Abipbox

TEST REPORT HDTV Satellite PVR Receiver

AB IPBox 910HD
How powerful can a modern
Linux HD PVR receiver be?
The progress in receiver And ABCom, famous for it’s
04-05/2009 powerful Linux-based receiv-
manufacturing is simply amazing! ers is certainly helping to
AB IPBOX 910HD
Satisfies almost everyone with its
total flexibility and universality
Could we have thought several years make this happen. They are
ago, when we endlessly struggled with decently doing their home-
work, constantly upgrading
analogue receivers, that a similarily looking box would not hardware and software. It’s
just only give us a fantastically coloured and unbelieveably especially pleasant to see that
clear picture, but also would allow playing music and video several drawbacks of their
previous model are already
files, sending e-mails, playing games? The border between fixed. Today we had a chance
computers and receivers is disappearing, giving birth to to test AB IPBox 910HD, a
family-friendly devices with a huge potential for more close twin to 900HD, that
we’ve examined a couple of
advanced users. issues ago (TELE-satellite 08-
09/2008).
The newer model kept all
advantages of the previous
one. Both high and standard
definition channel reception,
both in DVB-S and DVB-S2,
both in MPEG-2 and MPEG-
4. You would rather prefer to
help your grandma continue

0.64
28 TELE-satellite & Broadband — 04-05/2009 — www.TELE-satellite.com

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German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/deu/abipbox.pdf
restrial tv, when the analogue PDIF and Y/Pb/Pr outputs are English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/eng/abipbox.pdf
Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/esp/abipbox.pdf
broadcasts were shut off? responsible for the crystal- Farsi ‫ﻓﺎﺭﺳﻲ‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/far/abipbox.pdf
French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/fra/abipbox.pdf
910HD would help you there clear picture and sound. One Greek Ελληνικά www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/hel/abipbox.pdf
too. Replacing DVB-S tuner Scart and three RCA connec- Croatian Hrvatski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/hrv/abipbox.pdf
Italian Italiano www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/ita/abipbox.pdf
with DVB-T is a matter of min- tors are there rather for back- Hungarian Magyar www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/mag/abipbox.pdf
Mandarin 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/man/abipbox.pdf
utes. Same is true for a DVB- wards compatibility, since they Dutch Nederlands www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/ned/abipbox.pdf
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/pol/abipbox.pdf
C cable tuner. would hardly let you appreci- Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/por/abipbox.pdf
Romanian Românesc www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/rom/abipbox.pdf
ate all the benefits of HDTV. Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/rus/abipbox.pdf
Swedish Svenska www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/sve/abipbox.pdf
From a distance you would E-SATA port and a power Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0905/tur/abipbox.pdf
hardly notice any visible dif- supply output for an external Available online starting from 27 March 2009
ference between 900HD and harddisk are there, although
910HD. But the little things is 910HD lets you install a SATA a previous model. Actually, Initial Setup
something that counts here. HDD also inside the box! It will this even caused some con-
It might seem that official
Front panel kept the elegance be started when the receiver fusion at first here in our
firmware from ABCom didn’t
of 900HD, that would make it is started, no more hassle with test lab since we still used
change much, at least in the
fit even for exlusive interiors. endless cables and connectors. the 900HD. Operating sig-
first steps. The same wizard
Besides the 2 CI slots, which But now you have a choice, if nals are the same, however,
guides you first through the
are located behind a magnet- you want your recordings on the remote of 900HD/910HD
Language Selection screen
held flap, a bright and easy- the go, an external HDD can can also be programmed for
(OSD can be displayed in
to-read VFX-display is to be still be used. controlling previous IPBoxes,
should you have one. It’s also English, Russian, French, Ital-
found here, together with 8
easy to program it to operate ian, Dutch, German, Danish,
buttons, which let you oper- Next to the main power
your TV set aswell, there are Czech, Slovakian, Hungar-
ate almost all basic functions switch there is a ventilator
of the receiver. fan that protects the power- hundreds of models to choose ian, Norwegian, Polish, Por-
ful electronics of the receiver from on the last pages of the tuguese, Spanish, Swedish,
Rear panel is also as good from overheating. A really user’s manual. As for it’s Greek, Turkish, Korean,
as before, but something also smart add-on! However, most design, we don’t regret the Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian,
went further here. If the DVB- delicate users might find it words said in the test report Bulgarian, Romanian and
S tuner is installed, as in our a bit loud. However, it’s no of 900HD, it’s loaded with Finnish, preferred languages
test model, in the left corner problem going to a computer buttons, but they are so logi- can be also selected for
you would find an LNB-input store and selecting a more cally organized, that you get audio, subtitles and teletext),
with a corresponding Loop- quiet one. used to it very fast. And with then to Local Time Settings
Through output. All the com- a special button for many of screen. Again, a wide range
puter and network stuff is Remote control is an exact receiver’s functions, it’s easy of choices - either to set the
dealt via USB-port, RS-232 and copy of the one shipped with not to get lost. time manually or to let the

