I’m shopping for set top boxes and I was wondering if there is a more detailed list of specifications for the Vero 4k+ (or the previous one for that matter). I know about this basic list of specs, from the main website:
But there are virtually no details on any of those components. What is the SoC used? Which processor architecture? I assume it’s an ARM processor, but which one? What’s the latency on that RAM? How about the wifi, BT or IR/RF chipsets?
Which bootloader is used? u-boot? I know OSMC is a Debian derivative which is great, but how much does it derive? Are there plans to bring those contributions back into Debian upstream?
Source code derivations:
Linux kernel: 3.14, binary blobs for mali. mainline boots and Mali can run with GBM (WIP: only 2 channel out and HDMI 1.4)
It would be great to see more details on those specs for us free software enthusiasts looking at using the device as a more generic platform. I’m particularly interested to hear if it would be possible to run a mainline Linux kernel and a standard Debian distribution on this machine. OSMC is a Debian derivative so the Vero technically runs Debian, but because of the above kernel and uboot changes, it cannot run an unmodified Debian install.
I’ll update this post with details from reply as we go along.
thanks both of you, i’ve updated the summary and will keep updating as more details come along. users can supply a lot of this information… for example, just running lshw -short as root would help tremendously…
awesome reference, thanks! i think we can see the Samsung chip number in there as well which could shed some light on the SDcard capacity. If I read this right, this would be a KLMAG2GE4a-A001 chip which would be the SDcard controller (or is that 16GB memory onboard)?
I can’t make out anything else in there unfortunately… You’d think the FCC reference would tell us what the wifi firmware actually is…
This letter submitted to the FCC also confirms the “schematics”, “block diagram” and “operational description” are “confidential” (or at least confidentiality was requested).
Most of the information you’re asking has been made publicly available, but granted, not in one place. I’m not sure how beneficial it is to others on the sales page. I can appreciate that some are concerned about the older kernel; but hopefully they are given peace of mind by the support commitments made on the site.
WiFi is AP6255 for 433Mbps 802.11ac and BT 4.2. Realtek RTL8211F is muxed in with the internal PHY to provide Gigabit Ethernet.
The IR receiver isn’t the same as the RF receiver: one is external and one is internal.
Bootloader source is at GitHub - osmc/vero3-uboot.
When we move to mainline, we will use the mainline UBoot.
OSMC is considered a Debian derivative. The changes we make for OSMC are beneficial for us downstream but not for Debian’s overall project goals. We do work with them however on issues and test sid in advance.
Linux 3.14 today.
Mainline can be booted now; and Mali can be run with GBM (which is the future of video decoding for Linux and Kodi). But output is limited to 2 channel out and HDMI 1.4 modes. So it’s a WIP.
Just to clarify: you are saying the hardware designs are not freely available or not under NDA?
Also, thanks for the clarifications so far, but could we get more info on the other parts of the device? For example, what about the IR and especially RF receiver? How do those work? How hackable are they? What’s the range and “transparency” of the signal (e.g. i know IR doesn’t go well through wood, but will RF?) What about the memory? Soldered? Latency?
quick update here: I ended up buying a Vero 4k when the stocks returned today. I’ll make sure to review the specs here as I figure it out from my own inspections when I receive the device.
power supply (5V 2A, negative sleeve, positive tip)
remote controller
remote receiver dongle
the vero 4k itself
There are a few things odd, right there. The first thing is the remote looks like an IR remote, and sure enough there’s that “infrared receiver extension kit” shipped with the device. But the website specifically mentions a “OSMC RF remote control” is part of the kit. Is that the same device?
Either way, where does the IR extension kit plug in? As you can see in the picture, there are two 1/8" jacks on the vero, next to the ethernet port. Which one is which?
Then the remote receiver dongle is never mentioned on the website, which clearly says there are two USB ports. Yet one of those needs to be used by the remote receiver, so it’s a bit misleading to say there are two USB ports.
Finally, I would have expected the “TV mounting kit” to be a standard VESA adapter or something of the sort, not something that’s basically a piece of plastic with some glue.
In the picture, the “back” of the device is shown in front, and is where power comes out. The “front” of the device has a LED in front of a “plus” sign (+).
The bottom of the device has two sets of tiny venting holes, the MAC address on a sticker with a bar code, and two holes where the TV mounting kit fits. The center of the holes are about 53mm apart. There are four small rubber pads glued to the bottom of the device as well. There are no obvious screws that would allow me to open the machine and look inside without risking to break it, which might make repairs difficult.
It’s unclear to me what the difference between the “black” and “white” USB ports are. I wish the OSMC folks would provide schematics that would explain at least what each ports are: surely that’s not covered by a NDA…
Yes, this really should be in the User guide that comes in the box. Most people don’t use either of them. But it shouldn’t take you long to find the answer in here. (5) is CVBS and analogue audio, (6) is the IR extension socket.
I’m probably going to use the audio jack at least, as there’s an external PA system here… But I was happily surprised to hear sound coming out of the television when I hooked up the HDMI. At first I had no idea what’s going on because I never realized the TV could produce sound on its own (!), probably because the previous device I had hooked up didn’t send audio on the HDMI wire. So that’s kind of cool.
Yeah, I figured I would find out when I hooked up a audio out. I assume CVBS is composite video and is a video output as well?
