Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

greasepalm · 11-01-2019 07:31PM

What are your needs cable only,sat only, or both cable and sat?

OCTAGON SF8008 4K UHD Linux Enigma 2 2160p H.265 HEVC Dual Wifi Multi-Stream DVB-S2X & DVB-C/T2 Combo Receiver at 109 sterling + p & p

Edision OS nino Pro Grey 1x DVB-S2X + 1x DVB-C/T2 Linux Enigma 2 Combo Tuner Digital Multi-Stream Receiver H.265 HEVC HD 1080p PVR at 79 sterling + p & p

OCTAGON SF8008 4K UHD Linux Enigma 2 2160p H.265 HEVC Dual Wifi Multi-Stream DVB-S2X & DVB-C/T2 Combo Receiver at 109 +

GiGaBlue HD X2 Linux Enigma 2 HD H.265 PVR Receiver - Four Optional Tuner Types Available at 59 + what tuners are needed as no tuners in the price.
All depends of what you need and if internal or external hdd is needed.

Zardoz · 11-01-2019 07:50PM

The Octagon SF8008 is fairly new Greasepalm , it will take a few more months for images to become stable for it .
Its also using a new chipset ,the Hisilicon Hi3798MV200 Huawei so its not like similar 4k receivers that use the Arm or Mips chipsets.
Could be a can of worms .

The Tiviar is available on Ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Formuler-Tiviar-Alpha-Plus-HD-Triple-Tuner-Satellite-Cable-ENIGMA2-OPENATV/232764486072?hash=item3631d831b8:g:ZtkAAOSwl2xa9Kh9:rk:2:pf:0

The high horse brigade · 11-01-2019 07:53PM

Yeah other places have it too.

https://www.pikabox.uk/products/formuler-tiviar-alpha-plus-hd-hybrid-e2-linux-receiver-with-2x-sat-tuners-1x-hybrid-tuner-open-atv-m-tec-digital-hdmi-cable

STB. · 12-01-2019 11:01AM

whoami1 wrote: »

I've just been on to the world-of-satellite website and the box is no longer listed. Are there any good alternatives? I'm already have one, but my Dad will need a replacement for his eir box very shortly...

This guy sells them 109stg. Parcel motel it as its 6 to NI.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Formuler-Tiviar-Alpha-Plus-HD-Triple-Tuner-Satellite-Cable-ENIGMA2-OPENATV/232764486072?hash=item3631d831b8

whoami1 · 12-01-2019 04:25PM

greasepalm wrote: »

What are your needs cable only,sat only, or both cable and sat?

I would like the same sort of box - dual sat & 1 Saorview, with internal HDD, preferably running OpenATV.

I'm also looking for a single sat & Saorview box, running OpenATV, which could act as a replacement for a Sky multiroom box (with similar dimensions).

murpho999 · 14-01-2019 05:44PM

I'm definitely switching from Sky.

I have Sky at the moment via a shared sattelite dish in an apartment block.

I upgraded to Sky Q last year and the engineer installed some sort of adaptor. I assume this is some sort of convertor for the LNB?

Do I just disconnect that and then install the box I want.

Speaking of boxes, are their better alternatives to the Tiviar that everyone is talking about here.

I'd like to futureproof as much as possible and don't like the idea of buying a model that is 4-5 years old.

Barr · 14-01-2019 11:28PM

They don't seem to sell it anymore on World of Satellite , maybe there is a new version coming.

mburke · 15-01-2019 11:11AM

Also spotted it on:

https://www.pikabox.uk/products/formuler-tiviar-alpha-plus-hd-hybrid-e2-linux-receiver-with-2x-sat-tuners-1x-hybrid-tuner-open-atv-m-tec-digital-hdmi-cable

The ebay seller in post #1456 has their own website where it is £ 10 sterling cheaper:

https://www.kuul.co.uk/set-top-box/formuler/formuler-tiviar-alpha-plus-hdd-triple-tuner-enigma2-e2-full-hd-linux-1-3ghz-hbbtv-satellite-cable-combo-receiver.html

whoami1 · 16-01-2019 08:24AM

I've ordered one from kuulmedia on eBay, thanks. It should be on its way now. I'm still looking for a smaller box as well, though, as I mentioned in my post above. 1 sat & 1 Saorview with OpenATV.

The high horse brigade · 16-01-2019 11:18AM

whoami1 wrote: »

I've ordered one from kuulmedia on eBay, thanks. It should be on its way now. I'm still looking for a smaller box as well, though, as I mentioned in my post above. 1 sat & 1 Saorview with OpenATV.

I have an Edison OS Nino configured exactly the same as the Tiviar. I don't use it at all for recording, I just use a usb key for picons and timeshift. I also have my recordings on the Tiviar mounted so I can watch what I record on either box.

