Dual Boot HDTV Receiver Review: Amiko SHD-8900 Alien

TEST REPORT HDTV Receiver with Two Operating Systems

Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
Linux receiver with dual boot,
more than one simultaneous
recording and lots more…
• Linux receivers are the way to go these days, and if you look at
all the features and options they offer it’s not hard to see why.
This development pleases us no end at TELE-satellite, as we see
huge potential with Linux that is only waiting to be exploited
by innovative companies. Karmacom from Hungary is one such
company and with its own brand Amiko they are well on the way
to waking up the sleeping giant that is Linux. The company’s latest
flagship receiver SHD-8900 has a very special treat in store: two
operating systems in a single box!

14 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 04-05/201 — www.TELE-satellite.com
1

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But let’s not get carried and a small flap hides a to- German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/deu/amiko.pdf
away with Linux at this stage tal of seven buttons to con- English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/eng/amiko.pdf
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and look at the receiver it- trol the receiver whenever French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/fra/amiko.pdf
self first. Right out of the the remote control is out of Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/heb/amiko.pdf
package we notice how small reach, as well as a Conax Chinese 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/man/amiko.pdf
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/pol/amiko.pdf
the box actually is. Measur- card reader. While our test Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/por/amiko.pdf
ing merely 22x16x4 cm it receiver had cutouts in place Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/rus/amiko.pdf
will find its place in even the for CI slots it only came with Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1105/tur/amiko.pdf
Available online starting from 1 April 2011
smallest (or most crowded, the built-in card reader.
for that matter), lounge
room cabinet or TV rack. The back panel of the SHD- roconnector, a USB 2.0 in- dia features of the receiver
8900 comes equipped with terface for external storage such as YouTube, Shoutcast
And it creates a rather all connection options you’re media, an Ethernet socket Internet radio or Picasa, to
stylish impression with its likely to ever require. Apart as well as a mechanic power name just a few.
buttonless front and the from the DVB-S/S2 antenna switch and an RS-232 con-
4-digit segment display that input plus loop-through out- nection. The build quality of the
light up in a fiery hue of red. put there is HDMI for digital SHD-8900 will meet even
Two LEDs indicate the cur- signal output, a coax digi- We’ve tested our share the most exacting demands
rent operating mode. tal audio output, three RCA of remote controls, and the and the manual (currently
Of course, there’s more jacks for stereo audio and Amiko type is right up there available in Hungarian and
than first meets the eye, composite video, a scart eu- with the best. For one thing, English) that is shipped with
this is thanks to its ergo- the receiver is of equally
nomic shape and logical lay- high quality.
out. Added to that are the
hugely practical function Considering the fact that
keys that can be used to ac- the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
cess the numerous multime- comes with two entirely dif-
ferent operating systems
we decided to split this test
report into two distinct sec-
tions as well. We’ll start
out with an in-depth look
at the default software by
0.5 the name of Spark, before
turning to all the features of
Enigma 2 in connection with
the latest Amiko offering in
section two.

Spark
In case the name Spark
rings a bell with some of
our readers there’s a reason
for that: Amiko deliberately
chose tried-and-test tech-
nology and software, which

04-05/201
1
Amiko SHD-8900 Alien
Innovative dual boot receiver
with two different operating
systems

www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/201 —
1 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 15

