Inferior tuner or software?

[Channel Hopper]

Rafael Micro site (Taiwan) confirms the RT720 specification is correct for the box design , including loopthrough capable (I wonder ....)

RT720

DVB-S/S2/S2X, ISDB-S

Yes

0.85 GHz ~ 2.35 GHz

Yes

4/8k

 

[Manikm909]

Well done. I'm actually using one now for the kitchen TV, 28.2 only. Its works fine as a Freesat box, using OPENATV and Whooshbuild - very good in fact, but any E2 STB would work fine I imagine.

Got 2 x SF8008 now in lounge, one running E2, the other running DEFINE - wish the remote control frequencys could be modded.

 

[Channel Hopper]

SI Labs website suggests variants of the 2166 (not just the D version) are capable of resolving 1-45MS/s (limited to 40MS/s for 32APSK)

There is a B20 and B22 option out there.

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www.enrgtech.co.uk

 

[Channel Hopper]

Some results. Series comparison between the Octagon (Combo) that has been here for just over a year, and the Zgemma H9S (single tuner) that I acquired last week, a shade over £50 delivered. Both have OpenATV 6.4 with the latest updates available from each of the manufacturers.

The two satellites tested are 4.8E and 0.8W, running from the 80cm dish on the roof which has a Blaze single PLL LNB.
Both receivers were set up with the same motorised coordinates and testing comprised of swopping between the two on three occasions, though it turns out the channel numbers received were the same on all three passes.

First up the SF8008

 

[Channel Hopper]

And the H9S

 

[Manikm909]

you dont say if you did a blind scan, or a manual satellite scan? also, did you select "renew\replace services " or whatever its called?

do a blind scan on that ZGEMMA on the western sats, and you will get NO TRANSPONDERS FOUND FOR THOSE SEARCH PARAMETERS

also how did you get on with the DEFINE software in the end?

 

[Channel Hopper]

I am working through this in a methodical fashion.

1) Tuner chipset- same (RT720)
2) Tuner build - similar qualty
3) Tuner design - different (H9S includes a loopthrough circuit).

I have used OpenATV since it is installed in both receivers, same release - 6.4 - and fully updated.

Using a bespoke version in one without trying the same in the H9S (I think their equivalent is Hyperion, though I need to delve further) would be creating an unfair advantage.

Since the thread title is 'Inferior tuner or software ?', then until I eliminate the loopthrough from the equation, currently the two receivers are performing almost identically.

One thing I have found is the H9S jumps back to default symbol rate of 2-45MS/s, whereas the SF8008 remains on whatever I set it to, suggesting the Octagon developers have found a way of forcing the demodulator (and perhaps the Rafael tuner ) chip to step outside the manufacturers' comfort zones.

 

[Channel Hopper]

OK, I think I'm ready to update the two receivers to another image

Whilst I have the DEFINE version downloaded onto a stick, there are it appears Hyperion 7 and 8 for the Zgemma.

Does anyone have any previous experience of these, or can possibly warn if the latter is a fake, or not suitable for the single tuner model ?

I might create a Zgemma folder in the 4K section later since it has been performing flawlessly today on the UHD NASA feed on OpenATV 6.4, no time to check other transmissions.

 

[Manikm909]

what do you expect to achieve from a different image ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

User friendliness.

 

[Manikm909]

User friendliness.

Let me know if u need me test anything.
Running open atv and whooshbuild on zgemma 28.2e only . Openvix on octagon sf8008 and define on other sf8008 motorised

 

[Channel Hopper]

How long have you had the two models?

 

[Manikm909]

Had octagons over a year . ZGemma just over a week. Seems to do a good job as a Freesat box . Not crashed once. Wouldn't use ZGemma on motorised tho due to the poor blind scan as mentioned

 

[funtime261]

I think most being a bit harsh on the ZGemma H9S. Great budget box in fact! Using Pure2 image I have found it good at pulling in weaker signals. Locking on feeds that the OBH Vu+Duo2 doesn't get a sniff at on same USALS 1.1m offset IBU set up. I'm hopefully finally installing my Gibby OP1.25L end of the month and might treat the new dish to a new SF8008. So should be able to compare too.

 

[Manikm909]

the only problem i have with the ZGEMMA H9S - it was the same with H7S - is the blindscan.
it blind scans some sats ok, altough not sure of the accuracy, but the western sats, 30w, 45w, 22w, 15w - says no transponders found
i agree, the H9S is very good at pulling in weak signals, BUT you need to know they are there in the first place, to manually enter.
for that reason, it is relegated to a kitchen freesat box - might even return it and get another sf8008 for not much more.

 

[Channel Hopper]

OK, I've added Define into the SF8008 using a temporary LAN cable down to the shed.
One thing that is odd is the Octagon requires a crossover lead (avoided by adding a desktop switch in series), the H9S appears to take data through the cable perfectly well without the switch.

Does anyone know if there is a dual boot option for the ZGemma or do I have to sacrifice OpenATV to install Hyperion ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Just noticed, there is a long list of - apparently - compatible images that crop up for the SF8008 from the list, Hyperion, both 7.1 and 8 (as well as Pure2).

Will either of these actually work in the Octagon if I install in a spare slot or are they going to cause trouble wrt tuner type? I have the Combo 4K model.

 

[Manikm909]

Just noticed, there is a long list of - apparently - compatible images that crop up for the SF8008 from the list, Hyperion, both 7.1 and 8 (as well as Pure2).

Will either of these actually work in the Octagon if I install in a spare slot or are they going to cause trouble wrt tuner type? I have the Combo 4K model.

re the zgemma, i dont beleive multiboot is possible natively - you might be able to do it via 3rd party plugins \ sd card etc - but unsure.

re the SF8008 - yes, from the recovery menu, where you installed DEFINE from , there are lots of images to choose from as you said - they are ALL for your SF8008 regardless of type - so feel free to install any of them into any spare slot.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I've played with two other images in the 8008 this week

MGsatdreamgr (Zeus) and DEFINE.

The latter is superb, does everything I want in a user interface.

I will look into installing it into the H9S over the weekend for a side by side comparison.

 

[Manikm909]

I believe "Define" is for Octagon hardware only. It is the SX88 software emulated\ported for the SF8008 hardware.
It would be interesting if it could go on other models, that's for sure.