LSI SC2000 chipset: practical uses, benefits, DIY?

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

Hello world! Currently, I’m keen on building A/V PCBs soon with some recycled components.
The LSI SC2000 processor, AFAIK, is capable at decoding MPEG-2 signals or data (whether it’s satellite or DVD, for example), with some DD5.1 support.
More info (downladable PDF): http://datasheet.digchip.com/267/267-00530-0-SC2000.pdf
It’s used in STBs —like DISH Network’s DP301, according to some stuff I had found across the Internet— to decode MPEG-2 signals (during the epoch it used to do so and when MPEG-2 was the peak for satellite TV broadcasting).
Now, I have some questions I’d like to get it solved:
a) May I get this chip set from consumer retail stores, or are solely B2B?
b) Once the chip is acquired brand new, must I build a kind of RTOS (or get it already packaged) in order to give it the system?
c) What are the practical uses of using this chipset on a custom PCB piece? Maybe using it for a promo wall (engineered in that way so that no UI interferes with any contents of such promo)?
d) May I recycle the processor (if already busy) by desoldering it from a dysfunctional or obsolete (or both) STB (as long as the SoC is not corrutped) and reprogramming it under my own custom RTOS? I think this would help us even more to support the environment by not getting too much E-waste (the pollutors) around farms, seas,…

NOTE: THIS THREAD HAS BEEN WRITTEN WITH THE PURPOSE OF ASKING ABOUT THE PRACTICAL USES OF THAT CHIPSET ON A CUSTOM DIY PROJECT, NOT FOR UNOFFICIALLY DESCRAMBLING ANY BROADCASTS OR DRM-PROTECTED RENTALS (AS THIS CONSTITUTES A BREACH OF BOTH THE PROVIDER’S ToS AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS).
At the moment I start working with such components, I’m aware of the SAFETY HAZARDS it may carry. Therefore, I PROMISE to be CAREFUL about such HAZARDS, so that both the chipset (and the apparatus) and I are fine.
It sounds great at the moment I get some answer, thank you very much, greetings.

[pandy]

Buy some RaspberryPI SBC - RPI4 or 5 will be probably easier to use and it offer more than MPEG-2 decode.
IMHO LSI SC2000 is under full NDA so from amateur perspective probably beyond your reach (no documentation, no SDK, no support).

Alternatively to RPI you may wish to explore TI SoC based boards offered by BeagleBone (like PocketBeagle 2) all of them has documentation, some support, runs Linux, and offers way more processing power and resources than SC2000 (also they are cheaper).

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

Ok, thanks for the info. It’s supposed these chips may be acquired via B2B, meaning, for example, DISH contacts LSI for the chip on the receiver’s board. I know they are incredibly cheaper, but can be they acquired as a normal shopper?
If not the case, may you recommend me, please, what other chips I can purchase that follows the following specs? Thanks

• 480i/576i, 480p/576p support (RF, CVBS and/or Component video)
• MPEG-2@ML, main profile decoding
• MIPS architecture
• Smartcard support
• DVD-Video compliant
• Supports Dolby(R) Digital(R) 5.1, AC3
• Supports MP2, MP3, AC3 and PCM (as seen on DVDs) audio codecs
• Supports MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video codec
• The customers may buy the chipset for their DIY products.

[pandy]

Ok, thanks for the info. It’s supposed these chips may be acquired via B2B, meaning, for example, DISH contacts LSI for the chip on the receiver’s board. I know they are incredibly cheaper, but can be they acquired as a normal shopper?
If not the case, may you recommend me, please, what other chips I can purchase that follows the following specs? Thanks

• 480i/576i, 480p/576p support (RF, CVBS and/or Component video)
• MPEG-2@ML, main profile decoding
• MIPS architecture
• Smartcard support
• DVD-Video compliant
• Supports Dolby(R) Digital(R) 5.1, AC3
• Supports MP2, MP3, AC3 and PCM (as seen on DVDs) audio codecs
• Supports MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video codec
• The customers may buy the chipset for their DIY products.

Nope, it doesn't work like this - first this chip is 30 years old so it is outdated - there is no sane broadcaster using MPEG-2 today and SD - most of them already migrated to H.264 and H.265 to save bandwidth. Side to this probably there is no decoders on market equipped with this IC - thay are already replaced by way more modern STB's.

Secondly such chips are not available without signing NDA - without documentation you can't do anything.
Thirdly - you have no chance to sign NDA with LSI as you as best can buy only few pieces - too small batch, additionally if there is decryption engine in LSI chip then you can forget that they even provide serious reply.


As i pointed earlier go for some modern, popular SoC like those used in RPi or BeagleBone - they are offering ready to use ecosystem so your effort will be minimal.

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

So finally, the point is this kind of SOCs can be acquired B2B.
In the case of the same chip, if I get foolish, the best thing I could do is desoldering that chip from an obsolete satellite receiver, reprogramming it with custom software and adding it on a custom PCB, and what else??? Or, better, proceed to Raspberry PI chips for effortless programming.
Talking about TV broadcasters in Mexico: in fact, TV broadcasters like Televisa or TV Azteca are actually broadcasting their FTA channels by using the MPEG-2 standard. Some TV providers like Dish Mexico, AFAIK, still use MPEG-2 for their SD lineup (NOT DISH Network, who killed MPEG-2 signals since 2022 or 2023 for inefficient, and recently the same who they did so to the QPSK modulation modality—hence boxes like DP301, 510,… no longer work for receiving any current signal). You’re right for saying current broadcasters, today, use the H.264 or HEVC standards (if they want to match with the modern standards) so that they save a lot of space.

