What option to go for

Umiq88

I presume what I am about to ask has already been answered but I don't have a lot of spare time to research at the moment so I'm hoping so kind person could give me a quick answer as to what I'm looking for. I'm currently on the analogue system and need to switch over.

I'm looking for the following functionality from one box if possible

Must
Saorview with 7 day planner
English channels (Freesat??) with 7 day planner
Recording

Nice to have
Pause live TV
Series link
Remote recording (iphone app)
One box (will consider 2 if cheaper)

I already have a sky dish, and old TV with SCART/component video inputs. I don't want to spend much money around 200e. Installation isn't a problem I'm happy installing and positioning dishes and cabling and also setting up the box or if its computer based doing that. I just need to know what I'm looking for if its in budget and what I need to buy and how to install.

powerunit

hi i reckon you must take a look at the sab satellite receivers . setup a twin dish 28.2 and 9 east this allows freesat channels and rte / down side is the seven day epg . i do not think you will achieve this with any receiver . i hope to test this with the humax freesat receiver soon . if it has the seven day epg i will let you know . good luch .

Clareman

What you need is a dual tuner, 1 for Satellite and 1 for Terrestrial, almost all of your requests are available almost as standard on a lot of "images" now through something call CrossEPG, this will download a full 7 days guide whenever you want. I would recommend an Enigma 2 based box for you as there is a lot of support and addons available for them and you'll have great fun setting them up. Below is what I think you'll get for a standard E2 box with 2 tuners
Must
Saorview with 7 day planner - Available through CrossEPG
English channels (Freesat??) with 7 day planner - Again available.
Recording - Just install a hard drive and you're good to go

Nice to have
Pause live TV - If you can record you can do this
Series link - I don't think this is available on non-Sky boxes, you will be able to get onto a webportal on the box however and search the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) and set timers to record whatever you want.
Remote recording (iphone app) - There are a few options for phone apps, personally I have my network setup with DynDNS and connect to my box via a DreamBox app which allows me add timers or watch whatever is on, I can also go to the webportal and do whatever I want as well.
One box (will consider 2 if cheaper) - Get a dual tuner box. You will be able to record on Saorview and watch on Satellite (or vice-vearsa) but if you want to watch different satellite channels you will need to get another tuner, this will increase the cost.

Personally I have just bought a GigaBlue UE 800HD box which has both a terrestrial and satellite receive (details here), that was just less than your €200 budget but doesn't include a hard-drive at that cost, I had 1 lying around so I used that.

SalteeDog

A version of series link on Enigma2 boxes (e.g Gigablue, Vu+ etc) is cared for using the autotimer function. This works in conjunction with the EPG data and allows you to automatically record based on the programme name or text within the programme description. Works fine and notwithstanding last minute schedule changes (which aren't on the EPG) does the job adequately. I use it all the time.

+1 on previous posters suggestion on the Gigablue HD800. I have one also and the in-built DTT tuner means it's a breeze to set-up. Downside is it only has a single satellite tuner so is not a true PVR in the sense that you can watch one satellite channel while recording another. (Although you can watch channels on the same transponder or watch channels coming through on the DVB-T tuner).

The Vu+ duo has two satellite tuners so doesn't have this limitation. It does require a separate uSB DTT stick (eg. a Nova T) for Saorview though so set-up is a little more complex (and stability is compromised a little). I also have a Vu+ duo and regularily record three channels at once while watching a recorded program from the disk.

To realise the full capabilities of these boxes you should ideally have them connected to the internet - although they can work fine without this.

Note - Enigma2 is Linux - if your aptitude for technology doesn't extend beyond knowing which remote control to use for which device then avoid.

UncleBuck

SalteeDog wrote: »

A version of series link on Enigma2 boxes (e.g Gigablue, Vu+ etc) is cared for using the autotimer function. This works in conjunction with the EPG data and allows you to automatically record based on the programme name or text within the programme description. Works fine and notwithstanding last minute schedule changes (which aren't on the EPG) does the job adequately. I use it all the time.

+1 on previous posters suggestion on the Gigablue HD800. I have one also and the in-built DTT tuner means it's a breeze to set-up. Downside is it only has a single satellite tuner so is not a true PVR in the sense that you can watch one satellite channel while recording another. (Although you can watch channels on the same transponder or watch channels coming through on the DVB-T tuner).

The Vu+ duo has two satellite tuners so doesn't have this limitation. It does require a separate uSB DTT stick (eg. a Nova T) for Saorview though so set-up is a little more complex (and stability is compromised a little). I also have a Vu+ duo and regularily record three channels at once while watching a recorded program from the disk.

To realise the full capabilities of these boxes you should ideally have them connected to the internet - although they can work fine without this.

Note - Enigma2 is Linux - if your aptitude for technology doesn't extend beyond knowing which remote control to use for which device then avoid.

how much would one of those Enigma2 boxes set you back? thanks

Clareman

UncleBuck wrote: »

how much would one of those Enigma2 boxes set you back? thanks

You can get a cheap version for ~€100 or pay over €500 for a top of the range 1. I believe the cheapest Enigma based box I think is a Dreambox (think that Enigma 1 and isn't HD) which costs €64, the GigaBlue (link in my post above) is €198 and the Ultimo is €500.

The GigaBlue box is a great middle of the road box to start off with, it's quick, easy to wipe and get back to scratch if you if you break anything, take all the major images with massive support and plugins, I'd recommend anyone who wants to get into it to get 1 of these and see if it's a hobby for you or not, worst case scenario you have a Free to Air HD box for both satellite and terrestrial.