My preliminary impression of I-O DATA AVEL LINKPLAYER2 [Text View] - Page 16

Paul_PDX

01-03-06, 06:24 PM

If they had DRM they wouldnt play in the LP2 drive would they? That would be a silly promotion IMO. I too was underwhelmed by the announcement. I guess for current owners it means that we can purchase the DVD's????

I-O-Datas site says HDNET has about 100 disks planned for this year. The three that are included aren't too exciting: The Elite (2001), HDNet World Report Special: Shuttle Discovery's Historic Mission, and Bikini Destinations: On Location in Las Vegas.

IODATA has kept telling us there are some other sort of Windows Media DRM (besides the version with T2 and with the Omnimax movies) that they can do so until someone gets one of these disks we won't know if this is using that or not. I suppose it could even use the network method like CinemaNow uses.

Gojira69

01-03-06, 07:17 PM

I'm having the problem with VOB streaming, however it seems to go away after 10 to 20 seconds from the time it starts pixilating the image. That's not a deal-breaker for me though its not an acceptable status quo. I/O Data needs to roll back to the prior revision, which I expect they will do. In the meantime they may wish to hold off on announcements of future products or innovations until the current systems are restored to acceptable functionality.

BobB

Rhoniel Kase

01-03-06, 08:24 PM

Hi All,
I was wondering if someone can answer two simple questions;

1) What is best way to rip DVDs for network playback on AVEL LINKPLAYER 2? Is it better to rip whole movie in one big VOB file or in 3 to 4 small VOBs?

2) I have read on I-O Data forum that true upscaling on LINKPLAYER 2 is only available for network playback and not from built-in DVD player, is this true? Here ( http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=990) is the link:

Regards,

Rhoniel

Paul_PDX

01-03-06, 08:43 PM

2) I have read on I-O Data forum that true upscaling on LINKPLAYER 2 is only available for network playback and not from built-in DVD player, is this true? Here ( http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=990) is the link:

If you search this thread you will find the answer (about 50 times).

Gojira69

01-04-06, 02:14 PM

I don't know what's on those pages, but here's the link that has the previous firmware versions. However not quite sure how to roll it back. Hope this helps.

http://www.cyberjam.us/iodata/

In theory, I should be able to burn the BIN file to a CD-ROM and flash the firmware from the disk loader on the player.

Though it is frought with risks I'm tempted to proceed since my player was purchased direct from I/O Data less than 30 days ago and since they have fallen silent since we all started reporting the problems and they are seemingly not in any hurry to post a fix, or at the very least they are not forthcoming with new info.

If the BIN breaks it, I can always return it for replacement and NOT update the replacement unit.

BobB

P.S. Unless of course, I/O Data is forthcoming with a fix, hmmm?

TPeterson

01-04-06, 03:04 PM

And where is this "theory" set forth? :)

Gojira69

01-04-06, 06:13 PM

And where is this "theory" set forth? :)

The LinkPlayer replaced my first DVD player which I hacked a couple years back. I'm a bit vague on the process I used (old-timers disorder) but I recall creating a CD-ROM to flash the firmware. The firmware hack disabled macrovision, set the player to region-free and allowed me to place a custom wallpaper on the screen (my wife and dog) when the player was not spinning a disk.

I'll have to review my notes and report back.

BobB

Rhoniel Kase

01-04-06, 08:18 PM

If you search this thread you will find the answer (about 50 times).
Thanks for your help.
Regards.

Lumpy

01-05-06, 12:39 PM

If you search this thread you will find the answer (about 50 times).

You'll find the question asked 50 times but you'll only find a usable answer a few times. I've read this thread front to back several times and it's not all that easy to find answers when everybody just says "read the damn thread DS" instead of yes, no or depends. By the time I discovered the AVLP2 this thread was already 1000+ posts long. A daunting thread when it comes to finding answers to specific questions and annoying when you can't find the answer to basic questions.

Don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot from this thread and I probably wouldn't have gotten it to work as well as it does without the knowledge shared here.

Obviously the answer isn't the same for everyone but for me it's a resounding "YES", my AVLP2/DVDLA with October's firmware, using component out, will upconvert DVD's to 1080i and it's awsome. It may be the only DVD player you can get that wll do it with component these days.

As I said, I've read this thread front to back and this question was never answered for me until I bought one and tried it. I was sweating the decision because I never found a definitive answer to that question in this or any discussion of this product including the manufacturer's forum. Upconverting DVD's was a make or break feature for me. Fortunately my gamble paid off and I'm a pretty happy camper.

The whole thing reminded me of my college days when the computer lab geeks would never divulge their mystic secrets of computers to such lowly noobies as I was then. It made for a more difficult learning experience than it probably had to be.

potus

01-05-06, 04:30 PM

You might have better luck in the FAQ thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=484807

mabrym

01-05-06, 08:23 PM

I'm trying to set the region on the liteon and can't get the computer to recognize the drive. The IDE is connected and the power connector as well, and I can feel the drive turning with my hand but the door won't open. No light. I have the power connector in the 4 plug slot for the drive I'm using (I had to disconnect my existing drive).

I unplugged my CD drive and connected there, cause it was much easier to get to than where the DVD drive is connected, does that make a difference, the IDE connector is the same.

akahan

01-05-06, 09:00 PM

mabrym

01-05-06, 09:06 PM

epsilon

01-05-06, 09:14 PM

Make sure the master/slave settings are not conflicting. Do you see the drive enumerated at boot time?

mabrym

01-05-06, 09:15 PM

I got it! I forgot the P3 connection, whatever the hell that is. I've never done anything like this before and there was nothing about it in the instructions.

Here is the bad news - this is the easy part.

akahan

01-05-06, 09:15 PM

There is a blocker on the DVD drive. I'll double check it but there's so little room I don't even think it's possible to get it backwards. Turning off power now. I assume I should do that everytime I need to unplug something.

VERY good idea to turn off the power before you unplug something, yes.

When you have it apart, take a close look at the pins on the DVD drive, and make sure none are bent. If you unplugged the IDE cable from the motherboard, doublecheck to make sure you're plugging it back in the right place (and not into an ancient floppy controller or something.) Also, it might be enlightening to go into your computer's CMOS setup (BIOS) and see whether the BIOS is detecting that you've got a CD/DVD drive connected...it should!

**EDIT** -- I see our letters crossed in the mail... congrats!

mabrym

01-05-06, 10:52 PM

akahan

01-05-06, 11:29 PM

Connecting to the LP isn't working. The LP doesn't recognize it, even with a hard reboot. I can hear the drive loudly spinning but that's it. Then I noticed that the jumper was missing, have no idea how it came off, but I don't think that matters because the old LP drive doesn't have one.

I didn't even try yet to get the thing properly mounted and that's going to be a bitch if I ever do get it working. I don't know what else to try though, the IDE doesn't have a blocker but I tried it both ways.

The fact that the old LP drive doesn't have a jumper doesn't mean that this drive shouldn't. On the liteon, I think you DO need the jumper, to identify it as the Master. The jumper should bridge between the top right and botttom right pins of the six-pin set immediately to the left of where the IDE cable goes, with the drive oriented so that the IDE connection is to the left of the power connection.

If you lost the jumper, maybe you could borrow one from some other component?

mabrym

01-06-06, 09:30 AM

The fact that the old LP drive doesn't have a jumper doesn't mean that this drive shouldn't. On the liteon, I think you DO need the jumper, to identify it as the Master. The jumper should bridge between the top right and botttom right pins of the six-pin set immediately to the left of where the IDE cable goes, with the drive oriented so that the IDE connection is to the left of the power connection.

If you lost the jumper, maybe you could borrow one from some other component?

I don't what other components could have one. Can I get one at Radio Shack? Would this explain why it's making so much noise?

As far as the power connector, is that needed? I looked all around and didn't see a place to plug it in so I didn't think I needed it. The door and opens and closes so it's got power.

akahan

01-06-06, 10:24 AM

I don't what other components could have one. Can I get one at Radio Shack? Would this explain why it's making so much noise?

As far as the power connector, is that needed? I looked all around and didn't see a place to plug it in so I didn't think I needed it. The door and opens and closes so it's got power.

You could definitely get one at radio shack, yes. In radio shack terminology, they're "DIP Programming Shunts". Model: 276-1512 | Catalog #: 276-1512 .

No idea about your noise question, though.

mabrym

01-06-06, 10:40 AM

OK, I see them. Doesn't look like what I'm missing, which is a tiny green thingy that you move from one position to another, is this the same thing, I can't tell how big they are at the RS site.

akahan

01-06-06, 10:56 AM

OK, I see them. Doesn't look like what I'm missing, which is a tiny green thingy that you move from one position to another, is this the same thing, I can't tell how big they are at the RS site.

It's the same thing..Radio Shack is selling you several of them, all attached to a little "tree".

mabrym

01-06-06, 11:05 AM

Great, thanks a lot. I'm optimistic that's the problem and will try again when I get home.

MacHound

01-06-06, 06:27 PM

I updated the I-O Data Forums thread titled "Bug? Broken? Just me? (MPEG-2 TS streaming)" (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?p=6362#post6362) with results using VideoReDo Plus on my MPEG2_ts streams. No errors are reported for any among two dozen of my "black screen playback" recordings, but I did receive a small cluster of errors on an 1080i show that plays just fine. I welcome commentary from enlightened readers who can make sense of this conflicting information.

Why the heck can't the LP2 play so many of my 480i streams?

mcavs

01-06-06, 08:05 PM

MacHound have you tried Mpeg2repair on those files? It usually works for me on problem files. Best of all it's free! http://users.adelphia.net/~mwilczyn/mpeg2repair/

catware

01-06-06, 08:28 PM

The LinkPlayer replaced my first DVD player which I hacked a couple years back. I'm a bit vague on the process I used (old-timers disorder) but I recall creating a CD-ROM to flash the firmware.
Ummm, I hate to be the one to point out the obvious here, but because you bought a different dvd player a couple years back and updated the firmware by putting a CD in the tray with a .bin file on it, in no way means that the IO-Data AVLP2 will also behave in the same manner.

So you don't have a theory, you have a hypothesis. And an untested hypothesis at that. :cool:

JRad

01-06-06, 09:10 PM

Saw this on IODATA'S website and thought it interesting for owners of the JVC unit. It kind of pertains to the last post.

http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/products.php?cat=HNP&ts=2&tsc=&sc=AVELK

JRad

MacHound

01-06-06, 11:28 PM

MacHound have you tried Mpeg2repair on those files? It usually works for me on problem files. Best of all it's free!http://users.adelphia.net/~mwilczyn/mpeg2repair/ No, I didn't try mpeg2repair. VideoReDo makes the files playable. VLC's advanced option usually makes the files playable. The point is I shouldn't have to go through contortions to play stinkin' MPEG2 files! The LP2 is advertised to handle MPEG2.

When I post-process MPEG2 files they become unrecognizable to EyeTV software. Post-processing thereby disrupts my archives' hierarchy. A few problem recordings aren't such a big deal, but I'm dealing with well over a hundred MPEG2_ts files that won't play on my LP2. Do I have to post-process all of those in order to watch them? Storage and organizing pre- and post-processed MPEG2's becomes a significant headache when there are so many.

I look forward to SMD's review of how my files play on his Zensonic. Resiliance to imperfect data could be a major selling point.

akahan

01-07-06, 01:31 PM

Using the original loader, and the December 27 firmware, I am able to switch (DVD) regions on my Linkplayer. I go into setup on the remote, press the slow reverse button (the one under REV and above ZOOM) and then 4-6-4-6, and it asks me what region; I enter "2", for example, and then I'm able to play Region 2 disks.

Is there a limited number of times this can be done? That is, by doing this, am I using my five changes typically permitted by the firwmare in loaders? Or is the change being made to the Linkplayer's own firmware, so that I can do it an unlimited number of times?

Does anyone know whether it is possible to change regions in this way with the Liteon Drive installed? I note that there's a region-free hack for the Liteon167 that everyone's using as a replacement for the original loader. If you use that hack, must you still do the remote hack as described above? Or, if you set the loader itself to region free, are you then done, and can play anything?

Thanks!

Gojira69

01-07-06, 09:28 PM

Ummm, I hate to be the one to point out the obvious here, but because you bought a different dvd player a couple years back and updated the firmware by putting a CD in the tray with a .bin file on it, in no way means that the IO-Data AVLP2 will also behave in the same manner.

So you don't have a theory, you have a hypothesis. And an untested hypothesis at that. :cool:

Dear CATware, per Merriam-Webster Online, one definition of theory is "a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation", lest anyone reading this thread derive the hypothesis you know whereof you write. ;)

Gojira69

01-07-06, 09:58 PM

It will play lossless wav files if you have that kind of space on your hard drive.

I have tons of WAV files on my PC. If I attempt to play WAV files I created by dubbing from analog sources to my PC via SoundForge 4.0 they play fine. If I attempt to play WAV files I ripped from CDs using Exact Audio Copy (though they play fine in WMP) it returns an error "invalid wav file" Anyone have any idea how to fix it?

BobB

akahan

01-09-06, 02:09 AM

OK, well here are some of my results with the 167T:

As mentioned in the earlier post, with the original loader, I could change the DVD region on the Linkplayer using the remote, and I verified that I was able to play DVD's from around the world on it.

I tried installing a 167T with region free firmware, and it wouldn't play ANYthing, from ANY region in the Linkplayer. (This seems consistent with Kermie's original observation a thousand posts ago or so.) Took it back out and set it to Region 1, and put it back in again, and it'll play region 1 discs, but now the region switching hack no longer works.

So, it seems I have my choice between the 167T, and one region only (but NICE play--much smoother!), or the original loader, with all its faults, and multiregion capability. Problem being that there's intermittent stuttering, bad recovery after pausing, and so forth.

So, I'm going to go ahead and use the 167T, because at least it'll play ONE region decently. Oh well; guess you can't have everything. If anyone figures out how to get the 167T to go region free in this device, I'll be very interested to hear about it.

madpoet

01-09-06, 10:22 AM

Honestly, just network it and strip the regions from your DVDs to a file share. It's how I ended up dealing with it. Pain, but oh well.

akahan

01-09-06, 05:55 PM

Honestly, just network it and strip the regions from your DVDs to a file share. It's how I ended up dealing with it. Pain, but oh well.

