which box? Some top advice please!

[srk1407]

Hi. I currently have a Skybox F5. Never been into anything like this before, so please can you give me some advice. I currently am using a gift package and would like to purchase a better quality box than what i have. I want a decent HDMI output together with DD5.1 sound. Also an EPG would be great, like Sly TV. I want to be able to chop and change between my Sly box and this, so as the F5 has a loop, i would also like this, or i can buy a switch. I dont want to pay alot of money, so what are my options for about ?150. I do not need recording facility. The F5 picture quality is very poor so i need some good advice from you guys.

I do not know the difference between many of the models and am not clued up on what can and cannot have gift packs attached.

As always, advice is appreciated.

[digicon]

Stick to originals in that price range something like the XP1000 or the octagon SF8 but similar receivers for around ?120 and will do everything you require in your above post or maybe a Gigablue 800UE as well for around ?140

[srk1407]

Thanks Digicon.

Can I assume that programming for 'gifts' is easy to do? I understand the Skybox version, but am completely clueless about this kind of thing!

What would you recommend for the feed from the dish. Basically have SlyHD here. Want to be able to watch 'sports' on the newer box and watch other stuff on the main box as have that subs. Should i just buy a splitter or are they not any good?

Will all these boxes send Dolby Digital 5.1 via the HDMI cable as this is my current setup, and the cables are buried in the walls.

I just dont want to waste my money and find these do not work!

Thanks again

[ramjet]

discussion of the "gifts" or emus is not allowed on here m8

as for dishes, you do not "split" the feed from an lnb, you increase the outputs of an lnb to suit, same as sly do
so a quad lnb should be fine from a sly dish, maybe a twin or quad lnb on a motorised dish
use separate coaxial feeds to each tuner (even if using shotgun cable like sly)
ie:- one coax cable to each and every tuner

[srk1407]

Ooops. Sorry mate. Did not realise.

I already have a quad LNB. 2 feeds are buried in the wall and come to the Sly Box HD. Because in walls i do not want to add another feed, so just working out how to get around it. The Skybox F5, has an in and out, so wondered if the same thing could be done. If I used a switched splitter; if one exists; maybe that could be a work around?

[ramjet]

you can use an A-B switch in one of the coaxial feeds to swap between the official sly box and the 3rd party box, bearing in mind the slybox wont like it and recordings can fail if no signal

if not using an official box, you can either use the coax in and out to onward feed a second box whilst the first box is in standby, or use a physical A-B coaxial switch to switch from box 1 to box 2

the ideal is to put another cable in from the quad lnb (single or dual shotgun)

bear in mind here the use of the word SLY is confusing due to official sly boxes having the term as well as these non-official boxes

[srk1407]

Thanks ramjet. I'll look into this. Do you have any recommendations on boxes based on what I have asked for?

[digicon]

all the receivers i mentioned will be able to handle any 'Special Ingredient' nudge nudge wink wink. They all will also distribute DD5.1 audio from the HDMI

[ramjet]

Thanks ramjet. I'll look into this. Do you have any recommendations on boxes based on what I have asked for?

not with your tight budget , no

[cactikid]

i like the option of either spdif from tv to amp,or spdif from box to amp as usually hdmi ports are all used.hdmi from box to tv i use.
if your guided with low budget dont expect a lot,even my first tm1000d had a spdif and used scart

[srk1407]

Stick to originals in that price range something like the XP1000 or the octagon SF8 but similar receivers for around ?120 and will do everything you require in your above post or maybe a Gigablue 800UE as well for around ?140

Thanks for all your advice. Im processing it in my head now! You quoted a Gigablue 800UE, but there is a cheaper version called 800SE. Would this be anygood?

[digicon]

The Gigablue SE is also fine:

http://www.gigablue.de/portfolio-item/gigablue-800-se/

[smokin]

gigublue is good I understand, but never used one...I also like and use Dreambox clone, ( so like DM 800) so if you get one, get from a local source and do NOT buy one from a seller in China or anybody over that way...warranty and repairs will kill you in time lost.
pm me if you need a local supplier, I might be able to find one...I'm not a reseller

[happy_highlander]

gigublue is good I understand, but never used one...I also like and use Dreambox clone, ( so like DM 800) so if you get one, get from a local source and do NOT buy one from a seller in China or anybody over that way...warranty and repairs will kill you in time lost.
pm me if you need a local supplier, I might be able to find one...I'm not a reseller

PMSL @ warranty on a clone. You may get a helpfull supplier but a warranty you will not get. I'm pretty sure the electrical item would need a real bs kite mark if you wanted any kind of leg to stand on

[smokin]

not sure I follow, but ok, ...I got my clone from a UK guy, what, about 4 years ago...and he has been top when I wanted a new tuner and power supply...free...both of which I really did not need, since it my error both times, however that was me... warranty on china based stuff is a no brainer...its not gonna happen, thats why I suggest you buy local...keep your friends in a job...