clone or not to clone

CROSSBONES

I am tempted to buy a clone 800. Any one else used a clone? The 500 clones seem to work ok, as long as there kept away from gemini images.

So maybe the 800`s work ok?

compufunk

There are clone DM800.s on the market already?

If it were a poll I would vote no, it seems like a big gamble, especially since the model is so new on the market.

I like the look of the AB IPBox 9000, It seems like a more reasonable atlernative to the DM800.

dig deep

Yes, the IP box seems to be a good machine

Clones are always risky, depends on how good they are made I think.

CROSSBONES

Yes I am thinking about getting an ipbox 9000, but the 800 clone is only £270. Like I said if its anything like the 500`s then worth the gamble.

The QboxHD is also looking promising!

My new 42" Panasonic is crying out for a HD box

Turok

i got this information of a clone around 2 month ago,price around 250$
but currencly the db800 clone,is not "realeased"
i got no further information at the moment!

CROSSBONES

There is some one selling clones on this forum

smiffie

Got one last week from a company in Leeds (they advertise on here). Ordered Friday 4PM and it was here Saturday 10AM and as far as I'm concerned my 12 month warranty is with them. I have one orginal and two clone 500s a C and an S which have worked flawlessly for months, well despite the usual dreambox software / images settings etc issues which go with the open software philosophy.

They probably come out of the same factory anyway, lets think about it Dream won't be making these in Germany, They'll be made in the far east like everything else is. Mine has been tricky to set up, a few problems but they are the same as people with originals. Looked at the AB IPBox and it doesn't run CCCam, is too dear and I can't see the advantage two tuners for me anyway. At 400 pound now an original is too dear for something with so many problems, the one I've got does run hot, but then I haven't fitted a drive yet (one step at a time). Have a look at the article below, and note the quote in some areas the clone is better built!


_http://www.austech.info/dreambox/14505-dm800-genuine-clone-differences.html

blobber

According to reports on another forum (don't know if I should name link but but it is possibly the forum of the same supplier near Leeds?) there is already a killer software being spread to attack the DM800 clones.

Personally, this sort of vandalism, against who might be quite innocent customers, puts me off supporting this brand by buying an original either. But is there any other HD kit that has nearly as good channels and streaming capabilities as this dreambox?

smiffie

Sorry, typo, the one I've got DOESN'T run hot and seems fine on HD channels but I will have to leave it on test for a while.

blobber

The clone shown on that aus site seems to have only a fraction of the ventilation grille area in its base compared to the original. Is your the same?

smiffie

Yes, that was the only difference that I spotted on those pictures that I can identify with mine. I'm still not 100% certain that I have a Clone, it is very well built, I am just assuming its a clone because of the price I've paid. The other thing I did notice is that my network port is in a different place, basically transposed with the DVI port. It was something I looked for after reading about it elsewhere, but the backplane on the two boxes are the same on that Aussie forum.

I have little sympathy for Dream with these clones because their pricing is wrong and they don't seem to be able to get a quality tested product on the market in a timely manner. Others like Technomate and AB don't seem to have such problems.

I've read bootloader 70 may have a problem, I believe the bootloader in my image is 62, but can't confirm as I never got release notes with it. At the end of the day if I get a working image I just leave it. Hate having to reflash and reinstall, the worst is setting up all the satellites as I can access 45E-45W, sometimes you just want to watch telly!

dig deep

Right, I think that clones are as good as original. Perhaps made in the same factory. The ONLY problem I can see with clones is the Gemini.

So get a clone and run something else, I am sure it will work out. It saves a lot of £

I will soon be able to test an IPbox so I will let You know if it is worth the money.

sonic1

Maybe not just Gemini killing clones but DMM, it is reported that bootloader 70 can kill your clone.
If this is so I think caution will be needed when carrying out any upgrade.
By the way CROSSBONES m8 I would rick a clone as you know what you are doing

smiffie

Sat here quite happily watching the footie on the 800, just need an HD telly now. The image I have is PLI Jade Final ***** Oct 08. A more recent version of PLI has come out this week which does seem to use bootloader 70. Before I got PLI running I tried a few images including Gemini, couldn't get any of them to work, loads of CRC errors with Dreamup reporting the box as "box no longer useable". But I was always able to recover the situation with dreamup and I think it had more to do with a corrupted download rather than anything malicious in the software, but that's just my hunch.

CROSSBONES

Only just mate

CROSSBONES

so a conclusion:-

DO NOT BUY A CLONE 800

Only if you want to stick with the same old images as stated by sonic above.

You wont be able to run images with bootloaders of 70

800 keeps switching off

So not such a good idea to get a clone!

smiffie

Sounds like scare mongering to me, we went through all this with the 500s. It is only a piece of hardware running software. Shouldn't the moral of the story be not to buy a box, original or clone from an unreliable source? Buy one with a warranty, 12 months is appropriate for something like a satellite receiver which get upgraded periodically.

toonbarmy

good advice

the real thing is so much better