Amiko a4 combo or Ariva 4k combo?

tylercheribini

Hi

Im torn between purchasing either the amiko a4 combo or the ariva 4k combo but cant decide. There doesnt seem to be much between them spec wise but the interface of the Amiko looks slightly snazzier. Any input from anybody with experience of either devices would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Johnboy1951

If you intend to use Wifi with the box then this might be important to you

Ariva
Built-in 802.11 b / g / n, 2.4G / 5G dual band

Amiko
Built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection

tylercheribini

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

If you intend to use Wifi with the box then this might be important to you

Ariva
Built-in 802.11 b / g / n, 2.4G / 5G dual band

Amiko
Built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection

Thanks. I plan on running an ethernet cable to box so Wifi wont be an issue.

gonzo1

I have one of each - both are good boxes but I'd prefer the Amiko due to the nicer user Interface - take note that the Amiko A3 combo is tiny compared to the Ariva 4k Combo, but other than that - there is not much between them.

tylercheribini

gonzo1 wrote: »

I have one of each - both are good boxes but I'd prefer the Amiko due to the nicer user Interface - take note that the Amiko A3 combo is tiny compared to the Ariva 4k Combo, but other than that - there is not much between them.

Thanks, I got the Ariva in the end and am quite impressed with it so far. Kodi works fine and picture is good on sat channels. Still have to hook up terrestrial aerial.

Ronan Raver77

Anybody know where the cheapest place to buy either of these boxes? online or shop in Dublin..looking to change from my openbox v8.

tylercheribini

http://www.satworld.ie/ferguson-ariva-4k-combo-receiver.html

This was cheapest place I could find Ariva, very prompt delivery too.

Ronan Raver77

Lads any screenshots or vids of either of these boxes in action epg etc..lot of foreign vids on youtube.

tylercheribini

Ronan Raver77 wrote: »

Lads any screenshots or vids of either of these boxes in action epg etc..lot of foreign vids on youtube.

Ill try and put some pics up at some stage, the EPG on the ariva combo 4k is basic with only Saorview channels consistently displaying schedule guide. Setting something to record in advance reminds me of the old VCR system inputting dates, times and durations etc although one can one touch record whilst watching desired channel. I dont plan on recording much anyway so not a big deal for me. Im having problems using an NTFS formatted Sandisk 32gb key for PVR, often crashes during playback and timeshift etc. Im hopeful installing a 2.5" sata internal hard drive will remedy this.

Ronan Raver77

tylercheribini wrote: »

Ill try and put some pics up at some stage, the EPG on the ariva combo 4k is basic with only Saorview channels consistently displaying schedule guide. Setting something to record in advance reminds me of the old VCR system inputting dates, times and durations etc although one can one touch record whilst watching desired channel. I dont plan on recording much anyway so not a big deal for me. Im having problems using an NTFS formatted Sandisk 32gb key for PVR, often crashes during playback and timeshift etc. Im hopeful installing a 2.5" sata internal hard drive will remedy this.

Cheers Tyler..looking at my options at the moment have an openbox v8 and 1/2 ariva 150s and 2 android boxes so will need to try flog them to fund the new purchase..Still deciding what to go for but possibly one of these combo's.

tylercheribini

Ronan Raver77 wrote: »

Cheers Tyler..looking at my options at the moment have an openbox v8 and 1/2 ariva 150s and 2 android boxes so will need to try flog them to fund the new purchase..Still deciding what to go for but possibly one of these combo's.

Other than the afore mentioned issues Im extremely satisfied with the Ariva Combo 4k. Majority of my viewing is through Kodi which works flawlessly and also just flicking through Irish or news channels. The box switches seamlessly between DTB-S, DVB-T and Kodi. Moving from a Skybox the TV channel guide/recording/playback interface on this box is nowhere near as user friendly or aesthetically pleasing but really not a big problem for me, certainly an acceptable trade off for cancelling subscription charges. Below are some screenshots of channel guide, PVR etc

tylercheribini

Below are some screenshots of channel guide, PVR etc

Dylan123

Re Movies: Amiko A4 Box
How do you reduce quality to prevent buffering?

Top Tv app + Vod.

eamo_c

tylercheribini wrote: »

Other than the afore mentioned issues Im extremely satisfied with the Ariva Combo 4k. Majority of my viewing is through Kodi which works flawlessly and also just flicking through Irish or news channels. The box switches seamlessly between DTB-S, DVB-T and Kodi. Moving from a Skybox the TV channel guide/recording/playback interface on this box is nowhere near as user friendly or aesthetically pleasing but really not a big problem for me, certainly an acceptable trade off for cancelling subscription charges. Below are some screenshots of channel guide, PVR etc

Thanks Tyler - what PVR add-on are you using with Kodi - I cant seem to get it working and am just using the native DTV app on the arriva box

tylercheribini

eamo_c wrote:

