OpenATV 7.* setup guide by KiddaC

I have been asked a few times if I can make a new setup guide for latest OpenATV 7.* versions.

So lets go through the motions again, as a few things have changed since my original OpenATV 6.4 setup guide.

Although this guide is using openatv image, it can be used as a base for any image. They are all pretty much the same process.

*note before you start a new flash - a reflash clears most things off your box. Make sure you have copies of all important information before continuing.

clines, nlines, iptv details, config files, crons, even picons if you don't want to download them all again. etc. Never rely on the box backing things up. Copy them to a computer first. You have been warned.

/etc/CCcam.cfg (clines)

/etc/tuxbox/config (oscam)
/etc/crons/cronttabs/

/etc/enigma2/[plugin folders]

/etc/enigma2/skin_user_? (if have custom skin overrides)

/usr/keys/ (for some other images and softcams)

/usr/script/

I recommend you have 2 newly formatted USB flash sticks for this process.
1 for flashing

1 that lives in your box constantly for keeping your picons/movies/epg/swapdisk etc

Use only quality branded usb flash drives. (kingston/sandisk/samsung/corsair etc) Not some cheap chinese ebay crap.

Source your openatv image or flash online.

Manual Install
Openatv has its own website to download their latest builds

Current Stable

https://images.mynonpublic.com/openatv/current/index.php

dev 7.2 (for testing and reporting bugs)
as always, only for users who want to tinker and are not afraid to completely reinstall the box a few times.
https://images.mynonpublic.com/openatv/7.2/index.php

beta 7.1
https://images.mynonpublic.com/openatv/7.1/index.php

7.0

https://images.mynonpublic.com/openatv/7.0/index.php

Older 6.4 (discontinued Nov 18 2022)
https://images.mynonpublic.com/openatv/6.4/index.php

Source your box brand in the left column.

Source the exact model of your box in the submenu (may need to scroll into view)

Download zip file.

Copy zip file to a usb. And flash according to your boxes flashing instructions.


Online Flash
Blue button -> Software Manager -> Flash Online
or
Menu > Setup > Software management > Flash Online.

We are using OpenATV here, but you can select the image via the Yellow button / Distribution

Select Image to flash. Its always better to do a clean install to prevent issues with backed up settings and plugins.

Green / Flash Image to start

Do you want to backup settings? No

Clean (Just Flash & restore all)

Wait for image to download and the flash process to finish

Setting up - first run

Press Red button to cycle through the setup languages

Press Green to select Language

Use automatic mode detector. Yes

Video mode selection.
Despite having a 4k tv I always select 1080p here, Very few satellite channels or iptv are true 4k. Your choice though.

Refresh rate. 50Hz or Auto

Do you want to restore your settings? No, just start

Use the wizard to set up basic features

For me:
Time

Classic
(GMT) United Kingdom
Transponder

Month DD Year
HH:mm:ss

Tuner:
Configuration mode: Simple
Mode: Single (Einzeln)
Satellite: Auto

Send DiSEqC: No
Force Legacy Signal stats: No

Do you want to install a channel list? None

Do you want to do a service scan? Yes, do a manual scan now.
This step can be skipped as it takes about 20 minutes. But I like to do a satellite scan, before I install and setup autobouquets maker.

Satellite Scan:
Type of scan: Single Satellite
Satellite: 28.2e
Network scan: No
Clear before scan: Yes
Only free scan: No

Network Wizard

Use interface: Yes
Use DHCP: Yes

Favourite Skin

First things first, I am not a fan of the Metrix HD skin. So I install a familiar skin to be used to set everything up.
Me personally this would be my Slyk Q skin, this can be found in the plugin feeds, so that is the first thing I do.

Menu > Plugins > Download Plugins > skins > kiddac-1080-slyk-q

Menu > Setup > Usage & GUI > Skin settings

Then follow the skins author instructions - if there is some skin setup needed.

Remove Plugins

The whole point of making your own image is to setup your box on how you use it, removing and installing the plugins that are relevant to you.

