There is new software for the Hisense USDTV box. The manuals, pics and firmware can be found at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=5...12cc0853efd9eb
Here is a little history of the box. There are a few different models of USDTV hardware out there. The most prevelant is the box manufactured by Hisense (the true model number is the db-2010). There is also a db-2020 and db-2030. The db-2020 has an hdmi port on the back. The db-2030 has an hdmi and a channel up/down on the face of the box. The reason this is important is because these were never released to the general public. However, a software update went out before USDTV shutdown that improperly internally labeled the db-2010 as a db-2020. So, unless you have a hdmi port (and if you have one please let me know), you have a db-2010 regardless of what your System Information screen says.
Once USDTV went out of business, there was much confusion out there regarding the boxes. The main reason was because the same phyiscal hadrware that was given to subscribers, was also sold at Walmart. The subscription boxes (called service boxes) and the FTA Walmart boxes are identical except for the software.
HOWEVER, to add to the confusion the software for a service and FTA were the same version number. The build process simply built both. USDTV would use the proper files based on the situation, not a certain version for subsribers and another for FTA --- the versions were the same.
So, when they closed their doors, all subscribers (including myself) were in the dark. That's when we all found out that we could call what we thought was USDTV and ask that they send us a USB key to upgrade our subscription box to FTA. However, then USDTV closed it's door, all the employees were gone too. However, a group of employees were able to talk USDTV into putting a note on the usdtv.com website that said something along the lines of call this number to get your upgrade. The number ended up being a company called Cable Comm. They sell direct and dish services. You call them thinking you were talking to USDTV, but you were not. You were put on a list so a technician would come to your home and upgrade all your boxes for $30. However, my tech never showed up.
Enter the famous or infamous marsman/proserv1 on ebay. He started selling USB keys that would perform the upgrade. This is where I got my key and it worked. I think many early people got their key this way. Soon, it was posted to the net and others could upgrade without purchasing a key.
The only way someone could tell if they had a subscription box or not was to look at the System Information screen. If it had a serial number, then it was subscription (also if the software had any USDTV logos anywhere). The FTA boxes did not have USDTV logos and did not display a serial number. The most current version of the FTA sofware at that time was 2.7.11. The most current version of the FTA software at that time was 2.7.15.
My subscription boxes had 2.7.15 before being converted by the ebay USB stick. After converting to FTA, they still had 2.7.15. After time passed, other versions of software became available. To make matters even more confusing is that the USB key is linux ext2 formatted -- making it harder to create for people that only have access to Windows. However, it came out that there was a way to upgrade using a FAT formatted USB key. The startup script on the db-2010 mounts a -t vfat and looks for a single file called usdigital_upgrade.bin. If that is present, it will upgrade BUT ONLY IF the software was 2.7.15 or higher.
The last know version of software developed by USDTV was 2.9.1. There have a few mods done and published to the link above. There is another thread that has tons of information in it:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&pp=30&page=37
Features are:
- compsite, component, s-video output
- digital optical S/PDIF
- upgrade via USB key
- EPG and program info
- closed caption
- TV Ratings restrictions
- 10 Timers (with v2.9.4)
- don't have to enter dash when entering sub-channel
- manually add station, replace or add-to scan
- remembers the aspect you set on each channel
- edit channel list
- signal strength meter
Here are some screen shots of what the functionality looks like. The db2010 has quite good picture quality and features (please don't go by the quality of these images - it is my camera). However, it is a 3rd or 4th generation tuner and is not as sensitive as newer tuners. But, the software is quite good.
Program Info (can also scroll thru the channels via the program info)
![]()
EPG
![]()
Program Info from the EPG
![]()
List of ten timers
![]()
Edit/Update/Add of timer 5
![]()
Adjust antenna page
![]()
Video mode page
![]()
TV Ratings control
![]()
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=5...12cc0853efd9eb
Here is a little history of the box. There are a few different models of USDTV hardware out there. The most prevelant is the box manufactured by Hisense (the true model number is the db-2010). There is also a db-2020 and db-2030. The db-2020 has an hdmi port on the back. The db-2030 has an hdmi and a channel up/down on the face of the box. The reason this is important is because these were never released to the general public. However, a software update went out before USDTV shutdown that improperly internally labeled the db-2010 as a db-2020. So, unless you have a hdmi port (and if you have one please let me know), you have a db-2010 regardless of what your System Information screen says.
Once USDTV went out of business, there was much confusion out there regarding the boxes. The main reason was because the same phyiscal hadrware that was given to subscribers, was also sold at Walmart. The subscription boxes (called service boxes) and the FTA Walmart boxes are identical except for the software.
HOWEVER, to add to the confusion the software for a service and FTA were the same version number. The build process simply built both. USDTV would use the proper files based on the situation, not a certain version for subsribers and another for FTA --- the versions were the same.
So, when they closed their doors, all subscribers (including myself) were in the dark. That's when we all found out that we could call what we thought was USDTV and ask that they send us a USB key to upgrade our subscription box to FTA. However, then USDTV closed it's door, all the employees were gone too. However, a group of employees were able to talk USDTV into putting a note on the usdtv.com website that said something along the lines of call this number to get your upgrade. The number ended up being a company called Cable Comm. They sell direct and dish services. You call them thinking you were talking to USDTV, but you were not. You were put on a list so a technician would come to your home and upgrade all your boxes for $30. However, my tech never showed up.
Enter the famous or infamous marsman/proserv1 on ebay. He started selling USB keys that would perform the upgrade. This is where I got my key and it worked. I think many early people got their key this way. Soon, it was posted to the net and others could upgrade without purchasing a key.
The only way someone could tell if they had a subscription box or not was to look at the System Information screen. If it had a serial number, then it was subscription (also if the software had any USDTV logos anywhere). The FTA boxes did not have USDTV logos and did not display a serial number. The most current version of the FTA sofware at that time was 2.7.11. The most current version of the FTA software at that time was 2.7.15.
My subscription boxes had 2.7.15 before being converted by the ebay USB stick. After converting to FTA, they still had 2.7.15. After time passed, other versions of software became available. To make matters even more confusing is that the USB key is linux ext2 formatted -- making it harder to create for people that only have access to Windows. However, it came out that there was a way to upgrade using a FAT formatted USB key. The startup script on the db-2010 mounts a -t vfat and looks for a single file called usdigital_upgrade.bin. If that is present, it will upgrade BUT ONLY IF the software was 2.7.15 or higher.
The last know version of software developed by USDTV was 2.9.1. There have a few mods done and published to the link above. There is another thread that has tons of information in it:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&pp=30&page=37
Features are:
- compsite, component, s-video output
- digital optical S/PDIF
- upgrade via USB key
- EPG and program info
- closed caption
- TV Ratings restrictions
- 10 Timers (with v2.9.4)
- don't have to enter dash when entering sub-channel
- manually add station, replace or add-to scan
- remembers the aspect you set on each channel
- edit channel list
- signal strength meter
Here are some screen shots of what the functionality looks like. The db2010 has quite good picture quality and features (please don't go by the quality of these images - it is my camera). However, it is a 3rd or 4th generation tuner and is not as sensitive as newer tuners. But, the software is quite good.
Program Info (can also scroll thru the channels via the program info)
EPG
Program Info from the EPG
List of ten timers
Edit/Update/Add of timer 5
Adjust antenna page
Video mode page
TV Ratings control
