Zgemma H7s Guide

dulpit · 17-07-2020 11:37am

swoofer wrote: »

You have me intrigued why you picked that Pure image. I'm going to have a play now and see how it behaves. Do you actually want a VPN?

I use pure2, it was the nicest looking for me when I played with the various options. Personal preference, they all offer more or less the same functionality...

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 11:47am

dulpit wrote: »

I use pure2, it was the nicest looking for me when I played with the various options. Personal preference, they all offer more or less the same functionality...

I'm beginning to get my head around it now.

I still have a few small issues with the terminology used.

Also i cannot get the rewind function to work, is there a setting that needs to be changed.

I have found the timeshif section but i'm not sure when function is related to rewind.

andy1249 · 17-07-2020 12:16pm

Thanks Andy,do i set these two programs up on the box itself?

Yes , I'm using openvix though , but here are some screengrabs to give you an idea.

ABM is installed by default on most images , if its not you will have to add it via plugins, and note , every time you add a plugin or a major feature you must re boot the box for it to work or it will most likely crash and re boot for you.

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 12:19pm

andy1249 wrote: »

Yes , I'm using openvix though , but here are some screengrabs to give you an idea.

ABM is installed by default on most images , if its not you will have to add it via plugins, and note , every time you add a plugin or a major feature you must re boot the box for it to work or it will most likely crash and re boot for you.

Thanks for that, do i have to do a rescan? or will it organise what iv already set up?

dulpit · 17-07-2020 12:25pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Also i cannot get the rewind function to work, is there a setting that needs to be changed.

By default it will allow you to pause and it starts recording from that point onwards. You can change setting to allow it to auto-record as you watch, which will allow you rewind live TV (ala Sky Plus). A lot of people don't bother with this, as it will cause additional wear on your HDD.

andy1249 · 17-07-2020 12:25pm

Also i cannot get the rewind function to work, is there a setting that needs to be changed.

Rewind on live TV is related to timeshift , the timeshift function has to be enabled and you must be watching a channel for a specific minimum amount of time for rewind to function , basically its constantly recording the channel being watched during any particular program and when you hit rewind you enter timeshift .... to exit you press stop and you go back to live TV.

Its probably not working right now , because you haven't been watching anything long enough for it to work.
Rewind typically works within a program or show , so for example , you cannot rewind to whatever was on before the current program or show started.

andy1249 · 17-07-2020 12:29pm

Thanks for that, do i have to do a rescan? or will it organise what iv already set up?

You have to start again with ABM , but ABM will manage it automatically from then on.
As it stands , you will have to constantly maintain your manual setup , not ideal at all.

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 1:23pm

Is EPG-importer the same as crossepg and epgrefresh ?

swoofer · 17-07-2020 2:47pm

OK I had a quick play but first have you got a HDD installed?

The image was loaded but not configured so its left to the user. In your case you get network working and your good to go. What you should have done, in this order, was installed autobouquets from plugins, configured that for freesat and saorview and hit scan, now you are good to go. The autobouquets tab is under setup, service searching.

It has a built in epg under setup, system, you then say no to those you dont need. Save and your good to go. I downloaded picons as well but I use a sub stick for these and the epg.
The openvpn is designed to save you setting it up manually and you need a config for it to work.

Why are you looking at epg importer etc?

I downloaded crossepg and it disappeared, ie it wont show up as a tab but that is a glitch but it may work in your box mine is a duo2.

The colour buttons are shortcuts.

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 2:57pm

swoofer wrote: »

OK I had a quick play but first have you got a HDD installed?

The image was loaded but not configured so its left to the user. In your case you get network working and your good to go. What you should have done, in this order, was installed autobouquets from plugins, configured that for freesat and saorview and hit scan, now you are good to go. The autobouquets tab is under setup, service searching.

It has a built in epg under setup, system, you then say no to those you dont need. Save and your good to go. I downloaded picons as well but I use a sub stick for these and the epg.
The openvpn is designed to save you setting it up manually and you need a config for it to work.

Why are you looking at epg importer etc?

I downloaded crossepg and it disappeared, ie it wont show up as a tab but that is a glitch but it may work in your box mine is a duo2.

The colour buttons are shortcuts.

Ok thanks a lot there. How do i config openvpn and where did you download picons from. The rest i have sorted i think.

I was wondering if epgimporter is the same as crossepg. must not be. Do i install crossepg the same way i installed autobouquetmaker?

swoofer · 17-07-2020 3:44pm

have you got a HARD DISK INSTALLED???

