Dreambox

silvine

I've heard a little about these dreamboxes. Without getting too technical what is it and how does it compare to Sky?

cormacl

The Sky box is propietary and designed for Sky.. the channels are tuned automatically based on updates that the boxes receive over satellite.

Interactive "press red" content is also propietary.

If you connect a bog standard digital satellite receiver to dish and align it to 28.2E (the same position as the Sky services), you can search and tune in BBC, ITV, Film4 and a whole load more free to air (FTA) services from the UK. You don't get RTE and neither can access the interactive content normally available in the Sky boxes.

You can however, usually arange the list of channels in the exact order you want so you get to access what you want and where.

You also don't get the same EPG (Electronic program guide aka TV Guide) that Sky has.. instead for each channel, you get to see whats on now and next.. and thats usually it for UK programmes.

Some of these receivers can take hard drives and allow you record & pause live tv as with Sky+.

These receivers are a once-off cost.. you don't pay to use them.. but then if you cancel Sky, the box will continue to work for the same free services.

Now, Dreamboxes are a particular brand of digital satellite receiver that use the Linux operating system and user interface called Enigma.. the advantage over other brands is that the software is opensource and has been modified by various developers over the years.

This allows the user install differnet versions of the base product with specific customisations. The boxes all have an Ethernet port that allows the box to conenct to a home network and in many cases, can be used to stream TV to other computers in the house.

The bottom line.. is that they are hobbyist systems.. perfect for people who like messing around and doing cool things with them.. Joe soap who just wants a receiver that works out of the box is not really suited for a dreambox. Another main thing to consider.. if you don't have a home network, the extra advantage a dreambox over more generic brands is very little.

watty

There are also other box similar to Dreambox too. With +s and -s !

silvine

That clears a good bit up. Thanks. I think I'll be sticking with Sky.