Best receiver for German HD and Freesat HD?

dermiestv

Hi, my old Comag SL55 has finally died. I had it pointing at 19.2E for all the German channels.

What would people recommend as a good new box, mainly for the German HD satellite channels? The wish list includes

• a single tuner
• 7 day EPG
• USB recordable facility
• Dual Sat-In to pick up Freesat HD from the UK.

.
I've read that the German HD broadcasts are all encrypted so does that mean they are only available on subscription? If yes, then SD is fine!

Clareman

It's nearly easier now to get a HD box than SD one. Any idea of your price range? All HD boxes will have 7 day EPG and USB recordablility and if you want to get from 2 sats you'll need 2 tuners, I'm a fan of the VU+ range myself so I guess I'd recommend the Duo.

whomitconcerns

dont see too much free HD there http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/astra19.html

I would get a HD box anyway better in long run.

Also you dont need 2 tuners. A box with a diseq switch will cover both sats as I am pretty sure you can use an offset lnb to get 19.2 and 28.2 on same dish. SO no need for 2 inputs (not sure thats even possible anyway)

lertsnim

dermiestv wrote: »

I've read that the German HD broadcasts are all encrypted so does that mean they are only available on subscription? If yes, then SD is fine!

The ARD and ZDF HD channels are FTA. Servus HD from Austria is also FTA

dermiestv

Thanks guys. One tuner is fine.
The logic behind the two Sat inputs is because I already have 2 dishes with cables running into one room, one for Sky and one at 19.2E.

At some stage, I'd like to bid farewell to Sky and have the German channels and UK Freesat on the same box.

From what I've read, it costs €50 a year for the German HD channels via "HD+"
That Lyngsat link seems to show little FTA HD content.

There seems to be some debate over HD v HD+ in Germany but I'm not up to speed on it.

Zardoz

A DM800 clone is probably your best bet .

Capt'n Midnight

you'll probably pickup a second comag for €20-30

But it's likely to have dying capacitors too


Re two cables - you can pick up a Disecq switch for a tenner in powercity

craoltoir

All Public Service channels are available FTA in HD (DasErste, ZDF and the regional channels like WDR, SWR, BayernFersehen etc.)

dermiestv

Thanks again guys, I'm happy with ARD, ZDF, Servus NDR and WDR so thats a good reason to go HD.

So choice is between a DM800 clone or a VU+ range such as the Duo.

I'm trying to keep the cost under €100, are there other recommended contenders?

givecredit

dermiestv wrote: »

Thanks again guys, I'm happy with ARD, ZDF, Servus NDR and WDR so thats a good reason to go HD.

So choice is between a DM800 clone or a VU+ range such as the Duo.

I'm trying to keep the cost under €100, are there other recommended contenders?

If you want 7 day epg on freesat channels you will not get anything less than €100.

Go for the DM800 clone, If you look around you will find them for about €120 incl delivery. With correct software these can now also autotune the freesat channels for you on a weekly basis. 7 day epg on uk and German channels. Add a 10euro usb dtt stick and you get the Saorview channels as well, all on one box and one tv guide.

The Cush

givecredit wrote: »

If you want 7 day epg on freesat channels you will not get anything less than €100.

The UK HD channels 7 day epg is only available thru a Freesat approved receiver, only now and next info on a FTA sat receiver.

givecredit

The Cush wrote: »

The UK HD channels 7 day epg is only available thru a Freesat approved receiver, only now and next info on a FTA sat receiver.

Incorrect. Any enigma2 based receiver, like the DM800 is capable of displaying a 7 day epg for all freesat channels. With the added bonus of also being able to display 7 day epg for all other free to air channels that are not on the freesat epg. eg Sky News, Picktv, Challenge tv and others. A freesat receiver is incapable of this.

samarillo

i record a programme on SERVUS HD TV at 0230 called VOGELFREI translated means OUTLAW. times vary some nights. its fantastic

keithclancy

If you want cheap and a single tuner I just took delivery of this:
http://www.amazon.de/Xtrend-ET-5000-Linux-Receiver/dp/B005B8CUFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353181489&sr=8-1

Flashed it with VIX 3.0 and Crossepg was a breeze to setup.

Has an external power supply so no fan, i.e. totally silent.

Only have a single LNB and don't really watch one channel while recording another anyway so as mentioned all you need is a diseq switch.

Cheapest I saw was 167 euros delivered, but decided to go with Amazon for the better returns policy.

I didn't need an internal drive as I'm planning to get a NAS at some point, but had an old 300GB USB Disk lying around so using that for timeshifting/recording.

dermiestv

Can I ask your views on the suitability of these two receivers for Ireland please - they're obviously fine for the German channels?

They were rated 1st and 2nd by Die Welt in a Feb 2012 review of HD Sat receivers.
www.welt.de/wirtschaft/webwelt/article13859777/Diese-Sat-Receiver-bringen-HDTV-ins-Wohnzimmer.html

Smart ZAPPIX HD+
Humax HD Nano

Both come in under €100 but I can't find any mention of them on Boards.ie. I don't think they're Linux boxes.

I'm hoping I'll be able to pick something up on Amazon.de Cyber Monday Woche next week. Nothing suitable on Amazon.co.uk this week yet!

Capt'n Midnight

dermiestv wrote: »

Can I ask your views on the suitability of these two receivers for Ireland please - they're obviously fine for the German channels?

Translate -
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.welt.de%2Fwirtschaft%2Fwebwelt%2Farticle13859777%2FDiese-Sat-Receiver-bringen-HDTV-ins-Wohnzimmer.html

other cheap and cheerful HD receivers
http://satsklep.pl/en_US/c/HDTV/188 from €39 with Linux box €83 postage is about €14 or so

For Ireland ?
To have integrated Saorview + Freesat HD + EPG + HD + recording you are probably better off leaving it for a little while till better boxes are on the market - AFAIK you are looking at €300+ and some tinkering with settings

For UK Satellite
Freeview HD box gives you full EPG and series link - almost every thing else only gives now/next and times have to be entered manually for any other recordings and you have to re-scan once a year or so when channels change.

Freesat HD gives you all the UK channels with EPG

DannyD

The Smart ZAPPIX HD+ contains a 1 year hd+ subscription, raps (auto update of channels) + lots more.

machiavellianme

Holy zombie thread resurrection Batman!
But thanks for the info.
Looking for something like this!