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Newb Help Q - Which one would you choose out of these?

P

Pennri

Newbie
HI All

I've just cancelled my sky package after being a member for over 15 years as frankly i got the hump with them (and i think they are starting to take the p*ss on the cost of the monthly subs!) Anyway i've been reading TK for a few weeks now, learnt loads and have narrowed down the receiver options to the following:

Xtrend et8500 2x dvb s2 1x c/t2 (+ 1TB internal HDD)

Vu+ Solo se

Technomate Twin Oe


I would like to run Openvix as an image and get it setup on a n line for full uk Sly. I'm leaning towards the Xtrend 8500 as have read good reports about them (apart from the recording driver issues - which i believe the latest release of Vix has sorted?). I've also spoken to Stef at *** and he also recommended the xtrend.

As a complete newbie to the Satellite world i thought it would be good to get some experienced and expert advice from you guys.

I don't want to do anything fancy and ideally just want to replicate my sky hd package on my main tv and use a good quality / supported vix receiver. I have a sky dish with quad lnb and and Aerial (hence looking at combi boxes). Ideally i would like to record at least 2 channels (whilst watching a 3rd), pause / rewind live tv / have series link functionality (which i guess is a standard auto timer?) and be able to watch / record freeview and freesat channels as well as have access to all other sly channels.

I will be looking to buy in the next week or two so that i can get stuck into configuring it and setting it up - no doubt with your help!

One step at a time though - which receiver would you go for??? My budget is circa £250 - 300 but would like to keep it as good value as possible, whilst future proofing me as best i can.

All thoughts and advice welcome.

Cheers
 
Take a look at the vu solo 2. Best box imo. Does all what you want great all round box not much else needs to be said lol

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 
Xtrend 8500 or mutant 4k box at £199
Xtrend has had issues but looks as though software has been released to resolve them.
Mutant support H.265 video compression which xtrend and others don't support. How much of a game changer H.265 will be we will have to wait and see but if the satellite screens go dark it may play a big part as IPTV may the way to go thereafter.
I'm sure VU are a decent brand but I think you're paying for the name and does it merit the price tag ? I can't say as never used one but all these boxes by and large do the same thing , and they do it will so you're decision probably then comes down to looks.


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If you arn't going to use the cable tuner then the Xtrend is basically a twin sat tuner
Record one, watch one.

If you want to record two and watch a third you need a triple tuner box.

Gigablue Quad can take up to 4 tuners.
 
I've got the Xtrend ET8500 with 2 x Sat and 2 x Cable but you could have 4 sat if you wanted. I'm really happy with it. I've also got the Mutant HD51 which is another good box but only 2 tuners.

I don't know if I'm missing a trick with the mutant but it still records in the default enigma2 mpeg2 .ts format. Maybe it only plays h265?
 
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just upgraded from an Amiko mini combo HD to a Technomate TM Nano SE last weekend running openvix and as far as i can tell it is shaping up to be a great box,
got it already flashed from W*S with 500gb internal HDD for £195 delivered
 
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Willo3092 said:
I don't know if I'm missing a trick with the mutant but it still records in the default enigma2 mpeg2 .ts format. Maybe it only plays h265?
Click to expand...

The h.265 boxes only hardware decode the streams, recordings are still in the same format (it is streamed in?). I thought exactly the same thing Willo, record in it and have reduced file sizes. The UK don't have any streams as standard in h.265 but if we did they would be displayed.

Not the same price range or speed, the new Zgemma H5's have h.265 decoding too but as danlou said, how much of a difference this makes only time will tell.
 
Thanks for all your responses. I'll take a closer look at the Vu+ boxes before pulling the trigger
 
Thanks for all your replies. I bought an Xtrend 8500 2xs2 1x c/t2 box. I've got it set up (using bees brilliant and easy to follow guide) with the latest version of Openvix, Kiddacs slyQ skin running on a test N line currently and i'm really pleased with it. A BIG Thanks to all of you who helped me with setting this up and making the process hassle free!! What a great forum - i just need to get my head around accessing slys box sets (or equvilent). Is this what Kodi / IPtv / PLex is for? I'm still not too sure on the differences between them. If anyone could explain the difference in laymen's terms i would be grateful!
 
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