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 3:45pm

swoofer wrote: »

have you got a HARD DISK INSTALLED???

Ya

swoofer · 17-07-2020 5:53pm

I think you started with the wrong image, all of the things one does is automated on the PURE image so you learn very little but as you have it stick with it. Anything you need will be in plugins so go there. I have gone back to Vix as its my preference. There is little support for PURE its a kind of niche image.

You will need to ask the person who told you to get vpn how to get it working.

epg importer etc all do the same thing but differently, dulpit has pure so they would be able to answer better than me.

have fun

Hedgecutter · 17-07-2020 5:55pm

swoofer wrote: »

I think you started with the wrong image, all of the things one does is automated on the PURE image so you learn very little but as you have it stick with it. Anything you need will be in plugins so go there. I have gone back to Vix as its my preference. There is little support for PURE its a kind of niche image.

You will need to ask the person who told you to get vpn how to get it working.

epg importer etc all do the same thing but differently, dulpit has pure so they would be able to answer better than me.

have fun

Thanks. Your right very little support for pure2, I'll get there in the end.

FlexMcMurphy · 17-07-2020 6:40pm

I found a lot of useful help about the Pur E2 image on the linuxsat-support forum especially from a mod there called: gorski.

If you are just starting out with these boxes then you will have the same problems no matter what image you use as the core functionality is very similar in all. You could also use Pur E2 to flash an OpenVix image into a free slot on the Zgemma and then maybe work from that as OpenVix does have even more support for the Zgemma.

Flex

_Kaiser_ · 23-07-2020 10:06am

Hey all,

So per my post in the "help me ditch Sky" thread, I'm looking to pick something up in the next few days as my LG's implementation of Freesat is rubbish and an official Freesat HDR-1100S (which I've also had in the past) will miss some of the FTA channels.
I'll also be connecting a Saorview aerial to it.

- Are these currently then the one to get from a future-proofing standpoint? Is there an upgraded version I should be considering? (CPU/RAM on these seems low to my eyes?)
- I'll probably buy from WoS if this is the one to buy. What image do I want preinstalled for the closest to Sky experience?

Cheers

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 11:04am

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Hey all,

So per my post in the "help me ditch Sky" thread, I'm looking to pick something up in the next few days as my LG's implementation of Freesat is rubbish and an official Freesat HDR-1100S (which I've also had in the past) will miss some of the FTA channels.
I'll also be connecting a Saorview aerial to it.

- Are these currently then the one to get from a future-proofing standpoint? Is there an upgraded version I should be considering? (CPU/RAM on these seems low to my eyes?)
- I'll probably buy from WoS if this is the one to buy. What image do I want preinstalled for the closest to Sky experience?

Cheers

im not sure what the horsepower requirements are but ive never had an issue with mine to be honest, you could spend more and get a vu+ but apart from being a nicer looking box im not sure what practical benefits that offers?

for the closest to sky q experience you need to do a little work getting the skin just right, the best one is this: SLYK 1080 and works on openatv or openvix

https://www.linuxsat-support.com/thread/133484-updated-slyk-1080-r19-install-faqs/

because of copyright issues it requires a little configuration but once you are done you are done and it looks great.

flashing images is easy and you have four slots so you can compare but its not really worth the hassle

dulpit · 23-07-2020 11:13am

Cyrus wrote: »

for the closest to sky q experience you need to do a little work getting the skin just right, the best one is this: SLYK 1080 and works on openatv or openvix

https://www.linuxsat-support.com/thread/133484-updated-slyk-1080-r19-install-faqs/

From a personal point of view, I never get the need to make your non-sky box look like a sky box. It's a different beast, just takes a couple of uses to get used to the UI.

What really irks me though is the way people refer to Sky as either $ky or Sly. :rolleyes:

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 11:21am

dulpit wrote: »

From a personal point of view, I never get the need to make your non-sky box look like a sky box. It's a different beast, just takes a couple of uses to get used to the UI.

What really irks me though is the way people refer to Sky as either $ky or Sly. :rolleyes:

well they call the skin sly for copyright reasons in fairness

as regards the interface i have tried all the skins and this is the nicest one, some of them are utter garbage. i dont need it to look like sky but i do prefer it looks sleek.

