Transform a low cost S912 TV Box into a killer TV Box DIY

[X92-2GB]

I am new here so forgive if I step on toes. I do not support boxes, just giving steps to properly load custom firmware on boxes that fit the hardware compatibilities of the GT1 and others.

If you don't know how to properly verify and use the required utilities, apps, and firmware, then you should not be in my thread. I do not have time nor the hardware to support every device. I assume if you are here, you have at least done firmware mods before on Android devices.

NOTE: This is for 90% of the S912 chip (2GB version) Android TV boxes, and WILL NOT work on 3GB boxes.

Rant: Some peeps like to have the most up to date devices. While i am one that wants the most stable and functional device. Give me a new flagship and i will laugh, as i dont have the time to make it as good and useful as a more stable midrange variant. Hardware is hardware, but design is critical. Both hardware layout and driver support. All in all one box is about good as the other if hardware is the same. So, with all that said, I am critical over function over the fastests speed and the best hardware specs. For those following along my critical selection of apps, and weeding out unnecessary components for TV and Gaming, will see improvements, by how well the OS is unimcumbered by background processes, unknown to some of the more advanced Android users..

Misnomers: 3GB boxes are better than the 2GB boxes, only if you require capacity being larger. I have done a lot to my 3 year old KitKat (2GB) tablet and still have room for more in the system for more mods. Don't give into the 64bit is faster than 32bit mentality. Very few specialised 64bit apps are faster than 32 bit versions. Though the only benefit for us right now longer life, by porting from future firmwares for 64 bit devices. Don't be fooled by Greenify, Tasker, and a few more popular root apps are worth the trouble of using them. Take notice of my soft hacks, they are all non evassive and act passive in memory, while doing a better job at not messing with cpu idle time and monitoring.

Guinea Pig: Mini M8S Pro C - 2GB/16GB (For specs, altavista baby... I am a human, not a Google Brobot)

Upgraded OS: SuperCeleron's Custom GT1 firmware based on Ugoos M3 firmware (V2.1.1 Android 6.0.1) Simply for the best speed over Android 7.0, and it's lack of good codec support.

Soft Hacks: SU (built in), Xposed, Prevent Running, Root Cloak, Disable Service, App Settings, ApOpps Xposed, Hosts, Clock Sync with Timezone fixer, XternalSD, and Download2SD.

Region Hacks: Android system database and build.prop (for 14 WiFi channels), Fake GPS (required for TVPlayer), disabled Google play Network location, Network location injector, location sharing injector, and places sharing services to keep them from running in background, if Android TV uses them in play services.

Hardware Hacks: Unknown at this time... Crossing fingers USB2 chip has a pin for pin equivalent USB3 chip. Upgrading power supply with on off switch, to 2A capacity to power a hard drive and multiple USB devices. Upgraded to a WRT1900AC /V2 that will run Untangled firmware, though can be setup for media server and file sharing. May just connect the TV box iwith the WRT1900AC /V2 using a network cable and not bother with hard disk connectivity at the TV box. The WRT1900AC /V2 has both a ESATA drive connection and USB3 port for fast storage capability, so any hard disk mods to the TV box will be for fun purposes, since my router will have all what I need and more for such capabilities.

Any S912 box with ac wifi chip should do. Example, if it dont do 5Ghz AC and Bluetooth 4.0, it's the 6233 or worse chip. But if you have N only it will work. BEWARE 6365 chips are 2x2, FM, Bluetooth 4.1 and AC.

Requirement: backup system folders before flashing away your original rom to be lost forever. You may have to drop in apps and libs that you may need later (manual patching). Especially if you are not sure about the hardware LAN driver. If stuck those backups can help get your LAN running without having to revert back to stock.

To update your lacking in support TV box, here are my simplified steps to make your box the best it can be.

1 ) Since the the Mini M8S Pro C box has SU stock, download or side load Rasher.

Play store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....recoverytools
Side load - https://m.apkpure.com/root-rashr-fla....recoverytools


2 ) In Rasher flash TWRP.

TWRP ports and requests - http://www.freaktab.com/forum/tv-pla...mlogic-devices

a ) If you cannot obtain TWRP you can USB flash the SCV10A firmware, go to step 3 instead.

b ) Manually delete all of the internal SD card contents, so it is empty, and shutdown.

c ) Boot into TWRP, and clear all data and caches. Go to step 7a.


3 ) Flash the SCV10 firmware and AP 6255 chip support update (If needed), using the USB Burning Tool v2.0.9.

Tool - http://www.alluc.ee/l/USB-Burning-To...6-rar/2liaum9p
Firmware with AP 6377 chip - http://freaktab.org/e33f14d27f35ffe5
AP 6255 Support Update - http://freaktab.org/7cd5001ae8185033

4 ) Boot and complete initial setup and shutdown at Google setup.

5 ) Boot into recovery (TWRP).

6 ) Clear caches and wipe data.


7a ) Flash OTA-SCV11-GT1.zip (Good for AP 6377).

http://freaktab.org/d652dee099a263c9

7b ) Flash SCV11-S912-AP6255-Support.zip (Needed AP 6255 chip).

http://freaktab.org/57681bbd9c60c229

8 ) Boot to the Google setup and shut down, and boot again to finish up setup.


Soft mods:

build.prop -
Modified build.prop for additional hidden options and improvements.

Hosts File -
Block servers and sites from any app, both internal calls from services and browsers.


Soft mods apps:

DisableService - https://m.apkpure.com/disable-servic...disableservice
Removes unwanted background services in apps, like ad, tracking, and media server image cache accumulation.

