OFFA firmware for the AD-600A

The One Firmware For All (OFFA) firmware
for the AD-600A, version 1.4a
(Formerly known as the "Sampo 631CF" firmware)

*Even though the OFFA firmware is available for a LOT of ESS processor players this page relates to the already patched versions of the base firmware compatible with the Hiteker and Apex AD-600A players, Europoean Hiteker BI-600E players and Canadian AD-600E players with ADV7170 video processors, and will also work with ADV 7175 and ADV7176 video processors, please look below for details on how to tell what YOUR player has.

Update September 12, 2002 for remote control hack in ES4308 processor players.
Update June 15, 2003 for "OFFA V1.4a" firmware

WARNING #1 (there are several on this page so pay attention!): OFFA V1.4a has a known issues of NOT allowing for subtitles on SVCD discs and may also have problems playing some SVCD discs. If your primary purpose with your AD600A is to play SVCD then the OFFA V1.4a firmware is NOT for you.

The original Sampo 631CF firmware has been played around with by some VERY talented people. The current version is now known as One Firmware For All (OFFA) and is up to Version 1.4a. OFFA is now one of the best firmware versions you can use in your AD-600A because of the features it offers, including:

-More configurable, gives the user way more options and control over their player.
-File Menu mode has 26 character filenames and sub-folder random playback.
-You can add a hard drive or a Compact flash reader to it or even a second DVDROM or a CDROM and play MP3's, MPG's, VOB's, JPG's, AC3's off it. Even auto started at boot up.
-If you select it, then playback of an MP3 disc or any supported file type can be started automatically when it's inserted. Or directly off a hard drive that is attached to the player.
-JPG viewing with 11 transitions
-Region free RCE disabled (will play any DVD)
-VCR friendly (Macrovision disabled)
-CGMS/A disabled (Copy Guard Management System/Analogue)
-UOP disabled (skip those FBI warnings)
-miniDVD support: DVD layout (menus and all) on a CDR/RW
-MaxiCD support: plays files (eg MP3's, MPGs, JPGs) off a DVDR/RW
-Hard drive feature: The OFFA has the ability to add a slave hard drive to playback MP3s, MPGs, VOBs, AC3s and JPGs directly off the drive. Using FAT32 you can have up to 120 Gigs worth of media files to play right at your fingers.

*Not all subjects (adding Compact Flash readers, hard drives, second CD-ROM drive, etc) are covered on this page. This page only explains how to get the OFFA firmware working in your STANDARD AD-600A player. If you wish to add the extras or seek any further information regarding this OFFA firmware other than what is explained on this page I suggest you take a look at the discussion on the OFFA for the AD600A on the Apex Forums here: http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27978

Note however that if you want to use this firmware then you will need to do several modifications that require some soldering skills and electronics skills as explained below. This firmware will not work properly in most AD-600A players without some modifications. If you do not have the skills needed or cannot find someone who can do the modifications for you then do not attempt using this firmware.

The first thing you need to do is determine your video processor. If you do not know what the video chip is or what version you have please look at this picture:

As can be seen by the picture the video processor is outlined as shown. You will either see the markings "ADV7170", "ADV7175" or "ADV7176" printed on the chip. If you have an ADV7175 or ADV7176 then please take good note that you will need the ADV7175 version of the firmware, not the ADV7170 version. Both versions of the firmware are available further down this page but please keep reading as there are a lot of other things you need to consider with using this firmware.

Secondly, unless you are using the Digital Audio Output, to retain the Analogue (left/right) audio output the karaoke chip needs removal as discussed HERE. Digital audio output is unaffected if you decide to leave the karaoke chip in.

Thirdly, to use this OFFA firmware in an ES4308 processor equipped player you will need to either change the oscillator part inside the remote control OR overclock the ES4308 processor (whichever is easier for you) otherwise the remote control DOES NOT WORK. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND you DO NOT overclock the ES4308 processor as it has been known to produce glitches in playback with *SOME* ES4308 processors where the bottom quarter of the screen lags behind the rest of the picture. Doing the remote control hack instead does not produce this problem. Note however that overclocking the ES4308 processor allows use of "traditional" AD-600A firmware (like N6, GK600, and even Haier HD700) but modifying the remote means you can ONLY use the OFFA firmware unless you "undo" the remote control hack. You *can* overclock the ES4308 if you wish but be warned that if you observe the glitchy picture problem then you will have to modify the remote control instead.

Overclocking or remote control modification does NOT need to be done on an ES4318 processor.