I will if I have to; sadly, that ends up being a more-than-one-step process, due to the machine's problem with VOB files (well ranted about by others elsewhere on here.)

spyfy

01-12-06, 04:53 PM

MF70

01-13-06, 12:39 PM

My Linkplayer 2 has served me well but I'm gonna be upgrading. Mine has the Liteon drive installed and has worked flawless. I have original box and all the goodies. Anyone got any idea what a used one is worth?

If I may ask, what are you going to replace it with? I haven't heard of any other player that does what the Avel does. Would appreciate a suggestion because I am not so satisfied with the Avel. Thanks!

spyfy

01-13-06, 04:15 PM

MF70

01-13-06, 04:41 PM

I'm gonna get a HDMI upconverting player like the S77 or something. Since I've gotten an HD Tivo with Directv I don't use any of the networked features of the Linkplayer and I have a XBOX 360 I can use with Windows MCE to do most of what the Linkplayer did do for me, granted not all, but I don't use those features anyways. The linkplayer was basically a novelty thing that upconverted DVD's over component. Since I'm gonna use HDMI I don't need that feature anymore either.

Thanks for your repply. I also was using the Link Player to connect my PC to my RCA 38" HDTV in the living room. The PC is in the den and the CAT-5 cable through the wall between the two rooms was a convenient way to watch HD content from the PC in the living room. But now, I purchased a Westinghouse 37" LCD monitor which can accept the ful 1920 X 1080p output of the PC;s video adapter running at this same resolution via DVI, and I find that this is a much better way to go than going through the Avel Player into component input. I wish you luck with your new setup. Thanks again!

BobL

01-18-06, 12:28 AM

Does the JVC play WMV movies like T2, etc?

mikecazzx

01-18-06, 08:52 PM

Does the JVC play WMV movies like T2, etc?
I am about 90% sure it does - I will grab a WMV from my local library tomorrow.

potus

01-18-06, 09:14 PM

I am about 90% sure it does - I will grab a WMV from my local library tomorrow.

I don't think there is any problem playing the WMV format. The problem with the T2 disk is the DRM. I have tried playing this disk on my LP2 by mounting the disk on a PC and acquiring a license, then streaming to the LP2. But the DRM overhead (which requires constant PC processing for the duration of play) buries my PC, and it is unable to stream the content smoothly.

I don't think there is any way to play the T2 disk directly in the LP2's integrated DVD drive. I doubt it is any different on the JVC-branded version.

BobL

01-20-06, 11:20 AM

Thanks for the replies. I have a couple of the disc so I'll let you know when the JVC arrives.

Bob

hjohns1

01-20-06, 01:01 PM

Last night I ran a test and I was able to play my un DRM'd version of 'The Magic Of Flight' on the internal DVD drive on my LP2 with no problem. Smooth video no glitches.....But I have replaced the internal drive with the Liteon drive.

Vat_else_dya_hav

01-22-06, 03:46 AM

I was moving files tonight and I tried using Video Lan to Access my uhdl and it works really nice. Just point to and highlight your parent file on the uhdl,left click "Add to VLC media player's Playlist and the files stream wonderfully. It even opens all the subfiles without having to touch a thing, nice, really nice. I wish there was a way to load Video Lan on the avellink player,I be willing ta try that one out. I 'am still runnin win 98se and never installed the server software or upgraded.If someone could get Video Lan to run would it fix the no zoom functions of the player? I'dd sure love not to have to recode every thng with Dr Divx to get this thing to play.

mabrym

01-26-06, 07:28 PM

akahan

01-26-06, 11:59 PM

It sounds like you did everything right as far as the jumper goes.

Typically, if there's a region problem, you won't be able to play the DVD *at all*, or you might be able to play the menus, but not the movie. If you can play a few seconds of the movie itself, that doesn't sound like a region problem...but I'm not sure what it is. You might want to try putting the drive in your PC, and seeing if it'll play movies there.

mabrym

01-27-06, 01:32 PM

I didn't describe it right. I put one DVD in and saw nothing but a black screen, but I saw the seconds tickling off to about 8 and then it stopped. Put another DVD in and for a second I saw the studio logo and then that went off and I got the black screen. A guy over at the IoData forum said he put in the drive and didn't set the region and can play all regions. I was really hoping to avoid taking it out and opening the PC again but I don't know what else to do.

What about DVD cleaners, do they have a region? Mine works.

mikecazzx

01-27-06, 01:44 PM

I am about 90% sure it does - I will grab a WMV from my local library tomorrow.
I tried to play Step into Liquid WMV. It does not play - it asks about connecting to a media connect server or similar?

What gives?

akahan

01-27-06, 02:01 PM

Mabrym, Yup, sounds like a region problem for sure, then.

cyburn

01-30-06, 01:11 PM

If you are interested, there is an interesting discussion on how to downgrade the LP2 to the OCT 2005 release:

http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=1123

Cheers

Gojira69

01-30-06, 11:17 PM

If you are interested, there is an interesting discussion on how to downgrade the LP2 to the OCT 2005 release:

http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=1123

Cheers

Thank you! I've done it and can verify my VOBs play right thru the 5th and 6th minutes without pixilating and hanging!

"Did you ever know that you're my hero?"

BobB

mattdon

01-31-06, 05:49 AM

Paul_PDX

01-31-06, 01:59 PM

I've been reading through the FAQs and posts and don't see anything about the actual player freezing on DVD-ROM playback (please forgive me if I missed the obvious). I can play the same movies (e.g., Star Wars - Return of the Jedi and Wedding Crashers) over the network with no problems. I am currently on firmware 06-35-050430-02-IOD-234-000. They seem to stutter and then freeze 15-20 into the movie. Is there a way to upgrade the firmware on the DVD-ROM itself? I see in Setup that I'm on version 586H for the DVD-ROM. Any thoughts appreciated.

I have an older 583 version of the drive firmware and can play Return of the Jedi from the Box Set (Wide Screen R1) using the October firmware with no problems. It plays over the net fine also. Since you are running the April firmware maybe they fixed the Star Wars issue sometime in between.

mcavs

01-31-06, 10:42 PM

If you are interested, there is an interesting discussion on how to downgrade the LP2 to the OCT 2005 release:

http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=1123

Cheers

I rolled back and it works great! Now what do I do with my half finished HTPC?

MacHound

02-04-06, 12:00 PM

I've been reading through the FAQs and posts and don't see anything about the actual player freezing on DVD-ROM playback (please forgive me if I missed the obvious). I can play the same movies (e.g., Star Wars - Return of the Jedi and Wedding Crashers) over the network with no problems. I am currently on firmware 06-35-050430-02-IOD-234-000. They seem to stutter and then freeze 15-20 into the movie. Is there a way to upgrade the firmware on the DVD-ROM itself? I see in Setup that I'm on version 586H for the DVD-ROM. Any thoughts appreciated. I had such freezes happen often until I made the Lite-On loader mod. (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=178&page=2) I've not seen any DVD playback freezes since then. It's a time-consuming modification but it's probably worth the trouble if you're going to use the LP2 for DVD playback often. Catware reported using the BenQ 1650V loader (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6821849&&#post6821849) as an alternative, since the Lite-On loader is now hard to find.

AllenHK

02-07-06, 09:00 AM

Hi, I learn a lot from this forum and I also want to share my experience.
I bought an AVLP2/DVDG-2 about ten days ago. It is a Japan version. I buy this player mainly to play back my Sony HDR-HC1 mpeg2-TS clips stored in DVD-R.

Firmware of my AVLP2 is 5 Aug 2005.

DVD drive:
The original drive sometimes cannot play back the disc that it can play just yesterday. From the reading here enourage me to change the drive. I trial the following drives:
1) Matsushita SR-8585-B. It can play back my DVD-R but cannot play back some of my commerical DVD.
2) Poineer DVR-106. It can play back my DVD-R and movie DVD. So far no problem and is still inside the AVLP2.
3) Poineer DVD-110. I just bought this to replace my DVR-106. It suppose should be better than DVR-106, however, I found the rotation speed is slowed down every few minutes and than speed up quickly again and cause play back jagging. I am not sure why. It play back DVD movie OK.

DVI output:
The DVI output produce a very sharp image. However, I found the play back is not smooth like watch an 15fps movie. It is the same for mpeg-2 or movie playback. This is not happen with component output. I am not sure if it is problem of my TV (BENQ 3750) or the player.

Componet out:
After seeing the DVI output, I applied the filter mod (I shall never do this without the information from this froum, so thanks for all who share the information).
The result image is nearly as good as DVI (both for 720P and 1080i). However, the noise/interference seems geting a bit worse but I can live with that. DVD moive upscale also give a nicer picture.

USB:
I found it strange that some files I can playback in DVD-R and cannot play back in USB drive. I believe it is a firmware bug.

Network:
Not yet test the wired/wireless function and will probably not for a while.

Summary:
I am quite happy with the player (with all the modifications I applied) and probably will not upgrade the firmware since I cannot get much information about the next update. (I cannot read Japanese)

Allen

MacHound

02-08-06, 10:10 AM

Rumtalker

02-08-06, 02:47 PM

Yes, definitely stick with the earlier firmware. I downgraded from 8-5-05 to 6-24-05 firmware because that seemed a little more reliable for me -- not as many freezes. YMMV, and I'm not sure it's possible to go back up to 8-5-05 anymore after you downgrade. Really in retrospect it wasn't that big of a difference between 8-5-05 and 6-24-05, and sometimes I miss the counter display and OSD timer feature of 8-5-05. I just wish they would have done one more minor debug of 8-5-05 firmware before launching off into new frontiers of troublemaking firmware.

I've only posted a couple of times in the past but I read this thread daily - and I appreciate all the info that is passed back and forth.

Presently, I am on the October firmware but would like to go to the August firmware - MacHound, do you know the link for the August firmware? Or even the June firmware?

Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help...
Cheers

Paul_PDX

02-08-06, 03:14 PM

MVBJJ

02-08-06, 03:55 PM

Depending on what you do you may find the October firmware for the US Linke Player2 the most reliable:

For MyHD and Fusion HD TS/TP recordings October 2005 or January 2006 are the two best firmwares to date. Both seem to be the best for DVD playing so far also.

What do you want to play, at what resoluton, and do you need DVD upscaling??

I concur. October firmware seems best for me for playback of Fusion HD recordings. Rhapsody Radio playback is most stable as well. The only glitch I see with October firmware is the skipping after hitting pause/play on DVD playback. Video skips ahead a few seconds until resynch.

Rumtalker

02-08-06, 05:33 PM

I concur. October firmware seems best for me for playback of Fusion HD recordings. Rhapsody Radio playback is most stable as well. The only glitch I see with October firmware is the skipping after hitting pause/play on DVD playback. Video skips ahead a few seconds until resynch.

I just can't say enough good things about this thread - thanks again everyone for your thoughtful feedback. I think I will park it in October's firmware until I see a need to upgrade (or downgrade).

Cheers...

webboy10169

02-08-06, 06:41 PM

I just can't say enough good things about this thread - thanks again everyone for your thoughtful feedback. I think I will park it in October's firmware until I see a need to upgrade (or downgrade).

Cheers...

This is where ive been since october I have no (zero) issues with this firmware. Although i only use the avel to view network content. Ripped dvd's, and HD.ts files. I couldnt even tell you if the dvd drive works or not. Well thats a lie the only disc's its seen are dvd audio disc's (Nine Inch Nails).

potus

02-08-06, 09:07 PM

For MyHD and Fusion HD TS/TP recordings October 2005 or January 2006 are the two best firmwares to date. Both seem to be the best for DVD playing so far also.

Not for me they aren't. Both of these releases have similar crash/lockup problems playing ALL of my MyHD recordings.

I personally think that the problem I am having is isolated to my particular unit, but Jack Akita from IOData assures me this is NOT the case. He believes there is something wrong with the current firmware releases that is causing these problems.

So he has more or less admitted that you should EXPECT .ts playback problems with these releases.

He says a future "upgrade" will fix these bugs. He did not tell me what new set of bugs we can expect to be included, but you can be sure there will be some. This is part of the "fun" of owning this machine.

- Frank

potus

02-08-06, 09:16 PM

Presently, I am on the October firmware but would like to go to the August firmware - MacHound, do you know the link for the August firmware? Or even the June firmware?

I have the .bin files for all the releases all the way back to April or so, but I can't load them on the LP2. It gives an invalid ID error (or some such) when attempted. I think it's a case of "can't get there from here". If you are on latest firmware, the furthest back you can go seems to be Oct.

TPeterson

02-08-06, 09:27 PM

Not for me they aren't. Both of these releases have similar crash/lockup problems playing ALL of my MyHD recordings.

I personally think that the problem I am having is isolated to my particular unit, but Jack Akita from IOData assures me this is NOT the case. He believes there is something wrong with the current firmware releases that is causing these problems.

So he has more or less admitted that you should EXPECT .ts playback problems with these releases.

He says a future "upgrade" will fix these bugs. He did not tell me what new set of bugs we can expect to be included, but you can be sure there will be some. This is part of the "fun" of owning this machine.

- FrankI've seen no crash/lockups on my MyHD recordings with either the December or January fw (the only two that I've used). Based on that and the experiment that you and Ralph conducted, I believe that Jack is mistaken.

Edit: And I think that the file swapping experiment with Ralph gives you sufficient evidence to demand an exchange under warranty. I'm baffled that you're still waiting.

potus

02-08-06, 10:06 PM

I've seen no crash/lockups on my MyHD recordings with either the December or January fw (the only two that I've used). Based on that and the experiment that you and Ralph conducted, I believe that Jack is mistaken.

Edit: And I think that the file swapping experiment with Ralph gives you sufficient evidence to demand an exchange under warranty. I'm baffled that you're still waiting.

Yes, I probably should have exchanged it. But I really thought I could believe Jack. I even sent HIM the same file I sent to Ralph, and he acknowledged that they DID find a problem which (he claims) will be fixed in a future firmware.

I was hoping to avoid the hassle of shipping back and forth, but now I am kicking myself. Especially now that I have checked my records, and my purchase date was 2-1-2005. The warrantee is only 1yr, so I guess my options are limited now. (though Jack promised to allow me to exchange the unit if the claimed "firmware fix" does NOT fix the problem, so maybe I still have some "insurance")

- Frank

PS. What server software are you-all using? I am using wizd almost exclusively, though I do recall experimenting with all the others (including Avel Servers) and had similar problems with them ALL. Even ran them from my Mac and PC with same results.

