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

[clarkss12]

Fixed the resolution issues with streaming apps that default to low res on playback. Another simple build.prop edit.

After testing with an S5 device entry, i proved that device info was not proper for a good ID by all apps. I assumed most good programmers would use the best way to implement Google API schema but no, they become lazy and just look at device info in the build.prop, instead of looking at hardware capabilities.

I found replacing all the Q201 entries with a proper device ID worked as well. To make the build.prop proper in respects to the box.

The proper ID seems to be S912, which is the architecture of the box. Q201 is just the Beelink build of the system.

Still working on the hosts file... it is huge and not so easy to figure out an error. Maybe Android 7.1.2 does not like 0.0.0.0 as an IP, and I will need to change it to 10.0.0.1 or what ever.

For what it's worth 4.4.2 reads the same hosts file completely.

Tested the latest History, SYFY, and USA with my tablet... just to prove I can skip ads and go to any location on the time line for uninterrupted playback.

Once I get the hosts file running, I will move along with more system mods.

You are making great progress.......

[X92-2GB]

Found the hosts file issue I am having is due to the build of the firmware by developers.

Removed CTS system files, as I do not do Google.

Ended up using two framework modules to mess with hosts. One is to enable hosts file by OS, but it is injected by the module when an app calls through DNS. The other expands on further domain additions, and is customisable with injecting hosts files from a list of providers. Each addition added is cumulative and only adds new sites. Problem is they cannot be edited without making them unusable for the apps database.

I can now have a very close setup to my tablet on ad blocking and site protection.
Will be doing further testing with both Hosts manager modules actively running.

Tried using a fake wifi module to mask ethenet as wifi.
So far it only worked before rebooting, once. It not a big deal, as it is only needed for FSGO app.

[X92-2GB]

I completed testing of the hosts issues... found Android 7.1.2 is a bit picky on how a host file may have a formating issue. Cleared up my format, by removing unknown hidden characters in spaces and hard returns. Never needed the hosts enabler module, so it's now removed.

unbeloved hosts works very well, though it is a wee tricky to setup as many blocked sites as you think you need. Can cause issues if you run a lot of different streaming apps.

ESPN is tied to a few sites blocked by spam control hosts. So there is no way to use the list with ESPN streaming app.

So far so good. Actually improved switching from menus to playback screen, over my specially setup host file. At least I have control over what I need to add or remove, without having to clear out and select within unbeloved hosts module.

Gonna enjoy Indy for a bit, then work more on this... too bad this box is better than expected with stock firmware, as it is now integrated into my A/V system, so messing around with configs and system changed cannot be done beyond small steps. Which is fine by me, just takes a bit of time for peeps in waiting for usable configs and apps to be listed, along with removing old recommended apps. Not sure of yet, as they have not been tested and used as planned, but may go to them before I am completed with this thread.

still getting a random FC with apps. Noticing my storage cleanup shows 60% a lot. May have to implement prevent running and disable service soon, as to hey may relieve the random FC issues. Of which none effect playback, both in streaming and local files.

[X92-2GB]

A nice tid bit found with 7.1.2 is that most phone apps and launchers can fit better and be a wee easier to manipulate. Adjust screen size to small and font size to large.

Solid Explorer for example becomes much easier to deal with. Along with limiting icons to not over power the screen in their OEM size.

[X92-2GB]

As an update to my screen adjustment in settings, I went a head and tested a build.prop edit to change from 240 down to 213, just like my tablet uses. It helped in obtaining a better layout for all apps. Some phone apps in landscape mode need to be shrunk down for accessing areas that are just out of view.

Setting up disable service to kill unneeded services relating to fire base with apps and killing unnecessary play services that hog resources within Play services. Did a test run, and apps are more responsive, so more tweaks will be done over the weekend.

Also I had time to create new button icons for some TV apps that did not have any in the database for TV menus. I uploaded them, and hopefully once reviewed they will be available to the apps that were missing them as an option for a nicer and fluid look to ATV lookalike layout on the Android phone system.

[X92-2GB]

Found an odd issue with TV LAUNCHER 3, though I am not the only one noticing it. Seems that it is buggy in the settings area, and causes playservices to close or error.

