solo2

[Captain Jack]

I take SNR dB readings with a cup of salt on most receivers.

 

[4wd]

1 month with the solo2, working very well. Swapped the 500GB with a 1TB (hgst 7200) I had, after first ftp'ing previous recordings in 'movie' to pc and transfering back to new hd, all well. Very happy with the .ts recording files, play perfect on a pc, in vlc and many more programs.

Somehow got epg working good, but need more time to get the full overview of why and how. Using Dreamset for channels and bouquets.

Now and then doing some digging around in TSmedia, iptvplayer etc to investigate a little into all the crazy stuff available. Keeping a good collection of backups & images (always available on usb flash) so after some experiments can quickly revert to a 'normal' box.

Tuners are fine, maybe a small tad better compared to Vantage, Humax, but no revolution or miracles. Would have liked a better remote (less spongy buttons), but getting used to it. After testing a few images, not finding that big differences, staying with OpenVIX which has been very stable. The solo2 has taken over as main receiver.

 

[Lazarus]

That's an extremely comprehensive and useful review, thank you.

 

[4wd]

Comnparing tuner designs, the processor now having most of it included, unlike older tunerblocks which must have been producing more heat and used much more power. Now it's nearly only the plugs that remains off-processor !

 

[Nalleman]

Well I have a VU+ Duo 2 and a Vantage 8000 TS. I don't like the VU+ so the Vantage is by far my over all choice. It might be due to the fact I don't like Linux based receivers and the fact the Vantage is much much easier to handle. I have even bought a couple of extra Vantage 8000 TS and S since they are quite a bargain now going out of the market.
Of course there are good things about the VU+ too! It has three tuners and one of them handles DVB-T2, the tuners are sensitive but I can't se any big difference compared to the Vantage. Certainly there are more good feautures.
The remote is a piece of crap compared to the Vantage.
I will leave the Vu + next to my Vantage for the time being but most of the time I will contine using the Vantage that's for sure!

 

[4wd]

- the Vantage is much much easier to handle.

It's very, very good, I like the menus and speed.

have even bought a couple of extra Vantage 8000 TS and S since they are quite a bargain now going out of the market.

Same here, 2 well working 8000s with 1tb\500gb at give-away price, and even with prodution date 2008, no signs of any problems!

but I can't se any big difference compared to the Vantage.

Vantage picture is just as good as the vu solo2. Boot and channel zap quicker than the solo2, the socalled world's fastest tuner :O) The solo2 tuners may be a tad more sensitive, but nothing that makes any real life difference.

The remote is a piece of crap compared to the Vantage.

Agree. The Vantage remote is the best among any remote here. The spongy vu+ is barely tolerable.

I will contine using the Vantage that's for sure!

Why I use the solo, a few things I find important: the vu's .ts recordings that can be copied\backed up and played on any pc (can do the same with vantage, but much more cumbersome, on the humax hdr recordings are locked down), openwebif, I like tweaking menus and configurations, learning new things, 7 days epg on freesat, and probably more if I think about it.

But Vantage regularly in use, and certainly not selling.

Solo2 got openPLI now, works fine.

 

[4wd]

Now, how to transfer (more or less incompatible) recordings from my older stb's to the vu+, ftp'd the content of a recorded program (complete Vantage 8000 folder) to the solo2, which happily plays the Vantage .trp's, but not the subsequent .001, .o02 etc that the Vantage produces for longer recording times. Worked by renaming the .001 etc files to .trp, see attachment.

Good enough, just needs a few extra remote clicks to watch a full movie, alternative would have been some video converter\editing program, but that's a long and tedious work compared to the above quick fix.

 

[Tururu]

^^^ thanks, but could you show the paths in the" dreamboxedit options" windows, would be very nice to check if I've got the paths right.

But googling around a little, many posts like this pop up Delete/Remove channel | VuPlus Community , also read somewhere "db is merged in the image"...
Am I trying for the impossible in Blackhole :O)

About the channel clean up, not crucial, just and old habit of removing any useless trash residues from scans, there's 100's of entries here that can go.

The paths to files (biting right into Enigma2 settings puts you directly).
A hand would be so
----------
Las rutas para los ficheros (picando a la derecha en Enigma2 settings lo pone directamente).
A mano, seria asi.

