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GLOBAL DIGITAL TV MAGAZINE IIIIIIII
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B 9318 E 04-05/2011

Test Report
SMARTWI
Kurt Olesen hits the target City Report
with a brand new product
Wholesaler in
Company Report Moscow
Buying Digital TV
BOMARE COMPANY


Products in a
Tewﬁk Lamrani intensiﬁes exports Big City
with sophisticated digital tv products

Company Report
BOIINGSAT

30
TELE-satellite
Jason Chiang and his father expand
production and sales on a large scale
Company Report
PREVAIL Years
of
Necy-Xu & Ren Guorui and many Digital TV
more consistently drive Business
production and quality up Reporting
1
04-05/201

Test Report
AMIKO SHD-8900 ALIEN
World Innovation: Linux Receiver with Dual Boot
IPTV  Fiber Optics  3DTV  Broadband

TELE-satellite zine
TV Maga
Global Digital
since 1981 in
Published worldwide
all major languages

Alexander Wiese
Publisher

.com
alex@TELE-satellite
y
HQ in Munich, German

Dear Readers,
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, another new the user. Can you use these apps to make the available operating
and innovative product appears: in this issue of TELE-satellite system DX compatible or to optimize the PVR functions? To some
we present more than one receiver that come with two different extent I believe the answer is ‘yes’ but not completely. An operating
operating systems. The user can start up the receiver on one day system that is written around specific features, such as for satellite
using one of the operating systems and switch to the other the next DXers or PVR fans, can also extract that extra bit of optimization.
day. It’s a surprisingly logical idea. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
some might say, but the truth is no one ever thought to include it But until we get to that point, we’ll still have to wait. For now
in any of their receivers. My guess is that this Dual Boot feature all receiver operating systems are general in nature and are not
will soon find its way in many receivers simply because of all of its geared towards any specific areas (such as DX or PVR). Until that
advantages. time, specialized apps will fill up any gaps. So we have to deal
with two different and yet similar ideas: apps to help beef up a
As our tests have shown, these operating systems behave differently receiver’s capabilities and Dual Boot to instantly convert a receiver
and depended on what the software programmers paid attention into a specialized receiver.
to. With one operating system you have a perfect cooperation with
the receiver’s hardware so that, for example, you can very quickly
find a large number of channels. With another operating system
the primary focus is to provide an easy-to-use very powerful PVR
function. Without the ability to select an operating system when
turning the receiver on, the end-user has to decide ahead of
time what features are the most important for him and choose a
correspondingly optimized receiver.

Now it can just be one receiver and depending on what the user Alexander Wiese
wants to do at that moment, he just needs to select the matching Editor-in-Chief TELE-satellite
operating system when turning on the receiver. This concept also
highlights the fact that the operation of a receiver has become so
complex that it really isn’t possible anymore to integrate every On a personal note: While I was at the CES in Las Vegas, USA, with our
possible feature in a receiver with one operating system that at the own booth, I began to experience extreme pain on my right side. It got to a
same time makes everyone happy. It’s much easier and far more point where I couldn’t take it anymore so I decide to go to a local hospital in
comfortable for the end-user to be able to choose an operating Las Vegas. The diagnosis? A nasty tumor in the right kidney. The doctor gave
system when turning on the receiver. me a choice: “Either we operate here right away or you go straight home.”
I decided on the second option and after landing back home I went straight
to a hospital. Apparently it was just in time; I was operated on the next day.
Then there’s another question that comes up with this Dual Now I’m living with just one kidney but without any other tumors. The moral
Boot solution: what about apps? Those are the small programs of the story and my advice to all TELE-satellite readers? Your health may
(applications) that a user can download to optimize a receiver’s not be the only thing on your mind as long as you’re healthy but if you’re
operating system with additional features that are important to unhealthy, everything else becomes unimportant!

TELE
satellite
Address TELE-satellite Magazine, PO Box 1234, 85766 Munich-Ufg, GERMANY/EUROPE
Editor-in-Chief Alexander Wiese, alex@TELE-satellite.com
Published by TELE-satellite Medien GmbH, Aschheimer Weg 19, 85774 Unterfoehring,
GERMANY/EUROPE Design Németi Barna Attila
Advertising www.TELE-satellite.com/ads/
Printer Litografia Rosés, 08850 Gavà, SPAIN/EUROPE
Copyright © 2011 by TELE-satellite ISSN 1435-7003
TELE-satellite was established in 1981 and today is the oldest, largest and most-read digital
tv trade magazine in the world. TELE-satellite is seen by more than 350,000 digital tv
professionals around the world and is available both in printed form and online.
www.TELE-satellite.com

Redaktion TELE-satellite, Postfach 1234, D-85766 München-Ufg Chefredakteur Alexander
Wiese (verantwortlich) Anschrift wie Verlag, Verlag TELE-satellite Medien GmbH, Aschheimer
Weg 19, D-85774 Unterföhring, Inhaber: Alexander Wiese, Verleger, Unterföhring
Anzeigen Alexander Wiese (verantwortlich), Anschrift wie Verlag

