Best Combo box for Satellite, Saorview and with an ability to record series

The Zgemma H7S does all you need. You can build your own favourites lists with any combination of Saorview and satellite channels you like. You have full 7 day EPG for all channels. The builtin WEBIF function allows any device on your home network with a web browser to stream live or recorded. You can also use this function control the box, set timers, edit bouquet lists etc. 'Series linking' or autotimers are based on a clever search function that matches program names (or parts of) in the EPG. You can specify days, time ranges and channels if needed although the default settings usually suit most needs. To use it, you would select a show on the EPG. Pressing a coloured button on the remote will set a timer or a different button would set an autotimer. If you pick autotimer a window opens to confirm the default settings should you wish to change them or just hit OK to accept the defaults. In other words, two button presses is all you need to set a series link timer. E.G. if you set it for 'Great British Bake off' on Ch4 without specifying a day, it will record the main show and the 'Extra Bits' show if you want.

I am not aware of any Smart Tv that comes close to a box in terms of functionality. I have no experience with Firesticks so cant vouch for them.

Hi Mullass,

The H7S is cheaper here - https://virts.ie/sat-receivers/zgemma-h7s-satellite-receiver-4k-enigma2-dvb-s2s2x-dvb-t2c.html (also an Irish supplier, so no customs worries).

I've purchased to H7S for family members post-brexit and that's where I got them.

Enigma2 operating systems (which the H7S runs) have their own version of series link called Autotimers.

It basically creates a list of criteria (what the show is called, when it's on etc.) and automatically records whenever the criteria are met.

That might sound complicated, but it's not. It's much more intuitive when you've tried it out. If you just select the program you want to 'series link', hit Add Autotimer, the box will just suggest some criteria, and you just hit OK.

Like everything in the land of Enigma2, it's suuupper flexible, but for 95% of people the default options just work.

Not sure if it's relevant but I was able to split the cable / signal from the Sky box and run it to 2 different TVs.

Sorry, I meant the HDMI cable. Can only watch the same channels obviously. That's probably all different to what the previous poster was alluding to.

I have same use case. Is the Edision OS Nino Pro any good?

https://www.edision.gr/en/detail/edision-os-nino-pro-s2x-t2-c-grey

CrossEPG is the plugin used to download the EPG data, usually during the night. It can be configured to use several sources direct from the satellite or from the internet if required. The main weakness of the FreeSat data is, obviously, that it only includes channels that are on FreeSat and not all of the FTA channels available. Some minor channels and +1s are not included which is why some people configure crossEPG to use the other sources.

What source is that please?

And you understand that from where ?

The EPG source is "Sky UK Open TV on Astra" and is available for free to any box that point and tune to it.

It is not specific or exclusive to Zgemma boxes.

Hey everyone not sure if there is a thread like this in another section. But been looking at this thread a lot and finally pushed the button on cancelling sky (took an hour of repeating myself on the phone to do so) seen all the recommendations for the Zgemma H7S. Also the world of satellite website. I’m not too far from the boarder so can get it sent to a parcel club for €3 and avoid all the hassle of fees etc. just a few questions to ask your very knowledgeable minds here. Firstly I’m planning on using the sky satellite. It was for a sky Q box my understanding of what I read is I need a hybrid LNB for this now? Also in that regard my indoor aerial I’m looking at ones ion Amazon that have good reviews in the €30 range. They say they go upto 170 miles. I’m about 30km from the nearest tv mast I would assume this would be okay? And lastly the H7S is the best combo box to get? The wife needs subtitles on everything we watch and thinking back to the good old days of dodgy boxes the subtitles didn’t exist on live tv.

Thanks so much in advance guys

Really appreciate the reply buddy. Sorry never thought to include the tv. It’s a Samsung LED46 (English bought) from what I see in the menu it does have a satellite tuner or can be configured to it in the main aerial channel. The option is greyed out on the HDMI channels.

this is the aerial https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deenor-Upgraded-Digital-Freeview-Booster-Black-1001/dp/B0CVXDYX4G/ref=sr_1_7?crid=34CWIAVWOUH6M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cMcGUn7jbZ2-mRJO8BHo2vBTC-_IWMfB7Y-JiOi-OZpKuz1SKVVYc3g85dIMl1c2WxcjQlZjnDGYiEzIVmMS_3gicfaonWJvQq_iEMDRGZC2OayOKJILGL9kY3r1Wm8uI0kcpELVoA6l8aqVkWohqzhBAWtecNcgZmECEOgw5jjv7yCjLqmrVwxbRDny9_EcIQH4Dx_WuGFzS504lsYSRxmtP71Kjo55UdDfY4X3N1E.SU5s2mV4S5f5rZ2_XwpTxYDNi-l7Ktx-sCByvrHWPIc&dib_tag=se&keywords=indoor%2Baerial%2Bfor%2Bsmart%2Btv&qid=1709915630&sprefix=Indoor%2Baerial%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-7-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

it’s bigger then the one I had previously viewed but was more or less just checking them out. With the sky dish I’m in a bungalow and the dish is placed fairly low lying so with a step ladder I would be fine in getting to it. It was installed less than two years ago by a very drunk technician so could be anything in terms of tightness. I just checked ukfreetv for the mast in the north and the signal strength shows I would just be on the edge of it. Local houses would have a mix of sky and the normal high gain aerials. Out in the sticks houses are far and inbetween to get a proper gauge.

