So far, I had only seen Android TV box with digital TV tuner using Amlogic or HiSilicon solutions, but S204 Android set-top box differs, as it is powered by Allwinner H3 quad core Cortex A7 processor, and includes DVB-T2/C (Terrestrial and cable TV) and DVB-S2 (satellite TV) tuners. AFAIK, Allwinner H3 does not include any TS interfaces, so they must have used USB tuner chip(s) [Update: Allwinner H3 does have a Transport Stream interface as per the datasheet, but it’s not really advertised by Allwinner]
S204 TV box specifications:
- SoC – Allwinner H3 quad core Cortex A7 @ 1.2/1.3 GHz with Mali-400MP2 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 8GB flash + micro SD slot
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4 up to 4K @ 30 Hz + AV (composite)
- Audio Output – HDMI, AV (stereo audio), and optical S/PDIF
- Tuners
- Support HD DVB-S2, DVB-T2 and DVB-C;
- Support for BISS,CCCAM, NEWCAM, GSCAM, and MGCAM
- LNB in with satellite dish antenna, RF input for indoor / outdoor terrestrial antenna or cable
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi
- USB – 2x USB host ports, including one OTG capable port
- Misc – Power button, front panel LCD display
- Power Supply – 12V/1.5A
- Dimensions – 140 x 120 x 25mm
- Weight – 326 grams
The device runs Android 4.4.2 and ships with a remote control, a power adaprer, HDMI and AV cables, and a user’s manual. If the screenshots are to be believed, the interface appears to be the same eOn center launcher as used on U4 Quad Hybrid, which offers support for PVR, Time-shifting, EPG, a configuration web interface, and more, and is actually pretty good.
S204 is sold for $79.99 on GeekBuying, and considering it’s unclear whether it will get the same level of support as U4 Quad Hybrid, does not feel like such a good deal as K1 Plus T2 S2 is now sold for $60, and supports 4K DVB-S2 @ 60 fps thanks to an Amlogic S905 processor. The manufacturer could be a company called L&Y electric industries Co based on listings for a DVB-T2/C only model on Global Sources and ECPlaza.
Via AndroidPC.es
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too expansive for an H3 board
for 40$ would be much more interesting
any idea about the DVB drivers if it’s compatible with V4L2???
If it does not support HEVC (H.265) DVB-T2 won’t work in Germany.
@RelentlesS
Allwinner H3 supports H.265.
@natsu
Maybe $40 is a bit too aggressive for a dual tuner system, but $50 to $55 would put it in competition with K1 Plus T2 S2. Maybe the extra price is because of eOn Center launcher.
My eyes are bleeding after having seen that ugly white chunk of plastic… It would’ve cost them nothing much more to do a nice design…
H3 has a plus in beeing good community supported due to Orange Pi
should be easy to craft OpenELEC for it and/or install tvheadend etc
also, this one supports DVB-C, the other doesnt
Good to see more cable-cutting suitable Android-DVB boxes coming to market. Even if this isn’t the cheapest, it’s way cheaper than the earlier ones & both it and K1 Plus use processors with good community support, so could get custom firmwares.
yeah $70 is probably $15-20 too high and there’s no doubt the price will go down quickly if they want to sell those boxes..
Usb interface for the DVB card isn’t too bad, it could be a problem if the usb port is shared and/or if you need to dump a full transponder stream but for 1 or 2 HD channels it won’t matter.
you’d also have to see what they offer on the software side (android only certainly) but i’d bet it won’t be great.
@cnxsoft
I’m always a bit confused, how does the H3 compare to s805 and s905 ? Am i right to assume it kind of sits in between the two ?
It would be nice to have a table showing the socs populating current tv boxes of the same price range.
@natsu
was your v4l question related to android ?
Because on linux you’d also have to solve hw decoding support (for kodi at least), it works on the unofficial oe image with the cedarx driver but i can’t find a way to use that on my regular linux (ubuntu / armbian) builds.
I may be wrong but in my opinion it feels like the H3 is still far behind S805/905 when it comes to linux support, although it could change in the future thanks to armbian team.
@mdel
CPU and VPU will be between S805 and S905, but the GPU is the weakest of the three.
The H3 datasheet does list TS pin functions, just that the TS block is no longer documented.
@wens
Thanks. I had just checked the block diagram and product page, and the TS interface is not mentioned at all.
Another “manufacturer” or reseller for S204: SHENZHEN DEHOO GROUP -> http://www.dehootech.com/En/Product_Detail.aspx?CorpProductClass1_ID=122071&CorpProductClass2_ID=157173&id=1549897&UserInfo_ID=854944
I need firware
S204 Android Set-top box with DVB-T2/C & DVB-S2 Tuners is Powered by Allwinner H3 Processor
thank you
@ouni abdelkarim
You need to check with your seller. If this is not possible, then you’d have to locate the manufacturer, and try to get the firmware.