_Kaiser_ · 23-07-2020 11:32am

Cyrus wrote: »

im not sure what the horsepower requirements are but ive never had an issue with mine to be honest, you could spend more and get a vu+ but apart from being a nicer looking box im not sure what practical benefits that offers?

for the closest to sky q experience you need to do a little work getting the skin just right, the best one is this: SLYK 1080 and works on openatv or openvix

https://www.linuxsat-support.com/thread/133484-updated-slyk-1080-r19-install-faqs/

because of copyright issues it requires a little configuration but once you are done you are done and it looks great.

flashing images is easy and you have four slots so you can compare but its not really worth the hassle

Cheers for that. I did look up the Vu+ now as well and it does look slick. WoS has them but they don't seem to have the 4K box with the dual satellite + 1 terrestrial (2 cards overall?) unless you pay 400 quid for a 3 slot version.. or maybe I'm missing something obvious!

If I go with the Zgemma, can you upgrade it later with RAM etc? I have several 2.5" SSDs so I assume that's a straight slot in?

dulpit wrote: »

From a personal point of view, I never get the need to make your non-sky box look like a sky box. It's a different beast, just takes a couple of uses to get used to the UI.

What really irks me though is the way people refer to Sky as either $ky or Sly. :rolleyes:

Cyrus wrote: »

well they call the skin sly for copyright reasons in fairness

as regards the interface i have tried all the skins and this is the nicest one, some of them are utter garbage. i dont need it to look like sky but i do prefer it looks sleek.

Yea, for all their faults, Sky have put a lot of work over the years into the interface and it does (usually) "just work" and is simple and clean (Sky+ I mean.. Q is a different beast) which is what I'm after.. I'm in IT myself but don't want to spend days setting something up.

Gerry Wicklow · 23-07-2020 11:51am

I've had both a Zgemma and Vu+. The Vu+ has better build quality and a few extra bells and whistles but the Zgemma equals it in performance. It's very hard to justify the extra cost. Both take the standard SSDs but things like ram and CPU are fixed. The Zg has more than enough horsepower to handle multiple HD recordings running without issue. Channel switching is instantaneous.

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 11:52am

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Cheers for that. I did look up the Vu+ now as well and it does look slick. WoS has them but they don't seem to have the 4K box with the dual satellite + 1 terrestrial (2 cards overall?) unless you pay 400 quid for a 3 slot version.. or maybe I'm missing something obvious!

If I go with the Zgemma, can you upgrade it later with RAM etc? I have several 2.5" SSDs so I assume that's a straight slot in?

Yea, for all their faults, Sky have put a lot of work over the years into the interface and it does (usually) "just work" and is simple and clean (Sky+ I mean.. Q is a different beast) which is what I'm after.. I'm in IT myself but don't want to spend days setting something up.

dont think you can upgrade ram i dont know being honest, and harddrive is a simple enough job yes.

there are other sky skins, and there are builds where the installation of the skin is part of it (i.e. whooshbuild) but some arent 1080p which is an issue for me when im using a 4k tv.

_Kaiser_ · 23-07-2020 12:59pm

OK so it's looking like the ZGemma is the best bang for buck and still wholly decent option here. Cool. What firmware preload should I go for (give I'll want it to look like Sky as above), and will it accept any WiFi adapter or do I need the one they suggest? (I have a Netgear AC6210 here that I'd be hoping to use)

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 1:03pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

OK so it's looking like the ZGemma is the best bang for buck and still wholly decent option here. Cool. What firmware preload should I go for (give I'll want it to look like Sky as above), and will it accept any WiFi adapter or do I need the one they suggest? (I have a Netgear AC6210 here that I'd be hoping to use)

none of the std preloads will have a sky skin (unless they offer whooshbuild?), so id go openatv and then install the skin you want yourself.

cant help on wifi sorry mine is hardwired.

Hedgecutter · 23-07-2020 1:14pm

Hi guys is there a simple way to permanently turn off the narrator. Every time i go to channel 4 he's talking, i manually go to audio and switch audio.

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 1:18pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Hi guys is there a simple way to permanently turn off the narrator. Every time i go to channel 4 he's talking, i manually go to audio and switch audio.

yeah i have had that a bit as well on some of the english stations, its the audio feed you are getting but in my case i press the yellow button, change it and it sticks.

Hedgecutter · 23-07-2020 1:25pm

Cyrus wrote: »

yeah i have had that a bit as well on some of the english stations, its the audio feed you are getting but in my case i press the yellow button, change it and it sticks.

Cheers, the yellow button on mine gives the option: left, right, stereo. which did u choose?