Services and Bouquets files: /etc/enigma2/
User bouquet files: /etc/enigma2/
Satellites.xml files: /etc/tuxbox/
En general, Path for Picons: /media/usb/picons/

 

[Tururu]

Do not play with the lamedb file, that is not touched, only the satellites.xlm file using notepad ++ and always leaves a copy of the old.
Edit transponders with DreamboxEdit is very slow and a pain.
Always play with the favorites.

Good, you can make very personalized satellites.xml file and for example have a satellite to view channels and to fish the same satellite, example.

Hispasat to 30ºOeste (all well-ordered favorite) ... 300.
Hispasat to 30'1ºOeste to fish all channels / changes ... 301.
Hispasat to 29'9ºOeste to fish (feed) ejemplo..299 only free channels.

Whenever satellites.xml not touch the file, you only need to recharge the changes, do not need to reboot Enigma2/GUI.
If you play the file said, you have to reiniciae tuner only reads at startup.
DeamboxEdit/Dreamset work very well to compare and see the changes (new/upgrade/end) channels.
Among the list of channels you have on the PC and the new relationship of the tuner, set date in the list of channels to be well referenced the issue.

Personally I never delete channels from the general database (lamedb), so I can see the changes when I search, only plays with Bouquet / Favorites.
In 51 satellites, just over 13,000 channels (TV / radio / data), these tuners, is no problem.

Compared with tuners DB800S-HD the VU + DUO2 (single and double) are better.
Work on another scale, not like the rest to 100%, when you get used to, anyway, the dB scale is more like.
75% think signal / SNR in other decos is the 95/100%.
I have other old decos, not spend 80% signal / SNR does not matter.
The theme is also often dB image problem, with Openspa, no problem.
These tuner are linux, but use the SatFinder, you can "hang" like any Windows PC.

PS: It is true, the command of VU + DUO2 sucks.
-------------------
No juegues con el fichero lamedb, ese no se toca, solo con el fichero satellites.xlm usando notepad++ y siempre deja una copia del viejo.
Editar los transpondedores con DreamboxEdit es muy lento y un coñazo.
Siempre juega con los favoritos.

Lo bueno, puedes hacer el fichero satellites.xml muy personalizado y tener por ejemplo un satelite para ver los canales y para pescar el mismo satelite, ejemplo.

Hispasat a 30ºOeste (todo bien ordenado en favoritos)...300.
Hispasat a 30'1ºOeste, para pescar todos los canales/cambios...301.
Hispasat a 29'9ºOeste, para pescar solo canales libres (feed) por ejemplo..299.

Siempre que no toques el fichero satellites.xml, solo necesitas recargar los cambios, no necesitas reinicar Enigma2/GUI.
Si tocas el fichero comentado, tienes que reiniciae el sintonizador, solo lo lee en el arranque.
DeamboxEdit/Dreamset funcionan muy bien para comparar y ver los cambios de los canales (nuevos/actualizacion/fin).
Entre la lista de canales que tienes en el PC y la nueva relacion que tiene el sintonizador, pon fecha en la lista de canales para tener bien referenciado el tema.

Personalmente nunca borro los canales de la base de datos general (lamedb), asi puedo ver los cambios cuando realizo busquedas, solo juega con los Bouquet/Favoritos.
En 51 satelites, poco mas de 13.000 canales (TV/radio/datos), en estos sintonizadores, no es problema.

Comparado con los sintonizadores de la DB800S-HD los del VU+DUO2 (sencillo y doble) son mejores.
Funcionan a otra escala, no como el resto al 100%, cuando te acostumbras, da igual, la escala de dB es mas similar.
Piensa que 75% de señal/SNR en otros decos es el 95/100%.
Tengo otros viejos decos, tampoco pasan del 80%, de señal/SNR, no importa.
El tema de dB muchas veces tambien es problema de la imagen, con Openspa, no hay problema.
Estos sintonizadores son linux, pero si usas el satfinder, se pueden "colgar" como cualquier PC con windows.

According to the manufacturer lowest LORD in the DUO2 it is 2000, but until 1500 still work.
Not blind search, has to be manual, look with such low SR in the Solo2.
----------
Segun el fabricante el SR mas bajo en el DUO2 es 2000, pero hasta 1500 todavia funcionan.
No en busqueda ciega, tiene que ser manual, mira que tal con SR bajos en el Solo2.