CONTENT

AMIKO SHD-8900 ALIEN
HDTV Receiver with
Two Operating Systems ................ 14

AB IPBOX 55HD
HDTV Linux Receiver with
single tuner and USB for PVR ........ 30

SKYWORTH ALI-HD
HDTV Combo Receiver for
DVB-S and DVB-T........................ 40

FULAN ST7111
HDTV Receiver with
Online Connection ....................... 50

SMARTWI II
A Clever Solution
for PayTV
Reception in
Multiple
Rooms ............... 62

AWARD Winning:
IPTV Receivers of 21st Century.......... 70

AWARD Winning:
Digital Receivers of 21st Century ....... 74

AWARD Winning:
HDTV PC cards of
21st Century ................................... 82

Company Report:
LNB Manufacturer Boiingsat, China .... 86
Feature:
Company Report: The New Audio: MPEG Surround ...... 142 Country Report:
TV-Sets and Receiver Manufacturer Satellite Market
Bomare Company, Algeria ............... 102 Feature: Chengdu, China............................. 160
A/V Connections of a Receiver ......... 144
Company Report: News:
Fiber Optic and CATV Manufacturer DXer Report: HDTV & 3D Programmes ................. 166
Prevail, China................................ 112 Satellite Enthusiast in Korea............ 150
DTT of the World ........................ 172
Company Overview: Company Report:
Best Digital TV Companies Satellite Wholesaler TELE-satellite Magazine
of the World.................................. 126 MIR-ANTENN, Russia ...................... 156 Worldwide .................................. 176

6 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
1

ADVERTISER‘S INDEX

8DTEK ........................................... China .................. 25 KARMACOM ................................... Hungary ............. 43
ABC-BIZNIS .................................. Slovakia ............. 89 MFC ............................................... USA ...................147
AB IPBOX ...................................... Slovakia ........ 48-49 MOTECK ........................................ Taiwan...............157
ALUOSAT ....................................... China .................. 85 NETUP ........................................... Russia ...............115
AMIKO ........................................... Hungary ............. 43
OBERON ........................................ Korea ................. 21
ANDREAWEB ................................. Germany ...........163
OIPF .............................................. Sweden .............170
ANGA 2011 .................................... Germany ...........101
AZBOX ........................................... Portugal ............179 OPENSAT ....................................... Portugal ............179
AZURE SHINE ................................ Taiwan...............153 OPENSAT ....................................... Slovakia ............. 89
BEIJING TOPREAL ......................... China .................. 95 PYCH ............................................. Poland ...............147
BOIINGSAT ................................... China .................. 73 PREVAIL ........................................ China ..............28-29
BOMARE ........................................ Algeria ..............119 ROGETECH .................................... China .................169
BOXSAM ........................................ China .................107 SATBEAMS ..................................... Belgium .............168
BYA ELECTRONIC .......................... Algeria ..............167 SATCATCHER ................................. UK .....................123
CARDATTACK................................. Germany ...........155
SATELLITE GUYS ........................... USA ...................171
CHINA BROADCASTING ................ China .................163
CLONE+ ......................................... Poland ...............147 SATFINDER ................................... Germany ...........163
CMOS ............................................ Korea ................... 9 SCHOTT ......................................... Germany ...........157
COMMUNICASIA 2011 ................... Singapore ..........145 SEN5 ............................................. China .................. 25
CNBROADCASTING ....................... China .................163 SHENZHEN SKYWORTH ................. China .................... 7
CYNEXTRA .................................... Germany ............ 37 SICHUAN JIUZHOU........................ China .................180
DEVISER ....................................... China .................. 53 SICHUAN VIDEO ELECTRONIC ...... China .................. 67
DIGITAL TELEMEDIA ..................... China .................180 SKYWORTH ................................... China .................... 7
DISHPOINTER ............................... UK .....................171
SMARTWI ...................................... Denmark ............ 45
DOEBIS ......................................... Germany ........ 12-13
SOWELL......................................... China .................. 17
DOEBIS-JAEGER ............................ Germany ...........111
FULAN ELECTRONICS .................... China .................... 5 SPAUN ........................................... Germany ............ 33
GLOBALINVACOM .......................... UK ...................... 93 STREAM......................................... Algeria ..............119
GLOBALSAT ................................... China .................. 65 SVEC ............................................. China .................. 67
GOLDENMEDIA .............................. Germany ............ 37 TEHNICB ....................................... Romania ............151
GOOSAT......................................... China .................. 65 TENOW .......................................... China .................. 63
HANGZHOU PREVAIL..................... China ..............28-29 TEVII ............................................ Taiwan...............151
HORIZON ...................................... UK .....................105 TOPREAL ....................................... China .................. 95
HUBER+SUHNER ........................... Switzerland ......... 2
TOOWAY ........................................ Germany ...........157
IBC 2011 ....................................... UK .....................117
TRIMAX ......................................... China .................155
ICECRYPT ...................................... UK ....................... 4
ICLASS .......................................... Korea ................. 21 TURBOSAT..................................... UK ....................... 4
INPAX ........................................... Turkey ................ 57 QIAOHUA ...................................... China .................153
JIANGSU YINHE ............................ China .................. 97 YINHE ........................................... China .................. 97
JIUZHOU ....................................... China .................180 ZHEJIANG BOXSAM ....................... China .................107

1

10-1
1/2010
NetUP DVB-IP Gateway 4x
Perfect ease of use, combined with
reliable technology – ideal for
IPTV providers.

