DBOX2 vs EUROVOX EASE of Use Vs Features

[shaktoo]

Hello everyone,
Just joined and this is my first post.I havent yet bought any hardware as i cannot decide which one ? I know this question surely has been asked zillion of times... but if Anyone can help me settle my mind it will be greatly appreciated.
I am a newbie and have never even done any FTP before.. so thats my level of NOOBINESS !!! but I am very eager, keen to learn and geting to understand all this tech stuff... but i really DO want ease of use... with the best features ... i want plug and play ease.. like i think eurovox has ... but if you have to do firmware updates and reflashing as in recent posts (for killing off cloned boxes ) then whats the difference then Dbox??
i read a few forums and dummys guide to dbox2 as well... unfortunately thats left me a bit puzzled...please someone correct me if i am wrong... for dbox to get working... i need to buy a debug mode box and then flash a latest image and then do i set up services.xml and bouquets.xml and falsh them too and is that it ???? caus there are 2 other guides that then go on to entering all details about evocmd and keys ???? caus thats going to be a bit too much for me....being a (semi)lazy bugger and with 3 young ones running around.
so in short main questions:
1-out of box easiness.....in installing /set up and flashing...dbox or eurovox?
2-picture quality and widescreen function ? is dbox better then eurovox?
3-does one re flash dbox quite frequently ? and if so do you have to go through and reset all services and bouquets etc etc again? and is that the same for eurovox or different?
4-how many times can one actually flash dbox?what if i buy a box which then becomes useless in a short while? wouldnt then a new eurovox be better ?
5-also which has a better EPG?
6-which would better integrate with a HTPC as i am also building one and would use feed from the box to the media centre??
i know these are a LOT of questions but i would really appreciate if someone could help me in making my mind up... thanks in advance ... and keep up the good work. Shak...

[D3LM4RT1]

1. The eurovox is literally an out-of-the-box set-up - usually within 20m mins. .... reading the guys who have DBox's, they state that it;s a harder a set-up, but worth it in the end ... I'm a lazy so-and-so, therefore went for the Eurovox!! ... no complaints from me.

2. No wide-screen function on Euromax ... otherwise picture vg

3. Eurovox auto-updates

4. No comment ... don't have a dbox

5. EPG is OK with Eurovox ... but tbh I don't rally use it

6. The Eurovox only has 2 scarts and a RS232

Hope this helps

[shaktoo]

thanks D3. Is there anyone else with the experience of BOTH the boxes? anyone from camp dbox 2...
D3 in answer of Q2 you have written " eurovox autoupdates itself " thats the keys/code changes youare referring to isnt it ? thats what a dbox does as wellwhen flased with an image and working.
again i need input from any DBOX unthusiast for the answer to number 4.
my specific questions are about dbox2 about configuring it for keys/codes .. does one have to do that or once you have flashed with an image and put services.xml and bouquets.xml thats it ??
thanks in advance for any/everyone's comments.

[lincsat]

I've only got experience with the d-box.

There's no limit to the amount of times they can be flashed, just like any cable/satellite box, you can keep updating until something fails.

The features are often dependant on the installed firmware/image, in general the EPG is good, they Autoupdate the keys quite quickly. Most D-box images have 3 cams installed so a minor change by the Cableco can sometime be bypassed by a few key strokes rather than having to wait for then install new firmware. If anything major happens, the D-Box is usually updated much quicker than the Eurovox or other cable boxes.

The D-Box has 2 scarts for connecting to your PC or HTPC and you can select composite, RGB or S-Video output. Most communication is done with a crossover Ethernet cable rather than the null-modem with the EV box, so you may need to install a second Network card into your HTPC.

With both boxes you can plugin scan for channels and play, depending on the firmware of course, but if you get a d-box with a recent UK image it's pretty much ready to go.

Make sure you get a D-Box2 not a D-Box1!

[shaktoo]

thanks linksat, that pretty much answers my questions. just one more thing .. which is the best image where everything is pretty much included for UK/IRELAND....that is except for flashing the image i wouldnt have to do nothing much...is it Sporster? or Commando any good ?? i will check out the forum for the best image myself as well but if you already know might help me as well thanks.
i Am going to buy Dbox2... so any one selling... or hsould i turn to Fleabay?
Thanks

[lincsat]

The only images I know anything about are my own They have pretty much everything you need in them.

Commando are distributed without and keys, so you need to install them, Sportsters used to be good, so long as it's a UK modded one.

Ebay is as good as anywhere, watch out for UK sellers as they often have duff boxes that they are trying to get rid of.

[shaktoo]

great to know Lincsat ....now will i be able to find your images in the downloads section ?? wait thats the lincsat beta45.2x isnt it... will it cover for Ireland as well ?

[lincsat]

It certainly works in Ireland, we only have documented a few Irish area codes, so it may not have the correct code for your location (default frequency, NetID and Symbol Rate), the slow scan will still work though - if your area codes aren't set and you know what they are, you can add them in the scanning section and please let me know so I can add them to later images

You can find the details from the Engineers menu of a subscribed Pace box.

[shaktoo]

ceers M8.. will now order the dbox flash it and keep you posted.. good work u guys...

[tekka84]

My m8 has a d-box an i have a eurovox.Both do the same job but for ease of use i would select the eurovox...never had a prob in 7month i had it.