Tvheadend

Have a look at the satip-axe alternative firmware - this allows for more complex configuration (and can be booted from USB without altering the firmware on the device itself I believe) : https://github.com/perexg/satip-axe

I'm seriously considering buying one - as it looks like an incredibly flexible device with that firmware.

(By the way - Conrad UK currently a £10 back to school discount on orders over £75.)

Thanks - that is a great find with the £10.00 discount too.

That link explains a lot too - so all the following are exactly the same, but for the name?

http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/product/944064/Sat-IP-server-Telestar-DIGIBIT-R-1

http://www.inverto.tv/products/product.php?id=242

https://www.amazon.de/Grundig-DSI-400-GSS-box/dp/B0093KQQWE

Although the Digibit is undoubtedly a really great deal, pricewise, is it definitely the best one to go for?

These two alternatives keep popping up and I was wondering how they compare to the Digibit:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Triax-310101-Converter-Server-White/dp/B00AAWI23K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504699933&sr=8-1&keywords=SAT%3EIP

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Megasat-SAT-IP-Server-3/dp/B01DKP28O2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1504699933&sr=8-2&keywords=SAT%3EIP

They are both more expensive that the Digibit, but I don't mind if they offer better features (like better power consumption, for example).

In particular, I like the way that they seem to be easier to mount to a wall, which I am going to be doing.

Their major downside seems to their lack of USB port, so I assume that the Digibit is better if you want to start messing around with the firmware.

Afraid I have no experience of any of them. I had an Elgato 4Sat for a while - but didn't use it enough to warrant keeping it. Am tempted by a Digibit R1 purely because of the satip-axe firmware offering some quite sophisticated config options.

I think that is that reason that is drawing me to the Digibit.

I think that it is a bit like the situation with ARM mini computers - there are lots of Raspberry Pi alternatives now, that offer much better specs. However, the majority of people (me included) stick with the Pi because that is where all the development is going on.

As I understand it, if the R1 is in Unicable mode, only the Unicable input connector is live, and internally it then presents the Unicable or Unicable II signal to the other "tuners"

Following http://www.inverto.tv/guide/?p=25 "Additional scenarios - SDU receiving 2 satellites" it is possible to have two Unicable II LNBs connected to an Unicable II "output combiner" http://www.inverto.tv/products/product.php?section=3&id=352 that then feed into a Unicable II receiver, or with Unicable II "splitters", multiple Unicable II receivers, but this would appear to require a Unicable II programmer http://www.inverto.tv/products/product.php?section=3&id=329 for initial configuration.

The SATIP AXE firmware allows two Unicable LNBs to be connected separately according to their blurb. (So you can connect one Unicable LNB to be used by tuners 1 and 2, and another to be used by tuners 3 and 4). I assume it allows you to just use two physical inputs as the R1 has an internal router between IF inputs and tuners. Don't know how stock firmware works.

If you use a pair of unicable LNBs to a single input via a combiner you need to be able to select between satellites via Unicable (and program the two LNBs so that they are aware 'which' satellite they are) In this mode the LNBs share 8 or 32 IF band slots - and switch off their output in the user band when the 'other' LNB is needed.

Thank you for clarifying.

It does seem, then, that if I really want to go down the second motorised satellite route, it is going to mean that I will have to skip the Unicable (not the end of the world).

That would mean that I could three tuners connected to a fixed satellite at 28.2e and the fourth could be connected to the second, motorised dish.

I need to find out, now, whether the digibit actually supports motorised dishes (Diseqc 2.1).

A L wrote:

Thank you for clarifying.

It does seem, then, that if I really want to go down the second motorised satellite route, it is going to mean that I will have to skip the Unicable (not the end of the world).

That would mean that I could three tuners connected to a fixed satellite at 28.2e and the fourth could be connected to the second, motorised dish.

I need to find out, now, whether the digibit actually supports motorised dishes (Diseqc 2.1).

If you read the SATIP Axe firmware blurb (particularly the bit about free inputs), it seems to support multiple Diseqc positions - so should support 'GOTO x' though it probably isn't USALS? I haven't seen what the stock firmware supports.

I finally received my Digibit R1, yesterday - going to have some fun messing around with it over the weekend.

Further to your earlier e-mail, I did some further research and it just is not clear whether a motorised setup will work.

Although it would be fantastic, it would not be the end of the world if it did not support it - could always put up a second satellite dish with a monoblock (perhaps 19.2e and 13e) and run one of the four outputs to a DisEqc switch.

I have spent the weekend messing around with the R1 and have some initial problems with it connecting to my network (might be a defective unit, so am having to do some more testing).

That aside, I have had a look at the settings of the stock firmware and there is no apparent option for controlling a satellite dish.

I have also read the documentation on the custom firmware website and it does seem that there is no way for the R1 to control a motor dish (though if anyone could confirm, that would be really helpful).

Having done the research, I really want USALS now.

If I do have to return the R1, what I may other options?