Help me pick a combo box please

54and56

Hi all,

I've been floating around Sky replacement threads for the last few months doing my research and getting comfortable with the idea of ditching Sky in favour of a combo box which will give me the FTA and Saorview channels on a single 7 day EPG with PVR functionality which is well supported image wise and by that I'm guessing it will have to be OpenVix compatible. (I already have Netflix, YouTube, KODI etc via a Win 10 HTPC so I really only want the combo box to be solid at it's main function)

I know you need twin tuners to watch and record at the same time so a quad tuner with 2x DVB-S/S2 and 2x DVB-C/T/T2 with a 1TB HDD seems the ideal spec although a triple tuner with 2x DVB-S/S2 and 1x DVB-C/T/T2 might also suffice as I don't see a big need to watching and recording the Saorview channels.

My Sky contract is about to end so it's time I pulled the trigger. Having looked at a lot of threads discussing various models I've boiled my choice down to these three



This is where I need help!! It looks to me like the differences between the GIGaBlue HD Quad and Mutant HD2400 are:

1. The Mutant uses a BRCM5000 chip whereas the GIGaBlue uses a BCM7356 chip. From what I can tell both are 1.3Ghz so is one newer/better than the other?

2. The Mutant has 2GB DDR3 to the GIGaBlue 1GB.

3. The Mutant has 1GB Flash to the GIGaBlue 512k.

I want this box to be good quality and last for a few years so I'm assuming if the Mutant chip is better than the GIGaBlue's and I'm getting double the RAM and Flash it would be worth paying the additional £40 Vs the GIGaBlue or additional £70 Vs the Miraclebox triple tuner which has a similar CPU and RAM etc to the GIGaBlue i.e. 1.3Ghz, 1gb RAM and 512mb of flash.

Is the Mutant the way to go?

THE ALM

Of those I think I would be going with the Mutant which has the BCM7424 chipset and the extra ram would make a difference.

You should be able to pick up the Mutant on one of the European sites for less especially considering the exchange rate.

If I was looking to future proof it might be worth looking at the vu+ solo 4k

54and56

Thanks Alm, appreciate the feedback.

THE ALM wrote: »

Of those I think I would be going with the Mutant which has the BCM7424 chipset and the extra ram would make a difference.

WOS says the Mutant chip is the 1300Mhz Dual-threaded BRCM5000 MIPS-CPU (http://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/Mutant-HD2400-HD-Quad-Tuner-Digital-Receiver-1x-DVB-S-S2-3x-DVB-C-T-T2) Is their info incorrect?

THE ALM wrote: »

You should be able to pick up the Mutant on one of the European sites for less especially considering the exchange rate.

Would you mind recommending one? I've never dealt with any so need a referral to a reliable online supplier. I got stung buying some kit from a Chinese DX type site a few years ago and it still hurts

THE ALM wrote: »

If I was looking to future proof it might be worth looking at the vu+ solo 4k

I think for the next 3-4 years 1080p HD will suffice. If this new Celtic tiger roars for a few years and I'm splashing the cash on new TV's etc I'll think about an upgrade to a 4k box then.

STB.

THE ALM wrote: »

Of those I think I would be going with the Mutant which has the BCM7424 chipset and the extra ram would make a difference.

You should be able to pick up the Mutant on one of the European sites for less especially considering the exchange rate.

If I was looking to future proof it might be worth looking at the vu+ solo 4k

You are on the right lines looking at a CPU that operates at 1+ GHZ. Yes the DDR3 SDRAM should be high as you can get it.

Right now, if I was buying a combo box for future proof recording etc I would wait until the market is flooded with those containing BCM 7445 chips. The VU+Solo boxes are possibly the best speced boxes out there, but their price is ridiculously OTT and only have the entry chip for h265.

There are plenty of BCM chips out there for satellite boxes. The ones to concentrate on are those that support H265/HEVC (4K) as it will allow you to expand for IPTV also (your combo becomes a Hybrid).

https://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=s790302

54and56

Thanks STB. So basically I'm on the right track but need to wait until similar quad tuner type boxes are available with the Broadcom BCM 7445 chips?

The press release you linked to was issued in 2013. I'm guessing those new H265/HEVC (4K) supporting chips will become standard in boxes shortly?

STB.

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks STB. So basically I'm on the right track but need to wait until similar quad tuner type boxes are available with the Broadcom BCM 7445 chips?

The press release you linked to was issued in 2013. I'm guessing those new H265/HEVC (4K) supporting chips will become standard in boxes shortly?

Yes but those chips are on only coming on stream now. The 7421 SOC is on the solo+ for example. There are 2 chips that wont be on the market for while, which are further advanced again.

There are different SOCs for different type boxes, not all are aimed at DVB-S/T.

lucast2007us

Mutant HD2400 it's a beast you will never look back

Mr Velo

lucast2007us wrote: »

Mutant HD2400 it's a beast you will never look back

It's on offer here too: http://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/Mutant-HD2400-HD-Quad-Tuner-Digital-Receiver-1x-DVB-S-S2-3x-DVB-C-T-T2

stanley1

looks like internal power supply on Mutant, fans can be noisy, great spec on this box.