04-05/201
1
Fulan ST7111
Excellently designed operating software
with built-in customer service

1

MAGAZINE

08-09/2009
GLOBAL INVACOM OPTICAL LNB
The first worldwide production-ready
optical satellite reception and
transmission system with excellent results
– an investment that already
makes sense today

08-09/2010
AZBox Ultra HD
Fully Equipped Satellite
and Internet HDTV Receiver

www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/201 — TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine
1 11

TEST REPORT HDTV Receiver with Two Operating Systems

Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
Linux receiver with dual boot,
more than one simultaneous
recording and lots more…
• Linux receivers are the way to go these days, and if you look at
all the features and options they offer it’s not hard to see why.
This development pleases us no end at TELE-satellite, as we see
huge potential with Linux that is only waiting to be exploited
by innovative companies. Karmacom from Hungary is one such
company and with its own brand Amiko they are well on the way
to waking up the sleeping giant that is Linux. The company’s latest
flagship receiver SHD-8900 has a very special treat in store: two
operating systems in a single box!

1

TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
Download this report in other languages from the Internet:
Arabic ‫العربية‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/ara/amiko.pdf
Indonesian Indonesia www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/bid/amiko.pdf
But let’s not get carried and a small flap hides a to- German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/deu/amiko.pdf
away with Linux at this stage tal of seven buttons to con- English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/eng/amiko.pdf
Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/esp/amiko.pdf
and look at the receiver it- trol the receiver whenever French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/fra/amiko.pdf
self first. Right out of the the remote control is out of Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/heb/amiko.pdf
package we notice how small reach, as well as a Conax Chinese 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/man/amiko.pdf
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/pol/amiko.pdf
the box actually is. Measur- card reader. While our test Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/por/amiko.pdf
ing merely 22x16x4 cm it receiver had cutouts in place Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/rus/amiko.pdf
will find its place in even the for CI slots it only came with Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/tur/amiko.pdf
Available online starting from 1 April 2011
smallest (or most crowded, the built-in card reader.
for that matter), lounge
room cabinet or TV rack. The back panel of the SHD- roconnector, a USB 2.0 in- dia features of the receiver
8900 comes equipped with terface for external storage such as YouTube, Shoutcast
And it creates a rather all connection options you’re media, an Ethernet socket Internet radio or Picasa, to
stylish impression with its likely to ever require. Apart as well as a mechanic power name just a few.
buttonless front and the from the DVB-S/S2 antenna switch and an RS-232 con-
4-digit segment display that input plus loop-through out- nection. The build quality of the
light up in a fiery hue of red. put there is HDMI for digital SHD-8900 will meet even
Two LEDs indicate the cur- signal output, a coax digi- We’ve tested our share the most exacting demands
rent operating mode. tal audio output, three RCA of remote controls, and the and the manual (currently
Of course, there’s more jacks for stereo audio and Amiko type is right up there available in Hungarian and
than first meets the eye, composite video, a scart eu- with the best. For one thing, English) that is shipped with
this is thanks to its ergo- the receiver is of equally
nomic shape and logical lay- high quality.
out. Added to that are the
hugely practical function Considering the fact that
keys that can be used to ac- the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
cess the numerous multime- comes with two entirely dif-
ferent operating systems
we decided to split this test
report into two distinct sec-
tions as well. We’ll start
out with an in-depth look
at the default software by
0.5 the name of Spark, before
turning to all the features of
Enigma 2 in connection with
the latest Amiko offering in
section two.

Spark
In case the name Spark
rings a bell with some of
our readers there’s a reason
for that: Amiko deliberately
chose tried-and-test tech-
nology and software, which

04-05/201
1
Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
Innovative dual boot receiver
with two different operating
systems

www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/201 —
1 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 15

