Recommend me a decent combo box

Rabbo

Hello

I am looking for a combi box to replace my Sky subscription. I have had a look through the forum but am confused as to what box would be suitable.

As it stands, I have 2 satellite cables and one aerial cable available at the tv location. I also have a TP Link home network adaptor available.

I have a Ferguson Ariva combo box on another tv in the house but I find the user interface poor.

My requirements for the new box are as follows:

• Two sat and one aerial connection for Saorview, if possible
• 7 day EPG
• Recording/viewing of two at once
• Series link
• Internal harddrive, if possible
• Very good user interface
• Online streaming for Netflix, etc. would be a plus

I'm not sure if such a box exists.
I don't mind spending a bit extra to get something decent.

Thanks for your help!

zg3409

Have a look here.

My recommendation is a 2 box solution.

One Saorview approved PVR (there is only one) for 230 Euro.

One Freesat approved PVR (probably the humax) 300 to 400 Euro

The approved PVR will allow series link of the Irish channels and recording of any 2 shows at once.

The Freesat box will record 2 UK shows. You would end up with 2 or 3 remotes (the humax one can control the TV), but I am testing a universal remote that works with all the features. (probably 30 to 40 extra)

Some of the newer freesat boxes have limited streaming, but much of the UK content is geo-blocked.

For netflix etc best to find which boxes work and which do not. I just use a laptop and connect it to the TV. It works with all players if not geo-blocked.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/freesatplus

http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-pvr.html

Rabbo

Thanks for the reply zg.

I would prefer to keep it simple and just have the one box.
Do you think the Amiko Alien 2 be suitable for my needs?

PogMoThoin

Rabbo wrote: »

Thanks for the reply zg.

I would prefer to keep it simple and just have the one box.
Do you think the Amiko Alien 2 be suitable for my needs?

The Alien 2 ticks the most boxes. I'm using one, great experience, but it requires a bit of work to get all the plugins working.

zg3409

I don't have an Amiko allen but I have used similar boxes. You generally need to be good with computers and you need to be prepared for it to stop working when things change and you then need to make the necessary changes to get everything running right again.

To compare to the two box setup you would need 2 x satellite tuners and 2 x saorview tuners. I am not sure if the Amiko could record 4 things at once and let you watch a fifth like the two box setup.

PogMoThoin

Would you ever want to record 4x sources at the same time?? The Amiko will happily record 2x HD sources (with a decent usb drive) while watching a third, I've not tried recording 3x sources. It also has the added advantage of streaming out through http so you can watch another channel on your laptop/tablet/phone/console.

How would it stop working when things change? Like what? What's likely to change? It doesn't support MHEG5 or have a DVB-T2 tuner, but Saorview aren't using T2 anyway and may never do anything with MHEG5. With the autobouquets plugin it updates the satellite transponder changes automatically. With CrossEPG it gets 7 day epg. The only possibility is that you are quite possible to break it playing with it, fix it till it's broke

zg3409

PogMoThoin wrote: »

How would it stop working when things change? ... the autobouquets plugin it updates the satellite transponder changes automatically.

It didn't realise the box could do this. That sounds like a brilliant feature. This should be of use to more people then.

PogMoThoin

Oh, and there's more....

• Autotimers is a plugin that is similar to series link.
• CoolTVguide gives a 7 day planner.
• Working RTE and TV3 player plugins.
• It has web apps, I can use DreamDroid to set timers when out and about (requires forwarding the port)
• Picons for all channels and really slick skins

It's an amazing experience when you get it setup right. Like I said, ticks most boxes

Rabbo

Thanks guys

Think I'll go for the Amiko though looks like there'll be a bit of a learning curve setting it up.

Does it come with any storage onboard at alll?
What type of hard drive would I need?

cheers

PogMoThoin

Rabbo wrote: »

Thanks guys

Think I'll go for the Amiko though looks like there'll be a bit of a learning curve setting it up.

Does it come with any storage onboard at alll?
What type of hard drive would I need?

cheers

It doesn't come with any storage, you'll need to add a decent usb drive.