Dreambox 500 - Some questions

funkychimp

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Hi,
I don't have an a lot of cash at the moment, buying house etc, however I am looking to buy a receiver to replace my Skycard 2.


  • I am very good with computers, networks etc and am maybe looking at purchasing a Dreambox.
  • As cash is in short supply I am looking the the Dreambox 500 and have the following questions. Will the 500 unlock all the same channels as the 7000 models?
  • As I understand it, I download a Rom/image from the web which runs the Box, unlocks channels etc. Is there a chance people will stop updating the image for the 500?
  • I read on a previous post that the 500 has less memory, does this mean I will have to change images/roms to view different channels.
  • There does not appear to be a CI slot on the 500, would this effect it's future as in if the images were not updated then I could not use a CAM either?
Any help would be most welcome!

Paulh
 

gameboy

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funkychimp said:
Will the 500 unlock all the same channels as the 7000 models?

Yes it can, with the correct image and software CAMs etc.

Is there a chance people will stop updating the image for the 500?

No guarantees with any receiver but so far they have been supported

I read on a previous post that the 500 has less memory, does this mean I will have to change images/roms to view different channels.

No - the images can usually only hold one software CAM but some CAMs will open what is available. You can use you PCs HD to expand the capacity.

There does not appear to be a CI slot on the 500, would this effect it's future as in if the images were not updated then I could not use a CAM either?

Most people that buy a Dreambox 500 rely on software CAMs. But if you want to buy a card for a specific package you will need a CAM slot.

You get what you pay for - lots of users on this forum have 500s and are very happy.
 

funkychimp

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Hi Gameboy,
Thanks for the quick response!

Can I ask then -


  • Will the 500 open up more or less every channel out there?, my Skystar 2 opens some but not others. I'm looking for mature content and prem footie.

  • If you had a choice of buying the 500 tommorrow or the Technomate 1500 CI, which would you buy?
Thanks again for your advice!

Paulh.
 

gameboy

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funkychimp said:
Will the 500 open up more or less every channel out there?

Simply answer - No, nothing will open everything and if you intend to use the software CAMs etc then the situation can change daily, weekly or monthly. No guarantees. Footy - Who knows next season but last you could watch. The other is available but you will get bored...

If you had a choice of buying the 500 tommorrow or the Technomate 1500 CI, which would you buy?

Do some research and pick the one that suits you most. Read the forums here you'll find all the information you need.

The DB requires a lot of effort and computer knowledge. Treat it as a hobby, anything extra you can view as a bonus, and you won't go far wrong.

If you buy a DB I look forward to many more contributions/questions.

Good luck...
 

funkychimp

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Hi Gameboy,
Bored of mature content - eh - yea probably. The Footie - Never!

Thanks again for all your advice!

Paulh.
 

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i say 500 is best receiver there is :) heh. Just mount a harddrive onto it via CIFS and minus the ci slot its the same as the 7000-s, you can use softcams and emulators to unlock chans etc. Just as you would on the 7000-s
 

funkychimp

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Hi D4ftpunk,
Can I just ask 2 questions



  • I'm I right in saying the 500 has a CI slot?
  • What is CIFS?
Any help would be welcome!

Cheers

Paulh.
 

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funkychimp said:
I'm I right in saying the 500 has a CI slot?

Full spec below....

Product | DreamBox DM500

- 250 MHz IBM PowerPC Processor (350 Mips)
- Linux Operating System
- 1 x Smartcard-Reader
- MPEG2 Hardware decoding
- Common available NIMs (DVB-S, DVB-C)
- V.24/RS232 Interface
- 100Mbit full duplex Ethernet Interface
- 2 LED status
- unlimited channel lists for TV/Radio
- channel-change time < 1 second
- full automatic service scan
- supports directly bouquet-lists (indirect unlimited)
- supports EPG (electronic program guide)
- supports multiple LNB-Switching control (supports DiSEqC)
- fully adaptable OSD in many languages (skin-support)
- SPDI/F Interface for digital bit stream out (AC-3 / DTS)
- 1 x Scart-interfaces (fully controlled by software)

DreamBox DM500 technical data

DBS-Tuner:
Frequency Range 950 …. 2150 MHz
Signal Level - 65 dBm …. - 25 dBm
Signal-to-Noise Level 12 dB max.
DBS-Tuner Input Connector F-Type female
Input Impedance 75 Ohm
AFC +/- 3 MHz
Demodulation Shaped QPSK
Input Symbol rate 2 …. 45 Mbaud/s, SCPC / MCPC
FEC Viterbi and Reed-Solomon
Viterbirate 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, automatic assimilation
Roll-off Factor 35 %
Demultiplexing according ISO 13818-1