1

is why Fulan’s Spark soft- signal without even turning
ware platform was selected a hair.
alongside Enigma 2 (find
out more about Spark else- One of the great joys of
where in this issue of TELE- watching satellite TV is zap-
satellite). ping through hundreds of
channels from many cor-
Amiko has done a great ners of the earth, and it’s
job integrating the Spark here that cheer can easily
platform into its receiver, turn into jeer in everyday
2 and during our test hard- use. No risk of the SHD-
ware and software behaved 8900 falling into the jeer
like a perfect match. With its category, though, as it only
support of all DiSEqC proto- takes slightly more than
cols (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) as one second to switch from
well as SCR unicable solu- one channel to another. It
tions, the SHD-8900 should goes without saying that the
be happy with just about any Amiko box comes with a ful-
existing antenna setup. ly-fledged EPG system that
can either display current
Video output is just as and next events for several
flexible and allows users to channels at once, or more
select all standard HDMI detailed information for a
3 resolutions (576p, 720p, single channel.
1080i, 1080p) – if need be,
this setting can be changed You might look in vain for
on the fly with a dedicated the PVR acronym in the SHD-
button on the remote con- 8900 Alien’s model designa-
trol, without having to go tion, but this does not mean
through a separate menu. this feature is missing. Au
contraire, all you need to do
We were in for a hugely is plug in a USB storage me-
pleasant surprise as far as dium to gain full recording
the tuner is concerned: It and time-shift viewing func-
scanned the entire band- tionality. While a recording
width of HOTBIRD 13° East takes places it is possible to
4 in only three and a half watch an existing recording
minutes, detecting 1446 or another channel on the
TV channels and 394 radio same transponder. With our
channels, which is a real test sample, several record-
treat. ings at the same time were
not possible, however this
Regular readers know that is about to change: a new
none of our test reports is software release, which will
complete without checking be available when this TELE-
a tuner’s SCPC capabilities, satellite issue appears, will
and the SHD-8900 is no allow multiple recordings
exception to that rule. This of channels on same tran-
time we used the 12.620 sponder.
5
MHz (V) transponder on EU-
TELSAT W7 36° East with a If you’re having one of
symbol rate of merely 2894 those “there’s nothing on
Ks/s. We’re pleased to an- TV” moments, then you may
nounce that the Amiko box simply call up the integrat-
locked and processed the ed multimedia player which

1. Very practical channel list with excellent design
2. Cool: Contact data can be left for the user by the manufacturer
3. Editing the channel list
4. EPG view of each channel
5. The info bar appears every time a new channels is selected

1

6 11

7 12

8 13

9 14

10 15

1

16

17 21

18 6. Step 1 of the installation wizard:
language selection

7. Main menu

8. MP3 playback

9. Get access to YouTube,
Shoutcast, Picasa and RSS feeds
with the new Amiko satellite
receiver

10. Photo presentation via Picasa

11. List of recorded content

19 12. Satellite entries can be edited
with a wide range of options

13. Flawless SCPC reception
during our test

14. Access to Shoutcast Internet
radio

15. Using the Spark platform
Amiko offers its customers
countless additional features such
a news service, Q&A as well as
updated channel lists and software

20 16. Thanks to FTP plug-ins can
be transferred from a PC to the
receiver

17. System settings

18. Transponder entries can be
edited easily and conveniently

19. Selecting the required video
format

20. Current weather reports are
available for download

21. Access to YouTube videos


1

supports a wide range of file perfect, and even if one
formats such as AVI, MKV, system seems to offer par-
MPG, TS, WMA, WMV, M2TS, adise to Joe Average, Jane
FLV, DAT, ASF and MP3. We Average might beg to differ
threw some video sequenc- as she is looking for entirely
es at the player and found different features. So why
that all of them were played not implement dual boot
back flawlessly. We call that for a Linux-based satellite
a PVR system which really receiver, a feature that has
deserves that name. been available for PCs for
some time already? Amiko
2
A whole range of plug- has done just that with its
ins is available to add new SHD-8900 and ships the
features and functions to receiver with a boot loader
the software, and thanks to capable of starting up with
FTP the file directory of the either Spark or Enigma 2.
SHD-8900 can be accessed If you want to make use of
directly via the Internet, the these two options all you
OSD menu or a PC for plug- need to do is press OK while
in installation. turning on the box. This al-
lows selecting the preferred
With the decision to bring operating system right on
the Spark software platform the receiver. Once either
3 on board, the Amiko at the Spark or Enigma 2 is se-
same time benefits from a lected the receiver uses
full multimedia package and that operating system until
dedicated online platform, a new option is chosen.
both of which can be used
with the receiver. Multime- After the receiver is
dia features include play- turned on for the first time
back of YouTube videos, In- an installation wizard pops
ternet radio via Shoutcast, up and guides through the
photo presentation via Pica- entire installation process.
sa as well as subscribing to At first you need to select
various RSS feeds. Thanks your preferred OSD lan-
to the Spark software plat- guages, with the options be-
4 form Amiko is able to pro- ing English, German, Arabic,
vide its customers with valu- Catalan, Hungarian, Czech,
able files such as manuals, Danish, Dutch, Greek, Por-
Q&A documents, channel tuguese, Estonian, French,
lists and software updates Lithuanian, Icelandic, Ital-
in real time for online ac- ian, Norwegian, Polish, Ro-
cess. We particularly loved manian, Russian, Span-
Amiko’s own news service ish, Swedish, Turkish and
which alerts Amiko custom- Ukrainian. The next step is
ers to available software up- to adjust the video output
dates, up-to-date channel of the SHD-8900 to the ex-
lists or any other worthwhile isting TV panel. Next to the
information. This takes a lot standard HDMI resolutions
5 of work and research off the of 576p, 720p, 1080i with
shoulders of Amiko’s cus- 50/60 Hz the receiver can
tomers. also create a 1080p output,
a feature that is rare even
Enigma 2 among newer satellite re-
No operating system is ceivers. Next, the Amiko box

1. Adjusting the contrast setting on the TV using a test pattern
2. Adjusting the brightness setting on the TV using a test pattern
3. Channel list categorised by satellites
4. Automatic channel search on HOTBIRD 13° East
5. Using Enigma 2 as the operating software the Amiko SHD-8900
can download EPG for any number of pre-selected channels

1

6 11

7 12

8 13

9 14

10
creates two test patterns for Before we’re ready to
adjusting brightness and rumble the receiver needs
contrast settings of the TV some information about the
panel so that you will arrive individual reception setup in
at an optimum video qual- place. All DiSEqC protocols
ity. In our opinion this is a (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) are
particularly helpful and in- supported so that the Amiko
novative feature and goes to box is the right choice for
show that developers have a standard single or multi-
put a great deal of thought feed antenna as well as for a
into this system. multi-focus dish or a DiSEqC
motor.

