|
STiControl
|
|
This is a beta test release. There are still some things I don't like and others
that do not really work the way they should. That will be fixed sometime later.
There is no warranty of any kind. Use it at your own risk!
The tool expects to find a STi5519 or STi5508 based Vestel dvd player environment
(mainboard labeld "12MB04" or "12MB03").
Starting with version 0.4 the Cyberhome DVD 505 environment will also be recognized: STi5508 with
the 2MB flash memory chip M29W160DT from STMicro and the mainboard marked with:
"19SA01, Rev: C01"
If the trap handler cannot be installed properly, try to connect
immediately after a reset. (nRST-button should be there on your JTAG
connector). Or, press connect right after you turned on the unit
(though, it's tricky to hit the right moment).
The nRST line is also supported when connected to parallel port pin D4.
|
If you tried to update your dvd player with the wrong firmware, or if you've just got
bad luck and the update crashed, then you're stick to the last option: you have to
rewrite the flash chips via the JTAG test access port.
The following description is done for dvd players that are originally manufactured by
Vestel with main circuit boards labeld "12MB03" or "12MB04".
In most cases, those players come in housings like this:
 
At first, you have to make sure that you have all the needed parts and information:
- Which decoder chip: the STi5508 or STi5519 ?
- Call the hidden information page: press open-menu-7-4-2-0.
There, look at the line "Memory Configuration". At the end of the line,
there might be a number which indicates which decoder chip is used. If there's
a 5508, then the decoder chip is the STi5508. If you see 5519 or 0,
then it's the STi5519. If there's no number, you have to open the player's case and read
the marklings on the decoder chip - you actually should do this in any case!
- Which mainboard: 12MB03 or 12MB04 ?
-
You can find out whether it's a 12MB03 or 12MB04 by just looking at the back
panel for the arrangement of all the plugs: (please note that both players
shown here have the optional 5.1 sound plugs equipped)
This one has a 12MB03 main pcb installed..
..where this one comes with a 12MB04 board.
- You need an appropriate firmware flash image (version doesn't matter)
-
Well, this is the tricky part. If the player has the STi5508 chip inside, you
are stuck with the rather old version v1.402 (find it here)
If you've got a STi5519, you may generate an image out of the suitable firmware update files: download this and that.
Then, open the dvd player:
This one has a 12MB03 main pcb..
|
.. and here it's the 12MB04 type pcb
|
Remove all the screws, unplug all the connected wires and take out the main circuit board.
The JTAG plug pads are located next to the drive's IDE flat cable connector (see picture,
1). After having the plug soldered in, it sould look like this:
JTAG plug on the 12MB03..
|
..and the 12MB04 board with their pin designations
|
The next task is to buid yourself a JTAG interface:
|
JTAG to parallel interface circuit diagram
If you find this too complicated, you may do it the simple but more risky way: build an
interface that consists of just a cable with the parallel port plug on the one side's end
and the JTAG plug on the other. Inbetween you have to put those serial inline resistors as
shown in the circuit diagram.
If you do it this way, you have to pay a lot more attention: only use short cables and no
extension cords. All in all, the cable from your computer's parallel plug to the dvd player's
JTAG connector should not exceed 1.5 meters in length. Take care not to cause electrical
discharges to this cable or to any other parts of the dvd player but the metall case!
Now connect everything, switch on the computer but leave the dvd player off until you've
started STiControl. Power-on the dvd player and try to establish a logical connection by
pressing the connect button. You may have to repeat this some times until you get a proper
connection. This is due to the limited information I have about the decoder chip (in fact,
there's almost nothing but useless propaganda publicly available from the manufacturer).
|
|
Links
