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DickDastardly
227 posts

Master Geek


  #2155848 7-Jan-2019 14:55
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Smithy47:

 

DickDastardly:

 

No, my comment wasn't a jab at all.

 

My comment was that as you haven't paid for the box (fact) but if you had paid $400 bucks and it just provided you with an annoying cause of frustration (as in not working correctly), I can see why the earlier poster would be annoyed enough to call the box junk.  Just look at the history Dish TV has on this site for customer frustration.   

 

My respect also extends to the fact I would be keen to read your review of the box, yes you have provided a few more comments now, but again, respectfully this isn't a review.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you actually have an A2 box to make these comments? freitasm got one sent to him as the nature of his job, I have purchased one myself mid Dec and had a few teething problems at the start, but since the update to 118 it is working really well so far and find it quick and easy to use, (even my wife said it was easier to use than the T2200 we had). 

 

Are there any question you want answered on the box?

 

 

 

 

No, I don't own one of these new Dish TV boxes, but I don't think I need to own one either to be able to make the comment that if anyone had paid circa $400 for the equipment themselves, and it was causing frustration by not working as expected, I can see why people may form the opinion the box was junk - that's all I was saying.   

 

I want to like this box, I really do - my interest was in how it handled 3 x HD recordings at once, but TBH I haven't read an actual review of this product.  

 

You mention freitasm received one as part of his job?  That's cool - but will he publish a review?  If not on these pages then elsewhere?

 

   





I don't want no sugar in it - thank you very much



Naekyr
47 posts

Geek


  #2155857 7-Jan-2019 15:03
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sweet308: Does this box output 5.1 (or better) audio?

My T2200 has only ever been able to deliver 2.0 audio, which destroyed my trust in the Dish TV brand given that 5.1 has been ubiquitous for a long time. It was just weird that a modern product couldn't do something so fundamental.

I still have the T2200 but just use it for programming that doesn't need decent audio, and use my TiVo or Panasonic PVR otherwise. But I certainly wouldn't want to get any other Dish TV product without knowing for sure that it can support proper audio.

 

 

 

pretty sure I saw an option in the audio menu to output Dolby AC3

 

but both my boxes are attached to a 2:1 soundbar+sub setup with no rears so I can't really test it

 

to be fair even Dolby AC3 (Dolby Digital 5.1) is ancient tech - not sure about Lightbox, but DishTV said they'd like to have Netflix on this box at some point and Netflix can output formats much more advanced than AC3

 

Does anyone know what audio formats freeview/ondemand and lightbox supports?

 

We're pretty far behind in general

 

I'm hoping to build a dolby atmos 7.1.2 system in the mancave in the next couple years but won't have it hooked up to freeview obviously for the above reasons 

 

 


sweet308
48 posts

Geek


  #2155866 7-Jan-2019 15:19
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Naekyr:

sweet308: Does this box output 5.1 (or better) audio?

My T2200 has only ever been able to deliver 2.0 audio, which destroyed my trust in the Dish TV brand given that 5.1 has been ubiquitous for a long time. It was just weird that a modern product couldn't do something so fundamental.

I still have the T2200 but just use it for programming that doesn't need decent audio, and use my TiVo or Panasonic PVR otherwise. But I certainly wouldn't want to get any other Dish TV product without knowing for sure that it can support proper audio.


 


pretty sure I saw an option in the audio menu to output Dolby AC3


but both my boxes are attached to a 2:1 soundbar+sub setup with no rears so I can't really test it


The T2200 also has options for AC3 Dolby and so on but those were just for setting up the use of a multichannel carrier to connect to the sound system, in which case only the Front Left and Front Right channels would carry any audio. All possible combinations of settings were tried at the time.



msukiwi
2418 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2155889 7-Jan-2019 16:10
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OK, I have confirmed by phone with DishTV:

 

The A2 Box does NOT have a Manual record timer!

 

(Like the T2200, MTV3700 / MTV3600 etc)

 

So if it does not have a FreeView Guide, you cannot record it!

 

(So if you have a DVB-T modulator, and they are getting cheap now, it can show it, but NOT record it!)

 

There are NO plans to add this functionality, as the A2 was developed by FreeView and DishTV.

 

(Long live my MTV3700 etc)


Lewk
552 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted
dns4me
Lifetime subscriber

  #2155920 7-Jan-2019 17:12
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Many thanks to @IceFragmatic and @Smithy47 for responses and feedback to my post.  I bit the bullet yesterday and went into Noel Leeming to see if they would price match the Warehouse's price of $349 for the unit.  They did and I have now set it up in the Media cupboard connected to our Denon avr-x3000 which is connected to a circa 2013 Samsung Smart TV.  So far it seems to be working ok but I notice that sometimes when I push the on/off button on the remote, it doesn't turn the unit on/off. The other issue I have which I think is related to the TV and HDMI-CEC is that when the A2 is turned on using the remote, it turns the TV on, briefly shows the A2 home screen on HDMI2 and then switches to HDMI1.  I have the HDMI cable plugged into the HDMI2 port so will look at changing that over tonight. It also doesn't seem to turn the TV off when I hit the off button on the A2 remote - I have HDMI-CEC enabled on the Samsung TV and also for turning it off. I have it set to pass through the Denon so that it doesn't have to be powered up. The same used to happen with the Sky Decoder box.

