Is there a Combo unit that does proper PVR functions?

gtg60

What I mean is that is there a Combo unit where you can record one channel from the DVB-S tuner but watch a channel from the DVB-T tuner? Or vice-versa?

STB

Nearly all the Combo boxes use the same microprocessor, an STi710. Think that limits the capabilities of the box from switching from one tuner to the other when the recording process is started. You normally can only watch something you previously recorded whilst recording on the "PVR Ready" Combos!

The Cuberevo or AB IPbox 9000 does. I would imagine the Dreambox 8000 does as well.

cormacl

STB wrote: »

The Cuberevo or AB IPbox 9000 does. I would imagine the Dreambox 8000 does as well.

Dreamboxes indeed do the same.. they also allow you watch other channels on the same transponder as the one in use. So when a tuner is recording something, you can watch AND record any service that is being broadcast on the same transponder as the one in use for the recording. I think I've read before that some other models also support this.

Additionally, a multi-tuner dreambox like the 7025(max 2 tuners) or 8000(2-4 tuners)) will allow recording from all tuners at the same time and still allow you to watch an existing recording or even other services from the same transponders as those in use for the current active recordings.

The only combo dreambox usable in the Irish market at present is the DM8000. It ships with 2 DVB-S2 tuners and slots for 2 more... expensive beast at €999 however and currently in very short supply due to what appears to have been much higher demand than Dream Multimedia expected.

gtg60

cormacl wrote: »

Additionally, a multi-tuner dreambox like the 7025(max 2 tuners) or 8000(2-4 tuners)) will allow recording from all tuners at the same time and still allow you to watch an existing recording or even other services from the same transponders as those in use for the current active recordings.

Bloody hell, where's that drool smilie

Yeah, I'd love to get in on the Dreambox experience, where I'm also aware you can set up other Dreamboxes to access recordings from the main (Server) Dreambox, that is uber cool plus a host of other features that can't be discussed here...

But asides from the expense, probably reduced WAF and a lot of setting up/ programming hassle means I won't be there for a while!

cormacl

gtg60 wrote: »

But asides from the expense, probably reduced WAF and a lot of setting up

You'd be pleasantly surprised about the WAF.. the UI on the dreamboxes is one of the best around very easy to use.

Recent integration with the Freesat EPG listings lets herself programme recordings in no time at all.

watty

The Dreambox is a hobby system. Not a normal consumer product.

cormacl

watty wrote: »

The Dreambox is a hobby system. Not a normal consumer product.

Typical reply from someone who's never owned or probably used one

byte

cormacl wrote: »

Typical reply from someone who's never owned or probably used one

Are you saying they're easy to configure and setup?

cormacl

byte wrote: »

Are you saying they're easy to configure and setup?

Yes I am.. the UI on the dreamboxes is far better laid out than on most other receivers. Bouquet navigation, and management is very easy with them. My wife is not a techie and she has no issues with using it. Similarly, my in-laws in Germany used my old 5600 without problems.

The complex part with dreamboxes is hacking them especially for Linux novices.

For some, this complex part would be flashing of images onto the receiver using NULL modem cables etc (NULL modem flashing is difficult bottom line regardless of receiver brand).

The good news with image flashing is that the 7025, 800 & 8000 all use an alternative first and 2nd-stage loader that can go into a DHCP flash mode. This grabs an IP address from your home network (broadband modem) and displays this on the LCD/OLED display. Then you can use your computer browser to go to that address and select and upload the image file. The box will verify and flash the image and provide progress interactively from the web browser window.. when done, you just reboot the box. You can even bacup settings to the hard-drive before the upgrade so you can restore these afterwards and get back to where you were without having to reconfigure and retune everything.

Check out..
http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/dm800/eng_browser.php
..for some example screen shots of how this done..

.. even a Joe Broadband could hook up his dreambox to his broadband modem and follow these steps to flash over the Ethernet.

Where you see people getting issues etc is when they are trying to hack the hell out of them trying to get diskless dreamboxes to record over slow networks to PCs etc, trying to play divx files, converting DVDs to transfer to the hard-drive.... WTF.. like a bog standard receiver will do this?

And then of course the other complex problem for some is in trying to set up card sharing and other illegal uses of the boxes to get pay tv services for free.. but thats illegal, very illegal and shame on those who do this.

Even recently, I upgraded my 7025 software to a new Gemini image that now has Freesat EPG support.. I only had to go to a menu option, enable the Freesat EPG feature and then the 7-day EPG details started to appear on listings for BBC, ITV etc.

That's my point here... it may be a flexible platform, built on Linux with lots of plugins and options to do clever things.. but bottom line is that they are very easy to use and setup for standard satellite/terrestrial reception and I think the well-evolved UI makes them much easier to navigate than most of the other receivers out there.

L1011

I've used them often enough to say that they are not a consumer grade product at all.

As goes FTA boxes realistically only Technomate make boxes that joe public can get their head around at all; look at all the abandoned or improperly configured Lidl systems lying around the place for testament to that.

cormacl

MYOB wrote: »

I've used them often enough to say that they are not a consumer grade product at all.

And what would be the problems that you've encountered? and which models?

watty

cormacl wrote: »

Typical reply from someone who's never owned or probably used one

ha!

