New S4000 firmware

[ColdAsICE]

I'm posting here the latest S4000 firmware version 1.11.07 for you guys to test.
It should have a few fixes to the long list of bugs but to be honest I would prefer your feedbacks rather than list what the Koreans claim to have fixed!
I have already noted that the full synopsis is only populated on the 7 day EPG if the express TV download option is used but not the auto background download.
The EPG background download can now be switched off in the EPG options(FAV button).
I'm sure I will hear how stable or unstable it is very shortly.

[buck401]

Backed up system and service data and switched off plugins and loaded 1.11.07 from usb.
Loaded OK, did factory reset and loaded system and service data. Noted new installation GUI.
New Slow Motion using the pause button worked OK. Fast Forward and Backward seems to have improved.
New red button on channel recall worked (delete all).
Programme synopsis is available in the EPG for about 8 hours on initial loading but overnight degrades to Now and Next.
Plugins working OK.
Big issue on slow channel changing and accessing the menu, sometimes taking up to 10 seconds to change if it does not lock and require reboot.
Disappointing and am considering back to dear OLD .32

[chris217]

Tried loading this firmware. After a while the display showed Err:0x71 and now the receiver will not boot up.

I checked that the md5sum of the image on the USB stick was the same as the extracted file, which is was. Both were: 7267c6fbcfdb5415bd53d6e42a4dbad0

Not a happy bunny! :18:

[joe2419]

loaded new f/w but keeps popping up scrambled channel, invalid mac addy any ideas thanks

[ColdAsICE]

Hi Chris217, Error 71 can happen to any machine whilst upgrading.
There are checksums etc to try to avoid it but it still happens on the odd occasion.
Its back to the old serial recovery I'm afraid.
The method has been posted many times here..
Joe2419 I need a little more details from you m8!
Are you using a C-line, or some other C/S method like Nasscam, or a CAS and Card or is this just happening on FTA channels????

[buck401]

Tried to revert back to .32 f/w and got the dreaded Error 71!
Dug out all the gear and recovered using Porter Express and reloaded 1-11-07 etc and tried to replicate the Error 71 by reloading .32
Went on perfectly!!
One other issue I forgot to mention in Post 2 is that recordings using the EPG do not carry the programme synopsis.
Now back on .32 until the next Korean effort on the f/w.

[joe2419]

Hi coldAsICE i am using an n-line in mgcamd v 1.38 only happens on encrypted channels thanks

[ColdAsICE]

Joe2419, sorry m8 the old MGcamd plugin is not compatible with the newer API layer.
It wont work with any firmware newer than V*.10.67 in any model.
If your using MGcamd you need to wait until the plugin is updated.

[Gaza]

Backed up system and service data and switched off plugins and loaded 1.11.07 from usb.
Loaded OK, did factory reset and loaded system and service data. Noted new installation GUI.
New Slow Motion using the pause button worked OK. Fast Forward and Backward seems to have improved.
New red button on channel recall worked (delete all).
Programme synopsis is available in the EPG for about 8 hours on initial loading but overnight degrades to Now and Next.
Plugins working OK.
Big issue on slow channel changing and accessing the menu, sometimes taking up to 10 seconds to change if it does not lock and require reboot.
Disappointing and am considering back to dear OLD .32


where is vesion 32 firmware just cant find it i take this is stable unlike the later firmware

[echelon]

where is vesion 32 firmware just cant find it i take this is stable unlike the later firmware

in here

https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?154966-FAC-ICECRYPT-S4000HDPVR-v1-10-05-language-problem

[chris217]

Hi Chris217, Error 71 can happen to any machine whilst upgrading.
There are checksums etc to try to avoid it but it still happens on the odd occasion.
Its back to the old serial recovery I'm afraid.
The method has been posted many times here..
Sorry, but I cannot let this pass. This has already happened to me twice. With a reasonable CRC, the chance of undetected corruption is extremely low. Were the CRC implementation any good, the probability of me having two failures on probably fewer than twenty firmware updates is, I calculate, around one in 3.5 trillion. Using a proper cryptographic hash would reduce the probability of failure to as close to zero as makes no odds.

Frankly, and this is no criticism of you and the help you have very kindly provided here, I am increasingly of the view that my S4000 was simply a bad buy. It is likely that I will simply load .32 firmware on it, and give it to a local charity shop that accepts electrical equipment and buy something better.

Thanks very much again for your help, both now and in the past.

