Replacement for Saorview Connect box

ShaneCS

Hi folks, hoping to draw on your knowledge here 😇 We have a Saorview Connect box with Saorview input plus two cables running off a dish set up for Astra channels (so three cables in all plugging into it). A local chap installed it - not sure if he used a splitter but whatever way he has it set up, you can record satellite and also watch satellite at the same time.

Saorview Connect is a bit of a mess, though, forgetting channels, being cantankerous etc, so we are looking to swop in a new combo receiver without any further tweaking to cables or dish, etc. What we are hoping to do is a) be able to create a favourites list for channels (the Connect box didn't seem to allow this), and to keep the two feeds from the dish so we can watch satellite and record another satellite channel at the same time. (Being able to record Saorview at times is also good, but we don't need to be able to do two recordings simultaneously).

I'm wondering if you could recommend a reliable Combo box that will do this? I've seen recommendations for the Zgemma H7s here but if there is a good alternative that doesn't cost so much, that would be better.

Thanks for your guidance, Shane

Gerry Wicklow

The Zgemma H7S is the best value you'll get. Anything cheaper will not have the same features.

swoofer

where have you been looking for the zgemma h7s that makes it expesnive?

ShaneCS

Thanks folks. Swoofer, I've seen prices of 239 - 250 online for Irish stores (not sure if I should name them). Is that price to be expected?

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119931655#Comment_119931655

ps thanks for the link, Gerry. The price there is very good, but it says product unavailable. I've emailed and tried calling them but no answer as yet.

swoofer

Virts was the best but the others are insisting on including a HDD. That makes it pricey. It's 179 on amazon de inc delivery but no hdd. I think if you buy from uk now you get stung.

The h7s is a bit tricky to set up from scratch but if your handy its doable.

its here for 178 delivered but no hdd and the best option for this box is an SSD about 45 euro more

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/284858508498?hash=item4252e3e4d2:g:0D8AAOSw~Cdiq0K-&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoE8eRBAjF7F7dXMkjogHvdAVJfmTSdBobxYdC%2FuLV1Jqcy4Y4CUdQV32fy1Jykhk%2BrDajRAC2Qw%2FaI%2BZ54ua%2FuA6YxUZFv%2ByPOZ1VAXMv4Jno%2BB5Jf%2BWZzpwfrV13o%2BPTIWy5Jg0pWTcbM4j05yL%2FNsDpG2OJAvB1VKzziUqLmd%2BQ1bCdglleW%2FomZElBjkhH73%2Fb8u64EwUtleqFXAGfj4%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6ah6veXYQ

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119932327#Comment_119932327

Thanks for that Swoofer. I have a HDD which I can use for it, so there's no need for me to buy one with a HDD included. I did see that one online but was hoping to be able to give the cash to an Irish store instead if they could do one for the same price. I've emailed Virts to see if they will have them back in soon.

As a separate question, do you know if there is any way to view the shows recorded from the Saorview Connect box once the Zgemma is up and running? I think I read they are a different format, but I'm wondering if there's some way to play from one onto the screen and record from that onto the other. Otherwise I guess the only way to watch the old shows is to have a second TV set up with the old Saorview Connect box.

ShaneCS

ps Swoofer, I'm reading your advice about a SSD here. https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058169431/zgemma-h7s-hard-drive I think it probably does make sense for me to get a SSD so I was wondering if 1) the Virts/ebay version of the Zgemma is the newer model, and 2) if there is a particular SSD you could recommend? Thanks again :)

swoofer

this one at virts is good and a good price. I dont think it really maters which model, one has external ssd slot and the other is internal.

I dont know the format your saorview used for recording but you could try it in the zgemma and it may play as it can play many formats.

https://virts.ie/storage/crucial-mx500-500gb-sata-25.html

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119932744#Comment_119932744

Brilliant, thank you so much. Hopefully virts will get the Zgemma back in and then I'll get both of those. I appreciate the guidance!

newmember2

Is the Zgemma any sort of upgrade over a Ferguson Arriva 252 if I don't have a 4k TV?

swoofer

The Zgemma H7S would be a big upgrade but getting started is the stumbling block. The 4k reference is a way of telling you that the box will decode HEVC formats or H.265 it does not really mean 4K tv but it will decode 4k. You can set the resolution in the box to output 1080i, 1080p, 720p, 576i 576p, 480p. OR you can just set the box at 1080i and everything will be 1080i.

A lot of stuff is now available as H.265 hence the need for a 4K decoder. And H.265 files are smaller.

You can configure the box to look exactly like sky and have series link, 7day epg, etc it will output dolby digital, Pl11 cinema etc.

And the pic quality is very good.

And then you can add plugins like IPTV, KODI, imdb search and others. You can stream from box. The list is endless.

If you look on the zgemma h7s thread there are screen shots to show what it looks like.

But if you are happy with Arriva then stick with it.

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119932744#Comment_119932744

Hi Swoofer, any idea if Virts is still trading? I emailed them a couple of times (once from the website, once directly) with no reply. I called the phone a few times and it wasn't answered, and then in the past few days I get a message saying 'we are unable to connect your call.'

swoofer

The last time I used them was 2 November to get an SSD online and it was with me in 2 days. The site is still active but no Zgemma H7S. You could try ordering the SSD online but may be a bit dodgy is they have closed.

I did a link for ZgemmaH7S from Holland I think at a good price. They usually ship with an Openatv image and its not difficult to load VIX.

this is it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284858508498?hash=item4252e3e4d2:g:0D8AAOSw~Cdiq0K-&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoE8eRBAjF7F7dXMkjogHvdAVJfmTSdBobxYdC%2FuLV1JqyW0GDWsHOrn%2Ftcx0cCpjBDnV6xov%2BUcoaBcCB%2FahSUfUAa2VjDmsJvLWP4dirTC6QMkBFLmcbwQXuQja4iIO%2F59S10HlIwxN1XYKGvAyEcxS%2FmLWC3D0alRcOAZW75kjDKaEvoiwtkfBodH3dsWHTOFAKLpviBSpRwYEpP1CObo%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8b8xYSbYQ#shpCntId

And I saw it on Amazon DE

Gerry Wicklow

I found MemoryC in Kildare a good source for SSDs at a decent price if you want to keep it local. I've no affiliation other than a happy customer.

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119952504#Comment_119952504

Thanks a lot for that, Swoofer. I had seen it on Freesat.ie for 199 euro so have gone with that - it costs a bit more but it'd be easier to return if there were any issues with it. So strange about the Virts site, I tried calling them again just now and got the same message about being unable to connect the call. Anyway, thanks for your guidance on this...have a super weekend..!

ShaneCS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119952617#Comment_119952617

super, thank you...I have used them in the past, will check it out...