So this is my setup

Menu > Plugins > Remove Plugins

Extensions tab
Atilehd - Not used with any of my skins. So that goes

autotimer - I rarely record programmes, so this isn't for me, but I keep it just in case

chromium - for those that have a vu box or quad core hisilicon chip box. If you have accounts for youtube, dazn, bien, amazon prime etc. Is very good. Use power button to escape these chromium screens though. It's confusing if you don't know
cutlisteditor - used for editing recordings. Not for me. That goes
dvdplayer - that goes

enhancedmoviecenter - i don't skin this and have a movieplanner mod instead. That goes

epgsearch - allows you to search for programmes. Useful to some
filecommander - I always have a computer linked up to my box. So no use to me as I use ftp to do all my file management. That goes

imdb - Get additional movie info for programmes - I think this is currently broke
mediaplayer - keep

mediascanner - keep

openwebif - allows the view of your box in a web browser. Keep

picture player - not for me. That goes

programmlistenupdater - not relevant to my 28.2e satellite. That goes
webkithbbtv - not relevant to my 28.2e satellite. That goes

witaispeechtotext - no idea what this is or how it is used - so that goes

Restart Gui.

Languages tab
Language files take up very little space, but I like to clean out all clutter.
So all languages get deleted apart from English

Skin tab

Well as a skinner, it would be a crime to use anyone elses skins other than my own, so now I delete metrix skin and all the bulk that comes with it.

You don't have to. Just my preference. Metrix is a very good customisable skin.

systemplugins tab

autobouquetmaker - My choice for bouquet maker. Keep

blindscan - useful if you have a motorised dish or non UK satellite.

bluetoothsetup - no bluetooth on my box. That goes

cablescan - keep

commoninterfaceassignment - I dont use CI modules in my receiver. That goes

hotplug - keep

mphelp - keep

networkbrowser - keep

networkwizard - keep

positionesetup - I have a static dish, so no use to me. That goes

remotecontrolcode - I don't use. That goes

satfinder - keep

softwaremanager - keep

toolkit - keep

videoenhancement - I don't like this plugin at all - should be called video unenhancement - that goes

videotune - keep

wirelesslan - keep

Restart Gui

Add Plugins

Menu > Plugins > Download Plugins

This is 100% user choice.

What I install

extensions tab

cacheflush - clear out your boxes cache when its full or a set time. Makes your box run smoother

e2piconizer - my own plugin to download the latest picons for your satellite. Very good for 28.2e sat

epgimport - My epg/iptv epg downloader of choice

jediepgxtream - my own plugin to assign epg to iptv channels.

jedimakerxtream - my own plugin to create iptv bouquets
BouquetMakerXtream - my own new plugin to create iptv bouquets

vpnmanager - i use this occasionally when testing some dodgy iptvs.

xstreamity - my own plugin - xtream codes iptv player

Note for all my own plugins, I actually install from feeds first. Then install the latest over the top from the IPKs on this forum.

You can just install the IPKs, but some images have the dependencies for these plugins included in the feed files (openpli 8.* is a good example of this)

I also have fibre broadband now, so I don't worry about speeds nowadays. If still on slow broadband, downloading a internet speed checker is always useful

Reboot Gui

skins tab

I install all my own skins for testing

kiddac-1080-onyx

kiddac-1080-slyk-r19

systemplugins tab

Nothing in there that interests me at this time

Reboot Gui

That's pretty much all I ever install from feeds. I like my box barebones. No bulky media plugins, no plugins I am never going to use.

But obviously this is the whole point of you setting up your own box. Install the plugins relevant to how you use your box.

If you don't know what a plugin does. Google it. Download it. Try it. Remove it. (You will rarely crash your box by just experimenting with plugins in the feeds)

Manually install dependencies

OK, we have used the box menus to setup most of the plugins required.

Feeds don't always have the latest version of plugins or all the required library dependancies that a plugin might need.

Realistically. These should all actually be installed. Its just a bit of a tick box checking exercise.

So lets do some manual installing of elements via telnet and ftp.

First setup a password on your box, so we are able to log into it via ftp, openwebif or telnet

Menu > Setup > System > Network > Password Settings >
Old habit but I always just keep this as "root"

So username is "root"

password is "root"

But obviously set the password to whatever you want

You can press text button on your remote to bring up virtual keyboard.

Telnet

I personally use PuTTY as my telnet client.

