Advice Needed Before Purchasing Equipment - Freesat, Freeview & Plex

[IrishEric]

Awesome thank you all. It sounds like I should probably get a device with 2 x DVB-T/T2 terrestrial tuners and a FBC Satellite tuner. That way I wouldn't have to worry about watching/recording at the same time.

Maybe I should consider just using Kodi for distributing channels to other smart devices then, as I wouldn't have to worry about fooling plex with complicated setups etc. Thanks for the heads up on this.

With a device such as the GiGaBlue UHD Quad 4K, with the Twin tuner DVB-C/ T2 module - would I need to physically split the signal from the aerial to both inputs, or can one input tune both multiplexes at the same time for viewing/recording?

Also I saw a mention that the Gigablue device can only do 'Multi-stream' when using the add-on satellite tuners, and not the built in ones. I will have to use the DVB-C/ T2 tuner add-on module, so I am not sure if not being able to 'Multi-stream' satellite channels will affect anything in terms of viewing/recording on both the box and on Kodi devices?

The VU+ Duo 4K SE looks like an amazing device, but with the tuners included it's approx. 120 pounds more expensive that the Gigablue model I had been leaning towards the Zgemma H7S, but with the single DVB-C/ T2 tuner I feel like I would regret not going either the VU+ or Gigablue route.

[twol]

Awesome thank you all. It sounds like I should probably get a device with 2 x DVB-T/T2 terrestrial tuners and a FBC Satellite tuner. That way I wouldn't have to worry about watching/recording at the same time.

Maybe I should consider just using Kodi for distributing channels to other smart devices then, as I wouldn't have to worry about fooling plex with complicated setups etc. Thanks for the heads up on this.

With a device such as the GiGaBlue UHD Quad 4K, with the Twin tuner DVB-C/ T2 module - would I need to physically split the signal from the aerial to both inputs, or can one input tune both multiplexes at the same time for viewing/recording?

Also I saw a mention that the Gigablue device can only do 'Multi-stream' when using the add-on satellite tuners, and not the built in ones. I will have to use the DVB-C/ T2 tuner add-on module, so I am not sure if not being able to 'Multi-stream' satellite channels will affect anything in terms of viewing/recording on both the box and on Kodi devices?

The VU+ Duo 4K SE looks like an amazing device, but with the tuners included it's approx. 120 pounds more expensive that the Gigablue model I had been leaning towards the Zgemma H7S, but with the single DVB-C/ T2 tuner I feel like I would regret not going either the VU+ or Gigablue route.

Personally (and I have both), the gbue4k is better value than the gbuhd4k unless you really need a larger lcd screen, esata connection and hdmi in.

[JonMMM]

How many channels to you want to watch / record at the same time - include channels watched and recorded by over devices connected?

[IrishEric]

Personally (and I have both), the gbue4k is better value than the gbuhd4k unless you really need a larger lcd screen, esata connection and hdmi in.

I am pretty certain I do not need any of those things, so I will check that model out! Thanks.

How many channels to you want to watch / record at the same time - include channels watched and recorded by over devices connected?

Realistically I would say a max of 2/3 channels being both watched/recorded at the same time. I guess they could be different channels on different multiplexes for Saorview, and possibly the same for Freesat. There's not many in the house that watch TV so the demand will be low, but I just want to future proof and not give myself restrictions in terms of watching/recording if that makes sense.

[Joe_90]

As regards Saorview connection - you just plug the aerial lead into one tuner, then you use a patch lead to connect tuner 1 out to tuner 2 in. Or use a splitter. If you're in a good signal area splitting the signal shouldn't cause an issue.

[JonMMM]

AFAIK USB tuners dont work on gigablue UE 4K so no terestial tuner

[twol]

AFAIK USB tuners dont work on gigablue UE 4K so no terestial tuner

C/T2 tuners not available (they say Impex/GigaBlue) until March 1 2023(I guess China issue) - although one German company still has them on the list to order.

Whats the issue with USB - drivers??

[abu baniaz]

Whats the issue with USB - drivers??

Driver change on 20180914. New Broadcom SDK. Maybe E2 needs to be adapted, maybe not.

https://github.com/GigaBlue-STB/meta-gigablue/issues/8
https://www.world-of-satellite.com/s...and-USB-tuners
https://www.world-of-satellite.com/s...ils-on-startup
https://www.world-of-satellite.com/s...rs-not-working

[twol]

Just not something I can test. Only Sat around here

[JonMMM]

Just something I am getting in the back of my mind - I could be wrong

[IrishEric]

Good to know about the GigaBlue DVB-C/T2 tuners not being in stock until March. I might still order the Gigablue UHD UE 4K in the meantime and use the built in DVB-S2X tuners for Freesat, and then order the DVB-C/T2 tuner module when it comes into stock.

Thanks for all the help thus far guys, much appreciated. I have gone ahead and ordered the aerial which I will be mounting high up on the gable wall, and connecting using the second wire of the twin satellite cable (with the other going to the Unicable LNB).

I think I should be pretty much sorted now with the following setup:

• Gigablue UHD UE 4K
• GigaBlue DVB-C/T2 tuner
• Unicable LNB
• 40mm LNB adaptor for Sky dishes
• Aerial Kit for Saorview
• Unicable Splitter (if needed)

It's a bit more expensive than going the Zgemma H7S route with a standard LNB, but I think it should future proof things a little bit more and cause less headaches with running out of tuners etc.

[abu baniaz]

The FBC tuners are internally linked. So the splitter is not a requirement.

[gllenncross]

Thank you very much for that detailed explanation. That makes a lot more sense to me now! I was wondering how people were managing with a single DVB-T tuner on many of these devices....

[cactikid]

Thank you very much for that detailed explanation. That makes a lot more sense to me now! I was wondering how people were managing with a single DVB-T tuner on many of these devices....

What i have done on my Zgemma H7S on a Saorview feed into splitter and one goes to box and other to tv and if box needs to record i can view on tv as we have limited channels in Ireland.

[Huevos]

Duo4kse with FBC satellite tuner and twin DVB-T2.