if it gets stuck on boot. Is the OS actually running so you could FTP an image to it? Don't think so?.. hopefully it won't happen to me again. Not sure if you've seen this thread already on WoS?

Flex

FlexMcMurphy · 19-06-2020 8:55pm

Movie Maestro wrote: »

I've finally decided to buy a Zgemma... and was wondering what image would you guys recommend I get flashed on it?

The Zgemma H7s can have up to four images on the box each booting from their own partition slot. OpenATV makes it easy to flash any image into any other free slot. Pur E2 is the same. I don't think it's easy or possible to do that from within OpenVix. If someone knows how I'm all ears.

I got the box with OpenATV and from there I flashed OpenVix and Pur E2 to other free slots. Have settled, for now, on OpenVix, it has a good support forum.

Flex

Cyrus · 19-06-2020 8:55pm

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

I had the same problem. I think what worked for me finally was pressing and holding the front button then powering up with the button at the back of the box. I had to try about ten times and think I was just lucky that I guessed when to release the front button right when FLASH appeared on the front display, because the word FLASH would flicker on and off again after less than a second.

I think that USB method is the only way to get the box working again if it gets stuck on boot. Is the OS actually running so you could FTP an image to it? Don't think so?.. hopefully it won't happen to me again. Not sure if you've seen this thread already on WoS?

Flex

Useful link if anyone gets stuck

Got me out of a bind

https://www.techkings.org/threads/flash-vix-via-command-line-from-the-creators-grogbuild-freerange-leading-the-way-to-simplicity.144800/

Movie Maestro · 21-06-2020 1:21pm

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

The Zgemma H7s can have up to four images on the box each booting from their own partition slot. OpenATV makes it easy to flash any image into any other free slot. Pur E2 is the same. I don't think it's easy or possible to do that from within OpenVix. If someone knows how I'm all ears.

I got the box with OpenATV and from there I flashed OpenVix and Pur E2 to other free slots. Have settled, for now, on OpenVix, it has a good support forum.

Flex

Cheers Flex, I went with OpenATV in the end:)

timmyjimmy · 26-06-2020 8:35pm

Howdy. I have a zgemma H7S that was working ok but now all I have is sound but no picture. I've been told to flash it but it doesn't seem to start to flash, all I see is the openatv 6.3 logo and then it goes to the blank screen with no sound. Any ideas?
TJ

Gerry Wicklow · 26-06-2020 9:06pm

Presumably you tried changing channels or going into the menu when at the blank screen?

timmyjimmy · 29-06-2020 6:44pm

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Presumably you tried changing channels or going into the menu when at the blank screen?

Yes, sound but no picture. Saying that, it seems to be working again. No idea what I did to fix it!

danIrl · 29-06-2020 8:28pm

With the Zgemma H7S, is it possible to configure recordings to be saved to an NFS mount instead of local USB or SATA disk?

FlexMcMurphy · 30-06-2020 4:35pm

Did you get it working Dan?

There are a few different ways to do it.

I used CIFS (not NFS) and set up a Samba share to a folder on a USB drive connected to another machine on my LAN. You can test mounting the network folder to that test folder with something like:

mount -t cifs //192.168.1.124/USB /mnt/test -o username=root,password=mypassword

//192.168.1.124/USB == This is the ip address of the remote machine on your LAN and USB is the Samba share name.

/mnt/test == This is a folder on the ZGemma you will need to make it.

If it works you should see the contents of the network folder in /mnt/test

After that you set up the recording paths in the Zgemma...
Menu >Setup > Recordings, playback & timeshift > Recording & Playback > Default movie location

Press "Enter" to switch between the File List and Bookmarks selection areas.

Now navigate to the movie folder where you want recordings to go to and Blue Button to Add a Bookmark.
Then make sure the "Default movie Location" points to the network path.

To set up the network mount permanently via the enigma2 image... unmount the test mount from above:
umount /mnt/test

Menu > Setup > Network > Mounts > Mount Manager > Add a new Network Mount Point

Mount Using: I had a problem with Autofs so chose "Enigma2 old format" instead and it worked fine even after a reboot. But you could chose NFS here.
Username and password: Enter details to get in to the Samba share.
Local share name: can be anything
Server Share: the name of the Samba share you created as named in /etc/samba/smb/conf on your remote machine.

