Freesat & Saorview BEST Sattelite receiver

pdelahunty

I would really love to get rid of sky and move to Saorview and Freesat. We have young kids and I want the best, simplest option available and am willing to pay a bit of money for it. I have a couple of questions

1. What receiver would you recomend? Recording and ability to watch multiple channels and a good TV guide are really important.
2. Good installer in the Dublin area
3. There are loads of things I don't understand when I research them myself. What does auto or wifi channel update mean?
What is Spark?
What is Eclipse 2?

Thanks

flashinthepan

Spark is a proprietary software that comes on some satellite boxes like the amiko alien
Some amiko boxes can run a dual boot kind of system whereby you can switch to

Enigma 2
Could you be confusing this with Eclipse 2 ?

Enigma 2 is a linux based image that can come in different versions made by different teams like
PKT Hyperion or openATV or Vix4e2 these are all just different versions of an operating system

I would assume that auto channel update you means autoboquets
which is what is called a plugin on the Enigma 2 image that will organise you channels into boquets ( Lists )
like
Sports
Drama
children's and so on

in order to record you will need
A hard drive or large USB key ( hard drive recommended )

You would also want to consider a receiver with multiple tuners
to record say bbc1 and channel 4 while watching RTE 1 you would require 3 tuners
this is why there would be 2 cables from your sky dish a ( feed ) for each channel

Also note that to watch RTE you will also require a Terestial ( UHF ) aerial connected to your receiver

there are a few boxes that would meet your needs
To name a couple
edission os mega
amiko alien 2
Technomate

the os mega is getting good reviews and at around €200 it has good processing power and a good bit of memory and the ability to install a hard disk inside makes for a more stable sys rather than connecting a usb powered hdd

some people have not had issues with usb powered drives like the samsung m3
when I had the amiko alien with a usb hdd it gave a little trouble but was a great learning experience

pdelahunty

Thanks for all the info. So is there a box you would recommend if I am willing to pay money to get a good one and lessen the pain of leaving Sky Q? Is Enigma 2 better than spark in terms of features and usability? I have a couple of 1TB USB 3 drives I can use and I would definitely need at least 2 tuners

dubrov

The only way you will get everything in one box (Saorview, Freesat, Record, Full 7 day EPG) is by getting an Enigma2 receiver.
The problem is that there is some technical setup involved.
There are guides on the internet but you could end up spending a day or more to get it right.
Once setup, it should run well though.

I believe the best box is the VU+ Ultimo 4K COMBO. It has decent hardware and good software support (OpenVix runs well on it).
I wouldn't go for something underpowered like the Amiko Alien 2. On paper, it should be able to handle all the functionality you need but it will struggle at times.

If you don't want to have to do any setup, the best you can get is a Freesat box. There are plenty of options and generally, the more you spend, the better you get.
It will only have the UK channels though.
A lot of people connect an aerial feed to their TVs directly for the Saorivuew Irish channels and use the Freesat boxes for UK channels and recording. You would need to switch TV input to move between Saorview and Freesat which could be painful.

flashinthepan

Spark is good and it is stable if not a little lacking in frills
like the user menu and channel selection can be a little bland but picture quality is very good


Enigma 2 has a better selection of plugins to customise the user experience there is even a sky skin that makes the os look like sky if that's what floats your boat

I have a VU+Duo2 in the living room and an amiko alien 2 in the kitchen
I can watch programmes that I recorded on the duo from the amiko box in the kitchen

There is also a web browser called webif that you can stream a program from the box to your laptop or ipad
so that you can watch stuff on your pc while someone else is watching another program on the main telly

This does tie up 1 of your tuners though while streaming

if you want trouble free use you need a box with as much built in memory as possible and a good processor so it may be worth spending the extra few quid

_John C

If youve got sky q you will have to check what type if lnb you have. Sky usually install wideband lnbs with sky q and this means that you can only run sky q boxes from your dish and no other type of box. Then theres hybrid lnbs, the hybrid lnbs work with sky q boxes and/or regular satellite boxes. Sky can install hybrid lnbs while installing sky q if the customer requests so. Then theres the standard lnbs which work with all regular satellite boxes and sky boxes except sky q.

