Best box to upgrade to

[Markymark]

I'm thinking £250 region really. Maybe that is something that I could contribute to the community when I get up and running with all this. Im sure that a manual would help drive more people into the OS digital box world.

[Rob van der Does]

The Uno is a newer box and more powerful, it also has a removable tuner card so you can use either a DVB-S ( satellite ) DVB-C ( cable ) or DVB-T ( terrestrial ) tuner in the box...

Allow me a small correction: there are no separate DVB-T and DVB-C tuners; there's only an hybrid DVB-C/T tuner available for the UNO (the same as for the Ultimo).

[Sicilian]

For a £250 budget I'd look at the following: -

Xtrend ET5000
Xtrend ET6000
VU+ Solo
VU+ Uno

[Markymark]

Right I think I've mad emy decision and will go with the UNO.

Sorry for these silly noob questions, however from doing loads of reading around I come over certain terms etc. Just want to get an understanding of it all (like to have some knowledge to play with when I get my box).

Are Picons basically the channel logos? Do you just put these on a USB pen and FTP them over to the box? I'm assuming there are Picons for most tv channels on each of the sats?

Is the media server part all standard as part of the VIX image? I'm assuming I can use this to access tv from my box remotely on my PS3? I know that accepts media servers.

Is a bouquet a list of tv channels on each sat? I've seen this mentioned - however not got my head around this much at all. Can I just go somewhere to download these to keep the box up to date?

I know I mentioned something like series link - however from reading a round I haven't found a plug in that does it. Is this because it's a standard feature of the VIX image? On PVR - can I install a drive internally in the box myself or do they have to be internal?

Is there some facility in the VIX image or mods that would allow BISS keys to be entered?

Finally cccam. Ive seen the links to install this and think I have an understanding of what I have to copy over and where. Is it really that simple to install? I'm assuming I customise the cccam.cfg file to tell it what to do? Does cc cam also enable the built in card reader to read cards of many different encryption methods - without the need to buy cams?

Sorry for all the questions, however hopefully it does show I have been reading around and trying to learn. Don't want to just be a leach who saps information with no knowledge of where its going.

[Larry-G]

Are Picons basically the channel logos? Do you just put these on a USB pen and FTP them over to the box? I'm assuming there are Picons for most tv channels on each of the sats?

Yes pretty much, although there is no need to transfer them from a USB pen to the Box as it is actually recommended they stay on the USB otherwise every time you change a channel the box will look for them and if there on a HDD that HDD will have to spin up every single time the channel is changes. also most picon sets are updated very frequently.

Is the media server part all standard as part of the VIX image? I'm assuming I can use this to access tv from my box remotely on my PS3? I know that accepts media servers.

Ok you have to remember that these boxes and i mean all enigma based receivers here, are primarily satellite receivers, any media player functions should be considered as a total bonus. That said you can stream live shows or recorded content from the box to a networked PC or nas drive etc, as for the PS3 i'm not sure the PS3 can read the .TS files the box produces when programs are recorded from the box, it will however play any avi file etc you have stored on the box as this is what i do with my XBOX360.

Is a bouquet a list of tv channels on each sat? I've seen this mentioned - however not got my head around this much at all. Can I just go somewhere to download these to keep the box up to date?

yes a bouquet is pretty much a channel list that has been made using a editor such as DBE - DreamboxEdit. there are literally hundreds hosted on this site in the bouquet section and most are updated very frequently.

Is there some facility in the VIX image or mods that would allow BISS keys to be entered?

well that is a subject we can not really get into due to it's legal ramifications but you can use softcams etc as on any linux based satellite receiver.

Finally cccam. Ive seen the links to install this and think I have an understanding of what I have to copy over and where. Is it really that simple to install? I'm assuming I customise the cccam.cfg file to tell it what to do? Does cc cam also enable the built in card reader to read cards of many different encryption methods - without the need to buy cams?

The softcam it self is very easy to install yes, you then have to configure it to your needs, now we will help you setup any card you own to use on a softcam but we can not and will not get into areas such as cardsharing for legal reasons.

Sorry for all the questions, however hopefully it does show I have been reading around and trying to learn. Don't want to just be a leach who saps information with no knowledge of where its going.

There is nothing at all wrong with asking questions, this is after all how we learn.

[Markymark]

Thanks for that. So basically download Picons on to the USB drive, mount it and job is done. Just remember to update it every so often. Or has the sat world got some auto update of this feature?

So cccam can make the box read my Via Access cards and Connax cards, without the need of actually buying individual cams? I appreciate the fact that you said the community would help provide the info to set this up, just like I appreciate all the help I have had. Its an excellent community and very welcoming and knowledgable.

[punisher]

theres a few tutorials in my signature below that will help you out on a few of your questions as it shows you exactly what you need to do

[Stanman]

The Picons are updated regulary but you may have to amend channel references for some of them as they may not match exactly the one in your bouquet.

Sorry not read the rest of your thread as its 2 pages long but you can get pre populated bouquets for all the major sats. The best one for Sky is Silverfoxes who is a mod on here and link in my signature. There are also others in the picon and settings sub forums.

IIRC your cards will work fine but you will need a software cam such as Cccam or Oscam.

[Larry-G]

Thanks for that. So basically download Picons on to the USB drive, mount it and job is done. Just remember to update it every so often. Or has the sat world got some auto update of this feature?

Yes thats pretty much it, there are no auto updaters though but it's a very easy and quick job to do.

So cccam can make the box read my Via Access cards and Connax cards, without the need of actually buying individual cams? I appreciate the fact that you said the community would help provide the info to set this up, just like I appreciate all the help I have had. Its an excellent community and very welcoming and knowledgable.

Well CCcam is just one of considerable list of softcam emulators available, some work better than others and some support cards that others do not. i cant really go into too much detail as to be honest it's not really my area, i'm a old fashioned hardware CAM module bloke my self, but we have plenty of members who can and will help where possible as long as the questions stay within the scope of the site rules.

Most importantly don't forget to have fun with what ever receiver you get. this is after all a hobby for most of us and there is no point getting your blood pressure up when things go wrong as they no doubt will LOL.

[Markymark]

Lol I know it sounds such good fun and I can tell that playing with the box is all part of the excitement. I love some of the you tube videos knocking about - those osd look amazing and with Picons etc.

Are there any videos / tutorials knocking about for setting up VIX for the first time? Just so I know what to press to get the motor working and finding some channels on the different sats.

[Stanman]

Afraid no video tutorial but it really is pretty straight forward to flash and set up the box. If you buy the DUO (Don't forget to check the sponsor out and the forum discount) you stick your USB in and switch off and on and the box does the rest.

As for the motor, thats all easy peasy, upto 2 weeks ago I had no motor experience and still don't but I got the motor set up on a ET%K running vix image in under 5 minutes.

You are doing the right thing and prep leads to perfect performance but some times you got to just do it.