LibreELEC files for U9-H

K

klapa

Member
First of all - it is GREAT to see the forum back up after so long - I was beginning to worry about Minix viability.

I have owned a Z84-3 since the "early days" and battled back and forth with Windows related issues. I came to the realization that all I wanted was a media center controller capable of playing so really did not need Windows.

I made an inexpensive move to an Odroid C2 and was astounded at what I could get with LibreELEC and that platform for less than ~$85!

Yet in the quest for full HDR capability I have purchased and returned a few S912 boxes since. After looking around it seems the U9-H is the best hardware along with easiest installation of LibreELEC.

I hoped some here would check my strategy - namely the files I plan to put on the SD card - and comment if these are the correct files.

I expect my U9-H to be here this evening!

Main file is:

LibreELEC-S912.arm-8.2.4-Oclock-GPU.img.gz

Device tree:

gxm_q200_2g_minix_neo_u9.dtb

Above DTB listed as for 1000bt neo U9-H.


Thanks for any comments and excuse me if I have not searched well enough to find my own answers.
 
May I suggest you also take a look at CoreElec. It is more Amlogic centered than LibreElec. My personal experience is that it works even better than LibreElec. Like you, all I wanted was a media player that worked flawlessly.

I would rate CoreElec at 99+%, LibreElec at about 97+% and Android at maybe 75%.

I assume you will go the SD card route to test everything before committing by flashing to the U9-H ROM. I use the LibreELEC USB SD Creator utility to prepare the SD cards.

I have had the U9-H since it came out a few years ago. Very good media player that is made even better without Android getting in the way.

Enjoy
 
Thanks for the help and links. After reading through the posted links and other material I did decide to try CoreELEC.

I was not successful installing CoreELEC. I was using a 64GB SD card and tried a few times - always with the same result. I would power the unit (per instructions in the links) by hot plugging the DC power while simultaneously holding down the power button. I expected to see the Droid logo at which point I was to release the power button. I would not see anything UNTIL I released the button or pressed the button momentarily at which point I got the Droid logo and that is all - it would just stay there.

I was using the image CoreELEC-S912.arm-8.95.7-S912.img.gz with the device tree gxbb_p200_2G_minix_neo_u1.dts renamed as described.

I did however have no problems at all installing LibreELEC 8.2.4.1 with Kodi 17.6. It is interesting that the LibreELEC boots without the power key sequence - all I need do is press the power button, though the power LED is GREEN so possibly it is normal to behave like this if in standby mode.

I do want to get CoreELEC installed so will try again. It would be helpful if some would point out the EXACT image to use, as the various links specify the "S912" and alternately the "KVIM", as well as installing the ".tar.gz" or alternaly the ".tar".

I am very happy with my purchase - the colors are PHENOMENAL compared the the Odroid-C2 - especially the boost given to 1080p by the upscaling.
 
Alexdroid said:
Hi, why did you use gxbb_p200_2G_minix_neo_u1? and not U9h?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that was a typo and I actually did use the U9-H image. I just bought a new 32G SD card and will try again tomorrow, as I just bought an "upsized" TV to go along with my HDR and am installing that tonight.

**EDIT**

I may have been using the wrong device tree so tried again.

I went ahead and tried again with the 32G SD card I had been using in the Odroid. I made sure to use the gxm_q200_2g_minix_neo_u9.dts device tree file downloaded from GITHUB and renamed along with the primary image CoreELEC-S912.arm-8.95.7-S912.img.gz.

Same results - get the Droid logo that just sites there. Went back to LibreELEC with no problems.

I will do some more reading - seems I saw others with this same problem.
 
Last edited:
So I finally had success after some reading a person having a very similar problem with the CoreELEC distribution
CoreELEC-S912.arm-8.95.7-S912.img.gz.

I switched to the newly available version CoreELEC-S912.arm-8.99.1-S912.img.gz, used the device tree file found in the image directory, and it booted first time. I was able to easily connect to my smb shares on my linux server and access my media.

My initial impression is that I don't see much different compared to LibreELEC/Kodi 17.6 but as I can boot either I'll wait and see. Also I am "between TVs" as I have not yet installed my new TV and am using a 39" 720p temporarily.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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