MacHound

02-08-06, 10:30 PM

Presently, I am on the October firmware but would like to go to the August firmware - MacHound, do you know the link for the August firmware? Or even the June firmware? If you're at October 31 firmware you're stuck. There's no way to downgrade. Lots of desperate LP2 owners tried it unsuccessfully in November and December. The Syabas middleware apparently can't be downgraded after one of these major firmware pushes.

To answer Paul's points, about half of the people posting at I-O Data Forums since 10-31-05 agree with his statement. The other half have a range of new problems with 10-31-05 firmware. I can't speak for Potus but I know he's investigated the issue very thoroughly and he's NOT the only person having such problems.

Coming to my own situation: Should I roll the dice and hope I'll be in the 50% who have good things to say about 10-31-05 firmware, or do I stay put with what mostly works well. That's really not a hard decision. I'll stay put until a future firmware is clearly better than what I already have.

To follow up on an ongoing 480i playback issue I've been having for many months ("black screen playback"), SeeMoreDigital shined a bright light on the issue for me. The nonplaying streams all have no video data in PID #1. It remains unclear exactly what's the cause... whether it's due to a quirk of my EyeTV 500 receiver or the TV station's multiplexer. Too bad the Sigma chip can't read past PID #1 in these cases. VLC and other software video players have no such problem.

RalphArch

02-08-06, 10:33 PM

Actually I did have a pretty nasty crash last night while watching American Idol on the LP2 (latest firmware) while it was recording with MyHD. I had the overlay (not a bright idea if you want to record and simulaneously watch on LP2) on so I know I had recorded essentially all the show, when all of a sudden the computer stopped with a bunch of dos messages on screen.

Of interest is that I could not get past 25% of the file after rebooting - even though I had been watch close to the end after catching up through commercials to the recording. I tried mpeg2repair but that couldn't save the file so I had to endure the wrath of WAF one more time because we didn't see whether that geeky looking kid with the great voice made it or not.

Lessons learned: Don't watch a recording live with LP2 (or revert to earlier firmware where I didn't have this all the other times I have tried it)

Don't have the MyHd overlay on when recording.

Have no idea why the file got hosed as it would seem it should have been good to at least the point I had already watched it

CoolCanuck

02-16-06, 05:52 PM

mobynewt

02-18-06, 03:44 AM

Ron Tobin

02-18-06, 11:54 AM

Can anyone recommend a good quality DVD+R DL media that can be read by the LiteOn SOHD-167T drive?

I use Memorex DVD+R DL with no problems. Everyone that I've tried, to date, plays just fine on the LiteOn drive.

akahan

02-18-06, 12:48 PM

Can anyone recommend a good quality DVD+R DL media that can be read by the LiteOn SOHD-167T drive?

I recently upgraded the drive ("loader") in my LP2 to a LiteOn SOHD-169PSV (successor to the 167T) following the procedure from the FAQ:
1) install in computer
2) set to region 0 using LtnRPC
3) install in LP2 (jumpered for Cable Select)
I had to snip the bottom tabs off the faceplate and shave small notches into two side edges for them to fit in the tray's corresponding grooves. The drive itself is working reasonably well. The LP2 did crash once or twice with a green screen, but recovered after cycling the power. It has played every commercial DVD I tried, as well as Verbatim DVD+R single layer media, but it doesn't seem to even recognize Verbatim DVD+R DL discs. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

The 169P9S (what I think you actually have) is a COMPLETELY different drive from the 167; totally different firmware. There have been numerous reports of people ordering the 167T and being shipped this successor drive instead, trying it anyway, and being disappointed. It doesn't seem to be nearly as compatible with the LP2 as the 167T. For example, people find that if they take a DVD out of it, and put in a different DVD, they have to powercycle the LP2 to get things working again. I think in the long run, you may get frustrated with this drive in the LP2...if you search the forums, you'll find some other drives that people have tried with better results than this one.

mobynewt

02-18-06, 09:30 PM

The 169P9S (what I think you actually have) is a COMPLETELY different drive from the 167; totally different firmware. There have been numerous reports of people ordering the 167T and being shipped this successor drive instead, trying it anyway, and being disappointed. It doesn't seem to be nearly as compatible with the LP2 as the 167T. For example, people find that if they take a DVD out of it, and put in a different DVD, they have to powercycle the LP2 to get things working again. I think in the long run, you may get frustrated with this drive in the LP2...if you search the forums, you'll find some other drives that people have tried with better results than this one.

Oops, I mistyped the model #. It is 16P9SV. This seems to be a later version of the 16P9S, according to the codeguys firmwares page. I didn't see the reports on the 16P9S until after I had installed my drive, but I *can* swap discs in and out without power cycling. I forget what made it crash now, but it works much better than the factory original. I would be perfectly satisfied if it could read Verbatim +R DL discs, which seem to be the only reliable DL media for my Plextor PX-716A burner.

I am looking into the BenQ 1650V now. Has anyone tried reading Verbatim +R DL media in one of these?

MacHound

02-19-06, 12:36 AM

I use Verbatim DVD+R DL disks with my LiteOn 167T just fine. I burn the discs in my 1.5GHz Mac Mini using Toast 7 Titanium. (To avoid confusion, the original pre-October Mac Mini lacked a DL burner.) I've had no problem so far with Verbatim DVD+R DL media on my LP2 + 167T. I can't speak to the BenQ 1650V, however.

CoolCanuck

02-21-06, 12:10 PM

Anyone?
Should I just toss my LP2 into the trash (which I've been tempted to do on more than one occasion)?

Ok, I've been out of the loop on the latest playback techniques for ripped DVDs on the LP2. Apologies if (since) this has been covered many times before:

I have an Infrant ReadyNAS X6. It shows up as a server in the LP2 server list. When I select it and browse to the Videos and select a ripped DVD folder to playback I would expect the movie to just play. Too simple I guess.

Do I need to re-rip these movies as a single VOB? Can't I just click on the video_ts.ifo and select to play that and it will play the entire set?

I can stream TS files just fine from the NAS (and they are stored as a single file so there are no multiple-file issues).

What I'm looking for is the best way to playback ripped DVDs backed up to a NAS, with a minimum amount of remote clicking.

FWIW, I believe the X6 uses WizD as its server software but I'm not against setting up any server software to get this to work.

Thanks!

webboy10169

02-21-06, 02:30 PM

Ok, I've been out of the loop on the latest playback techniques for ripped DVDs on the LP2. Apologies if (since) this has been covered many times before:

I have an Infrant ReadyNAS X6. It shows up as a server in the LP2 server list. When I select it and browse to the Videos and select a ripped DVD folder to playback I would expect the movie to just play. Too simple I guess.

Do I need to re-rip these movies as a single VOB? Can't I just click on the video_ts.ifo and select to play that and it will play the entire set?

I can stream TS files just fine from the NAS (and they are stored as a single file so there are no multiple-file issues).

What I'm looking for is the best way to playback ripped DVDs backed up to a NAS, with a minimum amount of remote clicking.

FWIW, I believe the X6 uses WizD as its server software but I'm not against setting up any server software to get this to work.

Thanks!

The ReadyNAS (all flavors) use wizd to stream. Under "Shares", then "Services"
turn on Home Media Streaming Server
this allows the link player to talk to the ready nas.

As far as streaming movies they do not have to be one big vob you can rip them any way you want.

I store my movies in individual folders.

navigate to the folder(movie) you want to play inside that folder you should see the video ts folder and a file called title 1.

Clicking title 1 will start the movie. If you ripped the movie in 1 gig chunks you should be able to jump to chapter marks.

Hope this helps...

CoolCanuck

02-23-06, 02:57 PM

Thanks webboy! That works great.

Now if only the player itself would react a little faster to navigation commands -- it's annoying how slow it is at paging through lists of items.

webboy10169

02-23-06, 06:42 PM

Thanks webboy! That works great.

Now if only the player itself would react a little faster to navigation commands -- it's annoying how slow it is at paging through lists of items.

Your welcome. And yes the remote is painfully slow. Just remember not to upgrade the firmware of the player past the October release and you should be fine. You might want to check your firmare version to see what its at. There was a firmware release early on that helped the response time of the remote.

catware

02-25-06, 12:41 AM

I am looking into the BenQ 1650V now. Has anyone tried reading Verbatim +R DL media in one of these?
I'm the one who first put the 1650V in my AVLP2, and as far as I know the only person thus far.

It plays files on Verbatim DVD+R DL disc just fine. I only have one such DL disc, but it is full of 8GB of video files, and plays files from the beginning and the end of the disc just fine.

brianvann

03-01-06, 06:41 PM

Frank - mine never crashed (nor the file you sent me) on either the new or the old firmware so I would think your unit is bad. And I am talking playback on the dvd drive so the network doesn't come into play although that is my normal source. I did play the file I sent you all the way through with the dvd drive. And I did not change the speed at all

But I do get the same exact audio sync and video speed symptoms on the cut files that you describe. Plus the files play back fine using MyHD so it appears to be that the LP2 can't handle the modified files.

Trying to find the answer in this forum and I couldn't. Is this problem that showed up with a firmware update fixable? Every stream I recored and edit with HDTVtoMPEG2 has the problem at the cut points described here (stall, video speed up, then audio synch loss), but I didn't used to have this problem. TIA!

TPeterson

03-01-06, 08:02 PM

Trying to find the answer in this forum and I couldn't. Is this problem that showed up with a firmware update fixable? Every stream I recored and edit with HDTVtoMPEG2 has the problem at the cut points described here (stall, video speed up, then audio synch loss), but I didn't used to have this problem. TIA!Yes, it's fixable. It requires either another fw change from IO-DATA or a change in H2M. Cris Moore is working on the latter, but has hit a snag.

brianw1957

03-03-06, 02:56 PM

Yes, it's fixable. It requires either another fw change from IO-DATA or a change in H2M. Cris Moore is working on the latter, but has hit a snag.

TPeterson,

I'm having this problem as well, and hope to see a fix for H2M, great program, to bad the Linkplayer2 (with October FW) can't deal with this better. :confused:

I've also found that trying to play the .tp files while my MYHDTV-130 is recording, the playback will only go as far as the end of file at the time I start. Using wzid for my server, and I just can't figure out how you guys are playing while recording and have the player play the entire file.
I'll do a more thourgh search, didn't find an answer on I-O's site.

epsilon

03-03-06, 03:30 PM

I'll do a more thourgh search, didn't find an answer on I-O's site.
You may want to look around IOData's forums (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/index.php), if you're not aware of them already.

RalphArch

03-03-06, 03:50 PM

TPeterson,
. :confused:

I've also found that trying to play the .tp files while my MYHDTV-130 is recording, the playback will only go as far as the end of file at the time I start. Using wzid for my server, and I just can't figure out how you guys are playing while recording and have the player play the entire file.
I'll do a more thourgh search, didn't find an answer on I-O's site.

Its no different for me using the advanced server - although sometimes I just get near 100% and don't ff anymore and I seem to recollect that it keeps playing.

But for me not a big deal - normally I just get near 100% and then when it quits just restart and use the arrow key to get to where I was (which will obviously be a lot less than 100% the second or third time around.

A better way to watch while live recording is to use another MyHD card or a software player like TT2 - but now I only have LP2 in a particular location and this does work with the restart as above

brianw1957

03-03-06, 04:11 PM

You may want to look around I-O Forum, if you're not aware of them already.

E,

I have, guess I'll have to go back and read them, as I find that the search engine on the I-O forum is not very friendly.

Thanks

B

octavian

03-04-06, 03:24 PM

I just purchased a Linkplayer and mainly use it for playing MPD-130 .ts files from DVD+R's and WizD. I also use it as a DVD player. Right now I am on the June 24 firmware and was wondering if there were any benefits if I upgraded to the October 31 firmware. I am leary of upgrading since other people state the .ts playback doesn't work after the upgrade. Will I gain anything with upgrading?

octavian

TPeterson

03-04-06, 03:34 PM

octavian--

Do you use H2M to edit your MyHD files? If so, do the edited files play through edit points without problem on the AVLP2? I'm using the January firmware now and I have found that both it and the December fw play unedited MyHD files very well. However, there is a playback glitch and A/V sync problem introduced at most H2M edit points. The A/V sync is corrected only by a FF, play key sequence.

octavian

03-04-06, 04:32 PM

TPeterson--

Yes, I do use H2M to edit MyHD files. And if the edit points are in the same file then there is an A/V sync problem. But I mostly use the *clip* feature of H2M so that separate files are generated between each commercial break. The Linkplayer puts a 2 second pause between each file, but then I don't have to worry about FF and play with remote each time.

The only other .ts file problems that I have seen are when I start some files they stutter badly for the first 10 or 15 seconds. Also, the player has locked up when I've tried to fast forward through files a couple of times. Generally .ts file playback seems pretty good, though.

I think I will park at the June 24 firmware for a while and see how it goes.

Thanks for your input.

octavian

TPeterson

03-04-06, 04:47 PM

octavian--

It seems that you're seeing all the problems that I see with the January fw, plus some others (stuttering and lockups) that I'm not seeing.

MacHound

03-04-06, 04:54 PM

Octavian,

It sounds like you are quite aware that 6/24/05 --> 10/31/05 firmware is a one way trip. I'm with you for sticking at 6/24/05. It doesn't work great, but it works!

Paul_PDX

03-05-06, 07:17 PM

I am on the October firmware with both of my LinkPlayers. IMHO October has fewer issues with stuttering files at the start of playback (TS/TP/WMA/WMV) and seems to have the fewest issues with DVD playback of any of the versions that I've tried.

One plus for June -- I think you can still cycle the video resolution during playback instead of only at menus. Somewhere along the line they took that away.

MacHound

03-06-06, 12:06 AM

Paul is correct. 6/24/05 Firmware allows video resolution cycling from the remote during playback.

Paul, I don't know if you saw my post over at AVS Forums. SMD figured out that the issue with my non-playing EyeTV 500 recordings was absent video PID data in the first PID. His Z-500 wasn't able to play my "black screen playback" files any better than the LP2.

