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Videostrong KII Pro (videostrong-kii-pro)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Note This device is supported as part of a generic port. Refer to Amlogic Generic TV Box (amlogic-tvbox) for installation instructions and more information.
Videostrong KII Pro
Videostrong KII Pro
Videostrong KII Pro
Manufacturer Videostrong
Name KII Pro
Codename videostrong-kii-pro
Released 2016
Type set-top box
Hardware
Chipset Amlogic S905
CPU 2.0 GHz Quad core
GPU Mali 450
Storage 16 GB eMMC
Memory 2 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
Android 5.1.1 (+ preinstalled KII Pro software and a different launcher)
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
Android
FOSS bootloader yes
postmarketOS
Category testing
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
6.3.3
Generic port Amlogic Generic TV Box (amlogic-tvbox)
Device package device-amlogic-tvbox
Kernel package linux-postmarketos-amlogic
Features
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Broken
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Built-in DVB
TV tuner/DVB device
Broken
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Works
IR RX
Works
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
Ethernet
Works
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB-A
Whether the full-sized USB-A port works.
Works
HDMI/DP
Video and audio output with HDMI or DisplayPort.
Works
U-Boot
Primary Bootloader
Whether it is possible to replace stock bootloader with U-Boot.
Works
Secondary Bootloader
Whether it is possible to chainload U-Boot from stock bootloader.
Works
Mainline
Whether latest upstream versions of U-Boot are not broken and it is possible to use them.
Works
Internal Storage
Whether it is possible to boot from internal storage (e.g. eMMC or UFS).
Works
SD card
Whether it is possible to boot from SD card.
Works
USB Host
Whether it is possible to boot from a USB storage or connect a keyboard.
Works
USB Peripheral
Whether it is possible to use device as a peripheral in U-Boot, e.g. for fastboot mode.
Works
Display
Works
Keyboard
Works

The KII Pro is a set-top box made by Videostrong, using an Amlogic S905 SoC, and running a custom (proprietary) fork of AOSP based on Amlogic's reference build. It also comes with DVB inputs and an infrared TV remote.

This page only documents info specific to this box. For installation instructions, look at the generic port's wiki page instead.

Beaware of different versions

There were different versions of this TV box, all made by the same manufacturer.

Videostrong just happens to (re)sell some of their products under the Mecool brand, with different hardware.

The 2 known versions of the KII Pro are the "original" 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. They both look the same except the newer one most likely has a Mecool logo on the front, and the Mecool KII Pro seems to use Android 7.1.1 instead of Android 5.1.1. 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 but that's untested since F doesn't own a Mecool KII Pro.

How to enter USB mode

Note This isn't needed to boot up postmarketOS. It's only really used if you bricked your set-top box.

You need a USB Type-A to USB Type-A cable.

  • Unplug everything from your set-top box
  • Plug your USB cable to the USB port at the top left (other USB ports won't work)
     this one
_______ \/ ____________
        __   __     || \
       |__| |__|    ||  \
   __  |__| |__|    ||   \
__________________________\
  • Press and hold the reset button
 _||_||____________
|                  |
| O              O |
|   ------------   |
|   ------------. < here
|   ------------   |
|   ------------   |
| O              O |
|__________________|
  • While holding the reset button, plug the USB cable to your computer
  • After 5 seconds or so, release the reset button
  • Run lsusb, you should see something like this:
$ lsusb
[...]
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 1b8e:c003 Amlogic, Inc. 
[...]

You'd also need a computer running Microsoft Windows with the Amlogic USB Burner or Amlogic Update if you wish to use GNU+Linux. Both software are proprietary.

Note If the eMMC and SD card are not bootable or you inserted an Amlogic HDMI dongle (see Amlogic), the set-top box will boot into flash mode.

How to enter recovery mode

Also not needed. Press the reset button once while booting. You'll be booted to an Android recovery, where it may be possible to flash postmarketOS, but this is untested.

Booting up

After following the installation instructions in Amlogic Generic AArch64 TV Box (amlogic-aarch64-tvbox):

  1. Put the SD card you installed postmarketOS on in the SD card slot
  2. The steps below need to be done only once (unless you format the internal eMMC)
    1. Unplug the power supply
    2. Press and hold the reset button below your TV box
    3. While holding the reset button, plug in your power supply back
    4. Keep holding the reset button until your screen gets a signal

A mainline U-Boot should load, and 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 # red: on, blue: off
# echo 0 > /sys/class/leds/red:status/brightness # red: off, blue: on

DVB hardware

See Videostrong KII Pro (videostrong-kii-pro)/DVB.

Long story short, doesn't work.

Hardware decoding

Broken.

Pictures

Replace the vendor U-Boot

See Running mainline U-Boot as the primary bootloader

Community info

Maintainers

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