DSCS95 Android 9.0 - Firmware Reflashing Instructions

DSCS95 Android 9.0 - Firmware Reflashing Instructions

If your device is not working properly, follow the instructions below to fully reflash your device using the USB-USB method.

For routine upgrades of the DSCS95 firmware, please use the OTA zip file method.

Prerequisites

As far as Xibo is concerned, there’s no need to backup any information from the device as everything is pushed down from the CMS in normal operation. If however you have static IP addresses or custom proxy configurations or similar, make a note of those as you will need to reapply those manually after the new firmware has been flashed.

You will need a Windows 10/11 PC with a USB A port, and a USB A to A cable. These are relatively unusual so may be something you need to purchase specially for the job.

You will need a wooden or plastic stick that will easily fit inside the AV port on the rear of the DSCS95. A matchstick, cocktail stick or toothpick is ideal. Do not use anything metal or anything conductive.

You will need a USB mouse.

You will need to download the USB Burning Tool and DSCS95 Android Firmware linked below:

Your DSCS95 should be powered off

The mains power adapter should be connected to a power source, but not plugged into the DSCS95.

Install USB Burning Tool

If you’re upgrading multiple DSCS95s then you only need to install the USB Burning Tool once.

On your Windows 10/11 computer, unzip the USB Burning Tool zip file, and run setup_v2.1.7.0.exe.

Proceed through the installer until completion. USB drivers for the DSCS95 will be installed as part of that setup process.

Unzip Firmware

On your Windows 10/11 computer, unzip the firmware zip file to a temporary directory. You should have an img file.

Run USB Burning Tool

Once the USB Burning Tool has been installed, run it from the Start Menu.

Initially the tool will load with its user interface in Chinese. To change the user interface to English, click the second menu item from the left at the top of the screen, and choose English.

Next from the top File menu, choose Import.

Select the img file you unzipped earlier.

After a short time, the import will complete and you’ll see the firmware loaded at the bottom of the screen:

Next ensure that the Configuration section to the top right looks like this:

Ensure Erase flash mode is set to Normal erase as shown above. Under no circumstances use any other mode.

Connect DSCS95

Ensure that the DSCS95 is turned off and that the power adapter is disconnected from the power port on the rear of the DSCS95.

Put your matchstick or similar into the AV port on the rear of the DSCS95 and press gently. You should feel a tactile “click” as you depress the reset button.

Keep the reset button pressed.

Plug one end of the USB A-A cable into the rear-most USB port of the DSCS95 (nearest to the AV port) and the other into a spare USB port on your Windows 10/11 computer.

Connect the power adapter to the DSCS95 and release the reset button.

You should see a new device appear in the USB Burning Tool.

If it doesn’t appear, remove the power and USB cables, reconnect the USB and then try the process of pressing the reset button and connecting power again.

Once you have the device connected, click on the Start button at the top right of the USB Burning Tool. Immediately the device will start to be upgraded.

Allow the process to complete. When it has completed, you’ll see the following:

Allow 5-10 seconds for any transfers that are in progress to complete, and then remove the USB cable from the DSCS95.

If you’re doing multiple DSCS95s, you can connect the next one at this point and it will automatically upgrade as soon as it is connected.

When you’ve finished upgrading devices, ensure the USB and power cables are disconnected from the DSCS95 and then click the Stop button.

You can now close the USB Burning Tool.

Configuring the DSCS95

The DSCS95 is now upgraded with the latest firmware. Reconnect it to power, screen and a mouse.

The DSCS95 will boot up as normal into a fresh installation of Android. We need to do the initial configuration we would for any new Android device.

Connect the DSCS95 to the network (wifi details or plug in the LAN cable). Setup the correct locale/regional settings, timezone and ensure that the date and time are set correctly.

Xibo for Android is pre-installed for you. If you’re using a white labelled version of Xibo for Android, you’ll need to uninstall Xibo for Android and install your white label build instead at this point. For more information, please see this guide here.

If you have any management tools such as Webkey or TeamViewer, now is the time to reinstate those.

Once you’re ready to run Xibo again, launch the Xibo Player.

We now need to reconnect the Player to your CMS. Either enter the CMS Address and CMS Key for your CMS, or use the “Use Code” button for a quicker connection.

Once the Player has connected to the CMS, you’ll see a new Display appear in your CMS, likely called DSCS95-unknown.

If you’re attaching the Player to a new CMS, then edit the display, authorise it and perform your normal display setup routine.

If you’re reattaching a Player to a CMS after the upgrade, then you can use the existing Display record to avoid recreating schedules, display group memberships etc.

Edit the new DSCS95-unknown display and copy the Display's Hardware Key value:

Click cancel and then delete the new Display from the CMS.

Now edit the Display’s original entry and paste the Hardware Key you copied earlier overwriting the one that is there already.

Move to the Advanced tab and tick the Reconfigure XMR box, and then save your changes.

The display will now download any content and begin showing content as normal.

Configuration Changes

DSCS95 devices should have the Use a SurfaceView for Video Rendering? set to On. You can either set this in the Display Settings Profile for your Android devices:

Alternatively you can override the setting for an individual device by editing the Display from the Displays page, and on the Profile Settings tab changing the setting there and then saving.

Downgrading firmware

If you want to downgrade later firmware to an earlier version then you can do so by following the instructions above, substituting the firmware with one of the versions linked below.

You can download the Android 9 firmware for the DSCS95 here: