dreambox newbie questions

[stilo_jason]

I have been researching infomation on the dreambox
Hi, my first post here.....thinking of getting the dreambox as it looks like a great bit of kit.....just wondered if you could help me out with a couple of answers to some questions that I still have:

1) can you use a normaly "sky" subscription card in the box?
2) also will a sky "freesat" card work fine for freeview only channels?
3) thirdly are the above cards actually required with the DM as it can be updated with flashes? can channels 4 & 5 be picked up with just an update rather than a new card?
4) is there a limit on how many recordings can be made?
5) will it work ok on a sky "minidish" - i can recieve astra1, astra2, hipspasat & hotbird 13.e currently
6) how does the picture quality of DM compare with a standard digibox?
7) does the PVR function record by using a timer system or can does it work by choosing the program to record from the EPG and hitting record (or similar)?
8) how long is the EPG (eg, now and next, 1 day, 7 days or 14 days)?

Thanks for your help in advance.....look forward to finding out.....so hopefully will be getting one soon!

[Jimdefruit]

Welcome to the forum stilo_jason.

The dreambox is a great bit of kit with a lot of support.
Answering your questions simply, one by one:
1 - yes subject to some conditions
2 - yes
3 - cards are reqired for the uk and other channels that do not have ecryption 'cracks'. The Dreambox does not require cams because all decryption is done by softcams which can be downloaded direct to the dreambox.
4 - The number of recordings is only dependent upon the size of hard drive you have fitted. As an example, a 40 GB HD will allow recording of about 12 full length films. A 200 GB HD will allow about 60 films.
5 - The dreambox will work on a sky minidish depending upon where you are located. However, you will need something more than a minidish for some of the lower powered satellites with weak footprints in your location.
6 - The picture quality is at least as good as the minidish.
7 - The pvr function works by timer, epg and instant record. The epg is not the same as a digibox in that there are various plugins allowing different epg options. Because the Dreambox can receive far more satellite providers than just BSB, each with their own epg or in some cases none, the epg options vary considerably. Generally epg is limited to one or two days.

I hope that has answered some if not all of your questions.

[stilo_jason]

Hi Jimdefruit,

thanks for getting back to me on this, I seem to have quite good reception on the 4 satalites i mentioned (eg between 60%-80%), testing on my dads satalitte recieve (non-sky), I think a dreambox would be great but am just trying to decide if its worth going for the twin tuners option, does anyone have any experience of this and how often it get used, I understand this is down to personal use but I am looking for your view on whether its worth going for single or twin tuners.

cheers.

Jason

[Jimdefruit]

The support for the 7025 is limited compared to other DBs and there have been a few problems with software, probably because of the limited experience.

With the networking abilities of the dreambox, my own preference would be to have two boxes rather than a twin tuner model. Whilst that would be more expensive, the boxes could be in different rooms and have totally separate control whilst reading a single card.

[stilo_jason]

ok....ive settled on the 7020 but just want to confirm a few things:

a) can the box pickup the sky freesat channels without the freesat card?

b) i've heard that new sky freesat cards require activating in a sky digibox, as i do not own one of these is it possible to activate the card in the dreambox or will i need to get hold of a card thats already been activated?

c) i understand if this cannot be discused so please let me know if this is the case - my understanding is the dreambox allows viewing of some premium (subscription/pay) channels for free by using a softcam, is this correct? (please note i am not asking anyone to explain how this is done, just to confirm it is possible).

Thanks.

[Analoguesat]

a) You can get any of the FREE TO AIR channels (BBC, ITV, shopping, radio, religious etc) without any problems You CANNOT get C4, C5 or any of the other FREE TO VIEW channels - they need a Freesat card.

b) You will need a digibox to authorise a card. Depending on which image you use, not all images allow the stay alive card signals to pass, so you may need a digibox as well.

c) Yes but NOT Sky UK - it also varies whats open - at the moment theres very little open..

Be prepared for a VERY steep learning curve - DB's are hellish complicated beasts. I bought one over the summer (a 7020) and Im still learning the ropes.....

[Analoguesat]

One word of warning - the DB is not really a beginners box. If you dont have experience of flying "normal" receiver, a DB is a very bad choice to start with.....

Only buy one if you have HOURS of time to dedicate to it, are willing to neglect your friends and family to learn to fly it, are willing to ask for help when its all gone pear shaped for the 5th time and promise not to ebay it after a fortnight - which is what I came very close to on 3 occasions....

[stilo_jason]

Im still tempted to get a DB......I mainly want it for the FTV purposes (with a freesat card - which presumably a CAM is not required?).....while I understand its a case of jumping in at the deep end, I'm not willing to spend £150 on a half decent standard receiver and find that I need to upgrade in 3 months time spending a further £200/300 when its not doing everything I want - which is why I am asking so many questions about the DB's so I know what I'm getting myself into, I still think its the best choice.

The other side of it is I want the PVR functions it offers and am quite technically minded so think I would enjoy the challenge of a DB.

Thanks.

[Analoguesat]

Excellent - in that case if you are aware of the pitfalls GO FOR IT. If you want PVR then either get one with a hdd or be prepared to tinker more with settings to stream across a lan onto your computer hdd.

We will try and help you out when you get terminally befuddled over something - and you will at some point.

[stilo_jason]

right....last few things to confirm now:

A UK SKY freesat card (£20 from sky) will work with the DM, but I will require an origenal/real SKY UK digibox to both register/authorise the card and also for its serial number to put in the DM to allow the SKY card to give me the FTV channels (like channels 4 & 5).

Have I missed anything?

All I wanted was a PVR for (FTA/FTV) channels available via satallite rather than freeview.....the DB should hopefully meet these requirements and give me some extra channels to play with.....its a toss up between the DM fitted with HDD (with freesat and a sky digibox - for its serial no), or a freeview twin tunner PVR (humax?) and a FTA satalite reciever with CAM slot for future use.