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

  • From: "Gordon McFarlane" <gmcf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 10:35:56 +0100

gmcf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;

-----Original Message----- From: Mobeen Iqbal Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 2:11 PM 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!

Mo.

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