Zidoo X6 - Anyone using one of these?

[aubreyk]

I see on DSTV Now's app page several people now complain that it doesn't work with their devices and phones that are not rooted and says it's rooted and can't work, even on Hellopeter people complain about it.
Everyone should post on the DSTV Now Google Play Store link, email Multichoice and complain on Hellopeter so DSTV can get a wake up call to fix their problems.

Have you tried the new Android-Only v1.4 firmware on freaktab?

You mean v1.2? Yeah, no difference...

 

[xbmcfan]

You mean v1.2? Yeah, no difference...

Please try all previous DSTV Now apps, maybe a previous version will work.
https://apkpure.com/dstv-now/com.dstvmobile.android?hl=en
There is also Marshmallow firmware in the works for RK3368 that might make DSTV Now more compatible if a previous version doesn't work.
By putting in so many protections in their app Multichoice is really alienating their userbase.

 

[aubreyk]

Please try all previous DSTV Now apps, maybe a previous version will work.
https://apkpure.com/dstv-now/com.dstvmobile.android?hl=en
There is also Marshmallow firmware in the works for RK3368 that might make DSTV Now more compatible if a previous version doesn't work.
By putting in so many protections in their app Multichoice is really alienating their userbase.

Tried them all, none works

Where did you get the "M" release from?

 

[xbmcfan]

Tried them all, none works

Where did you get the "M" release from?

The latest Marshmallow firmware is here
I think I found the reason why DSTV Now doesn't work, will try to post later.

 

[aubreyk]

I think I found the reason why DSTV Noiw doesn't work, will try to post later.

Be great if I can get it runnin...

 

[aubreyk]

Be great if I can get it runnin...

Did you ever get to the bottom of why DSTV NOW does not want to stream?

 

[xbmcfan]

Did you ever get to the bottom of why DSTV NOW does not want to stream?

DSTV Now is extremely sensitive to firmware that is not even rooted.
So you have to use a very minimal firmware with several files and settings removed to make it work.
I'll see if something can be put together, since I can't test it myself because I don't have the PVR access package.

 

[aubreyk]

DSTV Now is extremely sensitive to firmware that is not even rooted.
So you have to use a very minimal firmware with several files and settings removed to make it work.
I'll see if something can be put together, since I can't test it myself because I don't have the PVR access package.

Hi xbmcfan
I have broken down the HPH NT-V8 down to having nothing in it (Re-Flashed with my own Firmware) and still gets stuck on the first frame. I have tested this with 3 different makes and all 3 have the same problem (Zidoo X6, NexBOX Z68 and HPH - All UNROOTED, as a matter of fact all root sw/references deleted). They all get stuck on the first frame.

kind regards
cyber7

 

[aubreyk]

Hi xbmcfan
I have broken down the HPH NT-V8 down to having nothing in it (Re-Flashed with my own Firmware) and still gets stuck on the first frame. I have tested this with 3 different makes and all 3 have the same problem (Zidoo X6, NexBOX Z68 and HPH - All UNROOTED, as a matter of fact all root sw/references deleted). They all get stuck on the first frame.

kind regards
cyber7

As a PS: You can follow my build on Freaktab (Nexbox Z68) and you will see from my release notes there is nothing in the box. As a matter of fact, I get an Antutu score of over 30K with no Hardware modifications! So really broken down to nothing!

 

[SL1v3R]

Two things we know that dstv now requires is an unique id (some clone boxes have the same unique id) and that it needs to support widevine drm which many Android boxes don't seem to have. I don't think a box being rooted is as big an issue.

 

[xbmcfan]

Two things we know that dstv now requires is an unique id (some clone boxes have the same unique id) and that it needs to support widevine drm which many Android boxes don't seem to have. I don't think a box being rooted is as big an issue.

Not anymore from this year.
DSTV Now also require unrooted devices or will refuse to stream.
Just look at all the negative feedback on the DSTV Now app on the Google Play Store where people say it worked last year and now refuse to work because of rooted devices. Even people with unrooted devices get error messages that DSTV Now refuses to stream and detects root even if their devices are unrooted.
But apps like Netflix and Showmax work perfect.

 

[aubreyk]

Two things we know that dstv now requires is an unique id (some clone boxes have the same unique id) and that it needs to support widevine drm which many Android boxes don't seem to have. I don't think a box being rooted is as big an issue.