 

It must have updated to 0118 when I was setting the A2 up because that is what is showing in the settings menu.  I like the layout but haven't yet worked out if I can download and install other app from the Google Play Store. So far so good...


Naekyr
47 posts

Geek


  #2155922 7-Jan-2019 17:20
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You can indeed I’ve downloaded several apps already from the play store

Ironically though some of the apps won’t work without VPN- for instance I tried to use the espn+ add to watch sports however it says “this app is not available in your country” so I’d need a VPN service to use it

Lewk
552 posts

Ultimate Geek

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dns4me
Lifetime subscriber

  #2157101 9-Jan-2019 15:17
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Naekyr: You can indeed I’ve downloaded several apps already from the play store

Ironically though some of the apps won’t work without VPN- for instance I tried to use the espn+ add to watch sports however it says “this app is not available in your country” so I’d need a VPN service to use it

 

 

 

@Naekyr, I have managed to get espn+ running using a Smart DNS service.  Using a USA Play Store account I was able to download and install a number of Apps and run them.  The streaming issue for DRM content mentioned in previous pages remains but hopefully they will sort this out shortly and issue an update. With some of the Apps, I wasn't able to download them as it came up with an Error Code 963. This was for PBS, CBS All Access and History Apps.  Others installed OK.  Tried several of the remedies suggested online but I am still getting these errors. Like others, I have also noticed that not all Apps are available to download.  So far these include Netflix, NBC Sports, Directv Now, Speedtest and Amazon Prime - Video and Music.

 

I have noted that the two rear connectors (for UHF and Satellite) get VERY HOT and when putting the power connect back in after powering the unit down because of the streaming issues, I see a small spark.  Not too sure if others have noted the very hot connectors or if it is just my unit.  I have sent Dish TV a message and will see what they say about it.


 
 
 

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.
zebis
55 posts

Master Geek


  #2157139 9-Jan-2019 15:48
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Lewk:

 

I have noted that the two rear connectors (for UHF and Satellite) get VERY HOT...

 

 

Yes mine too. Almost thinking of rigging up a SAT/heatsink adaptor as I'm not using that port to pull some heat out.
Its already warm with the other stuff running under there!

 

Matt


Ledgy
92 posts

Master Geek


  #2157146 9-Jan-2019 15:56
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Thinking of getting the A2.

 

Can someone who has one confirm being an android box that you can install apps from a USB stick?


IceFragmatic
88 posts

Master Geek


  #2157151 9-Jan-2019 16:02
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Ledgy:

 

Thinking of getting the A2.

 

Can someone who has one confirm being an android box that you can install apps from a USB stick?

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can sideload some apps....but some do not run due to the app not supporting the OS version. Is there a particular app you want to test?


Ledgy
92 posts

Master Geek


#2157178 9-Jan-2019 17:14
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Yes Cyberflix TV. It's not on playstore. The one on there apparently is a fake. It used to be Terrarium tv.    :-)

 

 

 

https://cybercloud.media


Naekyr
47 posts

Geek


  #2157185 9-Jan-2019 17:29
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zebis:

Lewk:


I have noted that the two rear connectors (for UHF and Satellite) get VERY HOT...



Yes mine too. Almost thinking of rigging up a SAT/heatsink adaptor as I'm not using that port to pull some heat out.
Its already warm with the other stuff running under there!


Matt



Wow you guys were t kidding

The A2 is certainly much cooler than the mysky hdi units it replaced
However the satellite connector on the back is almost hot enough to burn skin!

zebis
55 posts

Master Geek


  #2157203 9-Jan-2019 17:58
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Anyone find the live timeshift a bit laggy?

 

I'm used to the TiVo which seems to have more predictable reverse/forward.
Its something I use often, usually pause as distracted or need to rewind 10 seconds, then play, FF ads later.

 

Matt


IceFragmatic
88 posts

Master Geek


  #2157243 9-Jan-2019 20:28
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Ledgy:

 

Yes Cyberflix TV. It's not on playstore. The one on there apparently is a fake. It used to be Terrarium tv.    :-)

 

 

 

https://cybercloud.media

 

 

 

 

I stand corrected...Just tried installing a couple of sideloaded APK files and none would install.


Ledgy
92 posts

Master Geek


  #2157301 10-Jan-2019 00:13
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IceFragmatic:

 

Ledgy:

 

Yes Cyberflix TV. It's not on playstore. The one on there apparently is a fake. It used to be Terrarium tv.    :-)

 

 

 

https://cybercloud.media

 

 

 

 

I stand corrected...Just tried installing a couple of sideloaded APK files and none would install.

 

 

 

 

DAMMIT! undecided


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