Q8 (or vsmart Q8) RK3288 – Everything that we know

[andrevergilio]

Hey guys,

If you bought a chinese box with a label written Q8, this guide is for you!

I will be updating this thread as soon more information is provided.

Thanks to:
DuHaudegenDu: For almost everything in this guide!
paparazzo: for enlighten me about the differences between models
google translator: because English is not my primary language :P

This is an assembly with lots of things that is scattered through the forum. It’s divided in 4 parts:
1) Identifying your device
2) Installing a new Firmware
3) List of kwon firmwares
4) Unbrick

1) Identifying your device:

Starting with the bad news: there are many devices named Q8, and the only way to be sure what is yours is to open it and see the label inside the box.

The good news is that It’s not hard to do: all that you need is to take off that 4 rubbers below de device, and they will reveal 4 screw holes:



Unscrew then and voilà! Here is the label, and other information:



Only with this information you can start the experimentations. You can take a good photo if you want, and now you can close your device.

Source: http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...e-overview-box

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/rk3288-devices/other-3288-tv-boxes/505220-vsmart-q8-revision-q8l-ww236-st-modified-ricomagic-firmware

[andrevergilio]

2) Installing a new firmware:
There are more than one way to install firmwares. I will explain the one that I think is safest.

If you have windows 8.1, before start you need to reset your computer with driver signature disabled: In the right charm bar, go to configure->change pc settings-> update & recovery -> recovery-> advanced startup -> troubleshoot -> advanced options -> restart -> 7

You’ll also need the rockchip drivers, and the batch tool. Dowload and unzip then:

Rocksub Driver: https://mega.nz/#!7BEUwBZC!jHCNYWbs5...RoG-jMhGJZOoho
Batch tool: https://mega.nz/#!qBFFRbDB!d4PvMkLv0...PW_VP7BdpKI3iw


In the right side of the box, there’s a little hole where is the reset button that you only reach with an clip, this is the reset key:



For enter on upgrade mode, follow these instructions:
1. unplug the power supply
2. plug the OTG USB cable in the micro usb port and in the pc.
3. press and hold reset key with a clip
4. while still holding, connect the power supply on your device. Wait until windows recognize that is something plugged (like a pop sound, or a new drive found message). If nothing happens, try press the power button without releasing the reset key. (the device should stay in shutdown mode, with led in red)
5. Only now you can release the reset key

Next step is install the drivers. Go to folder where the rockchip driver is, choose the folder that correspond to your windows version, right click on rockusb.inf and click in install

Finally! Time to install the driver!

Go to the folder were you extracted the RKBatchTool and open RKBatchTool.exe. If everything is ok you will be able to see a green flag on “connected devices” section:



If something goes wrong, just unplug the power of your box, reboot the pc and start all over again.

To flash the new firmware, first open the FW Path, choose your firmware and click on Restore button. Be wise on choosing a firmware, otherwise you can brick your box!

After few minutes, your device will be rebooted and using the new firmware already!

Sources: http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...-firmware-list

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...or-windows-8-1

[andrevergilio]

3) List of Known firmwares

It’s hard to know with firmware work on with label, I will be updating this post if more information is provided.

XT-Q8L-V10 2014-09-02 with label Q8L 8G/2G XT20140919396 ST
Known Firmwares:

Build Date: 2014-10-31
Version: rk3288-eng 4.4.2 KOT49H eng.yangfeihu.20141031.164013
Issues: Stock rom, laggy.
Link: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1pJqgM4V

Build Date: 2015-06-08
Version: A38 (????)
Issues: bluetooth hidden, dont have a button for hide the navigation bar.
Original link: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1mgAC8KK
MEGA: https://mega.nz/#!LcVRHJhI!70rux1vdc...7Y3TkitlijC8kI

Build Date: 2015-06-25
Version: rk3288-eng 4.4.2 KOT49H eng.yangfeihu.20150625.111516
Issues: First boot takes a while, just wait.
Original link: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1pJ3LFq7
MEGA: https://mega.nz/#!fR9wQCZb!wkHU00CVO...biafqHp2IjpaZA

ENY-Q8P-V10 2014-09-02 with label Q8P 8G/2G XT20140919395 ST
Known Firmwares:

XT-Q8L-V10 2014-09-02 C with label Q8L 8G/2G XT201410154 ST
Known Firmwares:

XT-Q8L-V10 2014-09-02 Q8L 2G/8G 2015-03-10 ww236 st
Known Firmwares:

Build Date: 2015-04-24
Issues:
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/download/t9...g_20150424.zip
Link2: http://yun.baidu.com/s/1i3vOUwt

Modified Ricomagic firmware:
Build Date:
Issues:
Link: http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...magic-firmware

[andrevergilio]

4) Brick
If your device don’t have any signal of life, and can’t even enter on upgrade mode, well, the device is bricked. It’s time for desperate measures.

Disassemble your device, and look for the FORSEE chip



locate the 7 & 8 connectors. But the problem is: which corner start counting? Well, most of the cases is in the black arrow, but there was a time that I had to pin the yellow arrow! So, just start the procedure bellow with the black, if doesn’t work, restart and go to the others corners…

1. Open the RKbatchTool
2. Unplug the power supply
3. Plug the OTG USB cable in the micro usb port and in the pc.
4. With a screwdriver, PIN the 7 & 8 connectors
5. Connect the power cable.