In any case it's only a temporary issue. I'm saving up for a new Mac Mini CoreDuo to replace my LP2. The new Mini reportedly grinds out 1080p with plenty of MHz leftover. Media players like the LP2 are about to become mostly irrelevant as HTPCs 1/3 their size take over the shelf. We're not quite there yet... Apple's DVD player still does a terrible job at scaling and deinterlacing. But it's plain to see which solution will be leading the way. Better DVD players are certainly coming. Hopefully we'll see a TheaterTek port for Intel Macs, or something similar. VLC is only barely tolerable.

BlueCop

03-06-06, 07:15 AM

the new update seems to limit the upscaling dvd playback to 480p before the update it supported any resolution to upscale too. Its not just css dvds ether. its every dvd video.

I am really geting tired of these ****** firmwares with new bugs in every release. This upscaling *fix*is only part of it. There are too many bugs to list.

on a side note I have upgraded my DVD-Drive to the Lite-ON 167T and done the filter removal.

I have been downloading all the firmwares because i am going to downgrade to an older version that supports dvd upscaling.

here is the list
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/12-45-060125-03-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/11-36-051215-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/10-88-051027-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/08-83-050802-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/07-74-050622-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/06-35-050430-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/06-20-050406-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/05-47-050302-02-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/04-91-050127-01-IOD-234-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/04-33-041227-01-IOD-234-000.bin

what is the consensus on the best firmware available?
i use it for dvd and ts file playback from network and udf dvd. On occasion i play xvid stuff.

I have been picking apart a filesystem in the latest 4MB release. here is a list of files that were there that i extracted.

\bg.jpg
\f_ver.txt
\icon10_n.jpg
\icon10_s.jpg
\icon11_n.jpg
\icon11_s.jpg
\icon1_n.jpg
\icon1_s.jpg
\icon2_n.jpg
\icon2_s.jpg
\icon4_n.jpg
\icon4_s.jpg
\icon8_n.jpg
\icon8_s.jpg
\logo.jpg
\fp\
\fp\back.png
\fp\bhome.png
\fp\cdrom.png
\fp\drive.png
\fp\folder.png
\fp\fpmovie.png
\fp\fpmusic.png
\fp\fpphoto.png
\fp\movie.png
\fp\music.png
\fp\photo.png
\fp\photo_bl.png
\fp\song.png
\fp\test.png
\myiHome\
\myiHome\active.png
\myiHome\add.png
\myiHome\add_type.png
\myiHome\cancel.png
\myiHome\connect.png
\myiHome\delete.png
\myiHome\DVD.png
\myiHome\edit.png
\myiHome\inact_s.png
\myiHome\myihome.png
\myiHome\on_serv.png
\myiHome\rss1.png
\myiHome\save.png
\myiHome\server.png
\sound\
\sound\chord.mp2
\sound\click.mp2
\sound\msgback.mp2
\sound\pick.mp2
\sound\return.mp2
\sound\type.mp2

I am going to attempt to write a simple app to extract/replace the files in a firmware for a skinning feel. I was expecting to find some html somewhere for the interface but didn't. Infact i am not seeing much else i can identify in the file.

I am going to compare some more and see if i can find if there is a checksum location that might be easily spoted.

Has anyone rebuilt a linkplayer firmware and flashed it to their player?
What about simple patches?(curious about possible checksum)
I think i am going to attempt to replace the bg.jpg and do an update to see if i can replace my background image.

I have been reading up on the Sigma Designs EM8620L(used in the linkplayer2) development platform. the page says
We provide the µClinux OS and drivers for the EM8620L Ethernet and MiniPCI (802.11b/g card) interfaces. We also provide navigation for DVD-Video playback and for accessing files on ISO 9660 CD/DVD/HDD. Additional software development is needed

So i guess it is running linux and from what i understand it is an arm processor under there somewhere. I am going to load up some stuff in IDA Pro later and see if i can disasm these bins.

Anyone have any suggestions or helpfull comments? I mainly want to map out the firmware contents and purhaps implement some patching for my own purposes.

I have also been studying the JVC SRDVD-100U firmware and they seem really similar. perhaps a LinkPlayer2 -> SRDVD-100U conversion would be possible with a some flashing and soldering.

anyway I'm out. please post if you can help out thanks.

BlueCop

03-06-06, 10:16 AM

i have been collecting more firmwares for linkplayers and buffalo linktheater players.
here are some links for jap firmwares if anyone else is interested. i am just trying to creat a volume of firmwares to take apart and compare.

http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/11-36-051228-02-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/08-74-050801-02-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/07-72-050622-02-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/05-45-050302-02-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/04-69-050110-01-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/03-42-041101-01-IOD-231-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/02-86-040923-01-IOD-231-000.bin

http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/11-36-051227-02-IOD-233-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/08-82-050802-02-IOD-233-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/07-73-050622-02-IOD-233-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/05-46-050308-02-IOD-233-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/04-70-050110-01-IOD-233-000.bin

http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/11-36-051215-03-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/10-89-051027-02-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/08-84-050802-02-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/07-75-050622-02-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/05-48-050302-02-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/04-72-050110-01-IOD-235-000.bin
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/03-79-041130-01-IOD-235-000.bin

BlueCop

03-07-06, 01:23 AM

after looking at several firmwares i have maped out a little. i am just an amature here so please chime in with anything helpfull.

Unknown 1 000000 - 187FFF
Filesystem 188000 - 1CFFFF
Unknown 2 1D0000 - 28FFFF
Unknown 3 290000 - 400000

Unknown 1 has some headers that are the same among all firmwares even among different models. below is more detail on Unknown 1

0000-0197 - same among firmwares
0198-03FF - diff among firmwares
0400-06F3 - same
06F4-17FF - diff
1800-FDDF - same
FDE0- end - diff

the 2 sections i find intersting are 0198-03FF and 06F4-17FF. could these be some kind of keys?

the 0000-0197 and 0400-06F3 seem to be arm code. bootloader and decrypter/decompressor to load software into ram?

The Filesystem on all the model firmwares seems to be pretty similar. Same files names and directories among models and manufactors with a few exceptions. I have manually extracted all these because i am a ****** programmer. any programmers want to team up?

Unknown 2 is litely populated with data. much less dense then 1 or 3.

Unknown 3 is exactly 1,507,344 bytes which is the same size as the smallers updates. so i assume only 290000 - 400000 is updated on the small updates. it is very dense with data like 1

If i am making a fool of myself or wasting my time posting please say so and i will quit posting any information.

BlueCop

03-07-06, 07:42 AM

ok i have done some testing with inserting a new background into the firmware.

I first deleted the data for the old background. I then inserted the data from the new background i created. i modifed the file table to show correct size(it was slightly smaller) but the offset was the same. I then tried to flash and got the dreaded crc failure which i had forgoten about.

So i have been looking at all these files comparing and comparing looking for their crc data.

I think the last 128bits of any bin update file are the information on where to flash(what offset somehow?) and a crc. comparing some of the various updates i see the the first 64bits(of the last 128) are the same between different updates while the last 64 bits are different. So if the first 64bits described where to flash and the last 64bits was the crc. it would make sense to me but i am just speculating.

I have been calculating all kinds of crcs. crc16,32,64. looking for a match but have not had any luck.

does anyone have any insight?

BlueCop

03-07-06, 10:00 AM

ok so i didn't figure out the firmware crc but i think i have exciting news anyway

i flashed my linkplayer2 to a the JVC SRDVD-100U firmware and IT WORKS

One feature i truely love is the Autoplay for discs with videos on them. I have lots of DVDs with ts files and avi files and when i put them in it automaticly starts a playlist. ITS SWEET and one of the features i wanted on from my linkplayer2 but only the jvc had. I of course will try to get a DVI connector soldered on to it sometime soon. i might end up riping it off my old geforse2 gts because i don't want to wait and order one. errr wait i bet there are other components missing.

does anyone have a JVC SRDVD-100U board scan or can take theirs apart and give me a few part numbers? adding DVI to LinkPlayer2 would be great.

I haven't done extensive testing yet but i am about too. The old remote codes still work which is good.

Before i forget this is url of the firmware i flashed my player with
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000.bin
there is already information in this thread about how to download and flash your firmware. so i won't repeat it.

I had previous downgraded to 10-88-051027-02-IOD-234-000.bin before i upgraded to 12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000.bin so i don't know if that matters.

just a little firmware infomration mapping

AA-AA-YYMMDD-BB-IOD-MMM-000

AA-AA represents the firmware version. like the jvc firmware version is 12.45

YY-MM-DD is the day the firmware was compiled

BB i am not sure. i think it is filesystem version.

IOD is the manfacturer here of course for I-O DATA. on the buffalo firmwars it says LTI

MMM is the model. like 234 is linkplayer2,255 is JVC model, and buffalo linktheater is 254.

on another note

I am pretty sure the firmware is encrypted and/or compressed. There seems to be some clear arm code in the file though. so anyone experienced with arm assemblly who might want to reverse the algorithm please take a look.

I think there is just a bootloader that decompresses the firmware into ram. i assume it pretty simple but i am just not educated enough to accomplish the task.

irgaac

03-07-06, 10:41 AM

MD5 hash maybe?

pale

03-07-06, 09:15 PM

I believe the firmware is a JFFS2 or squashfs image. i have been looking to see if I can mount these on my Linux box but have not had great luck with it.

BlueCop

03-08-06, 01:24 AM

i found that sigma released some sources for their uClinux port.
here is a link for those curious
http://www.uclinux.org/pub/uClinux/ports/arm/EM8500/uClinux-2.4-sigma.tar.gz

pale: have you looked at cramfs. it is included in the above sources so perhaps it is being used.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cramfs/

Thanks for ths responses

i tried MD5 hash without luck. i also tried some summations but i might have been doing something wrong. if you get a chance sometimes pleases check it out MichaelZ.

Edit:
i am not finding any JFFS2, squashfs, or cramfs magic numbers.

BlueCop

03-08-06, 07:41 AM

I found some intresting file urls while experimenting with some linking in wizd.

file://syabas11.htm Setup page
file://syabas12.htm IP setup
file://syabas14.htm Time setup
file://syabas18.htm Home
file://syabas19.htm Firmware Update
file://syabas31.htm Add Server
file://syabas40.htm DVD Setup
file://syabas49.htm Online Content
file://syabas51.htm blank page with AOL at the top
file://syabas61.htm RSS Page
file://syabas71.htm blank page with VTuner at the top

those are the urls for the pages so if you wanted to link back to them from an external file like on wizd or something.

Hopefully i will get this checksum thing figured out. i am going to look into it some more today.

on another note i found some more firmwares for a couple players based on the same chip. still looking really similar

I would like to get a hold of the Zensonic Z500 firmwares, upgrade CDs, and NEWLY RELEASED SOURCE CODE!! In order to download those files from http://www.z500series.com/ then you have to have the units serial, mac, and wireless mac. which i don't have.

the Z500 is not based on the same prepackaged platform like all the other players i have seen so if should be very interesting to get a hold of this stuff.

Anyone have a Z500?

BlueCop

03-08-06, 11:53 AM

I got a hold of the Z500 upgrade cds. it is interesting stuff. several romfs images as well as a JFFS2 images on some as well.

So i burned the dvds and poped them in my linkplayer. there were no media files so the player didn't do anything. I then manually powercycled the unit with the switch on the front.

Its here where it exhibits interesting behavior. I think it tried to boot the linux files on the disc but crashes due to hardware differences. The front panel display goes all messed up and then it all freezes and stays like that.

Since the Z500 has telnet running that you can log into. i attempted to telnet my players ip to see if it was running just not outputing anything from video(i checked all video outputs not just component).So it trys to boot it but crashes.

I am looking forward to geting a copy of the I-O Data upgrade CD but it hasn't been released yet. Then we might have a linux boot disc we could play with.

SeeMoreDigital

03-08-06, 01:17 PM

Just to let you know....

The Z500 has 16MB of Flash memory and 64MB of DDR Memory.

Cheers

BlueCop

03-08-06, 02:02 PM

SeeMoreDigital: thanks for the info. i knew it had more just didn't know how much. it is mainly the source code that is of interest to me now. i couldn't get that.

Anyone have the urls for the sourcecode download

i know it is in http://www.z500series.com/download/club/ because thats where their cd images are. a guy on their forum reporting a broken link of the firmware downloads lead me to figure it out. i just don't know the file name for the source. any help would be great thanks.

I posted a request on their forum to pm me or post a public link to the source. no response as of yet.

ATAD IO

03-08-06, 04:17 PM

pale

03-08-06, 09:54 PM

Blue,
Were you able to read the JFFS2 file system image that comes on the Zensonic recovery image? Looking at that and seeing that it uses a uCLinux image, we might be able to rebuild busybox to enable telnetd.

Looking at the firmware .BIN and looking at the way the FLASH is laid out, we may have to find the boot offset. As the firmware is a Bottom boot chip I am not certain it will be in the first portion of the image. Looking at the first bit of the .BIN it would appear to be a file system based upon the MAMBO reference.

If anyone is familiar with Linux and JFFS2 there are a few utilities out there that could be run to truly identify it as not being a JFFS2 image. jffs2read is one such util, but I am no coder and it will not compile properly on my Fedora 4 build.

With much of the digging I have done over the last couple of weeks it seems more and more likely that we are looking at a uCLinux 2.4 kernel, yes I know it seems very obvious, but there are only a few filesystems that the flash could be in. There is also the TrueFFS, or was it TrueflashFFS.

I will continue to see what I can dig up on reading the .BIN as a file system image, and let everyone know what i can find. However if there are any advanced linux folks out there that are familiar with filesystems and MDT, would you please give it a look also. Mounting the .BIN as a md0 device could lead to a penitential way to read it as well.

EDIT - make that MTD not MDT.

Thanks
pale

BlueCop

03-09-06, 12:40 AM

I am not convinced the the firmware is a readable filesystem in the form we download it in.(except 188000 - 1CFFFF) like if the extract the areas that are different between firmwares there are no common magic numbers for filesystems. also attemping to rar/zip them up renders like 0% compression ratio. This leads me to beleive that 00FDE0 - 187FFF and 290000 - 3FFFFF are compressed sections that are decompressed into ram like i stated before. I think the best chance at decompressing these will be to look at 0000-FDDF because it has so much in common between very different firmwares and i think it contains its decompression routine.

