Which DVB-S2 Twin Tuner PVR with Network record

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Which DVB-S2 Twin Tuner PVR with Network record - suggestions

downhill

56 posts

Master Geek

#111447 3-Nov-2012 20:32

Ok – so I’m after a new DVB-S2 Freeview PVR box, this time I want to do it properly, ideally buy the one fully networkable box that does it all.

So – below are my essential and desirable requirements, in the hope that seasoned geekzoners will be able to recommend the right solution.

My network includes the following; Synology DS-411J with 4 x 2Tb drives accessible on a gigabit network, AppleTV 1 and 2 jailbroken and running latest XBMC 11 Eden, iPad 3 running same XBMC Eden plus AirPlayer app, Apple Airport Extreme and Airport Express (3) for airplay functionality around the house/shed.

Essential Minimum Requirements

Twin DVB-S2 tuners – record twothree shows at the same time from different transponders, pref option to add a DVB-T tuner
HDMI out
Network record function to a NAS share on the network
Web interface to access recordings and programme future recordings
EPG, pref network EPG
Ethernet port
Recorded programmes and video streams playable on iPad and laptop, ie no proprietary codec that cannot be viewed in VLC, XBMC apps.
Easily operated by my wife, she is comfortable accessing the NAS Video share on XBMC so anything more complicated like a media PC will not cut the mustard.
PVR, Timeshift, playback functionality
Picture in Picture (PIP)

Desirable Requirements

Cheap and good
Internal HDD option
Component out
Event / series recording
eSata HDD socket (internal or external)

I have been looking at the Ultraplus 9200HD, however this box is on the high end of the price scale – it looks to meet most if not all of my requirements, but I am not sure if the .ts stream that it records is playable on the iPad using XBMC or similar. Surely there must be a cheaper solution?

A DVB-S2 version of the HD-Homerun system would also meet the requirement, as I could simply add the HD-Homerun to my sources list in XBMC and would therefore be discoverable on all of my devices on my network.

So keen to hear your suggestions and solutions... cheers

mjb

996 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#711519 3-Nov-2012 20:57

I'd suggest a Vu+Duo running openpli if you can get one. I believe it ticks all your boxes. (I have a Dreambox DM-7025 which is basically everything you need, but only DVB-S - and I think it's great).

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#711534 3-Nov-2012 21:47

As the owner of a Vu+ Duo, I can promise that it meets all of your "Essential Requirements" with the possible exception of this one:

Picture in Picture (PIP)

The one time I tried it, I found it to be pretty crappy, with the PIP window quite jerky compared to the main picture. It was also not obvious how to turn it off again, but I haven't tried it again since I changed to the VIX image. Because I can stream any other channel at will via my PC or laptop, I don't find the need for PIP any longer.

Now for your second list of:

Desirable Requirements

Cheap and good -- NOT cheap but very definitely GOOD
Internal HDD option -- Yes, will support up to 2TB
Component out -- Yes, including HD over Component
Event / series recording -- Yes, with the VIX image
eSata HDD socket (internal or external) -- External (on back panel)

If you want to add a DVB-T tuner in addition to 2 x DVB-S2 tuners, you will need to order a Vu+ Ultimo or Duo 2 rather than the the original Duo because the Ultimo or Duo 2 have 3 x Plug-in Tuner slots.

Here's a detailed reference for the Vu+ family of receivers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vu%2B

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#711536 3-Nov-2012 21:59

grant_k:
If you want to add a DVB-T tuner in addition to 2 x DVB-S2 tuners, you will need to order a Vu+ Ultimo or Duo 2 rather than the the original Duo because the Ultimo or Duo 2 have 3 x Plug-in Tuner slots.

Or use a USB DVB-T tuner.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#711554 3-Nov-2012 23:01

RunningMan:
grant_k:
If you want to add a DVB-T tuner in addition to 2 x DVB-S2 tuners, you will need to order a Vu+ Ultimo or Duo 2 rather than the the original Duo because the Ultimo or Duo 2 have 3 x Plug-in Tuner slots.

Or use a USB DVB-T tuner.

Yep, good idea. Although getting driver support for them under Linux/Open-PLI can be tricky.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#711565 3-Nov-2012 23:25

When I last looked the Vu+ was more geeky and customizable (like Dreambox) and the Ultraplus more user friendly (with similar capabilities). Both great boxes and I've considered purchasing both. But your key, ultimate requirement is user friendliness (wife) which suggest you might want to have a closer look at the Ultraplus (which looks better too). The 900HD is identical to the 9200HD except only 1 tuner and no internal hard drive, but you can set it up on a second TV and the users (i.e. wife) does not have to learn a second box. At launch the 9200HD did not support USB tuners, but apparently it was added. From the 2 internal tuners you can record 3 channels and watch a 4th. You can rewind anything you are watching, it is always recorded in the background. At the time it was the only/best STB to upscale to 1080p. Leroy from Austech Forums in AU sells the 9200HD for A$450 plus shipping, with a few NZ customers due to the high price we pay here. At launch they were supplied with a proper CCTV quality drive designed to survive continuous video recording, but I do not know if that is still the case.

I'm lucky my wife is also an engineer, but we have to consider the norm is that wives are a lot different from husbands so that is your #1 requirement.

You can never have enough Volvos!

Apsattv

2388 posts

Uber Geek

#711593 4-Nov-2012 00:29

Recorded programmes and video streams playable on iPad and laptop, ie no proprietary codec that cannot be viewed in VLC, XBMC apps.

The 9200x actually has a DLNA server built in. I have XBMC on an ipod here not sure how to set it up to test it via DLNA. But Buzzplayer sees and plays it as dlna content just fine.

Theres also a plugin called Eisha that can strip the .ts to make it play in vlc

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#711614 4-Nov-2012 09:01

Apsattv:
Recorded programmes and video streams playable on iPad and laptop, ie no proprietary codec that cannot be viewed in VLC, XBMC apps.

The 9200x actually has a DLNA server built in. I have XBMC on an ipod here not sure how to set it up to test it via DLNA. But Buzzplayer sees and plays it as dlna content just fine.

Theres also a plugin called Eisha that can strip the .ts to make it play in vlc

I don't have any trouble playing the .TS files from my Vu+ in VLC. In fact, Windows Media Player will handle many of them.

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Apsattv

2388 posts

Uber Geek

#711630 4-Nov-2012 09:51

I tested it lastnight playing the .TS file in XBMC via DLNA and it works fine. Just tried a .TS file using the latest VLC 2.10 beta and it plays fine in that also.

So may not be an issue any more.