Dreambox DM7020 HD

Nowhere is this more evident than in the sheer number of firmwares available for the various Dreambox models, some of which we examined last month. 

 

One of the latest such receivers is the PVR-upgradeable DM7020 HD, which is compatible with HDTV channels. Its two plug-in tuners can be ‘mixed’; our review sample was equipped with DVB-S/DVB-S2 (satellite) and a DVB-T (terrestrial) card. You could go exclusively satellite or exclusively terrestrial if you wished, though.

 

Unfortunately, the satellite tuner lacks a loopthrough facility, while the terrestrial one isn’t compatible with DVB-T2 signals as broadcast by Freeview HD – presumably because this technology isn’t used in the Dreambox’s home country of Germany. Although the terrestrial tuner is also compatible with DVB-C (digital cable), I can imagine most users asking for two satellite tuners instead. With the flexibility of the Enigma2 firmware (or one of its derivatives), you’ll get a considerable amount of recording flexibility for HD and SD alike.

Among the other rear panel connections are an HDMI port and a single RGB Scart, composite and stereo phonos and an optical digital output. An eSATA port is available if you don’t want to fit an internal SATA drive; it’s augmented by a pair of USB ports (one of which will accommodate the supplied WiFi dongle), a modem jack and wired Ethernet. The power supply is built in, which means the potential of low-voltage DC supplies is eliminated.

 

The glossy front panel makes this one of the better-looking satellite receivers around. Its most obvious feature is a monochrome LCD panel, which displays the current channel, programme running-time bar graph and time. Menu information, such as search progress, is also shown. Next to it are standby and channel up/down keys; in other words, the nicely designed ‘learning’ handset is essential for daily use. Under an elegantly sculpted flap reside two card readers (for emulated CAMs), a pair of CI slots and a third USB port. 

 

Fitting an internal HDD is a simple task. All the hardware necessary to fit a standard 3.5in HDD is provided. It’s a shame that 2.5in drivers aren’t catered for as standard; they run quieter and consume less power. 3.5in drives do offer more capacity for the money – a moot point if you want to build up a collection of HD recordings or use the machine as a multimedia jukebox.

 

As supplied, the DM7020 HD runs a ‘stock’ version of Enigma2 – it’s the firmware on which the alternatives are based. The current Enigma2 boasts many features including blind search (something you normally have to install as a plug-in if it’s available) and comprehensive multimedia playback. It has an initial install wizard for initial configuration (language, video output and the like). Its menus are a model of clarity, even on smaller screens.

 

Configuring the tuners is the job of a specific setup menu. Here, your outdoor equipment (DiSEqC mounts or switches) and the satellites they make available are set. In the case of the DVB-T tuner you can specify the region and whether an active aerial is being used or not. Each tuner can then be searched automatically (everything) or manually (individual transponders or satellites). 

 

Manual scanning gives you the most flexibility; for transponders you can select various parameters including frequency, polarity, symbol rate and FEC (but not PIDs). A choice of FTA or all channels is given – network scanning (which slows things down somewhat) is also an option. Existing channels can be ‘retained’ – enthusiasts will appreciate the ‘keep feeds’ mode, which replaces everything else. 

 

Blind scan seeks out vertical transponders and then horizontal ones; the results are then searched for channels. Blind scan isn’t available for the terrestrial tuner, but then again it’s not needed as every frequency is searched. The manual mode gives you a bewildering variety of parameters to tweak. The basic ‘full-scan’ was, however, found to be very effective. 

 

Just about every other aspect of the receiver’s performance is adjustable in some way. It’s perhaps just as well that a ‘customise’ menu switches between ‘simple’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘expert’ levels. Other menus look after – among other things – languages, managing the HDD (if fitted), ‘skins’ (menu appearance), AV settings (resolution, aspect ratio, lip-sync and so on), network configuration and plug-ins. 

 

The latter, a major attraction of the Dreambox/Enigma idea, are the many small programs that add functionality to the receiver. One that’s preinstalled is the ability to set up network mounts for devices like NAS drives. As a result, it’s easy to arrange for recordings to be stored on such devices – or access networked multimedia libraries. Another displays test patterns, helping you adjust your TV. 

 

Channels are organised in lists, known as bouquets in Enigma-speak. They can be sorted by satellite, provider or user-defined favourites lists. Select the ‘satellite’ option – note that the DVB-T tuner is listed among these – and you’ll find a number of separate lists for each one. They include all ‘services’ (channels), FTA-only channels, any channels found since the last scan and a breakdown by provider. A separate entry, ‘current transponder’, lists the channels that are still available when you’re recording.

 

The default favourites list contains mostly German channels, but it’s easy to remove and replace them. It’s a pity that the otherwise well-designed handset doesn’t have a favourites button. The standard EPG, accessible via the handset’s ‘info’ button, covers now-and-next and seven-day DVB listings. It has a single-channel mode, a simple scrollable table of all available programmes. The alternative ‘multi’ mode displays the programme currently being broadcast by up to 14 channels. It’s easy to go through the schedules to select shows for viewing or recording. 

