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Zgemma H7s Guide

basemann

After taking the decision to get rid of cable I took the plunge and bought a Sat box. I was going to buy a Tiviar Alpha Plus due to its support on here but they were sold out at world of satellite and they suggested the Zgemma as it had similar specs.

Here is my guide to anyone new to the Sat world after getting this box . I hope it will help get through the initial frustration and hurdles you have to overcome. The H7S is relatively new so it's not discussed as much as the alpha plus but with the same software installed most guides can be used for both. I think the alpha would be equally challenging to set up. It takes time and patience and reading so be prepared for a bit of work but it's very satisfying in the end.
Some of this will be obvious to Sat heads but it's meant as a guide for beginners like I was who have some knowledge of the basics. This is from memory so excuse any vagueness of detail.

Here are the main things I learned..

1. To get Saoirview and Uk channels on the same epg listing you need to scan Saoirview 1st then do a second scan of the UK channels ensuring that the option to delete any previous scans is switched off. By doing that you mesh the two together so they can be gathered in the auto bouquets. (This took me ages to figure out!)

2. To install a skin easily you can put the downloaded skin found on the net on a usb and put it in the usb slot while live TV is playing (without any menu open). That will get a prompt to install the skin. If that does not work a plugin like Dreambox found in the plugin section will show all the folders in the sat box and the USB drive can be found and opened to try the install. If that does not work you need to connet a PC and use software like Filezilla to access files on the box from a PC. It's quite easily done if you follow the online guides.

3. A lot of people want the SkyNEW skin for the sky feel (without the sky channels of course!) and it does work but be warned it will prob make your epg crash every time you try and use it. To fix that you need to download a patch file to repair it. Dont install that skin unless you are prepared for that. You will need prob to connect a PC to do that and put it in the correct folder as per the instructions from where it easily found in a google search in places such as techkings etc. You might have to register an email to download these but there's no fee. It looks good when fixed but to be honest other skins are better that the sky menu which is comforting at first but you might feel it unnecessary and lacking functionality after a bit, but that's a personal preference.

Once you get it set up to your requirements its a great machine and very fast with a super picture so it's highly recommended. I hope this helps someone!:)

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phil49

Thanks swoofer that did the trick.
I would never have found it without your help

_Kaiser_

Cyrus wrote: »

It’s the second one you need it will be in settings somewhere not as a plugin .

Found it. The box came preset with the metrixHD skin which seemed to not show it after the install so reset to the default skin and was able to setup from there.

Still need a decent skin though

DopeTech

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Found it. The box came preset with the metrixHD skin which seemed to not show it after the install so reset to the default skin and was able to setup from there.

Still need a decent skin though

Have you tried slyk onyx?

Cyrus

DopeTech wrote: »

Have you tried slyk onyx?

Bit dark for me but that’s a good shout

Kaiser the link I gave you there should be a forum there with a number of skins

I haven’t found anywhere better personally

Abominable JoMan

I'm not too experienced with these things but I got this box last week, using OpenATV 6.4 and the Slyk 1080 skin. Have Crossepg and autoboutiques set up after reading how via this thread (thanks guys!).
But I'm just wondering what do people do as regards turning off/leaving on stand by or plugging out? Every night, out of habit, I always turn everything fully off (including the on/off on the back of this box) and then flick off the switch on the socket on the wall.

What I've noticed though is when I turn on this box, sometimes it gets stuck on the 'boot' section, and I have to turn it on and off again for it to successfully boot up. Just wondering has anyone else experienced this, or does everyone just leave things on standby?

swoofer

If you continue you will kill the box, you are performing a hard re-boot by turning off at wall. Leave it in standby using remote, make sure it is well ventilated.

cmon arsenal

Abominable JoMan

Cheers thanks! Great finish by Aubameyang there!