Thanks Tyler - what PVR add-on are you using with Kodi - I cant seem to get it working and am just using the native DTV app on the arriva box

I dont use a PVR for Kodi, just stream on demand with plug in package..

tmull

I have not been on here for a few years but was very active on the Blu-Ray recorder section a few years ago. I am new with the Amiko A 4 after upgrade from the A 3. Could any of ye explain to the advantage of putting an SD card in the provided slot (the A3 did not have one) Sorry if I am intruding. TMULL

Gerry Wicklow

Presumably just extra storage or for accessing stuff recorded on a phone or camera. That's all it is on a box I have.

conhen

I got the ariva about a year ago and it can be tetchy but the firmware updates definitely improve it. The channel changing can be irritating but kodi working well on it. I also used the oscam function after a fairly steep learning curve
Interested in getting the amiko instead of a smarttv so would love to hear some feedback from anyone who tried it. Independent reviews are scant at the moment

john_doe.

Was wondering how the Formuler F1 compares with the amiko a4.

Obviously the Formuler F1 doesn't have Kodi etc but does the amiko a4 have the functions that Formuler F1 has .

paddy086

Hi All

Sorry about all the questions but no shop will give me full answers and most for the videos are in polish or Spanish.

Thinking of getting a Ferguson Ariva 4K Combo just checking this can receive Saorview & Freesat?

I take it I need an Aerial for Saorview and Freesat from my sky disk?

Also dose it do 7day with Saorview and now and next with freesat?

Can I use the android section while the box is recording a uk or Irish station

Thanks for any help given.

tylercheribini

paddy086 wrote: »

Hi All

Sorry about all the questions but no shop will give me full answers and most for the videos are in polish or Spanish.

Thinking of getting a Ferguson Ariva 4K Combo just checking this can receive Saorview & Freesat?

I take it I need an Aerial for Saorview and Freesat from my sky disk?

Also dose it do 7day with Saorview and now and next with freesat?

Can I use the android section while the box is recording a uk or Irish station

Thanks for any help given.

Yes to all questions.

paddy086

tylercheribini wrote: »

Yes to all questions.

Wow thanks tylercheribini for the quick reply.
Do you have one your self would you recommend it. The reason I want one is the fact it’s android 5 lollipop we’re i think amiko a4 is android 4 kit kat

tylercheribini

paddy086 wrote: »

Wow thanks tylercheribini for the quick reply.
Do you have one your self would you recommend it. The reason I want one is the fact it’s android 5 lollipop we’re i think amiko a4 is android 4 kit kat

Yea I have an ariva since last May, no issues with it bar needing the odd reboot due to freezing but I had that anyway with previous sky box. You might run into some stability issues sometimes whilst recording tv and using android features simulatenously but majority of time everything works grand. The user interface and remote arent as user friendly as sky but a small price to pay for bill free tv. I rarely use kod/net browser functions etc, will never be as good as hooking up a laptop to tv for that.

paddy086

tylercheribini wrote: »

Yea I have an ariva since last May, no issues with it bar needing the odd reboot due to freezing but I had that anyway with previous sky box. You might run into some stability issues sometimes whilst recording tv and using android features simulatenously but majority of time everything works grand. The user interface and remote arent as user friendly as sky but a small price to pay for bill free tv. I rarely use kod/net browser functions etc, will never be as good as hooking up a laptop to tv for that.

Thanks this will saves me a small fortune leaving Sky

paddy086

So I got the Ferguson Ariva 4K combo. Just set it up look good so far.
With Saorview should I be getting TV guide for next day/ 7 days at them moment I am only getting today’s guide ??

Thanks

tylercheribini

paddy086 wrote: »

So I got the Ferguson Ariva 4K combo. Just set it up look good so far.
With Saorview should I be getting TV guide for next day/ 7 days at them moment I am only getting today’s guide ??

Thanks

I get 7 day for saorview but it looks different to your epg, must have been updated.

paddy086

Trying to set up freesat UK channels but keep getting Germany or some were else. Could some one look at my settings and see if you have different thanks

tylercheribini

Its the right satellite anyway, i just hit scan on mine and it found everything, still looks different to mine.

Gerry Wicklow

paddy086 wrote: »

Trying to set up freesat UK channels but keep getting Germany or some were else. Could some one look at my settings and see if you have different thanks

If you are getting German stations your dish is most likely pointing at the wrong satellite. Don't go by the name shown on the box as it is only a list of transponder settings. Many of the transponders are the same on both satellites so it sees the German ones instead.

paddy086

Could it be the LNB position as the dish has not been mover or changed just the LNB I see it has numbers on the side 1 to 5 that change it’s angle ??

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

If you are getting German stations your dish is most likely pointing at the wrong satellite. Don't go by the name shown on the box as it is only a list of transponder settings. Many of the transponders are the same on both satellites so it sees the German ones instead.

