Caution! Vu+ Clone

[Larry-G]

The VU is a premium machine but not to the extent of the Dream boxes. I suspect the Solo and Duo were being phased out by VU but the OEM's still see them as viable machines, as indeed they are and will continue to be.

I think where you have Dream, the boxes have become prohibitively expensive, which in turn has encouraged a secondary clone market.

It's ironic when you have a good product then the legacy of it spawns an enterprising industry in itself.

Whilst VU themselves are now moving on to the Uno and Ultimo, the OEM's have probably outsourced to develop this lucrative supply chain.

You cannot build a clone of this degree without OEM involvement.

I can assure you the duo and solo are no where near being phased out by Vu, the Uno and Ultimo are additions to Vu's line not replacements.

 

[ekkostar]

Well, if that is the case then VU need to act pretty pronto indeed. In order to combat you have to act swiftly and with a 360 action plan.

The cloners will undoubtedly be working on getting Uno's and Ultimo's out there soon enough. The Ultimo is an expensive machine and if a decent clone gets out at the £250 mark, then it would certainly spell problems.

 

[Ev0]

I think the Uno will be next, but yeh the Ultimo won't be far away.

What exactly do you think Vu need to do though to stop the clones ?

 

[Donnie]

It's good to see everyone taking this stance against clones and hopefully clone users will find out they are not welcome on boards like this and they will find it even harder to get help.

 

[Sicilian]

Any member coming here for clone support will be instantly banned without question.

 

[ekkostar]

If you're premium brand with a premium product then the reality is you can't stop the clones.

It's a commercial decision in the end and a decision on how to combat counterfeit goods. You have to use legal means to an extent, but these are costly and time consuming. You have to tighten your supply chain e.g. a network of authorised dealers and you have to look at reasons for entry e.g internal pricing.

All this needs to be done simultaneously to help clamp down on the problem and protect your prime market of genuine buyers. This is ultra important to VU as companies can easily lose genuine buyers long term.

Ultimately it does not stop the clones, what it does is split the market into two distinct categories

1. those who knowingly wish to buy genuine product
2. those who knowingly are prepared to buy a clone

Unfortunately it's a plague which you have to learn to live with and control rather than go all out to eradicate.

 

[Mr. Mister]

Yeh get that lid off, and take some nice close up shots please, if you don't mind

Am just flashing this and setting it up at the moment..

It went fine with the bootloader.. and the image..

Box rebooted fine.. Just doing the updates at the moment..

When i get it working.. i will take as many photos as you guys wish..

 

[Mr. Mister]

ok.. Its doing the same as the original Solo a few days ago..

Once the updates are installed.. The box just sits with starting on the front display..

Its a funny one thou.. As the clone is doing the same thing as the originals..

Ill pop the lid off it now.. and take some pics..

 

[Mr. Mister]

Guys..

As promised.. here are the pics..

The 2-3 with one duo on top of the other are.. Top one is clone.. Bottom one is original

hope these help some of you..

 

[Stanman]

Very hard to tell the difference visually. The VU+ DUO in white is fatter than on the clone but not something you would notice at first glance.

 

[Braggster]

There are shit loads of sellers on alibaba.com selling both of these boxes and also this guy too sorry if i aint supposed to add link just thought you guys could email vu support on these ripping of merchants..

link deleted

 

[basilyoung]

guys..

you dont even need to open any box to spot a Vu clone..

I have just seen this for myself with a duo.. only 5 minutes ago..

A friend of a friend arrived at my home about 30 mins ago.. He had a nice new duo.. all packaged up exactly the same as a genuine one..

He did not tell me it was a clone.. until i asked him if it was.. He confirmed this right away..

You do not need to open the box.. Just have a look at the size of the rubber feet on the bottom of the stb..

They are in fact.. twice the size they are on the original.. and i know.. i got 5 duo`s..


He then asked me to flash his new clone duo as he waited.. So i agreed.. ( Having something up my sleeve as i wanted to have a closer look at things as i aint seen one of these before.. )

I knew that there was a fair chance that i could flash the box with the new bootloader and 2.3.. ok.. then if i done the updates.. the box would just stick on starting after the reboot..

Low and behold.. Thats exactly what happened..

So i now am in possession of a clone Vu+ Duo at the moment.. and this guy gonna call me tomorrow to see if i can get it working..

I aint had time yet to really have a look at it.. but im sure i could take the lid off it.. and take any pics ye guys want..

just let me know guys..

Even if you can get the unit working, charge him £200 for your time,

 

[Ev0]

Thanks for the pics

You might want to cover the terminals on the switch, before you power it up again

 

[Mr. Mister]

Even if you can get the unit working, charge him £200 for your time,

Now that would keep me in beer money for a day or 2.. lmao

 

[Ev0]

In picture 5 and 7, is the large capacitor on the psu, showing signs of failure already or is it just the picture making it look like that ?

 

[basilyoung]

well, joking aside, I would be very hacked off, if I was asked to update one of these Clone units,
as the origonal units are in fact cheap enough,

( but the info you are posting is usefull )

 

[Foxylady]

Hahaha,
I'd love to be a fly on the wall and see the faces of the sellers whom sold them and customers complaining lol.
Best wishes

 

[Mr. Mister]

well, joking aside, I would be very hacked off, if I was asked to update one of these Clone units,
as the origonal units are in fact cheap enough,

( but the info you are posting is usefull )

Agree totally Basil.. 100%

Pity the same cant be said for the Ultimo.. lmao

In picture 5 and 7, is the large capacitor on the psu, showing signs of failure already or is it just the picture making it look like that ?

Its just the photos buddy..
Im out tonight.. Bit i will take some more pics tomorrow morning.. and post them here again.. But this time instead of using my iphone4.. i will use proper digital camera..

 

[Mr. Mister]

Just for info..

I now have the Clone Duo all working perfectly..

I want to mess about with it a bit more tomorrow.. just to see if i can find anything else that my help before this guy comes back for it tomorrow..

I will flash it again before he comes to pick it up.. and do the updates again.. and it will just sit on starting after that.. and thats it broke again..

so im afraid from his point of view.. His new new shinny clone duo will not be working again tomorrow.. lmao..

If he still wants a Duo.. then i can show him world of satellite phone number.. and maybe he can buy one there.. lmao

Have to try and convince him that his nice new clone duo is a door stop.. lol

 

[Foxylady]

Just for info..

I now have the Clone Duo all working perfectly..

I want to mess about with it a bit more tomorrow.. just to see if i can find anything else that my help before this guy comes back for it tomorrow..

I will flash it again before he comes to pick it up.. and do the updates again.. and it will just sit on starting after that.. and thats it broke again..

so im afraid from his point of view.. His new new shinny clone duo will not be working again tomorrow.. lmao..

If he still wants a Duo.. then i can show him world of satellite phone number.. and maybe he can buy one there.. lmao

Have to try and convince him that his nice new clone duo is a door stop.. lol

You evil barsteward :roflmao: