[access-uk] Re: TVOnics New Firmware with TTS Support Released!

  • From: Mobeen Iqbal <mobeeniqbal@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:32:00 +0100

hi mark.

this is very strange! its possible the firmware could've become corrupted perhaps during the download? try downloading the one i've listed and reinstalling it, and let us know if that fixes the issue. also, i've noticed that if your hard drive is failing in these boxes or on its way out, they'll regularly crash. TVOnics used cheap nasty hitachi drives running at 5900RPM, not good enough to be used when you've got TTS loaded. that's why, when the boxes were first released, i replaced the hard drives for a good few people with faster better quality ones made by Seagate. Its very unlikely you'll need to do this, but if you do need a hand getting it back up and running, drop me a note off list and you could either send it to me or you could atempt a hard drive upgrade. i'd try reinstalling the firmware first if it'll let you, if not then reset to factory defaults.

cheers,

Mo.

On 20/09/2013 18:06, Mark Threadgold wrote:
Guys, I have an HD500 and it stopped all speech a couple of weeks ago.

I looked up the RNIB instructions and used the remote as described by Mo to
get speech working again.

Since then the box has crashed regularly, sometimes every time it is turned
on. It locks up and won't work again for up to a couple of minutes, and is
always reset coming up on BBVC1. The record and playback and all other
functions seem to work, but only when it is not locking up. The announcement
of where a recording is playing from no longer speaks, instead a single ding
when you press the fast forward button is heard. There is also the little
jingle when it is powered off, and sometimes it says going into standby,
sometimes not.

Having read this thread I checked the manufacturer information in the
settings and it is now saying it is a Pulse 8 with software version 3.0.

The automatic softward update was turned on so I can only assume this update
ocurred while I was away on holiday. If it is not compatible with the HD500
I am disappointed it did automatically update itself. This was done over air
and not through an internet connection, by the way.

If anyone has the Tvonics firmware file I can reload onto the HD500 I would
appreciate a copy, as the box is so unreliable it is hardly worth using it
some days.

Regards,

Mark Threadgold

Of all the things I have ever lost, the one I miss most is my mind...



________________________________

From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Mobeen Iqbal
Sent: 20 September 2013 16:51
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVOnics New Firmware with TTS Support Released!


hi martin.

yep, the design of that box could've been improved *chuckles*. So does that
mean that the firmware bugs have been rectified? if so then the RNIB don't
need to worry, they're probably worried about warranty claims. as i said its
not necessary for customers to upgrade unless you want the extra
functionality. I'm very glad your box hasn't gone bang.

cheers,

Mo.


On 20/09/2013 16:42, martin wilsher wrote:


        HI Mo:
        
        yes I found it, thanks.  that under the wing one is a complete pest
to get to.  probably why they provide two, in case u bust one *grin* yes
upgrade went well, though thanks to u I had the means to get my tts working
again.  the memory note, menu, one, ok,2 ok, three right arrow would work
for getting tts up and running I think.

________________________________

        From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mobeen Iqbal
        Sent: 20 September 2013 16:36
        To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVOnics New Firmware with TTS Support
Released!
        
        
        Hi martin.
        
        I am glad it worked for you! Yes, there is a USB port on the back as
far as I can remember its under the scartt socket. I hope your box is ok?
RNIB seem to think the firmware could be unstable though I think that was
the previous version that did not include tts support. My box has been fine
for over a week.
        
        Cheers,
        
        Mo.
        
        
        
        martin wilsher <martinwilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:martinwilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  wrote:

                HI Mo:
                
                Thanks for this.  Btw, can u tell me on the dtr hd box, is
there another USB
                port in a better place than the one on the bottom right
under the wing?  It
                was a thorough pest trying to get the usb stick in there.
Btw, now I note
                the box makes a funny tune when going into standby. Thanks.
                
                -----Original Message-----
                From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
                On Behalf Of Mobeen Iqbal
                Sent: 20 September 2013 14:12
                To: undisclosed-recipients:
                Subject: [access-uk] TVOnics New Firmware with TTS Support
Released!
                
                Hello Everyone.
                
                I'm surprised noone's mentioned this officially yet. Many of
us have TVOnics
                set top boxes. As some of you may know, a company called
Pulse Eight aquired
                the TVOnics boxes and agreed to keep on developing them.
                Last week,
                 i
                noticed that a new firmware file was listed on the pulse
eight
                website. It would appear that this firmware rebrands the box
as a pulse
                eight box, and also allows you access to the channels
recently added to
                freeview that require the internet. new channels are being
added all the
                time, and if you connect your box to a broadband router,
then you can access
                the new channels that are broadcasting over the internet as
well as your
                standard channels. Also, i'm guessing they've changed the
check for update
                feature so the box now contacts pulse eight for updates,
only a guess though
                as there doesn't appear to be a change log anywhere. The
upgrade process is
                fully accessible, though i did manually have to reenable
speech afterwards.
                Instructions are below, though i've only tested these once
having only my
                box to test them on.
                as always, carry out these instructions at your own risk!
                
                First, download and save the
                appropriate firmware file for your box.
                
                HD500: the one supplied by the RNIB, the plastic box with
wings.
                
                http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/download/get/20
                
                Z500HD: the metal shoobox stile box.
                
                http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/download/get/19
                
                Copy the upgrade file to a pen drive.
                Plug the pen drive in to your boxes USB port.
                Press menu and go down to service.
                go down to USB software upgrade. when you press select, the
box should ask
                you if you want to update to the new software version 3 from
your current
                version.
                right arrow to yes and press select.
                the update will begin, and after about 4 minutes your box
will restart.
                NOTE: you could lose speech at this point when the box turns
back on. if
                pressing the blue button, that's bottom right doesn't work,
here
                  are
                some
                instructions to reenable accessibility. If you can hear the
TV channel you
                had the box on when you upgraded, that means that probably
nothing's gone
                wrong. here's what i did.
                
                First, to make sure there are no prompts on the screen,
power down your box
                either via the power button or by unplugging it if the power
button doesn't
                power it down.
                power the box back on, and your TV channel should come back
on.
                press the menu button.
                go down once to settings and press select.
                go down twice to accessibility settings and press select.
                go down 3 times to text to speech, then press your right
arrow. this should
                turn on text to speech.
                
                you shouldn't need to retune the box.  as always, if anyone
would like a
                hand please contact me on or off list.
                
                I hope i get credited for these instructions if the RNIB use
them, as they
                haven't published any of their own yet. fat chance.
                
                Enjoy!<
                 br
                />
                Mo.
                
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