Typically the data channels are channels of TV identifies well.
With these tuners Enigma2 channels you can record 4K (UHD) changing the data channel TV.
Then you can see the file generated in a powerful> I5 PC with a good video card.
------------
Normalmente los canales de datos que son canales de TV los identifica bien.
Con estos sintonizadores Enigma2 puedes grabar los canales 4K (UHD) cambiando el canal de datos a TV.
Luego puedes ver el fichero generado en un PC potente >I5 con una buena tarjeta de video.

PD:True, the remote control of the VU+DUO2 sucks./Es cierto, el mando remoto del VU+DUO2 es una mierda.

 

[4wd]

Streaming to pc (openwebif), here's some numbers, with gigabit on both ends, everything should theoretically cope very well.

 

[Captain Jack]

Welp, I'd say the Solo2's tuner (mine at least) is not as good as the Uno's... or F15 or my TBS card. On borderline transponders, I can get a lock on the F15 and TBS but Solo2 refuses to see them (Amos 4W).

Disappointing....

 

[scopus]

Welp, I'd say the Solo2's tuner (mine at least) is not as good as the Uno's... or F15 or my TBS card. On borderline transponders, I can get a lock on the F15 and TBS but Solo2 refuses to see them (Amos 4W).

Disappointing....

You can buy the Uno back if you want CJ...

 

[Captain Jack]

Ha... well, I do like the speed of Solo2 and I spent faaaar too much money recently on my never ending upgrades. Will have to stick to Solo2 and rely on F15 to watch the weaklings.

 

[4wd]

Welp, I'd say the Solo2's tuner (mine at least) is not as good as the Uno's... or F15 or my TBS card. On borderline transponders, I can get a lock on the F15 and TBS but Solo2 refuses to see them (Amos 4W). Disappointing....

Here it's the best among 4 other tuners I've got to compare against, "best" meaning the solo2 gives 3 minutes more watching time :O) on the weakest 28 uk's when the evening drop sets in, SD's breaking up when levels drop to around 5,5 \ 6 db, higher on HD's. 2E uk fine, 2G uk marginal (weather dependant), 2F uk lost 6 hours evening. Am not seeing any hope with other receiver \ lnb, bigger dish needed someday.

btw, have seen lock + active readout way down into the 4db range when looking in 'satfinder', but does not translate into getting any picture\lock in normal watching.

But yes, probably not the ultimate tuner for feed hunting etc, but for watching\streaming\recording\plugins it's behaving 1st class here. Cool, silent, fast, stable. openPLI for a while.

 

[4wd]

Just an update, the solo2 is 1st class. Stable as a rock and zero problems to report.
Cool and silent. Excellent picture. Used for fta only, excellent reception and recording.
Network \ ftp all good. Even got accustomed to (and now liking) the remote.
Excellent with the cm180 for 28 east. Settled for openPLI, light and fast.

 

[4wd]

Installed Video Enhancement plugin (OpenPLI), proved very useful to improve\adjust picture quality.
Should have installed it long ago! Recommended.

 

[Tururu]

Installed Video Enhancement plugin (OpenPLI), proved very useful to improve\adjust picture quality.
Should have installed it long ago! Recommended.

Images are like tastes for colors, if you like perfect/Las imagenes son como los gustos por los colores, si te gusta perfecto.

In VU+Solo2, if you only have one antenna, use the input tuner2 and the connected tuner1/blucle to B.
They have a factory defect and if it is on the contrary, one day it stops working and you do not know the accusation/why.
I was able to play with one this Christmas and it is noticed that the tuners are not shielded, in Astra 19.2ºE if you put Tele5 (12480 V 27500 3/4) and bring a cordless telephone of house DEC (Gigaset C300) and emit, Channel if you are within 50cm of the antenna cable (double shield), above the equipment, you can not see the channel.

The worst of all, the VU + zero, the tuner are not shielded and the top is plastic, with the same antenna cable, less than 1 meter from the cable, and interferes with the channel, placed on top of the equipment , The channel is dead/without signal.
The VU + DUO2, has the tuner shielded, touching the antenna cable, above the device, does not know anything.
--------
En el VU+solo2, si solo tienes una antena, usa el tuner2 de entrada y el tuner1 conectado/blucle al B.
Tienen un defecto de fabrica y si esta al contrario, un dia deja de funcionar y no sabes la acusa/por qué.
Pude jugar con uno estas Navidades y se nota que no estan blindados los sintonizadores, en Astra 19.2ºE si pones Tele5 (12480 V 27500 3/4) y acercas un telefono sin hilos de casa DEC (Gigaset C300) y emites, se come el canal si estas a menos de 50cm del cable de antena (doble blindaje), encima del equipo, no se puede ver el canal.

