ok look at all these numbers and specs! its all French to me! help!
not to worry,we will help with all the basics and what to mainly look for as far as the specs go.
tip 1.never buy a clone on purpose! they ARE cheaper made than an authentic.and many coders have implemented killer clone codes that will render an stb useless, unless jtaged or sent in for repair.
please buy from our site sponsors,to insure you don't fall victim.
tip 2. you can buy a super fast stb with lots of memory,but if it lacks a good support team,pass it buy.
tip3.do not let price(within your budget)or a certain brand affect your decision.let the specs and a well supported receiver do the talking.
there are many great brands out there now,don't be afraid to try something new to you,its fun!
tip4.don't jump on a new stb brand,wait a few months to see how its support team holds up.but don't be afraid of trying a new model of a tried and true brand,but remember with new models,there will be bugs to be worked out.
A.System and Memory:
this is the heart of the stb.
If these specs are not average or above,you may want to continue looking!!
1.Main Processor:
this is very important.this is the speed the stb can run at.simply put,the faster the better!
many stbs will read the speed in 2 ways,a.MHz OR b.MIPS
look for MHz ratings,this is most common,and is lower than the MIPS will be.
(don't compare mhz of one brand to another's MIPS rating find out how many mhz each has)
as of this date,
150+ mhz would want to be the lowest you would want to go with.(most commonly liked stbs will be a bit/even allot higher!)
this speed (mhz) will determine how fast channels change,how fast the epg loads,how fast channels scan etc,etc, and also how smooth the stb will run in general.this is the POWER of the stb,its engine.
by way of an example comparison here to help you decide:
100 mhz or lower= a 4 cylinder 100-130 mhz= 6 cylinder 130-190 mhz =8 cylinder 190+ mhz = a decked out 8 cylinder
2.SDRAM: this is the stb's memory,also the more the better!!
as of this date,look for an stb with at least
32+ mbs,lower you may want to keep on looking.
the more memory the stb has the more information it can hold,such as the epg (electronic program guide) 32 mbs will provide about 7 days worth of epg on dish AND the max bev streams at a time,2 days.
with more ram you could get the full 9 days dish streams out along with bevs full 2 days.
channels use this ram space also,as does favs/saved list in stb if capable etc.
3.Flash Memory: this is the size .bin file the stb can hold.
as of this date,if flash mem is lower than 4mb's,you may want to keep looking!!look for
4+ mbs
this is important,as time goes by,the providers continue to add things needed in the .bin files.
4mbs is more than needed at this time.and should provide years of use before the files no longer can fit on the unit.
B.System Outputs:
this is how the stb hooks to your tv.depending on your tv,decide what is the best for you.
1.
component out (Y Pb
Pr): this is the best output possible in a standard receiver for the sharpest,clearest pic.
2. s video out: this is the second best video output for a nice sharp pic.(video out only)
3. composite out (rca-Yellow, White, Red Jack): this is the third best out for a clear pic.
4.
SPDIF out: dolby digital Out(Coaxal,
Optical) this is needed for use with an external surround sound receiver.check to see what connection your ss receiver requires.optical out is best,where available.
with this connection,you can enjoy the ac3(surround sound) audio from your stb.
C.System Data Ports:
this is how you will load the files to your unit.
USB port: this is the best,fastest,most convenient way to load your files.
SD slot: this is ok,though not as nice as a usb stick.
Connector 9 Pin D-Sub Type: this comes on all stbs,and most use a null modem 9 pin cable today.a direct way to hook your stb to your pc.for use also when required over the card,such as boot upgrades.
this should be standard.
Linear Mode
