Need Advise on Android TV Box

ambad4u · Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2023 2:43 pm Post subject: Need Advise on Android TV Box

Greetings to All,

i would like to ask for inputs/feedbacks in regards to 'Android TV Boxes'...

my objectives/'use case' are (for learning N development):
-plan for these boxes will be used mainly for serving simple web content [almost no audio/video needed]
-have atleast 2 similar sbc(s) {hopefully more} [can distcc help here? compiling kernel/packages?]

major 3 socs that i see are: amlogic, allwinner & rockchip (questions below):
-can i get away with the so called 'binary blobs'? since I dont need audio/video?
-MUST be able to use 'mainline' kernel! (as much as possible)
-which soc(s) has 'fewer' headaches along the road for my 'use case'???
-if i am able to get similar soc but with different brand(s), does their 'configuration/settings' wildly be different?

i am currently searching for suitable 'boxes' found in the Philippines.
prices wildly varies..., but the GREATEST pain is identifying the RAM portion.
majority has fake info, many also have fake hardcoded values... (excluding reputed brands)
how would one verify the 'authenticity' of the actual RAM???

for compiling gentoo on arm..., does 1GB of RAM 'sane enough'??? or 2GB or RAM is the sweet spot? or just use cross-compilation to speed things up?

hope my questions are okay, thank you for reading my query...

note: i have not tried arm variants yet, nor owned one (neither distcc)...

ambad4u · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 1:02 pm Post subject:

just a minor update...
i've been researching these TV Boxes & found out that there are just far too many wrong/mis-information about RAM...
i may need to retire my 'arm' adventures for now...

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 1:17 pm Post subject:

ambad4u,

Is a Raspberry Pi4 out of the question?

It can use the mainline kernel. 4G RAM is just about enough but 8G is better.
Its strong enough to build for itself too.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

pingtoo · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:05 pm Post subject:

ambad4u,

If you are looking for any of these box for development, Be sure that you know the box have access to serial console or UART port.

All "development board" will have access to serial console or UART port, however if you plan to buy a ready made "box" you may not have direct access to the necessary port (Mean you have to take the box apart in order to access and may need some soldering skill).

None of those 3 socs you mention have latest kernel support. however in my experience allwinner and rockchip usually have access to the BSP source code you can try. I am not familiar with amlogic.

It is best to use cross-compilation for speeding development. Unless you are a hobbyist that are not in harry to see change results.

John R. Graham · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:18 pm Post subject:

ambad4u · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Neddy!

the 'rasp' is indeed good & a leading model for arm sbc(s)..., however, these are far expensive

as per my research, i came across "Orange Pi Zero3" quad core A53 /w 4GB of RAM (approx 34usd @Amazon)
unsure if there are any other 'cheaper' option (quad core, 4GB RAM, 1GB eth) [except those Android TV Boxes]

i was hyped around the 'Android TV Boxes' as I've seen them (where i live) to be priced SUB 18usd then rushed here for info...

@pingtoo,
my soldering skills might be rusty now...

, but I should be able to do it.
noted & thanks for the pointers!

@John R. Graham,
"anchored trusted boot feature"..., this is new to me..., will do research...

@all,
I may just to have to stick with 'proper' development boards i guess... (to lessen the headaches)

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:50 pm Post subject:

ambad4u,

The Orange Pi Zero3 looks OK,
Its advertised as running Ubuntu too, so its not all locked down.
Find a 4G RAM one and you are good to start. Less RAM works too but it will take a lot longer as you will need swap.

An easy start is to install Ubuntu then keep its /boot and /lib/modules and replace the rest with Gentoo.
That avoids the pain of making it boot your own kernel to get started.
Now you can add your own kernel later beside the remains of Ubuntu.

Its possible to do an arm/arm64 install using an AMD64 system without ever needing to chroot.

-- edit --

You may find some users who have used TV boxes in #gentoo-arm on libera IRC.
Only registered nicks can speak. It helps keep spam down.

If its on the ARM hardware list, someone has run Gentoo on it,
That won't be an exhaustive list though.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.