Amiko 8820 Combo Receiver

@ Byte - Ali M3606 chip Byte. Used in the Ferguson 202s.

Amiko are based in Hungary which from memory is also home to Opticum (remember the alligator combos ?). Globo/Yumatu/Truman/Orton all clone names.

Doesnt matter what chip it has however. The support for the box must be there - otherwise you might as well end up trying to learn how to disassemble, edit and reassemble your own. Most of the software out there isn't open source (though it should be as many box brands are violating the very open source software they are using!). Therefore, the end user is reliant on the particular OEM/Brnd name being bothered to fix the issue - the software shipped with Ali boxes has to be fixed for Irish epg on combo boxes - it had to be done for the edisions, it had to be for the fergusons. Has it been done for the Amikos ?

To the OP, The Ferguson 120s do not have any problem with epg. Do not believe everything you read from the Denis the Menaces of this world (some people have alternative motives for pushing one product over another). The Fergusons are not only well supported in the UK and Europe, they are supported for Irish issues through some of the box suppliers and the countless users here on boards.

These Ariva's are nice and cheap around the €90/100 mark. They do what they are meant to do. They are at least €40 cheaper than an Amiko 8820 which I dont think is justified. Ali chips are cost effective end and affordable end of the spectrum. They dont need to be priced over €110.

As you get towards €200 you can get so much better value for your buck (New Gigablue 800s look nice - linux based - crossepg etc).

The good gear - I have seen the new range of combo boxes that are coming out, and they are streets ahead with multi-boot options on a box! Many are based upon ST chips - 7111's and the 7162's. Triax are using the 7111s chips on their Saorview boxes.

Also Fulan are writing good software (spark) and are allowing multiboot functions on some its new boxes - they are an OEM, so the release names will vary!

Look out for these new Combo boxes (they are not commercially available yet - especially under these names - many are ODM/OEM).

IClass HD9990 PVR 320g (linux OSs E2)
Skyworth HTS12
Sowell NXP8735 (first CI+ box USB box Wifi Youtube etc)
Jiuzhou Combo PVR DTS6695

Also Turbotsat in the UK have a new DVB-T2/DVB-S2 box coming out fairly soon under its Icecrypt brand.

The latest update for this box that came out yesterday adds now and next for Saorview, was blank before

http://amikostb.com/?q=product&id=83

STB wrote: »

Your not serious. You mean people have had the balls to come on here continuously recommending a product that dont even have EPG data for Saorview.

So now it has now and next. Are they doing the firmware in installments ? No 7 day yet ? What about extended EIT data - is there any programme information for the Saorview channels ?

The Ariva 120 €80-100 depending on where you look does not have these issues, displays the full 7 day epg and extended priogramme information.

like I said, support is everything and there is safety in numbers.

Not sure what you mean about continuously recommending,
I think you're confusing me with another poster and using this thread to bash them. A post was made in the Ariva thread asking them to make a new Amiko thread. I just posted my opinions here. I've never posted in that Ariva thread BTW.

The Ariva is not without it's own issues. I've been following the thread. Many have had problems, it's got a few updates and is doing better now. It's early days for this box. My own experience of the Ariva when playing around with a friends one is it's a lot slower than this Amiko and the GUI isn't as nice. Personally I didn't like it. As unofficial combo boxes go, this particular Amiko is pretty good. Just my opinion, having used both.

shblob wrote: »

I have full 7 day EPG on my box? And youtube
Try using F.W from here:
http://sat-support.org/?a=downloads&dir=75

7 day epg with program info all working perfect now, Thank you.

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Not sure what you mean about continuously recommending,
I think you're confusing me with another poster and using this thread to bash them. A post was made in the Ariva thread asking them to make a new Amiko thread. I just posted my opinions here. I've never posted in that Ariva thread BTW.

The Ariva is not without it's own issues. I've been following the thread. Many have had problems, it's got a few updates and is doing better now. It's early days for this box. My own experience of the Ariva when playing around with a friends one is it's a lot slower than this Amiko and the GUI isn't as nice. Personally I didn't like it. As unofficial combo boxes go, this particular Amiko is pretty good. Just my opinion, having used both.

PogMoThoin wrote: »

7 day epg with program info all working perfect now, Thank you.

Good to see that issue sorted.

I wasn't directing anything at you.

The point I was making is that certain people were pushing these boxes. And my main point is that the issue with a lot of boxes coming out of Eastern Europe is support and specifically support in English. You end up buying a box and then find its geared towards a different market with no Irish or UK support.

Chap I know had an excellent source for the Opibox Alligators which are another similar Combo box from Hungary (you might have noticed that file patch repository you were in also hosted patched Optibox firmware). Think they were worked out at €125 at the time (at a time when combos where €200) and they had wifi aerials with them. But he couldn't get support for them as no one could work out the Linux OS as it was closed. It was a pity as it was an opportunity to port 7 day epg plugins for sat cheaply on a combo.

Lack of an official fix should ring alarm bells though.

At least on this occasion there was "underground" support for these boxes.

What are you recording to?

mikelan wrote: »

recording to a USB flash drive. 8GB.
No problems with the speed test.

You really need a powered drive, not one powered from usb. This is true for any of the usb pvr boxes.

200motels wrote: »

Is there a combo box out there that has Free-sat and Saorview and record on to an internal hardrive? If not will there be one out soon.

No, there's not likely to be either, you realise Freesat is a joint venture between BBC and ITV?
http://www.freesat.co.uk/

You may see Combo boxes with internal doing terrestrial (not official so unsupported) and Free to Air, but they will never do 7 day EPG or series link.

mikelan wrote: »

mmm, I wouldnt agree with that one. I have a technomate 5400 which records fine to usb flash. Also if a hard drive is spinning 24hrs a day it's not going to last long. Flash is the only option for recording really. Thanks for the reply though

It's not just the speed, it's the fact that it's powered over usb. Take a look at the Ferguson Ariva thread, lots of folks in there had problems with recording to usb and the conclusion that a decent self powered usb drive is needed. Flash also have limited writes, some around 1000 times, mechanical drives are many times that.

Are you on the latest firmware Mike?