I am fairly certain now the checksum of some kind is stored in the last 8 bytes of the file. the 8 bytes before that are also used somehow in the upgrade process but i don't know how(flash instructions?).

Lots of speculation here without hard facts but i think i am right but maybe not.

BlueCop

03-09-06, 04:04 AM

ok discovered something interesting

ranges 018000-187FFF and 290000-3FFFFF are identical. So i am gona modify my little map from before.

key s=same among firmares d=different among firmwares ??=dunno

000000 - 000197 - s ??
000198 - 0003FF - d ??
000400 - 0006F3 - s ??
0006F4 - 0017FF - d ??
001800 - 00FDDF - s ??
00FDE0 - 017FFF - d ??
018000 - 187FFF - Compressed Image 1 (identical to 2)
188000 - 1CFFFF - File System for images and sounds
1D0000 - 28FFFF - ?? data. not compressed. not dense??
290000 - 3FFFFF - Compressed Image 2 (identical to 1)
400000 - 40000F - ?? checksum and info where to flash??

So i think the area updated with the smaller update(1.43 MB ones) are just the compressed image locations while the full 4 MB one updates the whole thing.

It could be that they included 2 locations because it alternates updating each location when doing small update. So then you get a backup image in case one fails or for the firmware rollback feature.

Edit: on another topic. there is a 2kb eeprom on the board. It is 24LC02B made by microchip. i am going to build a little device to put in the LinkPlayer2 to read and write this with my serial port. It should be interesting to see what it holds.

I also did a boardscan for those interested. i had to do 2 scans. it was hard to get good detail with the one part because i couldn't get it close to the scanner due to the outputs. thats why the detail is lower on that section. they aren't perfectly aligned ethier

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1340/mergedcopy8qk.th.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mergedcopy8qk.jpg)

arioch

03-09-06, 08:48 AM

I have the Japanese version of the player. I can't read or speak Japanese, so now after a few F/W updates it's very hard to compare to the english manual to find out what different settings really mean.
I'd really like to know what the different Aspect Ratio settings mean, can someone please give me the english translation of the different settings in the order that they appear in the drop-down menu? :)
Thanks.

BlueCop

03-09-06, 09:27 AM

arioch: have you done all firmware updates? on this I-O Data forum thread (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=1066)
It states that the latest Japanese firmware supports switching to english in setup menu. it was posted on 01-05-2006. update to the latest version and then hit the setup menu and you're there. i don't have the Japanese model myself so i can't tell you exactly how but im sure you can figure it out.

On another note i have been doing some experiements with my usb thumb drive and html files. if you place a html file called index.htm on the usb stick and plug it into the player it will launch that html.

So my thoughts were firmware updates from the usb stick. I took the blank html file and add this link
<a href="12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000.bin" update>Flash Firmware</a>
that tell the player to flash the firmware file when you click on the link.

So i click it and it loads the update software but it tells me the link is invalid and press any key to reboot.

i assumed it would just aphend the link to the current location but it doesn't. So i have to figure out the "file://???" url is for the usb mounted disks and then i think it would work.

arioch

03-09-06, 09:31 AM

BlueCop>> But isn't that f/w upgrade soiled with unacceptable bugs? I'm still running one (don't remember which) from last year and most stuff works just fine.
Do I dare to upgrade? I only use the player for .TS/.MPG HD-stuff and never DVD.

BlueCop

03-09-06, 10:05 AM

which firmware are you running? it is listed at the bottom of the main setup page.

I am not sure what the best firmware is but with the latest for the US linkplayer2(or JVC) has played all my TS files fine from UDF DVD-r and streamed from wizd. You might lose DVD upscaling if you upgrade though.

what specific bugs are you worried about?

BlueCop

03-09-06, 10:17 AM

make a new file called index.htm on your thumb drive. open the file in notepad. and paste this
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<a href="http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000.bin" update>Click to Upgrade</a>
</body>
</html>
save it to the root your your usb thumb drive and plug it into the player. Click the link and the upgrade starts. I don't know how to get it to work on a locally stored file on the usb stick itself. I am working on it

The firmware linked to in the example is the latest JVC SRDVD-100U firmware. luckily it is compatible with the orginal LinkPlayer2 and adds some functionality. You can replace that with another of the firmware links posted. check out my previous posts for some lists.

BlueCop

03-10-06, 08:12 AM

I am really liking this JVC SRDVD-100U firmware with the exception of the updated background images with the giant JVC and ProHD in the corner.
here is the JVC background and the splash image at startup
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/1092/bg2zm.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bg2zm.jpg)
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6131/logo3en.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=logo3en.jpg)

both of which i think are ugly. the orginal LinkPlayer2 background and logo were much better.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5589/bg3ci.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bg3ci.jpg)
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2520/logo2ao.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=logo2ao.jpg)

I would have liked to revert to these but the checksum routine is currently unknown to me so i couldn't patch these in the SRDVD-100U firmware and update because the crc would fail.

Some vendors have released filesystem updates alone. these updates only flash 188000-1CFFFF which is the image and sound storage. These updates they released are already have the correct crc. here is a link to an example filesystem update.

http://pluto.myboleh.com/firmware/update/em8620/syabas/03-SYB.bin
that link is for a Syabas3 Engineering Release Filesystem Update. it includes different background,splash, icon, ect. here are the background and splash
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8761/bg9ik.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bg9ik.jpg)
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/1446/logo6db.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=logo6db.jpg)
I think these are better then the JVC SRDVD-100U ones for sure

there are a few files missing from this image that are in the LinkPlayer2 but nothing important it is like the vtuner icon for premium content and a couple other useless images. the main interface stuff is all there. Also in the setup menu it now shows filesystem version 03-SYB.

I loaded this on my LinkPlayer2 that was running the SRDVD-100U firmware and now i have a much prettier interface. I can live with home screen saying myiHome instead of Avel Linkplayer2. those who are curious you load these filesystem updates the same way you don't the other firmware updates.(wizd, usb stick, your own webserver, ect.)

Buffalo Linktheater also released a filesystem update that would work but i lost the link to it. when i find it i will post it. there are a few other floating out there as well

Its too bad we don't know the checksum =( or else we would be able to skin it ourselfs.

BlueCop

03-10-06, 09:04 AM

I have been attemping to find out the internal file:// ulrs for the memory stick so i could have it update firmwares from here rather then externals addresses.

so my first attempt was to save a link in the index.htm that loads automaticly off the usb stick. the like would be too
http://help.mindspring.com/cgi-bin/showvars
because it has a HTTP_RE FERER listing so i could get the file:// url from that.

it didn't work. the Syabas browser doesn't pass that information to the server. =(

I am not good with html and these Syabas html extensions so i haven't been able to find a way to get the information i want. anyone have any suggestions?

BlueCop

03-10-06, 10:33 AM

While working on the crc i noticed there are 2 errors that can happen.
crc failed and wrong signature

its all in those last 16 bytes. i am sure of it now.

BlueCop

03-10-06, 11:01 AM

ok i figured out how to upgrade from a DVD/CD/USB stick. It should work on any usb external storage device too but i didn't test it.

The problems i ran into before was from the long file name. the name has to be 8.3 convention for local firmware upgrade. I don't know why. I just know it works.

First create a new file called index.htm. open in notepad. then copy and paste all thats in the quotes below then save.

<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<a href="firmware.bin" update>Click to Upgrade</a>
</body>
</html>

save the firmware of your choice to your harddrive. rename to firmware.bin

for USB Stick copy both the index.htm and firmware.bin over to the memory stick.. Plug it into the LinkPlayer and it will launch the index.htm. Simply choose "Click to Upgrade" and it starts the update.

for CD/DVD you burn the index.htm and firmware.bin to a CD/DVD. place it into the LinkPlayer2 Drive and it will launch the index.htm. Simply choose "Click to Upgrade" and it starts the update.

I am not sure which version this launching of index.htm was introduced in so this might not work on some versions.

You could easily store lots of firmwares on a single CD/DVD and modify the html to have multiply links.

snoots

03-10-06, 12:09 PM

I am very interested and am impressed with all you have discovered. The trick will be finding all the different versions, downloading them , sorting them all to one location and if each version is replacable if it doesn't work or we want to try a different one.

SeeMoreDigital

03-10-06, 12:12 PM

Hi BlueCop,

This is indeed a very interesting subject and has the beginnings of something that may prove very useful...

I think it might be prudent to start a new thread about this, with links to your new thread placed in all the "Syabas" player threads ;)

Cheers

TPeterson

03-10-06, 12:27 PM

BlueCop--

I'm finding your investigation fascinating. Thanks for the posts--especially that last about the FW upgrade/downgrade process from USB/DVD!

Paul_PDX

03-10-06, 01:16 PM

the HTML on the CD/DVD/USB/HD can also be used for making autorun or autoplay media -- Iodata mentioned it on their forum and actually posted a sample a few weeks back.

Just change the .bin file name to a name of a media file you want to play (or a playlist file).

BlueCop

03-10-06, 02:24 PM

Paul_PDX: you would also have to remove the update part after the url or else the system will open the flashing software for whatever file you are linking to. I actually perfer the jvc's autorun feature the most. it will start a playlist for me and is already compatible with all my discs i have burned.

What is the url for the thread with the samples? i just spent 20 minutes looking for it without luck. Thanks

There are more custum linking commands that can be used to make an html interface better. it would also be good to include tvid codes so people could simple press a number or other button on the remote to launch a certain item. I think it is a good idea to make some templates for people to use to make autorun discs. you could even have it autoload a certain media file after a period of time. You can do mp3 playlists with slide shows as well. there are alot of options here when you really get into it.

edit: found it
http://www.iodata.com/usa/linktoplayer/trialset1014.zip
is the download and
http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=1079&page=1&pp=10&highlight=index.htm
is forum thread.

Also to those curious. it has to be name index.htm
not index.html only htm

the trialset1014.zip is so big because it contains a couple iodata promo video in a couple formats that are pretty large. watch them the girl in the video is HOT =P. All in all the set is pretty useless i think. it doesn't even use any of the syabas browser extensions that would make navigation easier or any thing like image links that change when selected. they could do lots of cool stuff. I am going to pull out one of my old dvds with static menu and attempt to make a perfect copy based on it. i think its possible.

Paul_PDX

03-10-06, 03:43 PM

BlueCop

03-10-06, 04:04 PM

Found some interesting stuff by using the syabas:history which i hadn't known about before.

file:c:/ - Main interface drive
file:c:/syabas18.htm - Home
file:c:/syabas11.htm - Setup
file:c:/syabas12.htm - IP
file:c:/syabas14.htm - Time
file:c:/syabas19.htm - Firmware Update
file:c:/syabas40.htm - DVD Setup
file:c:/syabas31.htm - Add Server
file:c:/syabas32.htm - Edit Server
file:c:/syabas33.htm - Delete Server
file:c:/syabas49.htm - Online Content
file:c:/syabas51.htm - AOL
file:c:/syabas61.htm - RSS
file:c:/syabas71.htm - VTuner
file:d:/ - Image and Sound storage. refer to my post on the previous page for complete file listing
file:e:/ - DVD Drive
file:f:/ - USB Mounted Drive

Firmware Update page links to
http://myibox.net/firmware/update.jsp - firmware update
http://myibox.net/firmware/ddupdate.jsp - resource update
it is restricted based on user agent though. My Linkplayers browsers user-agent is

Syabas/12-45-0600125-03-IOD-255/03-SYB (uCOS-II v2.05;NOS;KA9Q; Res1280x720,HiColor; TV Res1920x1280; Browser Res1104x656-8bits; www.syabas.com mac_addr=00:00:00:00:00:00)

as you can see after the Syabas is the firmware version. This is how the server knows what update to show you to download. then there is the filesystem version this is from file:d:/f_ver.txt. since i flashed my firmware with the 03-SYB.bin filesystem update it is reporting 03-SYB as its version. it was 03-IOD before i upgraded. then some reference to the uCOS-II real time os. I blanked out my mac address because i got the fear.

You can install a user agent switcher in firefox and browse to these sites. if you change the firmware version shown in the user agent it will show you different downloads. You can even change the manufactor(the IOD part) and model(the 255 part) and it will show you updates for other syabas manufactors.

This user agent switch also works for browsing local LinkServer address with your browser. which can be usefull for finding out special html commands for designing your own html files for use on the Linkplayer2.

Later BlueCop

P.S. SeeMoreDigital: It is a good idea to start a new thread. I will do that.

Added:
here are the premium content links too
http://www.mspportal.com/
http://www.iodata.com/usa/linktoplayer/
http://www.iodataradio.com/setupapp/iod1/asp/BrowseStations/BrowseBasicStations.asp

BlueCop

03-10-06, 04:16 PM

Paul_PDX: actually that isn't 100% correct.
<a href="filename.ext?action=SinglePlay&" vod="playlist" tvid="n">n. Play filename.ext</a>

?action=SinglePlay& is something that is passed to the wizd server to make a playlist of a single file. which will send a playlist file that looks something like this

filename.ext|0|0|http://192.168.1.100:8010/Show/Season/filename.ext|

The Linkplayer will then load the playlist created.

you can create your own playlists on a disc by making a file that contains multiply lines like that and it will play them in sequence.

If you are just linking to a single video then vod="0" should be used.

Paul_PDX: sorry not trying to be an ass or anything by correcting you. i just like accuracy in information

Edit: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=496964p=5021629
the 5th post in that thread explains it better then i ever could

AllenHK

03-11-06, 12:02 PM

First I need to thank BlueCop for his work that enable me to test many firmware version easily. I would like to share my experience.

I own an IODATA DVDG-2 player. It is an Japan version. It has wireless and DVI output (not support DVD-Video) and is very similar in hardware to the JVC model. (I believe).

The orignal firmware 5 Aug 05. The manual is in Japanese. I burn new firmware in CD-RW to upgrade.

The first firmware I try is the JVC Jan 06 firmware (also from BlueCop).
Good point:
1) The manual is engish.
2) It support DVI and component output.
Bad points:
1) No more upscale for DVD (both component and DVI)
2) DVI need HDCP.

The next firmware I try is US model Oct 27 firmware.
1) manual is english
2) No support for wireless and DVI (these items not show in setup)
3) Upscale for DVD works.

