DTT/SAT Combo Boxes List 2009

slegs · 14-09-2009 1:12pm

For info, the AZBox can now do 7 day freesat guide making it a full combo with seamless Irish DTT and UK freesat EPG

STB · 07-10-2009 1:21pm

Anyone seen the new Mvision HD300 Combo (terrestrial and Sat hD) 2 usb Ports. Apparently also now plays Divx!

€180

STB · 03-11-2009 6:03pm

Heres the New Technomate TM 7100HD with 2 sat tuners and 1 DTT Tuner and an RF Modulator.

USB on the front and the back and with blind search.
Embedded cams - two built-in multicard card reader. CCAM.
LNB loop through. UHF modulator loop though. 10000 channels. Digital output for the sound.

with a 500g hardrive PVR.... the silly price 500STG.

Its not Linux... so forget about freesat menus.....but you can record 2 channels at the one time and watch something else.....

Flyer 1 Flyer 2

zbluebirdz · 10-11-2009 10:38pm

STB wrote: »

Heres the New Technomate TM 7100HD with 2 sat tuners and 1 DTT Tuner and an RF Modulator.

USB on the front and the back and with blind search.
Embedded cams - two built-in multicard card reader. CCAM.
LNB loop through. UHF modulator loop though. 10000 channels. Digital output for the sound.

with a 500g hardrive PVR.... the silly price 500STG.

Its not Linux... so forget about freesat menus.....but you can record 2 channels at the one time and watch something else.....

Flyer 1 Flyer 2

Would the DTT tuner pick up Irish DTT signals?

STB · 11-11-2009 10:15am

Yes. I have the 6900HD which is just a combo tuner dvb-s/dvb-t. This is the 3 tuner version.

Technonmate make good kit.

BTW. Alll the boxes in this thread do both Irish DTT and HD Sat as they are MPEG4 H264 (that was the point of the thread

).

spfeno · 27-11-2009 12:19am

Dived into the deep end and just purchased the MVision HD300 Combo from SaorTV for teenagers/kids playroom

Have been toying around with the box and have managed to scan in the satellite channels (satellite is fixed with a quad LNB and another line running to main room with Sky subscription) and have saved & organised the channels I require BUT it isn't picking up any of the Terrestrial channels when I scan.

I'm living in Ratoath and have a large, roof mounted Yagi aerial pointing toward Three Rock (at least I'm assuming its Three Rock). All the terrestrial channels were being received perfectly prior to MVision box purchase (so why change it I hear you ask; )

SaorTV mentioned it could be receiving analogue signal from an in-fill transmitter (and not Three Rock - again as I've said I assume its Three Rock since its pointin that way).

Anyhow, on this thread a page or two back a question was asked relating to picking up DTT signal from a tranmsitter and not a relay but no aswer was given - so I'll ask it again

1. How do you know if your UHF aerial is pointing toward a main transmitter and not a relay

2. Since I'm living in Ratoath, does anyone know where I should have the UHF aerial pointing to in order to get DTT signal. Rather leave it alone if I don't have to move it as it's a large roofmounted piece of kit (professionally installed a number of years ago)

Hoping someone can help as its really bugging me

johnbk · 22-12-2009 9:42pm

I own a Technomate 6900 combo and have a Mvision combo at work. The Technomate isnt as fool proof IMO as the Mvision.

For example you must switch from sat to DTT to change channel on the Techno while all the channels (weather DTT or Sat) are together on the Mvision.

STB · 22-12-2009 10:15pm

johnbk wrote: »

I own a Technomate 6900 combo and have a Mvision combo at work. The Technomate isnt as fool proof IMO as the Mvision.

For example you must switch from sat to DTT to change channel on the Techno while all the channels (weather DTT or Sat) are together on the Mvision.

Jon

I have the technomate 6900 and the clarketech 5000c. The Technomate does mix sat and dtt on one cannel list. Just create a favorites group and add the channels from DTT and any Sat as you wish.

STB · 23-12-2009 1:19am

More Pics of the Technomate triple tuner 7100HD.

Front and remote

Slot for Internal HDD

Back

patrick whitty · 23-12-2009 9:03pm

is your aerial v. or hor.check if you are not sure.

the500club · 29-12-2009 11:43am

spfeno wrote: »

Dived into the deep end and just purchased the MVision HD300 Combo from SaorTV for teenagers/kids playroom

Have been toying around with the box and have managed to scan in the satellite channels (satellite is fixed with a quad LNB and another line running to main room with Sky subscription) and have saved & organised the channels I require BUT it isn't picking up any of the Terrestrial channels when I scan.

