Sorry but the LX has no buttons at all on the unit so not an option. I was looking at the Zgemma star and came across this advice "menu-setup-system-user interface (just go up from a/v settings)-button setup" does anyone know if I can change the front panel volume buttons to do channel up/down using this - in which case it would do the job adequately.
Also can someone confirm the Zgemma will definitely record HD channels to the external HDD?
Trust me, they will lose them all!
In my opinion, you should disregard the buttons requirement. You can use apps on your phone to control the receiver as well as stream to them.
I thought about this for a minute but then thought again - no I really do want front panel buttons, or else we will have the wife screaming she can't change channel and where is the bleeding remote gone?
Thanks for the duckbox pointer I am taking a look.
So I have a list of some candidates for cheapies:
Enigma2 Linux Sab Triple Tuner 2X DVB-S2 DVB-T SAB Unix Triple Tuner HD S903 for £102
Zgemma Star 2S Satellite Receiver Twin DVB-S2 Tuner Enigma Cloud Ibox 2 £72 but I would have to hack the VOL+/- buttons to be channel change... hmmm...
NBOX 5800SX HD BSLA TNK LINUX ENIGMA2 TWIN TUNER 250GB HDD RECORDER £80 - cheap as chips!
The SAB one looks tempting.
to consider is will the box you buy be supported in the long term
Fair point - so the equation seems to be - pay double for a well-supported box (up front), versus pay once for a poorly supported box, and if things go wrong, buy another one a few years later.
But presumably by then the cheaper one will be either Moore cheaper (geddit!) or have Moore functionality.
Moore's law innit?
Another aspect of support is whether the model you have invested in is still supported, Fortec dropped off support on the Passion which was irritating, and concentrated on the newer models. When there is no money in it then support tends to drop off.
Thanks for the replies all. I have spent a few minutes reading an interesting thread on the Miraclebox, but on the Topfield/toppy forum. Some useful insights there. It looks to be a contender despite some "issues". Also found a used one for £90 on the flea... I'll take a look at the Aliens next.
Thanks for the heads up about Spark being a closed source environment - not of much interest then.
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What about the SAB Unix Triple Tuner HD S903? Anyone have an opinion?
Although there are no buttons on the front panel, they are located just behind it
THis is also acceptable - just what the X3 has. However I just downloaded the user manual for the xpeed - good job I can read German eh - and it's only vol +/-, no channel change, so again close, but no ceegar.
The Zgemma almost looked OK but no channel change buttons. This doesn't bode well for those lost remote days...
My question is why Cheap ?
Because I'm as tight as a gnat's chuff? I like to get best bang for my buck on any purchase which leaves money left over for other stuff....
However as no-one seems to be making a cheap box with 4/5 front panel buttons looks like I'll be keeping my money and fixing the X3.
The Wetek has no buttons (that I can see) on the front panel so that's out. Nor does the VU+ Zero (I just downloaded the user guide). So I am editing my post to make sure the requirements are easier to understand...
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.