A generic FTA box for satellite, as opposed to Sky, Sat4Free and Freesat branded boxes is barely a consumer consumer product.

Dreambox is a techy, geek, hobby product. I don't need to own or use every product to know the features and limitations.

You just have to look at the Dreambox related forums to see the "consumer friendliness" and indeed what many are used for.

The best Linux products for the consumer are the millions of PMPs, PDAs and setboxes where you would never know it runs Linux. This is indeed also why the successful Netbooks /MIDs with Linux don't use the standard Suse/Debian/Ubuntu front ends.

Dreambox is one of the 50 or so set-boxes I professionally evaluated. Actual ones bought (or supplied free by vendor) whittled down to about six. Dreambox didn't even get close to being short listed.

My family use a FTA only (no Sub) skybox. I use a blindscan/Motorised FTA set box on the same shelf and TV.

We also have 3 media PCs, each with dual and one with 4 tuners. I'd not recommend them as a consumer solution either. Only the "Computer Engineering" student and I go near them. Everyone is very computer literate, all have their own laptop. My Wife taught *me* how to program. It's a top 1% family in Tech/Geekyness. The wife even uses a GP2X as an MP3 player.

None of them will touch a set box more complicated to use than Sky. Not even the Media PC using Comp Eng Student.

A dreambox is great for a Satellite Enthusiast. Not for someone that wants to plug it in and forever after just channel flick and watch Eastenders etc.

Only 20% of TV households have Broadband. 75% of households have Multichannel payTV.

cormacl

Dreambox is one of the 50 or so set-boxes I professionally evaluated. Actual ones bought (or supplied free by vendor) whittled down to about six. Dreambox didn't even get close to being short listed.

So what were the issues with it that stopped it from being shortlisted and when was this evaluation done?

A dreambox is great for a Satellite Enthusiast. Not for someone that wants to plug it in and forever after just channel flick and watch Eastenders etc.

So whats difficult to use with the Dreambox?

All I keep hearing is general sweeping statements.. its a hobby box, its not for this or that.. but nobody seems to be able to actually state any usability issues with them. I've seen many use them without difficulty and even visitors to our home have been mighty impressed with the ease of use of the receiver and its PVR functionality.

I'd accept the label that the box can be used as a hobbyists toy.. but its usability is very well thought out and a lot of work has been put into the receiver level software to make it easy to set up and use as-is. Some people go on like the box boots to a shell prompt where you have to manually start the gui.. that as we well know is not the case... you have to ssh into the box or wonder well into the about/information windows before you realise its running Linux.

Fredd

The latest firmware update 162 for the Clarke Tech Combo 5000 enables one channel to be recorded while watching another (both have to be on the same transponder) Also works for DTT ie watch RTE1 and record RTE2.

gtg60

Fredd wrote: »

The latest firmware update 162 for the Clarke Tech Combo 5000 enables one channel to be recorded while watching another (both have to be on the same transponder) Also works for DTT ie watch RTE1 and record RTE2.

Well that's pretty cool, I have seen the same transponder on sat being done before but not from the same DVB-T MUX (I guess you couldn't watch one from a different MUX though).

What about watching a DVB-T channel when recording a DVB-S, can you do that?

Fredd

No. You can only switch to other channels on the Mux / Transponder you are recording from. Big step forward though, hopefully more to come.

gtg60

Fredd wrote: »

No. You can only switch to other channels on the Mux / Transponder you are recording from. Big step forward though, hopefully more to come.

Yes, I agree, had seen combo receivers do another channel on the same transponder but not on the same MUX.

Support must be pretty good for the ClarkeTech then, isn't it a clone of the Technomate 6900 though, I wonder if they have this feature now too?

STB

Thanks for that.

Thats just due to the firmware being primarily focussed for sat for the technomate. As such being on the same mux is the same as being on the same transponder. Its a line of code to include the terrestrial tuner, thats all (the clarketech know that there RTE1 is on the same mux frequency as the other 3). Most of the firmware tweaks for the Clarketech originate in Germany, including the p's. Technomate tweakers in UK.

I have both the technomate and the clarketech. Whilst they are made by the same people they are totally different as regards epg population behaviour.

The clarketech looks better (it doesnt look like a vcr from the 70s!)
The technomate definitely is more user friendly.

Schintzel

Fredd wrote: »

No. You can only switch to other channels on the Mux / Transponder you are recording from. Big step forward though, hopefully more to come.

The latest firmware is a good improvement over the previous version but some problems remain.
Do you see "null" for some of the program names on the DTT epg? I was hoping the latest firmware would fix this.
Also it would be great if the freesat epg was available. I've tried asking them but the replys are real head scratchers
I don't like the layout of the epg as it is, far to much scrolling involved.

Fredd

Yes I get a null name on various programmes on the epg. I remember this didn't happen when 147 was the firmware. Don't know if it's to do with the transmission or the Clarke Tech firmware. Does it happen on any other receivers?

STB

Fredd wrote: »

Yes I get a null name on various programmes on the epg. I remember this didn't happen when 147 was the firmware. Don't know if it's to do with the transmission or the Clarke Tech firmware. Does it happen on any other receivers?

Well I have the tehnomate 6900 and it doesnt do produce Null boxes.
The Clarketech does though and I have the p of the latest version. The epg between the technomate and clarketech is different though(techno a lot better)