Interchange of Information Re Receivers

[Jimdefruit]

Whilst I know a fair bit about the Dreambox and Echostar range of satellite receivers , I am a bit ignorant about the others like Technosat, Relook, Reelbox etc.*

I feel it might be helpful to all newbies and quite a few old hands to get a simple description of the different boxes and what they do.

I am kicking off with a very brief description of the Dreambox and would appreciate descriptions of other boxes owned or used by other forum members.* The idea is to keep it very simple and not just extract info from sales brochures.


Dreambox 7000S

Operating System
Linux
250 MHz IBM PowerPC processor (350 Mips)
64 MByte RAM (working storage)

DVB common interface slot – 1
Smartcard readers – 2
Integrated compact flash reader – 1
MPEG2 hardware decoding (DVB compatible)
Future support for MPEG4 decoding
100 Mbit full duplex Ethernet interface
USB port 1.2
V24/RS232 connection
Built-in IDE UDMA66 master/slave connection
Unlimited satellite and channel lists
Applications for web browsing, mail and messaging
Multiple LNB switching (diseqc)
SPDI/F optical connection
2 Scart connections

DBS Tuner
Frequency range 950 – 2150 MHz
Symbol rate 2 – 45 Mbaud/s

General Operation

The receiver operates by means of downloadable images.* The Dreambox has a linux booting system which boots a software image that controls the receiver operation and user interface.* Hence the means of operation, although similar in various images, can be selected to suit the user’s preferences.

Having selected an image, and there are many to choose from, the user can download emulations and keys from the internet direct to the Dreambox, provided it is connected via LAN to the internet.

Satellite scanning is fully automatic or can be manually selected.

Multiple images can be loaded on the USB memory stick, hard drive or compact flash memory card.

The Dreambox can be interconnected to other Dreamboxes or similar software controlled receivers via LAN and WAN.

[Dogsbelly]

I have a Relook 400s. Unfortunately I know bugger all about anything TV . My son is a Korean speaker and has worked there for three years.
Basically Korean manufacturing standards are streets ahead of the Chinese equivalent. Thats not to say the Chinese stuff is inferior; at its best it is as good - it just has a variability that doesn't exist within Korean manufacturing.

The Relook is Korean. The Dreambox is made in China apparently. The Relook is very cheap if bought outside the UK.

it doesn't support images on USB stick so far which is irritating but the build quality and tuner [ there are two!!] sensitivity is winning it a following.

[Analoguesat]

Echostar IP3000VA (only available second hand nowadays.)

Has analogue and digital, which makes it totally flexible as to what you can watch with it.

Digital section:

1. MPEG-2 Video (MP@ML)
2. MPEG-1 Audio layer 1, layer 2
3. MPEG-2 Digital & fully DVB compliant
4. Viaccess embedded with 1 smart card
5. Capable of interfacing with the CAMs of DVB Common Interface standard
6. Capable of scanning the frequency for SMATV system
7. On-screen display with 256-color full resolution
8. Plug & Play installing program set-up
9. LD quality video, CD quality audio
10. RS232C port for additional information service and update of the receiver control software
11. Displays signal level to set up the satellite antenna with ease
12. Powerful editing facilities;
; PIDs, TV or Radio channel, channel name, satellite name, transponder name
13. Teletext function (Your TV should support teletext.) & Subtitling
14. SCPC/MCPC receivable from C/Ku-band satellites
15. Variable aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9) with pan vector
16. EPG for on-screen channel information
17. Multi-lingual function when provided by the satellite and broadcasting service provider
18. Total 5000 channels programmable (4000 Channels for TV & 1000 Channels for Radio)
19. S/PDIF(Sony/Philips Digital Interface) for the digital audio
Digital Section
1. 700 programmable channels
2. 1 IF input (900-2150MHz) / 1 bandwidth (27MHz)
3. 32-step low threshold extension (3dB)
4. Audio mono / stereo selectable
5. C/ Ku band (invert/ normal video format) selectable
6. 4 video level control
7. 4 decoder modes
8. Color GUI (Graphic User Interface) menu
(overlaid with digital graphic OSG menu and analog background live picture)
9. Powerful editing facilities; channel name, satellite name


Analog Section
1. 700 programmable channels
2. 1 IF input (900-2150MHz) / 1 bandwidth (27MHz)
3. 32-step low threshold extension (3dB)
4. Audio mono / stereo selectable
5. C/ Ku band (invert/ normal video format) selectable
6. 4 video level control
7. 4 decoder modes
8. Color GUI (Graphic User Interface) menu
(overlaid with digital graphic OSG menu and analog background live picture)
9. Powerful editing facilities; channel name, satellite name

The 2 CI slots are a definite boon, and the 3000's are known to work with all sorts of cams and cards. The receiver has lnb switching for 4 lnb's . Its not the fastest receiver around these days, but higgh second hand values on ebay show how well regarded these boxes are. I love mine, and would have another one if this one failed.


Edit - it is worth pointing out that the 3000's do not like symbol rates above 30,000 so are not recommended for use withDigiAlb on 16E, which use 32,000.