PROCESSOR OVERCLOCKING HACK

To overclock the ES4308 processor you need to move a surface mounted resistor (R100) to blank position (R101) as shown in this picture:

Also note because overclocking the ES4308 generates more heat it is NECESSARY to heatsink the processor and instructions on how to do that can be found HERE. It is also strongly advisable to heatsink the ADV video processor while you are at it as also shown on that page as they run hot anyway regardless of whether you overclock the ES 4308 processor or not.

REMOTE CONTROL HACK
Many thanks to blahblahblah, Corey, Stan, Ric and others on the Apex Forums helping with this information

If moving the resistor on the main circuit board does not appeal to you then you can buy a new ceramic resonator and change the frequency of the remote control instead. The standard remote control has a 455KHz ceramic resonator in it and can be replaced with a 400KHz resonator which makes it compatible with the OFFA firmware (but making it incompatible with other firmware as stated above). The picture below shows the ceramic resonator as a square orange part on the right hand side with the letters "CRB 455E" on it.

The remote control "hack" goes like this: Open the remote by removing the screw in the remote control body, unclip the front and back halves of the plastic case, extract the circuit board as shown above, unsolder the old 455KHz resonator and put in the replacement 400KHz version. Then after all that re-assemble the remote control. Your expertise at soldering and/or pulling apart small objects may dictate how hard of a job this is, but it is relatively straightforward.

Where to get the 400KHz Ceramic Resonators? The following places may be of some help:

Digikey (USA) Try THIS part or do a search for "400KHz Ceramic Resonator"
ECS Crystals (USA) Check the ZTB series, especially the ZTB400P. Verified. This DOES work.
Farnell (Worldwide) Farnell P/N: 648-206. Made by AVX Kyocera, KBR-400BKTS
WES Components (Australia) Part Number: CSB400
RS Components (Australia) Part Number: 174-0816

PLEASE NOTE: In most cases to use ANY of the above firmware you are going to need to get your firmware chip replaced as the standard firmware chip that comes with the AD-600A is NOT re-programmable or CDR upgradable. If your player looks like the circuit boards shown above, and when you peel off the firmware sticker you see the markings "27C040" printed on the firmware chip and also you do not see a little round glass window under the sticker then it is definitely NOT re-usable and you will need to purchase a new 27C040 or 27C4001 EPROM and get it programmed as per the details on THIS PAGE. If however the markings on the chip say "29F040" then it IS a re-usable chip, but this is very rare.

If you DO have a 29F040 it still may not be CDR upgradable because some of the original AD600A firmware versions do not have the instructions in the firmware chip to allow it so you will still have to remove the chip and send it away for re-programming with the OFFA firmware. You CANNOT program a blank 29F040 or blank 27C040 or 27C4001 in your player it WILL need to be done by somebody with a chip programmer.

If you are unsure what type of firmware chip you have, please EMAIL ME.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR EUROPEAN BI-600E, CANADIAN AD-600E AND SOME HITEKER & APEX AD-600A OWNERS:

Your player just might take this firmware as a CDR upgrade therefore no manual chip change (as mentioned above) will be required. All you need to do is follow these steps:

WARNING: as stated above make sure you know the version of your video processor, either ADV7170 or ADV7175 or ADV7176. Using the wrong version may bean you will need to remove the firmware chip and get it manually re-programmed. Be careful!

1. Download the OFFA firmware and rename it to the correct filename for your player:

Hiteker BI-600E: UBI600AM.ROM
Apex AD-600A: U600NAM.ROM
Hiteker AD-600A: UGK600AM.ROM
Canadian AD-600E: U600AM.ROM

2. Download and unzip THIS file, which is a 20MB "dummy file" required on the CDR

3. Put the renamed OFFA firmware and the 20MB file on a CDR using your favourite burning program.

4. Write (burn) the CD. Use a NEW DISC for this. DO NOT "multisession" and if you want to use a CDRW then make sure you FULLY ERASE it first or use a brand new CDRW disc.

When the CDR is made just place it into your DVD player and close the drawer. If the player recognises the upgrade you should see the filename appear on the screen and then the screen will go all weird: THIS IS NORMAL! After a minute or so the screen will either go black or your player will turn off (depending on the model). Just cycle the power (turn off/on) and you should be greeted with your new firmware.

If you do not like this firmware you can always return to your older firmware (available elsewhere on this site) and rename the firmware file to SAMPODVD.ROM and follow steps 2 to 4 to return your player to normal.

