Information Overload

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  • 80skid
    Newbie
    • Mar 2011
    • 5

    #1

    Information Overload

    Hello everyone Im new to the satellite scene, Im an ex-eurovox/cable user (yes another one..!) and looking to make the switch, I appreciate its not going to be a matter of 'plug and play' like cable and Im quite prepared to read up and do my homework etc...... been reading the forums for the last few days and my heads a bit fried, so thought Id jump in and make a thread, Im fairly tech minded so sure Ill suss it out (eventually) and got no problem with getting the drill & ladders out to mount a dish etc.

    One of the main reasons Im looking into satellite is that Im debating giving up my season ticket, and think I could get myself a nice set up with the money Id save (?500+) and still be able to watch EPL games (no suprises there then!)

    So here is what Ive gathered so far: Dishes: The bigger the better? plus if I add a motor Ill be able to point the dish at different sats in order to pick up different channels?

    Set top boxes: There appears to be a lot of choice, although I havent even begun to delve into the specs, the main ones that seem to be talked about are:

    Vu Duo (if money is no object) - what does this STB have that others dont?

    Dreambox (in various flavours, specs etc) - these seem very popular, is that just down to having a large user base and therefore good support? from what I gather, these are linux boxes as well? is it better to go for a linux box (with them being open source etc)?

    Spiderbox (opinion seems devided) - hmmm, opinion seems split on this one, and Ive read mixed things about the person(s) they come from, they seem the easiest to use but what happens when the 'gift' runs out? will I have another doorstop to keep my eurovox company? or can it do other things as well?

    also, what the frig is an openbox? never really heard of that before visiting here tbh.

    Cardsharing.... I dont want to fall foul of site rules so dont want to discuss anything in detail, I gather I can buy a legit card and share privately with friends? or go down the payserver route? - seems a bit iffy.... logging your IP addy on a server somewhere doesnt sound to clever.. *NB if this is against site rules I apologise, please remove the offending material from my post.

    CAMS - heres where I begin to get a bit lost, from what Ive read there are softcams (software installed on your STB) and actual hardware CAMS, what do CAMS do? do you need multiple different types to access varying channels? Im guessing they read subscription cards?

    LNBs - I get the need for having 2 feeds if you have a box with 2 tuners, so you can watch one channel and record the other, but is there any other benefit of having a dish with multiple LNBs?

    Apologise for the massive post, I appreciate that the satellite scence is more 'hush hush' and I get why, so any pointers, hints, tips or answers to anything above would be greatly appreciated, as would steering me towards any good reading material

    Nice one, thanks for reading.
    Last edited by 80skid; 16 March, 2011, 22:44.
  • Franktheplank
    Junior Member
    • Feb 2011
    • 27

    #2
    Hi I'm a newbie also, I'm sure you'll get more info on this site from others however I've got a spiderbox 9000hd with a 1m motorized dish I've had it for about 3wks paid ?420 installed of eBay I'm a huge toon fan & have watched all matches in hd at 3pm since I bought system, I was told this was the best plug n play system & easy to use with it is, all nicely set up in fav's I.e movies sports etc. Hd is superb in my opinion very pleased!!

    Comment

    • 80skid
      Newbie
      • Mar 2011
      • 5

      #3
      Thanks for the reply mate, glad to hear youre enjoying your new set up and your getting all the games on it

      Is the highest HD format 1080i like on sly etc? Ill be looking to get a HD box myself, got a nice full HD plasma panny thats not being used to its full potential!

      Do you get any decent films on your box as well as the footy?

      Comment

      • dick b
        V.I.P. Member
        • Jun 2009
        • 2462

        #4
        80 skid I"d break your questions down to more manageable lumps youll get more answers then
        as regards para 11 on lnbs you can have more than 1 lnb on a dish to receive from different satellites on a fixed dish but there are limitations as to how far apart they can be.also you can get lnbs with additional outlets for as you have said feeding a twin tuner box or supplying several different boxes.they make them as twin,quad or eight outlet.for multi satellite viewing of the maximum satellites possible from your location motorising is in my opinion the best way to go.
        by the way I"v had a spiderbox for some time now and its fine and ideal for people like me who like to keep it simple but get as many channels as possible.(loads of film channels on different sats so you do need a motor)

        Comment

        • Manic01
          Banned
          • Dec 2008
          • 5117

          #5
          No one transmits 1080p, so 1080i is all you need.

          Comment

          • 80skid
            Newbie
            • Mar 2011
            • 5

            #6
            Dick - your probably right, a bit too much content in my first post, just wanted to show I was willing etc and not just make another lazy 'tell me what box to buy' post. Thanks for the tip on the LNBs, I never knew picking up 2 different sats at the same time was a possibility.

            Manic - cheers for the info, I knew sly only broadcast in 1080i, wasnt sure about foreign providers though, nice one for the confirmation

            Comment

            • opsmonkey
              V.I.P. Member
              • Nov 2008
              • 5379

              #7
              Where's your season ticket for..???

              Comment

              • 80skid
                Newbie
                • Mar 2011
                • 5

                #8
                Ha ha, judging by your avatar youre going to love this Ops, Im an Evertonian

                Comment

                • setfiretorain
                  DK Veteran
                  • Jul 2010
                  • 934

                  #9
                  Right mate just to clear up a few of your questions and be as helpful as i can here, So here goes:

                  " Dishes: The bigger the better? "
                  Spot on mate, The bigger the dish the better, For instance a Sky dish is capable of picking up 28.2E (Sky UK) , 16E (Tring etc) and 13E (Sky IT, Nova etc), Yet you try pointing that thing at 5East to pick up viasat and you'd literally need a angel to sparkle some dust on your dish (NOTE: Sprinkling glitter on your dish wont make it work any better ), But you get the picture !

