Easy TV and Monitor Boards Firmware Programming With The RT809H Programmer
This article is about fixing already 2 older universal TV Boards that can be used to turn spare left over LCD screens into good televisions or monitors. LCD screens in all resolutions from defect laptops or even new ones that this way cheap and easily can be upgraded to movie players playing MP4 or other codec movies from inserted USB sticks.
My older TV Boards have the no longer supported TSUMV29LU and TSUMV56RUU video processors and only were useful for DVB-T reception. Both have the 842 tuner chip on board. And when they are flashed with the wrong firmware they no longer work and normally require us to desolder the small sop8 Bios chip, reprogram it in a programmer, and solder it back on. Which is quite time consuming and needs to be repeated until the TV board finally works as was intended. Also because the matching bin file with correct LCD resolution needs to be selected and installed from an USB stick and booted from the USB port of the TV Board. Which most of the time is the wrong firmware version and makes the TV Board no longer accepting other bin files. And desoldering the sop8 Bios chip and reprogramming it needs to be repeated all over again until the board works with the selected bin firmware matching the LCD screen! And in the worst case scenario it will in the end also damage the solder tracks of the sop8 Bios.
What also doesn’t help is the poor Firmware support from those TV Board sellers, especially for older board buyers! There now is only one website that still mentions these older TV Boards and I had a hard time finding that one back, why I decided making this article! And the best part of that website is that it also gives the download links to the ORIGINAL Bios bin files we need to factory reset our firmware faulty flashed boards back to as new working TV Boards. That website also warns us for the wrong firmware versions that exist that make flashing these boards more complex.
Before I continue this article to show how easy it is to flash these Bios chips with a RT809H programmer without having to desolder these firmware containing chips ever again, here is that great older (and probably also newer) TV Boards supporting website (at best use Google by adding ‘V29’ or ‘V56’ to find that great Polish website): LCD4hobby.
Newer TV Boards are sold as Universal Scaler Kit 3663 Tv Controller Driver Boards and already support the new DVB-T2 TV format. As shown on above photo. If they really work in my and other countries I do not know. Because other receivers sold as DVB-T2 compatible receivers never worked! And I do not have this new 3663 board to confirm that it really works with our DVB-T2 transmissions.
My older DVB-T boards look like the one shown above. It can be jumpered into 3.3V or the 5V position. My TSUMV29LU board was originally jumpered to the 3.3V setting. And before you place it into the 5V position you have to make sure that your LCD screen also is 5V compatible! Because if it isn’t it will most certainly destroy a good 3.3V display! My TSUMV56RUU board was set to 5V but I do not know if that was how I got it. To be safe I put the jumper back into the 3.3V position. The original VGA board that only partly worked still showing the menu that no vga cable was attached confirmed that my LCD screen was still fine! Next photo shows how to connect the perfectly reading and writing RT809H programmer through the board’s vga connector port.
Following photos shows how the VGA to HDMi cable is connected to the HDMi port of the RT809H.
And how we see the green led flashes while programming the firmware bin file over into the Bios process. Using the AutoISP function.
First our correct Bios V56 bin file was loaded! Next screen copy shows how the Bios chip automatically is recognized, erased and also the Memory protection is automatically lifted. (Here an older RT809H program version was still used. Later a new 20220919 upgrade version was found!).
Previous screen copies showed that different bin file versions were programmed, verified and accordingly easily tested with the LCD screen at hand. Here the 25Q32 TV Board bios sop8 chip was auto detected by my RT809H programmer.