[echelon]

its not a bad box or a bad buy , its simply bad support from the koreans

I think they were hired from the technomate 9100 debacle, as that box never got a good, stable basic image to work from either

you would have thought that after all this time they could produce a basic foundation, stable enough to add rooms and walls and floors and windows without it wobbling and falling over all the time

but no, they built it on shaky ground instead of solid granite and every time they take 1 step forward they go 2 steps back, and this can clearly be seen when we keep having to go back to .32 firmware from 6 MONTHS AGO ! , which wasnt even posted in the FIRMWARE SECTION as it was a beta posting for us to test out which is why gaza couldnt find it, or even older firmware in order to get some semblance of stability, the checksum errors are just another feature of this twisted philosophy, and in the retail market they wouldnt get away with it as their jobs would be on the line

you can see the same thing happening in one or two other boxes, albeit they may be being worked on by the chinese who have less background in the field

I have mentioned this on several occasions, so now have no hope of these programmers getting the firmware working properly on this 4000 box, and were I in the market for another box it would be a vu or something similar as I have no faith in the support for the ice, same as I didnt with the tm9100 which caused me to ditch their boxes completely !!

if I said what I really thought about those programmers the sentence would be unreadable as it would have a lot of **** in it !

[chris217]

its not a bad box or a bad buy , its simply bad support from the koreans
I do wonder whether the problem is rather more than that. The SH processor is less mainstream than the PPP or ARM processors used in other receivers and embedded Linux systems. When I last looked, the tool chain was much less mature and therefore probably produces poorer code. Also, the processor core appears to be underpowered. These two issues would be likely to make the programmers' job much harder.

[echelon]

I do wonder whether the problem is rather more than that. The SH processor is less mainstream than the PPP or ARM processors used in other receivers and embedded Linux systems. When I last looked, the tool chain was much less mature and therefore probably produces poorer code. Also, the processor core appears to be underpowered. These two issues would be likely to make the programmers' job much harder.

seems that it works ok under E2 however, so cant see it being that hard, also other boxes like the spiderbox, eagle box , dreambox , technomate box , openbox and others dont seem to have problems like these. my own original dm800HD is older then my icecrypt 4000 and doesnt suffer from the basic problems repeatedly reported on here either, and neither does my clone dm800HD box too

I am sure that these programmers could produce a good and basic firmware and should have done so before the box went on sale instead of making it up as they go which happened with the tm9100 and also with the eagle 800

I can see them dropping the development of the 4000 firmware in favour of newer boxes, which is what these koreans tend to do, and its always any excuse to favour the newer boxes they are currently selling over older boxes already paid for that have never worked correctly from day one

[Reeper7]

Hi guys anyone know how to get YouTube on the s4000 hd

[berliner]

Hi all,

Loaded the new firmware, no major issues as yet other then sometimes freezes and locks up on N*S channels, but this could a xcam issue, using the plugin from aug 12.

I was wondering if these problems are specific to the Icecrypt version of the reciever and others, such as the Octagon and Atevio are ok.

If so was wondering if i could change the firmware to say Octagon, if possible without having to use a serial cable, load that version of the firmware and see if its any better, but if not to be easily able to restore the Icecrypt firmware.

Thanks.

[blakmumba]

So am i correct in believing that the fuss about the firmware working correctly was by having a 64mb cache & a 5400rpm drive a load of ****. Didn't bother loading the new firmware; a big thanks to buck401 who saved me the hassle & anger lol :)
On a side note, does anyone other than me have a slow motion type of problem on ANY firmware versions? Example everything is working great and then the picture starts jerking like in slow mo but the sound continues and you either have to switch the channel and back again or go into main menu and exit again (anyone else?). Been using the .67 past few months.

[blakmumba]

if I said what I really thought about those programmers the sentence would be unreadable as it would have a lot of **** in it !

Lol respect 👍

I've mentioned this previously but here goes again...
Why o Why 👀 don't they just implement the EPG into the .32 firmware and LEAVE it as it is instead of faffing around and trying to add bells and whistles which hardly work. It sure would make me and ALOT of other users happy.

[JaapS]

I was wondering if these problems are specific to the Icecrypt version of the reciever and others, such as the Octagon and Atevio are ok.