                  " Set top boxes "
                  There's a mass load of set top box's out there, Ranging from freesat box's, to the VU+DUO, However due to the current position you are in I think you'd be best on getting a linux receiver, Unless you plan on paying 3K for a viasat viewing card, Linux receivers for 3PM football and films I'd recommend to you a Spiderbox 7000HD or 9000HD, The picture quality is literally second to none, especially on the football, The box is also generally plug and play for anyone who is new and experienced to the satellite scene.

                  " Cardsharing "
                  Card sharing is massive on the satellite scene and used by lets face it most satellite TV users, If you where going to go down the route of card share pay servers I don't think the people who use the servers are prosecuted, I think its only the ones who run them, and its rare I've heard of these being shut down ( Correct me if I'm wrong ), However you could run a small server between friends for example, Get 20 friends and go ?150 a year each on a viasat viewing card, share it between 20 box's and be safe if you feel that your in danger by using a payserver, Not going to go into much more detail on that!

                  "LNBs"
                  Yes there is more benefits to having a box with multiple LNB's, for instance, If you have a Quad LNB, You could run 2 linux box's that are both twin tuner, and watch one channel and record another on both, Or 4 single tuner box's where you can have 4 box's feeding off that one quad LNB.

                  Hope the post helped you out, and sorry I didn't elapse a little more on the " cams " part of things !

                  Regards, Ellis.
                  Last edited by setfiretorain; 23 March, 2011, 01:06. Reason: EDITS :)
                  '"If you can't make decisions in life, you're a bloody menace. You'd be better becoming an MP!"
                  Quote from Mr Shankly, YNWA, JFT96

                  Sat Boxes
                  Spiderbox 7000 HD with " gift "
                  Dreambox 500s.

                  Dishes
                  1.1 Motorised triax satellite dish single LNB.
                  Sky minidish self fitted.

                  Comment

                  • 80skid
                    Newbie
                    • Mar 2011
                    • 5

                    #10
                    Ellis, thats superb mate nice one for taking the time to type that out, I think Im starting to get the picture now (no pun intended)

                    The only part Im a little confused on is the bit about set top boxes, you say youd recommend a linux box, and mention the spiderbox, I was under the impression the spiderbox wasnt linux? have I got that bit wrong?

                    Thanks again mate, been a big help that, some good info there.

                    Comment

                    • setfiretorain
                      DK Veteran
                      • Jul 2010
                      • 934

                      #11
                      No mate, the spiderbox is linux, just you can't mess about with images etc like you can on a dreambox, ( image's are different looks etc to the box ), I don't see the point in this unless satellite is your hobby, But with a Spiderbox you can just plug it in, update firmware with a USB every few weeks, You can also add your c/s on the box via your remote control, no need for knowledge on how to ftp stuff etc,

                      Not trying to sell this box btw, , its just good for noobs, I have one myself and a Dreambox 500S, My 500S is what i play with images on etc, my Spiderbox 7000HD is to simply relax and watch my films and sport on !

                      Regards, Ellis.
                      '"If you can't make decisions in life, you're a bloody menace. You'd be better becoming an MP!"
                      Quote from Mr Shankly, YNWA, JFT96

                      Sat Boxes
                      Spiderbox 7000 HD with " gift "
                      Dreambox 500s.

                      Dishes
                      1.1 Motorised triax satellite dish single LNB.
                      Sky minidish self fitted.

                      Comment

                      • setfiretorain
                        DK Veteran
                        • Jul 2010
                        • 934

                        #12
                        By the way bud, its cheap enough to go the everton match and have your satellite dish, the tickets at goodison are f all


                        Regards, Ellis.
                        '"If you can't make decisions in life, you're a bloody menace. You'd be better becoming an MP!"
                        Quote from Mr Shankly, YNWA, JFT96

                        Sat Boxes
                        Spiderbox 7000 HD with " gift "
                        Dreambox 500s.

                        Dishes
                        1.1 Motorised triax satellite dish single LNB.
                        Sky minidish self fitted.

                        Comment

                        • kyle2211
                          Member
                          • Nov 2008
                          • 49

                          #13
                          brilliant thread, learned loads.....spiderbox it is.

                          question. when buying i hear of free gift, is the gift the software pre loaded? so basically i should ignore the free gift crap and just load software on myself??

                          thanks

                          Comment

                          • setfiretorain
                            DK Veteran
                            • Jul 2010
                            • 934

                            #14
                            No, get the free gift loaded, you can find it on a forum, google " alsat " and its there, !
                            '"If you can't make decisions in life, you're a bloody menace. You'd be better becoming an MP!"
                            Quote from Mr Shankly, YNWA, JFT96

                            Sat Boxes
                            Spiderbox 7000 HD with " gift "
                            Dreambox 500s.

                            Dishes
                            1.1 Motorised triax satellite dish single LNB.
                            Sky minidish self fitted.

                            Comment

                            • oljaro
                              Member
                              • Nov 2008
                              • 45

                              #15
                              Hi guys just to jump in, I too am one of the many currently on the cable route ex eurovox, now KV, but now seriously looking at the sat route, not to replace, but run alongside in the next room. Promise i've done a load of research, but each thread I read throws me off down a different path.

                              Right now I seem to be sold on the Spiderbox, but can you please advise on a couple of points. I have a redundant dish still on the wall from my old Sly days. Is this OK for a Spiderbox. I really do not have the knowledge to start messing with new dishes.

                              Is there a great difference (apart from the ?20 price tag) between the 7000 and 9000 boxes.

                              Is there an end date to a "free gift" if so what happens then?

                              Please excuse my basic questions but I really am starting from the bottom here and struggling to find my way.
                              Keep the Blue Flag Flying High

                              Comment

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