It's out of stock but they have this plus version not sure what's changed
https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/edision-os-nino-plus

Barr · 16-01-2019 07:49PM

mburke wrote: »

Also spotted it on:

https://www.pikabox.uk/products/formuler-tiviar-alpha-plus-hd-hybrid-e2-linux-receiver-with-2x-sat-tuners-1x-hybrid-tuner-open-atv-m-tec-digital-hdmi-cable

The ebay seller in post #1456 has their own website where it is £ 10 sterling cheaper:

https://www.kuul.co.uk/set-top-box/formuler/formuler-tiviar-alpha-plus-hdd-triple-tuner-enigma2-e2-full-hd-linux-1-3ghz-hbbtv-satellite-cable-combo-receiver.html

The second seller is the same price as it was on World of Satellite so seems decent value.

STB. · 17-01-2019 01:13AM

Barr wrote: »

They don't seem to sell it anymore on World of Satellite , maybe there is a new version coming.

The box is from 2013 and had proprietary software on it. It is only recently that some genius figured out how to hack the bootloader (presumably with help from the OEM Fortis) to run enigma2 on it and the reason that they could be offloaded so cheaply. These boxes where never designed with e2 in mind, they just have the right chips and spec to run it.

The stock has simply run out, but theres a few still knocking around, like with that guy on ebay.

sligojoek · 17-01-2019 01:25AM

Very well put and concise. I'm tempted to get another one before they're all gone.

Barr · 18-01-2019 11:50PM

STB. wrote: »

The box is from 2013 and had proprietary software on it. It is only recently that some genius figured out how to hack the bootloader (presumably with help from the OEM Fortis) to run enigma2 on it and the reason that they could be offloaded so cheaply. These boxes where never designed with e2 in mind, they just have the right chips and spec to run it.

The stock has simply run out, but theres a few still knocking around, like with that guy on ebay.

Luckily that guy on ebay has 40 left to sell :pac: should keep boards going for a while.

McBain11 · 22-01-2019 05:55PM

quick question lads.

bought 1TB internal hd. need to install it. is it simply a case of slotting it into the sata slot at the front of the tiviar box? No screws etc.

Sorry for silly question, big rookie here :-)

sligojoek · 22-01-2019 06:05PM

No. You have to open he box and fix it internally with 4 screws. Not a major operation.

McBain11 · 22-01-2019 06:11PM

No other wiring to connect to hard drive so, just the screws?

sligojoek · 22-01-2019 06:32PM

Sorry. yeah, there's a plug in connector.

McBain11 · 22-01-2019 06:43PM

Thanks Sligo. Just spotted the connector

mburke · 22-01-2019 09:03PM

I have flashed the box with THHB image and am having an issue with the tuner scan.

I did the following:
Setup - Service Searching - Tuner Config and I get:
Tuner C: DVB-T/T2 NIM
Switchable tuner typesL(DVB-T2, DVB-C)
Enabled DVB-t, DVB-c
When I click ok on this I have tuner type (DVB-T2, DVB-c) DV-T2
I changed the region to Galway,(Tonabrocky, Europe DVB-)

and saved this.

I then went into AutobouquetsMaker - Providers (i get a list) and clicked on Saorview changed this to yes and set area to Galway, Tonabrocky.

I then saved this. Within the AutoBouquets Maker section I then did a 'start scan'

The error I get is:

AutobouquetsMaker
Timed out tuning NL Terrestrial on tuner C.

If I connect the cable for the terrestial tv directly into the TV it scans fine.

Any suggests on this ?

McBain11 · 22-01-2019 09:07PM

I have the internal hd fitted.

Haven't turned on the box yet. Is it ok to turn box on, fiddle around with a few bits and pieces for couple of days, just to get a feel for the box.

Then flash over one of the setups via USB stick in next couple of days? Or what's my best route of action

Gerry Wicklow · 22-01-2019 09:40PM

McBain11 wrote: »

I have the internal hd fitted.

Haven't turned on the box yet. Is it ok to turn box on, fiddle around with a few bits and pieces for couple of days, just to get a feel for the box.

Then flash over one of the setups via USB stick in next couple of days? Or what's my best route of action

Play away

One of the first tasks to do is format the HDD to the Linux file system ext4

MENU>SETUP>SYSTEM>STORAGE DEVICES>INITIALISATION

you may want to double check where recordings will be stored in
SETUP>RECORDINGS & TIMESHIFT
The path should be something like /media/hdd/movie
You can also set the timer paddings from here to start/stop a few minutes extra.
Next in SETUP>SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT it is a good idea to do a system backup. It only takes a few minutes and can get you out of a hole if you mess things up.
One of the best things with these boxes is how easy and quick it is to change/restore images. Backups of settings or full system are date stamped so you can have as many as you wish.

