1. The document tests and reviews the AB IPBox 55HD, a Linux-based HDTV receiver. 2. It has a single tuner, no internal hard drive, but allows recording to an external hard drive. Software is customizable through Linux. 3. A dual boot feature will soon allow users to choose between two versions of the Enigma software, Enigma 1HD and Enigma 2HD, adding flexibility.

1. TEST REPORT HDTV Receiver
AB IPBox 55HD We’ve seen several Linux-
based receivers over the
last few years. It is an excit-
HDTV Linux Receiver
ing prospect for most of us
to have a powerful and cus-
tomisable receiving system
at our fingertips. Too often
in the past though, the cost
of all this power gets a little
• Receiver allows remote satellite reception with too much. When twin tun-
ers, large hard drives and
Internet streaming of video and audio lots of interfaces are added
to the receiver, it ends up
• Easy start of recordings directly from EPG being outside the budget of
• Easy connection to the receiver’s software via FTP all but the most fanatical or
rich satellite viewers. With
• Plenty of additional software available, including a the AB IPBox 55HD, the new
model of Slovak manufac-
most versatile channel editor
News Flash!
Dual Boot
for AB IPBox 55HD
AB IPBox will soon release a dual boot software for the
AB IPBox 55HD: the user can choose between Enigma 1HD
and Enigma 2HD. This means the user can simply restart the
Enigma 2HD software to the Enigma 1HD within 15 seconds.
The big advantage is that the setup files stored in the VAR
folder are shared by both software versions. The dual boot
feature adds another big bonus to the AB IPBox 55HD.
30 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
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2. TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
Download this report in other languages from the Internet:
Arabic ‫العربية‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/ara/abipbox.pdf
Indonesian Indonesia www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/bid/abipbox.pdf
German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/deu/abipbox.pdf
turer AB IPBox, they have functions. One of which, ac- English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/eng/abipbox.pdf
Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/esp/abipbox.pdf
taken a different route. cessed by holding down the
French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/fra/abipbox.pdf
While outwardly similar to menu key when powering on Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/heb/abipbox.pdf
the AB IPBox 9900HD - see is very important. It forces Chinese 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/man/abipbox.pdf
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/pol/abipbox.pdf
our test report in TELE- a change of screen resolu-
Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/por/abipbox.pdf
satellite 12-01/2011 - , this tion when the machine boots Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/rus/abipbox.pdf
receiver has just one tuner up. Although the machine is Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/tur/abipbox.pdf
Available online starting from 1 April 2011
and no internal hard drive. supposed to choose its out-
put and resolution based on
The AB IPBox 55HD comes which are connected, I’ve play the first four charac- Under the flap, there is
in the same uniquely styled found myself in the position ters of the channel name. a single Conax card slot –
white case with a stylish de- of having to use this method It sometimes looks OK, but but no USB port. The single
sign of flowers on the front. to regain a picture on screen if you remember back to USB is found at the back of
I still think they are chrysan- a few times. those old games of trying the receiver. This would be
themums, although I have to make words on a calcu- good to keep cables out of
no official confirmation of The front panel is com- lator display, sometimes the way if a hard drive was
this. The front panel contains pleted with a four-digit LED it doesn’t really make too permanently connected, but
buttons to control the basic display which tries to dis- much sense. could be infuriating if a drive
0.5 AB IPBox 55HD
04-05/201
1
Ideal Linux receiver with plenty of
additional software for those on a budget
www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/201 —
1 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 31

3. 1
2 is shared with other devic- any new channels from the
es. Also on the back panel, providers doesn’t add any
there is a single Scart sock- extra time to the scan.
et, HDMI and SP/DIF con-
nectors for digital video and Pressing OK brings up the
audio, an HDMI output, and channel list which can be
the antenna socket and its sorted in a number of ways.
corresponding loop-through The channel storage sys-
output. And that’s it. Some tem is a little bewildering
people might miss a second at first, with channels be-
Scart, or component video, ing arranged in a master list
or stereo audio jacks, but that is not editable – which
the set of connections has caught me out again on my
3 been trimmed to only those second experience of Enig-
that are most popular and ma.
most necessary.
