PrimeCable Android TV Box - Tips, Tricks, Tweaks, and Solutions

Goddamn! For this price, i'll definitely jump in, install Kodi/Smarttube and then sit back and chill.

https://forum.armbian.com/topic/2419-ar ... x-ver-544/

to sideload linux on it and run pihole. you have to check the above site.

It says $45 on the website. Out of stock too.

brampton90 wrote: ↑ https://forum.armbian.com/topic/2419-ar ... x-ver-544/

to sideload linux on it and run pihole. you have to check the above site.

or coreelec and run docker/portainer from addons in back ground and stilll use it as a decent media player for local playback or retro gaming.

Note### only if its not an encrypted bootlader!! then your kinda stuck with it or possibly twrp solutions might be available. To be safe then just run just the leanlauncher for fire non root instead for better launcher or stick with coreelec vs android.

But if not Since this is an x96 mini maybe look at Xperience atvx firmware or aidans androidtv 9. I didn't buy this box as I have older boxes from posts from rfd over the years. I threw aidans on them. One was an s905x and one was an s905w and they run fine. I highly recommend his firmwares vs the junk stock they come with. Atleast for the added security updates they include is better than nothing at all.Work great as a jellyfin client etc
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/v4-s ... s.4199287/
https://www.aidansrom.ml/s905w/
the link for download is off the youtube channel form there its a google share folder with alot of choices. If its x96mini go straight to the v9 folder and try the 3 he has available and use the one that has the stuff working for your box.

So what I can add is that for s905w for aidan's firmware it would run androidtv 9. That's the most wow factor of available firmwares to merit your time plus has security updates included. If you need a working androidtv netflix use the one from his web page and yes it works but only sd content etc. Its a very nice smooth firmware with working market etc its basically a mibox wit no certification for subscription subs. But everything else seemed to run fine and stable.

Now if you want a leaner yet equally good build then atvXperience
https://forum.atvxperience.com/viewforu ... 1ac5572a78
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom- ... e.3771277/
I think he offers 2 flavors 1 straight pie and 1 androidtv pie and it seems they have targeted x96mini builds too so great news not too shabby for a 9.99 device

now for coreelec pick from here
https://coreelec.org/
needs an sdcard and use etcher to load it is simple easy enough.Copy the dtb best for your box from the folder now found on the sdcard. To the root folder of the sdcard after you flashed it. Put in box. Hold the reset at boot when you plug it in and it will load from sd card all the time and boot to coreelec as long as the card remains in the slot.
https://www.balena.io/etcher/
i recommend sticking with 9.2.7 till a stable kodi 19 is released
for remote to work go here for the file or again if your box has root. Use a file manager got root /etc and in there is the remote.conf file copy and keep it and use it.
https://mega.nz/folder/HskzhZRY#lyIxBd51cCMbbwZMNXkmuA
how to here
https://discourse.coreelec.org/t/reposi ... lers/11023

for libreelec here are some balbes150 LE images.
https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/12330 ... /?pageNo=1
Also if its for a jellyfin client player you desire under coreelec or libreelc etc. Install and use embruary for a full emby client experience in linux its pretty nice skin for a jellyfin or emby server.

so if you have a junk drawer with an s905x or s905w or an s912...try out aidans or atvexperience . Even 1gb/8gb versions are supported too.

But no not straight first version s905 boxes or s8XX versions are supported by aidan. Best to stick with coreelec or alexelec linux or armbian for those.

here lets help out some more

just tried atv experience on an s905w actually posted a few years ago from this thread. Firmware made for x96 mini anyway but what the hell
bqeel s905w
amazon-ca-bqeel-ax9-max-android-7-1-tv- ... d-2153218/

ok downloaded firmware from here

https://forum.atvxperience.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2451

painless install using usb a to usb a. A tip I load the firmware first in the amlogic burning tool and press start before i even attach the device to the pc. Then I hold the rest button and plug the usb to the pc. Remote works, market works wifi works and its a crappy box with a single antenna.



ok another box I had around here which I use as a jellyfin client its an old sammix r95 s905x. Interesting box as it has the ability to easily add an external antenna.
amazon-ca-samix-r95-2gb-ram-android-box ... n-2150826/
loaded aidan's 7.1 mibox universal. same method usb a to a cable etc
all works remote and wifi google market etc

can u root that primecables tv box? i ordered it but haven't rceived it yet..11 bucks ewaste! prolly, might use it it does 4k youtube 60fps

mikka2017 wrote: ↑ can u root that primecables tv box? i ordered it but haven't rceived it yet..11 bucks ewaste! prolly, might use it it does 4k youtube 60fps

x96 mini s905w that's what you would google.

if its an actual rebranded x96 mini best bet for info would be at 4pda. Use google translate from russian. they have a wad of archived android box info.
https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=848620

I think atvexperince androidtv 9 is rooted but aidans androidtv 9 is not rooted. I only quickly used a file manager to check around.

9.99 makes a great local playback device be it linux or thru media server client ap. Cheaper than adding usb and ethernet support to sticks. Cheaper than a zero running pihole/wireguard and as fast if not faster than an rpi3.

