Are the CyberTV/NT150 Endeavor Set-top Boxes Hackable?

cr0sh asks: "I recently bid and won (on Ebay) a set-top box that I am planning to hack. It is distributed by Liberate Technologies, Inc. (formerly Network Computer, Inc.), and appears (based on a Web search on Google) to be made by Acer (called the CyberTV). Liberate Technologies calls it the NT150 Endeavor System. I have found one other distributor - DEI - on whose page some specs were given. 133 MHz X5 processor (what is this? I am guessing an AMD 586/133), 8 MB RAM, 4MB Flash, lots of ports. The device I received appears to have the ethernet adapter, and not the 56K modem. I didn't receive any documentation or such. From what I have been able to find, the device apparently uses special signals embedded in the VBI of a broadcast signal to bring up Web pages from a Web site, and overlay them onto the broadcast signal, so that you can get an 'enhanced' TV experience. This is accomplished by software Liberate calls TV Navigator. I haven't found any info on the OS used, but I think it may be QNX. Liberate provides a site for development. I was told by the seller that supposedly you can hook up a hard drive and/or a floppy internally, based on information a tech at Liberate told him. I haven't had a chance to open the machine up to verify/find the headers to do such, so I don't know if they are intact or if there would be some soldering involved. Does anyone know anything more about this box, and how 'hackable' it is?"

Re: Power-up to settings

[cr0sh]

Didn't work - no dice. I am beginning to wonder if I am being led on a goose chase...

I support the EFF [eff.org] - do you?

X5 processor

[allanj]

An X5 processor could be an AMD (see here [amd.com]). There is also a PowerPC chip called 604e-X5 running 166 MHz, but these are not as common. You can find specs for the AMD X5 here [amd.com].

Isn't it?

[whodi]

These days, isn't anything with a processor and RAM hackable? ;)




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I wrote this "question" in haste...

[cr0sh]

I have since set up a page devoted to the box, hopefully it will help others:

Acer NT-150 Set-top Box Internals [phoenixgarage.net]

This is hosted off a Freeservers site - so I don't know what kind of load it can handle re. a /. effect.

Anyhow, it has a FAQ - and it is an AMD 586/133 processor (you know, a funky 5x overdriven 486). I just can't get into any kind of BIOS config (I am not even sure it has such a thing), or anything to figure out what it wants as an IP for a BOOTP server (it times out on bootup, with a crappy error message). The device does have what appears like an intact 40pin IDE header, and a few other connectors (all explained in the FAQ - as much as I could find).

That's all I have...

I support the EFF [eff.org] - do you?

A couple of more tidbits...

[cr0sh]

Apparently the type of uses for the set-top boxes are becoming popular (at least with ISP like services). AOL is rolling out one [aoltv.com], as well - though they are using a different box, made by Phillips.

As far as the NT-150 box goes, I was told by a CSR @ Liberate to press and hold down the power-on button to get into the setup screen - haven't had a chance to try it, yet - I'll post to this thread (and update the FAQ, if needed) when I find out if this is true or not...

I support the EFF [eff.org] - do you?

Re: Power-up to settings

[cr0sh]

I was told to try removing the ethernet adaptor, then doing the power-on sequence. Will need to try that, then report back.

BTW - If anyone is still reading this - check out the website I have posted earlier (www.phoenixgarage.net), I updated the FAQ with new info...

I support the EFF [eff.org] - do you?