After giving in and refer-
Switching on the receiver ring back to the manual,
takes quite a while to get I am reminded that eve-
the operating system load- rything needs to be done
ed: two minutes or more de- through the concept of
pending on if a hard drive is “bouquets”. This term is
connected. The 55HD comes not to be confused with the
already pre-programmed sometimes-used definition
with settings and channels of a bouquet being a group
for packages and satellites of channels on a single tran-
4
worldwide. The world of sponder, or even a bunch
satellites never stands still of black chrysanthemums.
though, so there are plenty In Enigma-land this is the
of options for adding satel- equivalent of a favourites
lites and channels. A full list. In fact, the standard
range of DiSEqC controls pre-programmed bouquet is
are present, allowing for indeed called Favourites.
fixed dishes, switches and
motors. USALS is supported Whilst channels can be se-
for simple setup from just lected and viewed from the
the input of the receiving lo- master list, taking the time
cation’s coordinates. to copy them into a set of
5 organised bouquets makes
For a receiver with such a the whole experience much
powerful operating system, better. And once the chan-
scan speeds are surprisingly nels are in the list, they can
slow. A full scan of ASTRA be edited, sorted and moved
2 clocks in at just under 25 around as you’d expect. It’s
minutes. Adding the net- quite a long process, but a
work scan option to gather read of the manual helps
1. Scan options you find the best ways to do
2. Service information it for each situation. An even
3. AV settings better way is to use some
4. Main menu software on a PC to do it –
5. Antenna setup more on this a little later.
32 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
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4. More on This Manufacturer
Read TELE-satellite’s Company Report:
AB IPBOX
Satellite Receiver Manufacturer, Slovakia www.abipbox.com
as Formula 1 racing where ture can be used to play a
more than one video stream recording.
can be selected.
The receiver’s standard
A picture-in-picture mode EPG is a little different than
is available, and it is much most – the EPG button on
more flexible than most – first press brings up the in-
not only can the second- formation for the current
ary picture be moved into programme, with the ar-
a different position on the row keys moving forward
screen, but it can also be and back to the next and
resized. Of course, with previous shows. Pressing
only one tuner the choice of blue for “Multi EPG” gives
channels to display togeth- a list of the channels in the
er is limited to the tran- chosen bouquet with their
www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1009/eng/abipbox.pdf
sponder currently in use, or programmes listed – again
the main or secondary pic- the arrow keys are used
1
Navigating channels is
nice and easy, although
zapping between them us-
ing the up and down but-
tons feels a little sluggish.
A recall button is available,
and there seems to be a
more comprehensive chan-
nel history list that could be
navigated, although this is
only available from the help
menu as it has been mapped
onto the same key as the
less useful function to move
between sub-services -
those very rare events such
2
34 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
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5. 4
to move to the next pro-
gramme. For those more
used to the grid-style EPG,
one is available from either
the blue button, which loads
extensions or plugins, or by
pressing and holding the
EPG button. Yes, there are
so many functions on this
receiver some are even hid-
den under long keypresses.
The “help” button is always
a good friend – showing a 5
picture of the remote and a
list of available commands.
The EPG is the easiest
route into recording onto
an external hard drive if
one is connected. To be
able to hold recordings, the
drive needs to be formatted
1. FTP via Filezilla
2. Telnet
3. The DreamSet settings editor
4. Web interface
5. Timer access via web
interface
6. The web remote
6
3
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1 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 35

6. 1
2 in the Linux EXT3 format, sess the most intuitive of
which the receiver will do interfaces, and I find myself
if required When the pro- regularly returning to the
gramme information is on help button to refresh my
screen, a press of the green memory of how to add and
button adds it to the timer. remove files to the playlist.
The start and end times, re- It’s great to see that the
peat recording options and programme information
filename can all be changed from the EPG is saved along
if required before press- with the file, something too
ing green again to submit it often forgotten.
to the recording schedule.
For a quick one-off record- The IPBox runs a version
3 ing, it’s a quick sequence of of Linux which means sev-
pressing OK, green, green eral options exist to connect
from the EPG. it to the outside world. Once
hooked up via the Ethernet
It’s also worth noting that LAN port, the box can be ac-
when specifying the file- cessed by Telnet and FTP.
name here, and in fact any- Telnet could be useful to
where else in the receiver those who have a good un-
where text input is needed, derstanding of Linux and the
that the numeric keys on the receiver, FTP is more useful
keypad can be used to input to the rest of us. If accessing
text in the same manner as the rear USB port becomes
a mobile phone. Eagle-eyed just too annoying, just use
4 readers may notice from the FTP to access your files over
pictures that the Q and Z the network, using root as
characters are in different the username and ipbox as
positions than on a phone the default password.