 

Against each programme is a handy bar graph that indicates the elapsed time at a glance. Programmes can be sorted by time or alphabetically, although there’s no search facility. If repeat showings are available your attention is drawn to them via a handy ‘similar’ function. As standard, the EPG is reliant on DVB data – an alternative for UK satellite viewers is to use XML schedule data, freely available via the internet. No suitable plug-in was found in the ‘browser’ that Enigma provides for the management of these handy little pieces of code, but we were able to download one (CrossEPG) from a third-party source and install it manually. Picture-in-picture is catered for, as are all of the common ‘basic’ functions – teletext, subtitles and multiple soundtracks.

 

Set up a storage device and the DM7020 HD is transformed into a PVR. In addition to a timeshift, complete with variable-speed playback, comprehensive recording functionality is possible as is recording and viewing of different channels simultaneously if they’re on the same transponder or multiplex. If you want more than this, you’ll need two tuners of the same type. With the default satellite/terrestrial configuration, though, you can mix and match recordings from the different tuners. A previously captured programme (or compatible multimedia file) can be played while another records too. A set of VCR-like transport controls grace the lower section of the handset.

 

The handset’s PVR button lists all recordings, complete with EPG programme details. As HDDs get larger it’s a pity that no means of organising them, such a search mode, has been provided. You could access the storage device from a PC and manually place the recordings into appropriately named folders. Remote access – an HDD, if fitted, appears on your network – also means that recordings can be transferred to a PC, or multimedia files copied in the opposite direction. Another key network feature is the web interface – a preinstalled plug-in. From here, you can change channels with the browser running on a computer connected to your network. 

 

This also supports streaming. If you have VLC Media Player installed on your computer channels can be watched without the need to install a tuner card. Like many current HD receivers, the DM7020 HD will play multimedia – a wide range of codecs and formats are supported. The media player has two sections – a media list and a playlist to which one or more items are added. A menu function switches between the two. Annoyingly, a separate ‘pictureplayer’ plug-in is needed for still images (note that at least one alternative firmware – OpenPLi – features a ‘universal’ multimedia player). 

 

Among the other preinstalled plug-ins are support for the analogue modem (a relic from a bygone age!), a ‘Genuine Dreambox’ verifier, a media scanner, and – for the enthusiast – a very handy ‘satfinder’ with large signal strength/quality bar graphs. There’s also a DVD player, although you’ll need a USB-interfaced DVD-ROM drive to make the most of this. Having said that, it will deal with DVD ‘rips’ on a storage device. Others, arranged into categories by the extensions-manager, include e-mail and IRC (Internet Relay Chat) clients, comprehensive video adjustments, YouTube, a 3x3-channel ‘mosaic’ facility, Google Maps, a number of ‘skins’ and internet radio.

 

The DM7020 HD is capable of an excellent standard of AV performance from high-definition and standard-definition channels, and the media player was found to work well. Sensitivity is good, the tuner finding trickier channels that were denied to a lesser receiver. Channel changes are speedy, as are ‘regular’ searches – especially if the ‘network scan’ facility is turned off (as is the case with all of our test and measurement findings). Although it’s the most comprehensive of the lot in terms of channel finding, blind scan is not as fast as some non-Linux receivers. With default settings, it took nearly half an hour to cover 19.2°E n Martin Pipe

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Wotsat Verdict

Price: £548 (as reviewed; 1x DVB-T, 1x DVB-S2, no HDD, WiFi dongle)

Over a period of several weeks we did not once encounter the ‘green screen of death’ that has occasionally affected some other receivers running Enigma 2. This demonstrates that the Dreambox platform, and the Enigma2 firmware that runs on it, have reached maturity. There’s a lot to recommend the DM7020 HD and the flexible Linux-based approach it embodies. Our only concern is the not insignificant price, and the inability of the terrestrial tuner to handle DVB-T2 channels. 

 

If HD TV is more important to you than an ability to view UK terrestrial channels, our advice is to specify two DVB-S2 tuners before buying. Then you’ll have one of the most likeable satellite PVRs available.

 

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Ratings

Plus points: Powerful, flexible and responsive, Lots of third party support, Excellent AV quality

Minus points: Terrestrial tuner DVB-T only, Media player needs work, Expensive

Build 8/10

Setup 9/10

Searching 8/10

Navigation 8/10

Performance 9/10

Features 9/10

Value 7/10 

Overall 84%

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Features

No LNB inputs: 1 (extended IF, 22kHz) as supplied.

LNB loopthrough: None

No. aerial inputs: 1 (DTT tuner, as supplied)

Aerial loopthrough: 1 (DTT tuner, as supplied)

DiSEqC: 1.0/1.2/USALS

No. channels: Dependent on firmware and plug-ins, which share 1GB flash memory

Selectable FEC: Yes

Symbol rate: 2000-45000 (DVB-S)

Blind search: Yes

Linux: Yes

CAM: Card reader. CAM support firmware-dependent

Common interface: 2

Teletext: DVB decoded

EPG support: DVB 7-day or or now-and-next, plus XML schedules (with plug-in)

Timer: Limited only by available memory

UHF modulator tuning: N/A

Software upgrade: Network or USB

Data ports: 3x USB, eSATA, mini-USB service port, Ethernet, integral modem

SD out: TV Scart (composite/S-video/RGB), composite

HD out: HDMI

Audio out: HDMI/optical S/PDIF/analogue stereo