nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

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!:)

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

greasepalm

Yes not detected go into deep standby and power off at rear then on.

Go back in and see if storage is listed.

Was this in box when it arrived or after?

greasepalm

Not yet as storage needs to be seen first

joeirish

And this is the next menu screen - Mounts Editor

greasepalm

Storage needs to be listed first

joeirish

Sorry I should have loaded these screenshots which is what I see when I click on Network

So I click on Mounts and get this

Nothing happens when I click on Mount again. When I clcik on Mount manager I get the following

greasepalm

You need to do MENU-SETUP and see storage first so exit out of everything go into deep standby and then power off at rear then on.

If storage is not seen it might need powering off and unplug everything and take box top off to check connections on internal are firmly connected and put back together and power on.

joeirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985766#Comment_119985766

Thanks for all this help, really appreciate it. So would the connections have come disconnected even though I haven't even moved the box or touched it or anything? I've unplugged it after it shut down in deep standby. Will see what happens and if no joy then I'll take it apart in the morning. Cheers.

joeirish

You're a star! All back now. Whew. So do you think there is an issue with the HDD or is this just something that these boxes suffer from. Thanks a million.

greasepalm

No problem if Hdd was fitted in stockists there has been posts of hdd lost so checking it without cables or plugs is the next thing to do .

I never got around to fitting a SSd in mine as i have an externally powered one via usb

greasepalm

okay thats a start and press file list and say what percentage is there

+ go into the trash and see if you see many programs listed there

joeirish

So I can now see Storage on the menu setup list. Wasn't there before??

I've 90% free disc space and the Trash is empty (I've been deleting items from this from time to time anyway.) Wonder why this glitch and what caused it and why it is now OK?

greasepalm

Check to see if it is listed in mounts also if it happens again no harm checking conections on hdd or if a driver had a hiccup

Powering off at rear can clear bugs that were stored and if box was running slow bit more than a reboot

refusetolose

doesn't the drive have to be initialized to work properly?

i only use a usb drive and it does need to be initialized, not sure about internal drives

greasepalm

All recording devices usb/hdd/ssd need to be Iniatialized to be in ext4 format for recording on.

His problem was drive not seen and does happen to vanish and deep standby to power off for a min then on usually fixes the hidden storage device

refusetolose

ok just once he knows it needs to be initialized

my usb drive still kinda works without being initialized (even records and pauses) and some things he was saying sounded like it might not be initialized

Gerry Wicklow

It is possible that the HDD is dying. Even a brand new drive can be a dud. I too would wonder if it has in fact been formatted to EXT4. The history of erratic drive behavior is worrying.

greasepalm

One used to be able to check Hdd for ext4 but lately i seem i cannot , i think Abu said its automatic when done Initialize drive to ext 4 as older images were ext3 and you needed to be ext4

joeirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985870#Comment_119985870

Thanks, I do know this. I've been using the box for about a year already recording programmes without problems on the HDD. This has just started happening so not to do with initialising as far as I can tell.

joeirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986255#Comment_119986255

I'll check this out and when I've watched the saved programmes (probably over CHristmas when there might be a lot less good stuff on the telly!) I'll re-initialize it. It came all set up with VIX installed when I bought it so I've assumed it's the correct format. The box had Vix 5.4.? on it until I flashed the newer image. ANybody know what format the earlier versions of VIX used, ext 3 or ext 4? Shame there's no way of checking.

Thanks

joeirish

BTW I do have an external HDD which I used with a previous box. I can change location with this one and see stuff still on the old HDD. Can I copy recordings from the internal HDD to my external HDD and then I could re-initialise the internal HDD to ensure it's formatted ext 4? Cheers

greasepalm

If the external one is seen it might be possible to move it via green button.

Your mounts show where it can be moved to so you need to know the name of internal and external so its moving to correct spot.

Markus Antonius

What's the highest download speed people are getting on this box?

I use powerline+ethernet cable and it tends to jump between 5120 and 10240 KiB/second (which I figure is 10MB/s)

I have 1Gb internet and can get up to 13 MB/s on wifi devices through the same powerline connection.

Gerry Wicklow

I get about 98MB/Sec wired. No idea on WiFi. Some power strips/extension leads with surge protection can mess up powerline units. Plug it directly into the wall if possible.

Markus Antonius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987748#Comment_119987748

Yep, plugged straight into the wall. The 13MB/s I get on my phone is from a Wi-fi emitter connected to the same powerline as the Zgemma box.

Maybe I need to play around with the settings. I use Pure2 image.

redoctober

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119970996#Comment_119970996

Hi. Still haven't had a chance to go at this. Hoping to tonight. Should I back up my settings before I do this? Can I load those settings once the new image is flashed? I don't want to have to go through the whole process of setting the box up the way I have it again. Thanks.

Gerry Wicklow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119992203#Comment_119992203

Yes and yes.

It's always a good idea to do regular backups of your settings. A few seconds now can save many hours of swearing later.

swoofer

Because you have a problem and the image is old the best option is to start from new. Bear in mind the box has 4 partitions so your old image can stay on the box. When you go to update the option to backup will appear so say yes and it will back up to HDD. For this instance its best to start from scratch and new vix has a lot included as standard so you may have very little to do to get it the same. Have you managed to check if the driver for your wi fi is installed?

Also you can flash new image on another slot and when asked to do a back up say no, then when it flashes it will give you the option to restore settings from image 5.4. And to be fair if you do a backup with new image and then get asked to restore you will get a list of backups in date order.

I'd really like to know if that wi fi driver is installed.

So remember to pick a free slot for new image, it will show 4 slots and your 5.4 will appear as current.

redoctober

Hi guys.

Stupid question time: my wifi is in another part of the house. I've brought the box over to connect via LAN. How do I now connect the laptop to the zgemma? Sorry if this is painfully obvious....:-) I have wifi dongle.

refusetolose

MENU > INFORMATION > NETWORK

type the IP into a browser on laptop

swoofer

why do you want to connect zgemma to laptop?