Trying to fix a Koonlung K1S, a probably long-term project. [plus downloads]

The Koonlung K1S is a very nice dashcam, with GPS, emergency button and HD recording and everything is made quite small. The HD video has a bit of a low bit rate, but it’s still not bad.

That said, it became a piece of rubbish. No matter what kind of SD card is inserted, the software locks up and the whole device becomes useless.

The front side of the Koonlung K1S Dashcam
The Koonlung K1S Dashcam

I have tried all the versions of the firmware [⇓1]. I have tried to decompile the firmware [⇓2][⇓3]. Nothing worked, whatever I tried.

So the time has come to take the thing apart. It cannot be any more broken than it is now, so maybe it is a blown cap or something? It is not, by the first look. There seems to be a corroded button cell soldered onto the motherboard.

The close-up of what looks like a small button-cell battery
Hmmm, is this a corroded button cell?
Probably a corroded button-cell
This seems to be at least a problem.

Alright. So what model is it? It’s not like you can just take it out and read what’s stamped onto it. Luckily I have a reference sheet in my archive that can be helpful. Hooray for being a data hoarder? >_>

The diameter is 4.8mm and the height is 2.0mm. The height is somewhat debatable as everything is small and kinda hard to reach. According to my datasheet, there are two candidates as a replacement battery:

  1. 4.8 x 2.15 – 1.55V – Maxell model: SR421SW – Seiko SB-A6 – Citizen 280-77 – GP 348
  2. 4.8 x 1.65 – 1.55V – Maxell model: SR416SW – Seiko SB-A5 – Citizen 280-75 – GP 337

As I want to get the exact battery, I grabbed a mini caliper and measured 1.65mm. There we go. It will be a SR416SW or anything compatible.

€5,46 has been paid for a set of 10 batteries because it was impossible to buy just one and now it is time to get the battery out.

More progress updates later!


[1] K1S-R158-50417-MPHK1S-R179-50825K1S-R180-KPHK1S-R180-MPHK1S-R215-KPH
[2] k1s.bin_hlil – Type: Mapped, Platform: thumb2, Architecture: thumb2
[3] k1s.bin_hlil-arm7 – Type: Mapped, Platform: armv7, Architecture: armv7

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Upgrading the firmware of the Zyxel VMG8324-B10A

WARNING. As explained on the “About” page that this is a blog based on my notes, whether they fail or not. So proceed at your own risk.

My Zyxel router currently has firmware version 1.00(AAKL.14)C0 and since Zyxel is a good boye, they keep their devices up to date. Like all manufacturers should do IMO.

  1. Aquire all the firmware files that are available by going to ftp://ftp.zyxel.com/VMG8324-B10A/
  2. Remove the files that are older than your current firmware, in my case v.14
  3. BACK UP YOUR CURRENT FIRWARE AND SETTINGS
  4. Apply ALL updates one by one. Do not skip versions.

Good luck.

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