Humax IR-Free / Dreambox 500S +cam module

[satlearner]

Hi all,

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone that contributes to this forum ;). It is only via your contribution that keeps us striving to learn more and more. As I am based in South Africa, we do not really have the best of channels available freely. The most common pay-per-view is offered by Multichoice S.A., but I find that the packages offered are not realistically priced based on user requirements. Basically, I mostly enjoy the nature/wildlife programs and a good action movie now and again. Should I subscribe to Multichoice, it would be a huge waste of subscription/money as I only watch tv at night and at the most about 3,5 hours worth of time, therefore I am looking at alternatives.

As I am pretty new to the world of satellite receivers, etc. I have recently installed a 1,8mtr dish (C-Band) & Deltech 24x7 receiver as well as a 90cm dish (KU-Band) on a STAB 90 H-H motor also using a Deltech 24x7 receiver. I am in the process of purchasing a Humax IR Free receiver which has an embedded IRDETO CAS to replace the current C-Band Receiver. I would appreciate any feedback, positive or negative...one can never stop learning. My questions are as follows:

1) If i use the Humax IR Free unit, can I get a cam module for eg. Irdeto II ? Where can i get information on how to hook this up and what software would be required to make this system active.

2) Which is the more reliable and easier to use, the Dreambox 500S OR the Humax IR-Free ?

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[HB13DISH]

Hi all,

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone that contributes to this forum ;). It is only via your contribution that keeps us striving to learn more and more. As I am based in South Africa, we do not really have the best of channels available freely. The most common pay-per-view is offered by Multichoice S.A., but I find that the packages offered are not realistically priced based on user requirements. Basically, I mostly enjoy the nature/wildlife programs and a good action movie now and again. Should I subscribe to Multichoice, it would be a huge waste of subscription/money as I only watch tv at night and at the most about 3,5 hours worth of time, therefore I am looking at alternatives.

As I am pretty new to the world of satellite receivers, etc. I have recently installed a 1,8mtr dish (C-Band) & Deltech 24x7 receiver as well as a 90cm dish (KU-Band) on a STAB 90 H-H motor also using a Deltech 24x7 receiver. I am in the process of purchasing a Humax IR Free receiver which has an embedded IRDETO CAS to replace the current C-Band Receiver. I would appreciate any feedback, positive or negative...one can never stop learning. My questions are as follows:

1) If i use the Humax IR Free unit, can I get a cam module for eg. Irdeto II ? Where can i get information on how to hook this up and what software would be required to make this system active.

2) Which is the more reliable and easier to use, the Dreambox 500S OR the Humax IR-Free ?

Any advice will be appreciated.

If you are not going to subscribe, then why do you need the CI CAMs for?
Usually they are used with an official subscriptions.
I suggest to make a list of all the satellites that you are able to point to and then check if there are any good packages there that you are able to subscribe to.
A 3.5 hours a day is considered a good way to use the subscription and is definitely not a waste of money.
I wish there is a true Pay Per View methods so you pay only for watching without the need to make a monthly subscription, but there is only one package that have this possibility and that is the Premier Germany on Astra 19.2E with their Premiere Flex cards.

AFAIK Multichoice is the best in your location, but I am probably mistaken.
Regarding your questions, I would personally go for a Dreambox, not necessarily the 500S but something like 7020S which has a CI CAM slot and a card reader.

 

[satlearner]

Hi HB13DISH, thanks for the reply. I do intend on purchasing a card for a subscribed service. And yes, I am still deciding on which service I will subscribe to, I will also check out Premier Germany ;). Multichoice is not bad, however, they do tend to repeat shows alot, and if you want for example, the indian shows, you pay extra. In total, a package of the English & Indian Channels can cost one about ZAR800,00 per month. This would be a huge waste if there is no one watching movies at home all day long.

As for the STB, the 500S is all that's available right now and the pricing is pretty high considering that there are newer versions of Dreamboxes available. I do not recall the 7020S being available, but will check anyway. I have just received info from the supplier of Deltech STB's that they have another unit that has the CAM slot as well. I am waiting for their technical specs to come through and will then decide on the order. Based on the price, it will save me about 65% off the standard retail price of a locally available unit, but the locally available unit is a standard receiver without a card slot. The local supplier in S.A is really O-zzz as there is so much available, but they do not stock it and in some cases don't even know of it.

On another note, is it wise to mount a 4 or 5 metre mesh dish onto the roof of my house? I would like to motorise this and based on the info I have seen, I would require at least a 24 inch actuator and a V-Box to manouvre this beast.
Is there anyone that can give me a guideline as to what the mounting structure should like like, ie. Mounting kit for the actuator, the dish, etc. I am prepared to fabricate a steel mounitng structure at home as it is cheaper and can be customised to suit my needs. Another challenge will be to get 100% tracking of the arc and I believe this is where the mounting kit comes in. I battled a bit with the Stab HH90, but found that it was minor errors on my part (it was my first attempt on a motorised system....therefore errors are always possible).

Keep up the good work.....chat later ;)