Upgrade Zinwell Firmware?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Upgrade Zinwell Firmware?

euanandrews

1528 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#15969 18-Sep-2007 15:49

I was wondering if the firmware on the DSE Zinwell ZMX-7500 freeview box can be replaced with something better?

While its very easy to use and setup, it is slow and ugly.

I would like to find something with a prettier GUI...

Is this possible or am I up in the clouds with the fairys?

cyril7

9073 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2499

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#87041 18-Sep-2007 16:52

The firmware did undergo an upgrade the other day, but this was to fix more serious problems than the ugly interface. The speed issue is simply the firmware waiting for you to supply the right number of digits for a channel selection, if you use the up down channel buttons its immediate.

I do not think you can get any other firmware for it. Personally I think the Strong FTA boxs have better interfaces than the FreeView supplied firmare.

Cyril

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 877

Trusted

#87042 18-Sep-2007 16:52

TheBartender: I was wondering if the firmware on the DSE Zinwell ZMX-7500 freeview box can be replaced with something better?

Is this possible or am I up in the clouds with the fairys?

I'm surprised you can see us from all the way up there.

The firmware will always be a freeview validated one from zinwell that is updated over the air.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

euanandrews

1528 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#87047 18-Sep-2007 17:10

openmedia: The firmware will always be a freeview validated one from zinwell that is updated over the air.

The firmware is nothing more than the operating system/GUI for that particular electronic device...
The freeview consortium dont manage devices and thier associated software/firmware, they just stamp thier branding to certified products, and they conrtol/update the freeview EPG...

One can buy a PC with XP, but rip that out and put in linux and it will work, ya just gota know how to do it and get all the support/drivers etc...this is the same.

It has had an update to version 6 recently yup, making it more stable/able to find channels when the quality of the signal was not 100%, but I dont care about that, I'm just interested in the cosmetics...its still ugly.

Oh well, just a thought...I'm bored.

cyril7

9073 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2499

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#87050 18-Sep-2007 17:17

The certified boxs contain certified firmware that is both commisioned, specd and controlled by Freeview.

As I say, many of the standard FTA boxs, the strongs in particular have much slicker firmware.

I am sure if you go to the Zinwell site you might find a standard FTA firmware image that would work on that box, but then again, it might brick it.

Cyril

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 877

Trusted

#87051 18-Sep-2007 17:23

cyril7: The certified boxs contain certified firmware that is both commisioned, specd and controlled by Freeview.

As I say, many of the standard FTA boxs, the strongs in particular have much slicker firmware.

I am sure if you go to the Zinwell site you might find a standard FTA firmware image that would work on that box, but then again, it might brick it.

Cyril

Plus once it tunes into Optus D1's freeview channels there is always the chance it will pull down the official freeview firmware and reset itself.

Steve

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.