1

15 18

16 19

17 6. DiSEqC settings
7. In our test we were able to record up to four streams at the same
time without any problems
8. Graphic multi EPG
9. The info bar appears every time a new channels is selected
10. Main menu of Enigma 2 with the SHD-8900 Alien
11. Manual channel search
12. Network settings
13. List of installed plug-ins
14. Setting the recording time
15. List of recorded events
16. Pre-stored satellite entries can easily be edited
17. Language selection
Network access is a must satellite positions are pre-
18. Two different standby modes are available
in order to use all Enigma 2 stored so that we can start
19. Creating a timer entry
feature to the full, and this scanning these birds right
is why network configura- away.
tion is included in the instal- box had a hard time locking All you need to do is press
lation wizard. Unless your Manual and automatic the 12.620 (V) transponder the MENU button while the
network at home is of a truly modes are available for on EUTELSAT W7 36° East, channel list is displayed and
complex or exotic type we channel search. We tried while the same receiver with the software will offer you
recommend activating the out an automatic search on a different software (Spark) all editing features that are
receiver’s DHCP so that it HOTBIRD 13° East, which couldn’t care less about low available. Want to move a
will detect and take over all unfortunately took nine long symbol rates. All this shows channel to your favourites
network parameters (IP ad- minutes and found 2056 TV that some fine-tuning is list (which, incidentally, can
dress, gateway, DNS server) and radio channels. It seems still required to propel the be organised using mark-
automatically. like the interplay between Amiko/Enigma couple fur- ers)? One touch of a button
hardware and software has ther up on the receiver rank- and it’s done. In the overall
Now that the basics are some room for improvement ing. list you can either chose all
finished we can’t wait to in this regard. After all, the channels, all satellites, all
explore all the features of Spark platform achieved Once the channel list is providers or favourites.
Enigma 2. Yet, there is one the same task five and half filled it can be edited to your
more job to complete – the minutes faster, which can heart’s content with Enig- The keypad on the re-
receiver’s channel list is still feel like an eternity. In ad- ma 2 without even having mote control can always be
empty and begging to be dition, the Spark software of to run through a dedicated used to enter text in the
filled with everything the the new Amiko receiver also menu. We cannot think of same way we use our mo-
sky has to offer. Transpond- did a better job with SCPC any other operating system bile phones for texting, a
er data of major European signals. With Enigma 2 the with the same ease of use. feature that is awesome for


renaming channel names on automatically at a given (3) single EPG with content under Enigma 2 (or if more
or recordings, for example. time (during night-time, for information, a listing of ac- than one is possible at all)
Several people in our edito- example) and download EPG tors in a movie and the like we were lost for words: One
rial offices tried it out and data from previously select- (if provided by the channel). recording is the minimum
they all felt this was a much ed channels to be stored lo- requirement, two simulta-
more convenient way of en- cally. That’s a truly brilliant In our opinion the Enigma neous recordings would by a
tering text than using a vir- feature which makes EPG 2 info bar is worthy of spe- brilliant bonus, three would
tual keyboard on screen and data available for channels cial praise. Every time a new be great, but the Amiko box
the arrow buttons on the from different transponders channel is selected it is in- even managed four, all of
remote to select letters. We at any time. serted on the bottom of the which were neatly stored on
should not have to mention screen for some seconds our external hard disk. The
that all channel list entries In general, the EPG of the and shows current and next impressive thing is that the
can be augmented with cur- Amiko SHD-8900 Alien in events, as well as icons for number of simultaneous re-
rent EPG data so that cur- combination with the Enig- additional channel informa- cordings is only limited by
rent event information is ma 2 software is a good ex- tion (encryption, EPG, sub- the data speed of the hard
added to channel list data. ample of how to do it right. titles, audio channels, etc.). disk, which in our case did
This way you can see what’s It offers three presentation not allow for more than four
on before even zapping to a modes: (1) graphic multi All PVR features worked SD streams at the same
particular channel. Those of EPG for five channels at time smoothly under Enigma 2 – time. As far as HD content
you arguing that the Amiko – you simply select the re- but frankly, we didn’t expect is concerned, our setup only
SHD-8900 only has a sin- quired bouquet and get EPG anything less. Time-shift managed one channel at a
gle tuner and therefore can information for five channels viewing is available at any time. As mentioned before,
only provide EPG data of per screen page, all nicely time for lossless interruption the SHD-8900 is a single
the selected channel, or of presented; (2) standard of the live program. When we tuner receiver, which means
channels on the same tran- multi EPG for 15 channels tested how many recordings that all simultaneously re-
sponder, are right. However, per screen page without the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien corded content must be
Enigma 2 can be set to turn graphic presentation and can handle simultaneously transmitted on the same

