From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv


After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for
alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable
to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point me
to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a Linux
box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from being any
sort of expert though.
--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
Here we go it's getting close, now it's just who wants it most.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be
heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable
to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point
me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

I use a Raspberry Pi running Raspberry PiOS (based on Linux Debian) and TVHeadend, with a satellite tuner and a dual-tuner for terrestrial,
recording to a spinning (not solid-state*) hard disk. I then edit those recordings (removing continuity and commercials) and save them elsewhere
for watching them.

As regards playing them on other devices, I share the directory where I
save recordings as Windows (SMB) shares so other Windows computers can
read the files that I've recorded. I use Plex Server on a Windows PC to
allow recordings to be played on a Roku box that has a Plex Client.

Very controllable, but a bit nerdy ;-)


(*) Spinning disks are more durable for lots of writing, deleting,
overwriting than solid state HDDs which have a fairly low number of
rewrite cycles before they start to go bad.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On Wed 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be
heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable
to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point
me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

Have a look at Manhattan products. I have one of their bog-standard HD receivers and it works a treat. Plenty of on-line info or toddle along
to Currys.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 in message <1123bom$1v02g$1@dont-email.me> Woody wrote:

On Wed 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be >>heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for >>alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable >>to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point >>me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a Linux >>box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from being any >>sort of expert though.

Have a look at Manhattan products. I have one of their bog-standard HD >receivers and it works a treat. Plenty of on-line info or toddle along to >Currys.

Can you save recordings to play on other devices?
--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
If it's not broken, mess around with it until it is
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From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On Wed 01/07/2026 17:21, Jeff Gaines wrote:

On 01/07/2026 in message <1123bom$1v02g$1@dont-email.me> Woody wrote:

On Wed 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be
heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for
alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more
amenable to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or
point me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

Have a look at Manhattan products. I have one of their bog-standard HD
receivers and it works a treat. Plenty of on-line info or toddle along
to Currys.

Can you save recordings to play on other devices?

Mine is not a recorder but I've seen such in Currys....

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From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

NY wrote:

I use a Raspberry Pi running Raspberry PiOS (based on Linux Debian) and TVHeadend, with a satellite tuner and a dual-tuner for terrestrial, recording to a spinning (not solid-state*) hard disk. I then edit those recordings (removing continuity and commercials) and save them elsewhere
for watching them.

As regards playing them on other devices, I share the directory where I
save recordings as Windows (SMB) shares so other Windows computers can
read the files that I've recorded. I use Plex Server on a Windows PC to allow recordings to be played on a Roku box that has a Plex Client.

I do similar (full tower PC, PCIe tuners) and TVheadend, I can use my
laptop with a web browser and VLC to view recordings, it does work well, though isn't as user friendly as a set top box.

Or I have Google TV streaming boxes with a TVheadend app plus remote
control as "friendly" front ends.


--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be
heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable
to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point
me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

Just put OpenVix on them. The software supports UK satellite rather well (Freesat or for a few more channels Sky Free to air). But from World of Satellite and they will put open Vix on for you for I think (-u1)
Add a hard disk to a Enigma 2 box (of which both the above are) and with openvix you have a fully functioning PVR. Some models can take an
internal HDD and some require a external USB drive (or NAS).

There is an active user group for these boxes and the Openvix software

World of Satellite
https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/satellite-receivers

OpenVix
https://www.openvix.co.uk/ https://www.openvix.co.uk/index.php/openvix-features-2/

User Forums
https://world-of-satellite.com/

These are moderated groups and possibly the easiest way to use them is
to sign up and then just select new posts from the menu near the top of
the opening page. Most posts are about the boxes and Openvix.

Openvix is written by hobbyists many of whom post to the forum and
answer any questions.

