Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

Johnboy1951

a clanger wrote: »

Sorry to be pain any recommendations for a 12V PCU

Would THIS be OK ?

Wouldn't recommend; not sufficiently powerful.

Maybe something like this would do
https://www.amazon.co.uk/slp/12v-5a-power-supply/mt5jo2jtaysz8xs

TommyKnocker

I have just purchased a Tiviar Alpha Plus which is running the following

System OE: OE-Alliance 4.0
Firmware version: OpenATV 6.0.0 (2017-10-15)
Kernel / Drivers: 4.10.6 / 20171016

I see lots of folks on here who have used a build provided by NewClareMan (Thanks for your time and generosity) and I was wondering if there would be a benefit in upgrading my STB to this build? If yes, there is a post that gives the steps involved in performing the upgrade? Would it give me FreeSat and Saorview on the same channel list?

I am familiar with Linux but not familiar with STBs so if there was a step by step guide it would be great for a first timer to STB upgrades.

NewClareman

TommyKnocker wrote: »

I have just purchased a Tiviar Alpha Plus which is running the following

System OE: OE-Alliance 4.0
Firmware version: OpenATV 6.0.0 (2017-10-15)
Kernel / Drivers: 4.10.6 / 20171016

I see lots of folks on here who have used a build provided by NewClareMan (Thanks for your time and generosity) and I was wondering if there would be a benefit in upgrading my STB to this build? If yes, there is a post that gives the steps involved in performing the upgrade? Would it give me FreeSat and Saorview on the same channel list?

I am familiar with Linux but not familiar with STBs so if there was a step by step guide it would be greatl for a first timer to STB upgrades.

If you look at the link at the first post on this thread, it gives everything you need.


For others reading this thread: the instructions at that link work on OpenATV6.0, but not more recent versions.

kig

Sorry this has probably been asked and answered, but I don't know how to find it.
What size external hard drive do i need for recording TV

Gerry Wicklow

kig wrote: »

Sorry this has probably been asked and answered, but I don't know how to find it.
What size external hard drive do i need for recording TV

A rough rule of thumb is to allow 4Gb for every hour of HD recording.

swoofer

kig, the tiviar takes an internal 2.5 IN HDD, better option, and 500gb is a good choice and better still if you get an SSD.

a clanger

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Wouldn't recommend; not sufficiently powerful.

Maybe something like this would do
https://www.amazon.co.uk/slp/12v-5a-power-supply/mt5jo2jtaysz8xs

Thanks for the help @johnboy1951

@Tommyknocker . Yes saorview and freesat on same epg. I have been using NCM image since 2019 and its been great and straightforward and upgrading flashing the image is strightforard if you follow the instructions at linked in post above.

TommyKnocker

a clanger wrote: »

Thanks for the help @johnboy1951

@Tommyknocker . Yes saorview and freesat on same epg. I have been using NCM image since 2019 and its been great and straightforward and upgrading flashing the image is strightforard if you follow the instructions at linked in post above.

Do the instructions in this post still work today as post is from 2 years ago.



Instructions are

Flashing

Place the tiviaraplus folder on a USB stick formatted to FAT32. A stick no larger than 8GB is recommended.
Turn the receiver off fully.
Plug in the USB fob to the front USB port, and power on.
Press the power button (the one with the white light on the front panel, when prompted to do so.
The front panel will show flashing, if USB recognised.
While the firmware is flashing DO NOT power down the unit, as this can cause permanent damage.
Comprehensive Flashing Guide http://www.openvix.co.uk/openvix-bui...r%20Alpha+.pdf (Thanks to THHB)

The software is provided without warranty and you use it at your own risk.

Picons

The picon folder has to be installed on your hard drive directory /media/hdd/.
On a Windows PC this can be done from the network folder as Samba makes the Tiviar Alphaplus drives visible.
If the WebIF is working, but the drives are not visible, Samba may have stopped.
Restart under: Main Menu => Setup => Network => CIFS/Samba Setup.

But in the downloadable .zip file there is no picons folder.

As said above, no experience with STB so just don't want to brick the box I just bought.

swoofer

Tommy this thread is for the image made by THE HIGH HORSE BRIGADE (THB) and your link is from the NEW CLAREMANS image in the thread entitled "COST EFFECTIVE etc"

Don't mix and match.

Movie Maestro

Hey all,

My setup...
Running THHB's image.
Open ATV 6.1 + internal SSD hard disk installed.
2 sat feeds and an aerial feed connected - all working fine.