Risking to change the player into an brick, the nextr firmware I try tonight is not from IODATA, it is for an HDTV player that made in China. It looks very similar and function very similar to IODATA. Even the remote looks the same. Anyway, the upgrade works OK and the firmware work in my machine.
Good points for this China firmware:
1) It suppot DVI and component output.
2) Region free DVD player
3) Upscale works for both component and DVI (no protection requirement)
4) Manual is selectable between Chinese and English
5) I can use the same CD to flash the same firmware again. This means you can also flash back to other firmware.
Bad points:
1) LCD display show strange things and no longer useful.
2) Buttons on unit no longer function.
3) Functions of some buttons on the remote is either remap or changed. Some is still Ok. In general still workable but you may need to attach a label on the remote to remind you the new function.

I have upload the Chinese firmware to this rapid share: (I need to modify the link in order to post it, may be someone can upload it)
"rapidshare.de/
files/
15245877/
cn051024.bin.html
"

Please take your own risk to use the new firmware but it works for me. BTW, I do not use network function and so cannot sure if it is better or worse than the IODATA firmware. I think if you get an JVC model, it is worth to give a try.

Allen

BlueCop

03-11-06, 01:32 PM

I need some assistance from someone with the the Japan LinkPlayer2 or the JVC SRDVD-100U. Anyone with ethier player who would be willing to open up their box and read some chip numbers for me please pm me. It is for a DVI upgrade i want to attempt. now that i have the firmware options for it. i want the hardware to support it. If i am successfull I will write a full guide with pictures and where to order the correct parts. Thanks in advance for anyone willing to help out.

AllenHK: interesting stuff. What was the manufacturer and model of the chinese player? where did you get the firmware? You're much braver then I. I was to afraid to flash another manufacturers firmware.

AllenHK

03-11-06, 08:19 PM

BlueCop,

I get the info when searching HDTV in chinese web site. The firmware is down load from their website. The link is: (web page in Chinese).
http://www.hd-tv.cn/hdtv.htm

Allen
Allen

arioch

03-12-06, 02:53 AM

BlueCop>> Thanks for the tip about English menus, but I just can't find that setting. I upgraded to the latest f/w but as my Japanese is pretty poor, I just can't find that setting. :) Also, there is nothing much new in the settings menus as far as I can see.
The person at IO-Data forum doesn't respond to my question about this, so I was just wondering; do You have any idea on where to change this language setting? :)

AllenHK

03-12-06, 06:05 AM

Arioch,

From IODATA forum, the english manual setting is avalable for the AVLP2/G version that do not have DVD drive. IODATA Japan has three versions
1) AVLP2/DVDG --- has DVD, wired and wireless connection
2) AVLP2/DVDLJ---- has DVD and wired connection( discontinued)
3) AVLP2/G----no DVD, wired and wireless connection.
Check the link:
http://www.iodata.jp/prod/multimedia/video/2005/avlp2g/index9.htm

About your question on screen setting,I own an DVDG version. From my Japanese manual,it contain some english. The screen has four settings, top to bottom. The screen setting is the fifth setting line of the setup screen.

FIT to SCREEN
FULL SCREEN
ACTUAL SIZE
SQUARE PIXEL
I usually choose FULL SCREEN.

BTW, I have download the english manual somewhere (I forgot where). It makes you much easlier to compare. May be you should make a search around.

Allen
Allen

arioch

03-12-06, 08:20 AM

Thanks, Allen. :)
I have the AVLP2/DVDG so I guess there are no English menus available for me then?
I have the English manual somewhere, just can't seem to find it, and I don't find it on the IO-Data site either, that's mostly why I ask. :)

BlueCop

03-12-06, 09:08 AM

arioch: Sorry if i misinformed you. i just thought thats what the thread said. do you use the wireless connection for your device? if not you might want to try the ProHD firmware. you can always revert back if you don't like it.

on another note
I just tried the H&B DNX-8620 firmware on my player with some interesting results.

1. all output would only work over composite. If i switch to 1080i or any other resolution it will just scale that over composite. anyway the point is component output didn't work

2. The firmware supported NTFS

3. The web browser interface was much more robust. the url bar worked on any page(instead of just the firmware page). it also had a nice browser bar you could pop up at the bottom of the screen to go back,forward,home,reload, change language, etc.

4. You could customize the Online Content page with your own links.

5. htm pages are visible when browsing your devices(DVD/USB) and would launch into the web browser.

I think the firmware is pretty useless to me because the lack of component output. i think i will move on to Snazio 1350 and see how it turns out

BlueCop

03-12-06, 09:48 AM

1. the same as the H&B DNX-8620. component output didn't work. It would scale any resolution selected over composite.

2. supported NTFS but wouldn't mount my USB Fat32 drive for some reason. I had to revert to my old ProHD version using web server upgrade.

3. Same web browser options like the H&B DNX-8620

4. cool Snazio Media portal

5. Holding down a directional button on the remote would continue to move till released. instead of repeat button presses like the LinkPlayer2

snoots

03-12-06, 09:51 AM

Is there a general consensus on which dated firmware is best for the linplayer2 ? The last version that upscales DVD's ? And also just to be clear if I use the method BlueCop discovered to upgrade firmware does it get around the rollback problem since you can load just about anything with it? Thanks

BlueCop

03-12-06, 10:01 AM

snoots: they changed the way the way they sign and checksum updates in later versions so you will only be able to downgrade to a point.
the first small update i noticed the change in was 07-74-050622-02-IOD-234-000.bin
the full 4.0MB update was 10-88-051027-02-IOD-234-000.bin

So i think you will only be able to go back to 07-74-050622-02-IOD-234-000.bin. anything before that was a different signature and crc so the newer firmwares won't flash it back.

This is a dangerous process playing with flashing your player. don't do it unless you are willing to possibly brick it. its a chance you take when you play the game

BlueCop

03-12-06, 10:19 AM

I have downgraded to JVC version 11-36-051215-01-IOD-255-000. It supports DVD upscaling to 1080i over component and it will autorun DVDs with avis or TS files on them. I also like they removed the individual Video,Music,Pictures thing from browsing discs. I think this firmware best suits my needs currently.

i updated to 12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000 and then flashed 11-36-051215-01-IOD-255-000. I don't know if you can flash directly to 11-36-051215-01-IOD-255-000. I will attmpt this later and post back.

The whole reason started playing with firmwares was because of the removal of the DVD upscaling on component. Now i am happier then i was before. Playing 1080i movies that spaned up multiply discs is now much nicer with autorun. =)

RalphArch

03-12-06, 10:44 AM

I have updated to the latest firmware at Iodata.

I have a SONY 36 inch SFP CRT display which auto displays all 480i or 480p material using something called -

"Digital Reality Creation™ (DRC) Multifunction Unlike conventional line doublers, the DRC Multifunction feature replaces the signal’s NTSC waveform with the HD equivalent, while doubling the number of vertical and horizontal lines. This results in four times the density for quality sources, such as DVD, satellite and digital camcorders. The Video Menu allows you to select interlaced, progressive or CineMotion™ output"

I sense (including my subjective consideration looking at DVDs via the LP2 or via MyHD card) that there's no need for me to worry about upscaling capabilities of the LP2 considering that my hardware probably does a better job anyway,

Are there other reasons to try like others are to go back to earlier firmwares?

As far as I know I am happy with the latest.

BlueCop

03-12-06, 10:54 AM

arioch

03-12-06, 12:47 PM

BlueCop>> No problem. :)
What are the advantages of the ProHD- firmware, where do I get it and how do I install it?
I guess I could read all this in the thread, but there are a loooot of pages here... :)

BlueCop

03-12-06, 12:59 PM

arioch: just check out the last 2 pages or so. that is where i have all the links to the firmwares and the upgrade instructions. the webserver flashing instructions are further back.

all the linkplayer2(japan,us,jvc) firmwares are stored at
http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/

if you add the firmware version like for example 12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000 plus .bin then you have a link to download the file

example: http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000.bin
this is the newest JVC firmware.

if you want the jvc firmware plus upscaling support. first flash to 12-45-060125-03-IOD-255-000 and then flash 11-36-051215-01-IOD-255-000.

you will have autoplay support and DVD upscaling via component

RalphArch

03-12-06, 01:21 PM

RalphArch: i have the Sony KD36XS955 36" CRT HDTV. It has the DRC functions and i can say for sure that the internal LinkPlayer2 upscaling looks better then the 480p output with DRC applied. The Linkplayer2 does all the scaling digitally and then outputs it analog while the sony tv takes and analog signal output and does its DRC magic to it.

i forgot to mention i did the filter removal mentioned on the forum. This improves the shrapness of the LinkPlayer2 component output. So i am judging from that.

Yes - same TV and I also did the filter mods (all three filters).

Maybe some are more picky than others - I could be wrong in my subjective call (would 480i versus 480p out of LP2 maybe make it better?) but I don't actually watch many DVDs - mostly HD movies; so perhaps I will stay with the latest firmware and be oblivious that it could be somewhat better directly from LP2 @ 1080i versus DRC of SONY.

Well at least that way there will be some AVS guinea pigs for newer firmware.

arioch

03-12-06, 02:08 PM

BlueCop>> Thanks! I get the idea now. :)
So, there will be no problem using the JVC f/w for me having a Japanese version DVDG?
Can I still connect to the IO-Data site to get their f/w if I change my mind later? :)

arioch

03-12-06, 02:08 PM

..and also; My DVI output is a must, will it still work after installing a JVC f/w? Otherwise there is no point for me... :)

BlueCop

03-12-06, 02:56 PM

arioch: The JVC firmware has the DVI output options in the menu. the regular us version does not. Yes you will be able to revert to your old Japanese firmware if you don't like it.

I am fairly certain the firmware will run fine on your system. The only thing you'll be losing is the wireless support. if you do decide to try it post here on your impressions.

if you do decide to flash back to the Japanese firmware then you would have to do it using one of the methods described on this forum. if you connect to the website via the firmware update menu it will be for the jvc firmware upgrades and not the Japanese firmware.

edit: remember you'll lose the wireless support with this firmware

arioch

03-12-06, 04:19 PM

Will do! :)

arioch

03-13-06, 07:57 AM

Hmmm...

I created an "index.htm" with the content that you described earlier, BlueCop, and burned it in the root of a CDR. When I inserted it in the AvelLink, nothing happened, and I really don't know how to browse it, since the options in the players browser are labelled "Movies", "Photos" and "Music", so I guess that those default to the different media types supported.
I cant view the HTML-page...
Should I be in some specific menu of the player when inserting the disc? I.e. SETUP, SERVER... Should the player be on or in standby..?
I have the latest IO-Data f/w installed as of now.
Any ideas? :)

AllenHK

03-13-06, 09:40 AM

Arioch,

Warning, I also own an japan DVDG player. I have try many firmware. The one I am using is JVC's. However, I found I can no longer flash back to the Jap DVDG firmware. It say wrong signature. Please make sure you do not need the wireless function before you try.

Best regards.

Allen

arioch

03-13-06, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the warning. :) I'm pretty sure I'll never use the wireless, but I might want to revert back to a IO-Data f/w at some time anyhow, so the warning is much appreciated.

Maybe BlueCop can find a way to backup the IO-Data f/w before overwriting it? :)

BlueCop

03-13-06, 10:32 AM

arioch: What version firmware are you running on your player? the version is located at the bottom of the setup page.

AllenHK: which version are you trying to flash back to when reverting to the japanese firmware? the signature change is only was made in later versions and you should be able to go to one of these.

also what is the number after the IOD (IOD-???-000) in you guys orginal firmware versions.

i think i have figured out how the signature and checksum work and we should be able to flash back to any firmware we like. regardless of orginal signing. i am at work right now so i can't test it though.

AVLP2/DVDG = 231 new signature started 08-74-050801-02-IOD-231-000.bin
AVLP2/DVDLJ = 235 new signature started 08-84-050802-02-IOD-235-000.bin
AVLP2/G = 233 new signature started 08-82-050802-02-IOD-233-000.bin

those are all small updates and didn't have a full update after them. so it should be possible to flash back to those versions if the rest of the image you're running at the time is compatible. i will check this when i get home. sorry if i misinformed anyone. i feel bad about it.

If i am right about this checksum signature stuff then i think it won't matter.

newcookie

03-13-06, 10:47 AM

:) Thanks Bluecop for your suggestions and research , it worked beautifully in my second try. Index.htm (composed via notepad) was mistakenly saved as index.htm.htm in my first try... :o

AllenHK

03-13-06, 11:47 AM

BlueCop,

I forgot to write down my original firmware version. I can only sure it is Aug 2005.
I have try to write back either 050622-02-IOD-231 and 050801 version and fail.

If you can find a way to work pass this that will be great.

Allen

arioch

03-13-06, 01:25 PM

BlueCop or newcookie>> How do you guys get the player to read the index.htm on a CDR?

BlueCop

03-13-06, 01:48 PM

arioch: what software did you burn the disc with? try burning it in udf. also what version software are you running on the player? i will flash it to mine and test the index.htm launching. make sure it is named index.htm not index.html

BlueCop

03-13-06, 02:14 PM

ok so i found out DVI transmitter chip is the Silicon Image 160 (http://www.siliconimage.com/products/product.aspx?id=7&ptid=1) but i can't find a distributor for it. silicon images main us distributor is allamerican.com (http://www.allamerican.com/) but i can't find the part on their site. They do have the 1160 (http://www.siliconimage.com/products/product.aspx?id=8&ptid=1) which i think is a pin compatible replacement we could use but it is only available in bulk orders. i know close to nothing about DVI transmitters chips so unless i find another one that would be pin compatible with the 160 that i can order individually then i don't think the DVI upgrade is going to work out. =( its sad

edit: forget what i said. it seems that the product can be order in other then standard package numbers. placing an order now. still need some assistance from someone willing to take their jvc of jap model with DVI apart and taken some pictures or read some values for me. thanks

well blah. they have a $50 minimum online order. this is frustrating. it is going to end up costing me more to get the parts then it would have to just bought a jvc model in the first place. too bad it wasn't out and the time and i didn't want to learn japanese.

anyone else interested in one of these? it looks like i'll be ordering 7 of them at $8.20 per chip. i am going to get the rest of my parts from digikey. i will sell them at cost plus shipping to anyone who might want one. just pm if you might be interested. i am going to see if there is much response before i invest much money

arioch

03-13-06, 05:43 PM

I got it working! :D
The index.htm was autostarted if I started up the player with the disc in. :)

I love this firmware! English menus! :D :D

The autostart feature is really sweet! :)

Is it just me or is this JVC firmware faster to navigate the menus?

