Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

swoofer

How did you set it up?

PacMan

Just set up a folder and then moved the radio stations to it. Same as you would with the plus one's / news / etc

lev

swoofer wrote: »

Yes you can do that but the tiviar I set up has the radio stations deleted. Have you heard of dreambox edit, that's what I use. You can download it and then create a radio bouquet under tv bouquets and then add your radio channels. And its pretty neat.

I assume you are on windows OS.

Ps what sky skin did you use?

And come back if you need a bit more

Perfect thanks, I downloaded dreambox and was able to move my favorite radio bouquet along side my TV ones and it now shows in the same EPG. Looks like dreambox edit has a lot of functionality that I'll have a play with in the next few days.

For SKY skins I downloaded using the guides here:
https://www.linuxsat-support.com/gallery/image/31921-slyk-1-hd/

spooner_j

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!

Johnboy1951

It sounds ominous.
Can you take out the drive and check it using fsck in the PC?

andy1249

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!

Sounds like the hard drive is dying alright , the only option is to buy another hard drive and replace it , preferably before the existing one dies completely, that way you can copy recordings over before the drive is totally dead.

Make a system backup on a usb
Get a new drive , you need a laptop type 2.5 inch sata drive.
Power down and allow to cool.
Take the lid off the box , unscrew and unplug the old hard drive , replace with new one , then power back up and restore from the image.

Assuming there is some life left in the old hard drive , connect it to a PC and copy your recordings from the movies folder to the same folder on the new box and you are good to go.

spooner_j

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

It sounds ominous.
Can you take out the drive and check it using fsck in the PC?

Only have a laptop and I dont have a USB to SATA connector to attach it to the laptop unfortunately... Hence trying to fix it without removing it.

Sounds like the hard drive is dying alright , the only option is to buy another hard drive and replace it , preferably before the existing one dies completely, that way you can copy recordings over before the drive is totally dead.

Make a system backup on a usb
Get a new drive , you need a laptop type 2.5 inch sata drive.
Power down and allow to cool.
Take the lid off the box , unscrew and unplug the old hard drive , replace with new one , then power back up and restore from the image.

Assuming there is some life left in the old hard drive , connect it to a PC and copy your recordings from the movies folder to the same folder on the new box and you are good to go.

Yeah at least its not totally dead (yet) so might be best to just bite the bullet and spash out on a new HDD before I'm left with nothing...

Is it possible to just clone the old HDD to a new HDD to avoid rebulding it entirely? Is the OS on the HDD or on separate internal storage?

Johnboy1951

spooner_j wrote: »

Only have a laptop and I dont have a USB to SATA connector to attach it to the laptop unfortunately... Hence trying to fix it without removing it.

Maybe you can get some assistance from someone to check the drive in a PC ...... fsck, hdparm etc .... and even clone it at the same time.
I think it should be changed asap else you could lose all stored data.

Gerry Wicklow

spooner_j wrote: »

......

Is it possible to just clone the old HDD to a new HDD to avoid rebulding it entirely? Is the OS on the HDD or on separate internal storage?

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.

spooner_j

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

wilsixon

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

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

greasepalm

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

swoofer

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

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

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

greasepalm

Would it be handier to set ABM which i use on openvix or on another box PLI it was autobouquets 28.2 and rescanned and notice a few new ones listed.

spooner_j

brookedave wrote: »

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

It could be a problem with your image

As a test, download the latest OpenVix image from here
https://www.openvix.co.uk/index.php/downloads/tiviar-images/tiviar-alpha-plus/

Unzip and copy the tiviarplus folder to your USB, plug it into the rear and power on.

You should see "PressPWR" on the front of your box. Dont press it unless you want to use OpenVix! But if you see that message then it means the USB is working and the box can see the flash image. If it shows the message for the proper OpenVix image but not your image then its a problem with the image youre trying to flash.

NewClareman

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

If you're using OpenATV you need to use the "flash local" option: just browse to the location of the USB stick, select the ZIP file with the image (no need to extract the files before copying to the stick) and off you go.

hs5424

Great box.
I have setup about 20 of these in the last 2 years and not a bother on them. I flash them with the Vix image and load the Vix blue HD skin which looks the same as a S#Y box. The epg never fails using crossEpg.

hs5424

Another useful tool that works with this box is Dreambox edit. It allows you to view and edit all the channels on the box from your PC.
You can drag and drop channels into bouquets, delete, rename etc,etc. Save a copy to your C drive and send back to the box if you mess up.

_Kaiser_

hs5424 wrote: »

Great box.
I have setup about 20 of these in the last 2 years and not a bother on them. I flash them with the Vix image and load the Vix blue HD skin which looks the same as a S#Y box. The epg never fails using crossEpg.

How does it compare to the zgemma being suggested in the other thread do you know?

greasepalm

I will assume it is the zgemma h7s 4k model which is a newer box than the tiviar and i bought one and love it as usually cursed the previous models as clones.Running Openvix and had to update tv for 4k and picture and sound has blown me away and yes not much stuff on 4 k

hs5424

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

How does it compare to the zgemma being suggested in the other thread do you know?

As I don't have a Zgemma myself so I cannot compare, however when I set them up they both seemed to function the same. With all these things ''time will tell''.
By the way if anyone has any power supply problems with the Tiviar Alpha + don't bother to try and repair it. Just remove old psu and pop any 12v 5A one inside and hard wire it to the main pcb. It only delivers 12v to the main board so its a simple fix.

teach nua

firstly, great info and help on this thread.

I was thinking of getting one of these boxes and had a question.

I will be using it with a TV that already has a saorview tuner and I only have one terrestrial cable coming from aerial in attic to TV.

If I split the signal behind the TV, then put one cable from the split into TV directly and the other cable from split into DVB T2 on box, will I be able to watch one terrestrial channel on one mux and record another terrestrial channel on another mux at the same time?

greasepalm

Yes should be able to split saorview for both.
View on tv record on box is what i do on my H7s

swoofer

This thread is for the TIVIAR alpha plus and not the zgemma. If you mean the tiviar, which is a better box, then it has rf out so you don't have to split. Aerial to Tiviar then short lead from RF out to TV.