Dreambox dm8000 hd pvr up and running...

Dreambox 8000 up and running...

After two weeks of head-scratching, my DB8000 is ready for some action.

As I'm new to Dreamboxes, initial setup posed many problems, not least the fact that I come straight to the box from a Triple Dragon, and although much of the Linux file system is the same, some of the files are in different sections of the system.

However, once network and satellite configurations were complete, I tried various images, settling on Nabilosat BH, residing in a USB stick alongside the Pure Flash, courtesy of Barry Allen.

Quality of picture is excellent, both SD and HD.

The system uses a Broadcom tuner working into a Broadcom 7405. Channel change is rapid.

I've retrofitted an internal 500GB Hitachi HDD, and will be looking now for a slimline DVD burner. This will be connected to the USB to eSATA stick provided (cable ready inside).HDD runs cool and sweetly.

A couple of niggles to get off my chest -

Overall finish is not as good as my TD - front hinge panel seems rather fragile, and the Dreambox escutcheon fell off

Also, and more importantly, a tuner blanking plate fell inside onto the mainboard as it was very thinly attached to the back panel(luckily it happened when not powered up )

I have made other owners aware of this on the DB8000 VIP board.

As for the high price of this receiver, my Echostar SR8700 cost more than this back in the early 90's. Whether this one justifies the cost, time will tell - I looked at several other boxes costing considerably less, but was not too happy whether full support would be forthcoming over time. At least the Dreambox support is second to none.

I will post updates on my experiencies with the 8000 as things progress.

DVD drive now added.

After much hassle, I now have the DVD burner installed (Slimline Samsung SN-S083A).

The problem was the cable connection (SATA/power plug) didn't appear to be compatible with my drive. I thought I hadn't the adaptor that plugs into the drive, but stupidly I didn't see it languishing in the carton that the Dreambox came in. Too much of a hurry to get the box up and running

There is no explanation of fitting the drive in the manual, but after uploading a revised manual (see attachment), all became clear, with mention of the aforementioned adaptor.

Having recorded to the HDD the BBC HD David Attenborough programme about Darwin, I wanted to burn it to disk, but of course being in HD, it will need to be presumably downscaled to SD. In the DVD Burner application, there is mention of changing the format to a variety of ISO images, but I'm not sure which one to choose. So this is my next task, to get it somehow onto the disk.

Yes, as far as I'm aware, the Linux fraternity are working on it, so we have to wait awhile. Not that I'm in too much of a hurry, Blu Ray drives are pretty expensive, and there's not enough HD content around to justify it.

If DRM is ever cracked, the possibility of HD movie transfer to/from your Blu Ray drive would be interesting.
article sources from: http://www.wholesalexyz.com/