I have random problems with pausing live TV. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't! I am pressing the 'Time' button which is under the green button on the remote control. Sometimes a program will pause, sometimes it won't and instead displays the screen in the second pic below, this is very frustrating:mad: Sometimes changing a channel which I cannot pause and then going back to the channel will allow me to pause it. Can anyone offer an explanation of why this is happening please?

Paused correctly



Not pausing and this pops up on screen.



Cheers:D

Payton

I was out for weekend and came back this evening and my box is dead. Tried different power sockets and joy so I popped the cover off and noticed what seems like a capisator is gone by what seems like a leak? I could be wrong. Is it possible to get a new power board?

Payton

I was out for weekend and came back this evening and my box is dead. Tried different power sockets and joy so I popped the cover off and noticed what seems like a capisator is gone by what seems like a leak? I could be wrong. Is it possible to get a new power board?

Johnboy1951

Payton wrote: »

I was out for weekend and came back this evening and my box is dead. Tried different power sockets and joy so I popped the cover off and noticed what seems like a capisator is gone by what seems like a leak? I could be wrong. Is it possible to get a new power board?

If that is 'goo' rather than some glue then it appears there are three (or four) caps needing replacement.

greasepalm

Stick up a photo as could be helpfull.

Payton

greasepalm wrote: »

Stick up a photo as could be helpfull.

Photo attached

hs5424

a clanger wrote: »

Sorry to be pain any recommendations for a 12V PCU

Would THIS be OK ?

It should be ok.
The original psu is rated at 4.5A but I never measured the draw from it when the box is recording to the hard drive which I suspect would be max. I repaired another Tiviar yesterday that had dead PSU. I popped a 5A one into it and wired directly. It looks like a PSU for a laptop but is a 12V. It might be worth noting that depending on the PSU that you try some might not like the initial surge when you apply the mains with the output connected directly so I use the rear switch to apply the 12V dc to the main board. Plug in the mains and then use the switch to bring the box on.
I intend to sort out the original PSU's when I get time and post the outcome so don't throw away your faulty PSU's.

greasepalm

Odd brown stuff around many caps and wonder if the big one went.I would have thought when caps go they bulge up.

Payton

greasepalm wrote: »

Odd brown stuff around many caps and wonder if the big one went.I would have thought when caps go they bulge up.

Looks like the black cap near the top left looks distorted as you can see from the top.

hs5424

Payton wrote: »

Photo attached

That's glue that has discolored with heat and time. No need to wory about it. Back in the 80's this caused a problem with some JVC VCR's. I found that it became conductive over time and caused problems with the system control IC's. Later on a service bulletin was released from JVC advising service engineers to remove the glue to cure some faults.

greasepalm

Ahh yes as had to move laptop screen for better view and see top is funny.
Wonder if that brown stuff is interlinked with the issues.

hs5424

Payton wrote: »

Looks like the black cap near the top left looks distorted as you can see from the top.

That's not a cap, it's an inductor covered with heat shrink. It's vertically mounted and what you think is a bulge is in fact one of the wires running down the side to connect to the PCB.

Payton

hs5424 wrote: »

That's not a cap, it's an inductor covered with heat shrink. It's vertically mounted and what you think is a bulge is in fact one of the wires running down the side to connect to the PCB.

Thank you for that. Is there anything I could try to establish what the fault could be?

hs5424

Hi Payton,
Unless you have a meter to measure the value of the capacitors they you are shooting in the dark. The easiest thing is to connect a 12V 5A PSU in there. You can even confirm by substituting the PSU with an alarm or car battery. Any 12v source that can deliver 4.5A is enough. Car battery can deliver 300A so don't get the polarity wrong if you try car battery.

Gerry Wicklow

Strange. It seems several people are having similar issues suddenly

hs5424

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Strange. It seems several people are having similar issues suddenly

Yes.
No surprise to me as I have been servicing down to component level for 35 years . In recent days with storms etc there has been a lot of power cuts, spikes and surges. Most power supplies go faulty at switch on. I have seen gear running fine for 10 years + and I arrive to say remove the TV for repair. I remove the power from their satellite box by mistake and then it won't power up. Try and explain that to the customer. If the caps in the startup circuit go low in value for example at power up when they are only required they you get a problem. With older switch mode power supplies you would get a bang and a puff of smoke at startup.

mjatkey

Hi guys, just got hold of one of these, first look seems a nice "not so little" box, one quick question can you disable the light slashes on the front or is it a case of black electricians tape (its in the bedroom at the moment). I've been in the display settings and reduced all the brightness settings to 0 but no change. Thanks

hs5424

mjatkey wrote: »

Hi guys, just got hold of one of these, first look seems a nice "not so little" box, one quick question can you disable the light slashes on the front or is it a case of black electricians tape (its in the bedroom at the moment). I've been in the display settings and reduced all the brightness settings to 0 but no change. Thanks

Yes you can dim the front display. I have vix on all mine.