I had bought one of these boxes during a previous sale and ended up bricking it trying to upgrade the firmware. It currently has a solid red led and I can't write any of the different firmware I've downloaded. Some of the sites say the issue is a locked bootloader and only the original stock firmware can be used to re-flash it. Can anyone point me to a firmware I can use to unbrick?

kon_kat wrote: ↑ I had bought one of these boxes during a previous sale and ended up bricking it trying to upgrade the firmware. It currently has a solid red led and I can't write any of the different firmware I've downloaded. Some of the sites say the issue is a locked bootloader and only the original stock firmware can be used to re-flash it. Can anyone point me to a firmware I can use to unbrick?

have a usb a to usb a cable?
https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=848620 (use google chrome with translate from russian)

or down load the atvexperience firmware for x96mini s905w and using the usb-A to usb-A cable with the amlogic burning tool could recover it if it can connect to it. A tip"" I load the firmware first in the amlogic burning tool and press start in the program before i even attach the device to the pc. Then while holding the rest button down on the tvbox. You connect the usb to the pc and when the program says connected! let go of the reset button(It doesn't need to be powered thru its psu, the usb port will power it enough to flash). Since you already started the program to flash the firmware it will automatically start flashing it. wait till 100% and then go test it on tv.

otherwise that link should be for the x96 mini s905w and have most everything related to it. The bad thing with these types of tvboxes is what firmware is what? The title x96 mini can be an s905w or an s905x,s905x2 or even a rockchip? and its easy to flash the wrong soc firmware on it.

now if that doesn't work or you can't connect maybe you need to short some pins but here is a little resource page that might help for x96 mini bricked
https://blog.danman.eu/bricking-and-unb ... -x96-mini/

I think there is also a youtube video of a guy showing how to short the pins on an x96 mini

if you get it back up or anyone else doesn't want to flash firmwares and leave it as is here is a non root better launcher easy to install just side load it as a apk.
https://github.com/tsynik/LeanbackLaunc ... /tag/v1.25

Thanks, for the info. I came across all the links you listed when trying to unbrick and none of the tricks worked for me. The error in USB Burning Tool is "[0x10103005]Romcode/Initialize DDR/Download buffer/Read Item data failed" right at 1%. My board is the "q6x v2.2 17355" and from what I've read it has a locked boatloader and the only thing that might bring it back to life is the OEM stock firmware. I'll contact Prime Cables to see if they can provide me the img file. Just a warning to others that there is a high risk of bricking this specific box by attempting to flash it with alternative firmware.

kon_kat wrote: ↑ Thanks, for the info. I came across all the links you listed when trying to unbrick and none of the tricks worked for me. The error in USB Burning Tool is "[0x10103005]Romcode/Initialize DDR/Download buffer/Read Item data failed" right at 1%. My board is the "q6x v2.2 17355" and from what I've read it has a locked boatloader and the only thing that might bring it back to life is the OEM stock firmware. I'll contact Prime Cables to see if they can provide me the img file. Just a warning to others that there is a high risk of bricking this specific box by attempting to flash it with alternative firmware.

Does this box allow you to boot from SD card or USB? That's how I've generally done it before, rather than messing directly with the on-board firmware.

hello! Looking to run StbEmu on this....should be fine right?

Am I blind or do we have to crack open the case to get to the reset button?

bubbapsingh wrote: ↑ hello! Looking to run StbEmu on this....should be fine right?

Yes, no issues running StbEmu

lekidyyc wrote: ↑ Am I blind or do we have to crack open the case to get to the reset button?

You access the reset button through the AV port hole. Use a firm toothpick or some other long slim instrument to press it.

kon_kat wrote: ↑ Thanks, for the info. I came across all the links you listed when trying to unbrick and none of the tricks worked for me. The error in USB Burning Tool is "[0x10103005]Romcode/Initialize DDR/Download buffer/Read Item data failed" right at 1%. My board is the "q6x v2.2 17355" and from what I've read it has a locked boatloader and the only thing that might bring it back to life is the OEM stock firmware. I'll contact Prime Cables to see if they can provide me the img file. Just a warning to others that there is a high risk of bricking this specific box by attempting to flash it with alternative firmware.

check out this thread for some ideas
https://forum.atvxperience.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4734
you'll have to join to see all the pages on it

I asked if the bootloader is locked or not and also if I could get the original firmware. Here's the reply:

Thank you for reaching us.

I have checked with our technical team.

In fact, our team doesn't test the box, we are not sure if the bootloader locked on the CAB-TVB-X96.

Furthermore, here is the firmware download link:
https://www.filemail.com/d/tleclfrwumkajlf

Please note this link will be expired in 7 days.

here you go guys

https://forum.armbian.com/topic/15864-p ... -tutorial/

https://github.com/kdrapel/x96mini_linu ... /README.md

Success on flashing with android TV

Downloaded the Mi Android Tv Port
9.3. [v4] [S905W] Aidan's Custom ROM (RTL8189) (X96 Mini, X96W ect...).img

Used
2.1.7 Burn Tool from lekidyyc's comment from above.

Rom is Good So far, slightly more responsive then Stock firm i think.
Wifi and remote worked out of the box.

Weirdly, when installing, my desktop wouldn't recognize the box at all. Worked on the first try using my laptop.
Edit: Added filename