Technomate TM-8000 HD or Icecrypt STC6000 HD ???

[eclipse]

Hi everyone, and glad to have found this forum.

I was one click away to buy the Technomate TM-8000 HD, when I saw an ad of the Icecrypt STC6000 HD.

They seem similar, but Technomate has e-sata + S-Video... on the other hand Icecrypt has PIP (2 channels HD and while recording!)... not sure if Technomate has this feature...? Icecrypt's Terrestrial (if one chooses this option) is T2, while Technomate is T only...?

Also, Icecrypt plays Xvid and MKV (!) where I have found no such info about the Technomate...?

Don't know where Icecrypt is made... any idea anyone?

And all in all, which one has better features, is more reliable, etc, in your opinion? Never had any of the two brands, so don't know much about them...

Hope to hear all your comments soon, because I need to make the purchase on Sunday (the latest!).

Thanks.

[thijs]

i would stay away from the tm-8000 Hd very bad support on that model the TM-7102 would be better but more costly also has a divxplayer
and youtube stream and T2 and more
i know nothing about the Icecrypt

[eclipse]

Thanks for the reply.
I thought of buying the tm-7201 to start with, but saw that it does not have e-sata, S-video, and no info as to if it plays MKV and PIP...?
I sent a message to Technomate, and replied to me in 2 days... and was impressed when they told me that tm-8000hd has some issues and that's why they have taken it off their website! At least they are honest; I liked that!
Anyone, anything about the Icecrypt STC 6000 hd?

[thijs]

the 7102 does have e-sata, s-video is optional it would play mkv files not sure what you mean by pip
i have the 6902 would be pretty much the same only single tuner i'm pretty happy with it
i used to have the 7100 wich would be the same only older and no T2 or divx player was happy with that too
but they are non linux boxes and very easy to set up but closed source
here is spec. of the 7102
TM-7102 Triple Tuner HD Combo
Record 3 channels and watch another one
2 Card readers
2 Common interface slots
2 USB {one in the back one in the front
Choice of 2 remote frequency by software
PVR up to one TB of hard disk, 500gig fitted
RGB Loop-components out-optical audio
Dolby digital+
RF modulator
10000 channels
Hardware -software blind search
Ethernet connection

----------------------------------
2 High Definition Satellite Tuners: & 1 DVB-T Terrestrial Tuner ( MPEG-4 / H.264 RTE Compliant )
576i & 576p, 720p & 1080i supported
1 Smart Card Reader & 2 Common Interfaces (2CI)
HDMI & Component Output (YPbPr) with Hardware Upscaler to Improve Picture Quality
Very Fast & Detailed Hardware Blind Search (power scan)
Ethernet Communication Port
eSATA Port
2x USB Ports (Front + Rear Ports)
PLL type RF-Modulator (Ch. 21- 69) and UHF tuning function
10,000 TV & Radio Channels
USB 2.0 PVR Ready via USB External Device
USB PVR Features: Rewind/Forward, Slow Motion , & Record Scrambled/Free-to-Air

Channels & Record current channel and playback a recording at the same time
Music player & JPEG viewer via USB 2.0
Fast Software & Channel List download via USB 2.0
2 Scart Outputs with RGB Support
Fully Featured VFD text Front Panel Display
Super Sensitive tuner for very weak signals
Dolby Digital Optical S/PDIF
Dolby Digital by HDMI
S-Video Output
Less than 1 second channel change
DiSEqC 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 (USALS) compatible
Auto Navigation system – select as many satellites as you want to search
On-screen display with true full color resolution
Enhanced 16 Favorite channel groups
Channel control by: Favorites, Lock, Skip, Move & Delete
Channel sort by: All, Alphabet, Transponder & CAS
Parental, Installation & Receiver Lock
Multilingual OSD Menu: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, German, Arabic, Persian
Fast & Easy-To-Use Menu System
Extended EPG and program reservation on EPG
Teletext & Subtitle by OSD and VBI
Last channel memory function
Factory default channel list
Various games
Software & channel list upgrade via RS-232C: PC to STB, STB to PC, STB-STB and USB
Zoom function on Pause & Live channel
Multi picture display
Support for multiple language broadcasts
SCPC & MCPC receivable from C/Ku band satellites LNBs supported: Universal, Single band LNBs
Multi TV Standards supported: PAL G, I, K, M
4:3 & 16:9 Screen Formats
90-250V AC 50/60 Hz
LNB Short Circuit protection onboard
Software & channel list upgrade via RS-232C: PC to STB, STB to PC, STB-STB and USB
Dimension 390mm x 262mm x 67mm
and when patched much more

[eclipse]

The 7102 definitely does NOT have an eSata connection. I was confused about it as even Technomate's website was stating that it has... but looking at the pics at the back of it, could not find one. So I emailed the VERY good Techomate customer service, and they confirmed that it does not have eSata connection and that they deleted it in their website as well after making my point! Indeed they took this line off! I'm amazed by their communication, fast responses, and honesty... I guess that's how you make more customers... I'm now tending to buy the TM-8000 after it comes in the market again, near the end of August as Technomate told me... They also confirmed that TM-8000 does not have PIP as the chip in it does not support it.
Anyway, I will still keep looking the options of Icecrypt...

[thijs]

that's strange it had one on my tm7100 and still has on my 6902.
They are a strange crowd at technomate helpfull but lacking in staying in touch with their costumers .

[eclipse]

I noticed u say that they are not linux,but closed source... and I have noticed in general that they are distinguished in lunux and closed source. I have also noticed that many prefer the linux ones... why exactly? What is it you can do with the linux ones that you cannot do with the others?

[thijs]

with non linux(closed source) you depend on whatever patch you get from a third party and you can't change much in the way it perform
with linux (open source)you can choose whatever image team you like that supports the box and you can change the menu's with add-onn's /plugins/skins,ect. but they are harder to set up