Khadas Vim TV Box Amlogic S905X Quad-core (One for the Geeks) Now with Android 9

[clarkss12]

I finally got Plex server running, again, on Balbes150's Debian Linux port on my faster microSD card, and boy is it fast. Will have to play with it to see how it performs as a main stream Plex server. I tried the Linux Port that was listed on the VIM site, but when I burned it to a microSD card and placed it into my S905x box, it was not recognized, so my box booted right into Android.

With these observations, I am going to keep an eye on this board and how the Linux ports come along.

Edit: Even though I only got the Plex server running less than an hour, and it is still grabbing all the data from the internet to match my 200 or 300 videos stored on my NAS, I thought I would take a chance and see how it played some videos.

To my utter amazement, it is playing flawlessly on my Samsung smart TV and with Dolby Digital. I have not tried to turn on subtitles yet, and that will tell if it can cut the mustard.

In other words, I am ecstatic, i really did not think it would or could play as well as it is. I can only imagine how fast it will be if I install it on my internal NAND.

[Zahir]

So my diminutive globe-trotter finally turned up today: thank you, Khadas Vim, for your tiny jewel. gearbest, not so much, but ok, it's here now, we can still be friends - sort of..



Some early discoveries:

-- Opening and closing up the case to install those heat-sinks requires a bit of dexterity. When reassembling, you're handling four individual trays and a top that need to lined up and kept together while re-inserting the screws. You need to take particular care with the wifi antenna, which is a tight fit in the right side of the case, and is easily bent.

-- The Nagrace remote (NT V6) I had lying around works right out of the box. All functions, including power on/off.

Have only run Android 6 so far - very nice implementation, clean and fast. YouTube videos only in 1080p, not 1440p as with the Mi Box, but still crisp, clear and fluid video with deep colors. A 1080p MKV off my NAS ran flawlessly on MX Player - I've no reason to doubt Kodi will be as fluent.

There'll be some tinkering ahead, for sure.

[Bennett83]

Hi,

I'm waiting for delivery and can't wait to see how it works compared to all of the other boxes Ive had. What type of heatsinks are people using and on what chip apart from the soc? I have seen some heatsinks designed for a raspberry pi that are similarly sized for the soc(14mm x 14mm), would they be okay? On your photo Zahir you have one on your WiFi,is that correct? Also what tool is needed to open it?

[Tommy21st]

Glad you got it.

As i have suspected,the pass is correct, something is wrong with the image, when i login as root using ctrl+alt+f2 with my pass , i can update and install packages, i managed to install ubuntu software center.

I tried to change the password using passwd username, still logged as root in ctrl alt f2, it accepts new pass, but when i run it in terminal again, it still says authentication failure.

This drives me mad, i think i will go back to Android until there's a working image, Linux was the main reason to buy it.

[Zahir]

Bennett83, here's a pic of the tool I used to open the case. It's a (very) small flat blade screwdriver that works on those odd triangular screw-heads..

As for the heat sinks, yes, one of my Raspberry Pi3 sinks went on the Soc, the other (smaller) on the ap6255 wifi chip. Interestingly, after installing that heat-sink on wifi, my speeds went up: before, I got 135 mbps, quite good enough but after..






I suspect I realigned the wifi antenna somewhat better when I closed up the case, but maybe the sink did help..

Tommy21st - bummer about your hassles with Ubuntu and passwords but remember, these are very early days. The Khadas team are tracking our early discoveries, and will be quick to follow up, I'm sure. Meanwhile, let's try some other stuff, noting that Android 6 on this box is sweet.

[Bennett83]

Bennett83 t83, here's a pic of the tool I used to open the case. It's a (very) small flat blade screwdriver that works on those odd triangular screw-heads..

As for the heat sinks, yes, one of my Raspberry Pi3 sinks went on the Soc, the other (smaller) on the ap6255 wifi chip. Interestingly, after installing that heat-sink on wifi, my speeds went up: before, I got 135 mbps, quite good enough but after..

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I suspect I realigned the wifi antenna somewhat better when I closed up the case, but maybe the sink did help..

Okay thanks,just ordered some pi3 sinks. Also I have a spare externakantenna that I might fit

[gearbest]

Some Accessories

http://www.gearbest.com/plugs-sockets/pp_604495.html

http://www.gearbest.com/air-mouse/pp_604051.html

http://www.gearbest.com/plugs-sockets/pp_604494.html

http://www.gearbest.com/plugs-sockets/pp_604493.html

[trebor]

Hope we are going to see some AU adapters

[RISCy Dude]

Good to see some of the accessories launch. Pricing looks good too.

[Zahir]

Air mouse seems to be out of stock already.

[Tommy21st]

Returned to Android, waiting for official release.

[Zahir]

This is certainly an interesting box, with a lot of potential. I wonder, though, if anyone else has noticed intermittent screen flicker on Android 6 rooted? On my Asus MX279 monitor, it shows up at times on darker backgrounds as a pulsing or throbbing of light and dark areas. I've swapped out different hdmi cables and tried a different power supply to no avail. What did make a positive difference was reinstalling the previous version of the firmware and then upgrading back to the rooted rom. The flicker is less evident now, but still there. No other box I have connected to this monitor does that. Maybe a refresh rate tweak to the video driver would fix this?

Also, is it just me or is the color space on this firmware too dark? Looks like it's set at limited range, when it needs to be full range for pc monitors. gouwa, would it be possible to add a color space selector to the next rom update?

There's a lot to like here, and I'm sure early glitches will be ironed out.

BTW, this looks to be a Vim by any other name: http://chinagadgetsreviews.com/tomat...id-tv-box.html

Doubt they'll write their own code, probably piggy-back on to our box.

[Tommy21st]

A technical question, for someone more experienced.

As i have read, gpio pins can be used to connect two additional usb ports, and i could really use them.

So my question is, what do i have to do to connect them, can i use something that is made for raspberry, odroid c2, or something third, or do i need to wait for official khadas products to connect them.

This is my first board, so i am really lost, i understand a lot about computers, but i couldn't find clear answer, or maybe i didn't know where to look.

[RISCy Dude]

I don't have my Vim yet, but from the GPIO header...
Pin1=5vdc
Pin2=5vdc.
Pin3= Data1-
Pin4=Data1+
Pin5=Gnd(earth)
Pin6=5vdc
Pin7=Data2-
Pin8=Data2+
Pin9=Gnd(earth)

So essentially for USB port 1, pin 2 for USB1 5 volt, pin 3 is USB1 data-, pin 4 is USB1 data+, pin 5 is ground.
For USB port 2, pin 6 for 5 volt, pin7 is USB2 data-, pin 8 is USB2 data+, pin 9 is ground.

Should be wired much the same as wiring a USB cable or regular USB port.

[scooter2014]

Nice. Yes alot wana play with this now that they are coming in. I may get one at some point but next board for me is the 3399 firefly

Id use usb hub they are cheaper and more power based ones as they dont add any draw to the unit power supply. But Depending on actual draw from unit for devices will affect it in some way. But fun to add anything you want.