Finally...... Welcome to the highly addictive world of enigma2 TV

McBain11 · 22-01-2019 09:42PM

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Play away
One of the first tasks to do is format the HDD to the Linux file system ext4

MENU>SETUP>SYSTEM>STORAGE DEVICES>INITIALISATION

you may want to double check where recordings will be stored in
SETUP>RECORDINGS & TIMESHIFT
The path should be something like /media/hdd/movie
You can also set the timer paddings from here to start/stop a few minutes extra.
Next in SETUP>SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT it is a good idea to do a system backup. It only takes a few minutes and and can get you out of a hole if you mess things up.
One of the best things with these boxes is how easy and quick it is to change/restore images.

Finally...... Welcome to the highly addictive world of enigma2 TV;)

Cheers Gerry. That's brilliant bits of info.

As I said I'm a right rookie at this stuff. So the more help the better.

Thanks a million

Gerry Wicklow · 22-01-2019 09:50PM

@McBain11 You're more than welcome. The beauty of these forums is how we help each other grow. I started from nothing here too but thanks to the help I got I now know how much I don't know

The high horse brigade · 22-01-2019 10:10PM

mburke wrote: »

I have flashed the box with THHB image and am having an issue with the tuner scan.

I did the following:
Setup - Service Searching - Tuner Config and I get:
Tuner C: DVB-T/T2 NIM
Switchable tuner typesL(DVB-T2, DVB-C)
Enabled DVB-t, DVB-c
When I click ok on this I have tuner type (DVB-T2, DVB-c) DV-T2
I changed the region to Galway,(Tonabrocky, Europe DVB-)

and saved this.

I then went into AutobouquetsMaker - Providers (i get a list) and clicked on Saorview changed this to yes and set area to Galway, Tonabrocky.

I then saved this. Within the AutoBouquets Maker section I then did a 'start scan'

The error I get is:

AutobouquetsMaker
Timed out tuning NL Terrestrial on tuner C.

If I connect the cable for the terrestial tv directly into the TV it scans fine.

Any suggests on this ?

Open signal finder, set it to tuner c predefined transponder, set it to your transmitter and double check you have a signal from that transmitter

McBain11 · 23-01-2019 06:24AM

Been messing around with the box the last couple of hours. The remote has a really nice feel to it, the box responds really quickly to a channel change (far far better than the virgin tv box, something that drove me mad!). Managed to sort the recording setup somehow I think, along with the live tv pause/rewind timeshift (which looks really really good). I'm presuming that means I managed to install the 1TB HD correctly anyway, so that's 1 thing I've nailed so far - yay me!!!

Just a couple of things to make sure I haven't fecked up the absolute basics. So I have the installed the saorview channels and the satellite channels. The satellite ones are on the 19.2 astra, is this the correct one to use (not the 28.2 astra?) Or should I be scanning for both?

I presume I can just continue playing around with the box, set up a really basic favourites list, back it up and have that for good on the box? Then move on and try and flash over the setups from the NewClareMan/THHB and suss them out after?

robbKer · 23-01-2019 08:18AM

If it were me I would just go ahead with the re-flash rather than get too used to the the basic default image. (you could spend hours setting it up to find that everything is pretty much ready on Newclaremans image).
Totally down to how comfortable you are with doing it though!

Former Former · 23-01-2019 09:15AM

McBain11 wrote: »

Just a couple of things to make sure I haven't fecked up the absolute basics. So I have the installed the saorview channels and the satellite channels. The satellite ones are on the 19.2 astra, is this the correct one to use (not the 28.2 astra?) Or should I be scanning for both?

You can't scan for both using a standard setup.

The UK channels are all on 28.2

mburke · 23-01-2019 09:31AM

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Open signal finder, set it to tuner c predefined transponder, set it to your transmitter and double check you have a signal from that transmitter

Thank you THHB, that worked.

gar · 23-01-2019 09:47AM

Quick query before i got playing around with settings

I have one of these set up and it works buttery quick.
I actually have a flash drive installed and i know probably not ideal but was laying around.

Anyway i set another one of these up in my mothers but she is saying that when it resumes from stand by some times its not responsive for anywhere from 10 mins to 50 mins! Has to do a hard reboot.
There is a standard laptop hard drive in it and is connected to the network via wireless dongle.

Now she is constantly pausing live TV to come back to it later. Seems to be 80% free on the hard drive when i looked on the weekend.
I updated the software and thought i had solved it.
Could it be the crossEPG updating slowing it down on restart.
I dont think it goes into deep stand by.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Gar

Tiviar Alpha Plus Combo STB

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