The BatchTool should now show an blue device flag instead of the green. If is blue you can simply flash your stock rom again

Sources: http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...x-or-eny-clone

http://freaktab.com/articles/489991-...ck-your-device

[andrevergilio]

5) ROOT

Some firmwares are not rooted. If it's your case follow this instructions:

1) On your device browser, go to https://towelroot.com/ and press the lambda symbol.
2) Download the tr.apk package.
3) Install tr.apk, run it and the press “make it ra1n”.
4) Go to Playstore and install SuperSu application. Run it and update the binaries.

Source: http://chinagadgetsreviews.blogspot....ip-rk3288.html

[piggy99]

The June 8th firmware appears better for me. There was no issues with lagging. Where else the June 25 was problematic and freezes badly on "HD". The only problem is the first start up is all in chinese. Just go to setup and look for "a" logo and change to english. Thanks for the collection.

[kiliev]

Hi Guys!
After flashing my XT-Q8L-V10 2014-09-02 with label Q8L 8G/2G XT20140919396 ST with firmware Build Date: 2015-06-25, I've got a missing sound in Android OS and KODI too (I am connecting it via HDMI cable to Sony Bravia 50 inch KDL TV). This is very strange, because the other firmwares that I have tested were without this kind of problem.
Does anyone know how this could be solved?

[piggy99]

Just reflash. I had that problem you described on a different box. After reflashing......problem solved.

[kiliev]

You mean to update again with the same firmware? I have tried your advice but that didn't helped me, unfortunately. But I have just saw that on the pan baidu site this guy has posted the same firmware, but with uploading date of July 22, so I will simply download it and will try to use this firmware, let's hope that it will work this time.
Update 23.07.2015: The firmware, although baring the same name, was not suitable for XT-Q8L-V10 2014-09-02 with label Q8L 8G/2G XT20140919396 ST device.

[andrevergilio]

This is interesting, even with the same board those ROMs have different behaviors. Please let's continue sharing our findings \o/
I will update the firmwares post.

The June 8th firmware appears better for me. There was no issues with lagging. Where else the June 25 was problematic and freezes badly on "HD". The only problem is the first start up is all in chinese. Just go to setup and look for "a" logo and change to english. Thanks for the collection.

wich is the label on your board? It might help us to know what's going on.

[piggy99]

Its the 396 board. I have 2 units and both had issues with the june 25 (LOTS OF FREEZING). For June 9 firmware..it was the best since slice bread... LOL
I meant, it was a big improvement over stock and no freezing.

[Kabuto_Kun]

Hello guys, I recently bought a Q8 TV Box and it came with a different/newer firmware than those mentioned here.



As you can see from my picture (see my username too ) my Q8 is a "Q8L 2G/8G 2015-03-10 WW236 ST"



These are the firmware details (you can see the picture too):
Kernel version: "3.10.0 chenzd@server2 #111 Thu Apr 23 16:27:16 CST 2015"
Build number: "rk3288-eng 4.4.2 KOT49H eng.chenzd.20150429.112633 test-keys"

I did a dump of this stock ROM using THIS GUIDE. I can upload it if it can be useful to someone else.

Also, is it possible to use a custom HDMI resolution? I can only see 480P, 720P and 1080P but I want 1440x900 which is the native resolution of my monitor.
Thanks.

[andrevergilio]

Hi Kabuto-kun

It would be great if you could upload this new ROM

About HDMI resolution, unfortunately I don't have this model but you can try the app "Resolution Changer" avaliable on play store (needs root, try 16/10 resolutions). You can also try another ROM, like the modified one.

[Kabuto_Kun]

Sorry for the delay, but finally I've uploaded the ROM from my previous post.

Stock ROM for Q8 with label "Q8L 2G/8G 2015-03-10 WW236 ST", dumped using THIS GUIDE.
Check my pictures: BOARD / FIRMWARE DETAILS.

Kernel version: "3.10.0 chenzd@server2 #111 Thu Apr 23 16:27:16 CST 2015"
Build number: "rk3288-eng 4.4.2 KOT49H eng.chenzd.20150429.112633 test-keys"
Download link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6k...ew?usp=sharing

And as a bonus for those who don't know how to do it, a quick tutorial on how to read the CPU temperature in real time:

1- Get "Cool Tool" app (free version is enough, GOOGLE PLAY LINK).
2- Open the app and go to Labels -> Fine tuning (at the bottom) -> Click on Custom label -> enter settings as shown below:

CPU temperature:
Prefix: T:
Postfix: C
Path: sys/class/hwmon/hwmon1/device/temp0_input
Regex: (\d+)\d{3}
Replacement pattern: $1

Notes:
- You can leave the Prefix and Postfix lines like the example above, or you can modify them as you like.
- The Path line is specific to our RK3288 device for temperature reading.
- The last two lines (Regex and Replacement pattern) will be exactly like that, do not modify them.

I hope it can be useful to someone else

[georgyros]

Tried this one Version: rk3288-eng 4.4.2 KOT49H eng.yangfeihu.20150625.111516
Got same issue - no sound at all..
I did UPDATE through Rock Chip Batch tool not RESTORE..
Maybe this is the problem ?
This is what i have on the pcb lable Q8L 8G/2G XT20140919396 ST