upgrade suggestions for u9h

maxandboggers

New member
just wondering on suggestions which android box would be a good upgrade since minix is no longer making android boxes must at least as good or better to install higher android os and kodi would appreciate any input thanks everybody and lets all have a great day!
 
just wondering on suggestions which android box would be a good upgrade since minix is no longer making android boxes must at least as good or better to install higher android os and kodi would appreciate any input thanks everybody and lets all have a great day!
Do you want to move on from the U9-H or are you willing to try newer custom firmware?

Take a look at slimBOXtv ....
https://theminixforum.com/index.php?threads/slimboxtv-custom-rom-for-u9-h.5768/

AOSP and ATV versions available.

It's a very active thread at the moment with new updates fairly frequently.

Last update was 31st March...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/project-slimboxtv.4152049/page-165#post-88356833

There's also a Forum member @antonio6o6 tweaking the firmware.

Don't let the circuit board modification, to allow the USB ports to function, put you off, as it does not need to be done, as you can use the OTG port.
https://theminixforum.com/index.php?threads/new-custom-rom-slimbox-for-this-device.5768/post-42068
 
I just upgraded to Slimbox ATV and it has really brought my U9H back to life. That would be my recommendation. Just as a comparative statement, I also own a Nvidia Shield and the U9H with Slimbox ATV is almost as good as it in my opinion.
 
I was in the same situation a few months ago.
I wanted an AOSP interface, and therefore wasn't interested in most of the ebay ones. Having spent a few years on XDA forums flashing old phones, a thread on Lineage 18 ( Android 11 ) AOSP and ATV versions for the Nvidia Shield with recent security updates caught my eye.
I purchased a 2nd hand 2017 model with controller and remote for about €135, used the stock interface for 1 day then flashed Lineage and gapps which gives access to the playstore. Installing it is all command line, but not difficult if you are familiar with the tab key autofill, I did it in one go.
There's a video here, it stutters a bit, but it's recording the screen at the same time normal operation is really smooth.
Comparing the usual apps, youtube, iplayer etc to my U9 there's not really much difference, but the Shield works really well with Google Earth and Playstation 1 emulation.

 
@Tricky

You have peaked my interest. I must admit I never heard of Lineage OS but now going through the website, I might give it a go. What are the advantages to Lineage over the native OS ? I suspect it is rooted right ?

Thanks
 
@Tricky

You have peaked my interest. I must admit I never heard of Lineage OS but now going through the website, I might give it a go. What are the advantages to Lineage over the native OS ? I suspect it is rooted right ?

Thanks
I cannot start making assumptions on the advantages since I used stock for 1 day, I wanted a tablet style interface like my U9h.
On stock there is no decent web browser available on the play store, I have later learned that these apps could be sideloaded, but at the time I installed Lineage and Gapps, which gives full access to the Playstore.
It's not rooted, although there is rooted debugging.
 
Last edited:
@Tricky

You have peaked my interest. I must admit I never heard of Lineage OS but now going through the website, I might give it a go. What are the advantages to Lineage over the native OS ? I suspect it is rooted right ?

Thanks
Just to make sure you are not being misinformed here, @Tricky is talking about the Nvidia Shield TV and not the U9, there is no Lineage ROM available for the U9.
 
Sorry if there is any confusion, my post seemed appropriate considering the thread title. I just want to spread the word on what can be done to those that may be interested with the Nvidia Shield, since there is so little information regarding stock Android on this device.
 
@Marty @Tricky
Hi Guys,

I understood the advice to be for Nvidia Shield, but to bring it back to U9H, I have been using slimbox ATV for a few weeks now and I still think its a solid upgrade for U9H. I still believe the U9H with slimbox to be almost as good as the shield at this point in time.
 
Well, I am dumping both my UH0 and U22 because they have both taken a vacation and nothing I do will get them back to how well they worked just a few weeks ago. My UH9, even tho not supported for quite awhile. worked very well. Fast, and exactly what I needed. I'm not into deep, audiophile stuff. Just a clear. clean picture. All good until a few weeks ago and everything slooooowed way done and builds stopped working well. So right now looking for a different box
 
Well, I am dumping both my UH0 and U22 because they have both taken a vacation and nothing I do will get them back to how well they worked just a few weeks ago. My UH9, even tho not supported for quite awhile. worked very well. Fast, and exactly what I needed. I'm not into deep, audiophile stuff. Just a clear. clean picture. All good until a few weeks ago and everything slooooowed way done and builds stopped working well. So right now looking for a different box
What have you tried in order to get them back to how well they worked a few weeks ago ?

