Recommendations Please?

[gregg1978]

Hi everyone,
I currently have a Skybox F3, but thinking of updating soon, can anyone recommend a good upgrade (but only upto around ?80) & hopefully have a Clock display on the box, the f3 lets me down due to the clock losing time until I switch on etc, plus i'd prefer the USB to be in the back. I notice there is a newer one called the F5 but unsure as to what peoples thoughts and experiences are with this box, should also mention i'd like one thats quite good at setting to record

Many thanks to all that help in advance

[P&D]

Hi grag

Stick with the F3 mate unless you want to shell out ?120-150 for a better box
i would stay well clear of the F5

[digicon]

Hi everyone,
I currently have a Skybox F3, but thinking of updating soon, can anyone recommend a good upgrade (but only upto around ?80) & hopefully have a Clock display on the box, the f3 lets me down due to the clock losing time until I switch on etc, plus i'd prefer the USB to be in the back. I notice there is a newer one called the F5 but unsure as to what peoples thoughts and experiences are with this box, should also mention i'd like one thats quite good at setting to record

Many thanks to all that help in advance

You already own probably the top of the range of the cheap tat brigade as it is, The F5 is just the F3 in a new skin.

?80 would get you nothing as good as what you already have you need to be spending at least in the region of ?130 and above for a proper upgrade

[Shady]

f the cheap tat brigade,

snob

[gregg1978]

Thanks for the reply guys, looks like i'll stick with what I have for now.

p.s. is the openbox x5 any good? and does the epg work properly on it?

[mahrkpat]

The X5 has very little support at the moment if things go wrong then you are in trouble and another negative it uses .bin format for it's channel list which doesn't seem to be compatible with any other channel list therefore if you are not a fan of making your own channel list then you will have a job finding a ready made one. Epg now and next only for 28.2e.

[gregg1978]

The X5 has very little support at the moment if things go wrong then you are in trouble and another negative it uses .bin format for it's channel list which doesn't seem to be compatible with any other channel list therefore if you are not a fan of making your own channel list then you will have a job finding a ready made one. Epg now and next only for 28.2e.

Thank you, thats all the info I need, I will definitely just stick with my F3 for now. Cant fault the F3 for picture quality etc, just a few things bug me like the epg, the clock loses time and the file name for multi media playback is extremely short.

If anyone has any idea's for a middle of the road (?120-150) one i'd gladly listen as my birthday in 2 months so could upgrade to 1 of those then

Thanks again folks

[digicon]

Thank you, thats all the info I need, I will definitely just stick with my F3 for now. Cant fault the F3 for picture quality etc, just a few things bug me like the epg, the clock loses time and the file name for multi media playback is extremely short.

If anyone has any idea's for a middle of the road (?120-150) one i'd gladly listen as my birthday in 2 months so could upgrade to 1 of those then

Thanks again folks

There is quite a range for that sort of budget what you really need to ask yourself is do you want another closed source receiver that is easy to maintain or do you want an Enigma2 that has a lot more functionality so to speak.

[gregg1978]

Now you've just confused me , I have no idea what an Enigma2 is/does, I guess another version but more stable / smooth running etc?
sorry but as you can guess i'm a complete n00b, i've googles it but I keep getting "thats what the newer dream box uses", which again i dont understand, sorry

[Shady]

enigma 2 basically means a linux receiver capable of utilising plug ins etc

[digicon]

Now you've just confused me , I have no idea what an Enigma2 is/does, I guess another version but more stable / smooth running etc?
sorry but as you can guess i'm a complete n00b, i've googles it but I keep getting "thats what the newer dream box uses", which again i dont understand, sorry

have a look through the Enigma2 section on the forum to give you a rough idea of what there type of receivers are capable of compared to what you have now the F3, mainly your looking at Full 7 Day EPG with picons, Autotimer similar to series link and even having the On Demand plugins such as BBCiPlayer,ITV Player etc....

[gregg1978]

wow, thanks very much Shady & digicon - looks like thats what i'm going to look into now, the only way is up
Thanks again, greatly appreciated

[ajax2061]

you could try a skybox s6000hd this is reported to be a vu solo clone and can take solo images, they are also known run well hot so look at getting a cheap fan and modding it, this would give a full Enigma2 experience at a price where you don't break the bank.

Not got one myself mind just saying this on info I have read on this forum and will probably getting one myself in the next month or so, do some reading on here and see if it could be the box for you.

[digicon]

Just remember with the S6000/Cloud iBox there is no front panel display to show either time or date if that is still one of your requirements for a receiver

[gregg1978]

Yeah definaitely need a display, looking at the Nbox 5800sx HD, after a lot of googling there are some very good reports on this box and looks to do everything I need plus more and running that Enigma2 so thanks again