Receivers, where to start ?

Catskill

Hi all,

I've had a little look, and am wondering, is there a beginners guide / idiots guide to receiver selection anywhere on the site ?
I'm looking to buy something and am really quite lost as to where to start and as to what all the specifications actually mean.
I realise most people probably have a handle on these things but would it be worth having a sticky here with a guide to what to look for and what all the different options and features really mean, cams/modules/ci/emulator etc etc etc..?
Just a thought.... and of any pointers more than welcome....Thanks

rolfw

Unfortunately it isn't as easy as that Catskill, it is probably best for novice members to explain what they want to achieve and then for the more experienced members to make suggestions on the type of receiver which will be most applicable.

There is also the fact that the receiver a novice will be happy with, may be soon outgrown and perhaps a slightly higher capability receiver might be better.

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Catskill

Hi rolfw, i completely take your point about individual receiver needs and suitability, i guess i'm meaning more a glossary of terms with regard all the features etc ..

v9oly

Hi catskill,
The options are vast, quite often you end up acheiving the same things but in completely different ways. I have seen many people buying a technomate 1000 series as a starter and being really pleased as it is very easy to get to grips with, then it's not long before confidence builds and they want a dreambox or something similar, rolf is exactly right.
Maybe the first thing to decide is do you want a standard receiver which can be patched and/or cam added, or do you want a linux receiver that mainly relies on software and programming by your pc. If you can decide between these two options first, then you could be advised a lot easier.
Maybe an idea of what you want to watch and how much time available you have to play with your new toy.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will receive pleanty of support here on the forum.
Good luck.

Regards,
Ollie

Catskill

Hi Ollie, that sums it up nicely for me..patched ? Cams? exactly my point what do either of these mean ?
Thanks

moosegoose

a patch is software u download on to your reciever usually through a cable.handy if u dont have a cam slot.technomates are good for this. a cam is is a device which can be programed and used on any reciever with a cam slot. handy if your reciever is not that well supported. i started with a technomate 1500 ci which is well supported and has a cam slot and 5000 channel memory.i changed to a dream box but apart trom the hard drive for recording movies i did not gain much. in fact i lost a week of my life setting it up.

Catskill

hi moosegoose. ok, so a cam is an alternative to a patch, a patch being directly changing the receivers software setup ?? and a cam doing the same but is a piece of hardware inserted into the receiver with the software on it and read by the receiver ??
So what information does the software contain ?
And what is an Emulator

v9oly

Hmmm.. see what you mean, this would take a while to document, heres a quick example.
You want to watch a package thats widely available at the moment, here are a some options
1. Patchable receiver - You connect your receiver to your pc via a special serial lead and connect to the box with a small 'loader' program/interface on your pc, then transfer the relevant 'patch' to the receiver, you then upload the latest keys in the same way or use the remote to punch them in . Example technomate 1000 series.
2. Cam, small thin device that slots into a receiver (slot permitting). The cam is then loaded with a 'patch' which enables it to act as the example above, you can also put a card in the cam and it should read this also. Note you will a card/cam programmer also. Costly initial outlay, but can be moved from receiver to receiver, also some cams have 'exclusive hacks' channels that can only be cleared with that make of cam. Examples Dragon, Trex, Diablo.
3. Linux receiver - These receivers are computerised and can be added to your local area network (LAN), once connected they can download 'virtual'cams (software versions of example 2) keys and various other pieces of software from the internet without the need for a pc. You will need to connect using your pc from time to time to install an image (system software like windows) and manually tranfer anything you can't download using the box. Although linux receivers can be costly to begin with, they rarely need any extras, as the software for them is free and they can do all of the above examples in one unit.

Please remeber this is only a brief introduction, quite often newcommers choose a receiver based on what other members around the forums are saying about ther receivers, so a good read around the forum will help.

As said before, if you can give members an idea of what you want from your receiver the answers can get a bit more specific.

