Who can update Zinwell ZMT-640PVR firmware now?

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mjward

28 posts

Geek

#79643 20-Mar-2011 15:35

Hi,

I bought my Zinwell ZMT-640PVR about 6 months ago. At the time, annoyed with the many bugs it had out of the box, I contacted Next Electronics to enquire about a firmware update - and was told they would do it for free during the warranty period.

Unfortunately it looks like I've missed the Next Electronics boat as they've gone into receivership :(.

So my question - is there *anyone* else in NZ that will do the firmware updates on these devices?? I'd be quite happy to do it myself but I've not been able to find the NZ firmware anywhere (although there are many forum posts of people requesting it!). I'm not holding my breath for the OTA (Over The Air) updates as according to the schedule these last happened in 2009.

I've only really put up with the problems with this device with the knowledge that I'd eventually get them fixed by a firmware update. If I can't get them fixed, will be seriously considering chucking it and buying something else!!

Thanks
Michael

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210 posts

Master Geek

#450059 20-Mar-2011 16:04

It might be that because of Next Electronics demise that Zinwell will release the firmware onto the internet.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#450209 20-Mar-2011 23:03

I wouldn't hold your breath...
JC Matthews boxes weren't getting updates - and they're next to identical.
Apparently to get the update, the JC Matthew importer would have to send them back to the factory in Taiwan!

munckz

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#450273 21-Mar-2011 09:20

Send me a message with your email address and I can send you a copy of firmware 1.2.2.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#450526 21-Mar-2011 21:58

Next Electronics were (presumably) only the contracted support agent, not the vendor.

If so, and you only got it six months ago, you could try the retailer. If there is a new service agent then they should know about it and be able to arrange the update for you. If they can't then, given that it is only six months old, buggy, with the fix updates unavailable, I would try returning it under the Consumer Guarantees Act. The onus is on them to then (i) fix it, (ii) replace it with an updated/working model, or refund you.

mjward

28 posts

Geek

#450592 22-Mar-2011 07:40

Got a copy of the firmware from munckz (thanks!) and successfully applied it last night.

Was going to wait to see if I could get an 'official' version through the correct channels.. but as those channels no longer seem to exist and the version from munckz looked good, took the plunge.

Am now happy - firmware is up to date and the issues that I've managed to test appeared to have been resolved.

If anyone else needs a copy of the firmware, feel free to message me.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#450639 22-Mar-2011 10:07

Hey well done.

Could you outline what was involved please?

ie what was the updater software like, how did you apply the update, did you connect via serial/ethernet/usb etc and then obviously what improvements have you noticed etc.

Were there some release notes for this update?

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#450648 22-Mar-2011 10:45

You place the file on a USB Stick.
Select Menu.. System.. Information and then press red
Choose the file
wait... done..
a Factory Reset may be needed after this (recordings will not be deleted)

I have emailed zinwell regarding this but I have emailed them 20 times in the past about other things and they never replied once but I'll post the file if no one minds ?

If they complain about copyright then I'll go straight back at them for their copyright infringements regarding GPL :-) (See http://www.geekzone.co.nz/LennonNZ/5305)

Thanks
Craig

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

mjward

28 posts

Geek

#450673 22-Mar-2011 11:36

Update happened as Craig outlined. There was a nervous bit where the progress bar had disappeared and nothing else was happening but the unit was not responding to the remote. After waiting about 20 mins to see if it would do anything else, located the manual and found the instruction: 'Remove the power cord from the set-top box, and insert it again to reboot the receiver'. Crossed my fingers, did as instructed and the box rebooted ok.

Would have been nice to be presented with an 'update complete, power off box to finish' or something at the end but oh well.

There were no release notes I could find with this.

I've tested the following bugs are fixed:
- Timer recordings using the active tuner (ie changing the channel you're currently watching). No longer does this.
- When recording TV3, TV3+1 no longer records as well

Hopefully I won't lose scheduled series recordings any more, will be some time before I can verify that. Apparently there was an audio bug fixed as well but I didn't have any audio issues (I was aware of) before.

Craig - I certainly don't mind if you post the file. Wasn't keen to do it myself due to copyright issues but if you're up for it - go for it :). Will help out others in the same boat!

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek

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#450917 22-Mar-2011 21:01

A quick and simple page @ http://www.nzdsl.co.nz/zinwell/

bmt

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

#547332 19-Nov-2011 23:22

I know it has been a long time since the last post here, but hopefully someone can help. Is it possible to put the latest version of the firmware linked to above (1.22) onto a larger hard drive and then swap it with the 250GB already in the recorder? Unfortunately just plugging the hard drive in does not work..

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#547411 20-Nov-2011 12:21

It seems the size of HDD you can use may be quite limited in this PVR. (maybe just 320GB)

Read ronsted's messages in http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=89186

He describes how to do it.

bmt

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

#547423 20-Nov-2011 13:11

Thanks for that. 320GB isn't much of an upgrade over 250GB. Unfortunately it seems I'm now lumped with a 1TB drive I don't need..

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#547445 20-Nov-2011 14:17

Have there been any further firmware updates?

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#547637 20-Nov-2011 23:24

!.2.2 is the last ever for NZ

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#547639 20-Nov-2011 23:47

bmt: Thanks for that. 320GB isn't much of an upgrade over 250GB. Unfortunately it seems I'm now lumped with a 1TB drive I don't need..

If you're feeling adventurous and have a Linux PC system available ( I d/l'd an iso for a bootable CD and used that on my Windows PC.

You could then try creating a 320GB partition on your 1TB drive, with the rest of it left unallocated.

Then try this drive in your Zinwell and see if it's Format command will make a usable drive for you.

If it does you could then put the drive back in your PC and, under Linux once again, create an extra 320GB partition (maybe try formatting it too). Put the drive back into the Zinwell and see if it happens to "see" it.

Who knows? - you might get lucky and end up with double or more the storage.

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