View Full Version : Box advice from experts please
Hello,
I am reaching out to some experts who can help a relative newbie with some advice on buying their first satellite box. Any help is greatly appreciated as I am new to the world of satellite!
I have listed some key points below which will hopefully narrow down my options...
1. I have a Sky dish which has 2 cables and has the Sky HD type LNB (not the Sky Q type).
2. I would like the ability to pause, rewind, record multiple programmes at the same time and schedule recording in the future with series link - similar to Sky TV.
3. I have hard-wired Ethernet and WiFi but preference would be to connect over Ethernet.
4. In addition to watching FreeSat/FreeView TV, I would also like to view other channels, such as IPTV.
5. I would like to view/stream live/recorded programmes on other devices such as phone, PC etc (not sure if that's possible).
6. Budget wise I don't have a limit as such, but am looking for the best value for money as if it works well I will look to purchase additional boxes in the future.
7. 4K is not a must-have requirement.
8. I am not sure if this is possible so it is not a must-have, but ideally I would like a box that can run Android apps that I can sideload. I saw something about the Zgemma H10 having Android dual boot but believe that's not released yet.
Thank you, I really appreciate any help people can provide. :thumbsup:
Virtually all of the boxes will do all except the android app.
You can watch IPTV as long as you can create a M3u list and some run the stalker app for IPTV
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Thank you so much for your reply @Stanman. It's good to hear I have several options.
Looking at the forums it seems to popular boxes for me are:
- Zgemma H9 twin
- AX HD61
- Vu+ models (I think)
But I am struggling to find what are the main difference in features are between these models? I have tried looking for a feature comparison table or something similar but was unable to find anything. Can you/anyone help with this please?
Any help is most appreciated.
Thanks.
The difference will be hardware, your needs are mostly covered by the software.
If you want to record and watch at same time then you want twin tuners, 4K if that's what you want.
All of my boxes are vu and very happy with them but AX is highly recommended by owners.
Sorry never owned Zgemma so can't say if any good.
Sent from my Mi MIX 3 5G using Tapatalk
Thank you so much for your reply @Stanman. It's good to hear I have several options.
Looking at the forums it seems to popular boxes for me are:
- Zgemma H9 twin
- AX HD61
- Vu+ models (I think)
But I am struggling to find what are the main difference in features are between these models? I have tried looking for a feature comparison table or something similar but was unable to find anything. Can you/anyone help with this please?
Any help is most appreciated.
Thanks.
My view!
Never owned a Vu+ - why pay all that extra money for the name?
I currently use a H9combo (combo version of twin) and AX HD61 in testing (all my receivers bar the Gigablue in my lounge) go thru the same Onkyo amp to a high end monitor. Both excellent with many similar features and ability to run Stalker plugin , but I am always surprised by the excellent picture quality of the h9combo.
However if I was to replace my lounge box then it would be with the AX HD61 - a nice looking quality box.
As always picture quality is in the eye of the beholder, and some people believe that out of the box TV's need nothing doing to them and then twiddle with the receiver to achieve their picture perfection(?) - my impressions are based on my lousy eyesight and the use of the same hardware configuration to compare.
How many tuners do you want?
How many tuners do you want?
So apologies for my basic knowledge but I have 4 Sky cables coming from the satellite but they are split between 2 rooms, so 2 cables in one room and the other 2 cables in another room. I don't have an aerial. I only want to have the box in one room. So I think that means I need a twin satellite (DVB-S2X)?
@twol, Thank you, and I agree I don't want to pay extra for a Vu+ for the sake of it but beyond hardware and LCD screen, it's not clear to me what the Vu+ offers that the cheaper boxes don't. I have seen several posts from users saying they are happy with their Vu+ and recommend it but, as a newbie, I'm still unsure of the benefits. :confused: Maybe it's speed, or the remote control? I assume the UI is the same on each? It's something I'll be using daily so happy to spend a little more if it adds benefit.
Thanks.
You could have up to 8 tuners with the cabling you have by changing the LNB and choosing a box with FBC tuners
But I am struggling to find what are the main difference in features are between these models? I have tried looking for a feature comparison table or something similar but was unable to find anything.
Maybe WOS should have a wiki with comparison guide for OpenViX supported models as is done like THIS HERE (https://wiki.openpli.org/Receivers:Settopbox_Comparison)?
Maybe WOS should have a wiki with comparison guide for OpenViX supported models as is done like THIS HERE (https://wiki.openpli.org/Receivers:Settopbox_Comparison)?
Yes that would definitely help a newbie like me!
You could have up to 8 tuners with the cabling you have by changing the LNB and choosing a box with FBC tuners
Does that mean I can record/watch up to 8 channels at the same time? Just with 2 cables per room?
Does that mean I can record/watch up to 8 channels at the same time? Just with 2 cables per room?I don't know any box that lets you watch 8 channels at the same time. Number of channels that can be recorded is limited by the number of demuxes the receiver has.
Does that mean I can record/watch up to 8 channels at the same time? Just with 2 cables per room?
Something like Gigablue UHD UE 4K UHD would give you that facility, i dont see why you would not be able to watch all 8 on different tvs using Kodi
Something like Gigablue UHD UE 4K UHD would give you that facility, i dont see why you would not be able to watch all 8 on different tvs using KodiThat is streaming. Nothing to do with watching 8 channels at once on the connected display.