I'm living in Ratoath and have a large, roof mounted Yagi aerial pointing toward Three Rock (at least I'm assuming its Three Rock). All the terrestrial channels were being received perfectly prior to MVision box purchase (so why change it I hear you ask; )

SaorTV mentioned it could be receiving analogue signal from an in-fill transmitter (and not Three Rock - again as I've said I assume its Three Rock since its pointin that way).

Anyhow, on this thread a page or two back a question was asked relating to picking up DTT signal from a tranmsitter and not a relay but no aswer was given - so I'll ask it again

1. How do you know if your UHF aerial is pointing toward a main transmitter and not a relay

2. Since I'm living in Ratoath, does anyone know where I should have the UHF aerial pointing to in order to get DTT signal. Rather leave it alone if I don't have to move it as it's a large roofmounted piece of kit (professionally installed a number of years ago)

Hoping someone can help as its really bugging me

Hi,

If you can check on your TV what freq your watching analog rte1 on, you will be able to find out which transmitter your are receiving from, click on link to see what freq each transmitter is working on http://www.rtenl.ie/downloads/television-frequencies.pdf once you know what transmitter your on it will also let you know if it is H or V.

Let me know how you get on thanks

Stoner · 03-01-2010 10:22pm

STB wrote: »

Cheapest - Mvision HD200, DarkBox Combo and Metabox HD CXCI - all atround the €200 mark delivered. Alsat were doing a deal on the Darkbox Combo before Christmas for £160 (with Metalgear Motor included).

I'm looking at spending this kind of money, do any to the PVR-EGP options have a series link type function, or do you have to go into the guide once a week to plan everything?

thanks

STB · 03-01-2010 11:36pm

Stoner wrote: »

I'm looking at spending this kind of money, do any to the PVR-EGP options have a series link type function, or do you have to go into the guide once a week to plan everything?

thanks

Those type combo boxes you posted from will not pull down 7 day EPG from satellite. You only get now and next on those for Sat OR full day for DTT so you are limited in the pick option pressing record on the epg items you can record on sat anyway. I suppose you could use the timer facility to bypass this problem (thats why they are cheaper)

A linux type combo box will pull down the 7 day EPG when patched (such as the Qbox or Axbox HD but they are double the price).

Tony · 06-01-2010 9:29pm

Ferguson now have a combo box http://www.ferguson-digital.eu/en/hd-ariva-receivers/177-ferguson-ariva-hdcombo.html

STB · 09-01-2010 1:22am

How do you find the Fergusons Tony ? I see you are selling them.

......................................................................................................................
Clarke Tech HD 6600 TRIPLE TUNER

Not to be outdone Germany outfit Clarke Tech have just released their version of the Technomate Triple Tuner.

2 DVBS2 tuners & 1 DVBT HD tuners with internal HDD. same price range as new Technomate.

Front

Back

datasheet

STB · 09-01-2010 1:43am

More like a PC! But if you have the cash.......... €630

Jepssen Digital Box HD Core 2 Quad Q8200

Digital Satellite HD Receiver (DVB-S2, DVB-S) for TV and Radio channels, free to air and scrambled (Common Interface opt.)
Digital Terrestrial HD Receiver for TV and Radio channels, free to air and scrambled (Common Interface USB opt.)
Terrestrial Receiver for TV and FM Radio channels
PVR (Personal Video Recorder) with hard disk from 400GB till 1 TB (Terabyte/1000GB), Mpeg-2/Mpeg-4 H.264 real time recording and reproduction with “Time Shift” function
Multimedia Player, in order to reproduce all audio/video formats (DVD, DivX HD, DivX, DivX Pro, Xvid HD, Xvid, WM9, WM9-HD, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, VDC, SVCD, DVCD, CD, MP3, CD-R, CD-RW, etc.)
DVD Recorder, for recording and storing in the DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD+RW, CD+R, CD-RW, CD-R, etc. formats (opt.)
Digital Home Theatre 7.1 HD, 8 HD audio channels, complete of some effects and controls in order to run up to 7 speakers and 1 subwoofer
Card Reader, for reading and writing on all the most popular memory cards (CF, SD, etc.)
Photo Album&Editor in order to record, to catalogue and editing photo and images in the several formats existing
Web TV with 56K or ADSL modem (IPTV, internet, email, videotelephone, etc.)
Game Station with graphic 3D processor
Computer with Dual/Quad Core CPU AMD or Intel
AMD Live!/Intel ViiV Ready
Max Graphic Svga 256MB/512MB PCI-E
2GB Ram DDRII 800MHZ
Lan 100 Mbps or Lan 1000 Mbps (WLan 802.11g 108Mbps opt.)
LCD System Control Panel (opt.)
Hard Disk mobile rack (opt.)
rear inputs/outputs: Sat Antenna, Terrestrial Antenna, HDMI or DVI, RCA, S-Video, SCART, Svga, 1 Mic, 8 speakers (7.1), 4USB 2.0, 1 Game/Midi
frontal inputs/outputs: 1Mic, 1 Headphone, 2 USB 2.0
direct connection to any audio/video equipment (television set, videoprojector, auxiliary AV HI-FI system, PC monitor)
2.4GHz Wireless Multimedia Optical Trackball Keyboard for the control at distance (up to 10meters 360°) complete of multimedia function keys
Infrared remote control with "Green Button" for Windows Vista
PowerCinema 4
Windows Vista (opt.)