Currently I am running some old atevio image 1.08.XX and it suffers the same issues then the icecrypt versions.
- With time shift picture freezes for half a minute while sounds keeps running once in a while.
- Not able to delete recordings
- No EPG on UK channels

[berliner]

Well, decided to put the Octagon version of the firmware on, will see how it goes, if as bad revert back to the Ice,
the only thing missing is the power saving option.

Found that option, also no open epg, some loss off sound when using timeshift(also happened with ice soft)

[robert.bulko]

Hi guys, I read periodically this forum and also own Icecrypt S4000 which I like. I see you have got troubles with your firmware and maybe I could help you. It's a time ago I changed resseler ID of my S4000 to HDBOX FS9300 using HDF-flasher L1.54 and install firmware called "Test 06.02.2012" also I use OSCAM (1.20-unstable_svn Rev. 6426) as EMU plugin and can say the box is pretty stable. EPG is O.K., recording is O.K. no scrambled signal ... just smooth running. If you are interested in try. Before using it delete .pdf extension.

[buck401]

Tried this.
No 7 day EPG just now and next.
No file deletion.
No stability improvement.
Back to dear old .32 f/w.

[robert.bulko]

I'm surprised. It works for me. Very important thing before installing new firmware is deleting all previous settings and basically all "dust" from your box. That's the good start for updating. Just do it from scratch. Probably if there is still sth from previous fw it could make troubles to new one.

[blakmumba]

Off topic; buck401 how's the stc6000 treating you? Has the firmware so called 'matured' on that? Any known issues that resemble the 4000?. Just thinking of dumping the 4000 for the 6000.

[satnoobie]

Hi all.

I have been using this firmware for about a week and the only real problem I have come across is there is sometimes a very long delay when changing channels I suspect this may be due to the epg updating itself because it doesnt seem to happen when the epg is bang up to date. This delay was so long I rebooted the box several times before I realised this.

I only just noticed the standby mode EPG that ColdAsICE mentioned when he uploaded this firmware (should have read it more carefully). I have now turned this on and am hoping this may help.

I get the odd glitch on HD channels but this is very rare nowhere near so much as before I am having no problems deleting recordings and I think my box is now working better than before.

Prior to this I was using .67 have also used .32 and a couple of others in view of my personal experience I like this one best and will be sticking with it.

Regarding the problem blackmumba mentioned re jerky video I did have a similar problem but only when using express EPG the video would eventually stop and the box would freeze leaving no option but to reboot.

I am using Maxi-Flasher which has bootloader L1.25 although I am not using E2 yet.

[blakmumba]

.67 has been working great for me to be honest, besides couple of minor probs as I do***ented previously. Time shift is also working great which I've set to manual. Thinking of biting the bullet and installing this new firmware (thanks ColdAsIce) so will post back once my bloody pc starts to play nice.

[robert.bulko]

Hi guys, I read periodically this forum and also own Icecrypt S4000 which I like. I see you have got troubles with your firmware and maybe I could help you. It's a time ago I changed resseler ID of my S4000 to HDBOX FS9300 using HDF-flasher L1.54 and install firmware called "Test 06.02.2012" also I use OSCAM (1.20-unstable_svn Rev. 6426) as EMU plugin and can say the box is pretty stable. EPG is O.K., recording is O.K. no scrambled signal ... just smooth running. If you are interested in try. Before using it delete .pdf extension.

Hi, I found the "Test 06.02.2012" firmware very stable but there is one problem form me, reading of network drive could be difficult sometimes, so I tried FW for HDBOX v.1.10.13 which works for me better than "Test 06.02.2012". I'm very happy with it.

[JaapS]

The last 9300 version is FAC.HD BOX.FS 9300PVR.v1.11.07.2012Oct09 so I think they use the same software base as Icecrypt, Atevio, Fortis and Octagon (all having the same release naming scheme and dates) so I suspect that apart from minor visual differences the base is the same (buggy) Korean code.
As far as I can tell from my experience:
1.9.x runs very well, problems: UK epg, file deletion and glitches watching recordings/timeshift.
1.10.x runs very well, problems: UK epg and glitches while watching recordings/timeshift.
1.11.x runs like crap, apart from regulary crashes and slow response no further problems.
Did I summarize OK?

