Lately striking the HD Satboxen come increasingly to the market, with Enigma2 operating system. Prices start at 80 euros and go up to 400 euros, which is still the current price is for the elite Einsteigerbox 800 HD SE of Dream Multimedia. DM 2008 was one of the first manufacturers that already then LINUX introduced as a successful operating system for satellite receivers.
More and more manufacturers are now trying to jump on the train LINUX Open Source.
Now you might think every Enigma 2 receiver is the same, but this is not true! The differences in reliability and stable operation security are enormous.
The VU + Uno has a rather simple, sober design. The haptics and workmanship is surprisingly good for about 250 euro device, the price in mid settles Price sector. Except for the plastic front is a full metal housing that was matt lacquer. With dimensions 340x260x70 the unit more clearly than some body Konkurrenzbox.
The assembly has failed completely and meaningful. Under the very precisely guided flap on the left side there are two card readers and two Common Interface slots. Also is there a front USB, to flash the device. A downer at first glance is the dot matrix
DOT display, which had in the 80's certainly won awards, but in 2013 you can with this display type hardly anyone inspire. An LCD or color OLED display would have been contemporary.
Apart from the permanently installed HD Satellite Tuner S2, the signal over a Satausgang be looped through. Furthermore located on the back of a HDMI, Scart, Network and an e-SATA port. Chinchbuchsen for composite video and analog stereo RCA, an optical output, an RS-232 port, and two USB 2.0 ports complete the connection list. Particularly pleasing: There is an extra switch on the back, which separates the device from the mains. Another gratifying plus point is that it (as is often the case) there is no external power supply. Through an internal power supply, the device by design has a greater heat, but a fan was integrated as a precaution, but starts only in the most extreme conditions. When it starts, then actually whisper.
It comes with remote control except incl. Batteries, instruction manual and standard HDMI cable and the power cables for an internal hard drive, as well as the appropriate screws and sleeves that you would need to install a HDD. The VU + Uno therefore comes in original factory condition, therefore, without HDD, but this is usual for this price. Retrofitting would be child's play. The buttons on the remote are well positioned, also for video recording and playback functions. On the high-gloss surface one sees every fingerprint, but there are wipes to care about the remote control.
Before we get to the video and audio features, once a few words about the delivery Image. This is kept very simple and not even use 50% of the potential, which can make the device actually.
A flash of another image is in addition also greatly facilitated because at the VU + Uno a boot loader requires that a flashing simplifies deutlichst.
I rate therefore the VTI 5.1 Image from 16.02.2013.
The image is very clear created, although there are a number of features Mega! For normal operation you go to the menu button for the professionals, there are the blue button, behind which hide the professional functions.
A station list is quickly implemented and already at the first images, the first WOW! SD channels look unexpectedly well. Even 4: 3 channels are displayed immediately in the correct format, so not unnaturally stretched or compressed.
See HD channels on the VU + from just gigantic awesome. A direct comparison showed that the HD quality is absolutely identical to the reference box Dream 8000. This has no receivers below 300 Euro
done! This positive impression did not change when it comes to issue sound. Dolby Digital signals sound expansive and no dropouts. Also MP3s also sound surprisingly good, as if these directly from CD
come with original compression.
It is offered a stable overall performance. Even the most extreme applications not brought the box to crash! Compared with other Enigma2 boxes the box boots with just seconds releativ quickly, even faster than some Gigablue or Dreambox.
Of course, can also be accessed via web if the box via LAN or Internet to the box. With the free open source plugins can make his own wonder machine and make a backup of his own images for security at the end. If so what times go wrong, simply upload home-made backup image again and on it goes! The numerous free plugins make it possible to integrate the new system with HbbTV, which will for some time mitangeboten of the TV stations. HbbTV
is the successor to the outdated video text and has the advantage that you now have direct access to the libraries of each broadcaster. Unfortunately, the streams of media centers are always only in SD.
As mentioned, a hard drive are easily installed. But it is also possible on USB sticks take temporary. The drive must be mounted only on / media / hdd and there you go! Bigger sticks to
probably cause problems, but what I have not been tested.
Who does not want to open his device to install an internal drive, can also be an external disk to record
take. I highly recommend this external disk.
WD Elements Desktop External Hard Drive 1TB (8.9 cm (3.5 inches), USB 2.0)
A NAS system can be used. Easy to set up with the network manager and mount. Best experience I've done with the test winner
Synology DS212j NAS system (1.2GHz, 256MB RAM, 2x USB 2.0, 1x GBLAN, SATA II)
Of course, optional also WLAN USB Stick are integrated.
LogiLink Wireless LAN Adapter 150Mbps USB 2.0
Those who want to record HD broadcasts reliably or similar to the VU + Uno, is on the safe
Page. Recordings on USB or on an internal / external drive to succeed without error. Even live recordings on a NAS (killer application!) Are absolutely free of pixels !!!
The sensitive HD Satstreams error-free recording and playback, which can not any Enigma2 box. The VU + fulfills this criteria with flying colors, even in the trouble-prone HD + transmitters are there no problems.
By the way: Although the box is not certified, Sky and HD + works without problems. The VU + Uno is the perfect Alternativbox without restrictions for all, where a Dreambox 800 HD SE is too expensive! Just buy it!
Positives:
+ Fully stocked unit with good material processing
+ Enigma2 operating system with plug-in service for limitless extensions!
+ Excellent image quality at SD and HD incl. HbbTV support
+ Optical fiber optic output with excellent sound
+ Windows network integrated incl. Secure access to your box via the Internet
+ Recordings via external USB drives or NAS drives implemented
+ Wireless transmission with USB stick as an option
+ Stable running operating system
+ Fair street price
Negatives:
- Design and Display act frumpy
More and more detailed information can be found under mryamaha home cinema freak dot de