Tony · 09-01-2010 11:25am

Good feedback from customers so far but to be honest I've not had time to really go through all the features. Mike at freesat.ie is also selling them and hes had good reaction so far.

STB wrote: »

How do you find the Fergusons Tony ? I see you are selling them.

Apogee · 09-01-2010 9:02pm

It's surprising that no manufacturer of combo boxes has managed to incorporate the Freesat EPG (apart from Linux machines), while Fortec did so with the Passion receivers well over a year ago.

Tony · 09-01-2010 9:29pm

I'm not that surprised since its licensed software so therefore there are costs and approvals needed. Commercially though it would be a winner in my view and increase viewership.

Apogee wrote: »

It's surprising that no manufacturer of combo boxes has managed to incorporate the Freesat EPG (apart from Linux machines), while Fortec did so with the Passion receivers well over a year ago.

snaps · 09-01-2010 9:52pm

Tony wrote: »

Ferguson now have a combo box http://www.ferguson-digital.eu/en/hd-ariva-receivers/177-ferguson-ariva-hdcombo.html

This is an interesting machine. Ive got a 6900 cr that has great support. Good price as well if there is a discount for boardsies!

Tony · 09-01-2010 10:20pm

snaps wrote: »

l if there is a discount for boardsies!

Of course

Apogee · 09-01-2010 11:16pm

Tony wrote: »

I'm not that surprised since its licensed software so therefore there are costs and approvals needed. Commercially though it would be a winner in my view and increase viewership.

I don't think that Fortec did licence it from Freesat. They only released the firmware update after the compression tables had been circulated on the net and even then the early implementations were buggy. A manufacturer could easily post an unofficial firmware image on a forum somewhere - much like the way all the softcams magically appear for the different boxes.

Tony · 10-01-2010 11:57am

I've been on to ferguson about doing just that but got little interest, they dont seem to realise what a boost to sales it would be.

Apogee wrote: »

I don't think that Fortec did licence it from Freesat. They only released the firmware update after the compression tables had been circulated on the net and even then the early implementations were buggy. A manufacturer could easily post an unofficial firmware image on a forum somewhere - much like the way all the softcams magically appear for the different boxes.

Apogee · 11-01-2010 6:17pm

Is the Ferguson group who sell the combo boxes the same Ferguson group who sell the official Freesat receivers?

Tony · 11-01-2010 6:59pm

I did not know ferguson sold freesat boxes, do you have a link?

Sam Russell · 11-01-2010 7:13pm

Tony wrote: »

I did not know ferguson sold freesat boxes, do you have a link?

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/587842/FERGUSON-F101HDSAT

Tony · 11-01-2010 7:47pm

Interesting but unfortunately not the same company. I think what has happened is the Ferguson brand name has been sold to different companies in different areas. My Dad actually worked for Ferguson when they were a big company in Ireland and Uk many years ago.

Sam Russell wrote: »

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/587842/FERGUSON-F101HDSAT

muchos04 · 11-01-2010 8:29pm

Tony,

Does the Ferguson combo box listed on your site allow for 7 day EPG? Its a good price on your site.

Are the Irish tailored specific boxes coming on the market soon that you'll be selling?

Regards
Muchos04

Tony · 11-01-2010 8:38pm

Afraid not it only has now/next information. There will not be any box specifically made for Ireland but any box with MPEG 4 for DTT should work here.

muchos04 wrote: »

Tony,

Does the Ferguson combo box listed on your site allow for 7 day EPG? Its a good price on your site.

Are the Irish tailored specific boxes coming on the market soon that you'll be selling?

Regards
Muchos04

muchos04 · 11-01-2010 9:35pm

what do you recommend in the way of combos? preferrably cheapest?

Tony · 11-01-2010 9:36pm

I think its best if others make recommendations. As a retailer i'm not exactly objective

muchos04 · 11-01-2010 9:44pm

fair enough Tony. Must admit though i really like the Ariva. It looks quite good. i'll have another look at it.