NewClareman

mjatkey wrote: »

Hi guys, just got hold of one of these, first look seems a nice "not so little" box, one quick question can you disable the light slashes on the front or is it a case of black electricians tape (its in the bedroom at the moment). I've been in the display settings and reduced all the brightness settings to 0 but no change. Thanks

You can't dim the lights if you have changed over to enigma 2 (OpenATV, Vix...). If you're still using Fortis OS, I think you can. Otherwise it's some tape, I'm afraid.

a clanger

hs5424 wrote: »

It should be ok.
The original psu is rated at 4.5A but I never measured the draw from it when the box is recording to the hard drive which I suspect would be max. I repaired another Tiviar yesterday that had dead PSU. I popped a 5A one into it and wired directly. It looks like a PSU for a laptop but is a 12V. It might be worth noting that depending on the PSU that you try some might not like the initial surge when you apply the mains with the output connected directly so I use the rear switch to apply the 12V dc to the main board. Plug in the mains and then use the switch to bring the box on.
I intend to sort out the original PSU's when I get time and post the outcome so don't throw away your faulty PSU's.

I've ordered a laptop PSU from ebay and will take your advice with regard to using the back switch as a 12V on/off. It will be generally be a spit/bodge and tape job but will see how it goes. I think there is now a market for repairing Tiviar PSU's ......if you are interested hs5424:D

mjatkey

Thanks, yeap running enigma, seems na ok box will put it down stairs next to the Edision OS mega to compare the picture, speed etc. Thanks

hs5424

a clanger wrote: »

I've ordered a laptop PSU from ebay and will take your advice with regard to using the back switch as a 12V on/off. It will be generally be a spit/bodge and tape job but will see how it goes. I think there is now a market for repairing Tiviar PSU's ......if you are interested hs5424:D

It's now 9.30 pm and just finished dinner so that tells you how busy I am. I have to try and get back to doing some workshop repairs. Maybe the next few days will
suit as the weather forecast is bad. If I get a chance I will take a look at the Tiviar PSU's and see if something pops up. Probably ****ty chinese capacitors.

greasepalm

Why would Korea use chinese capacitors.

hs5424

greasepalm wrote: »

Why would Korea use chinese capacitors.

Price.
I bought what I thought was original Briggs & Stratton USA spares recently and stamped on them was MADE IN CHINA

greasepalm

I remember the early zgemma models of inferior build quality made in a back shed and was told to buy a better made box from Korea.

hs5424

greasepalm wrote: »

I remember the early zgemma models of inferior build quality made in a back shed and was told to buy a better made box from Korea.

Almost all TV's sold here in Ireland with the exception of LG, Samsung, and Sony come out of the Vestel factory in Turkey. Panasonic, Hitachi, Sanyo, Walker, Nordmende, Bush etc etc. A few years back I requested a schematic diagram for a Hitachi TV from the suppliers. When it arrived printed across the top was Vestel.
Some of the phillips were a mixture of Phillips and Samsung panels. Now Phillips have a range of hotel TV's made in China. I picked up a new car battery recently and as the business owner carried it out to my van he told me to grab a label from the box beside them. There were labels that read Exide, Dagenam, Bosch, Yuasa, Continental etc etc. It's not as it appears out there.

Blueboggirl

Hi, new to these types of boxes, if anyone has one can help?
My menu button on remote is not bringing up an app screen (which should have access to settings) instead I get a very basic menu with 'info, timers, plugins, set-up, standby) When in epg, menu just brings up graphical changes
My pause live TV doesn't work, and the manual I have downloaded says I need to open SETTINGS >CONFIGURATION and change then change something to auto for pause live TV. Well I can't, as my menu/box doesn't seem to have an app screen.
When I'm epg, above the listing are 7 icons, one is a spanner, which could be a settings BUT I cannot work out on the remote how to get up there, up/down keys will only scroll listings!
Where am I going wrong!?

greasepalm

Post up what image is on box as might help also in determing if it needs to be reflashed to a newer version.

