AZBOX /Elite / HD / Premium

kippy · 25-08-2009 10:33PM

Getting the premium in the next few days. Really looking forward to it and all the "flaws" which I hope to help to fix.

taung · 25-08-2009 10:53PM

Well, I haven't tested out 3180 fully yet, but it has fixed some problems I had with 3177 which were;

- timeshift recording
- recording using EPG
- channel up/down channel change requiring 'OK' button click

However the following faults (not all introduced by 3177) are still present;

- Subtitles turned on, by default, when channel change occurs (this one has to get 'software bug of the year award'....will the software coder that implemented that please stand up and prepare to get a royal kick up the arse

).

- Automatic time synchronisation via satellite.

- WiFi connectivity very difficult to restore after firmware update and mains disconnection.

- Now and Next EPG data not available in main EPG menu.

- Hard drive formatting function does not work correctly.

- Recording fails on hard drive, reported as insufficient storage space, even though hard drive only 10% used.

- Slight audio distortion on recorded TV programmes (SCART connection). Especially noticeable on music TV programmes.

- Activation of some alternative GUI fonts result in a permanent white dot displayed on TV screen.

- TV channel listing order is prone to automatic re-ordering.

- ....I could go on (and on), but life is short.....

There is a mini-riot going on in other fora regarding the AZBOX and the shockingly bad firmware released to 'support' this product. Someone has even organised a petition to request AZBOX (Opensat) to release the source code for the AZBOX drivers to the 'developer' community!!!

Stuxnet · 25-08-2009 11:00PM

Subtitles turned on, by default, when channel change occurs (this one has to get 'software bug of the year award'....will the software coder that implemented that please stand up and prepare to get a royal kick up the arse )

LOL

would you guys recommend getting this so over DB 800hd ?
flawed an all it seems to be at the mo ?
i wouldnt be doing too much messing around, flicking between birds in teh sky and a few recordings?
the price is appealing, and hdmi over dvi anyday

watty · 26-08-2009 12:05PM

Time... Arrrrrgh.

I've had 3 different boxes on my motorised Dish. ALL gratuitously set clock to channel you are on if it has Teletext!

Obviously the idiot coders thought you only watch TV originating in your own time zone.

gtg60 · 26-08-2009 12:12PM

watty wrote: »

Obviously the idiot coders thought you only watch TV originating in your own time zone.

This has worked perfectly in all the other firmware releases so I don't know what/ why they changed it

RapidResults · 26-08-2009 05:34PM

Use the option to sync the time over the Internet connection?

gtg60 · 29-08-2009 02:07PM

Just worth noting that 0.9.3180 has been removed from the Firmware download list, obviously they considered it too buggy as well, this happened once before and curiously came back a few days later with a lot of the bugs sorted but still the same firmware number, that was a good few months back, can't remember the number.

Also, just like to say that I got my DVB-T tuners from slegs (SaorTV) the other day and within 5 mins I had one fitted, channels scanned and was watching them, very easily done, can't find any problem at all, lovely picture quality, EPG is there, at least as good as my 3 previous receivers capable of receiving Irish DTT :eek:

So, all coming together for this box, slowly but surely! I've just got to stop listening to internet rumours on what's going to be in the next firmware :rolleyes:

gtg60 · 29-08-2009 08:53PM

Just read on SaorTV forum that you can record and watch from the same Mux with the DVB-T tuner, tried it and can confirm it works

Roll on the twin tuner firmware though, record from DVB-T and watch DVB-S2 :cool::D

madmadworld · 30-08-2009 09:32AM

hi
just got a AZBOX Premium last week running firmware 2288.
was told i had to go to 2372 or higher for the intenal hard drive to work.
right or wrong ?
if i should have to upgrade the firmware where could i get it and the channel editor to match ?
and the best version as i most likely will not up date till they lift the uncapping on the recording limit of 20Mbps.
thanks alot

gtg60 · 30-08-2009 12:52PM

madmadworld wrote: »

just got a AZBOX Premium last week running firmware 2288.

Are you sure? I never heard of this firmware number.

madmadworld wrote: »

told i had to go to 2372 or higher for the intenal hard drive to work.
right or wrong ?

I believe that to be wrong, there's a procedure for fitting and formatting the drive in this thread, have a look back for it.

madmadworld wrote: »

if i should have to upgrade the firmware where could i get it and the channel editor to match ?

Firmware can be directly downloaded through the AZBox and there are channel managers but they differ based on the firmware you are using, I will advise you once you have decided on a firmware.

madmadworld wrote: »

and the best version as i most likely will not up date till they lift the uncapping on the recording limit of 20Mbps.
thanks alot

No, you've been misinformed, with the Premium there is no recording limit, the limit has been placed on USB and Ethernet connections.

