simple advice needed on which box please

[karllap]

Hi,
I have been reading through the forum for weeks as there is loads of info on here which unfortunately is the problem!
Every time I think I have made my mind up it is contradicted by another bit of info that I read.

All I am after is some advice as to which box to buy.

I have a tight budget (don't we all these days!) and am not after anything special. I just want to be able to watch sky channels and foreign channels for a lot cheaper than what sky costs without loads of technical stuff.

I was thinking of a Dreambox 500 to start with and if I get the bug I can always upgrade. Would this be a good place to start and would I get everything I need out of it?

I understand that I will need to cs and I know that it can't actually be discussed on here but could anybody point me in the right direction were I can get advise on which are the better sites to cs with as I understand there are a lot out there that give a rubbish service.

[Shady]

Hi Karllap. I was in the same boat as you and I finally settled on the technomate 500, you can pick them up for around ?75. I used to have a lot to do with the cable variant of the 500c, and while they are a good box, i did have a fair few die on me. I appreciate that I may have had a bad batch and conversely, one i had before n3 had lasted for yrs. word of advice. the prices from chinese sellers may be attractive but try to stay uk based.
With both the TM-500 and DM-500, you will get a lot of help on here.
Another plus for the dreambox is the ability to record to pc or nas drive, which i dont know if the tm-500 can do.
hope this helps

[Manic01]

Pay extra tenner or so and get TM600. PVR ready.

[karllap]

Hi Karllap. I was in the same boat as you and I finally settled on the technomate 500, you can pick them up for around ?75. I used to have a lot to do with the cable variant of the 500c, and while they are a good box, i did have a fair few die on me. I appreciate that I may have had a bad batch and conversely, one i had before n3 had lasted for yrs. word of advice. the prices from chinese sellers may be attractive but try to stay uk based.
With both the TM-500 and DM-500, you will get a lot of help on here.
Another plus for the dreambox is the ability to record to pc or nas drive, which i dont know if the tm-500 can do.
hope this helps

Hi,
Thanks for the help, glad to hear its not just me that was unsure as a newbie.

I forgot to add that I would also like the ability to record like sky+ kind of thing.

[Shady]

not a prob.. another bit of advice.. make sure whatever box you do end up choosing is linux based.

[hooley]

Hi,
Thanks for the help, glad to hear its not just me that was unsure as a newbie.

I forgot to add that I would also like the ability to record like sky+ kind of thing.

If you want sky + kind of thing you are looking at getting a box with two tuners, this will allow you to record one channel and watch a different one. These type of boxes aren't cheap, a vu+ duo is around 380 pounds.
If you want to be able to just record what you are watching the Tm600 as Manic said is a good reliable box to start off with.

[king krish]

im in the same boat as you and cant decide, my budget is ?200 and so far best options i seen to get pvr and hd are the blade 7000 and the GGG HD, they are both pretty new on the market but as yourself im clueless which to get, also i dont know how to find a CS server so may all be a waste for me...

[karllap]

has anybody come accross the gds 7000 HD?
I have seen a site selling a full setup including motorised dish for ?135
I am guessingh that they aren't to good as I can't find much information about them but just thought it was worth throwing it in the mix

[karllap]

ok, think I have settled on this
TECHNOMATE TM5200 D SUPER + 100CM DISH MOTORISED SYSTEM on eBay (end time 06-Jan-11 19:37:09 GMT)

what do you guys think?

[mdt]

ok, think I have settled on this
TECHNOMATE TM5200 D SUPER + 100CM DISH MOTORISED SYSTEM on eBay (end time 06-Jan-11 19:37:09 GMT)

what do you guys think?

although this is a good system for a first timer and there is quite a bit open at this moment via softcam/patch you would be better off spending a extra ?10-?20 and replacing the tm5200 for a tm600 as it will do the same via the softcam/patch it is also linux based and can do a great deal more with the help of a broadband connection.

[karllap]

although this is a good system for a first timer and there is quite a bit open at this moment via softcam/patch you would be better off spending a extra ?10-?20 and replacing the tm5200 for a tm600 as it will do the same via the softcam/patch it is also linux based and can do a great deal more with the help of a broadband connection.

they want ?250 for the tm600 option with a 1m dish ot ?230 with an 80cm dish so its quite a bit of difference.
The 5200 has PVR so what would I gain by getting the tm600 ie would it be worth the extra money.
I'm not that interested in tinkering and messing about, just want to be able to watch cheap sport and films!

[hooley]

The tm5200 has no Ethernet port, so you will have great difficulty going down the c/s route. It can be done but if you purchase the tm600 it would be much easier because this has an Ethernet port.
Of course if you weren't planning on c/s this dosent matter,but you won't get you're cheap films or sport

[suley]

Just to point out for the cs route you need an internet connection active to the box.

I would generally recomend dm's due to better support and linux based etc.

[blueflash234]

also look at the spiderbox or maybe the protec where by u will get a lot of channels to choose from with not to much effort and u can be watching tv and decide how you want to go linux boxes are great but its a big learning curve anyway its just another option and you get plenty of options when it comes to satelite,but if u go for a dreambox the dm 500 hd clone is out for about ?170 which could be a decent buy for a dm hd and its got the new 400 mhz processer

[suley]

I would say dm500hd aswell since i its a very powerfull box, it will be out in 2 weeks, is very powerfull