You don't necessarily need any Linux knowledge with Openvix although a smattering may help. Some of the terminology may be slightly off putting
at first but you soon get used to it. They call the channel list a
bouquet for instance. Also what may be helpful to find if you do get a
box is the web interface (webif). Network the box and then just type the
IP of the box into a Internet browser and the box gives you the
interface. Some channel configuration (sorting/deleting channels etc)
may/will be easier than trying to do it with the remote and TV screen.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 18:16, alan_m wrote:

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

Just put OpenVix on them. The software supports UK satellite rather well (Freesat or for a few more channels Sky Free to air). But from World of Satellite and they will put open Vix on for you for I think (-u1)
Add a hard disk to a Enigma 2 box (of which both the above are) and with openvix you have a fully functioning PVR. Some models can take an
internal HDD and some require a external USB drive (or NAS).

Whichever box you do buy I would recommend a box with at least two tuners.

There are enigma 2 boxes that have a single satellite tuner, some with
2, some with slots for 4 (or more). They will be at different price points.

What LNB do you have? The sky Q wideband type LNB don't work with Enigma
2 boxes, and possibly all 3rd party boxes except 1 or 2 Freesat banded
boxes. You need a universal dual/quad/octo LNB or a unicable LNB
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 in message <nal1sjFquh5U1@mid.individual.net> alan_m wrote:

On 01/07/2026 18:16, alan_m wrote:

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a Linux >>>box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from being any >>>sort of expert though.

Just put OpenVix on them. The software supports UK satellite rather well >>(Freesat or for a few more channels Sky Free to air). But from World of >>Satellite and they will put open Vix on for you for I think (-u1)
Add a hard disk to a Enigma 2 box (of which both the above are) and with >>openvix you have a fully functioning PVR. Some models can take an >>internal HDD and some require a external USB drive (or NAS).

Whichever box you do buy I would recommend a box with at least two tuners.

There are enigma 2 boxes that have a single satellite tuner, some with 2, >some with slots for 4 (or more). They will be at different price points.

What LNB do you have? The sky Q wideband type LNB don't work with Enigma 2 >boxes, and possibly all 3rd party boxes except 1 or 2 Freesat banded
boxes. You need a universal dual/quad/octo LNB or a unicable LNB

Thank you for the warning, it is the Sky wideband dish that I have :-(
--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
Did you know on the Canary Islands there is not one canary?
And on the Virgin Islands same thing, not one canary.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be
heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable
to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point
me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a
Linux box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from
being any sort of expert though.

I bought a Labgear VSAT02 HD Free-to-Air Satellite Receiver, to see
whether errors on my old Humax box were due to the box or my dish. The
Labgear works fine, with an HDMI output socket and a USB socket for a recording device. It has the disadvantage of not giving the Freesat
7-day EPG and channel numbers, only Now/Next info. Channels are given
numbers in the order they were found in the installation.
--
Dave W
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

On 02/07/2026 in message <1125i6d$2hrgd$1@dont-email.me> Dave W wrote:

On 01/07/2026 12:35, Jeff Gaines wrote:

After the problems with my my Freesat-4k-Recordable (which seem to be >>heat related rather than HDD related) I have been poking around for >>alternatives to receive/record satellite TV which might be more amenable >>to saving those recordings and playing them on other devices.

Names I have found are Octagon SF8008 and Zgemma H7S.

Anybody here use anything like this (or similar) who can give (or point >>me to) a review?

I would need it to be reasonably plug and play although I do have a Linux >>box so have some familiarity with Linux, long, long, way from being any >>sort of expert though.

I bought a Labgear VSAT02 HD Free-to-Air Satellite Receiver, to see
whether errors on my old Humax box were due to the box or my dish. The >Labgear works fine, with an HDMI output socket and a USB socket for a >recording device. It has the disadvantage of not giving the Freesat 7-day >EPG and channel numbers, only Now/Next info. Channels are given numbers in >the order they were found in the installation.

Thank you :-)

Are you using it with a Sky dish? Are the recordings encrypted or can they
be played back on other devices?

Labgear is one of the few things in the universe older than me....
--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
There is absolutely no substitute for a genuine lack of preparation
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