[pandy]

So finally, the point is this kind of SOCs can be acquired B2B.
In the case of the same chip, if I get foolish, the best thing I could do is desoldering that chip from an obsolete satellite receiver, reprogramming it with custom software and adding it on a custom PCB, and what else??? Or, better, proceed to Raspberry PI chips for effortless programming.
Talking about TV broadcasters in Mexico: in fact, TV broadcasters like Televisa or TV Azteca are actually broadcasting their FTA channels by using the MPEG-2 standard. Some TV providers like Dish Mexico, AFAIK, still use MPEG-2 for their SD lineup (NOT DISH Network, who killed MPEG-2 signals since 2022 or 2023 for inefficient, and recently the same who they did so to the QPSK modulation modality—hence boxes like DP301, 510,… no longer work for receiving any current signal). You’re right for saying current broadcasters, today, use the H.264 or HEVC standards (if they want to match with the modern standards) so that they save a lot of space.

Once again - B2B means you need to spend millions of U$ and have large legal team behind you.
If your goal is to have chip then desoldering is best option but FYI - such IC are typically in BGA (or sometimes in PQFP) package and they require multilayer PCB so from your perspective it is better to use working STB and re-use it for your target.
Chip itself is very old and nothing spectacular - more or less similar functionality to very popular and common IC's offered by for example STM like STi5518 - https://radio-hobby.org/uploads/datasheet/32/sti5/sti5518.pdf - compare both pdf's - this is more what you are facing trying to use such chip - i can assure you that full datasheet is only one of required documents to even start thinking about using such chip and all of them are confidential and available to customer only under NDA.

Not sure about Mexico but most costly for broadcasters is spectrum - they use any possible method to fit as much as possible channels in lowest possible spectrum - spectrum cost serious money and less channels means less incomes.

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

I know the best option for this case would be the STi5517 (DISH 311) or STi5518, but another problem is now unlocked: we need some sort of compiler for the proprietary ST20 architecture, not MIPS, and it has to be acquired GENUINELY—NOT VIA TORRENT, UNOFFICIAL DOWNLOADS OR OTHER ILLEGAL METHODS.
While acquiring a brand new LAI SC2000 through B2B, as you mentioned, costs millions of dollars (or Mexican pesos at its equivalent). Supposedly, if I take apart the LSI SC2000 from a DISH DP301 for my DIY project, I think I must wipe all of the DISH code, write mine in MIPS Assembly and then the main interface in C (UI that only displays video and decodes audio, with no UI on them), or what do you (or y’all) think?
I may also explore using the MediaTek MT1398DE processor used on some DVD players, but IDK if it may also process MPEG-TS, not just MPEG-PS…
But thanks for the suggestion, the Raspberry Pi would be one of my best friends to work with.

[pandy]

ST20 is descent of Transputer and it is not more proprietary than MIPS. Problem is in many blocks - encryption, keys - those things are most confidential part for every chipset family used by STB's

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

But if I desolder CAREFULLY, PROPERLY and WISELY the SoC from a DISH DP31/510 (LSI SC2000) or DISH 311 (STi5517) + the NVM, then I must wipe the DISH code from the NVM of the recycled boxes and write mine first in assembly MIPS or ST20 respectively and then go for maybe C???
Also, how hard is writing some custom code in MIPS/ST20 assembly, so that I don’t copycat the existing corporate code and, therefore, avoid any kind of copyright infringement for plagiarized code; so that the chip may be used on my custom PCB? Or do you think going for the Raspberry Pi is much safer and efficient than LSi SC2000/ST5517(5518)? Thanks for the answer

[pandy]

But if I desolder CAREFULLY, PROPERLY and WISELY the SoC from a DISH DP31/510 (LSI SC2000) or DISH 311 (STi5517) + the NVM, then I must wipe the DISH code from the NVM of the recycled boxes and write mine first in assembly MIPS or ST20 respectively and then go for maybe C???
Also, how hard is writing some custom code in MIPS/ST20 assembly, so that I don’t copycat the existing corporate code and, therefore, avoid any kind of copyright infringement for plagiarized code; so that the chip may be used on my custom PCB? Or do you think going for the Raspberry Pi is much safer and efficient than LSi SC2000/ST5517(5518)? Thanks for the answer

You can desolder IC, follow general thermal profile guidelines and use some hot air solder or better station dedicated for large IC in packages like BGA.

Usually code is stored externally in some FLASH memory - 30 years ago it was some NOR FLASH so it can desoldered and replaced by compatible one (those FLASH use some protected bootblocks and sometimes additionally fuses so it may be not possible to reuse original one).


How difficult is to write useful code and additionally in ASM - this is very difficult - those SoC use 32 bit uP and usually high level languages are preferred way to program - being on your side i would search for some project offering Linux for platform of your choice.

Personally having over 20 years experience in broadcast industry i would say good luck you will need plenty of it.

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

So the bottom line is:
1. I need specialized equipment to desolder the LSI SC2000 chip and its NVM from a DISH DP301.
2. I need to design some functional PCB, along with the energy components.
3. I need to write some code in Assembly so that I avoid crossing the legal border just for recycling code from the NVM.
4. I must ALSO design some custom interface that helps the chip to be ablemto receive USB signals from a master computer.
Is this right?
Also, what can I do if I want to take apart the EJTAG and TRANSPORT STREAM OUT sections, from the DP301, for further debug on my new PCB?

[pandy]

LSI SC2000 chip

Do you have full datasheet for this IC? Also register manual? Erratas with errors and solutions? Example code from LSI? SDK?