They are both still very capable boxes and i assume you refer to using Kodi as you mention builds ( which is most likely to be the source of your issues, along with any similar apk's that have been installed)
 
Anyone thinking of buying the typical ones all over Ebay might want to watch Linus tech tips video on tv boxes, some come with malware pre-installed.
 
@Tricky

I'm super paranoid about malware when it comes to anything unknown, so I ran a full malwarebytes scan on slimbox atv and came up with no malware found. Full disclosure though, I did remove most all of the preinstalled streaming APKs since I did not recognize them or they were explicitly in Russian. I can't say for sure if they had malware on them, but my current install is "apparently" malware free.
However, you are right to be cautious when buying on amazon, ebay, or ali express. I am weary of anything that is not licensed or white listed by reputable sellers. Also, unless you are an expert, experienced, or know your way around the OS platform, you should probably shy away those after market purchases.
 
uh9 is 6 years old and worked flawlessly during that time. It is only recently that it has been having problems. I just think I want to try something else. I can shelve it for now
 
Gotta remember I have had this device and the 22 for nearly 7 years. It's off when not in use, since they DON'T support the UH9 anymore I only uninstall, reinstall everything over the past 2 weeks and it still drags or won't play. I'm sure it does have to do with Kodi but can't figure out why. Boxes are getting so cheap now a day that getting a different one is just the thing to do. Minix is really missing the boat when they won't support but will push you into buying a weak, at the time, device. Leaving on a device for long extended times is another example of poor design. Kind of like leaving your car on all the time so the battery doesn't die. Yes, it works in most cases but to me unnecessary.These units will work, for most people, very well and like a lot of different brands will have a huge following. But, over the past few years it seems there are many very disappointed in design, flexibility, customer service, internal components, that there are many complaints. So, expense to get a reliable device is in the eyes of the beholder anymore. One of the cheapest units on the market at $20 is getting some high praise from many sources. The problem is it's hard to find. I did order a unit that has great reviews with many upgrades and will see how it works. Thanks for your responses tho
 
Also got thinking how much Minix is a unreliable company. They are the only ones that make you jump thru hoops just to get your product to function properly. I looked yesterday on how to upgrade my u9. It's ridiculous that I would have to go thru the steps provided just to get a functioning device.. I watched a few videos from different people doing the same thing. WHY? The u9 isn't even close in specs with other companies. It's like taking a flathead motor out of a car and replacing it with Corvette motor. A lot of work. The funny thing is Minix has dropped off many lists for recommended devices. Most people have never heard of Minix and those that have take a pass on them. This makes a huge statement.
 
@remy

I must agree with you regarding jumping through hoops to get a proper upgrade, but I have used other models too which require the same hoops. The idea of having to download special software to encrypt the disk image, then pressing into a pinhole while holding the power switch at the same time ...etc..etc.. to trigger the upgrade is a bit much. However, once you've done the first time it becomes pretty easy to do again and again. I used the upgrade process to upgrade my fully functional U9H to slimmbox ATV. I was not sure if it would work, but it did and functionally, the U9H is flawless right now.

Having said that, I agree that MInix has dropped the ball on their products, which is a shame, but that does not take away from the solid nature of their product. Some of the cheaper brand android boxes talk about having 4g ram and 64g storage, and offering 4k output ...etc...but what they don't tell you is that their chipset is subpar and they absolutely cant support 4k and their ram is shared with their rom. It's like taking a Mustang GT body but putting is a honda civic engine then calling it a mustang. Minix product is not perfect, but it is and does exactly what they said it could. At least from my experience.

Have you tried the Slimbox aosp or ATV yet? If you plan to move on from Minix anyway, might be a good time to try it out.

Just my two cents worth. ;)
 

pressing into a pinhole while holding the power switch at the same time ...etc..etc.. to trigger the upgrade is a bit much. However, once you've done the first time it becomes pretty easy to do again and again.

To be honest I don't see any other way it could be done, having a separate button for download mode would have caused grief to Minix distributors with people calling them saying what is this.

With the Shield you turn on usb debugging send a command to unlock the bootloader, this factory resets the device, and you need to set it up again just to turn usb debugging back on. Then you flash recovery, and Lineage. Most devices with few buttons require somewhat tedious procedures, phones are easier.

Have you tried the Slimbox aosp or ATV yet?
How does the right mouse button work on Slimbox ? With my Shield it brings up context menu's, so it's a bit more like using Windows, rather than it going back like clicking the triangle in the navigation bar.
 
@Tricky
I haven't noticed any specific function with the right mouse button on slimbox, but that said, I haven't used the right mouser button on my shield either.

One thing that I do see as an advantage on Slimbox ATV over my Shield, which is also an ATV, is the ability to auto screen orient to landscape view. The only way to achieve that on the Shield that I have found is to sideload a screen orientation app to do that, which I refuse to do.
 
Back
Top