[blakmumba]

Since my last post, pc started to behave and play nice so took the plunge and installed v1.11.7. New GUI etc as mentioned by buck401. Channel changing, program synopsis on recorded program's all worked as expected for 'me' with no delay in changing channels as I know this has been a problem for others. Set epg to download in standby and has been doing it's job well and can see an improvement (prog synopsis now on most progs but not complete). Recorded program's are now deleting which was an issue I experienced on fw.67. Recall channels are also deleting. Plugins working as should (can't remember the version number but were the latest bundle by cold). Now my problem starts when transferring the fdu list across. Ran blind scan, saved fdu list to usb, opened on pc to edit & noticed EVERY channel has NO tuner assigned to it. Ok no probs, assigned tuners 1&2 to all channels, edited on pc and uploaded to the ice. This is where the fun begins. Some channels show 'no signal', 'service error'. Press info and to my amazement the frequency data is all wrong. Maybe I made a mistake, back on pc to edit the frequency and upload. The same 'no signal', 'service error' channel is now working BUT the channel working previously now has IT'S frequency messed up. This battle between me and the ice went on for 2+ hrs as I ended up making a new channel list to ensure it wasnt a firmware transfer issue and unfortunately the ice won the battle on this occasion & now back onto .67
Determined to win this battle and restore my ego, gona give it another shot today due to a day off work. Wish me luck.

[ManikM]

LOL i cant help being nosey and popping my head in this forum from time to time, im glad i got rid of this box, there still doesnt seem to be a good firmware, or any advances in the firmware !

it still cant do what it said it could do in the press.

[blakmumba]

Well since my last post, I can now sit back and say I won, yes WON the battle of the fdu list problem posted previously but unfortunately have gone back down to fw.67 due too the problems mentioned below.
>Recordings freeze or loose audio when fast forwarding/rewinding so require you to stop and play again.
>Recordings carry incorrect program synopsis.
>Crashes/box freezing occur quite often when u least expect it.
>Incorrect timer recordings (either records half or finishes too early).
>ANY HD recorded files freeze within minutes of playing and require stop/start method.
>Time shift a nightmare (worked well for 'me' on fw.67.
>Channel fdu problem.

So people, that's 'my' observation of the latest firmware which I hope helps ColdAsIce who can then forward it to the programmers.

[echelon]

Well since my last post, I can now sit back and say I won, yes WON the battle of the fdu list problem posted previously but unfortunately have gone back down to fw.67 due too the problems mentioned below.
>Recordings freeze or loose audio when fast forwarding/rewinding so require you to stop and play again.
>Recordings carry incorrect program synopsis.
>Crashes/box freezing occur quite often when u least expect it.
>Incorrect timer recordings (either records half or finishes too early).
>ANY HD recorded files freeze within minutes of playing and require stop/start method.
>Time shift a nightmare (worked well for 'me' on fw.67.
>Channel fdu problem.

So people, that's 'my' observation of the latest firmware which I hope helps ColdAsIce who can then forward it to the programmers.

I got some of those problems in .67 so have reverted to .32 and the may plugin

still get freezes and glitches in HD however (using .32), but was 100 times worse in .67 with glitches on SD and HD and locking up

[blakmumba]

still get freezes and glitches in HD however (using .32), but was 100 times worse in .67 with glitches on SD and HD and locking up

For some bizarre reason .67 has been working great for me besides the probs I mentioned previously (deleting etc). The only other gripe with .67 is that the hard drive dosent always wind down when in standby so you have to reboot the ice (as soon as this happens the recordings don't get deleted).
The thing what I'm dumb founded by is; why are we all having different probs on the same firmwares? Buck401 had a prob with slow channel changing & epg disappearing after 8hrs. Some have had probs with plugins yet I did not once encounter any of those problems. Mine were mostly with recording and the fdu lists.

[blakmumba]

Recorded HD prog's with fw1.11.07 had numerous playback issues as mentioned above but play correctly with fw.67 so it's defo a firmware issue.

[satnoobie]

I have encountered similar problems to blakmumba but am persevering for now. One thing I have noticed is if I press the power off button twice it does a hard reboot saving switching off at the back I found this by accident and dont know if it works on earlier firmware. Sorry if this has been said before just thought I'd mention it.

[echelon]

I have encountered similar problems to blakmumba but am persevering for now. One thing I have noticed is if I press the power off button twice it does a hard reboot saving switching off at the back I found this by accident and dont know if it works on earlier firmware. Sorry if this has been said before just thought I'd mention it.