As previous screen copies showed, programming over VGA from the TV Board to HDMi on the RT809H is a great and easy way to flash these sop8 bios chips without having to de-solder or re-solder them anymore again! So if you also have trouble getting your TV Board ready and working with your LCD panel, then go to the above mentioned website and if needed load there the original V29 25L8006E bin file in the download link to the DIY TSUMV29.rar file, or the download link to the V56_rom_dump.rar file that contains the original V56_rom_full_spi_flash_25_32.bin file. See for the V56 version this page https://sites.google.com/site/lcd4hobby/6-lcd-as-pc-vga-hdmi-av-tv-display-tsumv59
But the used VGA to HDMi cable connection not always works with all boards. When for instance a MT-6820-MD LCD board is tested with the VGA to HDMi cable it does not work! In this case we need the VGA to VGA cable connection with our RT809H that then perfectly works! See next screen copies that show successful reading and verifying the MT-6820-MD board with 25Q40 512kB Bios chip. Nice extra in our RT809H programmer is the built-in VGA monitor test pattern screens that show up when we attach a good working TV or monitor on the first VGA connector on the left next the 10 pin programmer connector of our RT809H programmer.
Still finding the large database Firmware packs containing all lCD screens and their firmware versions may be a big problem these days. I recently only was able to find the T.V56.031.rar file (123.855kB large!). But according to the author of the Polish lcd4hobby website that version is in compatible with my TV Board.
Also because it looks like many download links to these firmware files are infected with some kind of virus. Why most browsers refuse to normally connect to these often questionable websites.
Sadly all large V56 and V29 database links to all screen firmware pack versions on the LCD4HOBBY website are no longer working! So we must do with the still working original bios V29 and V56 TV Board files on that very informing website.
Luckily I had downloaded a few of those large databases with all different LCD screens in them already several years ago. One of them was called: LAMV29-16_7KEY_SCH_EXTERN_LOGO_842_POWER_LAST_KEYPAD_ANGENY_LG150925_ZLS.
So I hope you still are able to also find them if you still need these large files containing all screen resolutions with different screen manufacturers, and different 5 or 7 key boards used!
It is however still possible to for instance find many V29 firmware files after selecting the correct resolution monitor from a list on the Soft4Led website. But I haven’t tested any of these files.
What they also say that may help in solving faulty flashed TV boards, is the factory reset code when typed in by using the IR remote, or by using the local attached 5 or 7 keys. But I had no luck in using any of these codes.
There also is a Kazmi Elecom website. And we can try to post on the Kazmi Elecom Forum Page (https://forum.kazmielecom.com) General Discussion, faults/rectifications and Issues. But although I could access their forum , posting any question never worked and my account was never confirmed. So nice Forum, but no support! And also no luck on searching for firmware on the kenotrontv forum. Idem the https://forum.laboneinside.com/ much of the same.
But owning such a great RT809H programmer with free program upgrade support helps us to make security backups of all our Bios chips in our devices. The RT809H does have so many possibilities like next screen copy of the Toolchain menu, and many of those I still have to find out.
Although there are still TV’s like some 50 inch LG televisions I know of that can’t be read or programmed over VGA or HDMi port.
Which could be caused by in what country the TV was manufactured in if it depends on what firms made a pact to support it, or in what year it was made.
Anyway, this article shows that we no longer need to desolder the sop8/soic8 Bios chip to reprogram it. As was explained in so many articles. In those days the RT809H simply didn’t yet exist and we may count ourselves lucky that nowadays this great programmer makes it so much easier for us!
Getting those Bios bin files after your television or monitor is no longer booting up caused by corrupt or empty Bios chips, is often almost impossible. And most of the time downloading those from the internet is not free either! So you are warned. That of course goes for all devices that contain CPU’s with Bios chips.
Albert van Bemmelen, Weert, The Netherlands.
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Note: You can read his previous article on How To Fix A Defect Philips 6990 Shaver With Trimmer
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Andrew F. Ali
December 10, 2022 at 9:36 am
A lot of reading but quite informative and expertly explained. Thank you.
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Thanks Andrew! I'm very glad that programming these older TV boards and explaining the quick way in how the RT809H deals with programming these Bios chips exists.
moshe
December 10, 2022 at 12:18 pm
that was fascinating reading....thank you for sharing all that knowledge and information (and your previous articles!!).
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Thanks moshe! Your nice comment is greatly appreciated!
Parasuraman S
December 10, 2022 at 12:41 pm
My head, looks like it is accustomed to, is reeling! Too complex to follow everything! It is a good informative article! I have saved this to my favourites and might use it if and when I find it necessary! Many thanks!
