hummy.tv Wiki - User contributions [en]

Custom Firmware Overview

2012-08-19T12:30:32Z

Fenlander:

==Background==

Like most modern electronic devices your Humax PVR is really a computer running a program, It has most of the things you would expect to find on your home P.C. like a monitor (your T.V.) an input device in the shape of the Remote Control (although no keyboard or mouse), a hard disk (Via USB on the HD), memory, USBs, a LAN connector etc.

Like a P.C. your Humax has an operating system, however it runs Linux rather than Windows, which makes it a lot more reliable, If you are familiar with Unix / Linux commands it is possible to navigate through it’s file system and carry out most of the task you would expect.

As the Humax is basically a computer it is possible to get it to run extra programs in addition to the main “Be a T.V. Tuner” program which is called ‘humaxtv’ and this is what the Custom Firmware does, the first thing added was Telnet which allowed a user to log into the Humax via the LAN connector and install extra linux programs to run along-side the main ‘humaxtv’ program.

The next item to be added was a Graphical User Interface or GUI, this is basically a ‘Windows’ type interface that can be logged into from a P.C. so that the user doesn’t have to learn linux commands in order to talk to the Humax, It is called the Web Interface or [[Custom_Firmware_Package_Notes#Web_IF|'''Web-If''']].

==So what does the Custom Firmware do for me?==

*Adds a [[Custom_Firmware_Package_Notes#Telnet|'''Telnet''']] Interface to the Humax
*Adds a GUI that can be logged into via a P.C. iMac etc
*Adds a GUI Media browser
*Adds a GUI Recording Schedule Editor
*Adds a GUI EPG Page
*Adds a GUI package install / uninstall Management page
*Installable ‘always on’ [[Remote_Scheduling | '''Remote Schedule''']] server via the internet

The basic Web-If is very minimal and adds only a small extra loading to the Humax’s ‘Things-to-do’ list, there are over 150 [[Customised_Firmware_-_Features_Available |'''packages''']] that can be added to the Custom Firmware using the Package Management screen but they are not loaded from default so that the user can add only what they need.

==So how do I log into the Web-IF?==

Once the Custom [[Install_Modified_Firmware|'''Firmware is installed''']], enter the IP address of your Humax into the access bar of your brouser, e.g. 10.0.0.200, It is possible to use almost any brouse including :- Internet Explorer, Firefox, safari etc. You should then be presented with main [[Web_Interface_Screenshots|'''Web-If GUI screen''']] like this :-

[[File:Webif-main.png|600px|thumb|left]]

Install Modified Firmware

2012-03-02T10:16:07Z

Fenlander:

The procedure for upgrading Humax software, both original and customised (Modified) is detailed below.

==HDR Fox T2==

* [[Firmware_Downloads | '''Download the firmware''']] and, if it is a zip file, extract it
* Rename the resulting file as ''HDR_FOX_T2_Upgrade.hdf'' and place it in the root of a FAT32 formatted USB Flash / disk Drive *
* Put the unit into standby using the remote or big button on the front
* Make sure that the unit has completely shut down by listening for the hard drive to power down (accompanied by a click)
* Remove all USB devices
* Plug the USB Flash Device containing the HDF file into a USB port
* Turn on the TV and switch to the Humax input
* Start up the Humax using the big button on the front
* The software update should begin automatically and progress is shown on the TV screen
* The initial ''download'' is very quick and then programming takes 2-3 minutes
* Pauses in the percentage time bar are quite normal
* A list of possible Error codes that may be displayed are detailed [[Firmware Error Codes|'''HERE''']]
* When the update is complete ''End'' will appear on the front display and ''Success Downloading!'' will appear on the TV
* Unplug the USB Flash Device containing the HDR_FOX_T2_Upgrade.hdf file
* Reconnect any other USB devices e.g. Wi-Fi adadper, Hard disk Drives etc. (ensure that the HDF file is not present)
* Press the big button on the front again to restart with the new firmware

'''To Install a Full Web Interface Continue''' [[Install_Full_Web_Interface | '''HERE''']]