You will now see the contents of the network share on the Zgemma in: /media/net/<Local share name>

.. > Mount Manager > Mount points management
If there is a mount problem, the left icon will have a red 'x'. There should be a green tick beside the icon on the right (active/inactive)

From testing, recording to a network location doesn't work as well compared to sending recordings to locally attached media. I didn't see problems with SD recordings but one HD recording locked up the box when I was trying to play it back. The speed of your network, bitrate of the recording and more will influence things.

Cheers,

Flex

danIrl · 30-06-2020 6:02pm

Thanks Flex. About to order the box, so was curious if I needed to order a local disk also. Can always add a local disk afterwards if there are issues recording to NFS.

Movie Maestro · 04-07-2020 12:44pm

Hey all,

I decided to open my new Zgemma today to install an internal hard disk and found a broken SATA connection. I bought from WOS so hopefully it won't be too much hassle getting a replacement box:(

Morrisseeee · 08-07-2020 4:38pm

Just got this box and tweaking\messing about with it atm with advise here. I've a couple of questions:
1] can I use the sky wireless USB dongle? ie. I can get it going on an old PC with modprobe ath6kl_usb command, not working on this box tho!
2] ultra HD channels show up in web viewer but not the SD or HD ones? missing a codec I presume?!
Cheers

Irishder · 11-07-2020 8:23pm

Just bought one of these box's. I will have a satalite going to it but no aerial will I get rte and network 2

Gerry Wicklow · 11-07-2020 8:25pm

No you will need an aerial for Irish TV as they are not free on the Sky satellites.

Irishder · 11-07-2020 9:15pm

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

No you will need an aerial for Irish TV as they are not free on the Sky satellites.

Thanks would an indoor aerial do?

DopeTech · 11-07-2020 10:24pm

Irishder wrote: »

Thanks would an indoor aerial do?

Depends on your location and walls etc but an amplified indoor one should definitely work.

dulpit · 12-07-2020 12:39am

I use an indoor aerial plugged into a booster and it works fine for me here (Cork City)

Irishder · 13-07-2020 3:17pm

Thanks All bought this one, ill let you know how i get on:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0828KV43C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Irishder · 13-07-2020 3:56pm

Just on another thread but will a Sky Q LNB work with the Zgemma H7?

dulpit · 13-07-2020 5:42pm

Irishder wrote: »

Just on another thread but will a Sky Q LNB work with the Zgemma H7?

No, you'll have to switch.

swoofer · 13-07-2020 5:44pm

And will you please report back on that aerial on how it performs. Sky q lnb can be a bit misleading, a few people had hybrids fitted and if it has 6 outlets then its a hybrid and will work with both sky q and any digital sat reciever, eg zgemma, vu+ etc.

Irishder · 13-07-2020 5:52pm

thanks had a look outside and its this LNB that i have:

https://tvavwarehouse.co.uk/product/sky-q-lnbs/

I presume ill need to replace that, any suggestions?

Gerry Wicklow · 13-07-2020 6:02pm

Irishder wrote: »

Thanks All bought this one, ill let you know how i get on:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0828KV43C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I always avoid any advert that claims an aerial is for HD or 4k. Whether it is HD or 4K or B+W makes no difference as long as the aerial is suitable for the frequencies required.

As a general rule any "amplified" or "boosted indoor aerial is a waste of electricity. The only use for an amplifier is if it goes to a very long run of coax. If an aerial isn't getting a good enough signal in, then no amount of boosting will help. I may in fact make matters worse by boosting local interference instead.

swoofer · 13-07-2020 6:09pm

if you look on ebay sky hybrid and go with the one with 6 outputs you are future proofed.

Irishder · 13-07-2020 8:24pm

swoofer wrote: »

if you look on ebay sky hybrid and go with the one with 6 outputs you are future proofed.

Whould this to the job, theres only 4 outputs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visibalewave-Output-LNB-Quad-Switch/dp/B01J81NXGE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Universal+LNB+6+output&qid=1594668178&s=electronics&sr=1-1

swoofer · 13-07-2020 11:42pm

yes but not future proof, its the old style quad output hence the price

Irishder · 15-07-2020 1:54pm

Another Newbie question, do i need to source a Sky card from somewhere to view certain channels

Cyrus · 15-07-2020 2:47pm

Irishder wrote: »

Another Newbie question, do i need to source a Sky card from somewhere to view certain channels

nope!

Hedgecutter · 15-07-2020 6:44pm

Got the Zgemma H7s today, connected it up. I did an automatic scan and picked up 600 channels, so i did a manual and ticked free only, but it only picked up 30 satellite channel.

