How do you know if a Starview is cloned?

[KhuramKhan13]

I've managed to get roped into updating the firmware on a Starview 1 cable box.
I'm sure I read somewhere a while ago that if the power lead and the scarts inputs are on the wrong side then its most probably a clone? On the one I have got the power cable is on the right and the scart cables on the left if your looking at it from the front!
Also does anybody know if its still supported both original and clone?

Anybody also know where to get the latest downloads from for the strview original and clone?

[Devilfish]

I found this on another site, thanks to dennyjames.







Early clones do have a Samsung chip but a different chassis and a Gold heatsink.
Newer clones have the Etrontech chip and the other differences inside you can see in the pic. The genuine mk 1 Starview which clones were based on has a different heatsink and a smaller 8 legged chip as circled in the picture. Forget about remote controls, any clone could have been supplied with a genuine remote. If you have a clone just use safe software or modify it with the Eeprom you can get on ebay, use any Starview software then. I have modified a few and all running really well.

[Femalelizzard]

Doesnt really matter if you ask me theres clone safe firmware anyway thanks to some clever chaps