Technomate 5402 vs Blade 7000s vs Dream 800 Or Better for ?150 ?

[whacked]

Hi,

It's been years since I last posted on this forum and the last time I used it, you folks were very helpful and spot on! Thus, here I am again!

I want to buy a new box and need some advice on the best one for my needs.

Here is what I want:

• Lots of channel memory
• HDMI
• RF Out or convertor option (as I have distribution around the house)
• High quality picture
• No freezing
• Not fussed how hard it is to use as I work in I.T
• Box should look nice
• Good reviews
• Lots of support available
• Good and frequent patches
• Using Sly dish for now and will upgrade to 80cm/100cm later
• Ability to add hard disk (int or ext - not fussed)
• more than 1 tuner to record more than 1 prog at once
• LAN
• Inbuilt CAM would be great
• Circa ?150 for the box

I don't ask for much eh?!!

I have found the Dream 800, Technomate 5402 and Blade 7000 at this price range. However I do not know which one fits the bill, if they are any good and if there is a better box?

Look forward to your advice!

Thanks

J

[andy91]

Most will say Dreambox 800hd which you can pick up now for 115 quid,the newer Dreambox 800se is about 150,faster processer,colour led.
Dont know too much about the other boxes though ive been told the Blade is simple to set up.
Best thing about Dreambox is support,loads have them so if you run into problems its easily sorted.

Andy.

[whacked]

Hi Andy

I don't think the Dream 800 meets my requirements. For example (and I could be wrong) it has only 1 tuner and no RF out.

J

[southpaw]

I think you gonna need to compromise here mate, thats a long list of requirements for 150 quid, double your budget and look at vu duo. Or lower your requirements an look at dm800SE clone

[dave-h]

I think the Blade and Technomate are essentially the same box. They're made in the same factory i believe, and when a feature/update appears on one it's closely followed by the other.

[whacked]

Hi Chaps,

I'm led to beleive that the Blde 7000 and Technomate 5402 will forefill every one of my requirements? Ultimetly the Technmate as it is an RF out (needed as I have a LoftBox distribution system) ??

Is this the best option or have I missed an obvious brand/model?

I am struggling to find a review of the Technomate 5402. Wot Sat gave the Blade 7000s a great review.

Your thoughts?

J

[rob s]

Hi Chaps,

I'm led to beleive that the Blde 7000 and Technomate 5402 will forefill every one of my requirements? Ultimetly the Technmate as it is an RF out (needed as I have a LoftBox distribution system) ??

Is this the best option or have I missed an obvious brand/model?

I am struggling to find a review of the Technomate 5402. Wot Sat gave the Blade 7000s a great review.

Your thoughts?

J

Blade 7000 only has 1 tuner mate so it cannot fill all your requirements, its the same thing as you can do with a dm800hd pvr you can watch 1 channel and record another but they have to be on the same transponder which a lot of the time isnt the case. If you only wanna spend ?150 you will not got a dual tuner box you need to spend more than double that on either a VU+ duo or a Clarketech ET9000 which cost around ?330 each. Cheers, Rob

Cheers andy91 I forgot to mention the DM8000 but at ?850 i thought it was a little bit pricey as his budget is ?150 but you are right he is not gonna get everything he wants for ?150 but for ?330 you can get the vu duo or clarke tech ET9000 and they are both very similar but the clarke tech has less 3rd party image support but it has a slightly better spec than the vu duo

[andy91]

If you want twin tuners its the vu duo or the Dreambox 8000 but for the 150 you want to spend your not gonna get all the things that you want for your money.

Andy.

[whacked]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses.

Am I correct in assuming from the link below that I can record more than 1 channel on the Technomate 5402 whilst watching another? And that this is not possible with other such boxes in the ?150 or so bracket with the same respectable qualities?

Google Images

Thanks

J

[rob s]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses.

Am I correct in assuming from the link below that I can record more than 1 channel on the Technomate 5402 whilst watching another? And that this is not possible with other such boxes in the ?150 or so bracket with the same respectable qualities?

Google Images

Thanks

J

You can watch 1 channel and record 1 channel on the dm800hd as long as they are on the same transponder, you can watch 1 and record 2 channels on the blade and you can watch 1 and record 3 channels on the technomate but remember all these channels have to be on the same transponder (which is unlikely) but with a dual tuner box they can be on different transponders. Cheers, Rob aka Insomniac

[andy91]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses.

Am I correct in assuming from the link below that I can record more than 1 channel on the Technomate 5402 whilst watching another? And that this is not possible with other such boxes in the ?150 or so bracket with the same respectable qualities?

Google Images

Thanks

J

Looks like a nice box but the chances of watching and recording on the same tp very slim and its 55 quid more than a Dreambox 800hd pro.

Andy.

[whacked]

Folks,

At the moment, I have a Sly box and a Humax for Freeview around the house. Does the Techomate 5402 have Freeview channels (i.e Food Network, BBC1 etc) ???

I am constructing a diagram with the info you are all providing and will upload once complete. This should help you visualise what I am trying to achieve with the purchase of a receiver and if it is all possible.

Appreciate your help.

J

[rob s]

Yes I would assume the technomate can receive all FTA satellite channels just like the dm800hd can. Channels like bbc1, bbc2, itv1, e4, itv2, food network, film4, sky news etc should all be there with the technomate regardless of whether you are using it for c/s or not. Cheers, Rob

[whacked]

OK,

This is what I am trying to achieve http://imageshack.us/f/847/satdist1.jpg/ . I already have all of the components except for the Techomate 5402 or simular.

The idea is to try and have thousands of channels on the main TV, yet still maintain my Sly and Freeview distribution around the house. It is possible that in the future I may change the dish to a larger one and/or one with multiple LNB's rather than my single Quad LNB.

But, for now, will this work if I buy the TM 5402 (as this box seems to have the connectivity I need) or will the Blade 7000C (not the 'S' model) be better ??




Thanks

J

[whacked]

Hi Folks,

Would appreciate your advice on the post above...

Thanks