Advice please for a newbie

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  • sachin_tendulkar
    Newbie
    • Aug 2008
    • 13

    #1

    Advice please for a newbie

    Can someone please recommend a box that is good with a certain cable provider in the UK? How about where to buy from? I have heard about a lot of clone boxes, are these really as bad as they are made out to be?
  • shady77
    Banned
    • Aug 2008
    • 982

    #2
    hi. if you feel confident with ftp/flashing etc, then get a dreambox 500c.
    if you want a simple plug and play box to just watch tv on, then i have had no problems whatsoever with a digivox or a starview.
    the only niggle maybe for some people is the epg which isnt that good on either, but thats what tv guide magazines are for right?
    if you want to record stuff, starview pvr looks a nice price (roughly ?150 without hdd from ebay).
    i've linked to a couple on ebay below.
    hope this helps
    STARVIEW 1 DIGITAL CABLE RECEIVER BOX (Super Thebox) on eBay, also, Cable Boxes, Satellite Cable Freeview, Consumer Electronics (end time 27-Aug-08 04:31:03 BST)

    Digivox XL Cable Receiver on eBay, also, Cable Boxes, Satellite Cable Freeview, Consumer Electronics (end time 31-Aug-08 22:00:00 BST)


    THE BOX PVR CABLE TV RECORDER TWIN TUNER 2 STARVIEW HDD on eBay, also, Cable Boxes, Satellite Cable Freeview, Consumer Electronics (end time 29-Aug-08 22:18:26 BST)

    if however you want to mess around with your box and change the look when you feel like it, and do loads more then buyingthings .co.uk for a dreambox.
    down this route is also the eurovox pvr
    Cable & Satellite - Cable Receivers - BuyingThings.co.uk - The Online Store

    NEW EUROVOX EX5000 PVR WITH 120GB HARD DRIVE INSTALLED on eBay, also, Cable Boxes, Satellite Cable Freeview, Consumer Electronics (end time 27-Aug-08 11:20:12 BST)

    Comment

    • bugaloo41
      V.I.P. Member
      • Jul 2008
      • 1598

      #3
      its all down to personal preference mate. if all you wanting is to watch tv then there are a number of boxes:- kryptview, eurovox, digivox, starview, replay etc. My personal choice from these types of box would be the kryptview. Lots of sellers of these types of box depends which one you are after.

      Dreambox clones are IMO fine and the newer ones appear to have better tuners than the originals. They have more features than the plug and play type and require These can be purchased from dvb monkey and a few others. There are a few threads on this forum.

      Hope this helps.

      Comment

      • sachin_tendulkar
        Newbie
        • Aug 2008
        • 13

        #4
        Thank you both for the advice. I have no problems with messing about with the boxes. Since yesterday, I have been reading a bit more about these dreamboxes. Isn't the 600 better than the 500 in terms of the fact that you can swap a cable tuner for the satellite tuner, if need be?

        Comment

        • shady77
          Banned
          • Aug 2008
          • 982

          #5
          not too certain if you can swap tuners on the 600, the openmedia box will defo let you though
          OpenMedia 500cs, Cable and Satellite Receiver - Bubble Cable Boxes LTD
          i think i read a post on here abou the 600... hang on..................................

          yes here it is post 12. sorry about the wait!

          hope this helps

          Comment

          • ZaFoD
            Member
            • Aug 2008
            • 43

            #6
            Dreambox Question

            Hi Guys,

            I've seen lots of posts on this and different forums about the Dreamboxes and how they do 'much more' than the standard STB's.
            But I'm have trouble discovering what else they do, other than recording to and playing media from networked drives.

            Can anyone point me in the right direction.

            Comment

            • shady77
              Banned
              • Aug 2008
              • 982

              #7
              with a dreambox you can:-
              record to a pc or nas
              stream to a pc
              stream from a pc and watch your d/loaded movies on your tv
              play games.
              unlike starview etc if your fed up with the look of a dreambox, you can simply change the image
              you can add loads of stuff to the dreambox via plugins
              you know how the starview/digivox etc epg is crapola? well with a dreambox guess what? its not.
              say youve got a laptop and you want to sit in the garden on a nice summers day (if we ever get one!) and watch the footy/cricket. so you settle back with your laptop and a nice pint, maybe some nibbles and get ready for kick off! oh no! the dreambox is still tuned to cbeebies! have no fear! no need to move, as you can control the dreambox from your pc!
              and loads more

              Comment

              • ZaFoD
                Member
                • Aug 2008
                • 43

                #8
                Hi shady77,

                Thanks for the run down.
                I hope yuou don't mind if I pick you answer apart abit.
                I've got to have all my answers straight if I want to get the DM600 over the much cheaper Eurovox PVR.

                Originally posted by shady77
                record to a pc or nas
                stream to a pc
                stream from a pc and watch your d/loaded movies on your tv
                Like I can do with the HTPC/MCE, or Xb0x/XBMC, I'm guessing the DM600 being a Linux Box, codecs won't be a problem. But what about DRM'd files like iTunes. MCE and XBMC can be tweaked to play them, can the DM600 ?


                Originally posted by shady77
                play games.
                Better not let the kids find out about this.


                Originally posted by shady77
                unlike starview etc if your fed up with the look of a dreambox, you can simply change the image
                I'm I right in thinking the different images all have the same functions, its only the look and feel and varies ?


                Originally posted by shady77
                you can add loads of stuff to the dreambox via plugins
                Still gotta look into this.


                Originally posted by shady77
                you know how the starview/digivox etc epg is crapola? well with a dreambox guess what? its not.
                Even the Vermin one isn't great either.
                We have the STB controlled by MCE, and use its EPG. Like the DM600 it can be controlled via any broswer. I'm guessing the DM600 could be connect to the MCE if need.


                Originally posted by shady77
                say youve got a laptop and you want to sit in the garden on a nice summers day (if we ever get one!) and watch the footy/cricket. so you settle back with your laptop and a nice pint, maybe some nibbles and get ready for kick off! oh no! the dreambox is still tuned to cbeebies! have no fear! no need to move, as you can control the dreambox from your pc!
                Does it have some sort of force field plug-in to protect me when the 'Cbeebies watchers' come gunning for me.

                Comment

                • shady77
                  Banned
                  • Aug 2008
                  • 982

                  #9
                  Originally posted by ZaFoD
                  Hi shady77,

                  Thanks for the run down.
                  I hope yuou don't mind if I pick you answer apart abit.
                  I've got to have all my answers straight if I want to get the DM600 over the much cheaper Eurovox PVR.

                  Like I can do with the HTPC/MCE, or Xb0x/XBMC, I'm guessing the DM600 being a Linux Box, codecs won't be a problem. But what about DRM'd files like iTunes. MCE and XBMC can be tweaked to play them, can the DM600 ?

                  not too certain about drm's i always use limewire/utorrent for my music if i paid for stuff i wouldnt have a dreambox!

                  Better not let the kids find out about this.
                  they always do.


                  I'm I right in thinking the different images all have the same functions, its only the look and feel and varies ?
                  basically yes, images come with different plugins as standard, but you can add any you want


                  Still gotta look into this.


                  Even the Vermin one isn't great either.
                  We have the STB controlled by MCE, and use its EPG. Like the DM600 it can be controlled via any broswer. I'm guessing the DM600 could be connect to the MCE if need.
                  dont have a dm600 but i've got my dm500 connected to pc and everythings hunky dory


                  Does it have some sort of force field plug-in to protect me when the 'Cbeebies watchers' come gunning for me.
                  tell me about it my 5 year old thinks she's the boss of the tv as well simple answer. 2 boxes!!

                  Comment

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