So... are you ready for the OFFA firmware?

CLICK HERE to download OFFA 1.4 for the ADV7170 video processor.
CLICK HERE to download OFFA 1.4 for the ADV7175 and ADV7176 video processor.

List of the changes made and improvements in the OFFA 1.4 firmware over earlier versions:

Change log for the Base1.4.ROM

Analogue volume control in all playback modes
Simply use the Vol+ or Vol- keys to control the volume. Added a display to show the current volume setting.
*Mute doesn't work, use pause instead

File Menu "ZOOM" Feature
Generate playlist and start playing it when ZOOM is pressed. Or automatically from the hard drive or when CDR(W)/DVDR(W) is inserted.

Auto "ZOOM" folder start selection
Setup and select what folder and filetypes to be played back automatically on start-up.

Boot-up Delay
Set a delay during boot-up to give the hard drive enough time to spin up so the DVD player will recognize it.

FILETYPE in file menu mode now stored after power down

New improved flashrom Routine
(Thanks to Indiginose for this excellent patch.)
Incorporates a new flashrom routine which does a chip erase instead of the old sector by sector erase. Also fixed the timing which wasn't long enough according to the specs on the 29F040. So this patch not only improves the chances of a good flash it also allows the 39SF040 flashrom to be used now.

SETUP MENU Changes
(Thanks to Tonymy01 and Sakman for the info)
-New Default settings (when you RESET to DEFAULT):

TV DISPLAY = 4:3 Letterbox (middle option)
ANGLE MARK = OFF
CAPTIONS = OFF
SUBTILE = OFF
-GENERAL PAGE now has COLOUR SYSTEM option to give you another way to select between NTSC,PAL OR MULTI
-DIGITAL AUDIO OUT now has DIGITAL>>LINE OUT or RF REMOD settings
-Changed the text from MISSING LINKS PAGE to EXTRA OPTIONS PAGE
-Added menu item in EXTRA OPTIONS for new ZOOM features and hard drive boot up delay.
-Added Indiginose's patch to make Adult level 9 so all adult movies will be viewable.

Changed Background Image
Thanks to Francis Chan for his winning Image
"Free as a Butterfly"

Changed Screensaver Icon Thanks to TheRazorsEdge for the cool "One Firmware For All" icon.
I've set the default time before it is activated to five minutes and I also slowed it down to half the original speed. Of course you can customize these settings yourself using the 0115-ScreenSaver_Delay_Setting and 0116-ScreenSaver_Speed patches.

Incorporated the Following patches into the BaseROM1.4

-MaxiCD (Thanks to Phew's hard work) (data DVDR(W)s are now auto detected)
-Subfolder playback feature (Allows playback of files within subfolders)
-Randomize playlist feature
-A-BRpt_Button_Sort patch (sorts file mode listing after subfolder playlist is generated)
-Eject after Firmware Upgrade
-Chinese font option has been removed (thanks to Sakman)
-Disable_UOP (thanks to morbo)
-Zoom No longer blocky in DVD playback
-PAL line bug fix (Thanks to Tonymy01 for persevering)
-TV Colour system menu option (Thanks Tonymy01)
-Dolby Digital Line Out/RF Remod menu item (Thanks to Dano, Sakman and hmpho)

-Dynamic Compression Settings now stay after power down (Thanks to hmpho)
-Menu text fixes (Thanks to Sakman)
-FLASHROM_Fix_29F_39SF This modifies the firmware upgrade routines to-do a full chip erase instead of a sector erase. It also gives the flashrom the proper amount of time to complete the erase according to the specs. Indiginose discovered that the original routine didn't give enough time for the sector erase to complete according the AMD specifications. This could have been
a reason why some of the upgrades failed previously even though everything was setup properly. The bonus of the chip erase command is that OFFA can now flash 39SF040 firmware chips along with the usual 29F040. In the past there were issues with AM and MM type flashrom routines. The OFFA will work with either of these 29F040 chips as well. But please note what type of chip you have so if you flash back to original firmware you upgrade with the correct version. (Thanks to Indiginose for this patch)
-EEPROM Inverse Addressing patch. This one inverses the EEPROM settings so they won't conflict with any other firmware if you do a dual boot mod or like to flash back and forth between the OFFA and another firmware. (Thanks to Indiginose for the mods and Tonymy01 for creating the .s patch)
-Parental_Bypass_Fix.s so the Adult setting is higher and now there shouldn't be any movie you can't watch when this mode is set. (Thanks to Indiginose)