So in order for you to remove your sky q box and install another box; you will need a hybrid or standard lnb on your dish. If youve just got the wideband lnb with the 2 outputs for the sky q box, then no other type of satellite box will work except sky q boxes. Which makes it more awkward for anybody to leave sky q for a free tv option because you need to change the lnb up on your dish in order to make any other box work.

flashinthepan

Is this not one such receiver
http://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/vu-plus/vu-plus-ultimo4k-ultimo-4k-dvb-c

dubrov

flashinthepan wrote: »

Is this not one such receiver
http://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/vu-plus/vu-plus-ultimo4k-ultimo-4k-dvb-c

I don't think that will work with a wideband LNB as supplied with Sky Q.
AFAIK, only Sky Q will work with a wideband LNB. This is likely a deliberate move by SKy to make it more awkward to switch to free to air.

flashinthepan

Ah I stand corrected so
Cheers

EDIT
Snipped from a post by the cush
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057625266&page=2


With its basic setup the SkyQ FBC lnb sends the full range of frequencies down each cable (10700-12750) but each cable will only carry one polarisation H or V to a receiver or splitter (when available), this way the signal can be sent to multiple tuners at once without interfering with each other, similar to a multiswitch or how your regular TV aerial works. The SkyQ silver boxes have 12 internal tuners.

In their dSCR (Unicable) multiswitches, they allocate 16 preset user bands (channels) via a single output which can feed 16 SCR tuners. Intended for use in apartment blocks where only a single cable may be feeding each apartment.

So would a receiver with a FBC tuner no be able to utilize the full band of freq on H & V enabling mor stations to be recorded at one time


Interesed in this

What is the sky lnb doing thats different to other wideband lnb's ?
Cheers

Johnboy1951

flashinthepan wrote: »

Ah I stand corrected so
Cheers

EDIT
Snipped from a post by the cush
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057625266&page=2


With its basic setup the SkyQ FBC lnb sends the full range of frequencies down each cable (10700-12750) but each cable will only carry one polarisation H or V to a receiver or splitter (when available), this way the signal can be sent to multiple tuners at once without interfering with each other, similar to a multiswitch or how your regular TV aerial works. The SkyQ silver boxes have 12 internal tuners.

In their dSCR (Unicable) multiswitches, they allocate 16 preset user bands (channels) via a single output which can feed 16 SCR tuners. Intended for use in apartment blocks where only a single cable may be feeding each apartment.

So would a receiver with a FBC tuner no be able to utilize the full band of freq on H & V enabling mor stations to be recorded at one time


Interesed in this

What is the sky lnb doing thats different to other wideband lnb's ?
Cheers

This thread might throw some light on things

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=101554671

paddy19

If you have an old PC lying around, you can build your own.

All windows based so you its familiar to virtually everybody.

Hardware know how involves opening the PC and inserting two cards into the PCI slots.

I'm using old dell PC with TBS 6902 (€75) PCI dual sat tuner and an ancient WinTV-NOVA-T-500 DVB-T PCI from eBay for Saorview €24.

This gives you two Sat and two Saorview channels.

WebGrab+ is an automated free web scraper 7 day EPG, works a treat for UK channels. Grab the Irish channel from DVT-T.

NextPvr is very well supported windows based PVR system, also free.

Total added cost plus €99.

Capt'n Midnight

paddy19 wrote: »

If you have an old PC lying around, you can build your own.

Only thing is to watch out for power consumption.

If the PC uses 100Watts for 10 hours a day , or 50Watts for 20 hours then that's a unit of electricity and at 20c a unit it's €73 a year. So choose the old PC wisely.


Wake On Lan is handy.

/2c

paddy19

Your right Capt'n Midnight, power consumption with a pc needs to be watched.

I've found that it tends to wake from sleep for assorted unwanted reasons.

A wee app called Win Sleep is good at keeping manners on the PC.
It also tracks what programs or ports are waking the PC.

In use I have no idea if PC's are worse that the boxes for power consumption.

