[Report] BTV9 (S905X p212) - Success

[rickmschulz]

Device Information

• Name: BTV9 (TV Box common in Brazil)
• SOC: Amlogic S905X
• RAM: 1GB
• Board ID: p212 (Generic)

Installation Success Report

• Image Used: Armbian_25.11.0_amlogic_s905x_noble_6.1.158_server
• DTB File: meson-gxl-s905x-p212.dtb
• Install Script ID: 109 (T95, XiaoMI-3S, X96)
• Status: Fully working.
  • Boot from USB
  • Install to eMMC (Internal Storage)
  • Ethernet
  • Wi-Fi (Untested/Not needed for Server)

Notes:
The BTV9 works perfectly using the generic T95/X96 configuration (ID 109).
Please consider adding "BTV9" to the description for ID 109 or 105 to help future users!

Edit: Installation Note:
For booting into Armbian, I found that the physical reset button (toothpick method) did not work. I had to use the "Reboot to LibreELEC" APK from Android to successfully trigger the boot from USB.

[ophub]

Thanks for sharing your work! Your post is excellent—very well-organized and nicely illustrated. Kudos to you! I'll add this device to the support list today.

[ophub]

The device you shared has already been added: 9c8cac0

Is the Ethernet port on this device Gigabit or 100Mbps?

Do you have the stock Android firmware (ROM) for this device? If so, could you please share the download link?

Also, do you know the location of the shorting points for unbricking? If you do, could you please mark them on a photo of the board?

Thanks.

[rickmschulz]

Ethernet Speed: It is 100Mbps. (I verified this by running ethtool eth0 directly on the device).

Stock Firmware: Unfortunately, I don’t have the stock firmware image. I didn’t perform a full backup using armbian-ddbr before the installation (which I definitely should have), so the original Android ROM is no longer available.

Shorting Points: I have not opened the device case, so I cannot provide a photo of the board or identify the maskrom shorting points at this time. I identified the hardware specs (p212 board, S905X) using software tools (CPU-Z and SSH).

Since the device is currently running in production as my DNS server (Pi-hole), I cannot dismantle it right now. However, if I manage to find a firmware dump or open the device in the future, I will post an update.

Edit: Please note that I am not a specialist in this subject. If I have misunderstood any of your questions or if the information provided is incomplete, please feel free to correct me.

[ophub]

Okay, thanks for sharing.

When installing Armbian or OpenWrt on TV boxes, it often requires trial and error to find the right build, which involves frequent flashing. That is why the first person to test a device usually finds the original stock Android image first to ensure there is a fallback plan.

Additionally, entering flash mode often requires shorting specific pins on the motherboard. So, whenever I come across a TV box, I ask the original contributor if they have the corresponding stock Android firmware and a diagram of the shorting points. I archive these in a repository for long-term preservation. This makes it convenient for future users with the same device to restore the Android system or unbrick their devices when needed.

Here is the download link for the backed-up Android images and flashing tools: https://github.com/ophub/kernel/releases/tag/tools

[rickmschulz]

​I edited the main post to add information about the boot method, which I forgot to include earlier.

​Perhaps I was lucky that I did not brick it on the first try given my inexperience! Thanks.

[benzlk]

opa rick vi q vc mostrou seu projeto e q tbm é do brasil, estou tentando achar a iso para o s905x vc consegue me mandar a iso, nao sei se ja esta aqui, sou novo por aqui, tenho um btv express e queria transformar em um servidor tbm

nao sei se é possivel mandar por aqui mas qualquer coisa eu passo meu email

[rickmschulz]

opa rick vi q vc mostrou seu projeto e q tbm é do brasil, estou tentando achar a iso para o s905x vc consegue me mandar a iso, nao sei se ja esta aqui, sou novo por aqui, tenho um btv express e queria transformar em um servidor tbm

nao sei se é possivel mandar por aqui mas qualquer coisa eu passo meu email

O .iso se encontra na seção de releases. Se você quiser usar especificamente o que eu usei, segue o link.

Notas, @benzlk:

• O ideal é ter conhecimento e familiaridade com Linux.
• Existe a possibilidade de inutilizar o seu BTV. Para "consertar", somente abrindo o dispositivo e realizando um método de ligação direta (shorting points), método que, por sorte, não precisei fazer com o meu aparelho.
• Caso você prossiga, lembre-se de fazer um backup do seu Android. Eu não realizei esse procedimento, que é fundamental, quando instalei o server. Essa omissão do backup poderia ter me dado muita dor de cabeça, caso o aparelho não tivesse iniciado no boot.

Edit: Eu reparei que o seu aparelho é o BTV Express, diferente do meu. Seria interessante, antes de qualquer coisa, você instalar o CPU-Z para verificar seu Board ID e SOC.

[benzlk]

eu abri ele
ja vi o soc é o mesmo q o seu
sei q ele pode ficar quebrar, mas ja esta os produtos da btv ja nao funcionam nem canal ao vivo nem o youtube se quer, eu assumo o risco

[benzlk]

obrigado rick pela iso vai me ajudar bastante

[michelszabo]

Hello, congratulations on the work.
I have the BTV X and I would like to know if you can help me with something to install on it? Please

[PhillipPaivaBrito]

I have something to add about the boot into armbian, in my case i didn't NEED to use an APK, i opened the case of my TVBOX and notice two UPDATE buttons, one don't have access through the case(see the picture), i use this button to boot into armbian and install.