Zgemma H7s Guide

Coyote

would an SSD speed up the interface of the Zgemma H7 box?

I understand how SSD improve a PC but is there much stored on the hard disk like the guide/epg or other bits that would make it faster or is everything for the interface saved on the built in storage? has anyone switched out a 5400 rpm hard disk for a SSD and found any improvement?

I like the two boxes I have but find the interface a bit slow to respond, I have 500gb disks in them but could put a 500GB SSD, (I don't use live recording/rewind so not worried about wear on the SSD)

Gerry Wicklow

Normally you would have the EPG data and Picons stored on the HDD so an SSD should improve things. Given how cheap an SSD is these days it is very hard to see any reason to use spinning rust for anything other than long-term storage. For many years now I've used 120Gb SSDs without issue. Anything I intend keeping is stored on my NAS instead so 120Gb is enough for me. If memory serves they cost less than €25 when purchased. Probably even cheaper now.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121547962#Comment_121547962

There are 1tb SSD's available now on amazon.de for between 40-60 euro depending on how fussy you are about manufacturers.

The newer Zgemma only takes SSD's in its rear slot anyways so you have no choice.

If you order one and get a model that has to have the lid removed to install a drive , then that box is already at least 3 years old ! So watch out for that.

SSD will not noticeably improve the performance , loading and reading EPG data happens by default at 3:30 am , it defaults to this time on the assumption that you'll be in bed so your viewing wont be interrupted. The box is never truly off , it is left in standby all the time , this has to be the case or you get no new EPG data at all and the box is useless without that.

Recording and playback of live TV will not use the faster read and write times of an SSD.

You only really see the benefits of an SSD on general computing devices like PCs or MACs on bootup and on large, quick turnaround, data transfers , like gaming for example.

The Zgemma is what is being called these days " chi fi " , a term used for cheap chinese boxes that claim great specifications but in reality cant do half of them and are very cheaply built.

Ignore half the claims on the box , its useless for IPTV , it cannot run Kodi , etc. etc. etc.

For watching or recording TV they will work as well as any other box in terms of picture quality and sound etc until the cheap parts give out , but you get what you pay for.

Buy cheap , buy twice , or in my case 3 times , more fool me.

Gerry Wicklow

6.4 is the current version of openVix available here https://www.openvix.co.uk/index.php/downloads/zgemma-images/zgemma-h7/

It's been a while since I used ATV but from memory there's not a huge difference between it and Vix. You can, of course, install both images and check for yourself to see which suits your taste.

Tango One

If you go with vix, I recommend using Willo build on top. It sets everything up perfect skins etc.

TO INSTALL COPY THIS CODE AND RIGHT CLICK IN PUTTY TO PASTE AND THEN PRESS ENTER.

Code:

wget --no-check-certificate -O install_vix.sh http://www.willobuild.net/files/scripts/install_vix.sh && bash install_vix.sh

1) FLASH USING PUTTY

2) RESTORE SETTINGS DURING WIZARD

Tango One

Openvix is installed from a usb.

You need putty for Willo build. Putty is an app, find your boxes ip address. Login as root and the password is likely not setup so leave it blank. Then just copy and paste the line of code above into putty. Follow the on screen prompt it should install.

Kaisr Sose

I have a Tiviar Alpha+ they is running on open at 6.1. it's just used as sat and terrestrial reciever.

If I was to update the image do I loose all the settings (channel lists) etc. what is the benefit of updating the image ?

it's working fine. Maybe it's best to just leave it alone.

Gerry Wicklow

Just like a PC you can back up your settings which of course I'm sure you do on a regular basis. This only takes a few seconds and can save you hours of swearing. It will store your channel lists, timers, autotimers, network settings etc.

The 6.1 is getting a bit old by now. Updating helps protect against web addresses changing for some plugins and security updates etc.

Tango One

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121567822#Comment_121567822

Yes openvix first then use putty for Willo build.

greasepalm

Tiviar is not supported by Openvix now like many old boxes.

OpenAtv still supports it.

Wow i was wrong as is still supported .

Gerry Wicklow

https://www.openvix.co.uk/index.php/downloads/tiviar-images/tiviar-alpha-plus/

Here

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121564520#Comment_121564520

I have not been backing up. Would I just back channel lists to a USB stick?

I guess I could do more with this box than watch sat/terrestrial tv but I don't know to much about it. The box was a present.

greasepalm

Channel list might be too old and some might have been removed and new ones added.

swoofer

And you are posting in the Zgemma H7s thread ie off topic. There is a separate thread for the Tiviar. I’m surprised you are getting replies.

gabbo is coming

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121549463#Comment_121549463

Do you need SSD cables separately, if so could you point me in the direction pls

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121549463#Comment_121549463

I would just chime in and say that this doesn't mirror my experience at all.

I've been running my H7S daily for 3.5 years now and it's never missed a beat. I've also installed 4 more at family member's houses, and to the best of my knowledge, not one has failed. Maybe we're just lucky? Or maybe you're unlucky - genuinely don't know.