My advice would be to sit down and have a read of this complete thread, virtually everything you need to know will have been discussed.

madmadworld · 30-08-2009 02:53PM

i have read this thread twice. today and before i bought it.
you have great posts.
here is where i am i start with a formated 500ghd to fat 32.
put it in and got it to see it showed 465g. acts like it was working but not. even showed at one point it had used a few mg 50. but would not play or even show up in the recorded program list.
so i took the hd out put it in a usb box and it recorded and played a less than 2 min. test. with no change to the hd it is formated to fat 32.
when i put it inside last night it did not like me asking it about the storage at first (showed nothing) but after i hit the format button it showed up. it would acted like it was recording but would not stop or respond to the remote,did the hold the power rebot (only function on the remote that seemed to work).
and it would come back with the red lite on the front still on. had to do a back flip off to get that to go off.
then i was told to let the azbox Premium format it to ext2/linux . took 30min. or more.
i did that with the hard drive in the usb box, did 3 test recordings they played fine.

then i put it back inside the box and no joy did not see the recordings or be able to record. it would just lock up and need the back flip off to come back. it always see the hard drive.

i got this box to watch live sports feeds (the 422 thing). and maybe do some recording that's it. no youtube, networking,transfering files. heck i did learn how to ftp the channel list to my computer the other day. scary

the 2288 software might be because i am in the states no idea. i read 2 usa forums (near 1000 posts) and this seemed to be the most stable version they were using but they did have Elite boxes. the Premium just got here 3 weeks ago and only 2 dealers have it so far. they just got 2888 the other day and hate it. and have down graded to 2371.
i can pm you the forum you would be a god there.
so what do you think ?

not at all new to sky watching. my sig
10' KTI,Orbitron 5 foot c-band>Drake 1824 + 1624
KU 5) Fortec Star 36" (90 cm), 1) Fortec Star 31" (80 cm) 4) STAB HH MOTOR 100
FORTEC STAR FSIR-5400, FORTEC STAR LIFETIME ULTRA, Pansat 2800, Pansat 9000 HD,SV-8000HD,Azbox Premium

settopbox · 31-08-2009 12:13PM

assuming I buy the box from factory spec how much space ie recording time will I have in the box b4 I fit an external HDD.

kippy · 31-08-2009 12:23PM

settopbox wrote: »

assuming I buy the box from factory spec how much space ie recording time will I have in the box b4 I fit an external HDD.

You wont have any space on the Elite at all, and you'll only have space on the premium if you buy it with an internal SATA drive installed (which is extra)
So factory spec, zero recording unless external drive is attached.

settopbox · 31-08-2009 01:52PM

thanks for that.

slegs · 02-09-2009 04:57PM

7 Day UK freesat EPG is confirmed as in test in next version of firmware (directly from beta tester and screenshot seen)

Psygnosis · 02-09-2009 08:39PM

Slegs any chance of posting a screenshot and how about a date without a decent epg the box is unusable as a proper PVR box. Will be great when it comes out as it has a super picture and with the other plugins it is starting to take shape nicely.

But it really needs that EPG.

slegs · 02-09-2009 11:19PM

I dont control the date...all I know is that the version the beta testers are testing at the moment has the freesat EPG included. This is the next release firmware.

The screenshot was posted on Satedudez earlier by DJBlu but since taken down. I introduced DJBlu to opensat to get the EPG sorted. He says its included for next firmware.

That could be in the next couple of days or up to 2 weeks I'd say.

Once in place the AZBox will be the only combo unit under 500eur with full 7 day guide for irish and uk FTA.

madmadworld · 03-09-2009 02:15AM

after a couple days of testing my findings.
updating the firmware is important, after going to 2372 and having the hard drive formated to linux in the azbox it recorded fine.
in post 67 page 5 by gtg60
I formatted it from the AZBox and everything worked fine.
.........................................................................................................................................................
for dummys like myself i think STRESSING that the hard drive must be formated to the LINUX format not fat 32. should be pointed out stronger.
but i still can not record hi bitrate feeds i am guessing here but still seems to have a cap at 20Mbps. can record HD stations with as hi as 16 Mbps (all i can find).
but when i try live hd sports feeds(guessing again 25 to 40Mbps) this box locks up bad. such as will not boot up with the hard drive hooked up inside. i had to take the HD out reformat to fat 32 and then to linux in box to get the hd to work again inside the box.
if i am missing something here please let me know.
thanks for reading. and any help.

edit:i have been told the hi-bitrate feed i was trying was 38Mbps. this was by a person with a pc card.

gtg60 · 04-09-2009 02:01PM

Ok, ok, I don't want to get too excited

:rolleyes::eek:
But I found this on another forum, that found it on a spanish forum...