Thanks, BlueCop! Now it's much easier to live with this player, mostly because the English menus. :)

BlueCop

03-13-06, 06:10 PM

Don't Attempt to flash your player with the linktheater firmware. it will permantly brick you player unless you can manually flash the flashrom. i am currently in this situation. till i get a flashrom programer. wish me luck.

I was stupid because of the limited success i had with the snazi and DNX. i thought i could always easily go back to the orginal firmware.

no more testing for me till i get it back online. it will be good in the end. i will have a setup where i can manually put any modifed firmware i want on the player and always go back. i am going to get a flashrom coffen where i can easily remove and replace my flashchip.

errr i shouldn't fake being ok. i am extremely sadened =(. i will not be able to watch my HD movies for a while maybe even weeks. /me bangs head on the wall

arioch

03-14-06, 03:31 AM

BlueCop>> Sad to hear about this. :(
You helped me getting a really good firmware that I will be keeping for a long time for sure, if that's any comfort.
Hope you find a way to solve your predicament soon. :)

BlueCop

03-14-06, 06:06 AM

Don't worry about me. its just an excuse for me to spend some money on more hardware i already wanted anyway.

I built that little eeprom programmer into my player. I was kinda hoping the LinkTheater firmware might be choking on something in it and reprograming it might help. The simplest eeprom programmer (http://www.riccibitti.com/quickdesigns.htm) thats the design i used. I put a dpdt switch on the SCL and SDA lines so i cant switch from serial port programing back to normal player operation. It didn't help with the LinkTheater problem though. The eeprom had already been FF'd out by the LinkTheater firmware.

For those wondering. the LinkTheater firmware does boot partially. it gets to the linktheater splash screen then freezes.

an idea just occured to me to try to use the jtag port(if one is on the board) to reprogram the flashrom. i am going to explore this option.

AllenHK

03-14-06, 07:55 AM

BlueCop,

I think to some extent, we enjoy doing this. To tell the truth, when I am flashing with the China firmware, I was already planning to buy a HTPC if my player fail to work.

Anyway, I would like to thank you for your work that bring me a lot of fun.

Allen

BlueCop

03-14-06, 11:10 AM

Also I forgot to mention. i have a Xbox 360 for streaming High Definition files off my media center pc. It sucks in the sense that i have to walk into the other room to switch discs. I can still watch my hd movies though. i didn't think of that.

Addition:

I got a sweet deal on an eeprom programmer. it supports all kinds of chips too. it was only $115 with all kinds of adapters including a tsop48 adapter so i can use it with the Am29LV320DB. I also ordered the TSOP socket so i can just remove and reprogram the chip on demand. It will make testing firmwares a much easier process.
I will always be able to flash anything i want to the chip.

It will also allow me to completely bypass the crc check. though it would still be nice to figure that out.

So my Linkplayer2 should be back and bader then ever in a short while. At that point i will try to test some of the crc stuff and try to figure out the decompression algorithm for the firmware.

tallrussian

03-17-06, 09:24 PM

BlueCop,

I salut you for your effort! For what it's worth, below is a link to a page with some notes on reverse-engineering of Sigma-based players. I'm not sure if the player described there uses Syabas middleware, though. It looked like pure uCLiniux to me, with all the linux files in the open (uncompressed) in the firmware images.

Either way, here is the link, for what it's worth:
Sigma EM-8500-based player firmware mods (http://sigma-players.nd.e-wro.pl/firmware.htm)

BlueCop

03-20-06, 12:43 PM

tallrussian: thanks for the link. interesting stuff. like you i don't think it applies though. it could though. there could be linux that is used for the playback mode and the uCOSII for the intereface. i have heard of some things like that before.

just a little update on the status of restoring my LinkPlayer2.

The tsop 48 sockets (http://www.emulation.com/cgi-cfm/insert_quantity.cfm?part_number=S%2DTSO%2DSM%2D048%2DA,) and tsop desoldering package (http://www.emulation.com/catalog/off-the-shelf_solutions/lab&rework/chipquik.html) should arrive friday(march 24th) from ups. I got an email about the eprom programer saying that it will ship on the Tuesday march 21st and will take 5-10 bussiness days to get here. so i am expecting that sometime early april.

I am excited because i can't wait to get this stuff in. it will be easier to test and modifying parts of the image without having player failure be the repurcusion.

I also noticed that keeping 2 versions of a firmware on the player should be possible. When i was running the newest ProHD firmware then flashed back to the previous version that support dvd upscaling. then doing the firmware rollback i noticed that it simply alternates image location in the flash. This is what i speculated before when i found that in the 4MB image there were 2 locations that were identical. I suspect there is a byte in the 2kb eeprom that controls which image it will boot from. I will be able to verify this when i get back up. The device i soldered up to rewrite the 2kb I2C eeprom works great. This will enable me to quickly switch between the firmwares running on the player. This might be usefull for keeping a copy of the upscaling firmware on the player while still running the newer less buggy(hopefully?) firmware with the flip of a byte or perhaps a switch.

For those who have the Lite-on 167T as a replacement dvd drive. you might want to try out some modified firmwares from the codeguys (http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html) that makes the drive spin at a slower speed for quiter operation. i limited my drive to 8x because i think that is a fast enough transfer rate for all my HDTV material and significantly reduced the noise my drive was making.

On a way side note. i was excited when the xbox 360 hackers included me(BlueCop) in the list of people who gave important contributions to the 360 dvd firmware hack.

orginal post about 360 firmware hack (http://www.xboxhacker.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=33&topic=481.0)

Expect lots of interesting posts from me when the programers comes in. Peace.

BlueCop

04-02-06, 12:08 AM

got all my tools i need in. I had some trouble with the tsop socket for the flash. it is very difficult to solder. I ended up riping up 2 pads on the board while trying to solder the socket in. I think i can repair them but i am going to just solder the tsop directly back on to the board rather then socket due to the difficulty and the possibility of further damage to the board. It will mean i won't have the ability to switch firmwares as easily.

It will be nice to get my LinkPlayer2 back. Peace

SeeMoreDigital

04-02-06, 07:21 AM

Hi BlueCop,

Have you taken any pictures of your exploits yet?

Cheers

arioch

04-03-06, 02:47 PM

BlueCop>> Good news! :)

arioch

04-03-06, 02:53 PM

I have a small problem...
I tried connecting a LaCie Ethernet Disk Mini to the AvelLink. I logged off from it's ethernet server and disconnected the ethernet cable.
I connected it's USB cable to the AvelLink and it appeared as a unit in the AvelLink server browser screen, but when I opened it, it was empty (which it isn't, it has one .TS in a folder).
When I returned to the server browser screen, the unit was gone.
This happened three times and then I gave up... :)

Isn't it possible to connect to a LaCie Ethernet Disk Mini with the AvelLink?

Mikaelg

04-03-06, 03:31 PM

Does anybody know if the JVC SRDVD100 passes BTB and WTW??

arioch

04-04-06, 08:26 AM

Noone that knows about the LaCie Disk Mini?
According to it's manual one must log in via USB from the attached computer, but there's no way of doing that from the AvelLink I guess.
I could use it as a network unit just to store all the files but if I can't log on to it, there is no really big benefit.

Paul_PDX

04-04-06, 04:12 PM

Does anybody know if the JVC SRDVD100 passes BTB and WTW??

The IODATA LP2 does on the component side so I assume the JVC would as well. On the digital connection I have no idea (Snazio doesn't so I question if the JVC does).

SeeMoreDigital

04-04-06, 04:20 PM

Does anybody know if the JVC SRDVD100 passes BTB and WTW??The JVC player has its own forum thread.... I know it doesn't have many posts in it but it might reignite some interest if you posted your question in there also...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=547592

Cheers

Cinerama

04-07-06, 02:46 AM

Been playing with the new unit this week, getting it setup in the home theatre and home network. So far, so good. Here are the out of box parameters:

Firmware:
3-19-041018-01-IOD-234-011

Files System Version:
01-IOD

DVD ROM:
EPO EPO-LDR-DP-306D

DVD-ROM Firmware Version:
586D

Do I live with this current firmware version or am I missing out on something by going to a newer level? I was surprised to see a new item with a 2004 firmware release, and it made me wonder if this was the last stable release, or the IODATA wearhouse has just lots of "stale" product on hand.

The only real change/update I've done is to download and install the 1.9b version of the server software.

Any feed back is great.

PS: the AVLP2 is feeding a 65" Mitsubishi RPHDTV via component at 1080i. I have 1080i playback of my DVD's which I don't want to lose.

Thanks. :)

webboy10169

04-07-06, 09:23 AM

Firmware versions all depend on what it is you are using the player for. I for one am only using it to play "digital" files ripped dvd's and TS files over the network. I dont think my player(s) have seen more than 10 dvd in the draw mostly music discs.

Most stable firmware version for me 08-83-050802-02-IOD-234-000

RalphArch

04-07-06, 10:52 AM

I don't care what it does to dvds as my tv's scaling to 1080i is fine for my purposes and mostly use it for network files

So I am at the current firmware - but readily admit to not obsessing about what that may or may not have gained/lost for me

Paul_PDX

04-07-06, 04:10 PM

I would update at least up to summer 2005 values -- I use the October 05 version and find it nearly perfect for what I do (TS files,DVDs,DivX,Xvid). January 06 is pretty good too if you don't need to be able to play DVDs at 720p or 1080i.

i would avoid Dec 05.

octavian

04-07-06, 07:02 PM

Just a note on firmware updates.

When I got my linkplayer it had the initial "3-19-041018-01-IOD-234-011" firmware on it. The first time I updated it downloaded the June 3 firmware. When I went to update again it said that it was going to download the December 28 firmware. I had to manually load the June 24 firmware.

I guess they're able to skip some of the older firmware versions now when you update. If you want to stop at a certian version you will have to do it manually, which is described in this thread.

Cinerama

04-12-06, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I've done 1 firmware update since firing this dude up last week, and the performance increase was significant I will probably due several more of the summer 2005 updates as suggested in the next week or so.

BTW, does anyone know if the region free hack (slow+4+6+4+6+0) only worked on the foreign/Japanese models or was also applicable to the US version? I've tried it on mine before and after this first software upgrade and have yet to get it to work I'm wondering if it will work at all on a US model and I just have to get to a more recent firmware version. Also, if the hack doesn't work, I assume I should go ahead with a DVD loader changeout.

Thanks again.

Cinerama in Oregon

PeterS

04-22-06, 02:01 AM

Which, of the many, filter mods listed in this forum do people recommend doing to the LP2? Which is the easiest/safest/best for improving the picture on the component outputs?

Thanks

JRad

05-06-06, 10:25 AM

Bluecop,

Where art thou? We miss your informative posts.

JRad

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 01:33 PM

One poster on the IODATA board says there is a new firmware available.

Anyone tried it yet?

( can't get to my player until tonight or I would give it a go.)

Kermee

05-08-06, 01:49 PM

One poster on the IODATA board says there is a new firmware available.

Anyone tried it yet?

( can't get to my player until tonight or I would give it a go.)

Dang it. I'm won't be able to check it out either until later tonight also. Thanks for the heads-up.

irgaac

05-08-06, 01:56 PM

I could, but I won't. It's someone elses turn to be the guinea pig.

Kermee

05-08-06, 01:59 PM

I could, but I won't. It's someone elses turn to be the guinea pig.

LOL. That reminds me... if this firmware doesn't fix/add much, I need to roll-back to the last firmware which upconverted DVD's over component.

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 02:03 PM

The manual restore trick lets the January or December firmware go back to the October one that still allows upscale so if you can roll back one you can still go back to October. That should make this one still fairly safe to attempt (unless you can't go back one).

irgaac

05-08-06, 02:19 PM

FYI

Version 13-14-060414-04-IOD-234
Date 8 May, 2006
Update Info

Additional Functions
# Added some message on DVD loading in progress.
# Enable to repeat all playback from any file in the file list.

Fixed Following Problem
# AAC audio noise happens in the beginning of playback.
# DVD movie menu disappear on some DVD-Video discs.
# Mono-Right audio channel doesn't work.
# WMV9 audio doesn't work correctly after going back from the trick play mode.
# DVD-Video LPCM audio comes with some noise.
# Image isn't displayed correctly on some TVs via D4-Component out.
# The LinkPlayer sometimes freezes on 2nd playback with Rhapsody.

It's a 1.4 meg update so roll back to Jan should be possible

akahan

05-08-06, 02:19 PM

I know that BlueCop has generously posted the various past firmwares on his site, and that by rereading dozens of messages it'd probably be possible to find the exact link to the last firmware that permitted upconverting... but if someone happens to know this off the top of your head, would you mind posting that link, for the AVLP2? Even though the early reviews on the new firmware are not positive, I'd like to give it a try, but I'd like to be ready with the link to last firmware that permitted upconverting, in case it turns out that I'd like to switch back.

Thanks!!

irgaac

05-08-06, 02:23 PM

October firmware link

http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/10-88-051027-02-IOD-234-000.bin

akahan

05-08-06, 02:25 PM

Thank you !

Now I can go break my machine with confidence!

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 02:30 PM

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 02:33 PM

irgaac

05-08-06, 02:48 PM

Someday all of these past firmwares may not be available to download so probably it is a good idea to download your own copies and keep an archive of the ones you may want to go back to on one of your own pcs.

Great minds think alike, I have a copy of every firmware to date. :)

Looking back through all the firmware updates we now have had an even dozen since December 04.

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 03:00 PM

I know of 14 -- I have 13 - I think you missed one:

(I know of Sept 04 shipped on my unit originally - I never had a download of it)
3,78 113004
4.33 122704
4.91 012705 (first one to play TS/TP files)
5.47 030205
5.80 032105
6.20 040605
6.35 043005 (had WMV digital audio for pioneer players)
7.74 062205
8.83 080205
10,88 102705 (My favorite)
11.36 121505 (removed upconversion)
12.45 012506
13.14 041406 (to be determined)

Kermee

05-08-06, 03:09 PM

irgaac

05-08-06, 03:10 PM

Yeah, I forgot about the 11/30/04 update. I'll have to go grab that one for nostalgia sake.

