rafman

For Transpeed 8k  in order to make your IR remote to work with Armbian  (it may works and with other H618 boxes, but i test it only on Transpeed 8k)
 
do the following steps:
1> sudo apt-get install ir-keytable
2> copy the attached file transpeed-8k.toml to /etc/rc_keymaps/protocols/
 
3>  add the following line to your /etc/rc.local
     ir-keytable -p NEC -w /etc/rc_keymaps/protocols/transpeed-8k.toml
 
It works with mpv / vlc /celluloid.
 
Note: you can add any remote you have to your box by playing with ir-keytable is a very useful tool.
 

transpeed-8k.toml

@eibrog
I recompile it again because I  deleted my old builds on my computer.
 
You can download it  Here:   https://easyupload.io/58pgrm

You can change your edge kernel in config/sources/families/include/sunxi64_common.inc
 
case $BRANCH in legacy) declare -g KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR="6.1" # Major and minor versions of this kernel. declare -g KERNELBRANCH="tag:v6.1.104" ;; current) declare -g KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR="6.6" # Major and minor versions of this kernel. declare -g KERNELBRANCH="tag:v6.6.44" ;; edge) declare -g KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR="6.10" # Major and minor versions of this kernel. declare -g KERNELBRANCH="tag:v6.10.9" ;; esac  

Your board is LPDDR3_v1.3 and  from your photos It seems that your system is booting, however HDMI and LAN is not working and you have this screen. (known problem with this hack)
 
You can try the bellow image.  Normally your system will boot without above problems.
 
https://github.com/sicXnull/armbian-build/releases/download/v24.8.0-trunk.425/Armbian-unofficial_24.11.0-trunk_X96q_bookworm_current_6.6.44_mate_desktop.img.xz
 
Use Balena Etcher to burn it on SD.
 

Tested in Transpeed 8k H618 4g 64g & Vontar 6k h618  4g 32g

@Nick A As we talk, here are the final "howto" to make it working leds display with openvfd. If you find any problem tell me.
 
First go to armbian-config to change some kernel with has his own headers available like 6.10.9 (i had problem with rebooting with 6.7.12) configure an internet connection unpack the attached file to root dir / cd /linux_openvfd cp openvfd.dts /boot/dtb/allwinner/overlay/ armbian-add-overlay /boot/dtb/allwinner/overlay/openvfd.dts reboot ln -sf /boot/System.map-$(uname -r) /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build/System.map cd cd /linux_openvfd/driver make -j 4 depmod -a make modules_install modprobe openvfd cd .. chmod +x OpenVFDService cp OpenVFDService /usr/sbin/ cp openvfd.service /etc/systemd/system/openvfd.service #apt install python3-psutil systemctl enable openvfd.service systemctl start openvfd.service After this, openvfd is working but if you want my scroll.py as a service uncomment in openvfd.service and comment the existing one. #ExecStart=/bin/sh -c '[ `cat /proc/device-tree/openvfd/compatible` = "open,vfd" ] && /sbin/modprobe openvfd; python3 /linux_openvfd/scroll.py'  
Correct openvfd.dts, some compiling fixes and extra glyphs for cool animations added to this file. 
linux_openvfd.zip
 
 
@Nick A Please let me know if you make a new release with kernel 6.9.12 with this working cos now i made my server but no hdmi and no ethernet in 6.10. 
 

For Transpeed 8k  in order to make your IR remote to work with Armbian  (it may works and with other H618 boxes, but i test it only on Transpeed 8k)
 
do the following steps:
1> sudo apt-get install ir-keytable
2> copy the attached file transpeed-8k.toml to /etc/rc_keymaps/protocols/
 
3>  add the following line to your /etc/rc.local
     ir-keytable -p NEC -w /etc/rc_keymaps/protocols/transpeed-8k.toml
 
It works with mpv / vlc /celluloid.
 
Note: you can add any remote you have to your box by playing with ir-keytable is a very useful tool.
 

transpeed-8k.toml