Amiko Alien 2 / Golden Media Spark Triplex / Icecrypt S3700HD

[djb2002]

I'm shortly coming to the end of my Sky contract and will be cancelling it, as I generally only watch the free channels anyway.

I'm looking for a satellite receiver that will do at least what Sky+ HD box will do - Mainly - Twin tuners, HD, recording PVR functionality.

Price is important too - I don't want to spend too much, so a budget one would may be suitable for my needs - subject to it having the above.

I think I have now narrowed down several boxes to the following three (which I believe are all pretty similar), and was wondering if there were actually any differences between them, or whether someone could recommend an alternative.

Amiko Alien 2 HD Triple Tuner
Golden Media Spark Triplex
Icecrypt S3700HD Triple Tuner

Any comments, suggestions or replies would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any assistance,

Daniel

 

[Analoguesat]

I'm shortly coming to the end of my Sky contract and will be cancelling it, as I generally only watch the free channels anyway.

I'm looking for a satellite receiver that will do at least what Sky+ HD box will do - Mainly - Twin tuners, HD, recording PVR functionality.

Price is important too - I don't want to spend too much, so a budget one would may be suitable for my needs - subject to it having the above.

I think I have now narrowed down several boxes to the following three (which I believe are all pretty similar), and was wondering if there were actually any differences between them, or whether someone could recommend an alternative.

Amiko Alien 2 HD Triple Tuner
Golden Media Spark Triplex
Icecrypt S3700HD Triple Tuner

Any comments, suggestions or replies would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any assistance,

Daniel

Hello Daniel, welcome to the forum.

For a straight swapout with sky+ like functionality a Freesat PVR would be a good bet. There are assorted units available, and the Foxsat HDR is well regarded even though its a few years old now.

 

[djb2002]

Thank you for your reply.

It is the advanced features that I like the idea of with the Linux based ones - the fact you can completely customise them etc, which is something I would like to get into.

Thanks
Daniel

 

[Channel Hopper]

For somebody that would like to spend as little as possible, I would check if one of the other members is offering something within the 'For Sale' section, or look on eBay.

Get some experience with it to see if it is useful, if you don't like it, sell it on again.

You may break even, or make a slight profit, but regardless you will have some experience without paying top dollar.

 

[djb2002]

Thank you - I will take a look at the 'For Sale' section.

Do you know whether any of the three models I mentioned are any good, or which one is better.

I see they can be got for around £125 or so, but might see what second hand ones are going for.

Thanks again,

Daniel

 

[A nonymous]

If your going for a linux receiver get one with a MIPS cpu. Most of the plugins and toys are written for MIPS based cpus.

There are some good SH4 ones, although i would not personally recommend the Alien 2 or Golden Media equivalent as in my opinion they are just to problematic. You can get a modified nBox 5800 twin tuner recorder on a popular auction site for around £120 including postage and with a 250Gb HDD already installed, which is the cheapest your going to get a twin tuner linux based PVR for.

 

[djb2002]

Thanks. I've spent a lot of time researching the other ones I mentioned and thought I was on to a good thing.

I presume the NBox 5800 will have all the features the other ones I mentioned had (apart from the triple tuner - 2 satellite and 1 terrestrial). Apart from that, it will do all the same things ?

Thanks
Daniel

 

[A nonymous]

The nBox should work with most plugin USB dongles

 

[djb2002]

Or use the ethernet presumably built into it ?

Thanks
Daniel