Time for a new combo box - recommendations

DopeTech

Hi, I know there is plenty of other similar threads bit thought I'd open a new one as to not de-rail the others.

My Edision Optimuss OS3 combo box is starting to give problems and I figure it might be a good time to upgrade anyway. I'd like to keep all the same functionality etc such as twin sat tuner and single saorview tuner, autotimers. If possible I'd like something a bit smoother though that can handle all the same just smoother. Iptv capability would be a bonus but not essential as I have that via a android TV box anyway.

So what would you recommend as an upgrade?

Gerry Wicklow

My vote is for the Zgemma H7S no nonsense fast stable box

DopeTech

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

My vote is for the Zgemma H7S no nonsense fast stable box

Thanks, i'll have a look at that now.

dulpit

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

My vote is for the Zgemma H7S no nonsense fast stable box

+1

refusetolose

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

My vote is for the Zgemma H7S no nonsense fast stable box

hi gerry would you think the H7S would be better than the Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo ?

Gerry Wicklow

better processor and 4K H265 compatible

Boxcar_Willie

Evo Enfinity X2Plus triple tuner.
Rock solid.

Gerry Wicklow

Boxcar_Willie wrote: »

Evo Enfinity X2Plus triple tuner.
Rock solid.

Over six years old if you can get one

wiz569

Can't decide between the new maxytech box or octagon sf8008, might wait to see if the new zgemma H10 combo box gets released.

Boxcar_Willie

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Over six years old if you can get one

Yes it would be , but flawless . Have never had any issues with it .

The high horse brigade

Boxcar_Willie wrote: »

Yes it would be , but flawless . Have never had any issues with it .

That's as old as what he's replacing and wouldn't be smoother for IPTV like he asked for in the op.

DopeTech

wiz569 wrote: »

Can't decide between the new maxytech box or octagon sf8008, might wait to see if the new zgemma H10 combo box gets released.

Will have to do some research on those. I would like the multiboot android option but would need to see how well it works. Is the zgemma H10 due out soon?

wiz569

Sir Dosser wrote: »

Will have to do some research on those. I would like the multiboot android option but would need to see how well it works. Is the zgemma H10 due out soon?

Was supposed to be out around November and I see that OpenPli are releasing images for it but cannot buy the box anywhere

Nemeses2050

Hello guys, howz H9.2S, it has two satellite receivers no terrestrial though and 50 quid cheaper than H7S

Gerry Wicklow

no terrestrial = no Irish channels

dubrov

I have recently being playing around with the Gigablue UHD UE 4k (released about 2 years ago) and the Gigablue UHD Trio 4k (released this year) running OpenVix. The UE is twice the price of the Trio but I can't see any difference in performance at all. Both run very well.

The only difference I can see is the UE has FBC tuners, built-in HDD.
A lot of them use the same/similar processing chips and ram anyway so there is probably very little between them.

They will all run IPTV as well. Have a look at the plugin e2m3u2bouquet which will allow you to seamlessly integrate your Satellite, terrestrial and IPTV channels.
As with anything on these boxes, you'll have to do a good bit of fiddling to get it exactly the way you want it.

The SF8008/Amiko Viper 4k/ H7S are all well specced boxes for the price and will do everything you are looking for.
The SF8008 has Wifi which might distinguish it a little from the rest.

The H10 Combo only has 1 sat tuner but does have Android dual boot. Otherwise, I'd say it is very similar to the H7S.

dubrov

Just to add, the H9 2S doesn't take an internal USB so you'd have to record to a USB HDD/Stick or maybe somewhere on the network. This might not be ideal if you do a lot of recording.

Nemeses2050

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

no terrestrial = no Irish channels

Thanks Gerry, I understand that, but I have antenna. so thought could use something like this to add Irish channels, hopefully that'll work.

dubrov wrote: »

Just to add, the H9 2S doesn't take an internal USB so you'd have to record to a USB HDD/Stick or maybe somewhere on the network. This might not be ideal if you do a lot of recording.