WATCH ESPN streams better by disabling the streamlimiting service within the app.

Setup the big hosts file (1MB) to have a wee under 50k host entries.

Removed random errors with beelink ui, and other apps, using disable service to kill select firebase services. Removing the two CTS system apps may also helped.

[X92-2GB]

Found another ESPN app, seems to be a wee buggy at first, but we'we'll see. It's newer and has a recent update. Still needs work, though it's Interface is like NBC apps with a fake nab bar type arrangement. Though it is not remote friendly like other phone apps that have the same arrangement. Will give It a test run for Indy as well. Though one big drawback is It's size. Hopefully watch ESPN will be updated soon, as it's behind the times with its build updates.

[noahv]

Over the weekend, i did some small testing... found some build.prop settings in my tablet to transfer to the box.

Used a simple change on the box build prop to change screen orientation, to force landscape in all apps.

Disabled ART, to use Dalvik cache, which was a problem with many apps.

Will tweak minimal width and dpi settings to fit things better, soon.

Also, I will adjust wifi config file to boost gains for better speeds down stairs.

So far the only issue with android phone apps for streaming is the new format for NatGeo. Fox is screwing the pooch with copying Netflix and Hulu. The background video clips sick and är distracting. Only keeping it in ccase I really need to watch live programming. I had to transfer my tablet's setting for NatGeo to get passed the missing login for attaching to my provider.

Oh, i won't be installing Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, as none have any importance, and don't give me any thing that I am missing out on with other apps.

Romodroid seems a wee buggy, but is doing well enough for more fluid interaction with apps. Just have to manually reset the remodroid server on the box, and reconnect, which is simple to do.

For night owl occasions, Pluto, Terrarium, and Tubi, are plenty enough.

Here is all the apps that run on my box for streaming.

All4 (minimal ads)
My5 (no ads)
ITV Hub (no ads)
SBS On Demand (no ads)
ABC iView (no ads)
RTE Player (no ads)
BBC iPlayer (no ads)
STV Player (no ads)
ABC (ads)
NBC (ads)
NBC Sports (minimal ads)
ESPN (ads)
FOX Sports Go (minimal ads)
TNT (no ads)
BBC America (no ads)
History (no ads)
PBS (no ads)
SYFY (skip ads)
USA (skip ads)
AMC (skip ads)
Spike (skip ads)
NatGeo with login missing, needs tablet remote to scroll. (ads)
Xfinity Stream - Won't playback as with HBO Go, but once configured, you can use it for auto login with streaming apps... eccept Fox Sports Go. Fox Sports does not have it implemented as of yet, plus they try to hook you with a fake login first for marketing.

How have you managed to run my5 app without ads? Could you share your way of doing so? Appreciated.

[X92-2GB]

How have you managed to run my5 app without ads? Could you share your way of doing so? Appreciated.

Ancient Chinese secret. HA!

Well it is part of my special hosts file that I created way back in 2014 to help kill Netflix and NBC ads, but now they and the more updated yank streaming apps use Google hosts embedded into operation. Kill the hosts you kill the app.

I will post my hosts file later on when I update the start page of this thread to show what mods have been done.

Right now the main page is for non mini variants made before 2018. My Q201 model is 7.1.2 only, seems like my hopes to run 6.0.1 and have the best and cleanest options for a TV box, have been limited to waiting for a developer to make a firmware to downgrade and keep 100baseT functionality.

[X92-2GB]

Found another issue that made trouble shooting hosts file an issue for me. Realised that my BBC America on the box was updated by accident. It's the only streaming app I purposely kept from updating on my tablet. The latest update kills the ability of bypassing ads.

Also the ESPN app, being X2 as big as Watch ESPN, is the better app. Just don't like many of the latest apps forcing nags on making a profile, it should be totally optional. In fact why have a separate profile login when you already have a login to activate the provider account? Though one big thing that is hidden, and quite awesome, is the fact the app automatically detects and logins in with your provider's streaming app login credentials, without any user input. As long as you download and setup the providers app to watch content on your handheld device, ESPN will allow streaming automatically and show your provider as being active. Expect that tech to be implemented soon to all streaming apps for phones.