1

transponder. Still, we’ve to jump to a selected time lite receiver, ranging from We believe the huge variety
never had a single-tuner index within a recording. conventional video games will cater for every taste.
PVR receiver before which to current weather reports
was capable of handling up On a much brighter note, all the way to emulators. The comprehensive net-
to four SD recordings at the the multimedia features of All you need is your set-top work integration of the
same time. Even the Spark Enigma 2 are nothing short box and access to the Inter- Amiko flagship receiver is
software does not allow of unique. Not only is a me- net. Software updates are rounded off with a very spe-
more than one, although the dia player available that will loaded and implemented in cial feature of the Enigma
hardware apparently is ca- process virtually all current the same way, so you will no 2 platform: A fully-fledged
pable of much more. audio, video and image file longer need modem cables web interface for remote
formats, there is even an and a PC to install a new access to the receiver from
Where there is light, there integrated DVD player. This version of your receiver‘s anywhere with an Internet
is also shadow – in this case way you cannot only watch operating system. connection. To access your
playing back recorded con- satellite TV and listen to Amiko SHD-8900 at home
tent lacks some important satellite radio with the SHD- We particularly liked the all you need to do is key in
features. To tell the truth, 8900 but also call up a DVD option to fully customise its IP address in the address
all entries are presented movie, provided its content the OSD of the receiver un- field of any Internet browser
in a very pleasing way and has been extracted and der Enigma 2 to reflect your and – no matter where you
can be edited to make for stored on an external hard personal taste. A number are – you are then able to
large font sizes or to add disk or USB stick before. of skins (pre-stores design access the most impor-
additional information, but schemes) can be down- tant functions like channel
this is reduced to eye candy A virtually endless supply loaded from the Internet switching, creating a timer
when it’s not possible to fast of plug-ins is part and par- and then activated on the entry for a recording, send-
forward or rewind. Enigma 2 cel of Enigma 2, all of which receiver. So if you‘re not en- ing a message to the receiv-
even goes so far as to insert can be downloaded from tirely happy with the default er, and so on. If you need
a message that this feature the Internet free of charge. look of your OSD you are to access a receiver feature
is not yet available. As an With these software exten- free to browse available al- that is not implemented in
alternative, you can use the sions you can add all sorts ternatives and exchange the the web interface you can
number keys on the remote of features to your satel- existing skin with a new one. always call up a virtual re-

1

Expert Opinion TECHNICAL
+ DATA
With two different operating systems users Manufacturer Karmacom Kft., Ganz Ábrahám street 5,
Nagytárcsa 2142, Hungary
can decide which one is best for them.
Excellent remote control with quick access to Tel. +36-1 431 8932

special features. Fax +36-1 431 8933
Both software platforms appear to be well- E-Mail info@karmacom.tv
Thomas Haring
designed and mature – we experienced no free- TELE-satellite Model SHD-8900 Alien
zes or software bugs. Test Center
Austria Function Digital HDTV receiver with various
High-definition 1080p content is processed multimedia & Internet features including dual boot
natively and put out as 1080p.
Channel Memory unlimited

- Symbol rate 2-45 Ms/sec.
SCPC Compatible yes
None
DiSEqC 1.0 / 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3

mote control and use it like ma 2), the Amiko SHD-8900 USALS yes

your real remote at home always offers either normal HDMI Output yes

by clicking on the required standby or deep standby. Scart Connector yes

button on the screen. Since Looking at the energy dia- Audio/Video Outputs 3x RCA

you can do this from more or grams in this report the vast Component Video Output no

less anywhere you can eas- difference in power con- S-Video Output no

ily access your box while on sumption between the two UHF Modulator no

holidays, change some set- modes becomes strikingly 0/12 Volt Connector no

tings if required, and put it obvious. Digital Audio Output yes

back into standby mode – all EPG yes

with a few mouse clicks! The Amiko SHD-8900 is C/Ku-Band compatible yes

a very well built HDTV PVR PVR-Function yes

Talking of standby: No receiver with high-quality USB 2.0 Connector yes

matter which operating sys- hardware. Being shipped Ethernet yes
tem is active (Spark or Enig- with two different operating E-SATA no
systems users can decide Silicon Tuner yes
which platform better meets
their requirement and of-
ENERGY
fers the features they really DIAGRAM
want and need. We tested
both platforms and can rec-
ommend both, as neither
of them had obvious flaws.
They look and feel entirely
different, but both are user-
friendly and will work nicely
for the whole family. With its
1080p video output via HDMI Mode Apparent Active Factor Apparent Power
Regular StandBy 15 W 7.5 W 0.5
this receiver will be a good Active 16 W 8W 0.5
choice even for future HDTV Deep StandBy 3.5 W 0.5 W 0.14 Active Power

transmission standards.

