Firmware Update

ZvBox 170
Important - you MUST use the latest version of ZvConfig or ZvCli to upgrade your ZvBox. Click here to download.

Installing the new firmware: Start ZvConfig (ZvBox Configuration Utility) on your computer, and then connect your ZvBox via a USB cable. Once the connection is established (this can take a few minutes), do the following:
  • Click on the System tab
  • Click on Update Firmware
    …that's all there is to it!
Note: You will get the Windows hardware wizard after the upgrade completes and the first time you connect to any newly upgraded unit. This is normal and should only occur once per unit.

Latest Firmware Updates:

What's New in Revision 2.5.0?

  • Split Audio - This feature tells ZvPro 250 to create two completely different HDTV channels that share the same video but each having different audio. The analog audio inputs (left and right) are split, each going to a different HDTV channel. One example application is to have a single ZvBox create two channels in two different languages.
  • QAM64 – This is a modulation type that can help the ZvBox channel propagate better across old or noisy Coax networks. The only drawback is that bitrate (and therefore picture quality) is slightly lower. QAM256 (the default) allows up to 38Mbs, while QAM64 is restricted 27Mbs. We recommend only using this mode when needed.
  • Improved ZvConfig - It is now possible to manage multiple ZvBoxes from a single PC using ZvConfig, an important component of remote ZvBox management. More to come on that soon!

What's New in Revision 2.4.1?

  • ZvConfig!! – All ZvBoxes can now be managed with our new graphical configuration utility. Click here to download, and here to read more. This firmware is required for compatibility with ZvConfig. Get ZvConfig first, and then immediately upgrade the firmware.
  • ZvBox 170 - This is the final firmware release that ships with the ZvBox 170. Be sure to upgrade if you have a pre-release unit.
  • Additional Video Modes supported for VGA video sources, particularly 1080p sources from computers (ZvPro 250 only).
  • Interoperability with some HDTVs - Changes in the video and audio streams that improve performance with some Toshiba and Handspree HDTVs.

What's New in Revision 2.3.0?

This release brings some improvements that users have been asking for. Yes, we do listen! Please keep those suggestions coming.
  • Custom Logo for Idle Screens – It is now possible to replace the bouncing Zv logo with a custom image of your own. You can either fill the entire screen, or load a smaller image and let it bounce around. Many different file types are supported.
  • Custom Logo for Watermarks – You can also replace the Zv logo that blinks in and out on the lower right corner of your live video.
  • Expanded Audio Delay – making it possible to introduce even more skew between the audio and video.
  • Disable the front panel Source button – Locks the front panel so that accidental or malicious source changing can't happen. (Does not apply to ZvBox 150)
  • Locally save Troubleshooting Reports – If you attempt to send a troubleshooting report and the PC cannot connect to our server, the report will be saved locally. You then has the ability to send the saved troubleshooting report(s) later, when the PC can connect to our server. (‘system show-saved-troubleshooting-reports’ and ‘system send-saved-troubleshooting-reports’).
  • Change LED brightness – (ZvBox 150 only)Allows you to turn down the brightness of the blue LED on the front.
  • Changed Set Name – It is now called Set ZvBox-name. This is how you name ZvBoxes, allowing you to distinguish between different ones at a computer when several are simultaneously connected.

2.2.2 delivered the following to both the ZvPro 250 and ZvBox 150:

  • Audio Processing Improvements – Improved the handing of 44.1 khz and 48 khz PCM sources that deviate widely from the specification. Eliminated audio dropouts that occasionally happened. Eliminated accidental PCM left/right swapping.
  • 480i and 480p video processing – Improvements to SD performance, especially with noisy video sources.
  • Changes to factory defaults – The new default for 720p frame rate is 60fps (ZvPro 250 only), increased from 30fps. The new default for output data rate is High, increased from Normal. Note: new defaults are *not* automatically made active. An explicit reset to factory defaults is required.
  • Additional logging – designed to help troubleshoot deployments
  • Unit identification – The ZvCLI is now able to tell a ZvBox to identify itself by blinking all of its front panel lights. This is very helpful when managing multiple ZvBoxes at once.
  • Better stability – Prior firmware revisions could crash when presented with invalid audio streams. System stability has been improved overall, as has crash recovery.

2.1.3 delivered some significant improvements to the functionality of all ZvBoxes. Video and Audio processing were greatly improved, and more video modes from VGA or Component sources are supported.

  • 720p video and audio enhancements - 720p video processing for both VGA and component sources has been improved.
  • 1080 assist – (ZvBox 150 and ZvBox 170 only)ZvBoxes that do not support 1080 input resolutions will broadcast 1080 in ‘sampling mode’, sending a few frames of the image per second. This is extremely useful if you accidentally set your source device to 1080, and need to use an on-screen menu to change it. A message is displayed on-screen when that mode is active.
  • 480 video enhancements - Many of our customers are using 480 mode to create a digital channel from existing SD sources. We have made significant improvements to the video quality when operating in either 480 mode.
  • 44.1 Khz PCM audio is now accepted in addition to 48 KHz. This improves compatibility with Blu-ray players, Netflix boxes, Apple TV’s and CD players.
  • Audio improvements - Some TV models were exhibiting lip-sync errors, where the audio and video would not be properly synchronized. Although this could be corrected using the audio delay settings, the change would adversely effect TVs that did not exhibit the problem. The root cause of the shift was identified and corrected.
  • Broadcasting restart - Prior revisions did not stop broadcasting whenever the encoding stream was changed during source and mode changes. This could result in incomplete information being transmit, which was found to confuse some HDTVs. RF output is now switched off whenever a reconfiguration is in process, and re-enabled only after a complete, correct stream is being output.
  • Program information improvements - Some HDTVs were having trouble displaying EIT information sent by ZvBox. Compatibility is much improved.
  • EDID overwrite - ZvPro 250 provides timings for multiple HD resolutions to a PC via EDID information sent over the VGA connector. Two of the settings are used to reduce the size of the PC desktop when operating in 1080 or 720 modes where the HDTV is cropping the image. Previously, these values were hard-coded. This release allows the user to overwrite them to fine-tune the best fit. Use the set video-source test-image-1 command to determine the best choice for your HDTV.

2.1.0 delivered the following:

  • 1080 compatibility – ZvPro 250 is now compatible with 1080 video inputs in both “I” and “p” formats. Specifically, it will accept 1080i signals from HD video sources, and 1080p from computers; the broadcast resolution will match that of the input.
  • 480 upgrade - We’ve significantly improved the quality of ZvBox video output when it’s connected to 480i or 480p sources like standard definition cameras, DVD players, etc.
  • Better Audio-Video Control – We’ve added features that allow you to control frame rate, bit rate, and audio delay. These will help you get the best performance in your particular system.
  • Test Images – At the request of several of our customers, we’ve added test images that can be generated by your ZvBox. These images allow calibration of HDTVs receiving the Zv channel, for uniform performance when using multiple displays.
  • Improved management – It’s now easier than ever to configure ZvBoxes, and when working with multiples, the process is much faster. For greater convenience when you’re in the field, you can upgrade the firmware of a ZvBox straight from a PC, without being connected to the internet.