www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/2009 — TELE-satellite & Broadband 29

were busy, so there should to an old problem - how many
be something new! Ok, here times while zapping around
we can select all the screen the next appearing channel
parameters, like aspect ratio, rocked your room with unex-
TV system, Dolby, Scart, HDMI pectedly loud sound? Now it’s
and S/PDIF output formats. enough to simply adjust it’s
Here’s a submenu where we volume in the channel list and
can connect our 910HD to the voila! Nobody will complain
local network and/or Inter- anymore that your TV set is
net, check parameters of the way too loud!
harddisks or make a factory
reset. Aha! There’s also a Talking about zapping,
DivX video player now, but 910HD will not make the zap-
the entire multimedia part ping maniacs happy, but 1
Satellite Configuration deserves some special words, second between channels is
so stay tuned! perfectly well for the regu-
lar viewers. It can be faster
Where were we? Ah, it’s a within the same transponder,
satellite receiver after all. So or a bit more between DVB-S
before we go crazy experi- and DVB-S2, between SDTV
menting with Linux, Telnet and HDTV. But at least you
and FTP, let’s grab the remote can be sure that almost no
and have a look at its basic channel will get out of your
functions, receiving digital sight! Even such hardcore
channels that is. SCPC broadcasts as Calabria
Channel on HELLAS SAT 2,
Everyday use with SR of just 1425! A spe-
Channel list looks identi- cial bitrate plug-in would help
cal to the one in 900HD, all you check if the picture and
Setting USALS positioner sound of the channel is really
the useful goodies are there.
receiver get it automatically pre-programmed or found-in- Various sorting options, you as good as the broadcaster
from the stream; time mode NIT frequencies for channels, can have the channels organ- promised.
and daylight saving time while the latter one allows you ized alphabetically, FTA/
options are also there. to enter all the parameters encrypted, by satellite or pro- PIP is also as good as it used
manually. Of course, Modu- vider. Pressing yellow button to be. Two channels from the
On the next step you would lation and special FECs for the activates the “jump” func- same transponder can be
already need your antenna DVB-S2 are not forgotten. tion, which is helpful in case displayed in identically-sized
connected. In case of a satel- you have thousands of chan- windows, the second one can
lite tuner, first press the red Regular automatic or nels sorted from your multi- be shown in a smaller window
button to add step-by-step manual channel searching satellite system, for example, behind the main one, chan-
all satellites you’re planning is not something that Schu- it goes to the next letter, if nels then can be toggled
to watch. Each can be pro- macher would enjoy, but still you’ve selected the alphabet between. Since the remote
grammed with own freely- fast enough for our regular sorting. However, to organ- control is identical to 900HD,
selectable LOFs on the same viewer. It took us 9 minutes ize things even better, don’t it’s the same second top row
screen. All DiSEqC versions to scan a satellite position forget about the FAV button of buttons on it.
are supported (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 with 105 transponders. For that lets you quickly access
and 1.3), which can make the unpatient ones who the favorite channels. There Nice and user-friendly two-
AB IPBox 910HD the heart of simply can’t wait to have the are 5 pre-defined favorite mode EPG is also here in all its
your multi-satellite system. first picture on the screen groups - Sports, Drama, News, glory. One click of EPG button
Once all needed satellites are there is a “Quick load” func- Movie and Music. Pressing the lists upcoming events for the
found, press “Exit” to return tion, which simply loads the “i” button allows to create as selected channel, press it the
to the wizard screen. pre-stored channel list. So if many new ones as you wish, second time and you have a
you would rather get a more or delete, rename, move, edit real program guide, with all
Press “yellow” button for actual channel list, it pays to or lock existing ones. neighbouring channels show-
the next step that takes be patient. ing their EPG information, as
you right to channel search- Pressing “i” in the main chan- long as it’s available from the
ing. The screen that appears All further options can be nel list gives access to similar broadcaster. Just one single
has two tabs, Automatic and logically found in the main editing options, including our click of the button with a red
Manual. Names pretty much menu, which also leaves a 900HD favorite - editing the circle on the remote, and your
explain their function. The deja vu feeling at first. But we default audio volume for each favorite show is marked for
first one simply goes for the know that the programmers channel. An elegant solution recording.