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:53 pm
I hope it helps you to save some valuable time not having to desolder, reprogram, and resolder the TV bios chips back in Parasuraman next time. Which if I'm not mistaken was what you recently still had to do at your TV service friend's place? Which in that case probably still could have been an older TV not yet supporting the vga to vga or the HDMi to vga programming option.
Waleed Rishmawi
December 10, 2022 at 3:18 pm
wow. that is alot of information provided and sad to say most of it went over my head since I don't deal with such programing. I enjoyed reading it though and if I came across such programing you are the first one to know. have a blessed day and thank for sharing.
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Your recent article about fixing the Asus X556U laptop shows that you already are involved in dealing with these devices that use preprogrammed Bios chips to boot. So I guess you soon also will be doing some programming too.
Tyrone Arendse
December 10, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Thank you for the informative information
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Thanks Tyrone, I hope it helps you in doing some programming work too!
Robert Calk Jr.
December 10, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Well done, Albert! I was supposed to save my bin files the last time that I had my TV apart and I forgot to do it.
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Glad to hear from you after a long time Robert! I hope you still share the same interesting hobbies!
Thanks to your great articles about Tektronix oscilloscopes, both my old Tektronix 2465A and 2440 scopes are still working like they were over 35 years ago!
Albert van Bemmelen
December 12, 2022 at 5:35 am
Both my Tektronix scopes are now also completely upgraded with special FRAM memory chips. And I also recalibrated my previously fixed second hand 2440 memory oscilloscope. Plus I also bought on Aliexpress a NI compatible GPIB to USB interface which I now am able to make screencopy dumps from my 2440 to my computer.
The free PC tools from John Miles (Ke5fx) support the NI-GPIB interface as if it was Tektronix's own product!
Marinko
December 11, 2022 at 5:55 am
colleague Albert, very informative and instructive article. I read it slowly and with understanding for the reason that I also have that programmer, but for other types of repairs, i.e. electronics on inverter air conditioners and for white goods - household appliances. The programmer has strong support for exactly the technology you described, i.e. TV technology. I would like to thank you for your work and I expect such quality articles about working with one of the strongest programmers. Greetings. Marinko
Albert van Bemmelen
December 11, 2022 at 3:24 pm
The easy over HDMi/VGA port reading and programming option gives indeed away a strong support boost for TV technology. But obviously the 10 pin universal programmer connector port on our RT809H programmer on the left from our first vga port is capable in doing so much more. I guess that you already use that port or the parallel programmer options to program the other house-hold appliances you mentioned Marinko. I downloaded and watched many youtube videos that exist on programming all sorts of devices including notebooks, Android tablets and so on. The main thing the RT809H is capable of is recognizing the signature of unknown IC's and their algorithm, mostly unknown Bios chips. Where other programmers like the well known TL866 or version II simply do not support those in their limited device list. The RT809H holds so many other possibilities. Which at the present for me is only limited to the available hobby time that is left after my quite physical daily delivery job.
Yogesh Panchal
December 12, 2022 at 12:34 am
Albert,
You are right a must have tool RT809H....now a days laptop circuits are getting smaller & smaller & each n every section on it are programmed & methods are also vary case to case like in some laptops IO chips are programmed through Keyboard connector.
Albert van Bemmelen
December 14, 2022 at 1:21 am
I guess you also use at least a programmer or two already too Yogesh. For the RT809H I also bought the most interesting parallel socket adapters. Including the 2 RT809H special test boards that connect into the parallel port and the selftest connector on top of the programmer to check if the RT809H is still correctly calibrated and if everything tests okay.
Yogesh Panchal
December 15, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Albert,
I have USB Programmer CH341A 24 25 Series with couple of attachments & sockets which can handle both 1.8v & 3.3v BIOS IC.But rarely used because most of customers are more interested to buy a new rather get it repaired.
Daniel Johnson
December 12, 2022 at 4:29 am
Thank You sir
Albert van Bemmelen
December 14, 2022 at 1:23 am
I hope it helps you in programming any board with Bios or other chip too Daniel!