Johnboy1951

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Only thing is to watch out for power consumption.

If the PC uses 100Watts for 10 hours a day , or 50Watts for 20 hours then that's a unit of electricity and at 20c a unit it's €73 a year. So choose the old PC wisely.


Wake On Lan is handy.

/2c

The other thing is noise, unless the PC can be placed somewhere out of hearing or is practically noiseless.

I also use an old Dell for the tuner management, with a Linux OS (LibreELec), but have the PC out of hearing and use a R-Pi as the client device at one TV; a NUC at a second and Kodi on phones, laptops and PCs to record & view Live TV and view stored media.

I have no video card in the old Dell ..... the onboard video is sufficient for set up and checking but not for playing HD to a TV.

hadoken13

Sky is being turned off/cancelled later this month so looking for a freesat, Saorview and Enigma box. I am currently looking at a Technomate TM-Twin 4K - Triple Tuner 4K - does anyone have one of these or can someone recommend a similar product? I'd rather a twin sat tuner and a single cable than this one but other than that the spec looks good.

eunos1992

Hi hadoken13 just wondering if you purchased the Technomate 4k as I am also looking at this one?

hadoken13

eunos1992 wrote: »

Hi hadoken13 just wondering if you purchased the Technomate 4k as I am also looking at this one?

Hi,

Been away from boards for a while so didn't see these replies.

Ye went with the box after. Really fast to boot up and load channels no real problems. Only issue was the USB Saorview tuner didn't work as Technomate had no driver available or it just didn't work. Returning driver this week.

STB.

hadoken13 wrote: »

Hi,

Been away from boards for a while so didn't see these replies.

Ye went with the box after. Really fast to boot up and load channels no real problems. Only issue was the USB Saorview tuner didn't work as Technomate had no driver available or it just didn't work. Returning driver this week.

Show me what USB DVB-t stick you bought. We'll make it work.

clancywigam

STB. wrote: »

Show me what USB DVB-t stick you bought. We'll make it work.

I'm looking at the Technomate TM too and forgive my ignorance but I assumed the box comes with a built-in Saorview tuner. Why would you need a USB tuner?

exaisle

clancywigam wrote: »

I'm looking at the Technomate TM too and forgive my ignorance but I assumed the box comes with a built-in Saorview tuner. Why would you need a USB tuner?

I think there are only satellite tuners on the Technomate....are you confusing Saorview with Saorsat?

STB.

No the Technomate 4K box does not have a DVB-T tuner. Its just a twin satellite box.

If you want a triple box (2 satellite, 1 Saorview) look at the Edision OS Mega Triple Tuner. Its £159 from WOS. Use parcelmotel and the postage is just parcelmotel cost of what 3.95.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/edision/edision-os-mega-osmega

They also have a 1 satellite plus 1 saorview tuner version for £79.

OR as has been pointed out in another thread the Formuler box for £89 is a steal.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/formuler_/formuler_f1

Nemeses2050

_John C wrote: »

If youve got sky q you will have to check what type if lnb you have. Sky usually install wideband lnbs with sky q and this means that you can only run sky q boxes from your dish and no other type of box. Then theres hybrid lnbs, the hybrid lnbs work with sky q boxes and/or regular satellite boxes. Sky can install hybrid lnbs while installing sky q if the customer requests so. Then theres the standard lnbs which work with all regular satellite boxes and sky boxes except sky q.

So in order for you to remove your sky q box and install another box; you will need a hybrid or standard lnb on your dish. If youve just got the wideband lnb with the 2 outputs for the sky q box, then no other type of satellite box will work except sky q boxes. Which makes it more awkward for anybody to leave sky q for a free tv option because you need to change the lnb up on your dish in order to make any other box work.

Hello Folks, I have cancelled my Sky TV and was looking to get one of the below mentioned boxes. But as noted above do I have to get a new LNB too, as my Sky Dish was only installed last year around this time with SKY Q?

STB. wrote: »

No the Technomate 4K box does not have a DVB-T tuner. Its just a twin satellite box.