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 03:18 PM

You using HDTV2MPEG, VideoReDo, or something else to edit out commercials?

HDTV2MPEG is what I like to use, its the breaks where occassionally the player hangs (until I FF my way out).

potus

05-08-06, 03:20 PM

Well my only issue was freezing playback during discontinuities in MPEG2-TS files caused by editing out commercials. It that isn't fixed I will probably be back to Octobers version before the evening is half over.

I took the plunge, and installed another firmware "upgrade"...

I have not really had much time to test it but so far:

1) Still freezes on EVERY SINGLE .ts file I try to play. I have long suspected this to be a problem with my unit, so I think this verifies this. I don't think anyone else has reported the same hard-crash problems I have been having with my unit.
2) For me, freezing does NOT occur at the discontinuities. It occurs rather randomly, and never at the same place twice. but...
3) Handling of discontinuities (from H2M editing) has gotten much worse. At the edit points there is not only the same old weird speed-up/syncopated play, the audio sync problem is MUCH worse. It seems like the audio is now several SECONDS out of sync. You can usually get it back in sync using FF/REW, which is what I used to do before the "upgrade", but I was hoping this would have been fixed, or at least improved... Fat chance. I guess I will go back to generating separate files instead of one big one.
4) DVD upconversion is STILL disabled. Even for non-protected DVDs.

As far as I can tell, there are no improvements in this release...

Business as usual, I guess..

- Frank

Paul_PDX

05-08-06, 05:48 PM

Iodata just posted the notice in their forums -- they added this at the end of the post:

[ Tips ]
Today's update is a major version. You need to update the file system (resource data) as well in order to pull up better performance.

I think this means you need to do two updates to apply the whole update (and I think that means no rollback to October after applying this).

irgaac

05-08-06, 05:49 PM

Slow work day today so I went ahead and bit the bullett and upgraded.

Navigating the server seems much faster now.

480p on DVD bites hard. My set does a better job with 480i.

Doesn't respect Frame Aspect Ratio so some of my funkier 16x9 content shows as 4x3 on all modes except full screen.

iPauly

05-10-06, 02:12 AM

BlueCop:
Are you still hacking those firmwares? I have a porgram can easily extract resources from firmwares. If you're still interested in it, please contact me, thanks.

PeterS

05-11-06, 01:47 AM

From where are you downloading the firmware?

Can you install a version earlier than the one currently installed in the system? I thought you could not do this.

JRad

05-11-06, 11:25 AM

From where are you downloading the firmware?

Can you install a version earlier than the one currently installed in the system? I thought you could not do this.

Read most of the posts from BlueCop on the last 3 or 4 pages on this thread. It can be done! I think you can only go back to the June 05 firmware though.

JRad

flabingo

05-13-06, 12:13 AM

I just downloaded the October firmware as directed by bmalthais on the iodate forum. It is unbelievable . I am watching hd divx files and they are wonderful. I would not have believed it possible. I think my original software was june 2005 but the difference is hard for me understand

dhughes

05-15-06, 01:38 PM

Has anyone been able to download the May 8, 2006 JVC firmware version from the myibox.net/update/local-bus/ site to a computer?

I've tried using the name 13-14-060414-03-IOD-255-000.bin, but got a 404 error. The name 13-14-060414-04-IOD-255-000.bin (changed -03- to -04-) works, though. Is this just a typo on their public-facing web site?

cyrilic

05-17-06, 10:35 AM

I have a 720p HL-S5086W coupled with my AVL2, and when in 720p or 1080i i get these diagonal waves/lines coming from the top right hand corner of my display. I heard this can be fixed with a different version of firmware .. anyone know what version? I think I will try October 2005, I hear good things about it ..

BlueCop

05-17-06, 04:27 PM

a little update on my player. it is currently in a dead state. i got my firmware chip reflashed with the correct firmware but i riped some pads up on the pcb. i think i can repair it though.

Hopefully i will be geting back on track in RE some of this firmware. i would like to have 1080i patches to the newer firmwares and want to do the dvi addition. hopefully it will be working sometime in the next week or so.

i have been busy with my xbox 360 stuff thats why droped off the planet for a while. i moderate over at xboxhacker and have been having fun with working on things.

Vat_else_dya_hav

05-24-06, 10:50 PM

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060523/20060523005419.html?.v=1

ripkirby

05-31-06, 06:02 PM

I have successfully changed my firmware to the JVC one. I tried several, from Jan 06, Dec 05, Oct 05 but none of them provides 1080i@50Hz.

Can this be obtained?

Thanks,
Rip

mattdb

06-01-06, 10:15 AM

I have successfully changed my firmware to the JVC one. I tried several, from Jan 06, Dec 05, Oct 05 but none of them provides 1080i@50Hz.

Can this be obtained?

Thanks,
Rip

What does the JVC firmware give you?

ripkirby

06-01-06, 06:18 PM

Nothing much, really, I bought this player hoping that I could see 1080i over component, failing to realise (also because this fact is not mentioned anywhere on their site or on the online docs) that it only delivers 1080i @60Hz, whilst my Samsung only accepts 1080i @50Hz. I have tried many firmwares but all failed to deliver 1080i @50Hz. I am not too concerned about upscaling DVDs, although it would be nice. I would like to see my personal video files at hires, that's all.

Does anyone know whether this is possible, either by continuing to beg for firmware upgrades, or by hacking the firmware?

Rip

SeeMoreDigital

06-02-06, 04:34 AM

Does anyone know whether this is possible, either by continuing to beg for firmware upgrades, or by hacking the firmware?Yes it should be possible!

As far as I'm aware, the SnaZio SZ1350 offers 1080i50 and 1080i60. Along with 720p60 but sadly not 720p50.... So the players Syabas middle-ware and the Sigma chip-set can offer it!

Indeed, the chip-set is able to support (via the component outputs): 480i, 576i, 480p60 (aka: NTSC Progressive), 576p50 (aka: PAL Progressive), 720p60, 720p50, 1080i60, 1080i50

Cheers

webboy10169

06-02-06, 09:33 PM

Is there any way to roll back to August's firmware? My brother decided to update to the latest (may 06) and nothing works (like i told him) we've rolled back to december 05 but .ts files are still jerky. Idealy we'd like to be at version
08-83-050802-02-IOD-234-000

JRad

06-04-06, 05:30 PM

Webboy,

You can download that firmware from this link. So you know, I use the Oct 2005 firmware and stream .ts files with no problem over a wired network.

http://myibox.net/update/local-bus/08-83-050802-02-IOD-234-000.bin

Follow these directions posted by BlueCop on page 130 of this forum:

Upgrade from DVD/CD/USB Stick with local firmwares

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ok i figured out how to upgrade from a DVD/CD/USB stick. It should work on any usb external storage device too but i didn't test it.

The problems i ran into before was from the long file name. the name has to be 8.3 convention for local firmware upgrade. I don't know why. I just know it works.

First create a new file called index.htm. open in notepad. then copy and paste all thats in the quotes below then save.

Quote:
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<a href="firmware.bin" update>Click to Upgrade</a>
</body>
</html>

save the firmware of your choice to your harddrive. rename to firmware.bin

for USB Stick copy both the index.htm and firmware.bin over to the memory stick.. Plug it into the LinkPlayer and it will launch the index.htm. Simply choose "Click to Upgrade" and it starts the update.

for CD/DVD you burn the index.htm and firmware.bin to a CD/DVD. place it into the LinkPlayer2 Drive and it will launch the index.htm. Simply choose "Click to Upgrade" and it starts the update.

I am not sure which version this launching of index.htm was introduced in so this might not work on some versions.

You could easily store lots of firmwares on a single CD/DVD and modify the html to have multiply links

Hope this works for you.

JRad

Greg_63

06-08-06, 10:58 PM

I just picked up the Pro HD and did the firmware update. SD mpg files on one computer are so so but acceptable. HD .ts files on another computer seem to be fine but I've run into one problem. I have the NE/Carolina Superbowl recorded in HD and it's perfect when using my AccessDTV card for playback but when I try and use the JVC to play the file it shows the subchannel with the weather radar instead of the main channel with the Superbowl.

Is there anyway to change the subchannel that this thing plays back?

Greg_63

06-09-06, 01:22 AM

I have found that while some DVD's play back just fine others do not. Armageddon has black bars all the way around no matter what I do. My Stargate season DVD's won't play at all. I've got the latest firmware. I've also got 720p through DVI to the HDMI input on my Visio 50" Plasma. HD .ts files don't seem as crisp through the Pro HD as they do from my AccessDTV card.

I've read some of this thread. There's a lot of talk about DVD's not being upscaled anymore on the Pro HD. This is just for component and doesn't apply to DVI, correct? Commercial DVD's still upscale on the DVI output?

Thank you for any help for either or both of my posts.

Brian Conrad

06-10-06, 02:59 PM

I've been looking into HD-DVD authoring and both Uleads DVD Movie Factory 5 and VideoStudio 10 do HD-DVD disks. Since there are no HD-DVD burners available yet I did some tests to a folder. Out of curiosity I renamed the .EVO file (the HD-DVD equivalent of a VOB) to a VOB (MPG also works) and the Linkplayer played it. However I didn't get any audio and it played slow which may be due to a high bitrate.

SeeMoreDigital

06-11-06, 07:56 AM

Hi Brian,

Would you be able to provide an short .EVO test sample file please?

Cheers

Brian Conrad

06-11-06, 03:22 PM

You can download either DVD Movie Factory 5 or Video Studio 10 as free 30 day trials from the Ulead website. Both have the ability to author an HD-DVD and you can create your own clips.

SeeMoreDigital

06-11-06, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the info Brian....

However I don't want to install the Ulead trial software just in-case it interferes with some of beta codecs I'm currently testing for various companies ;)

TPeterson

06-11-06, 04:00 PM

SeeMore--

You ever hear of partition-image backups? ;)

SeeMoreDigital

06-11-06, 04:24 PM

SeeMore--

You ever hear of partition-image backups? ;)Indeed... I'm currently running two boot partitions with test codecs and software on both...

I don't really want to go thru' the process of installing an unfamiliar A/V encoding application just so I can generate a couple of test sample files, after which I'll never use again...

By-the-way, does the Ulead application offer high-def MPEG-4 AVC encoding, or is it just MPEG-2?

Cheers

Brian Conrad

06-12-06, 06:08 PM

Ulead installs their codec stuff usually to the Ulead common or shared directory. That seems to only cause problems between different versions of Ulead programs :( I just don't have any really small clips that I can upload at the moment (and where to BTW). I don't think the VS 10 supports HD MP4 AVC at the moment. It wouldn't take 1080 nor 720 format for input. For me a moot point as I can use Nero for that.

Now I will say on the Linkplayer it didn't play the 1440x1080 clip as 1920x1080 so it is misreading a header there (it will do that HDV ps files too) and it played it slow but not unlike what can happen with an HDV 1080 ps file. I wanted to try rendering the clip at 1920 x 1080 but it crashed at 99% finished. :(

I just wanted to see if the Linkplayer would play it at all or if there was anything in the stream that would cause it not to play or give us that dreaded "UNKNOWN CODEC" error message. Obvioulsy the Linkplayer being a red laser drive won't be able to do HD-DVD even if it could be done in the firmware.

A friend needs an HD player for a kiosk situation playing a 3 min clip over and over but unfortunately the LP2 won't repeat a file off a disk, only off the network. Anyone know if the JVC does that. An LP2 would be less expensive than an AX1 but the HD-DVD will do a loop like a regular DVD and MF5 supports that kind of authoring.

Brian Conrad

06-12-06, 07:02 PM

Well I tried uploading a file as an attachment here and got an error not on the upload but to do with the message. :(

The attachment was a 14 MB zip file of a 6 sec EVO file. The attachments dialog does not mention any size restriction.

JRad

06-12-06, 09:46 PM

Brian Conrad

06-12-06, 10:25 PM

Thanks, from reading there if I am understanding the instructions correctly I can put an HTML file on a disk and make it repeat the file.

As for the clip I uploaded it here:
http://jyotishtools.com/_temp/BeeHDDVD.zip
It's a 6 second clip of a bee and a lemon tree. Bee actors don't like to work very long and are stubborn about appearing on camera. The clip was re-rendered from the 1440x1080i HDV to 1920x1080i so it fills the whole screen. I set the audio to DD 2.0 but VideoRedo shows it as PS1 (?) ... wierd. (Rename .EVO to .VOB to play on a LP2).

JRad

06-12-06, 10:46 PM

Brian Conrad

06-12-06, 11:26 PM

No there are examples of how to play a file off the disk using an html file. I just need to figure out how to write the href so that the file repeats. Anyone know how to do this?

madpoet

06-13-06, 03:44 PM

SeeMoreDigital

06-13-06, 04:32 PM

Thanks Brian....

JRad

06-13-06, 11:13 PM

I've been running firmware from sometime around last July or August (don't have it in front of me to check). Would I gain anything by going up to say October's firmware, which seems to be the most preferred? Should I patch every version in between? I saw the method to patch from a memory stick (very cool!), how do you download a specific firmware version?

Thanks,
MP

Check out this post by BlueCop. Click on the links and it will give you the version number.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7252963&&#post7252963

JRad

Paul_PDX

06-14-06, 06:03 PM

Iodata is bringing back upscaling for non-CSS DVDs.

http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showpost.php?p=8432&postcount=46

I wonder how long it will take?

igsolt

06-15-06, 12:05 PM

Thanks BlueCop for all your hard work!
I downgraded to Aug 5 firmware and really happy with it.
I am looking forward to see you back on this thread when you revive your bricked player.

ok i figured out how to upgrade from a DVD/CD/USB stick. It should work on any usb external storage device too but i didn't test it.

The problems i ran into before was from the long file name. the name has to be 8.3 convention for local firmware upgrade. I don't know why. I just know it works.

I see that player doesn't care about filename length when reading index.htm from CD/DVD disc
Did anybody figured out how to bypass that 8.3 filename convention on USB drives with index.htm?
I would really like to use custom generated index.htm with links to media files from the root of usb drive.
But renaming all my files to 8 characters doesn't look like an option to me.
Any ideas?