Skybox F5s - is it worth it?

[KevinM2k]

Hi,

I currently have a DM500s and have done for quite a while I have a few gripes with it meaning I hardly use it these are:

1. The remote control literally needs to pointed exactly at the infrared light inthe receiver for it to work
2. The 7 day EPG and general menu's look awful (even on Commando 14.7)
3. No High Definition
4. No hard drive or quite difficult to set up networking hd
5. No streaming to mobile (there are guides but they never seem to work and the web interface is pretty poor)
6. Goes out of sync quite a lot
7. Drops channels and needs to be restarted to get it working again

Does the F5s improve on any of this? the importance of these points is the same order i've put them in - ive noticed they are similar in price on fleabay - so the price between selling mine and buying one of these wouldn't be much difference.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

[Affableaardvark]

Hello Kevin
I have the F5S and a Technomate 5402 M2 and the F5S is a lot easier to use. The new EPG update is easy to use and I have a 111gb usb drive - non powered connected to record programs. The remote works fine and has no issues using from 10 feet away. No experience with streaming so cannot help. The family think that the F5S is better than the Technomate as it is easier for them to find programs using AJ's favourite list.

[katieb]

OMG no HD change quick

[sattv5]

Hi,

I currently have a DM500s and have done for quite a while I have a few gripes with it meaning I hardly use it these are:

1. The remote control literally needs to pointed exactly at the infrared light inthe receiver for it to work
2. The 7 day EPG and general menu's look awful (even on Commando 14.7)
3. No High Definition
4. No hard drive or quite difficult to set up networking hd
5. No streaming to mobile (there are guides but they never seem to work and the web interface is pretty poor)
6. Goes out of sync quite a lot
7. Drops channels and needs to be restarted to get it working again

Does the F5s improve on any of this? the importance of these points is the same order i've put them in - ive noticed they are similar in price on fleabay - so the price between selling mine and buying one of these wouldn't be much difference.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

In all honesty the skybox series will be a definite backwards step for you
look for something based on enigma 2 and you will be definately heading in the right direction

[KevinM2k]

In all honesty the skybox series will be a definite backwards step for you
look for something based on enigma 2 and you will be definately heading in the right direction

This is probably my main concern. I don't want to spend too much, obviously I could go for something like the Vu+ duo but the price of those are far too high for me right now.

What boxes would you suggest? there is the DM800HD, but to be honest I dont really want to spend over ?100 if possible - what other boxes are there that would suit?

Thanks

Kevin

[southpaw]

Cloud ibox 2 (or 3 is now out) is cheap, don't get the first model, more powerful processor than dm800 and can snag one from China for around 80 delivered , enigma 2 so full epg and streaming capable

[KevinM2k]

Cloud ibox 2 (or 3 is now out) is cheap, don't get the first model, more powerful processor than dm800 and can snag one from China for around 80 delivered , enigma 2 so full epg and streaming capable

I found one on alibaba which although says $75 to $90 for an ibox 3, when speaking to him he said because i'd only want one he'd charge $150 delivered which is still only like ?90.

Is alibaba a reputable enough site to order from? Where did you get yours from southpaw - just as i'm in merseyside as well so if you got yours local i could look at that.

[zubairhussain]

go for a cloud ibox 2 off egay

Cloud ibox Enigma 2 operating system also available mini duo dual tuners | eBay

cheap

[KevinM2k]

go for a cloud ibox 2 off egay

Cloud ibox Enigma 2 operating system also available mini duo dual tuners | eBay

cheap

The one you are showing there is a Cloud IBOX 1 for ?65, where as on Alibaba its a IBOX 3 for ?90. IBOX 1 seems too old now - has any one bought from alibaba?

[antomac]

hi kevin im sure my mate bought 3 openboxs s10
from Alibaba and found him ok I think if you buy
3 at a time you get a better deal but he was fine to
deal with

[KevinM2k]

hi kevin im sure my mate bought 3 openboxs s10
from Alibaba and found him ok I think if you buy
3 at a time you get a better deal but he was fine to
deal with

I ended up going on ebay and buying a IBOX 2 for ?75 - comes today so i'll feedback my opinions on it if anyone is interested as an 'upgrade' from my dm500s. I decided buying from the UK (with a 30 day money back warranty on it) would be best just in case I have problems.

Thanks for the help though, it looks awesome with the blackhole software - although i've read something about one called blackpole which is a mix between blackhole and open pli - and there is also vix... fun times ahead!

[digicon]

I am afraid you cannot use the Blackhole or Blackpole images on either the Ibox 2 or 3 as they are based on different hardware, the original Ibox is a Vu Solo Clone which can take the Blackhole/Blackpole Image

[KevinM2k]

I am afraid you cannot use the Blackhole or Blackpole images on either the Ibox 2 or 3 as they are based on different hardware, the original Ibox is a Vu Solo Clone which can take the Blackhole/Blackpole Image

Not sure if it makes any diff but the one i've got coming is an ibox 2+ - its preloaded with blackhole and there does seem to be a number of blackhole images available for it on the official forum - not sure about blackpole though only seen that for vu boxes

[digicon]

Hmmmm! the ones on Ebay seem to contradict one another some sellers are saying its supported and some are saying only OpenPLI,OpenVix etc... but no Blackhole seeing as its based on the xpeed receiver you will be able to tell us when it arives

[KevinM2k]

Hmmmm! the ones on Ebay seem to contradict one another some sellers are saying its supported and some are saying only OpenPLI,OpenVix etc... but no Blackhole seeing as its based on the xpeed receiver you will be able to tell us when it arives

Ive done a little digging and it seems the cloud ibox 2 cant run blackhole but can run pli,vix and a few others where as the ibox 2+ can run pli,vix and blackhole (and a few others). This is confirmed on the official cloud ibox 2 website (i dont want to link to it incase that breaks any rules).

EDIT: Just to add, it seems that someone has managed to patch blackhole to work on the ibox2 boxes as well now so not just ibox3 and ibox2+ anymore

Not sure mines coming today - coming 1st class post apparently and not arrived yet so looks like it'll be tomorror now