Let me get this straight.

[britdan]

Hi guys.

First post, but have been reading your forums (and many others) for weeks.

I'm trying to get my head around all this new terminlogy, and I think it would be useful if somebody corrected me on anything I've misunderstood. I'm also going to try to find Windows equivalents for each thing, seeing as that's what I and many other people are used to. I know this will result in a tirade of non-noobs waxing lyrical about how you CAN'T compare Windows to a Linix-based receiver, but try and hold back if you can.

Bear in mind this is my understanding of what I've been reading on forums and should by no means be used by other noobs as a definitive list.

Lets start with the basics...

Satellite: That lovely metal thing in space that bounces signals back to Earth.
Provider: Companies that send those signals to the satellites.
Satellite dish: The round/oval things on our roofs (or in our gardens if they're massive) that receive signals from whichever satellite they're poiting at.
Receiver: The box next to our TVs that decodes those signals.
(Windows equivalent: Computer)
Viewing cards: Loaded with codes/keys, which are updated by the providers, that decrypt paid-for channels.
F.T.A.(Free To Air) channels: Channels that we can receive for free, without keys/codes (although I believe sometimes cards are needed for FTA/FTV channels too)

Image (Gemini, Jade..etc): Our interface for the receiver that allows us to navigate through our options
(Windows equivalent: Windows)
Is Enigma an image, or something else? Enigma is the starting image,many coders use this image to alter and make there own image, you will see also Neutrino
Cam (CCCam, SoftCam...etc): Something that allows us to fool our boxes into thinking they have viewing cards in them. (Windows equivalent: Alcohol 120% or other img mounting software)
Emulators: Not sure, but I think they are files that... er... "emulate" the cards that we are pretending to have in our receivers.
(Windows equivalent: .img files)
Is this right? Yes
Keys: Codes that decode paid-for channels.
(Windows equivalent: patches or cracked .dll files)
Key updaters: Because providers regularly change codes or new channels get added, the key file should be updated regularly.
Bouquets: Lists of organised easily-navigatable channels which can be created yourself using the remote or DBE, or they can be downloaded.
(Windows equivalent: Start Menu -- All programs [kind of])
.xml file: A list of satellites and transponders that you can search, but not necessarily receive any channels from.
(Windows equivalent: Er... torrentz.com maybe? Cnet downloads?)

So the minimum I must have if I want to watch FTA channels is a...
- dish
- box
- an image (usually pre-loaded by the manufacturer)
- a list of satellites and transponders to seach (usually pre-loaded by the manufacturer)
- a viewing card (in some cases)

And if I want to watch paid for channels...
(all of the above)
- a cam
- an emulator (Not sure about this)
- keys
- key updaters (not essential but useful)

Does anybody want to correct anything? Please jump in and correct me if I'm talking out my arse

Last few questions.
What are 'Settings' files and what do they do? settings files are someones favourite bouquets ( channel settings )
Is it pointless downloading bouquets when I probably won't be able to receive everything in it anyway, and channels are updated more often that bouquets are, so you are left with "(removed service)" everywhere? i would recommend to add someones bouquets, then delete the channels you dont want. You could do your own but this will take you ages , and the channels are constantly changing and moving so its best to let someone else do the hard work, i recommend using catseye`s settings i find them the best E2 ones in the world, and he keeps us updated .

-Whew-

Anyroad... Many thanks.

[plasterer]

Hello mate Good first post...................... Paul

[aftermath]

i have edited your post m8, was easier than copying and pasting again, just see my text in red next to your questions.

if anything is not clear give us a shout.

[britdan]

Cheers, fellas.

So "settings" and "bouquets" are generally the same? Nothing else is changed by downloading a settings file?

i would recommend to add someones bouquets, then delete the channels you dont want. You could do your own but this will take you ages , and the channels are constantly changing and moving so its best to let someone else do the hard work

You have NO idea how anal I am I'd actually enjoy the hard work. Give me a box of 1000s of pencil crayons and ask me to sharpen and organise the lot by colour and length, and I'm in my element. #somethingwrongwithme

So you're using E2. Do you recommend this image? I like to see as much as possible in the infobar.

And one more thing, if I downloaded the .xml from http://www.satellites-xml.eu and I included ALL satellites and transponders, then why can I now only get 100ish channels on Hotbird? Nothing has changed image/cam-wise, but before I changed the .xml, I was getting 1200+ from Hotbird. Different band transponders NOT split; same position for all split bands.

Thanks

[southpaw]

Nice to see a noob doing a little ground work before posting. Well done op

[aftermath]

Enigma2 is a nice image, there are so many different versions, it depends on which box you have. On a dreambox i prefer the PLi images or the Nabilosat darkstar, some people prefer the Gemini ones but a while ago some Gemini images detected clone boxes and killed them ( only way to get the box back was to J-Tag it )

when forums add a section called "settings " this is for the users favorite setup ( bouquets ) so you can install there favourites to save you the time.

it would be better to start your own if you have the time..

[RuberDuck]

Cheers, fellas.

So "settings" and "bouquets" are generally the same? Nothing else is changed by downloading a settings file?



You have NO idea how anal I am I'd actually enjoy the hard work. Give me a box of 1000s of pencil crayons and ask me to sharpen and organise the lot by colour and length, and I'm in my element. #somethingwrongwithme

So you're using E2. Do you recommend this image? I like to see as much as possible in the infobar.

