Topic: Cable/sat tv boxes

[Harinder]

Got a SkyHD subscription but Internet through Virgin.

Is there anyone on here who could give me a price on getting something sorted so I get all the channels I have now, but without paying?

Do you just want the box or you want motorised dish type setup?

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Do you just want the box or you want motorised dish type setup?

Just a box mate.

[CognacBut]

Is there anyone out there selling the boxes with the appropriate software work done so you just have to plug it in?

Not being a lazy arse, just one that is good at failing with technology if it gets too complex. 

[Harinder]

Yup. Google lavatronics. See my earlier posts in this thread too for extras. Happy to help also in anything you want to ask mate

[CognacBut]

Nice one, I'm guessing the cheaper boxes like the EagleBox require more work on your own part to get it where you want it as you don't get the option for it to come with the firmware installed?

[Teapot]

Install the firmware yourself mate, its piss easy, i was a complete noob at this a few months back, i feel confident of fixing things if anything goes tits up now.  I just dont like the idea of paying somebody or relying on somebody calling round to tweak or fix something, id rather do it myself. Its honestly not hard to do. To install a firmware you download it to a USB stick, plug it in your box and turn it on, it automatically installs it for you and THATS IT  you dont need to be tech savvy for that, after that you just connect your new box to your home network, copy and paste a text line across to the box and BAM! all the channels you can wave a stick at for buttons!    thats all based on you having a satellite dish installed already, you just plug the cables into the back of your box.

[CognacBut]

Excellant, sounds in my capabilities. 

I've seen the vu+ mentioned in a lot of places as a good starting point, would I be noticing major differences if I opted for one of the cheaper boxes? Is it the old case of you get what you pay for?

[Teapot]

ive only ever had the 1 type of box and thats the vu+ duo, its fantastic. it does so many things and does a great job. you can actually type in the ip address of the box into your internet browser and watch what ever channels you want on your pc, i stream a lot of films via my pc from the box, saves me putting films onto dvd or usb pen, other boxes may do this but i found it superb! the vu+ have a really big community which means theres always a lot of support available unlike other boxes. i really cant fault the box in anyway but at the same time ive never used a different one, i can safely say i will always be with a vu+, brilliant piece of kit! 

[Teapot]

dont buy a clone what ever you do, no matter what anybody says, avoid those at all costs, it will cost you twice in the long run. trust me.

[CognacBut]

Is it easy to tell the difference between a clone and a real one? Or does the price give it away?

[Teapot]

yea the price is usually noticeable, just buy your box from a reputable company that sell authentic boxes and you'll be fine. on the other forums i use theres plenty of people telling there stories of how there box lasted a few days or weeks and just blew up, theres a guy there whose box lasted a few hours. i bought 2 clones before thinking it was great i was making a saving, i got the boxes and opened them up to install hard drives, i was gobsmacked at what i saw, the circuit boxes were both burnt to a crisp, all the little transformers and little bits and bobs were rusted to hell, those boxes wouldnt have a lasted any length of time, needless to say i sent them back immediately, tho the kind of people that sell these boxes arent the greatest of people, i only got refunded for 1 box and told to do one. i started legal proceedings but didnt have a leg to stand on because of the payment system that was used... but thats a whole new story.

[CognacBut]

Nightmare, I read before that even if they don't blow up on you there is the chance of them not working when updates are added. Will definitely steer clear.

Thanks for your help and input mate, I feel steered in the right direction now! Cheers. 

[Teapot]

yea thats right, that dont accept current updates etc. no worries, if you need any help theres usually somebody on the forums to help you out! good luck

[arsestar]

has anyone tried the amiko 8900 hd? it's a great single tuner box which dual boots spark and enigma 2, been playing with it for a few days now, the enigma 2 side is a bit buggy but spark works a treat, this box only cost £75 off ebay!

[Groundskeeper Willie]

I want one of these but I´m scared to death that I´m not intelligent enough to make it work once I get all the equipment home.

[Harinder]

I want one of these but I´m scared to death that I´m not intelligent enough to make it work once I get all the equipment home.

You'll be fine. In reality once connected (just like a sky box), there are a few manual steps to complete but after that it's plain sailing really

Of course we're all here to help too!

[pathetic]

I want one of these but I´m scared to death that I´m not intelligent enough to make it work once I get all the equipment home.

hi mate. i bought a skybox m3 very recently and it's easy to install. you just have to follow some steps on a forum and you're done. actually follow what teapot said in his post and you can't go wrong. i got my box for 60 euro (delivered via dhl from china ). so it's not that big of a risk is it? . so far, it works very well. my only complaint is there are only channel lists for sky uk but you can get the channels for other satellites by searching for them in the menu. if you need any help, you can send a pm mate

[Groundskeeper Willie]

You'll be fine. In reality once connected (just like a sky box), there are a few manual steps to complete but after that it's plain sailing really

Of course we're all here to help too!

