Box for a newbie

[bokkie]

Hi everyone.
I am totally new to this.
I am getting a motorised dish installed and want to tinker with the whole satellite scene.
I can't say exactly what I want to do, but you get the drift
I am not going to use it excessively, just a bit of viewing and I'll be getting a viaccess card as well so would like it to be compatible.

I initially wanted an openbox, but heard they struggle with motorised systems, so I looked at the spiderbox.
Whilst looking into that I have found out that a dm800se can be had for about ?170. The same as a spiderbox 9000.
The dm800se doesn't have 1 thing that the spiderbox does, you know what I mean. But if it really is so much better, I'll sacrifice that.
I have heard that dm800 is very diifficult to get to grips with for a newbie like me.
I don't have a clue about emus and all the rest.
I don't really have time to learn how to use a box for a couple of days/weeks, so with this in mind should I go for a spiderbox or Blade7000s?
Can anyone advise me pls?
Thank you for your help

[Shady]

spiderbox comes with a 'gift' that you have no control over and can be stopped at anytime.. so much more can be done with a dm800 and they can be had for ?120 if you buy from china direct, can you read? then a dm is easy to set up, just follow advice from dk

[bokkie]

Thx for the quick reply.
I've just heard that they take a lot longer to master and the terminology is all a bit confusing.
I've heard of newbies getting a Blade 7000 or Spiderbox and being up and running in 20 minutes.
What about a dm800?
What more can it do and how can you view viaccess cards when it has no ci slot?

[Shady]

yeah a lot of people make out you have to be some sort of linux whizz kid to get a dreambox up and running, you dont.. in fact i have had people who have sorted dreamboxes come to me for help with 'easier' openboxes..

[bokkie]

Thx.
But how does the whole viaccess card thing work?
Does it go into the smartcard reader?
Is an EMU software or a cam slot?
It's doing my head in, i spent about 2 hours today looking into dm but just got confused.

[ramjet]

CA is a Card Access slot , for cards

CI slots are Common Interface slots for cams , and you normally put cards into those cams , although some cams like the diablo or trex dont always need cards after they have been programmed

if you want to use a cam , buy a box with a CI slot

same applies to CA slots if you use a card

[bokkie]

Thx ramjet. Does that mean If I have a Viaccess card, I can't use it on a dreambox as it doesn't have a CI slot?
I thought there was another way of doing it.

[mdt]

Thx ramjet. Does that mean If I have a Viaccess card, I can't use it on a dreambox as it doesn't have a CI slot?
I thought there was another way of doing it.

a dreambox does have a card slot(2 in the case of the dm800hdse) and can run most cards when used in conjunction with the correct softcam emulator. if you want a box that is basically plug+play and gives you free access via a gift to footy/movies and xxx then take a look at a protek 9700/9710. linux stb,s are great and are very customisable with excellent support but can be very frustrating to get to grips with at first(i know as my linux stb,s have been close to being launched out of the window on more than 1 occasion LOL) but if you have patience and are prepared to read alot of threads on the various forums then the dmm/vu+ clones are the best options atm for between ?110 and ?190 imo. regards mdt

[sambhi92]

I'd go for a protek mate if your looking at gift type box, if not, as the guys say, get the dm800hd pro or se, two great boxes, and if you need help, heck there's a whole section for dreamboxes.

[bokkie]

Ok, so you stick the viaccess card in the slot and you download a softcam emulator to get the card to work in the slot. As opposed to having cams like you do in a spiderbox, openbox, etc?
I think it's starting to make sense now.

[ramjet]

Ok, so you stick the viaccess card in the slot and you download a softcam emulator to get the card to work in the slot. As opposed to having cams like you do in a spiderbox, openbox, etc?
I think it's starting to make sense now.

spiderbox has its own card slot and the patch makes it a multicam emu

most spiderboxes also have a CI slot for a cam too

its not just as simple as you are making out

the fact is that if there is a card slot (CA slot) and if the patch or emu can run the card in question then it works

if not then a cam slot and cam may be required

[bokkie]

Ok so I've tried reading up on EMUs, etc. It says that you don't even need the card in the slot, just the keys and the correct emu to unscramble. So I can buy a viaccess card, get the correct emu, enter the keys and voila! Is that corrrect.
With my intended use in mind, viaccess cards and also for uses that I can't discuss. Would a dreambox be best?
Should I go for a "simpler" box that I can just insert the card to view?
Maybe a Blade, Spiderbox, Protek, etc?
Can someone recommend something for me?
Thx for all your help and patience.

[canford]

Best bit of advice i can give you is "read read read" and have a good look on youtube, theres lots of info you need on there, I think you will find most people will find it hard to nominate one box and say its better than the other as they all have good and bad points,if you like a bit tinkering around with things and if want lots of support(images/software/cams/etc) for your box, then the dreambox 800se is very hard to beat in my opinion, like i said thats my opinion and someone else might differ.

[bokkie]

I don't really have the time/patience to tinker, but feel like I'll be missing out if I don't get a dm800. Think I'll have to go for something simpler or the box will end up gathering dust as I don't have the time to learn how to use it.

[potrobber]

hi bookie get a blade box you cant beat them for setup time and channel update thru menu no messing with usb stick ect

what channels are you looking to watch ?