Download PuTTY: latest release (0.76)

But you can use openwebif in a browser.
To open telnet with PuTTY or openwebif in a browser you need to know your boxes IP address

Menu > Information > Network > IP Address

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PuTTY

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Openwebif > Terminal
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All latest images are python3. Install the correct libraries from the relevant python version.

Don't install python2 libraries on python3 or vice versa.

If unsure of your python version, check your menu > information page.

python3

opkg update update feed files

opkg install wget install full wget needed for https downloads used in a lot of plugins

opkg install python3-requests

opkg install python3-multiprocessing

opkg install python3-six

opkg install python3-pillow

python2

opkg update update feed files

opkg install wget install full wget needed for https downloads used in a lot of plugins

opkg install python-requests

opkg install python-multiprocessing

opkg install python-image

opkg install python-imaging

opkg install python-six

dreambox - python3

apt-get -y update update feed files

apt-get -y install wget install full wget needed for https downloads used in a lot of plugins

apt-get -y install python3-requests

apt-get -y install python3-multiprocessing

apt-get -y install python3-six

dreambox - python2

apt-get -y update update feed files
apt-get -y install wget install full wget needed for https downloads used in a lot of plugins

apt-get -y install python-requests

apt-get -y install python-multiprocessing

apt-get -y install python-image

apt-get -y install python-imaging

apt-get -y install python-six

ServiceApp, Gstreamer, Exteplayer3

Some plugins install rogue or monkey patched versions of these. So we will start with a clean install

opkg remove enigma2-plugin-extensions-serviceapp

opkg remove exteplayer3

opkg remove ffmpeg

opkg remove gstplayer

opkg install enigma2-plugin-systemplugins-serviceapp

opkg install exteplayer3

opkg install ffmpeg
opkg install gstplayer

Reboot Gui

Using FTP to access your box folders.

I personally use Filezilla.

Download FileZilla Client for Windows (64bit x86)

Just like you did for Telnet commands.

You need to type in your boxes IP address

Port can be left empty

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Local computer folders on the left. Satellite Box folders on the right

How to manually install .ipk on OE-Alliance images via telnet

To manually install, copy ipk to tmp folder (var/volatile/tmp)

then enter this Telnet/ PuTTY command

opkg install /tmp/*.ipk

How to manually install .deb on DreamOS via telnet

To manually install, copy ipk to tmp folder

then enter this Telnet/ PuTTY commands

dpkg -i /tmp/*.deb

apt-get -y update

apt-get -y install -f

So now I use FTP to copy all the latest IPKs into the tmp folder of my box.
Latest IPKs would be sourced from github or various satellite forums. And in our case, linuxsat-support.com

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and run this telnet command

opkg install /tmp/*.ipk

reboot gui

Setting up USB/HDD

You need a small sized usb to live in your box to save picons, epg, movies to etc

Use a high quality USB stick. I use 32gb ones as I don't record a massive amount.

You only need to do this once. Future reflashes no need to setup USB again. You just put the original USB back in your box when you have finished flashing. Always remember to change EPG location though after you have flashed.

Freshly format USB stick with FAT32 /Quick Format via windows PC

Eject usb from windows correctly using taskbar

Initialise USB

Menu > Setup > System > Storage Device > Initialisation

Select your newly inserted USB (make sure you select this drive)

Click yes - and wait... this is sooo slow to initialise. Don't know what they changed but now takes about 4-5 mins on my box.

Set up Swap Manager - Acts like a virtual memory

Menu > Setup > System > Storage Device >Swap Manager

Green Create.... Select USB (do not select internal flash).... 512mb...wait a few minutes (again this was incredibly slow on my vu zero 4k????)

Yellow AutoStart

Red Activate

Restart GUI. (important so USB is picked up in EPG settings)

Save EPG to USB (Important)

Menu > Setup > EPG > EPG Settings

EPG location: /media/hdd

Save

Softcams secret feed - CardSharing is pretty much dead in the UK unless you got a motorised dish. (or was )

Telnet this command

wget -O - -q http://updates.mynonpublic.com/oea/feed | bash

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Download softcams from plugins

Menu > Plugins > Download Plugins > Softcams

cccam for clines

oscam-stable for oscam

CCcam.cfg goes in /etc/

Oscam files go in /etc/tuxbox/config/oscam-stable

Reboot Gui

Settings for softcam now live in

Menu > Setup > Decrpytion & Parental Control > Softcam Settings

Setting up CacheFlush plugin

Menu > Plugins > CacheFlush

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You can press blue button to clear now if you want.