The thing is, all 3 the boxes I have (different manufacturers) have a unique ID assigned. None of them are "cloned" and come from respectable box builders.

The boxes I have:
1. Zidoo X6 - Guarantees their HW/SW all registered and unique. (Even HDMi)
2. HPH NT-V8 - Considered one of the best RK3368 boxes out there.
3. NexBOX Z68 - A small footprint, high quality box.

So, as you can see, complete different boxes, all the same problem. Starts the stream, but gets stuck on the first frame...

kind regards
cyber7 (aka Aubrey Kloppers)

 

[SL1v3R]

The thing is, all 3 the boxes I have (different manufacturers) have a unique ID assigned. None of them are "cloned" and come from respectable box builders.

The boxes I have:
1. Zidoo X6 - Guarantees their HW/SW all registered and unique. (Even HDMi)
2. HPH NT-V8 - Considered one of the best RK3368 boxes out there.
3. NexBOX Z68 - A small footprint, high quality box.

So, as you can see, complete different boxes, all the same problem. Starts the stream, but gets stuck on the first frame...

kind regards
cyber7 (aka Aubrey Kloppers)

Do the boxes support widevine drm and if so is it enabled in the build.prop file?

 

[xbmcfan]

Do the boxes support widevine drm and if so is it enabled in the build.prop file?

The HPH NT-V8 has Google Widevine DRM included.
So it's DSTV Now's root check that is broken that detects some things to stop streaming on Lollipop.
On Kitkat firmware on similar devices DSTV Now worked last year as reported by users.
Other DRM apps like Google Movies work, so it is nothing DRM related.

 

[aubreyk]

The HPH NT-V8 has Google Widevine DRM included.
So it's DSTV Now's root check that is broken that detects some things to stop streaming on Lollipop.
On Kitkat firmware on similar devices DSTV Now worked last year as reported by users.
Other DRM apps like Google Movies work, so it is nothing DRM related.

Hi xbmcfan, so if I got you right, if I can get my hands on KitKat that DSTV NOW streaming will work? My next question is, do you have the KitKat version for HPH NT-V8? (I believe UGOOS UT4's will work...)

 

[xbmcfan]

Hi xbmcfan, so if I got you right, if I can get my hands on KitKat that DSTV NOW streaming will work? My next question is, do you have the KitKat version for HPH NT-V8? (I believe UGOOS UT4's will work...)

I have Kitkat on RK3288, Lollipop on RK3288 and Lollipop on RK3368.
I am also going to test Marshmallow on RK3368.
The RK3288 & RK3368 use the same base firmware, it is only the GPU and CPU architecture that differs.
But for RK3368 it was released with Lollipop, so Kitkat wasn't developed for it.

If someone could have provided me with a temporary DSTV Now details I could have gotten logs from all 4 firmwares and compared it to see if Kitkat or Marshmallow show something different than Lollipop.
But DSTV stopped smartcard sharing, so it will be difficult to test something like this myself without upgrading to a PVR decoder and account from a Premium non-PVR account.

If someone else has a RK3288, I can help them get logs and test Kitkat and Lollipop firmware and different rooting/un-rooting options.
And later Marshmallow on RK3368 but that will take a few days and it's still optimized for tablets not tv boxes.

On XDA forum there are users that removed root checks from US/CA streaming apps and then users could use it but I don't think that is a possibility.

 

[mercenary]

Has anyone tried the Google play store app - hide rooting lite? Are there currently any TV boxes supporting dstv now?

 

[aubreyk]

Has anyone tried the Google play store app - hide rooting lite? Are there currently any TV boxes supporting dstv now?

The problem is not with root. I have a couple of boxes now and just can not get them working.

Everything will install OK (DSTV NOW/Supersport/DStv Connect Single Sign-On) but:
* ANY stream gets stuck on the first frame with "DSTV NOW"
* Supersport comes up with "an unexpected error has occurred"

I have tried:
* Zidoo X6 Pro
* Zidoo XI II - Android 4.4.4
* Ugoos UT4
* NexBOX Z64
* Nagrace NT-V8
* Proline Android TV Stick
* RemixOS

None of them works! If anyone tells you differently, it is a lie! I have spoken to DSTV about the problem and they say that only some devices are supported, the rest - just your dumb luck!

That said, all the above devices runs on Android 5.1+ and except for the "stick" and "remix" runs on RK3368 chips. I am getting later today a RK3229 running on Android 4.4 and will post my findings/testing after some photos...

UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with Supersport APP also gives "An unexpected error occurred, please try again later" and
UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with DSTV NOW works!

I have also tried to get a S905 device to test, but did not want to spend money on older devices...

just my expensive testing experience, so far!!!

Footnote: It 'seems' that the only type of boxes that will work to be Android 4.4. I have not been able to get anything working on Android 5+, so IF you have a trick/tip how to do this, please post it! My next question is if there is a way to "trick" DSTV to look at the Android 5 devices as if it is Android 4? I will have to look into this one...

 

[xbmcfan]

The problem is not with root. I have a couple of boxes now and just can not get them working.

Everything will install OK (DSTV NOW/Supersport/DStv Connect Single Sign-On) but:
* ANY stream gets stuck on the first frame with "DSTV NOW"
* Supersport comes up with "an unexpected error has occurred"

I have tried:
* Zidoo X6 Pro
* Zidoo XI II - Android 4.4.4
* Ugoos UT4
* NexBOX Z64
* Nagrace NT-V8
* Proline Android TV Stick
* RemixOS

None of them works! If anyone tells you differently, it is a lie! I have spoken to DSTV about the problem and they say that only some devices are supported, the rest - just your dumb luck!

That said, all the above devices runs on Android 5.1+ and except for the "stick" and "remix" runs on RK3368 chips. I am getting later today a RK3229 running on Android 4.4 and will post my findings/testing after some photos...

UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with Supersport APP also gives "An unexpected error occurred, please try again later" and
UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with DSTV NOW works!

I have also tried to get a S905 device to test, but did not want to spend money on older devices...

just my expensive testing experience, so far!!!

Footnote: It 'seems' that the only type of boxes that will work to be Android 4.4. I have not been able to get anything working on Android 5+, so IF you have a trick/tip how to do this, please post it! My next question is if there is a way to "trick" DSTV to look at the Android 5 devices as if it is Android 4? I will have to look into this one...

Please post a catlog of Android 4.4 on RK3229 after opening DSTV Now and playing video for about 2 minutes.
Start logging with catlog before opening DSTV Now and when you are finished with DSTV Now then stop the logging and upload the log.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nolanlawson.logcat&hl=en
and a dmesg.
Install a terminal app for Android, must be rooted(can use Towelroot, 1 click root for Android 4.4)
then type
su
dmesg
or perhaps only dmesg and upload the log.

Then do the same for a RK3368 device with Android 5.1

It will pinpoint the problem why Android 4.4 works with DSTV Now but not Android Lollipop.
You can upload the logs or send them by PM to me.
Maybe something can then be written to trick DSTV Now to think it's compatible with Android 4.4 on Lollipop firmware.

 

[SL1v3R]

The problem is not with root. I have a couple of boxes now and just can not get them working.

Everything will install OK (DSTV NOW/Supersport/DStv Connect Single Sign-On) but:
* ANY stream gets stuck on the first frame with "DSTV NOW"
* Supersport comes up with "an unexpected error has occurred"

I have tried:
* Zidoo X6 Pro
* Zidoo XI II - Android 4.4.4
* Ugoos UT4
* NexBOX Z64
* Nagrace NT-V8
* Proline Android TV Stick
* RemixOS

None of them works! If anyone tells you differently, it is a lie! I have spoken to DSTV about the problem and they say that only some devices are supported, the rest - just your dumb luck!

That said, all the above devices runs on Android 5.1+ and except for the "stick" and "remix" runs on RK3368 chips. I am getting later today a RK3229 running on Android 4.4 and will post my findings/testing after some photos...

UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with Supersport APP also gives "An unexpected error occurred, please try again later" and
UPDATE: RK3229/Android 4.4 with DSTV NOW works!

I have also tried to get a S905 device to test, but did not want to spend money on older devices...

just my expensive testing experience, so far!!!

Footnote: It 'seems' that the only type of boxes that will work to be Android 4.4. I have not been able to get anything working on Android 5+, so IF you have a trick/tip how to do this, please post it! My next question is if there is a way to "trick" DSTV to look at the Android 5 devices as if it is Android 4? I will have to look into this one...

Have you tried installing the DRM Info app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.romanhosek.drminfo&hl=en from the playstore to check if all of those devices support Google Widevine DRM and that it's enabled?