All boxes SOLD

Sam Russell

The last box is now sold. As I said before, I will not be buying more of them.

byte

Why did this need a thread?

Compton

cool story bro

drBill

Pity, I was going to recommend these to a couple of family members as I'm very happy with my one - and also happy with how you handled the transaction.

Are you going to source any similar alternative, or is there somewhere else we can get them? Thanks.

watty

They are not compatible. They lack MHEG5
I also am sceptical of long term reliability.

There will be proper PVRs soon and Saorview certified boxes are now available cheaper and will be cheaper still

Sam Russell

watty wrote: »

They are not compatible. They lack MHEG5
I also am sceptical of long term reliability.

There will be proper PVRs soon and Saorview certified boxes are now available cheaper and will be cheaper still

They have proved both popular and reliable. They work well, and do what they do properly. The lack of MHEG 5 has been highlighted on many occasions, and any person who bought them knew of the lack of MHEG 5. As to long term reliability, there has been only one unit returned so far as 'flakey', and trhat was replaced without question. I have yet to hear a single negative comment from any purchaser of the product, with many coming back for repeat purchases.

The box was not sold as a PVR, but it does work well as one if a suitable USB strage device is added to it. It would be a good product at €100 - the price the Walker box was at launch, but it was sold at half that price at launch, with the price cut to €45 since May when I got a new batch in at a better price which I passed on.

@Watty - No certified box is available cheaper than this box, many currently selling for twice the current price. You have sniped at this product for a long time, yet you have never seen it, nor have you tried it as far as I know. How you know anything about it escapes me, but I suppose you are all knowing, so I should not be surprised at your omniscence in matters that you could not possibly have any first hand knowledge about.

Since I am not buying (or selling) any more boxes, I will return to being totally neutral about all hardware matters.

watty

Not been in the field long enough. Anyway you made your self "fair game" promoting it here in these forums multiple times and mentioning it again.

recyclebin

Argos offering at €50 for a Saorview approved box probably spelled an end to any demand for this product.

It looks like you bought them in at the right time, sold them, and you are getting out of the business of selling uncertified gear just at the right time.

Sam Russell

recyclebin wrote: »

Argos offering at €50 for a Saorview approved box probably spelled an end to any demand for this product.

It looks like you bought them in at the right time, sold them, and you are getting out of the business of selling uncertified gear just at the right time.

I did not consider Argos at all in my decision.

That decision was made last May, long before any box was even below €90. My original reason for bringing them in was for my own use, as only Waker were available at over €100, and I did not think much of them (they are probably very good, but not for me). I also got them to friends and relations who were amazed at the quality of the product. I brought in more than I wanted because that is the only way to make them affordable and sold the surplus. Because they sold so well, I got a second batch in which is now sold. Because the second batch was cheaper, I reduced the price. But the whole operation was more trouble than it was worth.

I was fortunate with the timing. Others can do the same, and there will always be room for a low priced, but high quality STB if it has market demand. It took me a year of research to find this particular box. Maybe next year, when the 'official' boxes are still too expensive, I may have another go if I find a suitable product - probably a combo.

By the way, certification is just a guarantee that the product is within spec, not a statement of quality. With a STB - lipsync, picture quality, sensitivity of tuner, speed of processor, these are all important but are not part of the spec. An MHEG 5 process that is very slow is useless, but meets the spec. Look at the comment some users have made on these 'official' products.

I will keep an eye out.

dowtchaboy

Well done Sam. Think you got out of it just nicely and I for one am very happy with my now "converted" TV and a superb digital picture for a better price than I could have got anywhere at the time.
You didn't oversell the product, you didn't overprice it - nice one.

Sponge Bob

Well done Sam, keep an eye out for an all singing all dancing twin or quad tuner PVR for €99 and if you get it I am sure you will flog a batch ( or two)

If you keep poking the suppliers for MHEG5 integration they will inevitably get the message sooner or later.