VU+ boxes, what's best for me?

[sacvp99]

Hi, I'm looking into buying a VU+ box but I am a complete VU+ newbie. I currently have a Skybox F5 (with *Magic*) which I use along side my regular Sky TV HD box (minimum subscription).

My Sky TV deal is coming to an end and so I'm thinking of cancelling with them and getting a twin tuner PVR that has a similar looking EPG to that of my proper Sky HD box. Can anyone suggest the best box for me and is it possible to use my current *Magic* on a VU+ box?

I've read loads of threads about Vix? Blackhole? and other different flashes and channel lists/bouquets etc and it's all a bit overwhelming when I'm used to my fairly straight forward Skybox F5 receiver.

Couple of things, any box will be hard wired via PoE so doesn't need to be wireless/WiFi compatible. Also, I wonder if it's possible to put apps on the boxes like iPlayer /ITV player / catchup etc.

Thanks.

[cactikid]

vu solo2 with internal hdd would suit you,but be aware if only on 28.2 hd is a thing of the past as their card was paired to their boxes,one can get all sd channels by other means,if you had a live cable feed one can get hd on those channels.box can have plugins like kodi=xbmc,ts media or kodi might have those that you mentioned as others would have to confirm.

[Bann32]

Cactikid is right but just to expand more, it depends...

Do you want to watch one channel and record another? Do you have Sat and Cable or just Sat?

If your only interested in a single feed from Sat and not watching and recording at same time there is the VU+ Zero and the VU+ Solo SE.... Althought the VU+ Zero is usually considered to be a receiver you use as an additional receiver so you can watch y tv in another room.

[sacvp99]

vu solo2 with internal hdd would suit you,but be aware if only on 28.2 hd is a thing of the past as their card was paired to their boxes,one can get all sd channels by other means,if you had a live cable feed one can get hd on those channels.box can have plugins like kodi=xbmc,ts media or kodi might have those that you mentioned as others would have to confirm.

I've got a cable access point on the wall in the living room but I am not a customer of thiers. Do I need both?

As for what I actually want... Well, I guess I'm just looking for a similar setup to what I have currently. Watch one, record another... SD channels are fine as it's all I'm used to apart from BT sports as they are still available in HD on my F5 at the minute...

Had a quick look on YouTube and there's a couple of videos of the solo2 with a fantastic epg / sky themed display which is just what I'm after but am worried it may be complicated to setup/install/maintain...

Thoughts?

[cactikid]

sat boxes are dish only use but if you had a live cable feed [ plug into tv and scan to see ] one could get a combo sat+cable box.if no live tv then stuck with sat, on the home of vix they have a manual in pdf for pc/laptop showing step by step instructions to follow and free to download.you would to be able to use an ftp program like filezilla to send info to box.
boxes can come preflashed with image of your choice and you need download your cam to box first.as per the rules we cant help further.
when box is setup correctly having usb for epg and autobouquetmaker setup all you need then is to enjoy your viewing.
on the odd time a full reflash is needed as boxes cannot software update due to changes of program.

[sacvp99]

sat boxes are dish only use but if you had a live cable feed [ plug into tv and scan to see ] one could get a combo sat+cable box.if no live tv then stuck with sat, on the home of vix they have a manual in pdf for pc/laptop showing step by step instructions to follow and free to download.you would to be able to use an ftp program like filezilla to send info to box.
boxes can come preflashed with image of your choice and you need download your cam to box first.as per the rules we cant help further.
when box is setup correctly having usb for epg and autobouquetmaker setup all you need then is to enjoy your viewing.
on the odd time a full reflash is needed as boxes cannot software update due to changes of program.

Would the TV pick up anything if I just stuck the cable into the tv straight from the cable/virgin media point on the wall? I thought it would need to go through a cable set top box first?

Thanks for all your advice guys....

[benny/9]

you would need a cable xml file and then scan the service

[digicon]

Would the TV pick up anything if I just stuck the cable into the tv straight from the cable/virgin media point on the wall? I thought it would need to go through a cable set top box first?

Thanks for all your advice guys....

Depends on your TV tuner a lot of the Smart TV's these days will accept the Cable frequency's on a normal scan seeing as most share the same frequency as Freeview, I have 3 Samsung Smart TV's here the oldest being around 4 years old and that asks if you want to scan cable frequency

[sacvp99]

Depends on your TV tuner a lot of the Smart TV's these days will accept the Cable frequency's on a normal scan seeing as most share the same frequency as Freeview, I have 3 Samsung Smart TV's here the oldest being around 4 years old and that asks if you want to scan cable frequency

Is the general opinion that a combi (sat/cable) box is preferred or twin sat box?

Thanks again for all the advice.

[cactikid]

if you get a box get one with swappable tuners so one could change a tuner to change from sat to cable or vice-versa

[sacvp99]

if you get a box get one with swappable tuners so one could change a tuner to change from sat to cable or vice-versa

Is that a physical hardware swap or just simply a config/software change.

I think I'm going to purchase next week from wos as have read good things about their boxes and the images they put on them. They have VU+ Solo2 with internal 500G HD pre flashed for ?260 at the minute. That sound like a decent investment to you guys?

Thanks,

[sacvp99]

Just called wos and they recommended the Xtrend 8000 are you familiar with that box, he said it was a similar spec and around the same price if not a little cheaper but has plug and play tuners where as the solo2 doesn't...

Confused now as had almost made my mind up!

[benny/9]

for me as long as you dont buy any clone crap all linux boxes are good and work more or less the same way and i would take recommendations on boxes from users not dealers. they have vested interests members on here will give a genuine honest reply to what they recommend, what you need to decide is what you want from the box ie: multi tuner for sat cable terrestrial or a twin sat tuner is a single tuner all your require then you will get the best help, my view is vu are the best boxes on the market, but i know others have there own opinion,

[cactikid]

yep have 3 solo,duo,solo2 all sat receivers,getting an xtrend 8000 with 2 x cable tuners,and if your really mad a quad cable tuner box has just been put on the shelves for sale.i prefare 1 tb but could not stretch to a 4 tb hdd

[blueflash234]

i have had a xtrend 9200 which i have used for about 4/5 years and never missed a beat in that time i really like xtrend you wont go wrong with a xtrend the swapable tuners do give you more flexibility,i also have a vu solo se which i think is a great box to then there is the gigablue quad which also has swapable tuners, they are all good boxes made by good reliable manufactors you wont go wrong with any of them