• Discussion in the Admin room about nightly images, we dont really need or want these posting for the following reasons.

    1. We all know where to get them.
    2. Never have a change log.
    3. The changes if any are not worthy of anyone upgrading there boxes on a daily basis.
    4. They clutter the forum up.

    Posts will be removed.

    Ferret

Some Broadcom SOC knowledge needed please

ArloG

Registered
Messages
126
In general I was looking in the archives here from a search of Broadcom bootloaders, CFE, etc. I browsed over a post from Mr. Feret.
Could anyone enlighten me if they know if sat. receiver SOC's come with a CFE or bootloader already flashed? Or if JTAG or other methods of getting a basic method to install an image could be learned?

Briefly. I have been given 2 Edision Os Mio4k+ receivers. Both experience no HDMI because the TVS were zapped and shorted the chip to HDMI pinout grounds.
But on both the webif works and streaming is possible over LAN.
My HDMI port tester showed dead data lines after removing the shorted transient suppressors. And the chips that were running quite warm cooled down considerably.
As you may suspect. I do have an "adequate" SMD repair station with proper equipment to perform repairs.

I have tried contacting Broadcom directly. I have established an account. Dealing with them is like root canal. On second thought, root canal would be more pleasurable.
They are really good at draging their knuckles.

The IC in question is the Broadcom BCM72604. And I've searched a bit to investigate Broadband Studio and have downloaded a copy (old one) to see how to navigate it.
I have sourced replacements from Ali Express and the price isn't too bad. I've extracted one IC from one receiver and prepped it for a new one.

I am reluctant to do any more until I find out if I need JTAG the firmware as a backup to flash a new chip once installed.
I'm very eager to learn the methods. If a CFE, bootloader were already programmed in the new chips. Then flashing an EMMC from USB would seem like a breeze.
So far dealing with Broadcom is getting really stretched out. And I see others appear to be quite adept at STB chips like these.
Anyone? Hoping for some positive input as the receivers are nice. Edision considers them throw-aways if the go defective.
Am I able to lift the firmware needed to flash a new chip? Do they come with a bootloader of some sorts burned in them already?

Sorry for the "book". I like to save a bit of back and forth when I can.

Thanks!
 

ArloG

Registered
Messages
126
A plethora of activity on this one. So let's approach it in a different way.
Seeing as how I have a similar BCM chip as VU+ receivers.
And the receiver is working. Just a dead HDMI section. Mind you all of the HDMI signals come from the chip pins.
And able to use the serial interface to 'break' the boot process.
If a person were to see the following lines of text:

CPU speed: 1503MHz
DDR0 Frequency: 1067MHz, 4Gx16 phy:3240000000 @ 00000000
DDR1 Frequency: 1067MHz, 4Gx16 phy:3240000000 @ 80000000
Total memory: 2048MB
Boot Device: SPI
SDIO:
controller 0, TYPE: SD
controller 1, TYPE: EMMC

BSP version: '2.1.0'
Total memory used by BOLT: 0x070080E0 - 0x0708EBF8 (551704)
Initialized Data: 0x07033000 - 0x07077170 (278896)
BSS Area: 0x07077170 - 0x0708EBF8 (96904)
Local Heap: 0x07100000 - 0x09100000 (33554432)
Stack Area: 0x09100000 - 0x09200000 (1048576)
Text (code) segment: 0x070080E0 - 0x07012CA8 (43976)
FSBL info area: 0x06FFC000 - 0x06FFC044 (68)
Page table base: 0x07000000

BOLT driver build information:
LDR: ELF 1; RAW 1; SREC 1; ZIMG 1
UI: LEVEL 3; MIN 0
FS: FAT 1; FAT32 1
NET: STACK 1; ENET 1; TCP 1
USB: STACK 1; ETH 1; DISK 1; SERIAL 1; HID 1
FLASH: NAND
SPLASH: 1048576; emmcflash0.splash

Looking at the bold text at SPI and EMMC.
Would it be wise to believe that everything needed to make the receiver operate is located on the SPI and EMMC IC's?
I have identified both.
Would a smart person think that replacing the bad Broadcom BGA SOIC for a new one might make the receiver functional again?

I'm trying to dig deep in the minds of the guru's here folks.
 
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