That´s reassuring. A mate of mine and someone my fiancee knows have got these things so they should be able to help aswell, but I´m sure I´m going to be in here picking your brains.

Is there a minimum broadband speed you need? I´ve got 8 mbps right now but can upgrade to 30 mbps for just a couple of quid.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

hi mate. i bought a skybox m3 very recently and it's easy to install. you just have to follow some steps on a forum and you're done. actually follow what teapot said in his post and you can't go wrong. i got my box for 60 euro (delivered via dhl from china ). so it's not that big of a risk is it? . so far, it works very well. my only complaint is there are only channel lists for sky uk but you can get the channels for other satellites by searching for them in the menu. if you need any help, you can send a pm mate

Thanks a lot mate, I appreciate it.

[Harinder]

That´s reassuring. A mate of mine and someone my fiancee knows have got these things so they should be able to help aswell, but I´m sure I´m going to be in here picking your brains.

Is there a minimum broadband speed you need? I´ve got 8 mbps right now but can upgrade to 30 mbps for just a couple of quid.

Not really. The internet connection only does the decryption piece

[Waterloo Phil]

so i can get a box for approx 60 quid and set it up myself and never have any other costs ?

[Trada]

so i can get a box for approx 60 quid and set it up myself and never have any other costs ?

Usually you have to pay for your channels from someone right now mine cost £30 for six months and that was for all the Sky channels, ESPN, Setanta Ireland, pay per view sport channels and a few porn channels. in fact a lot more than what I was paying Sky £90 a month. 

[Waterloo Phil]

Usually you have to pay for your channels from someone right now mine cost £30 for six months and that was for all the Sky channels, ESPN, Setanta Ireland, pay per view sport channels and a few porn channels. in fact a lot more than what I was paying Sky £90 a month. 

yeah i believe so but just with what budew said

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Usually you have to pay for your channels from someone right now mine cost £30 for six months and that was for all the Sky channels, ESPN, Setanta Ireland, pay per view sport channels and a few porn channels. in fact a lot more than what I was paying Sky £90 a month. 

Who do you pay for that though?

Baffled here. Was better when I just got a box installed in ours and that was it.

[Graeme]

You pay somebody who is sharing their subscription basically.

[tinner777]

so is this worth it of your just using a sky sat dish? if you was to buy a box today which box would you buy?

[Harinder]

so is this worth it of your just using a sky sat dish? if you was to buy a box today which box would you buy?

Totally worth it. I would say for reliability the Vu+ boxes

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

So I buy, say, a Skybox m3.

Ethernet cable into the back of the box. Subscription from an unnamed site, and it works? The box doesn't need a card or anything, no?

[Harinder]

Dont know about skybox m3 as never used it but in essence it as you said it (no card)

[tinner777]

where you lot buying vu boxes from?

[Harinder]

I usually use lavatronics or world of satellite. There are others though but can't vouch for them as never used.

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Someone send me a PM that can show me towards a reputable site for me to send money to in exchange for some telly, and it'll be the last you hear of me.

[Harinder]

Someone send me a PM that can show me towards a reputable site for me to send money to in exchange for some telly, and it'll be the last you hear of me.

Lol. What if we want you to stick around?

I'll pm you some beginners stuff do you don't have to go digging :-)

[Buzz Killington]

Lol. What if we want you to stick around?

I'll pm you some beginners stuff do you don't have to go digging :-)

Can you PM me it as well please mate, cheers!

[tinner777]

err can i get this to connect to my wireless network instead of using ethernet?

[FiSh77]

err can i get this to connect to my wireless network instead of using ethernet?

yeah

i use homeplugs though as i don't trust wireless, mind you i have a virgin superhub which is utter wank when it comes to wifi but a more reliable router will more than likely be ok

[JasonF]

What's a good cheap box with no PVR? Only really want it for the live footy so not arsed about recording, needs to be HD though.

I've got 2 dishes, a big one with a motor (though the motor is broken) and a Sky dish, not used either in quite a while. Would I be able to hook both dishes up (thinking Hotbird & Astra) and switch automatically with a Diseqc switch or something? Or better of looking for a box with twin tuners?

Been out of the satellite game for a few years but thinking of getting back into it with the death of Live Online Footy.

[Ryde-On]

Lol. What if we want you to stick around?

I'll pm you some beginners stuff do you don't have to go digging :-)

Howdy, could you do the same for me please?  About to move house and not really into being Rupey's blue eyed boy.  Do the vu+ boxes record, series link etc?

[Graeme]

How many people are genuinely interested in doing this? Thinking of seeing if I can arrange a group purchase for a few of us to get the price down.

[Ryde-On]

How many people are genuinely interested in doing this? Thinking of seeing if I can arrange a group purchase for a few of us to get the price down.

I'm in, for one of those Vu+Duo things....