Something like Gigablue UHD UE 4K UHD would give you that facility, i dont see why you would not be able to watch all 8 on different tvs using Kodi
Just to be clear, I don't need to watch/record 8 channels at once, I was just querying the previous reply. The main reason for me starting this thread was to get more of an understanding of ZGemma vs Vu+ in terms of features, etc.
Thanks again.
That is streaming. Nothing to do with watching 8 channels at once on the connected display.
Not sure why anyone would want to to that, but to have one receiver connected to a disc with a single cable that then servers the entire house with no more cabling makes sense to me.
The main reason for me starting this thread was to get more of an understanding of ZGemma vs Vu+ in terms of features, etc.
Thanks again.
Anyone? :)
I bought Vu+ boxes for the FBC tuners, although the Gigablues also have them.
Zgemma H7 is a great box and much cheaper if you don't have unicable.
I bought Vu+ boxes for the FBC tuners, although the Gigablues also have them.
Zgemma H7 is a great box and much cheaper if you don't have unicable.
Thanks, Willo. Sorry for the newbie question but I'm still young in the world of satellite... what are FBC tuners and what can they offer? Also what is unicable?
Thank you.
I have a few boxes and its simple pay more you get better BUT its all down to what you want to achieve and your budget. All the answers are out there but you have to look. Enigma 2 boxes are complex and have a steep learning curve as you are probably discovering. I have a few boxes. The best box I have is the DUO2 by VU+ BUT it was expensive initially so I waited and got it on ebay. Pic quality is all to me so the AXHD61 is the best as it has the arm chip. The zgemma h7s is also good for pic quality but remote is very poor. UNICABLE is one cable from dish to a box that supports it and you can assign quite a few tuners suing one cable.
For FBC its all on the WOS site but to help here is the explanation.
What is a DVB-S2 FBC Twin Tuner?
A DVB-S2 FBC Twin Tuner has 8 demodulators.
With two conventional (e.g., Twin-LNB) satellite feeds, the tuner is comparable to 2 conventional and 6 additional tuners operating in loop-through mode. You can watch, stream or record simultaneously stations from 8 different transponders from 2 different Sat levels.
In SCR operation (Unicable) with 8 frequencies, this corresponds to 8 conventional tuners.
And if you go to wos shop check out the receivers and look closely and see a box compare, use that select a few receivers then they all appear in a line and you can click between each one.
If you have the money get a VU+ why== everything works . If you want to dabble get the AXHD61 but I got it with twin dvb tuners. At wos its with a dvb and a DTT.
Thank you @bmitie for taking the time to respond.
You are right, I think the Enigma2 and satellite stuff is a steep learning curve for me, and that is with a tech background too! It seems every response I have seen on this thread is an additional avenue to research/explore, for example... like you, pic quality means a lot to me too and I didn't realise the different boxes would give different outputs (beyond resolution capabilities, etc). As you elude too though, the HD61 twin satellite is no longer available though according to WOS. :-(
Thanks for the info for Unicable and FBC tuners. I don't have the option to change the cables. The FBC tuners sounds interesting to allow watching more than 2 channels, this will be something for me to consider when deciding between ZGemma H9 twin satellite vs a pricier Vu+ model.
You are right, the ZGemma remote looks really basic. A decent, user-friendly remote can make a big difference for something you (and the family) use every day. That too may be worth paying a premium for... hmmm, decisions, decisions!!!
Just to clarify the zgemma remote actually looks good , buttons are nice and big, its the power of the signal thats the issue. I am quite near it at the moment but still require, sometimes, more than one press. The axhd61 remote is very lighta and writing is tiny, ill do side by side pics later. BUT axhd61 remote signal is fab you can point it away from receiver and it still works. They may come back in stock or try germany but with brexit delivery will be a problem. i
Thanks for the info for Unicable and FBC tuners. I don't have the option to change the cables. The FBC tuners sounds interesting to allow watching more than 2 channels, this will be something for me to consider when deciding between ZGemma H9 twin satellite vs a pricier Vu+ model.
!
Just to let you know Unicable is a name you don't need to replace the cable just the LNB
Just to let you know Unicable is a name you don't need to replace the cable just the LNB
Oh interesting, thank you, so I assume I could use my existing cables that Sky laid down for me? At the moment I am on the Sky HD LNB and I am venturing down the WOS route to explore it as an alternative to Sky. I think once I am more comfortable with what the box can offer (in addition to freeview) and feel I can dump Sky then I may decide to upgrade the LNB.
Thanks again.
cliver1956
23-02-21, 18:19
Personally I like the VU+ boxes. I had a VU+ Duo2, now have a Duo4K. I have the Twin DVB-S/S2/S tuner with two feeds from a universal LNB and can record at least 4 channels while watching another (proved by practical testing). If I were to upgrate to am Unicable LNB it woud do even more. It does depend what transponder/band the channels you want to record on are though.
The AX boxes get a good press as well but I have no experience of them.
As for IPTV, I get mixed results on the enigma boxes and tend to get better from a Fire TV stick.
Oh interesting, thank you, so I assume I could use my existing cables that Sky laid down for me? At the moment I am on the Sky HD LNB and I am venturing down the WOS route to explore it as an alternative to Sky. I think once I am more comfortable with what the box can offer (in addition to freeview) and feel I can dump Sky then I may decide to upgrade the LNB.
Thanks again.
yeh the physical cables can stay, I am using a Gigablue with FBC tuners at the moment just have 2 tuners as I have not swapped the LNB get (next on the wish list). If you had shy q you will need to change the LNB anyway
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