Just bought an SF8008

[MalR]

Hi All,

i've a new SF8008 DVS-S2X Twin on the way.
I'm going to put the latest Vix build on it (and the corresponding version on my Solo2), and put matching crossEPG and picons on each.
I'm making a few preparations in advance such as all downloads and manuals in advance, but have a few questions.
Can anyone help?

i see there are 2 SF8008 downloads for ver 5.3.026 available on the vix site, a "...recovery emmc" and an MMC.
I guess one's for the HW multiboot and recovery, the other... isn't :)
Which do i need?

Trying to work out which storage media to use: SD or USB3.
Basic ciggy packet maths suggests that a 3.6Gb 1hr recording will transfer at around 1Mb/sec.
I've stack of Class 10 Sandisk Ultra here, which should be able to write at 10Mb/sec.
So, should be no problem, right?

I've also got a NAS where i can put recordings, but i have to use homeplugs and old French wiring and i can't guarantee ~1.5Mb/sec.
What happens regards to buffering of the recording if the target (NAS/SD/whatever) is too slow?

Thanks for any pointers,

Cheers,

Mal

[ccs]

You'll need to read this..... https://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?62747-How-to-USB-flash-New-Multi-boot-recovery-menu-and-Image-to-Octagon-SF8008-New-procedure-21-04-2020&highlight=multiboot

[twol]

"...and I would wait for the latest release which is just being built because there may be changes to the recovery system - so better to do it once!

[Sicilian]

"...and I would wait for the latest release which is just being built because there may be changes to the recovery system - so better to do it once!

Yep, should be uploaded tomorrow morning.

[MalR]

Thanks, i found it shortly after while viewing something else.
I'd already seen the sticky and discounted it thinking i didn't need anything so complicated. Turns out i do... :)

Is there any basic information on what this multi-boot recovery thing is/does, in single syllable words and written in crayon? :) I get the multi-boot thing, but...
Will i have to select the boot image every time i power it on?
Once the boot manager is installed, will i be able to return to the factory default - for whatever reason?

[twol]

Recovery is one of those things that once installed and your 1st image flashed, you can forget about and just use the features installed in the image software.... e.g. Imagemanager - Image flashing and backup, BackupManager - backup the images settings that you can restore from after flashing a new image.

In my very biased viewpoint, the Recovery system created by Zgemma and recreated for the sf8008 (because of another images requirements) is an over Engineered, bloated system that is not needed in most cases - except perhaps in situations for actual box recovery (although most cases that can be handled by other methods)

So in my view, flash it to get the new partition format (4 partitions on the eMMC) - then forget about it

[ronand]

There has always been multiboot in the sf8008 - the old way was more complicated and required a micro sd card for extra slots so the new way is better IMO. But its a once off process to install the new loader and once you have flashed an image you can forget all about it. But it is very handy if you ever need to play with other images without upsetting your existing setup.

Anyway in simple terms you can install up to 4 different images in flash memory and switch between them. If you just want to use a single image thats up to you.

[Huevos]

No one here, no one, is going to recommend an SD card for storing your recordings. If it is for occasional you can get away with a (big) USB pen drive in a pinch. But I would recommend a good quality eco hard drive of at least 2TB, such as WD Blue.

[tonyl]

Good afternoon,

I've followed this thread with interest, as it asks a couple of questions I was wondering about as a new(ish) owner of an SF8008.

I installed the first version of the new recovery/multiboot firmware (025) when I received the box a week or two ago. There was a subsequent update, where the recovery file was the same size, so i simply updated the Vix installation to 026 using the menus on the box, though after a full back up in case that was the wrong thing to do. Now I see there is an 027 where the recovery file is a different size, so I'm interested in the question as to whether I have to follow the USB update procedure again to install it. That question seems to my rather literal but inexperienced eye to get two slightly different answers above - one says it would be worth waiting to download a new version because there may be changes to the recovery system and the other one, a couple of posts ago which says it's a one off process and once done, you can forget about it. It would be nice to have that clarified.

My other question is/was the other one asked above about whether one has to select the boot image on every boot up. I think the answer to that is no and that it will default to one of them. Once booted into that one, you can then choose to reboot into another. Having got the box working well on my fixed (ex-Sky) dish, I'm now going to try to replace the motor on my old motorised set up. A new LNB has revealed that the dish is still pointing at 19.2E but the old motor has loads of backlash and used to be very flaky in moving anyway. Not wanting to disturb the 'Freesat' setup, my chosen route would be to use a new image, so my next set of reading will be how to save a new image into one of the other slots.

Really quite pleased with the box for the money

Tony

[ronand]

There were a few changes to the recovery system. I did an online update through the recovery menu to update mine. As regards being a once-off process it sort of is but as it was a new way of doing things there have been a few bug fixes and improvements. But once on any version of the new loader you do not actually need to update it - the images will continue to boot.

As regards selecting the bootup image - the receiver will boot on the selected image each time until you change to another slot - it will not default back by itself.

For installing a new image it is very easily done through the recovery menu - image downloads are available via LAN connection. Just select the image you want and the slot you want to put it in.

[twol]

For installing a new image it is very easily done through the recovery menu - image downloads are available via LAN connection. Just select the image you want and the slot you want to put it in.

If you want to install from OpenViX, OpenATV or OpenPli (ooops - sorry OpenPli still have no multiboot image - even though they forced the change) then its in my view easier to install and flash via ImageManager, choose the version you want and then the image from that list.

[twol]

I installed the first version of the new recovery/multiboot firmware (025) when I received the box a week or two ago. There was a subsequent update, where the recovery file was the same size, so i simply updated the Vix installation to 026 using the menus on the box, though after a full back up in case that was the wrong thing to do. Now I see there is an 027 where the recovery file is a different size, so I'm interested in the question as to whether I have to follow the USB update procedure again to install it. That question seems to my rather literal but inexperienced eye to get two slightly different answers above - one says it would be worth waiting to download a new version because there may be changes to the recovery system and the other one, a couple of posts ago which says it's a one off process and once done, you can forget about it. It would be nice to have that clarified.


I knew of the changes (they added a delete function and a fix) so that why I said wait ....... and hopefully you will not have to do it again - unlike Ronand, I am not a fan as you can do everything already in the OpenViX software.

[MalR]

Thanks for that.
I imagine once flashed it will default to that image until i trigger the recovery menu?

[abu baniaz]

Yes.

But recovery menu is a fail-safe. You would normally select images from the multiboot image selector option. It is in the standby and restart menu.

[MalR]

To be honest the SF8008 is to replace an aging topfield which refuses to die, but shows signs of doing so with increasing frequency.
It's in the bedroom, so normally is only used for watching stuff late at night rather than for general use. So it's the occasional timeshift or <very late night end of program stuff> it'll be used to record. The topfield has probably made fewer than a dozen recordings total in the last few years.
I have a solo2 downstairs as our main box, and if i can't stream recordings from the NAS i might use USB/SD as a local buffer.

Although what would be wrong with using an SD card - cost?