Tony · 11-01-2010 10:48pm

No problem, i'm sure there will be reviews as more people get to use it.

snaps · 12-01-2010 7:18am

Well ill say one thing about Fergussons, Ive got a SD version 6900 CR which i paid 39e for (Along with a Cyfra+ sub), I use it in the bedroom. Its an amazing piece of kit, Has a USB hard drive attached so i can record. I have it attached to a fixed dish for UKFTA and also my 1.1m motorised dish for the foreign channels (i use a disqce switch to select dishes). It has a multicypt card reader which reads my Al Jazeera and Cyfra+ cards with no problems. Also 3rd party S/W is readily available on the internet to keep them upto date. Ive checked for S/W for this combo unit and its readily available to keep it in tip top condition!

With satellite.ie's boards discount and good service, its a fantastic price and come next week when its back in stock ill be getting one to run along side my TM6900 downstairs and bring my Freesat HD box upstairs!

For me the DTT test channels from Truskmore are much stronger than my Analouge from Castlebar, So Watching Irish TV on my 47" LCD is a no no on analouge! Analouge is ok in the kitchen and bedrooms on smaller tv's.

muchos04 · 12-01-2010 11:04am

What does the Ferguson Ariva combo cost for Boards.ie members?

Should i worry that DTT DVB-T might not come in and therefore the box will only be semi utilised or that a different version i.e. DVB T2 is adopted? Will the box be able to be updated to cover any changes which might happen in the digital market?

snaps · 12-01-2010 12:00pm

muchos04 wrote: »

What does the Ferguson Ariva combo cost for Boards.ie members?

Should i worry that DTT DVB-T might not come in and therefore the box will only be semi utilised or that a different version i.e. DVB T2 is adopted? Will the box be able to be updated to cover any changes which might happen in the digital market?

The DTT transmissions will come in, If its only the main channels. It has to, under european law. The infrustructure is already in place by RTE.

The only DTT that may not come in is pay DTT

Apogee · 12-01-2010 10:17pm

Tony wrote: »

Interesting but unfortunately not the same company.

I'd have thought if they were different companies, then there would be no conflict of interest, so the combo manufacturer would be interested in reverse-engineering the EPG and selling more boxes. Unfortunately not it would seem.

Tony · 12-01-2010 11:46pm

Apogee wrote: »

Unfortunately not it would seem.

Agreed

STB · 13-01-2010 1:27am

Apogee wrote: »

I'd have thought if they were different companies, then there would be no conflict of interest, so the combo manufacturer would be interested in reverse-engineering the EPG and selling more boxes. Unfortunately not it would seem.

I gather that the 28.2 EPG "engineering" involved Rapture TV who post over at digitalspy.................

Apogee · 13-01-2010 8:12pm

No, I don't think so. My understanding is that the new RealDigital project (Rapture TV, Fortec and Information TV) will involve the transmission of a completely separate EPG stream independent of Freesat. This EPG will cover the Freesat line-up plus other free-to-air channels and potentially encrypted channels as well.

joceadaigh · 26-01-2010 12:22am

Do all these boxes talked about provide interactive service through the red button? I bought a simple strong sd receiver some years ago which doesn't just wondering if new boxes do. (since the launch of freesat perhaps?)

Tony · 26-01-2010 8:57am

No only official Freesat boxes and sky boxes have red button features so far.

joceadaigh wrote: »

Do all these boxes talked about provide interactive service through the red button? I bought a simple strong sd receiver some years ago which doesn't just wondering if new boxes do. (since the launch of freesat perhaps?)

slegs · 26-01-2010 9:31am

You dont get interactive digital teletext (MHEG5) but you can receive the screens BBC put behind their red button by tuning them in manually as individual channels. Very handy for golf, snooker, tennis, soccer full times on a Saturday etc

sesswhat · 29-01-2010 6:13pm

Has anyone tried using the component output of any of the HD combo or FTA boxes, and how did it compare with HDMI?

I'm curious because I have a particular problem with an older HD Ready Samsung TV. The picture is excellent using a HDMI source. The trouble is, the TV has a fault, only when using HDMI input, which means it starts cutting out.

I'd like to give HD over component a try but all I have access to at the moment are newer Freesat and Sky HD boxes which of course no longer have component out.

STB · 30-01-2010 12:42pm

sesswhat wrote: »

Has anyone tried using the component output of any of the HD combo or FTA boxes, and how did it compare with HDMI?

I'm curious because I have a particular problem with an older HD Ready Samsung TV. The picture is excellent using a HDMI source. The trouble is, the TV has a fault, only when using HDMI input, which means it starts cutting out.