Ya puestos, el peor de todos, el VU+zero, los tuner no estan blindados y la tapa superior es de plastico, con el mismo cable de antena, a menos de 1 metro del cable, ya interfiere el canal, puesto encima del equipo, el canal esta muerto/sin señal.
El VU+DUO2, tiene blindados los tuner, tocando el cable de antena, encima del aparato, no se entera de nada.

I leave some photos of these tests, they are Zero, almost as bad in Solo2/Dejo unas fotos de estas pruebas, son del Zero, casi igual de mal en el Solo2.
Interferencia_movil_DEC.jpg

Well I have a VU+ Duo 2 ......The remote is a piece of crap compared to the Vantage.

The new VU + DUO2 controller sucks, tired of buying clones that have the same defect as the original (€ 12), now I use the same model as the VU + Solo2, Solo4K, Uno4K, Ultimo4K.
The clones are worth less than € 8 and are very good copies, by default they are mode 2 (it is the DUO2 configuration), but you can change the configuration of the remote and receiver (I have 3 VU+ equipment and each in a number).
Careful, that is the commented, the control of the VU+Solo does not have the keys equal, is model 1 and can not change the configuration.
--------
El mando nuevo del VU+DUO2 es una mierda, cansado de comprar clones que tienen el mismo defecto que el original (12€), ahora uso el mismo modelo que el VU+Solo2, Solo4K, Uno4K, Ultimo4K.
Los clones valen menos de 8€ y son copias muy buenas, por defecto son modo 2 (es la configuracion del DUO2), pero puedes cambiar la configuracion del mando a distancia y receptor (tengo 3 equipos VU+ y cada uno en un numero).
Cuidado, que sean los comentados, el mando del VU+Solo no tiene las teclas igual, es modelo 1 y no se puede cambiar la configuracion.

PS:

 

[4wd]

Just a note about how excellent my 2x Solo2's (produced 2012 & 2013) are behaving.
Both seen heavy use, still perfect in every way. And zero problems with OpenPli.
Always amazed by the reliability and longevity of some electronics, those designed \ manufactured properly.

 

[4wd]

More praise for the Solo2's, still working like new. One is soon 12 y old. The other 11 y, hd soon 11 y.
And still zero missing options and facilities (like 4k seems ages away from being any norm) and the Enigma developpers supplying all software and plugins needed or wanted.

Gave one of them some dust cleaning and inspection, everything works and looks like new. These things could have been sold with a 10 years full guarantee :O) Again, very satisfying and impressive how well designed \ well built electronics survives time and heavy use.

One of my Vantage 8000S gave up some time ago, all power voltages measured ok, but colorful garbage out of the HDMI, probably some video out chip fried. Was from around 2007, so... Still have another one, works perfect, keeping it as a backup receiver. The old Philips TNTsat 19.2 box sill works. Must be the slowest receiver on earth (boot time, menus etc) but picture quality is excellent. Renewing the card every 4 years, using it for French channels while in Norway.

 

[Nalleman]

More praise for the Solo2's, still working like new. One is soon 12 y old. The other 11 y, hd soon 11 y.
And still zero missing options and facilities (like 4k seems ages away from being any norm) and the Enigma developpers supplying all software and plugins needed or wanted.

Gave one of them some dust cleaning and inspection, everything works and looks like new. These things could have been sold with a 10 years full guarantee :O) Again, very satisfying and impressive how well designed \ well built electronics survives time and heavy use.

One of my Vantage 8000S gave up some time ago, all power voltages measured ok, but colorful garbage out of the HDMI, probably some video out chip fried. Was from around 2007, so... Still have another one, works perfect, keeping it as a backup receiver. The old Philips TNTsat 19.2 box sill works. Must be the slowest receiver on earth (boot time, menus etc) but picture quality is excellent. Renewing the card every 4 years, using it for French channels while in Norway.

I have two 8000S and one of them doesn't like when the power cord is pulled. Capacitors in the power supply unit seems to be a weak point. I had a 8000TS but it gave up a couple of years ago.

Mostly I'm using a VU+ DUO2 (almost ten years now) and a VU+ DUO 4K SE (have one brand new unused as spare too).

The Vantage is more user friendly but when you get used to the VU+ they are fine and have a lot more options!