honestly really appreciate the help

The model number of the tv is UE46F6670SB. The aerials are a hard one to call. We moved to Leitrim and an awful lot of houses are far and inbetween and populated by elderly people. They don’t look in anyway new rather just like the old ones from the 80s for the terrestrial tv. Looking at what I could get etc on the freeview I’m not overly worried that I could miss out on RTE. Never watch virgin and if needed be if it’s a case of having to get a high gain I would just resort to RTÉ player I think

The NI map might be out of date, but you won't need an aerial that can get signals from 250 miles away for Freeview. Or Saorview. You could try that aerial, but you might find you need an outside one. There are two versions of Freeview, Full and Lite. Brougher Mountain is one of the three Full Freeview transmitters in the North, but some of the stations are on a lot lower power than the main BBC etc channels. The Lite transmitters e.g. Belcoo do not carry the full range of channels.

This is the coverage map for Brougher. If you replace the "Brougher_Mountain" in the address bar with other transmitters, including Saorview ones, you should get a coverage map for each.

https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Belcoo

Truskmore would probably be your Saorview transmitter.

Had a friend of mine give me this https://www.screwfix.ie/p/visiblewave-4-output-universal-quad-lnb/734gv he never used it but said it should work according to the reviews for Freesat. Unsure about it as not much info on it and the fact it’s a universal not hybrid one..? waiting hopefully also for the guys at WOS to get back to me today about the preload image too.. hopefully should be set up by the end of the week.

hi lads sorry for never replying. Got the box and ended up bed ridden before I could do anything. Went out today to try put the new lnb on and chatting my next door neighbour about him doing the same as me here and getting a Zgemma etc. we say his lnb and mine currently installed had 4 outlets and his had two. He is using the satellite that was there when he moved in. So looked up quickly and saw if it has 4 slots it’s a newer lnb and a hybrid. The one I bought has 4 connections on it side by side. This one has 2up 2down. Tried it on the box just now and got no signal at all. My question is does the connection in the lnb make a difference ie must be in certain ports? Or is it simply not a hybrid at all and I need to replace it with the one I bought? Or last one I have to do something on the box in order to allow to signal through? Thanks a lot lads if I can just save myself the hassle of getting up on a ladder it would be lot right now and the fact with the wind already I think I seen Mary poppins flying over the house earlier haha.

that’s probably it then I have sky Q myself. Not sure if he has but he’s only in there I think 4 years or so. But I never asked him that. He may of just moved in and they didn’t touch his dish. So even tho it has 4 outlets it’s still not a hybrid lnb? Under pressure as sky goes off in a couple of days.. bad timing

If you currently have sky q and its working then its a wideband lnb and wont work with the zgemma box. If it has 4 outputs then use the 2 spare outputs and they may work. Sky q LNB usually has 2 outputs.

But you have me a bit confused when mentioning next door neighbour!! The big wind is tomorrow. Is the dish very high?

Can you take a pic of LNB on dish? 4 output for SKY Q is rare but you may be in luck.

I had a quick search and yes you can get them 2 for sky q and 2 for old SKY/FREESAT

Here is a pic.

The 2 at the front are Sky Q, ie coloured red, black

You do know your possibly wanting a box like the H7S that allows you to record sat and watch sat with 2 feeds.

Saorview with 1 tuner you could record and possibly watch Saorview on tv ?

That cover is a weathershield and just piushes back up to access the lnb's. Its on the pic as well if you look closely, a little lip is visible. Those lnb connectors may be quite tight and may need a spanner to twist off. I have forgotten the spanner size but may figure it out later. Quite windy here in Clare, be careful.

thanks very much lads. I’ll get up on the ladder tomorrow when it’s less wild. Crazy in Roscommon/Leitrim boarder right now dog won’t even go out cause he’s afraid. But that’s great I know the size now as well so less hassle going up to do it. Will update here when I have the job done thanks again boys

Slightly off topic.

I've been a Freesat and Saorview user for years now, but have recently moved into a new-to-me house.
Is it still worth getting a dish and aerial on the new-to-me house? Will i get 10+ years out of it, not having to pay a subscription for TV channels or is the end in sight?

My TV has a satellite and Aerial connection but I'm also considering a combo box if it'll still be useable for a good few years.