I'd like to give HD over component a try but all I have access to at the moment are newer Freesat and Sky HD boxes which of course no longer have component out.

Older Samsung ? Audio dropout ? or picture as well ?

First thing I would do is check the HDMI cable aint broken (stating the obvious I am sure) but check it with another device to eliminate a HDMI out problem on the sat box. Then whether the HDMI versions are the same i.e. the box the TV (version 1.0 to 1.3). The component wont be as good as the HDMI.

If none of these are the problem, start looking at firmware for that model to see if it has been an conflict that has been resolved via firmware.

Audio dropout very common over HDMI. Usually its HDMI versions that are the problem. Seems simple but there you go.

sesswhat · 31-01-2010 8:53pm

Cheers STB. The whole set switches off after anything from a few minutes to an hour. I've been through the usual testing/hair pulling/contacting dealer/contacting manufacturer process

.

I don't want to drag the thread off topic so suffice to say it's a 2006 model and not worth spending the money to fix the HDMI problem at this stage. I'm very pleased with the set otherwise as the picture is excellent through Scart and the inbuilt Freeview tuner, so I'm hoping to squeeze another while out of it.

I know component is only ever going to be second best but I just wondered if anyone had given it a try with the combo boxes, and just how much better than Scart/worse than HDMI it turned out to be?

snaps · 03-02-2010 4:47pm

After numerous recording failures i think ive figured out what the problem is with my Mvision 300. If i insert a flash drive (To watch an avi file) into the front port, after i take it out you have to configure the mvision to scan the rear usb port before putting into standby.

Since i have been doing this my recordings seem to be back on track. Also when setting the timer, allow 1 minute between different timer settings (eg if your recording on 1 channel from 21.00-22.00 and then again on another channel at 22.00-23.00 make sure you finish the 1st one at 21.59 or start the next one at 22.01.

Also ive found when ive fast forwarded through adverts on a recording sometimes there is no sound (Mostly on hd recordings), Just rewind a few seconds and press play and sound will return and sync up.

Im using the latest speedy S/W (4.56 i think).

Hope this helps anyone out that may have or experienced the same problems as me.

Have to admit now the latest firmware allows the white FTV card to be read by the card reader its great for UK FTV/FTA channels (Ch4 HD) and the Irish DTT test.

TomasM · 04-02-2010 11:05pm

spfeno wrote: »

Dived into the deep end and just purchased the MVision HD300 Combo from SaorTV for teenagers/kids playroom

Have been toying around with the box and have managed to scan in the satellite channels (satellite is fixed with a quad LNB and another line running to main room with Sky subscription) and have saved & organised the channels I require BUT it isn't picking up any of the Terrestrial channels when I scan.

I'm living in Ratoath and have a large, roof mounted Yagi aerial pointing toward Three Rock (at least I'm assuming its Three Rock). All the terrestrial channels were being received perfectly prior to MVision box purchase (so why change it I hear you ask; )

SaorTV mentioned it could be receiving analogue signal from an in-fill transmitter (and not Three Rock - again as I've said I assume its Three Rock since its pointin that way).

Anyhow, on this thread a page or two back a question was asked relating to picking up DTT signal from a tranmsitter and not a relay but no aswer was given - so I'll ask it again

1. How do you know if your UHF aerial is pointing toward a main transmitter and not a relay

2. Since I'm living in Ratoath, does anyone know where I should have the UHF aerial pointing to in order to get DTT signal. Rather leave it alone if I don't have to move it as it's a large roofmounted piece of kit (professionally installed a number of years ago)

Hoping someone can help as its really bugging me

Perfect Dtt reception in Dunshaughlin with Mvision HD-300 and small outside aerial.Tried with existing aerial which was for a/log and had masthead amp.-result no signal. Installed small aerial from B&Q and signal strength >85% and Quality 90%. HD symbol always present. If this continues - no need for Hi masts -just small ant+ 60 cms dish. Good TV Spefno TomasM

Reesy · 15-04-2010 8:13pm

Hi guys,

The last time I looked at combo boxes with PVRs (about 9 months ago?) I concluded (maybe wrongly, of course) that they weren't mature enough (stable, easy to use, good features) to tempt me from my alternative - a Sky box. As it happens, I didn't buy that either but I'm moving closer.

Tell me, do you guys feel the PVR combo boxes are up there with Sky boxes now?

dnme · 13-06-2010 2:27am

Is it time for a 2010 version of this thread? I'd love to hear what the best combo box is on the market at the moment.

DTT/SAT Combo Boxes List 2009

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