Interestingly, you can watch one channel while another records – provided that both are on the same transponder.
Manual timer programming is also allowed, and you can specify how a recording should stop. The timer can be programmed from the EPG. If the relevant EPG data is in the machine, the name of the show being broadcast by the channel is shown adjacently, together with a running-time bar graph. The first focuses on one channel's schedule, while the other allows you to see what multiple channels are offering within a given timeslot. Presented as a basic text list, it offers two modes. The EPG, which supports now-and-next and seven-day schedules, is also accessible from here. Pressing the 'info' button yields an EPG-derived description of the current programme.
Indeed, deleting unwanted channels or entire bouquets is a cinch. The latter are essentially user-defined bouquets – and it's easy to add to, or delete from these as taste dictates.
From here, you can sort the list by 'all' (everything, sorted alphabetically), by satellite/provider bouquets, or favourites. You can sequence through channels with the joypad's left/right keys and channels are arranged as 'bouquets' (channel lists), which are accessed in a 'channel selection menu'. The overall feel of the receiver can be changed to your tastes too in addition to 'skins', a 'customise' menu will let you tweak receiver behaviour. Other menus cater for parental controls, plug-in installation and initialising (formatting) your external HDD so that recordings can be made or timeshift engaged.
We're impressed with the test pattern generator, a pre-installed plug-in that's provided as a TV contrast/brightness adjustment aid. In the AV menu, you can choose various resolutions, refresh rates and aspect ratio defaults – lip-sync, upscaling sharpness and audio modes are also adjustable here. Other menus branching out from the main one look after all manner of receiver functionality. With a motorised dish, you'll be able to conduct automated multiple satellite searches. All of the usual controls for dish movement are supported – these use the handset's coloured buttons. It's a pity that hardware blind search is missing, although a plug-in could, in theory, add blind search.Ī welcome plug-in that was pre-installed on the review unit is the satfinder, with its large signal strength/quality bar graphs and ability to select a specific satellite/transponder.ĭiSEqC capabilities are good in addition to 1.2, this receiver supports simple switchboxes (1.0) and USALS. FEC and symbol rate can be specified for manual searches, but you cannot enter PIDs.
Searching can take place on single transponders or complete satellites – all channels, or just free ones, can be found and stored. They cover language, TV system, time zone, initial dish configuration and searching for channels – all parameters that can be modified later on via the setup menus. The default Enigma2 firmware's step-by-step wizards guide you through the process of installing the receiver. Unusual is the internally accessible SIM slot, into which has been glued some kind of Dreambox security device these receivers have, after all, been relentlessly pirated.Ī second daughterboard contains the modem, while a metal bracket fitted just above the main chip sports the cooling fan. The main board also contains the card reader, and the main Broadcom 'system on a chip' (built around a 400MIPS processor) is heatsinked. The DVB-S/S2 tuner module is soldered to the main board so it can't be easily replaced with a DVB-T or DVB-C module. Internally, the DM500 HD is busy but neat. The power supply is a travel-friendly 12V variety. The single-tuner input is not accompanied by a loopthrough output. There is also an analogue modem which seems redundant in the face of the Ethernet port. SMS tells us the receiver can be hardware modded to support USB hubs (remember this will invalidate your warranty) but 'out of the box' you'll need an eSATA drive for PVR and media playback functions.
A mini-USB port is intended solely for 'service' functions like firmware upgrades.