Changelog for 0.9.3281
# FIXED
\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u0 03d\u003d\u003d

- Records of HD-Channel freezing are all about 10 Seconds. Tone also is less.
Often this is also at recording from SD-Channe

- When playing contents recorded on movie player, "Unsupported format" popup window is, to infinity

- Subtitles are fail on following channels
SID 10892Mhz 27,500 TP 4801 V160 A80 / / CANAL +
SID 10892Mhz 27,500 TP 4802 V161 A84 / / CANAL + FILM
SID 10892Mhz 27,500 TP 4805 V164 A96 / / Ale Kino!

- Channel scanning of DVB-T / C NIT is not working

- When playing some MOV contents, STB hangs up

- SmartCard is sometimes reset

- From the EPG pressing OK and then select PLAY to zap to a channel totally block the Azbox
(when the program is currentely broadcasting)

- In manual time setting, GMT is not effective

- Inaccurate synchronization of subtitles on Astara 28.2E

- Invalid screen capture on 4:2:2 feeds

# ADDED
\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u0 03d\u003d\u003d

- Added "subtitle off" option in setting

- Added "default audio" option in setting

- Freesat EPG is supported

- Screen capture on movie player

- At setting menu, more options for audio are created, like:
DTS: PCM <-> RAW
AC3: PCM <-> RAW
AAC: PCM <-> RAW
Others: PCM <-> RAW

Best Regards,
The OPENSAT / AZBox Team

jeanpaulvieira · 07-09-2009 10:52PM

gtg60 wrote: »

Ok, ok, I don't want to get too excited :rolleyes::eek:
But I found this on another forum, that found it on a spanish forum...

Does it means that twin DVB-S is working now? (watching and recording at the same time)?

madmadworld · 08-09-2009 03:06AM

Linux hard drive reader for your PC
for dummys like myself a easy to use Linux reader
http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/
it free
it is soo easy. not super fast so take your time let it read the drives. then open that Linux drive find your file hi-lite it then hit that save button in the middle of the page top and it will ask you where you want it to go and pick a place and Bam it just goes to work for you.
i think you can right click the save too did not try it but seen it there.

slegs · 08-09-2009 10:19AM

jeanpaulvieira wrote: »

Does it means that twin DVB-S is working now? (watching and recording at the same time)?

No, not yet.

It means that the AZBox will have 7 Day EPG for Irish Terrestrial and 7 Day EPG for UK FTA Freesat in one seamless guide. This is a huge step forward in Combo box technology.

Also, it is confirmed that the AZBox DVB-T DTT tuner can do watch one record another on the same MUX.

What cant be done yet is watch one record another on two different tuners whether they are DVB-T/DVB-S2 or DVB-S2/DVB-S2. In fact the DVB-S2/DVB-S2 combination is not supported until a future firmware drop.

This is expected to be sorted in the coming weeks.

logger · 08-09-2009 11:24AM

Why is the extra DVB-T DDT tuner card required ? I am sure there is a good reason for this, however I just can't figure it out. Is there an expensive licence to be paid for the decoding ? How come AZBox don't upgrade the TV RF input, or offer a card that will upgrade this part of the box. This box seems to be a hot seller in Ireland, why then is the box or a version of it not shipped ready to receive the well flagged terrestrial digital signal. I seems a shame to need two aerial inputs, when you could plug in a second satellite card or cable card instead.

slegs · 08-09-2009 11:45AM

This is sold worldwide. They wont be doing any specific local models. The box comes with two slots that can take modular tuners. In most countries they will have no interest in the DVB-T tuner and they will go for a DVB-S2/DVB-S2 dual tuner combination when available. You could also have DVB-T/DVB-T if that was your preference.

I do take your point though that if they merged the modulator and the DVB-T then you could have DVB-S2/DVB-S2 in the two slots and DVB-T on board which would be perfect for Irish needs. I will suggest this to Opensat (for a future version of the product - not possible in short term).

That said it is relatively easy to put the card in and if people don't want to do it them selves then I can do it before shipping when purchased with my store for a cost.

gtg60 · 08-09-2009 11:46AM

logger wrote: »

Why is the extra DVB-T DDT tuner card required ?

