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Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals

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  Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> - 2026-07-01 11:35 +0000
    Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals NY <me@privacy.net> - 2026-07-01 15:54 +0100
      Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-01 17:47 +0100
    Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-01 16:29 +0100
      Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> - 2026-07-01 16:21 +0000
        Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-01 17:35 +0100
    Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> - 2026-07-01 18:16 +0100
      Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> - 2026-07-01 18:42 +0100
        Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> - 2026-07-02 07:55 +0000
    Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Dave W <davewi11@yahoo.co.uk> - 2026-07-02 12:28 +0100
      Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> - 2026-07-02 13:46 +0000
        Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> - 2026-07-03 09:17 +0100
        Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Dave W <davewi11@yahoo.co.uk> - 2026-07-03 18:51 +0100
          Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-03 19:17 +0100
            Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> - 2026-07-04 11:54 +0100
    Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-03 15:31 +0100
      Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-03 15:35 +0100
        Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-03 17:06 +0100
          Re: Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-03 23:17 +0100

#249575 — Non Freesat box to Receive Satellite Signals

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.

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#249576

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.

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#249580

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.

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#249577

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.

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#249578

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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#249579

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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#249581

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 (£1)
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

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#249582

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 (£1)
> 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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#249583

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 (£1)
>>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.

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#249584

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

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#249585

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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#249586

On 02/07/2026 14:46, Jeff Gaines wrote:

> Are you using it with a Sky dish? 

Dish or LNB (Sky Q LNB)?

The dish can be the same for Sky, Freesat or any third party box.


It is the type of LNB attached to the arm on the dish that matters and 
the Sky Q  LNB is only supported by their boxes and a couple of Freesat 
boxes (as far as I'm aware).




-- 
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

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#249592

On 02/07/2026 14:46, Jeff Gaines wrote:
> 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....
> 
I don't know. I thought only HD channels are encrypted, which doesn't 
matter in the Humax which has custom firmware and anti-encryption patch. 
I haven't tried much recording via the Labgear box. It can only be done 
by setting starting time and duration, in the absence of an EPG.

The remote control has an EPG button and the instructions say you can 
use it to find the proramme you want, but the button does nothing.

Labgear is a very old name, but the box is made in China. The URL on the 
box is www.labgear.co.uk, but it gets diverted to the Irish distributors 
https://www.philex.com/brand/labgear/, and on that page are the grand words:
"With a heritage dating back to the 1950’s, Labgear has been a 
cornerstone in the antenna and TV signal distribution sector. Evolving 
with the times, it now pioneers the latest in HDMI, networking, and 
fibre technologies, maintaining its reputation as the trusted brand for 
trade professionals."

Sounds like a load of codswallop.

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#249593

Dave W wrote:

> Jeff Gaines wrote:
>
>> Are you using it with a Sky dish? Are the recordings encrypted or can 
>> they be played back on other devices?
>
> I don't know. I thought only HD channels are encrypted,
None of the freesat channels are encrypted, the tvheadend software that 
I mentioned just filters the various PIDs (audio/video/subtitles/etc) 
and records them as an MPEG transport stream, that's what VLC plays, you 
could transcode it to any format you like, there's no lock-in.

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#249595

On 03/07/2026 19:17, Andy Burns wrote:
> Dave W wrote:
> 
>> Jeff Gaines wrote:
>>
>>> Are you using it with a Sky dish? Are the recordings encrypted or can 
>>> they be played back on other devices?
>>
>> I don't know. I thought only HD channels are encrypted,
> None of the freesat channels are encrypted, the tvheadend software that 
> I mentioned just filters the various PIDs (audio/video/subtitles/etc) 
> and records them as an MPEG transport stream, that's what VLC plays, you 
> could transcode it to any format you like, there's no lock-in.
> 

The Enigma 2 boxes also just record the transfer stream and the 
recordings can be played on anything that supports it (VLC etc.)

-- 
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

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#249589

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 Zgemma H7S running OpenViX software.

Good place to buy a box:
https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/	Seller of Satellite TV hardware

OpenViX:
https://world-of-satellite.com/		Support forum
https://www.openvix.co.uk/		Downloads

-- 
Brian Gregory (in England).

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#249590

Oh, I should add, a lot of these cheap Chinese boxes do not work with 
the wideband Sky Q LNB. They only support the old Universal LNBs or 
Unicable.

And being cheap I'd recommend buying from somewhere that offers at least 
6 months guarantee on the hardware.

-- 
Brian Gregory (in England).

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#249591

On Fri 03/07/2026 15:35, Brian Gregory wrote:
> Oh, I should add, a lot of these cheap Chinese boxes do not work with 
> the wideband Sky Q LNB. They only support the old Universal LNBs or 
> Unicable.
> 
> And being cheap I'd recommend buying from somewhere that offers at least 
> 6 months guarantee on the hardware.
> 

Inverto are well made and reliable. Suggest you get a twin or quad, then 
if one fails you have another one/three to use! Get extra F-type plugs, 
fill the cable end of one/three of them with silicone sealant and put 
them on the unused ports - keeps moisture and flees out!

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#249594

On 03/07/2026 17:06, Woody wrote:
> On Fri 03/07/2026 15:35, Brian Gregory wrote:
>> Oh, I should add, a lot of these cheap Chinese boxes do not work with 
>> the wideband Sky Q LNB. They only support the old Universal LNBs or 
>> Unicable.
>>
>> And being cheap I'd recommend buying from somewhere that offers at 
>> least 6 months guarantee on the hardware.
>>
> 
> Inverto are well made and reliable. Suggest you get a twin or quad, then 
> if one fails you have another one/three to use! Get extra F-type plugs, 
> fill the cable end of one/three of them with silicone sealant and put 
> them on the unused ports - keeps moisture and flees out!

I guess I was unclear. I meant the receiver boxes, like the Zgemma H7S 
and so on, have been known to die in the first few months of use.

And after a few years I had to re-apply thermal compound between the 
processor and the heatsink, which was quite fiddly to do since the 
heatsink was held on with thick, tight fitting, slightly springy wires 
soldered through hole to the PCB.

-- 
Brian Gregory (in England).

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