Introduction

This article details how to get the Olevia firmware on to your set-top box.

Risks/disadvantages

• There is NO EASY WAY to return to the New Zealand firmware - you would need equipment to read the NZ firmware off another machine, then use that equipment and a complicated computer programme to copy that to your box - not easy to do
• Likely to void warranty (if you tell them)
• Electronic programme guide will occasionally act differently
• Possibility of ruining your set-top box
• No access to future updates to New Zealand firmware
• SD output stuck on NTSC - this cannot be changed to PAL - this means that if you run your TV or other device off composite (yellow cable) or s-video then your display may not work
• I have not properly checked on subtitles - if you need these desperately, perhaps delay installation

Advantages

• Simple (but limited) PVR functionality
• High-definition component video output
• Knowledge of exactly what software is running on your hardware
• Olevia seems to have a much better upgrade policy than Freeview - it has been updated more frequently, and aims to add functionality for the consumer

Preparation

You will need:

• Access to the Olevia .zim files
• A copy of zimview or at least a hex editor
• A usb flash drive
• Potentially a piece of paper and a pen to jot things down

Zim files

We currently need three of the Olevia .zim files. Note that this may change if new versions are released.

• ZMT-620FTA Firmware v1.2.2 - Part 1 only (OleviaPVR_1.2.2_part1.zim)
• ZMT-620FTA Firmware v1.8.2 - Part 2 only (OleviaPVR_1.8.2_part 2.zim)
• ZMT-620FTA Firmware v.1.9.8 (OLEVIA_620_1.9.8.zim)

You can find them here: ZMT-620FTA Firmware - although they have recently added a password.

Or try this torrent.

You can also find them on my downloads page. They are licenced under the GPL and use a lot of GPL software (e.g. Busybox and Linux) internally.

Editing the first zim file

The first step of editing the zim file is not always necessary. It depends which version of the NZ firmware you have, and whether you need to trick it. Try without this first step. If this doesn't work, then try the edit.

We need to change the customer number of our first file. This is to make the set-top box think we are installing New Zealand firmware. We only need to do this to the first file, since after that we will be installing onto Olevia software.

The first file is OleviaPVR_1.2.2_part1.zim. Open this up with zimview.

You should see a list of five different blocks (as above). Fortunately we can ignore these. The only thing we need to do is change the customer number.

1. On the menu click on Block->Customer number...
2. It will say 1280, change this to 4096
3. Click OK.
4. Go to File->Save As
5. Call the file something like nz_cust_pvr122_1.zim (that's what I called mine).

Hex editing

Skip this section if the above worked. If you can't use my program for whatever reason, you can use a hex editor to change the customer number and update the checksum.

At the very start of the file change the first six bytes:

Change: a0 9b 88 85 00 05
To:     ce e8 88 90 00 10

Save this as nz_cust_pvr122_1.zim.

USB flash drive

Copy your newly edited file, and the two others to a thumb drive. For some reason my SD card reader didn't work, so I used an old 128MB thumb drive I found around the house.

The drive doesn't need to be empty, but you'll have to scroll through everything else on there. They also state that the drive contents can be erased, so you're best off starting fresh with an empty drive.

Mental preparation

When you upgrade to the Olevia firmware, you won't be able to automatically scan for all the New Zealand channels.

Fortunately, there are only three frequencies to tune to. Each frequency carries multiple "stations". To over-simplify, one channel basically carries the TVNZ stuff, another the TV3/TV4 stuff, the other channel contains the rest.

Make sure you know your frequencies, channels, bandwidth and priority. Try scanning the channels on your NZ firmware - you won't double up or lose any channels.

Each channel corresponds to a frequency - but these are different in Taiwan. Take a look at this page for a list of NZ channels and frequencies: http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/digital-terrestrial-i-8.html

Bandwidth (at least in Auckland) is 8 MHz, and Priority is High.

If you do an autoscan, keep a piece of paper nearby and write down the channels it finds.

In short - you're going to have to do this once you upgrade - so learn to do it now when it's safe.

Process of upgrading

Turn your set-top box on. Once it's running, stick in the USB drive with the three Olevia zim files. If you have a wide USB key, you may need to remove the HDMI cable and use component or composite output (or use a thinner drive). Don't proceed until you've sorted this out.

On the menu, go down to System, and then to System Information. You'll see information about your current firmware. Press the red button on your remote control (S/W Upgrade).

Steps

1. Now a box should pop up saying Select Slot. Select A: PORT1.
2. A new menu should appear: Select Drive. Unless you're doing something funny, you should see A:Disk1. Select this and press Enter.
3. Now you will have a list of files. Choose your modified zim file (e.g. nz_cust_pvr122_1.zim)
4. There should now be a confirmation window. Make sure you've checked the correct file, then choose Yes. Take note of the colour of the selected item - you see how you've got to choose between yes and no? The white text on dark blue is selected.

Self-restart

You will now see an Updating... window with a progress bar. The software will then write the data in the zim file to the firmware. Be patient. Don't touch the power button.

The machine will restart and will display a prompt for choosing the language. As you noted above, the selected item has a darker blue background. Choose English.

Install the next two .zim files

You will notice the menu looks slightly different from the New Zealand firmware. The navigation is still basically the same though. You will also notice that none of channels are tuned in, and that an autotune will fail - this is expected.

We need to install the two remaining .zim files to get our Olevia firmware up to date. But before this feel free to have a play around tuning the channels - you can't really break anything doing this, and you can be confident they'll be reset once you upgrade the firmware.

Anyway, on the menu now go back to System->System Information. Push the red button. Sometimes the set-top box may not detect the USB drive without it being pulled out and put in again - try this if it's not detecting.

Follow the menus and select the second .zim file (OleviaPVR_1.8.2_part 2.zim). Install this. Select English.

Install the third file. After the restart, select English. You will now need to tune the channels and change the time zone.

After the upgrade

Tuning

Hopefully you have an idea of what to do to get your channels tuned in.

Here's a summary:

1. Press the Menu button on the remote.
2. Go to Installation.
3. Go to Manual Scan.
4. You need to enter in the information for the three channels (or muxes as they are known). Look them up for your area.

In Auckland:

1. Enter Channel 29, Frequency 538000, Bandwidth 8 MHz, Priority HIGH. Move to Start Scan and press Enter on the remote.
2. Enter Channel 33, Frequency 570000, Bandwidth 8 MHz, Priority HIGH. Start Scan.
3. Enter Channel 45, Frequency 666000, Bandwidth 8 MHz, Priority HIGH. Start Scan.

Each time you scan a UHF channel, you'll see the various stations carried in that frequency. When you are recording you can only watch programs of the same frequency.

Time zone

You may need to set-up the time zone to New Zealand, otherwise your EPG will be incorrect.

1. Press the Menu button on the remote.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Go to Time.
4. Change the time zone to GMT+12:00.

Using the new firmware

Now you've installed the Olevia firmware, have a look at UsingAndRecordingWithOleviaFirmware.