Setting up AutoBouquet Maker

Menu > Setup > Reception > AutoBouquetsMaker

This is my personal setup

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Save

Menu > Setup > Reception > AutoBouquetsMaker > Providers

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Save

Menu > Setup > Reception > AutoBouquetsMaker > Hide Sections

I hide

Pay-per-view

Specialist

Religion

Kids

Shopping

International

Regional

BBC Red Button

Sky info

Sky sports interactive

Sky anytime

BT sports interactive

Update Provider files

Start scan

zap to 101 - BBC One

Download Picons

I personally use my e2piconizer plugin for 28.2e

Obviously you can use other picon packs.

But we need to create picon directory first.

Using filezilla I create a new directory on my usb /media/hdd/picon

Picons via e2piconizer

Menu > plugins > e2piconizer

Oops... the "Choose Directory" screen is broke with my skins with these later openatv images.

I will use virtual keyboard (txt) to enter the address instead.

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Reboot GUI

EPG Importer setup

Menu > Setup > EPG > EPG-importer

All settings as default except

Automatic import EPG. Enable

Automatic start time. 08:10 (choose your own time that your box is likely to be on)

Clearing current EPG before import. Yes (in case there is bad data in the old data)

Save

Blue button (Sources)

Your own choice here. I select

Xstreamity EPG (once initialised)

Rytec General XMLTV - News Channels, Miscellaneous

Rytec UK Sat - All

Save

Yellow Button (Manual)

Settings

OK lots have things have moved since openatv 6.4, so lets go through some of them

Menu > Setup > Video > Video Settings

Default all look good

Menu > Setup > Video > OSD Position Settings

This is used if your screen is offset. It is much better to combat this via your TV settings rather than via your enigma2 box. Otherwise you end up with black borders around the mini tv screens. Your TV should have a picture setting for overscan, screen fit, picture fit, automatic etc.

Menu > Setup > Audio > Audio Settings

Hide mute notification. NO

Menu > Setup > Audio > Subtitle Settings

Automatically turn on external subtitles. NO

Menu > Setup > Audio > Auto Language Settings

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Menu > Setup > Playback, Recording & Time Shift > Playback Settings

Allow quit movie player with exit. YES

Use trash in movie list. No (just wastes space)

Purge 'Trash' after (days). 1 day

Space to reserve for records (GB). Depends on your HDD/USB size. I use 32gb usb, so have this about 24gb

Menu > Setup > Playback, Recording & Time Shift > Recording Settings

Margin before record. Zero - its never early :)

Remove completed timers after. 1 Day

Purge 'Trash' after (days). 1 Day

Menu > Setup > Playback, Recording & Time Shift > Time Shift Settings

Default all fine for now

Settings 2

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > OSD Settings

Show True/False as graphical switch. No for me. I don't like the sliders

Show screensaver. Yes for my skins. 15 minutes

1st InfoBar timeout. 3 seconds

2nd InfoBar. 2nd Infobar INFO

2nd InfoBar timeout. No timeout

Enable InfoBar fade-out. Yes

Infobar fade-out speed. 3

Show positioner movement: off (I have a static dish)

Show channel number in InfoBar. Yes

Show PVR status in MoviePlayer InfoBar. Yes

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Remote Control Button Settings

A few new settings in here. User choice of what the buttons do

Default is fine for me

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Channel Selection Settings

Channel list preview. Yes

show picons in service list. yes

show crypto icons. Left from service name

show record indicator. Right from service name

number of rows. Skin dependant. So i am using slyk q skin. 14

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Customize System Settings

Default all fine for me

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > STB Display

Default all fine for me except brightness (Normal). Vu Zero 4k led is very bright. Knock that down a little.

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Hotkey Settings

In case you want to assign a button to launch a script or plugin

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Extended GUI

Defaults are fine for me

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Service App

Defaults are fine for me. seagen will tell me I am wrong :)

No KiddaC serviceAPP is OK men player settings should be Default

Menu > Setup > Usage & Gui > Language

Despite removing languages they still appear here? Its up to you if you want to purge them

Settings 3

Settings below are all for my slyk Q skin.