Prevent Running - https://m.apkpure.com/prevent-runnin...ge.forcestopgb
Auto ends background apps and prevents app starts at boot, leaves them running if left with running processes.

App Ops - https://m.apkpure.com/app-ops-permis...r/rikka.appops
Allows user control override on hidden app settings

TimeZone Fixer - https://m.apkpure.com/timezone-fixer....timezonefixer
Corrects time zone info when out of date.

ClockSync - https://m.apkpure.com/clocksync/ru.org.amip.ClockSync
Automatically syncs time, when devices do not have data connections for syncing.

Fake GPS - https://m.apkpure.com/fake-gps/com.b...rizons.fakegps
To set your geo location to be anywhere in the world, for all apps.

Xposed Installer -
ROOT REQUIRED, needed for the apps listed below.

XinternalSD -
Force apps to use external SD Card for saving data and downloads, my preference is to use high speed sd cards.

AdBlocker Reborn -
Automated removal of internal and external ads inside apps.

VpnDialog Xposed -
Remove nagging toast when changing to VPN.

App Settings -
Force dpi and orientation of apps to fit screen.

RootCloak -
Required if rooted to allow root to be hidden from most apps.


Pre configed config files: Will be linked when system mods are completed.

Prevent Running
ClockSync
App Ops
DisableService
App Settings
XinternalSD
AdBlocker Reborn

My soft mod customisations are not needed, but trim down un-needed google background services and keep minimal background activities for best performance from home screen to playing games or watching 4K videos.

System Tools:

OS Monitor - https://m.apkpure.com/os-monitor/com.eolwral.osmonitor
Various tools to monitor system usage In real time.

SManager - https://m.apkpure.com/script-manager....scriptmanager
A simple script manager with file manager and terminal. Is safer than init.d and can be killed from memory with automation.

SQLite Editor - https://forum.xda-developers.com/g4/...gs-db-t3172918
Here is a link on some usage, though I don't see a download without a purchase on Google Play.


Photos of my chips, along with their id numbers, and other manufacturer drop in equivalents, will be added soon. My box is being shipped and may take the end of the month for delivery. So once I obtain the box in hand, disassembly will be done 1st for verification and mod layout purposes.

[bajann]

Lol you pay 12usd plz update post if you received item

[clarkss12]

Lol you pay 12usd plz update post if you received item

+1

[X92-2GB]

Here are pix of the box disassembled.

One issue is hidden until you replace the thermal pad and RF shielding. I will correct by replacing the heat sink with a custom cut section of aircraft Aluminum plate. It is the most dense aluminum you can use, for heat distribution and dissipation.



Here are some of the locations of interest. The two unassigned USB ports have differing voltages. Possibly the 5v power source for one of them is not active, as the area for another (segregated) 5v switched power source is empty. One thing that is odd... the silk screen identification for JTAG pin out is missing... no problem, the image i downloaded for the 32GB varient shows its proper pin out, so I can use that.

[clarkss12]

You are saying that you already received that $12 box????

This one? >>> https://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_555832.html

[X92-2GB]

Recovery from a major borked brick job... yes It can be done, easily with the Mini M8S Pro-Pro-C.

I set the USB burn tool to force erase and used a stock firmware to flash over the broken flash.
Since my laptop has low power on USB, I plugged in the power cable before connecting to USB.
Then with start set, i then shorted the two pins and flashed with 100% completed, no errors.

Here is a picture of the unknown chip with my markings to show where to short.

[bajann]

Fake price, fake item ,fake produkt ,fake tracking ,all is fake for that money you can bay airmouse

[X92-2GB]

Will add more info later...

[clarkss12]

I/We don't really mean to be negative, but sometimes the old adage holds true, "if it is too good to be true, it probably is", or "the proof is in the pudding". Keep us updated. BTW, I and probably most of the users on this forum purchase a lot of items directly from China (of course, most of have been burnt).

[X92-2GB]

Empty

[bajann]

I hope you will get that item ....

[X92-2GB]

I hope you will get that item ....

Thanks! I guess I did not realise a lot of peeps have been burnt by Chinese Ebah sales. I have not seen it for myself and I have purchased over 100 items through the years from China. I don't jump on great deals at the flick of a switch. It took me a few hours of deliberation and forum searching. Then I thought well it beats another memory stick, and have nothing to loose.

I updated my main page, added more stuff and not use to this forum with my tablet on Chrome Dev. Does not have tools that I am familiar with out in the open for embedding images or links. I assume cut and paste does that, but hate to mess up my structure. Had one issue with my browser injecting code that messed up fonts and spacing. Any who will test some things out in one of my replies before adding them into my main page.

[X92-2GB]

Empty

[clarkss12]

I just checked to see if the X92 box is at the customs facility in Beijing. Guess what... its air mail!
I should have the X92 box here in about a week. I thought it was going to be a month of waiting at that price. Ha!

here Is my details on the shipment.

2018-01-09 15:06:15

LS48401xxxx Put away

International mail

Leave Beijing for JFK Airport in New York

Beijing city

United States

If the package is what I expect, i will post the guys ID for peeps here to monitor his sales. Seems like he has China post shipping service paid by his company, and does not skimp on delivery.

Excellent.

[bluesmanuk]

I'm not sure just jpw helpful this is going to be in it's current format.

On one hand you say "If you don't know how to obtain the required utilities, apps, and firmware, then you should not be in my thread."

Then on the other, "I donno if it is me or whatever, seems like not many threads on simple and direct instruction. I had to read 5 differing threads to weed out to simplest terms."

These statements contradict each other because in order to follow the guide, a user has tp read multiple sources in order to get the right downloads.

So it would be more helpful to all if at least links are provided to all the sources so that all the useful tips can be more easily followed.