DVDO VP30 - Serious error 5

[zeruel85]

Hello everybody!

I've recently bought a DVDO VP30 in 'Load .abt file now' mode.
Connected to direct serial cable and all went fine, since I've reached about 29%, then it appeared 'Serious error 5. Please call dealer'.
I don't know what this error stands for, is it resolvable?

Thanks for the attention.

[Xer Xian]

Did you try to get in touch with DVDO's support? They helped me out when I had to update my VP50 a couple months ago.

[Xyga]

There's also this guide: https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 9Fpok28MMA

Also read here; http://www.avsforum.com/forum/37-video- ... pdate.html

[zeruel85]

@Xer Xian:
not yet. Where can I find the contact?

@Xyga:
I read the update guide, all goes fine until it reaches about 950 kB (29% or so), then it appears that serious error.

I also read that topic, but I don't have the SDI add-on card. I tried to reset with the button inside the DVDO, but nothing changed.

Thanks for the support guys.

[Blair]

what type of cable are you using for the update? most people seem to recommend a usb to serial adapter with a ftdi chipset built in. that's how I updated my VP50.

[zeruel85]

what type of cable are you using for the update? most people seem to recommend a usb to serial adapter with a ftdi chipset built in. that's how I updated my VP50.

Direct serial cable, I don't use usb adapter. I tried, but I had garbage on TeraTerm Pro. With direct cable (my aunt has an old desktop pc fortunately) the communication seems good.

I think it's a hardware problem...

[Blair]

it might be, I don't remember hearing much about the success stories with actual serial cables and older hardware. but I know a few users on here were able to do it that way. in any event it might be worth it to give another option try just in case. (you could probably return it if it doesn't work)

this is the one I purchased. https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Converter ... ZY4L0?th=1

[Xer Xian]

not yet. Where can I find the contact?

http://dvdo.com/contact/

The update process is kind of a crapshoot on old DVDO's, I had to run it two or three times before it worked on mine. The support centre sent me the same guide that Xyga posted, did you follow it closely?

If you want to try a USB to Serial adapter I can send you the one I used for the price of postage (just PM me your address).

[zeruel85]

I found this reply from ABT in another forums:

Thank you for taking time to send us your e-mail. This [referring to Serious error 5] is a hardware issue that would need to be resolved with a new unit. Please contact our Finland distributor as they handle all service requests for the Finland area. Please let me know if you have any issues.

@Xer Xian:
of course I closely followed the PDF guide.

Communication between the pc and the vp30 is good, all is good, except when it arrives at 29%. Maybe it's writing to an EEPROM or something else and it encounters a bad IC, don't know...

Thanks for the contact page btw.

[Fudoh]

The problem is that a failing PSU could prevent you from updating the unit. And with the failure rate of of the included PSUs as seen in the past, it's far from rare, maybe even to be expected - especially if you never could confirm the PSU as 100% working.

[zeruel85]

The problem is that a failing PSU could prevent you from updating the unit. And with the failure rate of of the included PSUs as seen in the past, it's far from rare, maybe even to be expected - especially if you never could confirm the PSU as 100% working.

Thank you, Fudoh.

I have a friend of mine who can probably ship to me another PSU. Maybe I can do some other tests with that one.

[Fudoh]

Replacements are also rather cheap on ebay here in Europe. These aren't great and don't last a lifetime, but they're good enough to give this a try.

[zeruel85]

Replacements are also rather cheap on ebay here in Europe. These aren't great and don't last a lifetime, but they're good enough to give this a try.

Where can I find them? eBay? Do you have some link?

[Fudoh]

e.g. http://www.ebay.it/itm/401383411148

[zeruel85]

e.g. http://www.ebay.it/itm/401383411148

Ok, thank you.

I will update the situation if I have some news guys.

[zeruel85]

By the way, I measured the output voltage from the PSU and is 6V. Seems legit.

[Fudoh]

you have to measure continuesly for a few minutes under load. Did you do that?

[zeruel85]

you have to measure continuesly for a few minutes under load. Did you do that?

Nope, but I will do for sure.

[zeruel85]

you have to measure continuesly for a few minutes under load. Did you do that?

Here I am.

I tested the PSU under load for about 30 minutes. 6.00 VDC continuesly.

[ceramiclion]

I received the same error from my VP20 years ago. I was never able to fix it. It did this afternoon an outage.

[zeruel85]

I have some news from Ken (he works for DVDO):

Error 5 pertains to a fault in one of the flash memories. This may be a reason that you cannot upload the firmware and the unit showing load .abt file.
Unfortunately we no longer repair the VP series due to parts being obsoleted. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

I asked to him if he could tell me which specific ICs are causing the issue. Hope he'll reply ASAP.

[zeruel85]

Guys, I have big big news!

Today I tried the USB-to-serial adapter kindly sent to me by Xer Xian.
I wanna publicly thank him! You're my hero!

I successfully flashed the firmware and now the VP30 is working like a charm!

All works fine!

Thanks guys for your precious help, I'm very happy now!

[Fudoh]

excellent news! Maybe you can provide a link to the adapter used or provide a picture of the one you have on hand ?

[Xyga]

Those FTDI adapters seem to be the thing, I could update both the VP30 and 50 Pro with the DIGITUS DA-70156 adapter (someone else too w/ the same adapter) and now there's that UGREEN.

Maybe you should let DVDO support know about those two adapters because Error 5 isn't that fatal in the end (dunno if they'll pay attention but heh)

EDIT: that's the one, right? http://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Converter- ... ZY4L0?th=1

[zeruel85]

excellent news! Maybe you can provide a link to the adapter used or provide a picture of the one you have on hand ?

Yep, for sure!

I must say that I don't know where it comes from, because Xer Xian gave it to me, so maybe he knows that.

The drivers I've used are the latest from FTDI Chip website (currently v2.12.28). I used Win 10 64bit as OS, and TeraTerm Pro v4.89 (baud 57600 and hardware as flow control, as always explained everywhere).

Here's the pics btw:

Spoiler

Another note:
firstly I could not trigger the factory reset mode or the bootloader mode, maybe this situation also caused the non-functionality of the upgrade (dunno for sure).

[Fudoh]

DIGITUS DA-70156

yepp, that's the one I've been using for years. The Digitus is easily available everywhere (at least here in Europe).

The Ugreen is interesting if it can be directly plugged into the DVDO machine. No more serial cables with missing pins or null modem cables by mistake. Can it ?

[zeruel85]

Those FTDI adapters seem to be the thing, I could update both the VP30 and 50 Pro with the DIGITUS DA-70156 adapter (someone else too w/ the same adapter) and now there's that UGREEN.

Maybe you should let DVDO support know about those two adapters because Error 5 isn't that fatal in the end (dunno if they'll pay attention but heh)

EDIT: that's the one, right? http://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Converter- ... ZY4L0?th=1

That's the exact model Xer Xian sent it to me! Digitus DA-70156, not the UGREEN.

Ok, I'll contact Ken and let him know about this news.

[Xyga]

Ok so the UGREEN's worth is unknown, nevermind.

[Xer Xian]

Glad to hear it worked!

I must say that I don't know where it comes from, because Xer Xian gave it to me, so maybe he knows that.

Not from me - it came from Xyga's suggestion, which he then told me was actually Fudoh's

[Blair]

@zeruel85

glad everything worked out, I had a feeling it was related to the serial cable.

Ok so the UGREEN's worth is unknown, nevermind.

actually the UGREEN is the one I purchased and used to successfully update my VP50. (I posted about it earlier in the thread, lol)