First 15 minutes: Active use with recording, playback and channel
switching
Second 15 minutes: Standby mode
Third 15 minutes: Deep standby mode with very low power
consumption


TEST REPORT HDTV Receiver

AB IPBox 55HD We’ve seen several Linux-
based receivers over the
last few years. It is an excit-

HDTV Linux Receiver
ing prospect for most of us
to have a powerful and cus-
tomisable receiving system
at our fingertips. Too often
in the past though, the cost
of all this power gets a little
• Receiver allows remote satellite reception with too much. When twin tun-
ers, large hard drives and
Internet streaming of video and audio lots of interfaces are added
to the receiver, it ends up
• Easy start of recordings directly from EPG being outside the budget of
• Easy connection to the receiver’s software via FTP all but the most fanatical or
rich satellite viewers. With
• Plenty of additional software available, including a the AB IPBox 55HD, the new
model of Slovak manufac-
most versatile channel editor

News Flash!
Dual Boot
for AB IPBox 55HD
AB IPBox will soon release a dual boot software for the
AB IPBox 55HD: the user can choose between Enigma 1HD
and Enigma 2HD. This means the user can simply restart the
Enigma 2HD software to the Enigma 1HD within 15 seconds.
The big advantage is that the setup files stored in the VAR
folder are shared by both software versions. The dual boot
feature adds another big bonus to the AB IPBox 55HD.

1

TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
Download this report in other languages from the Internet:
Arabic ‫العربية‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/ara/abipbox.pdf
Indonesian Indonesia www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/bid/abipbox.pdf
German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/deu/abipbox.pdf
turer AB IPBox, they have functions. One of which, ac- English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/eng/abipbox.pdf
Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/esp/abipbox.pdf
taken a different route. cessed by holding down the
French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/fra/abipbox.pdf
While outwardly similar to menu key when powering on Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/heb/abipbox.pdf
the AB IPBox 9900HD - see is very important. It forces Chinese 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/man/abipbox.pdf
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/pol/abipbox.pdf
our test report in TELE- a change of screen resolu-
Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/por/abipbox.pdf
satellite 12-01/2011 - , this tion when the machine boots Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/rus/abipbox.pdf
receiver has just one tuner up. Although the machine is Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/tur/abipbox.pdf
Available online starting from 1 April 2011
and no internal hard drive. supposed to choose its out-
put and resolution based on
The AB IPBox 55HD comes which are connected, I’ve play the first four charac- Under the flap, there is
in the same uniquely styled found myself in the position ters of the channel name. a single Conax card slot –
white case with a stylish de- of having to use this method It sometimes looks OK, but but no USB port. The single
sign of flowers on the front. to regain a picture on screen if you remember back to USB is found at the back of
I still think they are chrysan- a few times. those old games of trying the receiver. This would be
themums, although I have to make words on a calcu- good to keep cables out of
no official confirmation of The front panel is com- lator display, sometimes the way if a hard drive was
this. The front panel contains pleted with a four-digit LED it doesn’t really make too permanently connected, but
buttons to control the basic display which tries to dis- much sense. could be infuriating if a drive

0.5 AB IPBox 55HD
04-05/201
1

Ideal Linux receiver with plenty of
additional software for those on a budget


1

2 is shared with other devic- any new channels from the
es. Also on the back panel, providers doesn’t add any
there is a single Scart sock- extra time to the scan.
et, HDMI and SP/DIF con-
nectors for digital video and Pressing OK brings up the
audio, an HDMI output, and channel list which can be
the antenna socket and its sorted in a number of ways.
corresponding loop-through The channel storage sys-
output. And that’s it. Some tem is a little bewildering
people might miss a second at first, with channels be-
Scart, or component video, ing arranged in a master list
or stereo audio jacks, but that is not editable – which
the set of connections has caught me out again on my
3 been trimmed to only those second experience of Enig-
that are most popular and ma.
most necessary.
After giving in and refer-
Switching on the receiver ring back to the manual,
takes quite a while to get I am reminded that eve-
the operating system load- rything needs to be done
ed: two minutes or more de- through the concept of
pending on if a hard drive is “bouquets”. This term is
connected. The 55HD comes not to be confused with the
already pre-programmed sometimes-used definition
with settings and channels of a bouquet being a group
for packages and satellites of channels on a single tran-
4
worldwide. The world of sponder, or even a bunch
satellites never stands still of black chrysanthemums.
though, so there are plenty In Enigma-land this is the
of options for adding satel- equivalent of a favourites
lites and channels. A full list. In fact, the standard
range of DiSEqC controls pre-programmed bouquet is
are present, allowing for indeed called Favourites.
fixed dishes, switches and
motors. USALS is supported Whilst channels can be se-
for simple setup from just lected and viewed from the
the input of the receiving lo- master list, taking the time
cation’s coordinates. to copy them into a set of
5 organised bouquets makes
For a receiver with such a the whole experience much
powerful operating system, better. And once the chan-
scan speeds are surprisingly nels are in the list, they can
slow. A full scan of ASTRA be edited, sorted and moved
2 clocks in at just under 25 around as you’d expect. It’s
minutes. Adding the net- quite a long process, but a
work scan option to gather read of the manual helps
1. Scan options you find the best ways to do
2. Service information it for each situation. An even
3. AV settings better way is to use some
4. Main menu software on a PC to do it –
5. Antenna setup more on this a little later.

