FREE: [fixable] DSE G7503 / Zinwell ZMT-620HD Freeview|HD receiver

Forums › Offers and Wanted › FREE: [fixable] DSE G7503 / Zinwell ZMT-620HD Freeview|HD receiver

spagbowl

45 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Topic # 96003 18-Jan-2012 09:26

Hi Geeks,

I've attempted to fix this Freeview decoder. Discussion of problem and fix here:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=92093

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=91226&page_no=1

I don't have the tenacity nor the wherewithal to continue trying. Rather than throw it away I thought that I might as well offer it to anyone who believes that he or she can fix it, i.e. someone with better knowledge of electronics than I.

Free shipping unless cost is prohibitive. You may use it, sell it, or offer it back to me for a "fee" if successful.

Receiver with remote in box.

Jaxson

6749 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 594

Trusted

Reply # 570278 18-Jan-2012 10:00

Have you checked your solder joints to ensure there is no connection across tracks by mistake? Scraping the gaps with a knife can help to ensure these are clear.

What capacitors did you use? - Where did you buy them from etc?

What are you units symptoms?

spagbowl

45 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 570285 18-Jan-2012 10:11

Thank you the advice.

I checked the tracks but they appear clear and distinct. The soldering job is a bit scratchy (my flatmate did it) but absolutely no change to the problem of "software is upgrading" and no subsequent picture.

The new capacitors are identical to those removed. I followed the instructions set out in the above-linked forum post.

k1w33d

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 570318 18-Jan-2012 11:30

I recently bought a heap of electronics tools for a project for my dads Xmas present and am looking for another. Would be happy to take this from you if It's still available. I will enquire further when I get home in about 1/2 hour

k1w33d

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 570493 18-Jan-2012 16:53

Hey spagbowl,

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you. Took my young cousins to Te Papa. Are you still looking to get rid of the receiver? I am keen to give it a crack. Like I said earlier, I have a soldering station sitting around doing nothing at the moment. If you have given it to someone else or decided not to get rid of it then no probs, I have a PSP stripped down almost as far as possible without removing components from circuit boards. I am planning to modify it so it can charge via USB.

Send me a message if you want to sort something out with postage.

Cheers

Chris

spagbowl

45 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 570710 19-Jan-2012 10:08

First in, first served. All yours, Chris! I'll PM you shortly.

k1w33d

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 570713 19-Jan-2012 10:13

Cheers mate. I'll keep you posted on my progress (or lack thereof).

Jaxson

6749 posts

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+1 received by user: 594

Trusted

Reply # 570723 19-Jan-2012 10:58

k1w33d: Cheers mate. I'll keep you posted on my progress (or lack thereof).

Yes please do report back, and if successful add it to the main repair thread as well. Cheers.

robjg63

2766 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 553

Reply # 570752 19-Jan-2012 11:59

I had the 'software is upgrading' message - then the box would start up after a few seconds. Did this EVERY time it started.

I ended up installing the Hong Kong Olevia software
http://code.google.com/p/zimview/

This gives limited record to USB facilities and you do have to manually tune the box. But it did solve the issue.

I suspect that the memory gets a bit screwed up and this starts the 'software is upgrading' loop.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

spagbowl

45 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 570781 19-Jan-2012 12:55

Thanks for the suggestion but my issue was slightly different. The receiver would not operate normally after a few seconds. Black screen with no access to menu (so I couldn't install the Olevia firmware).

robjg63

2766 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 553

Reply # 570786 19-Jan-2012 12:59

spagbowl: Thanks for the suggestion but my issue was slightly different. The receiver would not operate normally after a few seconds. Black screen with no access to menu (so I couldn't install the Olevia firmware).

Yes - fair point - sorry.
Hope it gets sorted out - whoever ends up with it.

Wish the NZ (official Zinwell) software had been available somewhere - might have been usefull..

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

k1w33d

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 574537 29-Jan-2012 08:34

Hi, just a quick update.

I received the freeview box on Wednesday and plugged it in to see the issue firsthand. Same as spagbowl described. Unit turns on and immediately shows updateing message. The unit then "reboots" and just displays a black screen. If left on, the unit gets warm like it normally would if it was operating. I then opened it up to inspect the capacitors and found that the capacitor at EC56 on the board was improperly soldered so maybe that could be the issue (hopefully). I had to buy some solder wick so hopefully I will be able to get to re-soldering the capacitors today. Any further updates I will place into the Freeview forum.