Donno if permanently setting 7.1.2 to use Davlik cache causes some apps to have issues soon after installing. Must reboot or box will reboot soon after installation completes. Mostly odd behavior will happen on first attempts of running the app.

It could be from my huge hosts file blocking some config data from being transfered during initial setup once the app pulls data for the first time. It may also be from their server side. ESPN and my provider have had issues of late. So hard telling if my box setup or intermittent connection issues have caused oddities to pop up in my testing. I only bring this up, as to keep peeps informed of what they may see on their box with my setup. Or it may be somewhat common, that i am learning with 7.1.2, being it's totally new to me.

[X92-2GB]

Corrected my reboot issues with installing some apps. Turned off Google play store and services from monitoring usage and enabled my anti virus administration. Oddly enough 7.1.2 is not smart yet on installing anti virus apps.

[X92-2GB]

Because of the issues with some utilities (Speedtest, TV Launcher, and a few others) causing Playservices to fail, I really dont need Google installed on an Android TV Box. So when I know that everything is sorted out, I will disable framework, play store and play services, before removing them, and test all the apps, before deleting Google.

All apps will be updated, using APKupdater, and side load app.

The firmware is pretty lean, compared to what I have heard about on other boxes, and what few bloat I found are user apps, so removal was easy peasy. To remove Google will keep the only issue I have found from returning with an app made for phones on this box.

[X92-2GB]

Reverted to Google Play Services... only half of my streaming apps worked. Something about newly updated apps are more tied into the new API layers.

Oddly the recent ESPN app, does just fine without Google play services.

So, I killed a few things, and forced Google into mock location using Fake GPS and Disable Location module in xposed, because the blasted FSGO app. I will come in handy for regional coverage.

Found my culprit to the odd shutting down Play services... Adblock Xposed did not like my TV guide apps and TV launcher. Seems that many free launchers and widgets have embedded ads tied into Google API. So you kill the ad, and kill play services as well.

Now I am bug free... even if I had to loosen my internal ad blocking within apps, my huge hosts file kills any ads from being pulled from hosts by the apps.

[X92-2GB]

About 90% done... removed my last reply and updated it, as the Info was no longer part of my path to correct issues. Now my last post shows where I am at with bug fixes.

The last 10% is Kodi, or some other app that can pull streamed videos. It don't like my ad blocking schema, or is very buggy. If you go too fast, you lock it up. PLUTO acts very buggy. Will lock into play mode and foe you to reboot, or menu, lists and selections sometimes buffer with authentication errors. Which is odd, as my account is valid.

May just go Librelec dual boot from ST card, and call it done.

Have a few wee options for SMB file transfers from tablet or just use Solid Explorer to pull from my router SMB shared drive to play downloaded content.

[X92-2GB]

After spending some time with my tablet, since my mods are based on a clean locked down build, I come to the conclusion KODI is more hype than good. Too much needs to be done to clean it up. Also a big bummer is the KODI repository is so limited, and nothing is integrated with logins. Plus, being a around as long a Google, you would think there would be tons of choices. I will not do 20+ logins just to connect, test, and use apps.

I searched and found you can install non KODI repositories like side loading with Google authorised turned off in security. They install fine, but don't function as an active repository. Seems that the law has caught up with these copy right hacking sites and shut them down. Which is good by me, but I was looking for free services not hacked and the possibility of high risk on my devices.

Maybe my hosts files are blocking these repositories from working. Donno don't care... homey don't play with known sites that do more harm than good. What ever got the site in my custom list, has good reason to be there. So as far as I am concerned I am not missing out. A I will find what I want elsewhere.

In a way I am glad I stumbled upon my troubles copying my 4.4.2 setup over to 7.1.2, as it shows how limited new firmwares are to lock downs, and compatibility. KODI / My Gisha don't play well on my tablet, as for bugginess, and is limited on the box and tablet, because of possible hosts blockage with my custom hosts file.

I am happy with play store apps functioning as well as to be expected on a TV box, even though i had to tweak a few things to make it more like my tablet. If i had no way to control with full touch and screen layout with my tablet, i would probably force my box into a Libeelec box only. Just because of simplicity and no other means to have ease of functionality with a trimmed down firmware made for the hardware and viewing experience.