Extra? If you want to receive DVB-T signals you need a DVB-T tuner.

logger wrote: »

I am sure there is a good reason for this, however I just can't figure it out. Is there an expensive licence to be paid for the decoding ? How come AZBox don't upgrade the TV RF input, or offer a card that will upgrade this part of the box. This box seems to be a hot seller in Ireland, why then is the box or a version of it not shipped ready to receive the well flagged terrestrial digital signal. I seems a shame to need two aerial inputs, when you could plug in a second satellite card or cable card instead.

I'm not 100% what you are saying but upgrading the RF modulator isn't possible. And you don't need 2 aerial inputs you just loop one through the other BUT I'd say most people will never even use the RF modulator.
The tuners are plug 'n' play you buy what you want to use it for, not everybody have the same requirements.

logger · 08-09-2009 12:06PM

gtg60 wrote: »

Extra? If you want to receive DVB-T signals you need a DVB-T tuner.

I'm not 100% what you are saying but upgrading the RF modulator isn't possible. And you don't need 2 aerial inputs you just loop one through the other BUT I'd say most people will never even use the RF modulator.
The tuners are plug 'n' play you buy what you want to use it for, not everybody have the same requirements.

Thanks, for that, Ok, maybe I should have stated it better.

Bought a philips TV last year, 1 aerial input, does RF and DVB-T.

Just though it would be an improvement if this box came with similar functionality.

I am hoping to use the RF input initially, so Terrestrial analogue signals can be recorded, and accessible on list of favourites. Keep it simple one remote for accessing all the channels.

DVB-T isn't such a big issue for me as

a) TV has it built in
b) No launch date may be year(s) before we get it.
c) they may ditch it when the time comes in favour of broadcast via satellite if it is too expensive to roll out.

however just think it is a shame it wasn't in the box to begin with.

Still think box has great potential and waiting to get my hands on weekend purchase so I can have a look at one in the flesh.

madmadworld · 08-09-2009 12:54PM

over here in the States they say we should get ATSC tuners that we need for OTA stations. this is truely a World box. i have never had SCART TV output in my house before. never seen any close enough to touch. is it any better than the Composite video output ? it big.

slegs · 08-09-2009 01:06PM

logger wrote: »

Thanks, for that, Ok, maybe I should have stated it better.

Bought a philips TV last year, 1 aerial input, does RF and DVB-T.

Just though it would be an improvement if this box came with similar functionality.

I am hoping to use the RF input initially, so Terrestrial analogue signals can be recorded, and accessible on list of favourites. Keep it simple one remote for accessing all the channels.

DVB-T isn't such a big issue for me as

a) TV has it built in
b) No launch date may be year(s) before we get it.
c) they may ditch it when the time comes in favour of broadcast via satellite if it is too expensive to roll out.

however just think it is a shame it wasn't in the box to begin with.

Still think box has great potential and waiting to get my hands on weekend purchase so I can have a look at one in the flesh.

You wont be able to record analogue on any digital receiver like this. It will only tune in and record DTT or digital satellite. The RF In/Out ports are for passing through a UHF signal and adding the AZBox RF modulated channel for distribution in your house.

b) No launch date may be year(s) before we get it.
Correct, but it has been broadcasting in test mode for the last 15 months and the spec is finalised.

c) they may ditch it when the time comes in favour of broadcast via satellite if it is too expensive to roll out.

This is as likely to happen as them turning off analogue tomorrow and telling us we have to switchover immediately. Wont happen. DTT is here to stay. They have invested too much already and the alternatives are too costly or inappropriate for Ireland.

gtg60 · 08-09-2009 01:12PM

madmadworld wrote: »

over here in the States they say we should get ATSC tuners that we need for OTA stations. this is truely a World box. i have never had SCART TV output in my house before. never seen any close enough to touch. is it any better than the Composite video output ? it big.

If you want analogue stick with the Component output it's a bit better and allows your TV to receive Progressive signals.

Scart was great back in the day as it carries audio (stereo) and video (both composite and RGB) and did it bi-directionally, it also does widescreen switching.

I suppose Scart is the analogue predecessor of the digital HDMI.

So, stick with HDMI if you can!

logger · 08-09-2009 04:57PM

slegs wrote: »

You wont be able to record analogue on any digital receiver like this. It will only tune in and record DTT or digital satellite. The RF In/Out ports are for passing through a UHF signal and adding the AZBox RF modulated channel for distribution in your house.

Thanks for that slegs, clarified the issue for me. Apologies all for the stupid question now, however it was bothering me, but should have waited for the manual to arrive before posting.

AZBOX /Elite / HD / Premium

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