Dreambox DM7000s - newbie?

[shaw]

Someone wants to sell a Dreambox 7000s for $500 or so. But I'm a newbie and I've seen the Dreambox listed as "NOT for the novice". What does that mean? Can a newbie just use a small part of its capabilities without tinkling first, and grow into it?

[simmo]

mate it looks like I get in first to answer!!!,
What do you want out of a sat reciever?
if you can proficiently program with Linux, then you can program the Dreambox.
Thats as far as I'll go because this is a free to air forum.
But being a newbie, you need to know a bit before you buy, and you have done the right thing by asking before commiting.
I hope you continue to research as the Dreambox is certainly not for everybody. Ask the seller why he's selling it???

[bassett]

This is the unit on E-bay, He has had the thing for a while and
as you know Simmo, he has been on some of the News groups
with it..

He,s trying to sell it, simply because he does not understand it..
If you just want a receiver that you can switch on and watch the tellie,, This unit is vastly ""Overkill""

At the present time, these receivers are the ultimate hackers
machine or nightmare, there based on a Linux program, and are only limited by your computer skills

There are forums out there, that spicificly deal with the Dreambox and nothing else http://www.dreambox.net.au/index.html

If I had the computer skills that some people have a would already have one. But really, there not for the new hobbiest, unless your skilled in advanced computer programming, and really when it comes down to it , It's only a Linux computer..

[simmo]

Woof Woof, see how carefull I was around your bone at feeding time!!!!!!

[simmo]

Hey Shaw, Basset and I were having a bit of a play there, but mate in all honesty, it looks or sounds like you wanna have a play in the yard we play in...its fta mate, and as basset,vk and a lot of others have said, we can scan scan, hear a rumour, rescan, to get a test pattern....To us its fun....a lot of amateur radio freaks or scanner enthusiasts get the same buzz out of a new 'beacon ident' appearing out of no where....
That being said, I would love to have a dreambox, but I dont know what I would do with it......I wouldnt want to pay for it either in today's enviroment. I would just want to play...!!!!
Mate if you are a newbie looking over the picket fence of FTA sat chasing, grab a Powtek or something,
But if your looking beyond our fence to that razor wire fence, go for it...buy the dreambox, break Irdeto and become the hero of the nation, hell I heard someone has put up $100k for someone to come forward to say they did it...the thing is mate, we dont care.....theres a new feed on Pas 8!!!!!

[shaw]

Thanks guys. Yeah it's the one on ebay. I'm surprised no one has bought it at that price.
It does sound like the Dreambox is technically out of my league. I'm very computer literate, but not with Linux.

The problem is that when I get into a hobby, I tend to spend more than I should and go for the higher end stuff. Looks like I will look for that Powtek, or maybe the relook.

[simmo]

hang around dude, I think you coulld be a real hobby(ist) the dreamer is a box that you dont wanna part with major dollars right now....sorry for bieng vague been down the yaught club for the arvo,...............

[VK4BKP]

I wouldn't even know how to turn a dreambox on. Plus they don't scan. I'd rather a Powtek.

[vetrun]

I agree with you VK4BKP. The reason I haven't bought a dreambox is that it can't blind search. Imagine how good it would be if it could blind search. You could modify the software to have it scanning 24x7 and updating a webpage automatically via an adsl connection after each scan with up to date transponder details.

vetrun

[theslydog]

I have played with a Dreambox and they are quite interesting to do various things with. Including the HD option for recording.

However, for FTA scanning they suck. The one I played with did not seem to have a very sensitive tuner or the current build OS installed was not sensitive. The sensitivity bars did not change when I moved the dish a few degrees each side of true. However, the picture dropped out on weaker frequencies. So unless you have something else to help tune the dish in they are not practical.

I am hoping the other Linux box - Relook-3000 has sensitive tuners - has twin tuners and up to 200gig HD. I woud much prefer this box over the Dream.

tsd

[bassett]

And at the end of the day,,, When Rupert throws the switch marked encription """NEW""" Nothings going to work, regardless
of how advanced it might be..

Then things will settle down and everyone will want to sell there,
""Only used on one frequance"" Humax, we can get back to watching FTA..

Go on Rupert,,, Throw the bloody thing..

[theslydog]

bassett

Just got this from a Relook-3000 user.

Deeks wrote

slydog, as for blind scan it will blind scan by symbol rate only. I.e you input the symbol rates and it will scan these and give you the transponder details. Sort of a semi-blind search. I do believe the factory is looking at more development for complete blind scan. It would be nice

Looking good for the Relook-3000 to do a blind search on either tuner.

Blind search, twin tuner and HD - sound pretty good

tsd