Cloud-Ibox4 only red led repair story.

Discussion in 'Cloud-Ibox4 receiver' started by Johnny B., Mar 20, 2018.

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  1. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    I had bought a while ago one faulty Cloud-Ibox4 which were easy to repair and had used to see if it could be modified to the VuJ chip, which succeeded as you may have seen in the previous postings.
    And thus bough a few days ago again two faulty Cloud-Ibox4, one to see if it could be modified to the VuJ chip, without removing the security chip which succeeded as you could read in this previous posting.
    The third faulty Cloud-Ibox4 I would use to see if I can reprogram the onboard security chip to the VuJ chip.
    It has four pins on the part side (J1006) which are for the security chip, the swim connection, so it can be reached for programming to it without removing is from the motherboard.

    But okay, I need first see if I can repair this motherboard, it's death, only the red led shows on the front.

    Checking...
    First thing I did was to check the Dc/Dc voltage ic's output, which are present, only the 1.8v output from the U204 drops to 1.6v while the 5v input to it stays stable, which is a bit suspicious, further looks the total amps consumption normal thus there were no heavy voltage issues.
    Next step was to see if I could get any serial output with Hyperterminal, which shows nothing.
    Then I checked with Jtag(I2C) if I could get a connection with the BroadbandStudio program which doesn't.

    Okay, because I not could make a connection with the bbs, and there were no terminal output, and the 1.8v drops to 1.6.
    By this, I started to think on a cpu issue, maybe it can be fixed by a reflow, but since the 1.8v drop, it could be a bad cpu.

    Reflow action...
    First job it to remove the heat sink which is not always easy if they use some glue for it, but this heat sink was luckily added with double side tape, so the removing was not a issue, actually it was surprisingly easy to remove, too easy in my opinion.
    Surprisingly (well not really) was to see that a previous owner already had done a reflow job what had gone wrong, cpu was popcorned at the upper right.

    Not so easy to see on this picture, but it's there,
    Click on a picture for a full view (if you like).
    cpuSnap.jpg

    By this, I decided to place a new cpu on it.
    Cpu replacement....

    First thing is to protect all parts which could melt but also to prevent the other parts around the cpu to get hot.
    I use Kapton tape for it, which is not so expensive to buy, this is my way when I want to replace a cpu with a hot plate and a hot air station.
    When I use my bga rework station it goes with less tape.
    Anyways here's a picture from it,

    mb-oldcpuSnap.jpg

    Print side,
    mb-oldcpuSnap2.jpg

    After I had removed the cpu, and cleaned the old solder I saw two missing solder spots,

    mb-oldcpuSnap3.jpg

    They were not used and thus unused, but if this happens when they were used than it's often not wise to place a new cpu on it.
    Also, when this happens it's better to remove the solder balls from the cpu from this missing places, otherwise there is a risk that these solder balls create a short circuit with the others.

    Anyways, next step is to solder a new cpu on it, if it's done with a good bga station and a correct profile, then there are often no risks to preform it, but I did this job by hand, using my hot table on 100 degrees and a hot air station set to 350 degrees.
    I've used two temp probes to watch the temperatures with the progress.
    The hot plate must be absolutely level, or else there is the risk that the CPU will shift during the process.
    And also I have the luxury to have enough of cpu's, which are original Vu+Duo cpu's and thus no risk that it won't work (new cpu's which are bought on ebay may not work if they were produced for another type box with other hardware).

    Anyways, the cpu placement was succeeded...
    mb-newcpuSnap.jpg

    Testing....
    By powering up the motherboard it still gave the red led as if it looks the same as before but there were a differences, the 1.8v stays stable, other voltages also indicates no issues.
    So there is some improvement with this new cpu and thus the next step is to see if I could make a jtag connection which succeeded.

    Bbs, Nand flash connection...
    Well the connection to the nand chip went well, but it has the famous starting offset bad block issue,

    badblock.jpg

    So, there we go again, removing the nand chip, and replace it for another.
    Of course I have learn from it in the past, so just in case I had mounted a nand flash socket instead of solder a new nand chip onboard.
    badblock2.jpg

    Added a new nand chip, programed it and this box works flawless.
    Next step is to see if I can reprogram the security chip, but this will (if succeed) placed into the VuJ chip topic.
    Reprogram the security chip..., due the different storage space (stm32 versus Stm8) it was not possible.
    The chip needs to be replaced for the VuJ chip to make this box useful for the use of the original image files.

    The conclusion..
    In any case, the previous owner had only need to replace the nand flash chip, but because He/She also decided to do a reflow job it made it worse.

    But luckily for me I have enough duo cpu's which were gifted to me from Rola, the factory Ferrari dreambox and with thanks to Ts for helping to get them.. ;o)

    cloud-ibox4-cpus.jpg
     
  2. Asu

    Asu New Member

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    Hello, Johnny B., I have a problem with Cloud-ibox (clone V + Solo), red LED on, Jtag and BroadbandStudio connect, the connection with the nand flash chip is fine, but the error "THE STARTING OFFSET" appears. BAD BLOCK THE OPERATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED "means that the nand flash chip has the famous initial problem of bad blocks and I have to change it?

    I can read and delete nand flash but not write
     

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    Last edited: Apr 15, 2018
  3. Johnny B.

    Johnny B. Technical Support Staff Member Moderator

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    Yeah is means that it has a bad block in the starting area which in most cases only can be solved by replacing the nand chip.

    In some cases it can be solved by erasing the chip several times with the bbs software, but it has more success with a nand flash programmer by releasing all the bad blocks markings.
    But then you need also remove the flash nand chip.

    In any case, it can mostly be solved by replacing the nand flash chip for a new one, and of course, it needs to be prepared by jtag(I2c) with the correct boot loader.
    After that, you should be able to upload a image file on the regulair way.
     
  4. Asu

    Asu New Member

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    Thank you very much for your prompt response and help Johnny, I have deleted more than 50 times with bbs and remains the same, I will change the nand if there is a solution
     
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