How to make your networked device work real bad

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Awrrr
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#2038833 16-Jun-2018 20:27

Thanks. I might come back to you on another issue. I tried to set up an android box with DNS4ME for a friend and I couldn't get it to work. Needless to say, networking is not my strong point. He has a Vodafone Ultrahub router which is DHCP and whatever I try I can't fool the geoblocking sites. According to the Android settings and Kodi, everything is correctly configured but it still isn't working. Because he also feeds Internet to his tenants, we don't want to put the proxy into the router, which does work, but we can't get it to work on Android and I don't know why. I haven't looked at it for awhile but intend to again soon.

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Rikkitic

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#2038851 16-Jun-2018 20:50

To return to the Mecool device, I am very disappointed so far. I know other people have bought this and are very happy with it, but so far I'm not having much luck. On DVB-T, I get some pixelation on the TVNZ mux, which may not be the fault of the device as I also have that on other devices. I know reception is marginal for me so I'm not blaming it for that. I have a masthead amplifier I am going to try and I will also try rotating the aerial a little to see if it improves anything.

But reception on satellite is also not what it should be. I have another satellite receiver and it works on all three of the satellites I have installed. I get a little occasional pixelation on Intelsat 19, which is the weakest signal, but it's not bad enough to prevent viewing. However, the Mecool doesn't work with it at all. D1 and D2 are usually okay, but IS19 is usually blank. Sometimes there is brief reception but then it disappears again. Clearly the Mecool doesn't have the sensitivity to cope with weaker signals.

It seems to have the same problem with Internet streaming. I haven't had a chance to test it extensively yet, but it choked on the Apsattv ABC Australia stream, which played fine on my other Android devices. This does not fill me with confidence.

I haven't completely given up on the device yet, but I'm not very happy with it. I had hopes of just plugging it in and having it work. Clearly that is not going to be the case.

I am going to check the IS19 LNB to see if I can improve the signal. I will also try a satellite signal booster. Maybe they will solve the problem, but this shouldn't be necessary, especially since the other devices don't seem to need this.

I also have an in-line amp for the UHF. I just have to get an adaptor. Maybe that will help.

I don't know what to do about the Internet problem. I will look into tweaking the android settings, though I don't have high hopes. I just wish I didn't have to go through this crap at all. I am getting too old for it. I just want to plug something in and have it work.

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Apsattv

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#2038884 16-Jun-2018 22:06

Have you looked to see if the device has a firmware update?

Have you checked signal level and quality when its tuned to the satellite? is it fluctuating or simply low?

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Awrrr
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#2038899 16-Jun-2018 23:08

It fluctuates within a narrow range. I will check for firmware update tomorrow.

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Lias

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#2038963 17-Jun-2018 09:07

FWIW, to avoid this scenario the best way is to use DHCP reservations rather than purely static assigned addresses.. What that means is you configure the DHCP server (In this case generally your home router) to always give a certain device a certain IP address. Depending on the router you may also be able to configure device specific DNS that way as well for your particular situation.

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Rikkitic

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#2039014 17-Jun-2018 11:15

Not sure what the possibilities are with the Huawei B315. Because my understanding of networking is minimal and I find it increasingly difficult to wrap my head around technical details in my old age, I tend to go for the most straightforward solutions that produce the desired result. This is why I have stuck with static IP.

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kryptonjohn

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#2039017 17-Jun-2018 11:20

Rikkitic:

... I find it increasingly difficult to wrap my head around technical details in my old age ...

Me too!

Am back at a client looking at some code I wrote in 1999 and OMG I can't believe I wrote it - it's so big and complex.

And they're still using it two decades later!

Rikkitic:

I tend to go for the most straightforward solutions that produce the desired result

Only what we think are the most straightforward sometimes are not.

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Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#2039123 17-Jun-2018 14:43

So I tried an OTA update but just got a generic error with no further information.

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kryptonjohn

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#2039137 17-Jun-2018 15:15

Rikkitic:

So I tried an OTA update but just got a generic error with no further information.

Wouldn't that require the broadcaster to send the firmware? I expected you would download the firmware from the manufacturer's website, put that on a USB drive, plug it into the device's USB port then run the software update command from the setup menu?

Rikkitic

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#2039168 17-Jun-2018 17:03

Since this device combines DVB with Android, I thought there might be a link, and OTA was all I could find. I will try the site later.

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Apsattv

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#2039313 17-Jun-2018 23:20

These device that ship out of China rarely have current firmware,

Most will have a menu in them to update the firmware image or and img file available via their website

Rikkitic

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#2039437 18-Jun-2018 09:38

I found the firmware but I'm afraid to try it. I don't want to brick the device. The problem is that the firmware says the correct model has Android 5.1 but my unit has 7.1 and I have verified that. It is possible that the unit has already had the firmware updated. I still need to check the firmware versions but I'm hesitant to charge ahead unless I can be certain.

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kryptonjohn

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#2039443 18-Jun-2018 09:47

I think you are right to be careful and err on the side of caution!

robjg63

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#2039456 18-Jun-2018 10:08

Yes - anything with software can drive you crazy - Its not just you...

You wouldnt want to go from Android 7.1 to 5.1 - sounds like it already has pretty new software installed.

I think maybe you have one of these so 7.1 sounds right.

Try the android/settings area and look for a software update if there is one.

From what you have described, you have 'marginal' DVB-T and DVB-S signal - If its cracking up somewhat on other devices this one might just be set up that the signal margin is not good enough to show anything - whereas you other devices might have a lower threshold. Remember that digital signals are always supposed to be 'perfect' or no picture - the mecool box could be a little fussier.

Don't know a lot about satellite reception, but I know that the receiver has to have the correct settings for the dish or they wont get anything. The part of the disk that catches the signal is the LNB (Low Noise Blocker?) and they can use a couple of settings - if you have a mismatch in your mecool tuner settings you wont get anything - Maybe someone else can explain better - but I found this https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=20366

Are you using the box on wifi? I wonder if the KODI iptv issues are the wifi signal strength - perhaps check that with an ethernet network cable to your router if you can.

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Rikkitic

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#2039463 18-Jun-2018 10:21

Not using the box on wi-fi. Everything is LAN connected. My model is not the KIII pro but the older KII pro. However, the Android version has been upgraded to 7.1. I know a little about satellite settings from my hobby days and the LNB is correctly set up. One thing I notice about this unit is that it does not show pixelation.If the signal drops below a certain threshold the screen simply goes blank. Yesterday IS19 was blank but in the evening it started working again. The signal appears to be right on the threshold. With my old satellite receiver it works all the time but I get brief partial pixelation at regular intervals. Not enough to prevent viewing, though.

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