I'm curious as to your statement that the box "claim great specifications but in reality cant do half of them". You've mentioned IPTV - I've only ever used free and legal IPTV streams with the box, and it always worked great. Never missed a beat. It has a CPU which can easily handle 4k/multiple streams, and a gigabit network controller - IPTV should be no problem for this box, and that has been my own experience.

As for Kodi - the engima2 implementation of it is mediocre. Even the VU boxes aren't great. If Kodi is what you're after, get a dedicated media streamer and you're going to have a better time.

swoofer

Gabbo have you bought the box yet? The best place is amazon de and on this link if you click on pics you will see slot in rear for SSD.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/ZGEMMA-H7S-DVB-S2X-satellite-receiver-black/dp/B078ST6NV9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=160NGUASOD0DS&keywords=zgemma+h7s&qid=1704367454&sprefix=%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d85e497d-ab66-4790-acf8-e520aaf28cd3

Its a push in system, ie just line up the ssd and push firmly and that's it. Just to note, if you were to get an older box and took lid off its the same principle, you would see where SSD fits and the connections. No cables required all included. Some places will sell with SSD included.

These boxes are complex and if not set up correctly will give problems. They will arrive with a factory image that's useless. If you are going to buy local check out places like satworld and ask them if box has rear slot. Look on adverts for boxes already configured.

And YES an SSD will make these boxes fly, best way to compare is an electric car v manual, electric instant response, manual lag, same for SSD = instant.

There is a lot of misinformation posted above so ignore it. Box is highly configurable if you know what you are doing, for example EPG can be set to update at any time.

The best IMAGE for this box is Openvix, why, because it is easy peasy to configure and it comes preloaded with all the bits you need. And it has a dedicated website for support, its geared towards 28 east. In all the years box has been out I have seen one fail and that was because the end user did not store epg correctly.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569407#Comment_121569407

You push it into the slot on the back of the box , no cables necessary

swoofer

Andy did you read my post?

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569414#Comment_121569414

Regarding kodi , the point is the box claims to be capable , it isnt , a flat out lie , the norm with chinese products like this.

greasepalm

I have never got Kodi to run on any box and as mentioned use android.

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570332#Comment_121570332

The flakiness with Kodi stems from it's enigma2 implementation (in my experience). It's the same on most boxes, even the high-end ones.

My point is that this is not a fault of this specific box. In all likelihood you won't have any better of a time with Kodi on a more expensive box.

I flat out wouldn't recommend any enigma2 box for Kodi.

chabsey

My H7 has been flashing the green update icon for ages now, last time I tried to update it told me an update wasn't possible to apply unless a system upgrade was done first. Problem is, I find the upgrade flow really confusing, I start it off fine but then mid way through it tells me there's a backup found and do I want to restore from that. I select no, because presumably such a backup was made using the old system and wouldn't be applicable to whatever new version was being installed. Then it tells me all my settings, bouquets will be wiped if I don't use the back up so I bail and have just left the green icon flashing for the last few months.

Can anyone let me know how to get this system to properly get to the latest version without wiping all my settings?

Bellie1

Totally back to basics now..is this the box that allows recording of both saorview and satellite/free to air ie 3 simultaneous recordings in total? Want to make sure before actually buy it.

https://freesat.ie/products/zgemma-h7s

Gerry Wicklow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570886#Comment_121570886

The backup is your settings, bouquets, timers, autotimers, network etc. It will also ask if you want to re-install any plugins you had specifically installed. These would be the latest versions if available. You can say no to the plugins if you wish and just restore your settings.

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570886#Comment_121570886

If you're worried about messing things up, download the latest version of whatever it is you're running (ATV, Vix etc.) and install it to a new slot. Backups are saved on the hard disk, so you will be still be able to restore your backup and make sure everything works as it should. Your current install will be preserved in case you want to go back.

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571249#Comment_121571249

Yes, it will.

wassie

I'm currently running OpenATV, but keen to swap over to OpenVix as I like the simplicity of the Ten Eighty skin.

Will I lose my recordings in doing so - no big deal if I do, but would like to preserve them if I possible.

gabbo is coming

Got mine thus morning. Hooked it up, went in to automatic scan, seemed fine. Now it only displays the time on the lcd but no picture

When I power on it goes

Boot

Then a sequence of numbers

Then back to the time

But nothing on screen?

Schorpio

That front display behavior seems normal.

Are you sure there is nothing on the screen - have you tried pressing the arrow buttons/menu/guide etc.? Do you see any splash screen/boot animation on the TV when the box is booting up from completely off?

Gerry Wicklow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573719#Comment_121573719

Recordings wont be affected

gabbo is coming

Now it comes up as far as the number 42, but nothing on thr hdmi, won't respond to any remote

Schorpio

Do a hard power cycle and see does the behaviour repeat itself.

The numbers counting up between two hyphens ("-12-" etc.) is a loading percentage. If it stops and stays at -42-, then there's something going wrong at boot time. At some point you should get a splash screen / boot animation on the tv.