==HD Fox T2==

{{note|The HD Fox T2 requires a USB Flash / Disk Drive with a minimum of 2GB to be connected when operating with Custom Firmware otherwise it will not be possible to install additional software packages. Flash devices must be formatted in EXT2 using a P.C. program such as GParted “Live” CD. Hard Disk devices can be formatted in EXT3 by the HD FOX T2}}
* [[Firmware_Downloads | '''Download the firmware''']] and, if it is a zip file, extract it
* Rename the resulting file as ''HD_FOX_T2_Upgrade.hdf'' and place it in the root of a FAT32 USB Flash / Disk drive *
* Put the unit into standby using the remote, or power button on the front
* Plug the USB Flash device into the USB port
* Turn on the TV and switch to the Humax input
* Press and hold down the power button on the front until you see the software update begin, and the progress is shown on the TV screen
* The initial ''download'' is very quick and then programming takes 2-3 minutes
* Pauses in the percentage time bar are quite normal
* A list of possible Error codes that may be displayed are detailed [[Firmware Error Codes|'''HERE''']]
* When the update is complete ''End'' will appear on the front display and ''Success Downloading!'' will appear on the TV
* Unplug the USB Flash Device and delete the HD_FOX_T2_Upgrade.hdf file
* Reconnect a USB Flash / Hard Disk drive formatted in EXT2 / EXT3 (See Note above)
* Press the power button on the front to restart with the new firmware

'''To Install a Full Web Interface Continue''' [[Install_Full_Web_Interface | '''HERE''']]

{{note|
Some USB Flash / Disk Drives* are reported not to work. The reason for this is not fully understood; however the following tips are known to help :-
* Ensure no other USB devices are connected
* Do not use a USB extender cable
* Removing all other files / re-formatting can prevent file fragmentation
* Try both USB ports (HDR)
* As a last resort, try a different USB Flash Drive
}}

Padding versus Accurate Recording

2012-03-02T10:07:26Z

Fenlander:

== What's the difference? ==

When you set a recording on the Humax from the EPG, whether as a one-off event or a series recording, then the Humax uses one of two strategies to attempt to capture the entire programme, either ''Accurate Recording'' (AR) or ''Auto-Padding''.

If you go into the settings menu for recording preferences, there is the option to set pre- and post-padding; if both of these are off (zero) your recordings will be automatically AR; if either of them is set to a non-zero value the recordings will be made at the scheduled EPG times with an extra allowance before and after, according to what is set.

With both strategies, the Humax monitors the EPG information from the broadcaster and adjusts the scheduled recording entry to reflect last-minute changes to the broadcast schedule, however it only does this when it is booted and not recording.

Note :- The Humax can't record the same channel at the same time twice, even if there is a free tuner, so padding between consecutive programs on the same channel will be turned off and EPG times will be used.

In ''Accurate Recording'' mode, the Humax wakes up 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the recording and waits for a signal from the broadcaster (carried in the Now/Next EPG information) that the programme has started. It continues to watch for the start signal until 30 minutes after the recording's scheduled start time. If the signal is not received within that time window then the recording fails and is reported as ''Failed to Track'' in the media list.

In ''Auto-Padding'' mode, the Humax wakes up at (scheduled start time - pre-padding time) and starts recording immediately. At (scheduled end time + post-padding time) it stops recording and powers off.

== Which one should I use? ==

There is no right answer to that question; both options are attempts to ensure that you capture all of a recording that you schedule and both carry a risk that you will miss some or all of the programme. There are reports of the AR signal being unreliable on some channels (e.g. 5* which appears to just send the start signal when the programme was scheduled to start) and people in some regions do experience more recording failures than those in others. When it works, AR means that you have protection against a programme starting up to 15 minutes early or 30 minutes late.

Padding between consecutive programs on the same channel is supressed and EPG times are used. This can chop the end off a late running program and add it to start of the next recorded program.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! A.R. Pros
! A.R. Cons
|-
| Automatic -15Mins to +30Mins Flexibility
| You are at the whim of the Broadcaster
|-
| Can Eliminate consecutive (Multi-channel) program overlap
| not all channels e.g. CH5 provide reliability
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Padding Pros
! Padding Cons
|-
| Guaranteed (Single) Program length
| consecutive recordings on the same channel loose padding
|-
| Broadcaster can't control your recordings
| consecutive recordings on the same channel can be 'split'
|}

'''NOTE:-'''

With the customised firmware, it is possible to apply the two strategies selectively on a per-channel basis, so you can have the best of both worlds.