Technomate Purchasing advice.

[JediMind]

I recently found out the analogue signal where i live is getting cut off at end of the year, so im looking at getting digital setup for "UK Freesat" with a fixed dish

I've no experience with digital tv but have quite alot with linux "Debian" as i run a dedi server for gaming and shoutcast along with a few other services..

I've browsed the forums abit looking at stickies for dreambox and technomate, and its seems im going to get a technomate, as all cheap dreambox's i can find are chinese imports.

It seems to be a decision between

Technomate TM5200D Super
&
Technomate TM500
"i've got about ?100 spare for box"


im looking for some advice form any of you TM owners about which i should get also some questions

1. is the TM500 a clone of DM500 and can use the same images and tools etc like streaming to pc.

2. can the TM5200D Super have dreambox images on it and the tools ? does it have streaming to pc ability

3. Do both of them have the ability to pause live Tv, i've only seen that listed as a feature on the TM5200D Super

4. i've seen alot of threads from other places in 2007/2008 complaining about not being able to get channel 4 and 5, and also not being able to get fiver / five usa, is that still an issue on either of these box's "only really want channel 4"

5. how does displaying these on a 4:3 tv through SCART work does it get letterboxed or do the sides of picture get cropped

6. Do both these boxs have the ability to capture the stream directly as .ts or do they reencode the video ?

suggestion for any other brands or models welcome, main things id like to be able to do is record as .ts files untouched, be able to customize and play around with the box, stream live to pc and get channel 4 :P

p.s im really sorry if this is the wrong place to post, i tried lookign through forum but u've almost got too much info on here, i get lost in it all

[.: JaCkPoT :.]

The tm5200 doesnt use images as its non Linux, it cant stream or nothing. The tm500 is Linux allowing you to use images designed for it, not dreambox ones. The tm600 allows you to pause live tv as it has a harddrive slot.

[dick b]

If you are only after "freesat" why not consider a dedicated freesat box SD or HD, Humax do the best ones I believe and you will get the full epg that you will not get with the TM.

[JediMind]

thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

@ .: JaCkPoT :. , I think i will probably get the tm600 then thanks, do you know if the tm600 can stream live to a pc ?


@ dick b , all the freesat branded box for under ?120 ish have no record option from what i could see which is what i really want as i get distracted easily and like to be able to pause stuff, download most of the tv shows i watch at the moment

[.: JaCkPoT :.]

Yes tm600 can stream live to a pc.