Another combo recommendation thread

Rabbo

Hi all,

Apologies for yet another box recommendation thread but I can't seem to find a solution. I am looking to replace my Sky box. I have an aerial and a satellite feed. I have used a Ferguson Linux based box before and have no patience in dealing with skins, retuning channels or any complex setting up again. The UI is also very important .I am looking for an iPhone equivalent of a combo box rather than an Android. I don't mind spending more to get a box that is easy to use and that I can set up and forget.

So the following is what I'm looking for:

Combo box with terrestrial and satellite feed Saorview compatible Excellent UI Simple set up Recording, pause and rewind. Ideally internal harddrive 7 day EPG Netflix compatible if possible

Wouldn't be surprised if such a box didn't exist but I'd be grateful for any recommendations.

Thanks!

Apogee

Short answer - it doesn't exist.

The closest you get to an iPhone in terms of ease of use, layout, glitch-free experience is a satellite only Freesat PVR e.g. Humax
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/product.php?gid=135

You then need a separate PVR or settop box for Saorview. There is only one Saorview approved PVR and reviews of it are mixed
http://www.saorview.ie/product/walker/


A more android-like combined satellite/Saorview PVR can be had with a Linux-based box. The most mature and robust of these tend to run images like Openvix, though they still require some fiddling. Some companies sell these Linux receivers with the firmware preinstalled, in which case they are pretty much plug in and go.

Either Vu+ Solo2/Duo2
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056984899

or Gigablue Quad HD
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057184877

There are cheaper Linux boxes (e.g. Amiko Alien 2) but the firmware is less robust in my experience.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057246289

Rabbo

Thanks Apogee. The Humax box looks nice. Pity you can't get Saorview on it. I presume Saorsat works on it?

kooga

Rabbo wrote: »

Thanks Apogee. The Humax box looks nice. Pity you can't get Saorview on it. I presume Saorsat works on it?

saorsat is at 9 east, some of the techical gurus here might be able to confirm whether 28 and 9 via a diseqc will get you saorsat in non freesat mode.

i have failed to get get astra 19 set up on my humax in non freesat mode.

Apogee

With the older Humax boxes, it certainly was possible to view Saorsat channels in non-Freesat mode using a Diseqc switch. In fact, you could hack the firmware in the older models (Raydon bundle), so that you could place non-Freesat channels (e.g. Saorsat channels) into the Freesat EPG grid.

However, it is not possible to see any EPG info for non-freesat channels, either in standard non-Freesat mode, or in the hacked hybrid mode.

Firsthand report of Saorsat on older Humax box here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=82523775&postcount=41


I'm less familiar with the newer Humax HDR boxes, and I can't recall anyone posting that they had set up Saorsat on one. However, there are reports that you can work a Diseqc switch with the HDR-1000 in non-Freesat mode.
https://www.avforums.com/threads/humax-hdr-1000s-and-diseqc-problem.1865074/

So, in theory, there is no reason you couldn't get the Saorsat channels on a HDR-1000 as well.

Be aware of the drawbacks. RTE 1 on Saorsat is SD only and there is no TV3 or 3e, or UTVi. You will not see any programme/EPG info for the Saorsat channels on the Humax. You will have to switch modes (from Freesat to non-Freesat) to see the Saorsat channels. You can't integrate the Saorsat channels with the Freesat channels - there is no Raydon hack for the newer Humax boxes AFAIK.