Skybox F3

[visiondvd]

Hi all, looking to start this thread to encourage as much info as possible on this relatively new openbox.
I have one of these and am slightly impressed overall.
It is user friendly, quiet, seems fast enough, remote control a bit of a drag, but then thet all are.
This box is really easy to update firmware via usb.
The hd works well.
What i dont know yet is
Can it be used as a server as well as a client?
Cant seem to get it to record onto usb for some reason, although not bothered by that.
The wifi seems to be a touch difficult.
Have tried various up to date wifi dongles and although some show connected, they dont work particulary well.
havn't tried the "offical" wifi dongle.
Still not a tremedous lot of support yet for this box.

Overall
Considering the price (£26 to £60) not a bad deal
Please continue this thread and maybe generate support for this small delight

[PYO]

Re: Skybox F3

Pretty nice box it is. Have it a month already.
I didn't need wifi, so this thing was not tested by me. Rest works fine.
There will be no any good support for it, unless someone will OEM it. Like Tiger.
There is a thread of available firmware updates on satlover:
_http://www.satlover.eu/forum/rest-of-hdtv-receivers/42369-skybox-f3-m3-update.html

I bought mine for $75. Where you saw it for £26?

[mahrkpat]

Re: Skybox F3

I saw the F3 a little bit too late after I had already bought my S11, I liked the specs of this Openbox and think alot more people will be buying it.

Is it true that you can get a downloadable 7 day EPG for this Openbox?

[PYO]

Re: Skybox F3

Not sure what do you mean by downloadable. It can show you EPG for 7 days if this info transferred from satellite with channel.
Didn't use PVR functions yet, but saw 5 day EPG on one channel.

[ocram88]

Re: Skybox F3

What are the main differences between the skybox F3 and the skybox S12? Which one is better?

[PYO]

Re: Skybox F3

I didn't read about S12, but that is what I have:

General Specifications:
Dual-Core CPU, 396 MHz MIPS Processor
Fully compliant MPEG-4 H.264/AVC Main Profile Level 3 & High Profile Level 4.1;
Fully compliant MPEG-2 MP-HL & MP-ML;
Fully compliant MPEG-1 Layer I & II & III, Dolby Digital Audio(AC3);
SCPC & MCPC receivable from C/Ku band satellites;
multiple LNB-Switching control (supports DiSEqC1.0/1.1/unicable/1.2/1.3(USALS) supported)
NIT search supported;
Support HDMI 1.3;
Support PVR(store in USB disk);
Multimedia files playback(by USB);
Support Electronic Program Guide(EPG) for 7 days;
Teletext and subtitle out through OSD;
Support multi-lingual DVB subtitle and teletext;
Automatic and manual channel scan options;
automatic service scan
channel-change time < 1 second
OSD in many languages and skin-support
Multilingual support on screen menu (OSD): English, French, Deutsch, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Greece, Portuguese, Finland, Holland, Turkish, Czech, selectable
LED Display
Multiple display mode: 1080p/1080i/720p/570p/576i/480p;
MPEG-2 / H.264 Hardware decoding
Videotext Decoder
Analog audio output: stereo(L+R);
Digital audio output: S/PDIF by coaxial and optical;
S/PDIF Interface for digital bit stream out (AC-3)
YCbCr available;
Screen format:auto, 4:3, and 16:9;
Upgrade software through USB2.0 port;
Powerful program management function, parent lock;
1x card slot
10 Mbit Ethernet Interface

[ocram88]

Is very similar all's12. With the F3 can be recorded on a USB drive?

This Decoder can act as a server, or only as a client?

[PYO]

It has 1 usb slot on front. Not sure if it is enough to power external hdd, but it can write to any storage connected.

This Decoder can act as a server, or only as a client?

No, it don't have server part in firmware. You can only use it as Cardreader by RS-232 port.

[ocram88]

Re: Skybox F3

It has 1 usb slot on front. Not sure if it is enough to power external hdd, but it can write to any storage connected.



No, it don't have server part in firmware. You can only use it as Cardreader by RS-232 port.

Great! That program can be used to interface the serial port of the receiver with your computer?

[PYO]

Re: Skybox F3

Sure you can use this box like card reader, connect to PC and share you card by any card sharing server software.
The bad thing, that firmware is closed and there is nothing to manipulate it. There is no telnet or other services opened. Only one port is on for LAN tool to upgrade firmware and emu settings configuration.
Current firmware lack some things, so you can't use whole potential of box. For example I have DRE legal card, which is not providing Provider ID, so I can't use it in box. But other DRE cards (legal and clone), which do this works fine.

[i.jaybay]

Re: Skybox F3

i am planning to buy one of this box, can anyone share if this box video quality is any good?

[kupiterr]

Re: Skybox F3

Picture quality in SD is passable, but HD shines through crisp sharp picture.
Must add software moved forward a lot as things should with progressive product, much more user friendly, wi-fi worked first time.
One thing that bugs me........I wish they had the USB slot on rear as you cannot close front flap if using wi-fi but overall impressed.

Kup

[PYO]

Re: Skybox F3

This Decoder can act as a server, or only as a client?

Last firmware has the server with newcamd protocol.

[simba92]

Re: Skybox F3

Thinking of getting this receiver for a member of my family, for the end user just using it to connect to a server and watch tv, it seems to be very similar to previous openboxes with the addition of wireless using a separately bought dongle.

Cheapest ive found is £40-45 delivered, if anyone has anything cheaper, or even a used openbox/skybox feel free to pm me

[grousebeater]

Re: Skybox F3

Hi Guys
My Skybox F3 arrived yesterday quickly got it set up pic quality great in sd &hd ,my box had skybox wifi dongle included in price (usb with ariel ) ..Now the problem begins it reconises my network but times out without connecting,tried open wifi as well same result can anyone help with this please .. Then I can test it to its full potential with ..
Regards Grousebeatercls