If you want a triple box (2 satellite, 1 Saorview) look at the Edision OS Mega Triple Tuner. Its £159 from WOS. Use parcelmotel and the postage is just parcelmotel cost of what 3.95.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/edision/edision-os-mega-osmega

They also have a 1 satellite plus 1 saorview tuner version for £79.

OR as has been pointed out in another thread the Formuler box for £89 is a steal.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-and-terrestrial/digital-receivers/formuler_/formuler_f1

STB.

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

Hello Folks, I have cancelled my Sky TV and was looking to get one of the below mentioned boxes. But as noted above do I have to get a new LNB too, as my Sky Dish was only installed last year around this time with SKY Q?

Have a look at the LNB is it a Hybrid LNB ?

There will be 6 outputs on it.



They work fine for normal boxes. If you want to use the FBC cable that you had with Sky Q then you'd a box that supports it. They are more the high end boxes. It would be cheaper to just run cables to the new box using the hybrid lnb.

Nemeses2050

STB. wrote: »

Have a look at the LNB is it a Hybrid LNB ?

There will be 6 outputs on it.



They work fine for normal boxes. If you want to use the FBC cable that you had with Sky Q then you'd a box that supports it. They are more the high end boxes. It would be cheaper to just run cables to the new box using the hybrid lnb.

Hello STB,

This is the LNB I have, and it doesn't look like the above. It has only two outputs. Will the Formuler or other Linux boxes work for me?



Thanks

Nemeses2050

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

Hello STB,

This is the LNB I have, and it doesn't look like the above. It has only two outputs. Will the Formuler or other Linux boxes work for me?



Thanks

Can anyone tell me if the formuler box will work with the current set-up/LNB?

Thanks

Gerry Wicklow

Difficult to tell from that shot but if it is NOT a Sky Q LNB it should work with any satellite box. Note you will also need an aerial for Saorview

Nemeses2050

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Difficult to tell from that shot but if it is NOT a Sky Q LNB it should work with any satellite box. Note you will also need an aerial for Saorview

Thanks Gerry, I do have an indoor Aerial for Soarview, I might get an external one if needed.

STB.

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

Hello STB,

This is the LNB I have, and it doesn't look like the above. It has only two outputs. Will the Formuler or other Linux boxes work for me?

Thanks

No it wont. If that was connected to a Sky Q box, its a Sky Wideband LNB (it will say it on the other side of the lnb)

Just take out the Sky Q one by unscrewing the clip and then pop the other one in and screw back down with a screw driver.

You just need a normal 40mm collar Sky Quad LNB. €15 incl delivery. You might pick one up down your local market.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKY-QUAD-LNB-New-with-MK4-Adaptor-4-OUTPUTS-Freesat-HD-4-FREE-F-CONNECTORS/272448354860

Nemeses2050

STB. wrote: »

No it wont. If that was connected to a Sky Q box, its a Sky Wideband LNB (it will say it on the other side of the lnb)

Just take out the Sky Q one by unscrewing the clip and then pop the other one in and screw back down with a screw driver.

You just need a normal 40mm collar Sky Quad LNB. €15 incl delivery. You might pick one up down your local market.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKY-QUAD-LNB-New-with-MK4-Adaptor-4-OUTPUTS-Freesat-HD-4-FREE-F-CONNECTORS/272448354860

Hello STB, thank you very much for the advise. Will get the Normal LNB as suggested by you and Gerry.

Thanks folks.

hadoken13

STB. wrote: »

Show me what USB DVB-t stick you bought. We'll make it work.

Been away from Boards again and only just back on. We ended up sending the tuner back to the seller as we found them useless for customer support and didn't want anything got to do with them. FreeTV are just down the road so I could use them guys for the tuner and return/call in if I have any issues.

Just as a caveat - I highly recommend not to go with SatelliteTV, they have the worst customer support I've experienced. Waiting for call backs, no replies to emails, just plain terrible.

philteare

Just to second that with FreeTV.ie - I've just bought a box from them and they are super fast getting back to any emails I've sent them - great customer service.

lasno

Yes, I agree Freetv.ie are great to deal with. First class service and customer care.