If the boot continuously fails, you'll need to reflash the OS, which is not difficult but let's get there first.

gabbo is coming

I get to a point where I can do an automatic scan.

After a while scanning, the screen goes blank, then back, then blank

Then the tv loses signal.

I've no idea what the box is doing

Schorpio

The fact that you seem to be getting an intermittent picture on the TV suggests either a resolution issue, or maybe a dodgy HDMI cable. See if you can rule either of these out.

If going through the setup wizard, don't bother doing an automatic scan. Use AutoBouquetsMaker later instead.

gabbo is coming

Hi,

It was the resolution. Setting it up on different TV

Thanks

Anywhere to get a simple guide how to set this up? Saorview and fta in a combines epg and I'm done

Bellie1

Just received box and then dawned on me that never checked what subtitles are like. I depend on subtitles. Can you turn on by default for all programs/recordings and is the quality of the subtitles ok. Cam across some forum for an earlier zgemma box that said the subtitles are too quick and impossible to use

gabbo is coming

Sent back to amazon.de today. I'm not going to insult people here by saying its a piece of junk, but a very poor experience for me. Back to ferguson ariva

Thanks to all those who tried to help though . Boards abu

swoofer

aw gabbo you should have spent a bit more time reading the guide. But if a total newbie then it can be a nightmare. As it came from DE it would have had the Openatv image on it and probably 2 sats 13e and 19e. To start you would change language to UK and then set up the 2 tuners for sat at 28east and the tuner for saorview ie country and region. And so on. You set up autobouquets first to suit and then do a scan. Then set up the epg and that's it.

To get combined epg you move channels using the remote to the Favourites bouquet. There are other ways but easy peasy to start.

Once you have done the basics you would download OPENVIX to another slot and set that up and your away.

@bellie where did you get box from and if it has openvix image already loaded then you are almost good to go, YES you can turn on subtitles permanently and I never noticed any problems with them There is an actual settings page where you can increase/reduce size, colour, and so on. And subtitles will play for live programmes as well, ie sports, news.

But you have to configure box correctly, say subtitles are too fast or slow you can adjust in the settings menu. Can you hint at other website.

swoofer

To run KODI on the Zgemma h7s you boot it to the slot that supports KODI. There are 2 options for images, one for PIP and the other for KODI. It does work.

swoofer

Breezy tell me the version of the image you are using and I ll tell you how to update using the remote.

Just go menu information about and read off, be quick

gabbo is coming

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121580518#Comment_121580518

Got all that working. But it just kept crashing..sometimes after 2seconds, sometimes after 20 mins.

swoofer

did it have an SSD and where were you saving the EPG?

gabbo is coming

I had am ssd in it, but removed it also to rule it out

Tango One

Openvix and Willo build and you would have been 90% done. It creates a nice bouquet for the FTA satellite channels. You then need to scan for saorview and add to your main bouquet. You can do it via the interface or use something like dreambox edit on windows.

My zgemma was pretty much unused for the first year didn't like the look of openatv. The Willo build on top of openvix polishes it up a little nicer and sort all the option perfect for me. This thing is over kill on customisations.

whoami1

My H7 is running OpenVix 6.4.010. I can get BBC Three HD, and have been able to do so for quite some time, but not BBC Four HD. Now, of course, the SD channel has shut down, so I'm without any BBC Four service at all.

I have tried doing a manual scan in the following way, taking the transponder setting from https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055520627/free-to-air-tuning-guide/p1:

MENU...Setup...Tuners & Scanning...Manual Scan

I then use the following parameters:

Tuner: Tuner A Si2169D (DVB-S2X)

Type of scan: Predefined transponder

Satellite: 28.2E Astra 2E/2F/2G

Transponder: 11023 H 23000 3/4

Network scan: No

Clear before scan: No

Only free scan: No

I press the green button to scan, and currently it reports 12 channels:

BBC One ScotHD

BBC One Wal HD

BBC NEWS HD

BBC ALBA HD

BBC ALBA HD (yes, two entries the same)

BBC One WM HD

8961

8962

8963

8964

8965

8966

And that's it. No BBC Four HD. Can anyone advise?

swoofer

Use this frequency DVB-S2 8PSK, 10818 VERTICAL, SYMBOL RATE 23000, FEC 3/4 and this time use signal finder, and green to scan. and biNgo.

By the way you looked at a very old thread 2009, look at top of the forum for BBC changes.

greasepalm

If your channel lists are old when was the last time you scanned 28.2 or setup ABM to give you bouquets.

What sort of signal is coming in for your H7s

ModelWhy

Hi,

I have a zgemma h7s and the UI is HD on a HD channel but goes to SD on a SD channel.

Seems strange to me that the UI resolution is based on the channel type.

Is this a setting? I'm using vix.

Thanks

ModelWhy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121592999#Comment_121592999

Turns out I had the "auto resolution" on a setting other than "disabled". Setting it to "disabled" seemed to fix it.

I thought it was trying to update the video content itself but seems not.

Leaving this here in case it helps anyone else.