GTMedia V8 Finder Pro 2 died after downgrading the firmware version

[tonimird]

Hello!
I bought GTMedia V8 Finder Pro 2 from AliExpress. It arrived with the latest firmware version v365.
I noticed that it does not support DVB-T2, only DVB-T.
In AHD mode, the DC12 OUT output has power, but the AHD input does not work. In this mode, only the audio inputs on AV-IN work. When I switch to AV-IN mode, the AV-IN input works but the DC12 OUT output turns off.
In scan mode, the transponders are not visible and it is not clear what frequencies they are on.
DVB-C mode works relatively well.
I have not tried DVB-S mode.

I tried to downgrade the firmware version to v362, but then the device stopped working. There is only a black screen and all the LEDs are lit except for the charging one. Only AHD and AV-IN modes work. And they work fine.
How can I repair the device?

[Feralkiwi]

You will need to do a forced recovery.


Only use the software for that model.

Owen

[tonimird]

If you mean holding the "MENU" button down while turning on the power, it doesn't work. I kept the button down for at least 5 minutes after turning on the power but it had no effect. I tried the other buttons but the screen remained black and only the AHD and AV-IN functions worked.

[Feralkiwi]

Try plugging in a HDMI TV?

Try older software files for the flash.bin

Repeat press the menu button, don't hold it down.

Use a USB with a LED that you should see flash as the unit looks and then loads the software.

Don't have too many files on the main directory, less than 20.

Owen

[tonimird]

I tried them separately and together but no effect. The LED on the USB flash drive lights up after about 12 seconds and remains constantly lit (not blinking). As they say, totally dead. The text on the TV means "No video signal".

[cpr43]

Hello
Will like to go all over the process just in case you missing some steps. You will need to do as Owen mentioned.


Make sure you're using the .bin inside the compressed file from the download section. As per your picture you have a V8 Finder Pro2 (You can read it on the from of the model screen)

Download the file , de-compress the file and use the bin file located inside

GTMedia_V8FinderPro2_Release_v365_20241113.zip
-GTMedia_V8FinderPro2_Release_v365_20241113.bin (This is the file to use and rename to flash.bin as per Owen instructions.)

Download the file from here:
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=29928

Remember to Press MENU and release repeatedly several times until you see the UPgrade..... on the main screen

Good Luck,

[tonimird]

I'm doing everything right, but it doesn't work. Is it a problem that the USB flash drive is formatted with exFAT? It's hard to find a flash drive with an LED. This one is 64GB.

[Feralkiwi]

Try other USB's yes.
Just suggested the LED one so you can see it flash as the file is read.

Try NTFC if you have one.

Owen

[tonimird]

I tried everything. But it didn't work. I changed the flash drive to an 8GB USB 2.0, tried FAT32 and NTFS, but nothing happened either.

[tonimird]

Is it possible to recover via the serial port? The picture shows that on one board the port has TxD and RxD written on it. The other board has no text but it is also possible that it is a serial port.

[Feralkiwi]

I don't remember.

There are many instructions for that here. The refresh tools.
viewforum.php?f=51

The earlier finders did do rs232 recovery, so the pro2 should.
My notes for the first finder are here.
viewtopic.php?p=11908#p11908

Owen

[CAJE]

You can also use an EEPROM programming clip.

[tonimird]

Unfortunately I didn't see an EEPROM with 8kB memory anywhere. There is a 25H040 but it is 4kb or 512x8. If there is a 25080 for example I will definitely program it with a programmer.
I will try with the serial port. But my question is what are the signal levels? TTL or +-12V like on RS232?

[Feralkiwi]

Most GT Media unit call it RS232 and users us old school PC's with D9 RS232 ports, as I did, and now days USB to RS232 adaptors.

Owen

[CAJE]

Unfortunately I didn't see an EEPROM with 8kB memory anywhere. There is a 25H040 but it is 4kb or 512x8. If there is a 25080 for example I will definitely program it with a programmer.
I will try with the serial port. But my question is what are the signal levels? TTL or +-12V like on RS232?

There is only one EEPROM 25H040 with 8 pins

[tonimird]

Most GT Media unit call it RS232 and users us old school PC's with D9 RS232 ports, as I did, and now days USB to RS232 adaptors.

Owen

I have already checked with the oscilloscope that the levels are TTL 5V (about 4.5V). Therefore, it will not work stably with an original RS232. You need a USB to TTL adapter (these adapters have a 5V and 3.3V switch).

[tonimird]

Unfortunately I didn't see an EEPROM with 8kB memory anywhere. There is a 25H040 but it is 4kb or 512x8. If there is a 25080 for example I will definitely program it with a programmer.
I will try with the serial port. But my question is what are the signal levels? TTL or +-12V like on RS232?