This is where the wonderful
PVR comes into sight. 910HD
Multimedia or as a slide show, which can
be programmed by press-
can be said about these two,
Video/DivX player still needs
doesn’t just let you connect options ing the yellow button. MP3 some work to be done. In a
an external HDD to USB or E- Since the firmware of player greets the user with test movie, which played per-
SATA port, it already has one 900HD/910HD is being con- a bit more advanced screen, fectly on our PC, 910HD didn’t
inside. Our test model was stantly developed, both boxes showing the regular music have the audio and video syn-
shipped with a 500 GB HDD, now offer possibility to play player operating buttons, as chronized. Video was 1-2 sec-
which is quite large to handle both audio and videofiles, as well as the currently played onds behind. Nevertheless, it
not just the PVR record- well as display photos, stored track time and its bitrate. works, and the synchroniza-
ing, but also DivX movies either on an external HDD or tion issue will be adressed in
and MP3 music storage. But USB memory stick, or on the And while no bad words upcoming updates.
while we focus on the PVR, internal HDD in 910HD, where
it’s worth noticing the “Enve- such files can be uploaded
lope” button, which lets you over FTP (take the receiver’s
access all the records in a IP from “Advanced Setup” -
couple of clicks, and the won- “IP setup” menu, use “root” as
derful Timeshift option. Acti- a UserID, and “ipbox” as pass-
vate it in “Advanced Setup” word) to “media” directory.
- “HDD setup” menu, and you
can feel the power of magic “Multimedia” submenu
- pause the live broadcast also has some PVR functions
in any moment, take care of included, these are “Recorded
any urgent problems that all files” for the stored PVR
of a sudden disturb you from recordings, and “Recording
your favorite movie, and then Schedule” for the old-fash-
resume exactly from the same ioned recording timer pro-
place you left it! It’s also easy gramming. Remaining three
to “rewind” the broadcast to options are solely for the above
a special moment that you mentioned “outside” files.
want to see again. And you Photos can be viewed either
don’t need to be a rocket sci- individually, by double-clicking
entist to get used to all this, their names with “OK” button,
everything is a matter of 1-2
clicks!


Updating load and install the firmware to go to “Advanced Setup” From the hardware point of
view AB IPBox 910HD hardly
the firmware right from the box, without
any external devices needed.
- “Network Update” menu.
And what have we here? Two
leaves anything to be desired.
For such powerful and truly All needed connectors, pos-
But, unfortunately, something totally outdated firmware
universal receiver it’s impor- sibility to switch tuners as
went seriously wrong. The releases! This issue definitely
tant to keep the internal soft- plug-and-play, ability to
910HD we got had a firmware needs to be taken care of by
ware up-to-date, because it’s receive DVB-S and DVB-S2,
enormous potential is still version 8340, while according the manufacturer. We had to MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, HDTV
not fully uncovered. ABCom the manufacturers website, select another way to update and SDTV. You can even copy
attempted to simplify it, by the most actual one is 8360. the receiver’s firmware by all your favorite films, music
adding the possibility to down- The most obvious way was using the USB memory stick. files and photos to its hard
disk. Play games or check
the weather forecast. Easily
install hundreds of available
software addons. Or turn
the receiver into something
totally new by installing one
of the alternative firmwares.
ABCom keeps doing its
homework, and while the
majority of basic things are
perfectly working in 910HD,
it’s a good, future-proof
choice !

www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/2009 — TELE-satellite & Broadband 33

Expert Opinion
+
A receiver that would satisfy almost everyone,
since it can change completely with different firm-
ware types.
In case the official one is installed, it’s really
easy to control, even children wouldn’t have prob-
Nickolas
lems finding a favorite cartoon channel. Ovsyadovskiy
TELE-satellite
An alternative firmware can even make a hard- Test Center
Channel List
core DXer happy. Hungary

Total flexibility and universality - DVB-S, DVB-
S2, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, HDTV and SDTV are perfectly received.
Easy replacement of a tuner can make it a cable or terrestrial
box.
Possibility to install an internal HDD leaves the mess with
external wires behind, but an external HDD can still be connected
additionally.
A true multimedia box, combining satellite/cable/terrestrial dig-
ital TV with listening to music, watching DivX music and browsing
photos.

-
Channel search and switching could be a bit faster.
DivX playback should be checked that audio and video are
perfectly synchronized.
Cooling fan on the rear panel could have been replaced
with a more quiet model. PIP mode with sub-channel selection

TECHNIC
DATA
Manufacturer AB-COM s.r.o., Gogolova 1, 955 01 Topolcany, Slovakia
Tel +421-38-5362611
Fax +421-38-5322027
Internet www.abipbox.com
Email info@abcom.sk

Model IPBox 910HD
Function Digital Linux-based HDTV PVR receiver for DVB-S, DVB-S2,
DVB-C and DVB-T reception
Channel Memory 10000
Symbol Rate 1-45 Ms/sec.
SCPC yes
DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/1.2/1.3
SCPC reception with SR of just 1425
USALS yes
Scart 1 ENERGY
HDMI yes
DIAGRAM
A/V output 3 x RCA
YUV output 3 x RCA
UHF output no
S-Video output no
0/12 volt connection no

Dig. Audio connection yes
Ethernet port yes
USB 2.0 port yes Mode Apparent Active Factor
Apparent Power StandBy 8W 4W 0.50
RS-232 interface yes Reception 34 W 22 W 0.64
Active Power PVR 34 W 22 W 0.64
EPG yes
C/Ku band compatible yes
Power Supply 110-245 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Dimension 300x60x240 mm


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