Where to buy?

[twtw]

New to the scene, but have been doing a lot of research and reading - but to be honest there's so many conflicting opinions out there I'm getting confused! I'm hoping that one of the many experts here can point me in the right direction.

What I'm looking for is a simple box thats mainly plug'n'play (I realise there will be some updating every now and again, like in April this yeat when things changed in Dublin)

I think I've settled on a Starview 3, sounds like its the easiest one to use with widespread support.

However I'm confused as to the best place to buy one. I'd like to ensure that its's a genuine model, not a clone. I've emailed quite a number of suppliers and most of them haven't even bothered to reply back. Also some are really cheap (£60), others are around the £95 mark. Now logic tells me that for £60 its *most likely* a clone. But how do I know for sure that a £95 version isn't one too?

Can anyone offer any advice please? (PS, I'm in Ireland if that makes any difference).

Cheers!

[lucky13]

_www.iwantabox.com have always served me well and all the boxes they've sent me have been genuine.

It is illegal for a seller to provide these cable boxes pre-flashed (plug'n'play). Your box will most likely arrive blank and you will need to load the firmware onto it. If you hit any probs - there are plenty of ppl on here happy to help you

Might put a spanner in your works but imho the Eurovox is the easiest box to set up and extremely well supported with firmware updates.

[twtw]

Thanks lucky13 for the advice.

Actually iwantabox was one of the companies who actually took time out to reply to me. So they are one my short list.

I was considering a Eurovox too. However from what I have read, the Starview is one of the most popular boxes in Ireland? Therefore I'm thinking that it'll have perhaps better support if required?

I like the look of the Eurovox PVR. But then again what if the Nagra is updated and its bricked next week? I was considering that a cheaper device might be better?

I understand about the boxes being supplied with FTA instead of 'other' software. Although I don't even know where to start to wipe the FTA and load up the required software.

I was thinking one step at a time - decide upon and get a box, then that would hopefully narrow the amount of research required some what.

Or perhaps I'm going about this the wrong way?

[lucky13]

Am in Dublin myself. Both boxes are popular and the support for each as regards firmware updates seem equal.

Nagra could be updated next week but then again it could be 12 months - you have to decide for yourself to risk the money or not. You could get the PVR to save space under your telly or you could connect up a DVD (or HD) recorder to your Starview/Eurovox.

You don't 'wipe' firmware, you overwrite it and it is as simple as connecting your box to your pc, launching the firmware on your pc and hitting the download button on the screen.

You will need an rs232 socket your desktop/laptop in order to flash the firmware to your box. (if needed you can buy an rs232 to usb adapter)

[twtw]

So Eurovox is also good in Dublin then? Hmm, guess I have so more thinking to do!

Is the Eurovox also cloned, or there only genuine?

Thanks for the tip about the USB/RS232 converter. I'd need one of those. Where's the best place to sourse one? Ebay?

[twtw]

Meant to ask, which Eurovox do you have? Is it any good? (Sorry if I should be asking this in the Eurovox forum!)

[Jateen30]

I bought mine from www.wizardsatellite.co.uk/ they arrived in two day and have been working excelent.