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 1:31pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Cheers, the yellow button on mine gives the option: left, right, stereo. which did u choose?

let me check and ill let you know i get a different screen.

mobitron · 23-07-2020 2:12pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

OK so it's looking like the ZGemma is the best bang for buck and still wholly decent option here. Cool. What firmware preload should I go for (give I'll want it to look like Sky as above), and will it accept any WiFi adapter or do I need the one they suggest? (I have a Netgear AC6210 here that I'd be hoping to use)

I could never get the wifi to work reliably on my h7s. Others in this forum have had similar issues. In the end I used a powerpoint adapter for a wired connection.

Gerry Wicklow · 23-07-2020 2:52pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Hi guys is there a simple way to permanently turn off the narrator. Every time i go to channel 4 he's talking, i manually go to audio and switch audio.

Exact location / wording is depending on your enigma version:-
go into MENU>SETUP>AUDIO and look for "Preferred language" Set this to English.

henke · 23-07-2020 3:13pm

Cancelled my Sky yesterday so may invest in one of these boxes.
I am thinking of getting it with OpenATV. Does that give the best experience overall once it is configured correctly?

Anyone recommend a good skin for this box that is not the Sky ripoff? I am looking for something that doesn't look fake with fake badges on display (slyk) and a more native feel to it, as if it was a finished product a consumer could buy. Thanks.

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 3:27pm

henke wrote: »

Cancelled my Sky yesterday so may invest in one of these boxes.
I am thinking of getting it with OpenATV. Does that give the best experience overall once it is configured correctly?

Anyone recommend a good skin for this box that is not the Sky ripoff? I am looking for something that doesn't look fake with fake badges on display (slyk) and a more native feel to it, as if it was a finished product a consumer could buy. Thanks.

its easy to change the sly logos to sky ones, they are included just not enabled for copyright reasons.

i couldnt find a better looking skin personally and i have looked.

re the images, they are much of a muchness.

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 3:41pm

Hedgecutter wrote: »

Cheers, the yellow button on mine gives the option: left, right, stereo. which did u choose?

i get different options related to audio tracks, i just messed around with that until it stopped :pac:

dulpit · 23-07-2020 3:42pm

Cyrus wrote: »

i get different options related to audio tracks, i just messed around with that until it stopped :pac:

I think the issue is to do with the default audio options. I had same on my box where the default audio output was the audio description version. Think it was in language settings (using PurE2).

henke · 23-07-2020 7:41pm

Cyrus wrote: »

its easy to change the sly logos to sky ones, they are included just not enabled for copyright reasons.

i couldnt find a better looking skin personally and i have looked.

re the images, they are much of a muchness.

Ok disappointed there isn't a nicer skin. Can we remove completely Sky/Sly logos from the UI. My personal preference wouldn't be to have branding on it.

FlexMcMurphy · 23-07-2020 8:31pm

henke wrote: »

Ok disappointed there isn't a nicer skin...

Some say the Vali HD Flex skin looks nice on OpenATV. If you want to try the OpenVix image I think the Simple Ten Eighty skin is a clean and functional choice. Some like the look and feel of the PurE2 image because it's default skin makes it look like Kodi with it's estuary skin.

Flex

Cyrus · 23-07-2020 10:30pm

henke wrote: »

Ok disappointed there isn't a nicer skin. Can we remove completely Sky/Sly logos from the UI. My personal preference wouldn't be to have branding on it.

Just my opinion other posters like other skins

Try them out !

Gerry Wicklow · 23-07-2020 11:33pm

I'm also a fan of Vali HD Flex on openATV but at the end of the day you are getting into the realms of personal taste. There's plenty to choose from so look around. As always do a backup first before messing about too much, just in case.....

hs5424 · 24-07-2020 10:46am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What is the difference between this box and the Tiviar Alpha Plus?

All I want is something easy to use when I replace Sky Q......

I cannot see the difference between the two boxes. I purchased some Tiviar's from WOS in the past and when their stock ran out they offered me the zgemma H 7 as a replacement, which I flashed with the same Vix image also. I have about 20 customers with the Tiviar Alpha and no problems so far ( 2 years old). Only 4 of the Zgemma's in the fiels for the past 8 months. Compared with my older Vu+ duo these boxes are less than half the price and far more reliable.
Remember to install cross epg and setup for OpenTV providers. Never fails to update epg nightly.

Comer1 · 26-07-2020 12:01pm

After a long and at times, frustrating day and a half, I have this box working on Openvix with YouViX-Blue.

Just three questions:

My Virgin Media 2 channel keeps disappearing. I have to go into signal finder to bring it back. Is there any obvious reason why this would be happening?

Is there a way to get the epg to default at the top of the list instead of the channel you are on?