Video decoder:
Video Compression MPEG-2 and MPEG-1 compatible
Video Standard PAL G/ 25 Hz
Video Formats 4:3 / 16:9
Footage 16:9, automatic assimilation for 16:9 TV-Device (over Scart)
Letterbox precolating for 4:3 TV-Device

Audio decoder:
Audiokompression MPEG-1 & MPEG-2 Layer I and II
Audio Mode Dual (main/sub), Stereo
Frequency: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz

Output analog:
Output Level L/R 0,5 Vss on 600 Ohm
THD > 60 dB (1 kHz)
Crosstalk < -65 dB

Output digital:
Output Level 0,5 Vss on 75 Ohm
Sampled Data Filtering 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz
S/PDIF-Output optical (AC3)

Video parameter:
Input Level FBAS 1 Vss +/- 0.3 dB on 75 Ohm
Teletext filter in conformity with ETS 300 472 Standard

TV-Scart:
Output: FBAS,RGB,S-VHS over OSD selectable

Serielle Interface RS 232:
Typ RS232 bidirectional
Bitrate 115,2 kBit/s max.
Plug Connector SUB-D-9
Function Update of Firmware and Preprogramming

Ethernet:
100 MBit compatible, bi-direktional interface
Function Update of Firmware and Preprogramming

LNB Power and polarisation:
LNB Current 500mA max. ; short-circuit-proof
LNB Voltage vertical < 14V without load, > 11,5V at 400mA
LNB Voltage horizontal < 20V without load, > 17,3V at 400mA
LNB shut-off at Standby-Mode

Count of active satellite position:
DiSEqC 1.0/1.2 SAT POSITION / SAT OPTION
DiSEqC - Rotor Control

Power consumption:
< 10W / 12V

Input voltage:
DC12V,alternating acurrent +/- 15%

Extern power supply:
Input:
110-240V AC / 50-60Hz / 0,6A
Output:
12V = / 1A

Physical specification:
Ambient Temperature +15°C...+35°C
Humidity < 80%
Size (W x D x H): 195 mm x 130 mm x 40 mm
Weight: 0,6 kg

Source: Offical website


What is CIFS?


CIFS =Common Internet File System

CIFS enables collaboration on the Internet by defining a remote file-access protocol that is compatible with the way applications already share data on local disks and network file servers.

CIFS incorporates the same high-performance, multiuser read and write operations, locking, and file-sharing semantics that are the backbone of today's sophisticated enterprise computer networks. CIFS runs over TCP/IP and utilizes the Internet's global Domain Naming Service (DNS) for scalability, and is optimized to support slower speed dial-up connections common on the Internet.

CIFS is an enhanced version of Microsoft's open, cross-platform Server Message Block (SM:cool: protocol, the native file-sharing protocol in the Windows 95, Windows NT®, and OS/2 operating systems and the standard way that millions of PC users share files across corporate intranets. CIFS is also widely available on Unix, VMS, and other platforms.

Microsoft is making sure that CIFS technology is open, published, and widely available for all computer users. Microsoft submitted the CIFS 1.0 protocol specification to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as an Internet-Draft document and is working with interested parties for CIFS to be published as an Informational RFC. SMB has been an Open Group (formerly X/Open) standard for PC and Unix interoperability since 1992 (X/Open CAE Specification C209).

Not intended to replace HTTP, CIFS complements HTTP while providing more sophisticated file sharing and file transfer than older protocols such as FTP. CIFS is designed to enable all applications, not just Web browsers, to open and share files securely across the Internet.

Source: Microsoft
 

funkychimp

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Hi gameboy,
Thanks again for the info,

So to anwser my question. No it does not have a CI slot.

So if the community stops supporting the 500 as the 7000 models now seem to be the main choice. I would be screwed without a CI slot - I'm I right?

Cheers

Paulh.
 

gameboy

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funkychimp said:
So if the community stops supporting the 500 as the 7000 models now seem to be the main choice.

The 500 is one of dream-multimedia's main products - if I remember correctly it came out after the 7000, well the s version (ethernet).

Don't think you have to worry any more than the 7000 users.

And no, it doesn't have a CI hopefully the other info in the list of features will be useful to you.
 

funkychimp

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Hi Gameboy,
Thanks for the advice. After reading lots of other threads, I think I will give the 500 a miss as I would feel a lot better buying a reciever with a CI slot to give me a bit of future proofing.

I'm probably gunna buy the Technomate 1500 CI+.

When I have some more spare cash I may look at upgrading again to the 7020.

Thank you everyone for all your advice!

Paulh.
 

gameboy

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Good that you have made-up-you-mind - good luck.

Hope you come back and update us how you get on.
 
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