Regards,
Ollie

Catskill

Cheers Ollie, thats more like the sort of thing i'm after..
As for my specific needs, well that kind of depends on what is realistically acheivable..and without knowing how it all works etc i might want something that i just can't have or even worse settle for something inferior not knowing what is just around the corner so to speak . !!
So i guess an outline of my aims then no doubt i can be corrected

As things stand right now, i'm planning to buy a 1.25 meter dish and motorize it, fit it with a dual LNB and use my existing analogue receiver and buy a digital receiver.

My Location is North West Bulgaria (thats north of Greece, south of Romania and east of Europe and west of Russia !!!

I'd like to watch sport, (boxing and football) films, whatevers around and any general interest english language programming... They show premiership matches on Diema, which is available from ITV Partner on 16E encrypted Cryptoworks
and also from Bulsat on 39E encrypted Griffin & Irdeto 2 these facts actually mean little to me but no doubt something to the rest of you..
Anyway i would like to watch programs from either of these 2 suppliers is that possible...?

Other than that i was thinking originally just to watch english channels from 13E 16E 19E (analogue and digital) however with the costs of fixed multi LNB setup being only £8 less than having a motorised dual output LNB setup, it would seem the options are vast, and depend more on what can be viewed with patches etc than what i know i want to watch..

Budget, well to be honest, very limited,

Ability, well, have a reasonable pc, crap home internet via 3G card, decent internet access at office (broadband). Can find my way around the PC and have used advanced mobile phone unlocking software.

is that info of any help ?

Robbo

Hi,

My suggestion would be to buy one of best supported and cheapest receivers around, have a good play with that for a while, and when or if you get bored with it at a later date upgrade to something like a Dreambox if you feel the need.

I've had my TM1000 for about 9-10 months now, and still happy with it at the moment, and its a sinch to use and 'get going'.

The latest TM5200 start at about £50 odd if you shop around. Or the TM1500Ci+ are probably going cheap as they've been replaced by the TM5400CI+, and would allow you to subscribe to an offical package such as DigitAlB for example.

Also if you are on a budget, the DiSEqC motors usually only do up to 1.2m at a push. Not sure how much load an extra 5cm would add to it.

Robbo.

Catskill

Thanks Robbo, i'll have a hunt and see if i can find a supplier out here, at a local supplier i can get this Echosmart DSB-791 for similar money... spec is here _http://www.satforum-bg.com/viewtopic.php?t=509 its all dutch to me ?

Robbo

Looks like Russian to me

Ideally get a receiver that has support in a language you can understand. I think the Clarke Techs can use TM software.

Catskill

Yes indeed, i set that one up nicely for you didn't i..
This supplier (local in Bulgaria) has the box for £55 and after searching the cheapest i could find it in the uk was £99 in the sale for £79
Does it have all the features that it would need ? nad how does it compare to the TM ?

Catskill

The local supplier has a choice of 2 motors
H-H мотор STRONG/MOTECK DM/SG2100A
and H-H мотор 6120


Both are £36 and both claim to be suitable for 125cm dish or 12kg so i guess thats the answer. get out the scales..

Other than that not sure on the difference between them..

Robbo

The Moteck sg2100A is a popular choice and reasonable for the price. I have read a lot of posts where people have had them on for a couple of years without a problem.

Catskill

sg2100A it is then, ... i will check the dish size and weight with the supplier as the dish will be coming from the same guy..

LNB wise, is anything going to make an enormous difference at my low level...
General Satellite and Inverto seam to be the local choice, both at 0.2db ,
Anything between them ?

Robbo

There are many threads on here already about variuos LNB types. The main influence is the dish size. However for fringe reception the LNB can make that little bit of difference that is needed. I found that my Inverto Silvertech 0.2 pulled in some transponders that my other (Fortec Star 0.2) couldn't.
Best read through some of the other threads to get a fuller picture.