54and56

Thanks all,

I think I'll jump in and get the Mutant HD2400 rather than wait for the new chips STB mentioned to become pervasive. If in a couple of years if I do want to upgrade to 4k capability I'll either sell the Mutant or use it on a 2nd TV.

So, if I pull the trigger today on SOS (can it be gotten much cheaper somewhere else?) what image should I get them to flash? OpenVix, OpenPLI or OpenATV? Stability and ease of use are my priorities to begin with but I do like the idea of taking advantage of the XBMC (KODI) capability which is supposed to be coming to the Mutant HD2400 soon.

GY A1

http://www.ac-sat-corner.eu/Mutant-HD2400-E2-XBMC-Linux-Receiver-2x-DVB-S2-1x-DVB-C-T2

have a look at euro prices,
might be a saving on buying in sterling

GY A1

http://www.ac-sat-corner.eu/Mutant-HD2400-E2-XBMC-Linux-Receiver-2x-DVB-S2-1x-DVB-C-T2

there also satkontor, hmsat,
have a look at euro prices,
might be a saving on buying in sterling

54and56

Thanks GY A1, I had a look on those sites and the only one which is cheaper than WOS is Ac Sat Corner but the saving isn't that much on a like for like basis so I'll probably go with WOS as they are close by and I feel will offer better after sales support if needed.

The only issue I'm uncertain on now is which image I should ask WOS to flash. I assume OpenVix is the way to go as it seems the most popular and best supported but I'm open to correction, especially as I'd like to take advantage of the XBMC functionality if possible.

GY A1

Ya if not much in it better to go for supplier that's closer.
Wos are highly rated too.
I like open vix it's one of the top images.

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks GY A1, I had a look on those sites and the only one which is cheaper than WOS is Ac Sat Corner but the saving isn't that much on a like for like basis so I'll probably go with WOS as they are close by and I feel will offer better after sales support if needed.

The only issue I'm uncertain on now is which image I should ask WOS to flash. I assume OpenVix is the way to go as it seems the most popular and best supported but I'm open to correction, especially as I'd like to take advantage of the XBMC functionality if possible.

lucast2007us

GY A1 wrote:

have a look at euro prices, might be a saving on buying in sterling

I bought it from AC-Sat they fitted hard-drive etc took about 5 days to arrive they don't flash images but that is honestly so easy with a bit of googling.
Has been running openvix like a boss well happy and so is the other half.
We used to have alien 2 but it was driving her nuts so the mutant is a highly recommend investment

Mr Velo

lucast2007us wrote: »

I bought it from AC-Sat they fitted hard-drive etc took about 5 days to arrive they don't flash images but that is honestly so easy with a bit of googling.
Has been running openvix like a boss well happy and so is the other half.
We used to have alien 2 but it was driving her nuts so the mutant is a highly recommend investment

So you would recommend this over the Technomate Nano 3T? http://www.freetv.ie/technomate-nano-3t.html

lucast2007us

Mr Velo wrote:

So you would recommend this over the Technomate Nano 3T?

Absolutely but everyone has their favorite, all I can say is I'm delighted with it

54and56

Any suggestions for what image I should get flashed on the Mutant HD2400? OpenVix, OpenPLI or OpenATV?

lucast2007us

Again for me Openvix runs very smoothly like butter just taken from microwave

Stuxnet

I'm torn between the Vu+ 4k and the Mutant.... I know the 4k is currently overkill, but super fast channel flipping, and add an ssd and fan-less box is very appealing...Could be worth the investment, considering it'll do for years

54and56

Stuxnet wrote: »

I'm torn between the Vu+ 4k and the Mutant.... I know the 4k is currently overkill, but super fast channel flipping, and add an ssd and fan-less box is very appealing...Could be worth the investment, considering it'll do for years

Well I have the Mutant HD2400 now and I don't notice any lag with channel flipping. What makes the Vu+ 4k channel flipping super quick Vs other boxes?

Also, I have the HD2400 under my TV in a bog standard cabinet and I haven't heard any sort of fan whine or noise whatsoever. Maybe it will kick in a few months down the line when dust etc builds up but for now it's practically silent or certainly as silent as the Sky boxes were.

Stuxnet

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Well I have the Mutant HD2400 now and I don't notice any lag with channel flipping. What makes the Vu+ 4k channel flipping super quick Vs other boxes?

Also, I have the HD2400 under my TV in a bog standard cabinet and I haven't heard any sort of fan whine or noise whatsoever. Maybe it will kick in a few months down the line when dust etc builds up but for now it's practically silent or certainly as silent as the Sky boxes were.

I'v had the Vu+ Duo for years, with every version of OpenVix. Channel flicking is "slow" due to hardware limitations of the box. I would concede everybody might have a different interpretation of slow. Ive not seen the mutant and 4k side by side to compare. My old duo, while quite as a sky box, was certainly not silent, Im a bit ocd about my setups, the spinning hdd now would drive me crackers