Thanks Dubrov. Not much of a recorder and I do actually have spare external HDD. so no worries.

Thanks for your advice guys.

dubrov

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

Thanks Gerry, I understand that, but I have antenna. so thought could use something like this to add Irish channels, hopefully that'll work.

I am afraid that won't work. It will allow you to combine satellite and terrestrial signals down a single cable and also to split it at the far end.
You would still need a terrestrial tuner in the set top box to decode the signal.

I believe you can get USB terrestrial tuners but I am not sure how good they are and you only have one USB slot in that box.

Another option is to use IPTV for the terrestrial channels instead.

Nemeses2050

Thanks Dubrov.

NewClareman

dubrov wrote: »

I believe you can get USB terrestrial tuners but I am not sure how good they are and you only have one USB slot in that box.

I use one in my Tiviar Alpha+ and it works fine, no issue at all. Only problem is to ensure that whatever one you use has Linux drivers. There are lots of threads about this, with recommendations on suitable ones.

Johnboy1951

I would also suggest a powered hub for the DVB-T dongle which will power the device while not depending on the power available from the STB, and at the same time allow more than one USB device to be used.

Gerry Wicklow

cant see the sense in saving 50 on initial purchase and then spending on extra dongles, hubs and associated hassles and clutter.

(and thats coming from a professional cheapskate

recyclebin

What's the best option for recording? I guess you would need two sat tuners and two terrestrial tuners if you want to record one channel and watch another!

I have vu+ solo2 which has two sat tuners and a USB terrestrial tuner. Thinking of buying a cheap playtv for it. The playtv was used on the PlayStation 3 and has twin terrestrial tuners so should work.

dubrov

You can still record one channel and watch another using a single tuner if they are on the same mux.

The Saorview Muxes are here.

Pretty much all the Virgin stuff will be on ITV anyway.
RTE1 and RTE2+1 are on the same Mux.

There are Quad tuner boxes like the Gigablue Quad 4k ones but it would seem overkill to me.

I haven't use PlayTV but it appears that it would work as long as you install the right driver.

Johnboy1951

recyclebin wrote: »

What's the best option for recording? I guess you would need two sat tuners and two terrestrial tuners if you want to record one channel and watch another!

Yes when the channels are on different muxes/transponders.

I have vu+ solo2 which has two sat tuners and a USB terrestrial tuner. Thinking of buying a cheap playtv for it. The playtv was used on the PlayStation 3 and has twin terrestrial tuners so should work.

Gerry Wicklow

For terrestrial you can always record one on the box while watching the other on the TVs tuner if they are on the different muxes

DopeTech

Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. I think I'll pick up a Zgemma H7S from WOS. Just one more question.

How well does the H7S cope with recording IPTV channels? I've never had much success on other boxes in the past. They always lock up in one way or another. May pick up a playtv tuner at some stage also. Can anyone confirm the correct driver is available for it on the H7S ?

Nemeses2050

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

cant see the sense in saving 50 on initial purchase and then spending on extra dongles, hubs and associated hassles and clutter.

(and thats coming from a professional cheapskate

Agree, If I have to spend extra 50 on top of the hassle, i'll just get H7S

dubrov

Sir Dosser wrote: »

How well does the H7S cope with recording IPTV channels? I've never had much success on other boxes in the past. They always lock up in one way or another.

The problem with IPTV recording is that most subscriptions only allow one connection at a time. So if you are recording one channel and then flick to another, the provider will cut the stream on the first channel.

You really need a multi room subscription to get it to work properly.
Even then, it won't be as reliable as satellite/terrestrial recording.

recyclebin

I've never had much joy recording IPTV either. I guess the fact that it's not legit streams most of the time doesn't help.

Even with legit streams on a smart tv there are so many different apps now that it's not very seamless. You could have Nowtv, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney etc on a smart TV but you can't flick through them like you can with television channels.

The market is so fragmented between terrestrial, satellite and IPTV. Sports rights are all over the place.