If i do an automatic scan again is there a easy way to edit, delete and sort the channels. Also can't RTE 1 for some reason on the manual scan.

Any suggestion would be grateful

OK UP DATE. I have managed to scan all the channels both terrestrial and satellite. Is it possible to sort them, delete the gaps or blank channels. It Pure2 firmware

daphil · 15-07-2020 8:30pm

Webif is your best bet. Get the web addresse of the box, something like,
192.168.8.148
Put that into your browser, assuming your box is connected to your internet, and you can make any list you want.

Hedgecutter · 15-07-2020 8:46pm

daphil wrote: »

Webif is your best bet. Get the web addresse of the box, something like,
192.168.8.148
Put that into your browser, assuming your box is connected to your internet, and you can make any list you want.

I was trying that earlier dreamset but couldn't get it to work. ill try webif.

Its hard to find where the satellite channel are gone. is there a setting to enable both terrestrial and satellite.

I stuck on last scan

refusetolose · 15-07-2020 10:30pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

I was trying that earlier dreamset but couldn't get it to work. ill try webif.

Its hard to find where the satellite channel are gone. is there a setting to enable both terrestrial and satellite.

I stuck on last scan

go into Bouquet Editor on webif and you can sort your channels there

Hedgecutter · 15-07-2020 10:34pm

refusetolose wrote: »

go into Bouquet Editor on webif and you can sort your channels there

Can't get the device to connect to editor, could the box be blocking me. can i hard wire with USB cable

refusetolose · 15-07-2020 10:36pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Can't get the device to connect to editor, could the box be blocking me. can i hard wire with USB cable

have you ethernet cable going into the box?

Hedgecutter · 15-07-2020 10:37pm

refusetolose wrote: »

have you ethernet cable going into the box?

Ya

swoofer · 15-07-2020 10:40pm

A lot of the setting up is automatic but I am not sure where you started!! Did box come with pure e2 pre installed? Usually on set up you can configure ABM, epg, set tuners, set soarview, then with AUTO BOUGETS you just run it and you will have a nice list. I dont know pure e2. Any reason why you opted for pure?? And that box has 4 partitions so you can have 4 images.. Openvix is a very good one to start with.

refusetolose · 15-07-2020 10:40pm

go to menu / information / network and make sure you have the correct ip

Hedgecutter · 15-07-2020 10:43pm

swoofer wrote: »

A lot of the setting up is automatic but I am not sure where you started!! Did box come with pure e2 pre installed? Usually on set up you can configure ABM, epg, set tuners, set soarview, then with AUTO BOUGETS you just run it and you will have a nice list. I dont know pure e2. Any reason why you opted for pure?? And that box has 4 partitions so you can have 4 images.. Openvix is a very good one to start with.

Ya box was pre set up, i asked on here which firmware to select, im new to this stuff so struggling to find to issue.

You think its a setting issue, i could screenshot a particular set of setting if it would help.

swoofer · 15-07-2020 10:59pm

Yes when its comes pre-loaded the assumption is the person is up to scratch but PURE E2 is a nice image but not used by many. I think its supposed to look a bit like Kodi. Are you able to tell if your box has only one image on it? Flexmuphy on here has the zgemma with multiboot and went back to openvix.

Post a few screenshots and it may jog memory. Did you do much when you got it? ie what did you tinker with? When you set ABM you actually choose a region and either HD or sd etc and you ignore sky, once you do it you will see the logic. You dont have to scan sats yourself.

Hedgecutter · 16-07-2020 1:24pm

swoofer wrote: »

Yes when its comes pre-loaded the assumption is the person is up to scratch but PURE E2 is a nice image but not used by many. I think its supposed to look a bit like Kodi. Are you able to tell if your box has only one image on it? Flexmuphy on here has the zgemma with multiboot and went back to openvix.

Post a few screenshots and it may jog memory. Did you do much when you got it? ie what did you tinker with? When you set ABM you actually choose a region and either HD or sd etc and you ignore sky, once you do it you will see the logic. You dont have to scan sats yourself.

Thanks, got sorted. Figured it out in the end.

While i was going through the setting i found open VPN. Worth while installing, is there a cost on it?

swoofer · 16-07-2020 1:45pm

You should say what you did as others may have same problem. viz, did you find autobouquets etc. For VPN just select it and see.

Hedgecutter · 16-07-2020 3:10pm

swoofer wrote: »

You should say what you did as others may have same problem. viz, did you find autobouquets etc. For VPN just select it and see.