Blueboggirl

greasepalm wrote: »

Post up what image is on box as might help also in determing if it needs to be reflashed to a newer version.

I'm really not savvy with this, trying to learn fast. No idea what the image is? Quick look at thread, and I'm over my head. How do i determine or see what image I have. I could do with a tiviar for dummies book

Blueboggirl

Current image I think

greasepalm

Its just trying to see if any mention of fortis,openvix or openatv which are all different types of image that can run on your box.
Stay calm and dont rush it and you will get better in using this box.

As from your image it is Atv 6.0 which is old and later version is 6.3

a clanger

Just as a followup I have replaced the faulty power board with a 12V 60W laptop psu I got on Amazon. Everything seems to be normal now. No rebooting and switching off randomly. Powers on straight away. Thanks to all for the pointers esp hs5424 and Newclareman

cork_south

a clanger wrote: »

Just as a followup I have replaced the faulty power board with a 12V 60W laptop psu I got on Amazon. Everything seems to be normal now. No rebooting and switching off randomly. Powers on straight away. Thanks to all for the pointers esp hs5424 and Newclareman

Thx. Do you have a link to that PSU in Amazon?
Any tips on how to replace?

a clanger

The power supply I bought was THIS one ......you have to buy a KETTLE or Computer lead as well as the PSU does not come supplied with one

I also bought THESE so I wouldn't have to butcher the PSU cable

I used THESE to fix the PSU to the case. I had a 24 hour test and the PSU does not heat up to the same extent of the old power supply

and finally used THESE for all wiring connections

I did not need a soldering iron or anything more than a wire strippers /pliers and some extra wire I scavanged.

I did keep the on/off switch at the back as per hs5424's recommendation and wired it as an on/off for the 12V not the mains. This is to prevent a possible power surge on the 12V circuit when plugging in.

I'd rather not put up pictures here as I'm not prepared for scorn that would be rightly poured on my efforts but send me a PM and I can send you some pictures.

Total repair bill about €22 and about 2 hours of my time below is an image of the rear of the box now.....so mains AC is now 'hardwired' onto the Tiviar. This again was to avoid any butchering of the presupplied PSU cables

greasepalm

@ a clanger no mention of changing fuse in kettle lead from 13amp down to 5amp or 3 amp would be worth adding in.

a clanger

greasepalm wrote: »

@ a clanger no mention of changing fuse in kettle lead from 13amp down to 5amp or 3 amp would be worth adding in.

Thanks good spot ! ...yes I did fit a 3amp. I had to remove and replace original kettle lead plug to thread it through the rear of the box.

hs5424

Blueboggirl wrote: »

Current image I think

Go on to Openvix website and download the latest Vix image for your box. They have the instructions also on how to flash the Vix image. You will need to have it on a usb stick. The box will detect it on switch on and do the rest. Might seem a bit daunting the first time but after you have setup about 50 of these it will be no problem to you. When you get there we can help you setup the EPG guides etc .

Blueboggirl

Brilliant, thank you so much. I will get onto that ASAP, a great help!

Gooey Looey

Throwing this up there to see if there's anything interest. My previous boards username was the high horse brigade btw

I have a Tiviar Alpha triple combo with 500GB sata and 8gb usb key (remote never used) and an Edison os nino combo with 8gb usb key (remote never used) that are setup identically, same openatv 6.2 image, same skin, same everything except the Tiviar has the extra tuner and HDD. I'm considering selling them to clear space because I have a better setup using IPTV and Tivimate and won't be replacing my rusty dish when it fails (soon!). Asking €250 for both, drop me a PM if you're interested

Blueboggirl

Thanks to your help, I'm chuffed I've flashed the box with openvix.
How do I set up my epg, currently only have irish channels,showing.id like an epg which shows both English and Irish channels?
Can I also set something up to give me series record?

Gerry Wicklow

Blueboggirl wrote: »

Thanks to your help, I'm chuffed I've flashed the box with openvix.
How do I set up my epg, currently only have irish channels,showing.id like an epg which shows both English and Irish channels?
Can I also set something up to give me series record?

If you know the network address for the box (192.168.xxx.xxx) enter it into any web browser to launch the WEBIF function. From there you can edit/create different bouquets (channel lists), set timers, create autotimers (series linking) and much much more.


If you are looking at the EPG on the box there is usually a coloured button to make an autotimer. I don't know the exact colour for Vix. In some cases it is just a long press on the normal timer coloured button.