keypad – but in the menus
themselves they are on the When I reviewed the AB
7 and 9 keys as they would IPBox 9900HD IPBox in
be on a phone! TELE-satellite 12-01/2011,
I was somewhat disappoint-
Recordings can be re- ed by the lack of software
played via the list under available via the box’s up-
the Files button, and it’s date service. In meantime,
not necessary to wait for a a few more programs have
5
recording to finish before appeared, some which work
starting the playback. Re- better than others. There is
cordings can also be viewed a Youtube player – which is
through the media player, awaiting an update to the
this also handles MP3 audio Enigma2 software before it
and AVI files very well. The will work; a Google maps
media player does not pos- viewer that comes preload-
ed with landmarks around
1. EPG programme information
the world including motor
2. Channel list
3. PID details racing venues and mostly
4. The customize menu works well; and a live foot-
5. Picture fine-tuning ball scores application that
36 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
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7. is a great idea, gave me up and recordings may also be and makes editing bouquets tions in the past!
to the minute scores from streamed or downloaded. so easy it should be the first
all around the world, yet the choice if at all possible. As with all Linux receiv-
English Premier League and Recordings once on a PC ers, learning how to use it
German Bundesliga were are in .ts format, and after The editor is reminiscent and all it can do is a much
not included in the list. I am some processing in software of DVBEdit for the good old greater task than other
surprised that as internet such as TSRemux are able DVB2000 on the D-Box and satellite receivers. But the
connectivity is working per- to be viewed and processed I felt quite at home using rewards are great and the
fectly from the IPBox, that as required. I’ve made use it. It can even load settings power and flexibility are
a web browser is still not of radio recordings also, from DVB2000, and this is unmatched. The AB IPBox
available. converting them with only a reminder that the Enigma 55HD has only one tuner, no
a few problems to load onto 2’s software family tree can hard drive and less output
The most useful plugin is an MP3 player. be traced right back to the options than other receivers
still the web interface which old days of the D-Box. It of its type – but this would
allows control of the receiv- A small amount of soft- almost brings tears to the only be a problem if those
er and timers from a brows- ware is also available at eyes of a satellite geek of that are absent were specif-
er. With the right router www.satupdate.net. As well too many years to see such ically required. Taking this
setup it could be accessed as firmware updates, there formats as DVB2000’s .DVB, route, the receiver’s pur-
from anywhere on the in- is a fully featured settings Nokia .N98 and even Sat- chaser can choose the size
ternet, so luckily it can be editor. This one works with coDX .SDX being importable of hard drive they require –
password protected so that many other Linux receiv- alongside their modern day or choose not to have one at
someone doesn’t log in and ers which means a much counterparts. Taking the all if they wish. All the power
delete that show from the larger internet community is trouble to connect via the of Enigma 2 remains, so it’s
timer you were looking for- opened up, as bouquet lists LAN port even just for this ideal for those on a budget
ward to watching when you created for the other receiv- function is well worth it, and or the enthusiast who just
get home. The receiver’s ers can be loaded and sent much easier than the head- wants to experiment with-
picture and sound can even to the receiver. The editor aches I remember from us- out the extra cost of two
be streamed from here, connects easily via the LAN ing RS232 and SCSI connec- tuners and a hard drive.
38 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
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8. Expert Opinion TECHNICAL
+ DATA
includes Internet streaming of video and Distributor AB IPBox s.r.o., M. Razusa 4795/34,
audio 955 01 Topolcany, Slovak Republic
flexible picture-in-picture mode Tel +421 38 5362 667
easy recording from EPG Website www.abipbox.com
EPG information is recorded in PVR Contact info@abipbox.com
Andy Middleton
easy connection via FTP TELE-satellite
Test Center Model 55HD
easy download of additional software UK
Function HDTV Linux Receiver with single tuner and USB for PVR
- SCPC compatible Yes
Q and Z on remote control are on different positions than in USALS Yes
menue DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/1.2/1.3
Scart connectors 1
ENERGY Symbol rates QPSK – up to 45000
DIAGRAM QPSK – up to 36000
8PSK – up to 30000
MPEG2 modes MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264
Audio outputs none
Video outputs HDMI
Apparent Power Resolutions 720x576 (PAL). 720x480 (NTSC) 1080i, 720p, 480i, 480p
UHF output No
0/12 volt output No
Digital audio output S/PDIF
Mode Apparent Active Factor Active Power
Active 30 W 15 W 0.5 EPG Yes
StandBy 19 W 9 W 0.47
PVR 25 W 12 W 0.48 C/Ku-band compatible Yes
Power supply 100-240V AC
Common interface None
Card slots 1 (Conax)
Just like Linux on a com- ered at all in the receiver’s to enlightenment as you fig-
puter, documentation is not manual, but to be fair if eve- ure out just how everything
always the best and the an- rything inside the box was works. And now I’ve found
swers to some questions covered, it could grow to be a channel editor that makes
are found only after some a very big book. Part of the organising the machine a
searching around on the fun, or infuriation, of using pleasure rather than the
internet. There are many this receiver is they voy- usual pain, I’d love to have
functions that are not cov- age from initial confusion one even more.
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