So these settings depend on your skin choice

Menu > Setup > EPG > EPG Importer

Already covered above

Menu > Setup > EPG > EPG Settings

Already covered above

You can view all the different EPGs by long holding the EPG/Guide button. Then press menu on those screens to go straight to the settings for that EPG

Menu > Setup > EPG > MutliEPG Settings

Channel preview mode. Yes

Number of rows. 14

Menu > Setup > EPG > SingleEPG Settings

Channel preview mode. Yes

Number of rows. 14

Menu > Setup > EPG > InfoBar EPG Settings

Menu > Setup > EPG > Graphical InfoBar EPG Settings

(why is there 2 options that go the same place??? )

View Mode. For my skins. Mutli EPG
Service Title mode. Picon and Service Name

Number of rows. 4

Service width. 390

picon width: 100

info icon width: 75

Position of recording icons: middle

Timeline scale: 120 Minutes

Menu > Setup > EPG > GraphicalEPG Settings

View Mode. For my skins. Graphics

Service Title mode. Picon and Service Name

Number of rows: 8

Service width. 390

picon width: 100

info icon width: 75

Position of recording icons: middle

Timeline scale: 120 Minutes

Menu > Setup > EPG > VerticalEPG Settings

What a load of junk and waste of space on my box, does anyone actually use it

Menu > Setup > EPG > Load/Save/Delete

Just a mention in case your epg gets corrupt and you need to delete your epg.dat file

Settings 4

Menu > Setup > Reception

Basically all your tuner setup/config/signal is in here.

We already covered the basics of this when using the setup wizard, and setting up AutoBouquetMaker

Menu > Setup > Decrpytion & Parental Control

Softcams

Parental Pin for setting screens and adult content

Menu > Setup > Software Management

For most users, probably only used for Flash Online, Install Local Extension (IPKs)

I would personally ignore all the backup options. It causes trouble, too many amends going on in images at the moment. Just do a clean flash now you know how.

Menu > Setup > System > Storage Devices

Already used to setup USB, but other options for HDD and NAS drives

Menu > Setup > System > Network > Device Settings > Nameserver settings

I like to change these to cloudflare DNS

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Menu > Setup > System > Network > Device Settings > Network test

Good to use if you think you have a network issue

Menu > Setup > System > Network > Device Settings > Network MAC Settings

for changing the mac address for dodgy stalker lines

Menu > Setup > System > Network > Samba

So windows explorer can be used to view files on your box. Installed by default

Menu > Setup > System > Network > FTP

So ftp software can connect to your box. Installed by default

Menu > Setup > System > Network > OpenWebif

OpenWebif settings if you want to view your box from an external network. Not recommend due to easily hackable

Menu > Setup > System > HDMI-CEC Settings

Allow your remote to control multiple HDMI-CEC devices. TV/Sat Box etc

Menu > Setup > System > Script Manager

Allows you to run any scripts that are in /usr/script/ folder

Menu > Setup > System > Log Settings

Handle Python Crashes. No. If its broke it needs fixing

Enable debug log *. Turn on if you have been asked to provide a debug log. Debug logs can have personal information in them. Check before uploading to any forum. Debug logs can also end up very large. Only turn on if you need to.

Crash at skin error for debug reasons. No No No. Can end up in a bootloop if a bad skin is installed

And finally most openatv users know.
Press blue button brings up the quick Launch Menu

And that is how I setup my box. Nice and clean. Barebones but essentials.
Yours will differ. But the basics are there.

And it wont take you 7 hours like its just taken me. I was doing it bit by bit, and logging stuff as I was doing.
Ignoring slow scans and slow usb initialisation, should take you about 30 mins.

Enjoy.

I will open this thread for comments for the time being.

In case anyone with different knowledge has anything to add.

Don't post thank you posts.. Use the like buttons instead. ta

And if anyone new to flashing images, wants to go through the motions of this thread and outline any confusing areas. Please do.

We've been doing this for years, what makes sense to us, might not make sense to someone who is new.
But I always try and write in a language that everyone should understand.