Duo clone broke this afternoon!!!!! Help

[IAmATeaf]

Tried reflashing via serial today and its not taking the flash .bin file.

Loaded putty and with 9600,8,n,1 I get the following on power up
8?>???<?8?>???<?8??

With 115200,8,n,1 I get:
?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????

With 19200,8,n,1 I actually get some english - but not much:
+UPDS-great+UPDS-great+UPDF-


MD

There's a post over on the Ferrari forums re the UPDS message, again it suggests flashing the bootloader onto the box using the serial cable thingy that you use to flash the secret file.

[IAmATeaf]

As long as you don't use solo files. Duo files only.

On the Ferrari forums the boot file for the Duo is there in the same post.

[IAmATeaf]

Got my clone today and the PSU does look like it's been stored in damp conditions as some the tranny legs and screws are rusty.

I've also noticed a problem with one of the heatsinks which seems to be touching a bridging/link wire, no idea what volts would be going through the wire but it shouldn't be touching. I've not switched it on yet and am going to work on the PSU to fix that link wire and maybe straighten out the heatsink that's fouling on the wire.

If anybody is interested I'll try and get some pics posted up but for me personally the build quality of my dm800se is streets ahead of this box.

I'll probably also start a new thread so as not to trash this one

[DOUGALMCD]

Yes some pics would be nice and who you bought from so others know.

[IAmATeaf]

Yes some pics would be nice and who you bought from so others know.

I'll start a new thread so as to not detract from this one, digi cam is flat at the mo so am charging it and I don't think it matters who you buy from as there's probably a factory or 2 making the boxes. I think the PSUs have been made elsewhere and stored in damp conditions.

[meggiedude]

I'll start a new thread so as to not detract from this one, digi cam is flat at the mo so am charging it and I don't think it matters who you buy from as there's probably a factory or 2 making the boxes. I think the PSUs have been made elsewhere and stored in damp conditions.

I came to exactly the same conclusion mate
For me, for both PSUs I have, the board on each is generally dirty in places. Messy compared to the Motherboard.
In additional as you say, and as I also found, there are rusty components on the PSU, so that suggests poor storage - not really ideal for consumer electronics IMHO.

[meggiedude]

This is what I've found on another forum, not my work and it's for the solo but it's seems to sugest flashing a bootloader after which you can hopefully flash an image via USB. Never tried it myself so have no real idea:

1, use RS232 adoptor , (small baord we send with receiver togeter) connect with VU solo first by RS232 port , and rs232 cable with small board and computer connect)

2, run UpdateAllFlash.exe this file,

3, select RS232 port , and open file , choose soloboot.bin this file,

4, power on vu solo receiver

5, click update botton, and check if program can finish or not

6, when finish programmer and , then can put usb flash disk , put VU file make update ( because this step just put bootload inside box, after need make usb update all software to box then finish)

This was pretty much what I did on Tuesday - albeit it was the instructions for the Duo, not as above.
It worked then and also appeared to reload the image.
But it would not reboot and now won't look at anything - not even the serial lead. So I am stuck.

dell_xps think I should give up, and If I didn't have to ship back to the far east I would have by now.
Thing is, I am a stubborn northern g*t and don't give in easy.

I may have to get physical with the motherboard soon. The urge is becoming difficult to resist.

[dell_xps]

Cut yer losses m8, move on, we all learn the hard way at some point in life.
TBH I doubt I would buy a clone after all you guys troubles !

[cactikid]

it is nice that some people dig deeper into problems with boxes as we cannot allow dodgy makers of inferior parts to get a hold of a money making market to prosper,its a hazardous area.

[trance]

meggiedude, Have you given soldering a new cap any thought.
I know you said earlier that you dont fancy soldering, but its maybe your last option. [ There are plenty of tuts on youtube]

[meggiedude]

meggiedude, Have you given soldering a new cap any thought.
I know you said earlier that you dont fancy soldering, but its maybe your last option. [ There are plenty of tuts on youtube]

That may be what I implied above m8
(I'm currently looking a a small bag of caps on my desk, arrived in post yesterday)

[RuberDuck]

Reading on other forums there are plenty of originals as well. So is it really a hardware problem? As they are supposed to be different boards are they not?

I would say no there is not a hardware fault with the original hardware at all. The duo has been in circulation for 3 years and yes there have been a small scattered number of PSU failures as to be expected with any piece of electrical hardware. however since the launch of this chinese crap there are literally hundreds of cases ang growing day by day, the sad fact is there are a lot of people out there who have clones and who thought they bought original hardware.

[IAmATeaf]

Might be useful info for some but you can tell the diff between a clone PSU and an original as from what I've seen some of the component layout is different but the biggest give away is that the original has 2 long heatsinks whereas the clone only has one.

[meggiedude]

Well I replaced the Cap - and its still the same.
USB not working.
Is there a way on loading an image via Serial, because loading the bootloader via serial works. If so has anyone got an old .NFI imag file I could use just to see if this will work

[digicon]

Well I replaced the Cap - and its still the same.
USB not working.
Is there a way on loading an image via Serial, because loading the bootloader via serial works. If so has anyone got an old .NFI imag file I could use just to see if this will work

You have a choice original Vu firmware can be found here

http://archive.vuplus.com/image/2012/7.0/vuplus-image-bm750-20120203012328.nfi

Dont worry it wont brick the box i used this on my clone and it works perfectly

Or Blackhole 1.7.2 in .nfi format

http://www.sendspace.com/file/wi7mly