I have been asking for some sort of reboot option via the menu for some time now

I have several satellite boxes like dreambox 800 and spiderbox among them , and they all have the features in the firmwares to reboot the box (soft reset or hard reset, or reboot0. seems a glaring omission by the writers of the s4000 firmware to have missed out such a basic requirement, especially when its been a standard option in windows for 17 years already !!

as I have said before, they need to concentrate their efforts on making a good basic image with good basic settings, that is stable and does not freeze

it reminds me of going to a restaurant or seeing these "fancy chefs" on tv making a meal where there is little content but sauce and gravy and oil drizzled here and there for effect, but no actual substance to fill you up

give me a properly cooked steak dinner , or roast dinner, or steak and kidney pie with mash and veg and gravy anytime

not some idiotic "new-age" idea on what some chef thinks I should eat

you see the same in windows 8 , where ms think they can just dispense with age old features like the start button, and yet most desktop users will immediately install classic shell or similar to get it back. these people need to realise they should provide the basics for what people wish to use, and not some fancy ideas they dream up when tripping out !!

[ManikM]

give me a PSION organiser over an iPad anyday.
;)

[echelon]

what is an ipad ?

in any case, apple introduced the desktop system when most of you were in nappies :D

as for the south koreans , now that they have closed 2 nuclear reactors for the foreseeable future, leading to expected massive power shortages over the next few months , we can only hope these developers have got time on their hands to sit in the dark and come up with something in the firmware side that actually gives what the box is capable of ;)

you dont get ford bringing in a car that gets rid of A.B.C. in favour of a friggin joystick just to appease these idiot gamers !!

[JaapS]

what is an ipad ?
in any case, apple introduced the desktop system when most of you were in nappies

Sorry Echelon, first PARC then Xerox and as 3th Apple... (but that wasn't the point was it ;)

[dizz]

You guys should really try the new e2 images. They are stable and ( subjectively) have equivalent picture quality.

[blakmumba]

You guys should really try the new e2 images. They are stable and ( subjectively) have equivalent picture quality.
E2 images may be good but It's only fair we get what we paid for; a fully working box WITH its original firmware and as Manak M stated 'it still can't do what it advertised it could'.

[buck401]

And we are long overdue some decent f/w for this box!

[echelon]

I agree with the last 2 statements, we should receive good firmwares for the box "as is" and not have to resort to 3rd party fixes like E2 in the first place
if I buy a smartphone I expect that company to issue suitable firmware that allows it to work properly, not jailbreak it to run rival softwares

[blakmumba]

Can confirm, the myth of having a 5400rpm, 64mb cache hard drive for the firmware to work correctly is a load of c**p. Have just tried and same old probs.

[dizz]

My feelings are that they will never produce decent firmware for this box. Thats why I moved to e2. I too would prefer to use a decent original firmware as I use the box to watch tv only, and a decent firmware would be time and maintenance free. Thats the major problem with the box, its got great picture quality, but we all spend hours playing with it trying to make it work reliably.

[ManikM]

when i had mine, i deffo thought the E2 images were far superior to the ori f/w.

using the normal crossepg to give you a good 7 day epg, and having nice picons made it a much better box.

this was my first insight to E2, so after learning more and more, i realised that E2 was the dogs do da's and thought it was time to get a a proper dedicated e2 box.

i hadnt ever dabbled in E2, and had always used ori f/w's.

my previous box, topfield tf5500 just worked, and worked well, for many years, but then HD came out, which it couldnt do....so went on from their.

if i was anyone still with this box, the most sensible thing you can do, is sell it, and use the money towards something that works out of the box.

i dread to think how many hours i spent playing about on it, trying to fix crashes (in E2 mainly) - and then i had the HDMI problem, where something in my house\av setup, froze the screen on certain transponders.

i now spend equivalent amount of time on my azbox - constantly fiddling about trying to get it working as it should out of the box - this is a sign that the box is not fit for purpose.

HOWEVER, with the box i bought after selling my ICE (Xtrend 9200) i hardly spend any time on it, other than the occasional updates (daily) from the menu, and it just works, and i enjoy watching tv on it, as its very stable, timeshift works, timers are reliable, its quick, just a total pleasure to use - im sure those with the VU+ DUO range are of the same opinion

[blakmumba]

if i was anyone still with this box, the most sensible thing you can do, is sell it, and use the money towards something that works out of the box
This is exactly what my next step is if the next firmware release is still half complete. I honestly have my doubts that they ever will sort this box out & a year down the line we still gona be moaning about the problems on satpimps :)

[ManikM]

i would say 2 years maybe 3
:)