LyngBox (HD-capable satellite PVR + DTT)

The Cush

Just found this article about a new HD-capable satellite PVR which has DVB-S2 and DVB-T tuners and can receive both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 transmissions called the LyngBox.

The receiver is a collaboration between the Lyngsat Network and the European Space Agency.

The LyngBox will be launched at IBC, Amsterdam 8-12 September '06

Looks like a great spec receiver but at what price?

First Slingbox, now Lyngbox

Sat site Lyngsat is lending its name and resources to an HD-capable satellite PVR. A collaboration between the Lyngsat Network and the European Space Agency, the Lyngbox has DVB-S2 and DVB-T tuners and can receive both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 transmissions.

When connected to the internet, the receiver can download information from the Lyngsat website including channel and satellite data, the Lyngsat TV guide and Lyngsat Maps which can be used to calculate which satellites can be received from the user’s position.

It comes with a 160GB hard disc, twin Common Interface slots and DiSEqC 1.2 support and can store up to 50000 channels. Connections include HDMI and component outputs, an Ethernet port, four USB 2.0 ports and an expansion slot for adding an additional tuner.

No word on UK distribution as yet but our spy at the IBC show in Amsterdam is working on it as we type…

Posted by Grant Rennell
Thursday September 07, 2006

copied from http://blog.wotsat.com/page/whatsat?entry=first_slingbox_now_lyngbox

Press Releases from http://www.lyngbox.com can be found here.


Technical Data

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Technical Features
HDTV support (720p and 1080i)
Supports H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and MPEG-2
Inbuilt tuners for both satellite TV (DVB-S/DVB-S2) and terrestrial TV (DVB-T)
Internal slot system which makes it possible to install an additional tuner card
4:3 and 16:9 TV screen format support and teletext decoding
Dual Common Interface slots for usage with pay-TV-channels
PVR functionality with inbuilt hard disk
Possibilities to store recordings on an external DVD-recorder connected with USB2
DiSEqC 1.2 support for controlling LNB and motorised dish
Remote control as standard and a wireless remote keyboard as accessories
Channel selection by typing the name (or the beginning of the name) of the channel on the keyboard
View images from a digital camera connected to the LyngBox
The LyngBox can store up to 50000 channels

LyngBox Special Features
Free access to all LyngSat Network services (LyngSat, LyngSat Guide and LyngSat Maps) with exclusivity to the LyngBox. No other receiver has access to these services
Always corrects channel names, not relying on service names in the DVB stream
Family user profiles and parental lock. Each user can have their own selection of channels based on countries, languages and genres which will be updated automatically

Interfaces
DVB-S2 input
DVB-T input + output (pass-through)
Expansion slot for additional tuner card
2 Common Interface slots
HDMI-output
Component output
Composite output
SCART output (RGB and composite)
S/PDIF optical output with AC-3 support
Stereo audio (2 RCA)
4 USB 2.0 ports
Ethernet connection (100BaseT)

Hardware Specifications
Size (WxHxD): AxBxC cm
STi7100 CPU (three cores: 1x266 MHz, 2x400 MHz)
96 MB System Memory
160 GB Hard Disk
OLED front panel display

Guarantee & Warranty
The LyngBox has a two years limited guarantee

watty

It sounds wierd as neither of these organisations can make setboxes.

Is it a concept? Or who will make it?

The main idea is that it should use lyngsat automatically via internet to keep your channels tuned in.

I'll see if I can get a demo on Monday. It's on my list of stands to visit

byte

Keep us posted on any info you find out!

A rather interesting sounding box from unlikely sources!

The Cush

I recently e-mailed http://www.lyngbox.com/ with the following questions

1. What DiSEqC standard is incorporated? (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, USALS)
2. Is Blind-Scan search available and if yes what parameters are available.
3. What is the Mega Symbol Rate range (is it 1-45)
4. Will it be possible to download updates over the air from satellite?


I received the following reply

Dear Mr xxx,

Here are some quick answers:

1. DiSEqC 1.0 , 1.1 and most of the 1.2 part not USALS.
2. Yes, I the parameters are not set fully yet.
3. Symbol rate for DVB-S1 1- 45 Msymbols/s.
Symbol rate for DVB-S2 10- 30 Msymbols/s.
4. The function is available but we do not have any agreements with any satellite provider yet.

The commercial launch is in March 2007.

BR
/Tobias Forsell
Lyngbox Media AB
www.lyngbox.com

Regarding cost, the following is from http://www.lyngbox.com/distributor.html?SubPage=faq

What is the price of a LyngBox?
The indicative price level will be around euro 600-700 for end-consumers (incl. VAT). This will of course vary depending on regional campaigns and packages. There is no fixed price set yet.

watty

USALS is Stab licenced Software for GotoX extension of Diseqc 1.2.

The box may actually do it, but they can't call it USALS. If it doesn't then it is prehistoric for Motorised use. A lot of manufacturers that don't pay royalty to Satb (their own implementation of GotoX calculation from your position and sat angle) call it GotoX, which is really just the command. Though some old boxes really do just have GotoX and you have to calculate the X yourself, but beats plain motorised.

At IBC they only handing out brocures which I have.

There are LOTS of boxes at that price range some better spec that can auto update remotely.

The Cush

I also asked if the DTT tuner will be MPEG-4 compatible.

Hi again Mr. xxx,,

Yes, the DTT tuner will handle MPEG-4 (H.264)

br
/Tobias Forsell
Lyngbox Media AB
www.lyngbox.com

watty wrote:

At IBC they only handing out brocures which I have.

There are LOTS of boxes at that price range some better spec that can auto update remotely.

Hi Watty
The brochuer is also available for download from their website.

What other receivers are available in this price range that have the Lyngbox spec (160Gb PVR, satellite TV (DVB-S/DVB-S2) tuner and terrestrial TV (DVB-T MPEG2/MPEG4) tuner and are intended at non-enthusiasts (amongst others) with little technical knowledge other than the enthusiasts DreamBox or ReelBox.

watty

The Reelbox doesn't need technical knowledge and can use www.tvtv.co.uk instead of www.tvtv.de for EPG. Though with 320G drive and dual layer DVD writer it is officially about 30% more expensive. It does up to four tuners, but as yet the dual Sat and dual DTT tuners not available.

It is certinaly an intersting entrant.

Topfield allege to have combo sat/terr PVR too.

Any of these due to extra features are not as Granny Friendly as a Sky Digibox.

The Cush

Just saw an advert (Sat 23 Sept 18:49 hrs) for the Lyngbox receiver on the Dr. Dish TV channel (Hotbird 12.360 ghz, H).
No voice over just various views of the Lyngbox , similar to the LyngBox Product Sheet (pdf 240 kB).