I doubled checked the internet connection on my router, the box was not showing up there. The internet was disabled, so in enabled it. It was enabled earlier because it updated.

Still took a while to connect to E channelizer, but once i connected it worked fine. edited and sorted all my channels.

No i didn't use autobouquets, what would that have done. Is it easy to add the icons for channels or is there any point, too much trouble.

Openvpn is enabled but stopped, and when i start it it just stops again.

refusetolose · 17-07-2020 12:16am

Hedgecutter wrote: »

I doubled checked the internet connection on my router, the box was not showing up there. The internet was disabled, so in enabled it. It was enabled earlier because it updated.

Still took a while to connect to E channelizer, but once i connected it worked fine. edited and sorted all my channels.

No i didn't use autobouquets, what would that have done. Is it easy to add the icons for channels or is there any point, too much trouble.

Openvpn is enabled but stopped, and when i start it it just stops again.

theres an extension for picons i think

easy enough

andy1249 · 17-07-2020 8:54am

No i didn't use autobouquets, what would that have done.

Its kind of important.
You set it for both your preferred freesat zone ( northern ireland , london , whatever ) and your saorview area and tell it what time to update and then it automatically scans and gathers channels into groups or "bouquets" such as entertainment , news , movies , music etc.

It scans daily at a time you set , usually 3am or something like that ,a time where the box is likely to be in standby , this means that any new channels that appear , or any old ones that either change frequency or close , are automatically updated and added to or removed from the bouquets.

Without autobouquetmaker , channels are going to start disappearing on you or begin to stop working.

It also creates a favourites folder for you to put your favourites into which is always unaltered by future scans.

You are also going to need an EPG updater such as crossepg or epgrefresh , again , this is set to run at the time when the box is in standby , typcially an hour or so after ABM is set to run , and it automatically grabs fresh 7 day EPG data for the guide.
Both of these updaters rely on ABM having done its thing first , indeed EPG refresh , the new default updater for openvix , relies on autobouquetmaker having already created the favorites bouquet and you having populated it with all the channels you are interested in.

Without this , in about 7 days most of your channels will just have now and next information in the EPG.

Irishder · 17-07-2020 9:59am

swoofer wrote: »

And will you please report back on that aerial on how it performs. Sky q lnb can be a bit misleading, a few people had hybrids fitted and if it has 6 outlets then its a hybrid and will work with both sky q and any digital sat reciever, eg zgemma, vu+ etc.

Tried the Aerial yesterday, worked perfect upstairs but could not get a signal downstairs in the sitting room.

Ended up putting it in the attic as house was originally wired to have an aerial. Working perfect now.

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 10:00am

andy1249 wrote: »

Its kind of important.
You set it for both your preferred freesat zone ( northern ireland , london , whatever ) and your saorview area and tell it what time to update and then it automatically scans and gathers channels into groups or "bouquets" such as entertainment , news , movies , music etc.

It scans daily at a time you set , usually 3am or something like that ,a time where the box is likely to be in standby , this means that any new channels that appear , or any old ones that either change frequency or close , are automatically updated and added to or removed from the bouquets.

Without autobouquetmaker , channels are going to start disappearing on you or begin to stop working.

It also creates a favourites folder for you to put your favourites into which is always unaltered by future scans.

You are also going to need an EPG updater such as crossepg or epgrefresh , again , this is set to run at the time when the box is in standby , typcially an hour or so after ABM is set to run , and it automatically grabs fresh 7 day EPG data for the guide.
Both of these updaters rely on ABM having done its thing first , indeed EPG refresh , the new default updater for openvix , relies on autobouquetmaker having already created the favorites bouquet and you having populated it with all the channels you are interested in.

Without this , in about 7 days most of your channels will just have now and next information in the EPG.

Thanks Andy,do i set these two programs up on the box itself?

Do you know anything about openvpn, its already on the box, enabled to autostart but stopped, i cant start it. Do i need to change setting some where?

swoofer · 17-07-2020 10:57am

You have me intrigued why you picked that Pure image. I'm going to have a play now and see how it behaves. Do you actually want a VPN?

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 11:31am

swoofer wrote: »

You have me intrigued why you picked that Pure image. I'm going to have a play now and see how it behaves. Do you actually want a VPN?

I was advised here to select pure2 when buying the zgemma, i don't know one from the other if i'm honest. Not sure if im allowed tell you here why i want a VPN, just that i was advised to get one ;D

Zgemma H7s Guide

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