My box actually froze (sound, but picture frozen and box not responding) at the start of the second half on BBC One HD, wonder is it linked to turning off on the wall at night...Might rescan later and hope for the best

bfa1509

Abominable JoMan wrote: »

I'm not too experienced with these things but I got this box last week, using OpenATV 6.4 and the Slyk 1080 skin. Have Crossepg and autoboutiques set up after reading how via this thread (thanks guys!).
But I'm just wondering what do people do as regards turning off/leaving on stand by or plugging out? Every night, out of habit, I always turn everything fully off (including the on/off on the back of this box) and then flick off the switch on the socket on the wall.

What I've noticed though is when I turn on this box, sometimes it gets stuck on the 'boot' section, and I have to turn it on and off again for it to successfully boot up. Just wondering has anyone else experienced this, or does everyone just leave things on standby?

Mine gives me an electric shock when I put my hand in the back. It's like it's giving me a kiss goodnight.

I tend not to bother turning it off anymore.

Irishder

Looking for some help. So i scanned both saorview and FTA. all channels showing up in the EPG but only the Saorview ones are working when i click on them. Any ideas?

Thanks

FlexMcMurphy

Irishder wrote: »

.. all channels showing up in the EPG but only the Saorview ones are working when i click on them. Any ideas?

Did you get them working? Maybe it's a loose cable from the dish. Check the cables and do a satellite scan again. Make sure you are trying to view a free to air channel.

Flex

FlexMcMurphy

Has anyone installed the Kodi plugin on their Zgemma?

I installed Kodi 18.7 from the plugin feed on to OpenVix 5.3

It runs pretty well and plays mp4 movies fine. But when I try to make it play movies I recorded from the TV that are in .ts format they only play for a few seconds then the screen freezes.

These .ts files play just fine when I press "File List" on the remote and use the OpenVix media player.

I connected the usb drive with the .ts files to a raspberry pi running a dedicated Kodi OS called OSMC and it plays the .ts files just fine.

Can someone test if a .ts file will play for them using Kodi on the Zgemma?

Cheers,

Flex

Irishder

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

Did you get them working? Maybe it's a loose cable from the dish. Check the cables and do a satellite scan again. Make sure you are trying to view a free to air channel.

Flex

Yeah got it going thanks. Ran ABM and that sorted it. All good now

FlexMcMurphy

I figured out how to get Kodi to play .ts files on my Zgemma H7S.

The executive summary is you have to install ffmpeg/exteplayer3 and configure that as the default enigma2 media player using a third plugin called: serviceapp. Then you tell Kodi what is the default enigma2 media player by editing...
/usr/share/kodi/system/advancedsettings.xml
and
/usr/share/kodi/system/playercorefactory.xml

Anyone need info about this I'm happy to share my experience.

Flex

Cyrus

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

I figured out how to get Kodi to play .ts files on my Zgemma H7S.

The executive summary is you have to install ffmpeg/exteplayer3 and configure that as the default enigma2 media player using a third plugin called: serviceapp. Then you tell Kodi what is the default enigma2 media player by editing...
/usr/share/kodi/system/advancedsettings.xml
and
/usr/share/kodi/system/playercorefactory.xml

Anyone need info about this I'm happy to share my experience.

Flex

something i need to look into as well, but i think you have given the info above, ill give it a try!

on reflection, what are the entries you need to make to the xml files?

FlexMcMurphy

Cyrus wrote: »

what are the entries you need to make to the xml files?

I made a thread about it on the WoS forum and the Kodi forum too. No one seems to be aware of the issue or care very much!

I didn't do alot of testing but initially Kodi was only playing .mp4 files and then after updating to exteplayer3 .ts files played too. It's a bit of work but if you want to create your own movie library then Kodi is really great to organise it with poster artwork and plot summaries. You can search your library from a web interface.

Maybe I was missing something. Did you get Kodi running and did it freeze when you tried to play a .ts file?

Cheers,

Flex

Cyrus

FlexMcMurphy wrote: »

I made a thread about it on the WoS forum and the Kodi forum too. No one seems to be aware of the issue or care very much!

I didn't do alot of testing but initially Kodi was only playing .mp4 files and then after updating to exteplayer3 .ts files played too. It's a bit of work but if you want to create your own movie library then Kodi is really great to organise it with poster artwork and plot summaries. You can search your library from a web interface.