Is there a quick way to exit live TV rewind or pause?

Thanks

hs5424 · 26-07-2020 1:37pm

I presume you are talking about Virgin media 2 on terrestrial. If so what do you mean its disappearing. Is the picture breaking up or is it disappearing from the epg guide.

Comer1 · 26-07-2020 2:08pm

hs5424 wrote: »

I presume you are talking about Virgin media 2 on terrestrial. If so what do you mean its disappearing. Is the picture breaking up or is it disappearing from the epg guide.

Yes, Virgin media 2 on tuner C. It's still on the epg with info etc still there, but no sound and black screen. After a few seconds, the message "tune failed" appears.

swoofer · 26-07-2020 2:34pm

That is a slightly weird issue. Do you know the 2 channels/MUXES you on from the xmitter? I am on maghera so use CH 46 and CH48. Virgin uses both so for me v one and two is on ch48 and v 3 is on 46. So if you check with rte and v 2 you should lose one of the rte's as well.

Can you try a manual scan of both muxes and press green each time to save. I have vix like you and same skin but different box. I am waiting for footie.

If you lose v2 be sure to check rte. When you press ok twice on blu skin you get ch frequency showing at left. One other thing is the tuner defenitely set at t2 and you have country and region set.

hs5424 · 26-07-2020 7:50pm

Sounds very strange as there are only 2 channels broadcast which carry all the TV and radio program's. Do a manual scan which is always my preferred method when tuning any terrestrial channels. As the other contributor suggested , tune one mux at a time and save each time after it finds the program's. Another thing to try if you are still in trouble is to connect to the box with dreambox edit. You will see all the channels on the left hand side of the pc screen. Make sure that v2 is under the category ''TV'' and not data. You can change it and re-send to the box. Make sure to power cycle the box for the changes to get activated.
Good luck.

Tango One · 26-07-2020 10:37pm

Is it possible to install a netflix amazon prime plugin on the zgemma?

If not is there a box that can do that. I seem some android combo boxes no idea if they are any good though.

_Kaiser_ · 26-07-2020 11:24pm

I'm gonna pull the trigger on one of these tomorrow I think. Should have it in a few days from WoS it looks like so be prepared for a lot of stupid/noob questions after that

Morrisseeee · 27-07-2020 10:45am

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Just got this box and tweaking\messing about with it atm with advise here. I've a couple of questions:
1] can I use the sky wireless USB dongle? ie. I can get it going on an old PC with modprobe ath6kl_usb command, not working on this box tho!
2] ultra HD channels show up in web viewer but not the SD or HD ones? missing a codec I presume?!
Cheers

Just to update my own Q1 above: I got it working.
It was catch22 for me, no wireless, no internet, no update. I had to use my neighbors

For anyone that's interested, I ssh'd into the box, ran this command > opkg list | grep ath6k, it came back with the appropriate ath6kl_usb(& core) kernel versions. Copy/paste in these versions into > opkg install. After that you have do run 2 commands(modprobe ath6kl_usb and an 'echo > new_id), or put them in a shell script to run at boot.

Latest issue is with SSD, I have MSDOS partition table & ext4 partition but the box isnt recognising it in : Information>Devices

_Kaiser_ · 27-07-2020 5:10pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I'm gonna pull the trigger on one of these tomorrow I think. Should have it in a few days from WoS it looks like so be prepared for a lot of stupid/noob questions after that

So ordered earlier on. Should be here Wednesday/Thursday I'd say (went via Parcel Motel as shipping direct adds 20 quid to the cost

)

Selected OpenATV as the preload and ordered some homeplugs seperately from Amazon for the connectivity. Have a couple of 250GB 2.5" SSDs so hoping to install one of those handily enough.

So, is it worth trying to set up as it is when it arrives, or should I be immediately reflashing it - bearing in mind I want it to look/feel as similar to Sky HD as possible

FlexMcMurphy · 28-07-2020 12:12am

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Latest issue is with SSD, I have MSDOS partition table & ext4 partition but the box isnt recognising it in : Information>Devices

Can you see the drive when you do a # df -h from the terminal? I have a 4TB USB drive and created a GPT partition table using Parted then formatted an Ext4 fs. The Zgemma H7S does recognise it.

Flex

bfa1509 · 28-07-2020 12:20am

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Latest issue is with SSD, I have MSDOS partition table & ext4 partition but the box isnt recognising it in : Information>Devices

I formatted my SSD to NTFS and it works perfectly.

Zgemma H7s Guide

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