There is only one EEPROM 25H040 with 8 pins

The BIN file is 8kB in size. So a memory of this size is needed to be programmed with a programmer. There are only 25H040 (4kb-it or 512x8) and 24C16 (2kB or 2048x8) in the device. And to program the BIN file, 8192 bytes or 8kB are needed. Only 25H080 has such a volume. So I will try with the serial port. It is possible that only part of the BIN file needs to be written. If you know which part, write to me.

[CAJE]

The Finder V8 Pro uses a 25Q64 memory chip. This is an EEPROM flash memory chip with a capacity of 64 Mbit, which is equivalent to 8 MB.

[tonimird]

The Finder V8 Pro uses a 25Q64 memory chip. This is an EEPROM flash memory chip with a capacity of 64 Mbit, which is equivalent to 8 MB.

Unfortunately, the model I have does not have such memory. I had to use my microscope, but since I had not used it for a long time, I had to repair it.

[CAJE]

The Finder V8 Pro uses a 25Q64 memory chip. This is an EEPROM flash memory chip with a capacity of 64 Mbit, which is equivalent to 8 MB.

Unfortunately, the model I have does not have such memory. I had to use my microscope, but since I had not used it for a long time, I had to repair it.

Is the EEPROM 25H640 the second photograph

[tonimird]

The Finder V8 Pro uses a 25Q64 memory chip. This is an EEPROM flash memory chip with a capacity of 64 Mbit, which is equivalent to 8 MB.

Unfortunately, the model I have does not have such memory. I had to use my microscope, but since I had not used it for a long time, I had to repair it.

Is the EEPROM 25H640 the second photograph

Unfortunately it is not this chip. I connected the EZP2019+ programmer directly to the chip and tried to program it. But a message came out that the memory size of the chip does not match the size of the BIN file. After a test it showed me that the chip has ID B3 60 13.

[tonimird]

Most GT Media unit call it RS232 and users us old school PC's with D9 RS232 ports, as I did, and now days USB to RS232 adaptors.

Owen

I have already checked with the oscilloscope that the levels are TTL 5V (about 4.5V). Therefore, it will not work stably with an original RS232. You need a USB to TTL adapter (these adapters have a 5V and 3.3V switch).

I tried all sorts of options but nothing works. I tried the RS232Tool_V7V8SuperGoldenV_2.22.0.0 program, but the result is visible in the screenshot. I also tried GTMedia_V7V8 Refresh Tool 2021.06.10 but with "TTPro/V7S/V7Plus/V8Nova/V8Honor/V8Pro2/iFire" nothing works, only there is some difference with "V7Pro/V7TT/V8X/V8TURBO" but it also doesn't work.
I plugged in the charger for the first time and after 1 hour it broke.
This device is a big piece of garbage.

[Feralkiwi]

Check you have the correct com port set.

Have a look at my notes here.
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=28032&p=141145&hil ... es#p141145

Owen

[CAJE]

Most GT Media unit call it RS232 and users us old school PC's with D9 RS232 ports, as I did, and now days USB to RS232 adaptors.

Owen

I have already checked with the oscilloscope that the levels are TTL 5V (about 4.5V). Therefore, it will not work stably with an original RS232. You need a USB to TTL adapter (these adapters have a 5V and 3.3V switch).

I tried all sorts of options but nothing works. I tried the RS232Tool_V7V8SuperGoldenV_2.22.0.0 program, but the result is visible in the screenshot. I also tried GTMedia_V7V8 Refresh Tool 2021.06.10 but with "TTPro/V7S/V7Plus/V8Nova/V8Honor/V8Pro2/iFire" nothing works, only there is some difference with "V7Pro/V7TT/V8X/V8TURBO" but it also doesn't work.
I plugged in the charger for the first time and after 1 hour it broke.
This device is a big piece of garbage.

You must use a USB maximum of 32GB, in Fat32 and only the flash.bin file

[tonimird]

Most GT Media unit call it RS232 and users us old school PC's with D9 RS232 ports, as I did, and now days USB to RS232 adaptors.

Owen

I have already checked with the oscilloscope that the levels are TTL 5V (about 4.5V). Therefore, it will not work stably with an original RS232. You need a USB to TTL adapter (these adapters have a 5V and 3.3V switch).

I tried all sorts of options but nothing works. I tried the RS232Tool_V7V8SuperGoldenV_2.22.0.0 program, but the result is visible in the screenshot. I also tried GTMedia_V7V8 Refresh Tool 2021.06.10 but with "TTPro/V7S/V7Plus/V8Nova/V8Honor/V8Pro2/iFire" nothing works, only there is some difference with "V7Pro/V7TT/V8X/V8TURBO" but it also doesn't work.
I plugged in the charger for the first time and after 1 hour it broke.
This device is a big piece of garbage.

You must use a USB maximum of 32GB, in Fat32 and only the flash.bin file

I am using an 8GB USB flash drive exactly as described but nothing happens.