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Videostrong KII Pro (videostrong-kii-pro): Difference between revisions

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=== FOSS bootloader ===
=== FOSS bootloader ===
The KII Pro uses U-Boot as its primary bootloader.  
The KII Pro uses U-Boot as its primary bootloader.  
U-Boot v2020.07 (with some minor modifications) works on the TV Box.
U-Boot v2020.07 (with some minor modifications) works on the TV Box. Newer versions also work, although HDMI output (until postmarketOS boots) and ethernet are broken.


=== Audio ===
=== Audio ===
Needs testing.
Doesn't work. Probably just needs a UCM configuration.


=== Hardware acceleration ===
=== Hardware acceleration ===
Seems to work! Weston runs fine on the device and the postmarketOS demos work fine too.
Seems to work! Weston and Plasma, as well as Plasma Bigscreen run fine on the device and the postmarketOS demos work fine too.


== Pictures ==
== Pictures ==

Revision as of 19:30, 5 February 2023

VideoStrong KII Pro
The KII Pro as seen on Alibaba
The KII Pro as seen on Alibaba
Manufacturer VideoStrong
Name KII Pro
Codename videostrong-kii-pro
Released 2016
Hardware
Chipset Amlogic S905
CPU 2.0 GHz Quad core
GPU Mali 450
Storage 16GB eMMC
Memory 2 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software Android
Original version 5.1.1 (+ preinstalled KII Pro software and a different launcher)
FOSS bootloader yes
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Mainline yes
Features
USB Networking
No data
Internal storage
No data
SD card
No data
Screen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
No data
Camera Flash
No data
IR TX
No data
Connectivity
WiFi
Broken
Bluetooth
No data
Miscellaneous
FDE
No data
USB-A
Works
HDMI/DP
Works
Haptics
No data
U-Boot
Primary Bootloader
No data
Secondary Bootloader
Works
Mainline
Works
Internal Storage
No data
SD card
Works
USB Host
No data
USB Peripheral
No data
Display
No data
Keyboard
No data
Buttons
No data


Overall a nice TV Box using the Amlogic S905 SoC. Could make a nice media center, powered by postmarketOS.

This TV Box runs a modified Android 5.1.1 OS that didn't seem to be updated at all by the manufacturer, it also includes many proprietary (and PUP) software.

Luckily, the KII Pro uses an Amlogic S905, which has some support in the mainline kernel. Even better, a DTB made specifically for the TV Box is also in the mainline kernel. As such, some GNU+Linux distributions support this TV Box with many other Amlogic-based TV Boxes.

Beaware of clones and different versions

There were multiple clones of this TV Box, as well as different versions.

The 2 known versions of the KII Pro are the VideoStrong KII Pro (the version this port is made for), which uses the Amlogic S905 SoC, and the newer Mecool KII Pro, which uses the Amlogic S905D SoC instead. If you own the Mecool KII Pro then this port won't work there without some changes. It may work by using the right DTB file though.

There's no guarantee that the TV Box used for porting postmarketOS will be the same as the one you have.

How to enter flash mode

Still have to figure that out. Not needed unless you bricked your TV Box

How to enter recovery mode

Also not needed. Press the reset button once while booting.

Installation

Only installing to an SD card works currently.

$ pmbootstrap init # manufacturer: 'videostrong' codename: 'kii-pro'
$ pmbootstrap install --sdcard=/dev/mmcblkX # change 'mmcblkX' with the path of your SD card

Then follow the instructions on booting from an SD card if you haven't done so at least once.

How to boot other OSes from an SD card

Unplug your TV Box's power supply. Press and hold the reset button while plugging in the power supply. Keep holding the reset button until a picture shows up on your screen.

postmarketOS should boot up.

What works

See the device status at the top (mobile) or at the right (desktop).

LEDs

The 2 LEDs the device has are functionnal.

Use /sys/class/leds/red:status to control the LEDs, like this for example:

# echo 1 > /sys/class/leds/red:status/brightness # turn the blue LED off and the red LED on
# echo 0 > /sys/class/leds/red:status/brightness # turn the red LED off and the blue LED on

DVB Tuner

The DVB tuner is untested.

TV remote

The TV remote works only for powering on the device sometimes. It doesn't seem to work in postmarketOS It doesn't seem to work on the vendor firmware anyway. Needs more testing.

Wi-Fi and Ethernet

Wi-Fi's broken.

The TV Box has an Ethernet port which works fine on postmarketOS as long as you boot it using a mainline U-Boot chainloaded from the vendor U-Boot.

FOSS bootloader

The KII Pro uses U-Boot as its primary bootloader. U-Boot v2020.07 (with some minor modifications) works on the TV Box. Newer versions also work, although HDMI output (until postmarketOS boots) and ethernet are broken.

Audio

Doesn't work. Probably just needs a UCM configuration.

Hardware acceleration

Seems to work! Weston and Plasma, as well as Plasma Bigscreen run fine on the device and the postmarketOS demos work fine too.

Pictures

Contributors

Users owning this device

  • FerassElHafidi (Notes: Wiped eMMC. Amlogic secureboot not enabled. Now only boots Amlogic firmware from an SD card. pmOS installed on SD.)


See also