1

Highlights 2010
www.spaun.com Quality made in Germany

The new -Class
• Excellent selection:
Terr./SAT > 40 dB and SAT/Terr. > 45 dB
• Energy saving switch-mode power supply
• High output levels between
102 and 108 dBµV

years
warranty

Optical Transmitter SPAROS 611 CA HD
• Frequency range of 47 ... 2200 MHz
• HD-Display (MPEG4 H.264)
• Laser output power: +6 dBm • Integrated Multidecryption CA-Module
Optical Receiver • Return path measurement
• 4-way / 1-way in a compact housing • Constellationdiagram for all
• Remote power through one coax output possible DVB standards

SPAUN electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Byk-Gulden-Str. 22 · 78224 Singen
Phone: +49 (0)7731 - 8673-0 · Fax: +49 (0)7731 - 8673-17
Email: contact@spaun.com · www.spaun.com

More on This Manufacturer
Read TELE-satellite’s Company Report:

AB IPBOX
Satellite Receiver Manufacturer, Slovakia www.abipbox.com
as Formula 1 racing where ture can be used to play a
more than one video stream recording.
can be selected.
The receiver’s standard
A picture-in-picture mode EPG is a little different than
is available, and it is much most – the EPG button on
more flexible than most – first press brings up the in-
not only can the second- formation for the current
ary picture be moved into programme, with the ar-
a different position on the row keys moving forward
screen, but it can also be and back to the next and
resized. Of course, with previous shows. Pressing
only one tuner the choice of blue for “Multi EPG” gives
channels to display togeth- a list of the channels in the
er is limited to the tran- chosen bouquet with their
www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1009/eng/abipbox.pdf
sponder currently in use, or programmes listed – again
the main or secondary pic- the arrow keys are used
1
Navigating channels is
nice and easy, although
zapping between them us-
ing the up and down but-
tons feels a little sluggish.
A recall button is available,
and there seems to be a
more comprehensive chan-
nel history list that could be
navigated, although this is
only available from the help
menu as it has been mapped
onto the same key as the
less useful function to move
between sub-services -
those very rare events such

2

1

4

to move to the next pro-
gramme. For those more
used to the grid-style EPG,
one is available from either
the blue button, which loads
extensions or plugins, or by
pressing and holding the
EPG button. Yes, there are
so many functions on this
receiver some are even hid-
den under long keypresses.
The “help” button is always
a good friend – showing a 5
picture of the remote and a
list of available commands.

The EPG is the easiest
route into recording onto
an external hard drive if
one is connected. To be
able to hold recordings, the
drive needs to be formatted

1. FTP via Filezilla
2. Telnet
3. The DreamSet settings editor
4. Web interface
5. Timer access via web
interface
6. The web remote
6

3


1

2 in the Linux EXT3 format, sess the most intuitive of
which the receiver will do interfaces, and I find myself
if required When the pro- regularly returning to the
gramme information is on help button to refresh my
screen, a press of the green memory of how to add and
button adds it to the timer. remove files to the playlist.
The start and end times, re- It’s great to see that the
peat recording options and programme information
filename can all be changed from the EPG is saved along
if required before press- with the file, something too
ing green again to submit it often forgotten.
to the recording schedule.
For a quick one-off record- The IPBox runs a version
3 ing, it’s a quick sequence of of Linux which means sev-
pressing OK, green, green eral options exist to connect
from the EPG. it to the outside world. Once
hooked up via the Ethernet
It’s also worth noting that LAN port, the box can be ac-
when specifying the file- cessed by Telnet and FTP.
name here, and in fact any- Telnet could be useful to
where else in the receiver those who have a good un-
where text input is needed, derstanding of Linux and the
that the numeric keys on the receiver, FTP is more useful
keypad can be used to input to the rest of us. If accessing
text in the same manner as the rear USB port becomes
a mobile phone. Eagle-eyed just too annoying, just use
4 readers may notice from the FTP to access your files over
pictures that the Q and Z the network, using root as
characters are in different the username and ipbox as
positions than on a phone the default password.
keypad – but in the menus
themselves they are on the When I reviewed the AB
7 and 9 keys as they would IPBox 9900HD IPBox in
be on a phone! TELE-satellite 12-01/2011,
I was somewhat disappoint-
Recordings can be re- ed by the lack of software
played via the list under available via the box’s up-
the Files button, and it’s date service. In meantime,
not necessary to wait for a a few more programs have
5
recording to finish before appeared, some which work
starting the playback. Re- better than others. There is
cordings can also be viewed a Youtube player – which is
through the media player, awaiting an update to the
this also handles MP3 audio Enigma2 software before it
and AVI files very well. The will work; a Google maps
media player does not pos- viewer that comes preload-
ed with landmarks around
1. EPG programme information
the world including motor
2. Channel list
3. PID details racing venues and mostly
4. The customize menu works well; and a live foot-
5. Picture fine-tuning ball scores application that

1

eng TELE-satellite-1105

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