Gerry Wicklow

Was it working with the UK channels up to now? The German channels are on 19East and UK channels are on 28E which would mean the entire dish is pointing slightly off.

Gerry Wicklow

A quick way to check. Put your address into this site and select 28.2E Astra as the satellite to see exactly which way the dish should be pointing. You can drag the green dot to the exact location of your dish and then use a nearby house or tree for reference.

paddy086

Got it working....I have Sky for 2 more weeks. I have sky Q box and the LNB for r that doesn’t work with my Combo box so I swapped it out on the brackets it has 5 positions it should be number 3 I had it set to number 5

I still have sky Q so I got a new LNB quad I swapped it with the sky Q one and run a scan on Astra 2

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Was it working with the UK channels up to now? The German channels are on 19East and UK channels are on 28E which would mean the entire dish is pointing slightly off.

paddy086

Hi All,

Would any one be willing to post a copy of the channel database. I’m missing Cbeebies and even with a manual tune it only pulls in other bbc channels. Both HD & SD missing

Thanks

Gerry Wicklow

Make sure to scan before 7PM

11024 H 23000 8psk DVB-S2 2/3

paddy086

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Make sure to scan before 7PM

11024 H 23000 8psk DVB-S2

Thanks will do what’s the 8psk I don’t see that in my settings

Gerry Wicklow

It's a setting that some boxes do automatically others need it set manually. Usually there is a choice of 8psk or Qpsk.

paddy086

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Make sure to scan before 7PM

11024 H 23000 8psk DVB-S2 2/3

Thanks for that I really was going mad with that one every channel except Cbeebies.
Working now thanks

paddy086

Hi All, I have a Ariva 4k combo box. I can make a backup onto usb but the format is a.db

Ali Editor doesn’t support database files

Dose any one have a Pc editor

Thanks

paddy086

Hi
I purchased this 4K combo box about 30days ago I have it setup and have been using it ever since.
I’m having major issues with it.

It keeps freezing so much that I need to restart.
It records and then it says no hard drive installed.
I have about 200 channels 1 to 200 some times the channel numbers change into 1000.—-pic attached.
If I open apps on the box sometimes they work other times it just stops and goes back to main screen and I need to do a restart.
I have reset the box twice so far.
I find the box really slow to do anything is this normal for the box of dose it need to go back

conhen

I'd be interested to hear other responses to this. Rarely use mine anymore due to the laboured channel changing and slow responsiveness. I think its just poor software package.

paddy086 wrote: »

Hi
I purchased this 4K combo box about 30days ago I have it setup and have been using it ever since.
I’m having major issues with it.

It keeps freezing so much that I need to restart.
It records and then it says no hard drive installed.
I have about 200 channels 1 to 200 some times the channel numbers change into 1000.—-pic attached.
If I open apps on the box sometimes they work other times it just stops and goes back to main screen and I need to do a restart.
I have reset the box twice so far.
I find the box really slow to do anything is this normal for the box of dose it need to go back

paddy086

Yep the concept is great but reality is it’s slow & buggy. If the tv section was working properly I could manage but even that is slow and full of issues. 1GB of ram really hurts the box as only about 200mb is free when the system boots.

might just a SAB™ Unix HD Triple Tuner instead or any suggestions ðŸ‘ðŸ¼

conhen wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear other responses to this. Rarely use mine anymore due to the laboured channel changing and slow responsiveness. I think its just poor software package.

zurek11

I got Amiko A4 and it's absolutely terrible for Kodi. Slow as hell, even on a clean krypton, crashes way too much. I'm assuming Ferguson would be same as both have similar specs

paddy086

tylercheribini wrote: »

Hi

Im torn between purchasing either the amiko a4 combo or the ariva 4k combo but cant decide. There doesnt seem to be much between them spec wise but the interface of the Amiko looks slightly snazzier. Any input from anybody with experience of either devices would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Hi,

My advice would be stay away from both. Just 2 many issues. I had the Ferguson from day one I had to factory reset the box 5 times record would work one day and not the next. The box locks up all the time I just sent it back and got a refund. I went with a SAB triple tuner and I just got a good android box.

tylercheribini

Ive had the Ferguson over a yr now and no complaints.

zurek11

tylercheribini wrote: »

Ive had the Ferguson over a yr now and no complaints.

Very much depends on the usage. I wanted something predominantly for Kodi for myself, TV just for my partner. Have not tested TV yet, just moved in to new house, but Kodi is a disaster. 1GB memory on both boxes is just not enough.

paddy086

zurek11 wrote: »

Very much depends on the usage. I wanted something predominantly for Kodi for myself, TV just for my partner. Have not tested TV yet, just moved in to new house, but Kodi is a disaster. 1GB memory on both boxes is just not enough.

Well under powered box for all it offers 1gb sucks. Kodi is just about play able but I have a old cheap android box that works better than the Ferguson. On paper it’s a really good idea but just a pity it’s so slow at everything