Hi all, most of the requests/recommendations here are for higher-end boxes so here's a request for a cheap box.
My past boxes have been: Fortec Star HD, then Openbox X3. The Fortec could record in full HD ;^)
I currently run 2 dishes on Astra 28.8 and 19.2 with a DiSEqC switch near the dishes. I use the 19.2 for free F1 when BBC don't have it live that week.
My X3 has just gone bad and I suspect the LNB voltage but while I fix this I started looking at Linux boxes.
My work background is 25 years C/C++ programming and 30 years unix/linux/android so I would like to fiddle with the box if possible - the openbox was very much closed. And I can use a soldering iron too, and read schematics.
Must-have Requirements List
a) Cheap!
b) Blind scan/channel update actually works.
c) Easy maintenance of favourite list.
d) Easy channel editing interface.
e) Easy to use remote control for the family (and non-techhy wife)
f) Front-panel access to the menu and ability to change channels because my family always lose the remote on a regular basis. ;^(
g) Decent and solid Full HD picture (artefacts I don't like are: freezing, glitches or blocky picture, "ghost" balls in snooker, "snooker table" grass in Rugby. )
h) HDMI output.
i) HD recording (internal or external HDD don't mind) - the Fortec Star could do this.
If your suggested box doesn't do all of the above then I won't be buying it...
Nice to have but not essential would be:
dual tuner as terrestrial is always a fallback.
Ethernet. USB front and back.
Cross-compiler environment so I can build native applications.
Schematics and layout as a pdf.
Root login, and remount /usr and / as RW to load on my own extras while keeping the main firmware.
Also I have been looking at the two firmware types (which some of the boxes run alternately) Spark, and Enigma2 - what are the main differences in a nutshell and are there any good FAQ's on Spark? (I found some on Enigma2)
Some of my main gripes with my previous boxes has been the arcane user interface when setting up channel lists and favourites etc, so a nice one would make a pleasant change.