Maybe I was missing something. Did you get Kodi running and did it freeze when you tried to play a .ts file?

Cheers,

Flex

I’m having an issue where’s it not playing any files from my nas but it’s to do with the external player aswell so hoping this may help!

[Deleted User]

Does the H7s box accept a 3.5" hdd fitted internally or only 2.5" size?

Morrisseeee

@mehico "Does the H7s box accept a 3.5" hdd fitted internally or only 2.5" size?"
Only 2.5in internal

phil49

I've installed Kodi on my H7s and scraped my movie folderfrom an external drive successfully.
I can see thumbnails but no information/synopsis of any movie is displayed.
There is a .kodi file stored on the internal hard drive of many GBs where I presume all this data is stored.
I cannot see any way to access this data.
On my cheap streaming box all this data is stored on internal flash memory and is instantly accessed.
Has anybody experienced this and fixed it?

tilting tim

Hi all,
Took the leap recently and bought one of these, this guide has been a great help getting started on it, problem I have is the remote. My tv is above a fireplace with the box in a shelf behind it that is facing 90° away the tv. The sky box always picked remote signal no bother but the zgemma doesn’t. Have I other options? I saw an app ZG remote, is anyone using this?

FlexMcMurphy

Some people have bought replacement one for all remotes that can be programmed to work like the Zgemma remote and whose IR gives a wider arc.

You could also put an enigma2 remote control app on your phone.

Maybe the best solution in this case is to get an IR extender kit.. it's just easier controlling the box with a remote.

Flex

bfa1509

tilting tim wrote: »

Hi all,
Took the leap recently and bought one of these, this guide has been a great help getting started on it, problem I have is the remote. My tv is above a fireplace with the box in a shelf behind it that is facing 90° away the tv. The sky box always picked remote signal no bother but the zgemma doesn’t. Have I other options? I saw an app ZG remote, is anyone using this?

That's probably my biggest gripe with this machine. I feel like I need to attach a scope to get enough accuracy for it to work... :mad:

hs5424

Forget all the above.
Remove the IR receiver diode. Wire it outside the box using 3 core cable. It's not rocket science. Place it where the remote can see it maybe at the bottom of the TV.

tilting tim

Thanks hs for that suggestion, I might try that out if what I just did doesn’t do good enough.

I felt the remote was poor even if you were standing straight in front of it so wasn’t rushing out to buy something. Instead I took apart the remote and noticed how thick the glass on the front was so got the drill out and made a hole in it, it is working 100 times better now

bfa1509

tilting tim wrote: »

Instead I took apart the remote and noticed how thick the glass on the front was so got the drill out and made a hole in it, it is working 100 times better now

A drill or an angle grinder? :P

tilting tim

bfa1509 wrote: »

A drill or an angle grinder? :P

I may have started a bit on the low side ðŸ˜‚

hs5424

I did the same some years ago on a remote for an Irish made TV.
Can anyone name the TV make.

decor58

hs5424 wrote: »

I did the same some years ago on a remote for an Irish made TV.
Can anyone name the TV make.

Deise?.

hs5424

decor58 wrote: »

Deise?.

Correct.
Top marks to that man.
It was badged 'Daysha' and made by Casey Electronics in Co Waterford. The late Sean Casey was the company owner. Still in business today, however they no longer manufacture TV's. Cheap Chineese imports took care of that. The Daysha used a good quality Mullard CRT and Phillips chip set.
There was also a set made here and badged by a few different companies. One being called ''Armstrong'' which was sold by Armstrong Electronics.

_Kaiser_

So it's been a few weeks with the box but I am very happy with it and have it setup just as I want it now . Took a while but got there

I have a question though.. So the Web TV interface allows you to watch/stream TV through the browser and you can export individual channel playlist files to open in Potplayer (in my case - tho I'm sure VLC would work too) - but, is there a way to export the whole list or use an external player to interface with the box.

Basically I'm thinking SkyGo functionality but using this hardware. Then all I'd need to do is open the relevant ports on the firewall and I can watch TV from anywhere