And one more thing, if I downloaded the .xml from http://www.satellites-xml.eu and I included ALL satellites and transponders, then why can I now only get 100ish channels on Hotbird? Nothing has changed image/cam-wise, but before I changed the .xml, I was getting 1200+ from Hotbird. Different band transponders NOT split; same position for all split bands.

Thanks

E2 is not a image per say it actuallyreferes the operating system the receiver uses, all the "IMAGES" them selves are either E1 ( for the earlier receivers such as the DM500 ) or E2 ( for the more advanced receivers such as the DM800 ). the stock image shipped with the box for a example a dm800 will be a basic E2 image but you can easily change this for a variation made by one of the many teams however in the end no matter which image you do choose to use it will always be E2 for that box.

[britdan]

@aftermath
Yep. About a year ago I managed to brick a DM500. Not from a Gemini image, but using the wrong kind of cable to flash. Anyway, I took it back to the shop and pleaded ignorance and they exchanged it. Took the replacement to guys who know what they're doing and got it sorted, but the sods changed the root passwd so I couldn't access it. Went round recently and played hell with 'em, but what with language barriers and stupidity and that, rather than removing the root password, they finished up adding a parental control password!!!! Luckily I managed to guess that and remove it, but I was stuck for days and sleepless nights trying every method I found to remove the password but to no avail. Finally managed it.
Anyway, I digress.

@RuberDuck
So If I downloaded an E1 image from a forum like this, it wouldn't be the original E1 image shipped with the DM500S, it would be a bastardisation of it?

all the "IMAGES" them selves are either E1 ( for the earlier receivers such as the DM500 ) or E2 ( for the more advanced receivers such as the DM800 )

So can I not put an E2 image on a DM500S (clone), which as you say has an E1 image at heart?

@southpaw & @plasterer
Cheers. Didn't wanna waste anyone's time. The way I see it is nothing's EVER gonna happen to me that hasn't already happened to loads of other people, so there must already be an answer somewhere in the interweb. Actually, I only posted so I could download the tutorials, but then I thought may as well make it worthwhile.

[smirnoff_rules]

pli image is the best for your box ,, he must of changed password because he added a cline to the box to open channels , if u add another image u will need another cline if u have deleted his

PLi? Images website

[britdan]

@smirnoff_rules
Thanks. I've got Gemini 4.70 with CCam right now, but I'll give PLi Jade2 a go and let you know which I prefer. Should I get the usual one or the MaxVar one? What's the difference?

he must of changed password because he added a cline to the box to open channels

I'm sure that's EXACTLY why he did it and refused to either give me the password or completely remove it. What a nightmare I had trying to get rid of it. (Tosser!)

Now you said 'cline' not 'clineS'. Do you usually only need one for everything? I've heard about them, but I'm not sure what they are. Code? Keys? Links to servers with codes/keys?


And by the way, how do you get a .gif as an avatar? It wouldn't let me.

[RuberDuck]

@RuberDuck

So If I downloaded an E1 image from a forum like this, it wouldn't be the original E1 image shipped with the DM500S, it would be a bastardisation of it?

So can I not put an E2 image on a DM500S (clone), which as you say has an E1 image at heart?

The base image from Dream Multimedia is as basic as they come and not so customizable, and no i would not call other images bastardizations of the original E1 image as being a member of the VIX image team i know first hand of the hundreds and thousands of hours of testing and development that goes into making your own image.

you are correct the DM500 is a E1 receiver and because this it will never be able to run a e2 image, some e1 boxes such as the dm600 are powerful enough to run e1/e2 cross images specifically made for it but thats still very poor. personally i would never use a dm500 or its clone the hardware is just way too old, if you really want to stay with a e1 box go with a TM600 or TM500 SUPER ( technomate ) these boxes offer far better picture and sound quality plus the TM600 has 3 usb ports and can use internal / external HDD's turning it into a very nice PVR.

[britdan]

@RuberDuck
For what reason(s) might someone...

really want to stay with a e1 box

?

The only reason I have a DM500S (clone) is because they are readily available where I live and very cheap (about ?20 on sale), and you can just pop into a local dodgy satellite place and get them to sort it all out for you. I don't know if these guys are capable of doing the same with a Technomate or a Humax.

Anyway, now that I've "cut the cord", so to speak, and I'm gonna have a go at this myself, I was thinking of getting an HD receiver. The obvious choice is a DM500HD seeing as I've just got used to a Dreambox, or perhaps the DM800HD if I was feeling flush, but I haven't had a look at other manufacturers. Would they have similar programs like DBEdit and FlashWizard for doing the same jobs?

[RuberDuck]

i serioulsy would not go for the dm500hd or the dm800 have a look at the et500 and yes there all pretty much the same to setup.

[britdan]

i serioulsy would not go for the dm500hd or the dm800

----Why not?----

And I couldn't find an ET500 anywhere. Is it a Technomate. mate?

[RuberDuck]

my own opinion here, but the build quality of these receivers is not up to much and if you buy original receivers ie not clones you will be paying way way too much.

the et500 is a clarktech / extrend receiver.

look here for detials.

World Of Satellite