1

is why Fulan’s Spark soft- signal without even turning
ware platform was selected a hair.
alongside Enigma 2 (find
out more about Spark else- One of the great joys of
where in this issue of TELE- watching satellite TV is zap-
satellite). ping through hundreds of
channels from many cor-
Amiko has done a great ners of the earth, and it’s
job integrating the Spark here that cheer can easily
platform into its receiver, turn into jeer in everyday
2 and during our test hard- use. No risk of the SHD-
ware and software behaved 8900 falling into the jeer
like a perfect match. With its category, though, as it only
support of all DiSEqC proto- takes slightly more than
cols (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) as one second to switch from
well as SCR unicable solu- one channel to another. It
tions, the SHD-8900 should goes without saying that the
be happy with just about any Amiko box comes with a ful-
existing antenna setup. ly-fledged EPG system that
can either display current
Video output is just as and next events for several
flexible and allows users to channels at once, or more
select all standard HDMI detailed information for a
3 resolutions (576p, 720p, single channel.
1080i, 1080p) – if need be,
this setting can be changed You might look in vain for
on the fly with a dedicated the PVR acronym in the SHD-
button on the remote con- 8900 Alien’s model designa-
trol, without having to go tion, but this does not mean
through a separate menu. this feature is missing. Au
contraire, all you need to do
We were in for a hugely is plug in a USB storage me-
pleasant surprise as far as dium to gain full recording
the tuner is concerned: It and time-shift viewing func-
scanned the entire band- tionality. While a recording
width of HOTBIRD 13° East takes places it is possible to
4 in only three and a half watch an existing recording
minutes, detecting 1446 or another channel on the
TV channels and 394 radio same transponder. With our
channels, which is a real test sample, several record-
treat. ings at the same time were
not possible, however this
Regular readers know that is about to change: a new
none of our test reports is software release, which will
complete without checking be available when this TELE-
a tuner’s SCPC capabilities, satellite issue appears, will
and the SHD-8900 is no allow multiple recordings
exception to that rule. This of channels on same tran-
time we used the 12.620 sponder.
5
MHz (V) transponder on EU-
TELSAT W7 36° East with a If you’re having one of
symbol rate of merely 2894 those “there’s nothing on
Ks/s. We’re pleased to an- TV” moments, then you may
nounce that the Amiko box simply call up the integrat-
locked and processed the ed multimedia player which

1. Very practical channel list with excellent design
2. Cool: Contact data can be left for the user by the manufacturer
3. Editing the channel list
4. EPG view of each channel
5. The info bar appears every time a new channels is selected

1

6 11

7 12

8 13

9 14

10 15

1

16

17 21

18 6. Step 1 of the installation wizard:
language selection

7. Main menu

8. MP3 playback

9. Get access to YouTube,
Shoutcast, Picasa and RSS feeds
with the new Amiko satellite
receiver

10. Photo presentation via Picasa

11. List of recorded content

19 12. Satellite entries can be edited
with a wide range of options

13. Flawless SCPC reception
during our test

14. Access to Shoutcast Internet
radio

15. Using the Spark platform
Amiko offers its customers
countless additional features such
a news service, Q&A as well as
updated channel lists and software

20 16. Thanks to FTP plug-ins can
be transferred from a PC to the
receiver

17. System settings

18. Transponder entries can be
edited easily and conveniently

19. Selecting the required video
format

20. Current weather reports are
available for download

21. Access to YouTube videos


1

supports a wide range of file perfect, and even if one
formats such as AVI, MKV, system seems to offer par-
MPG, TS, WMA, WMV, M2TS, adise to Joe Average, Jane
FLV, DAT, ASF and MP3. We Average might beg to differ
threw some video sequenc- as she is looking for entirely
es at the player and found different features. So why
that all of them were played not implement dual boot
back flawlessly. We call that for a Linux-based satellite
a PVR system which really receiver, a feature that has
deserves that name. been available for PCs for
some time already? Amiko
2
A whole range of plug- has done just that with its
ins is available to add new SHD-8900 and ships the
features and functions to receiver with a boot loader
the software, and thanks to capable of starting up with
FTP the file directory of the either Spark or Enigma 2.
SHD-8900 can be accessed If you want to make use of
directly via the Internet, the these two options all you
OSD menu or a PC for plug- need to do is press OK while
in installation. turning on the box. This al-
lows selecting the preferred
With the decision to bring operating system right on
the Spark software platform the receiver. Once either
3 on board, the Amiko at the Spark or Enigma 2 is se-
same time benefits from a lected the receiver uses
full multimedia package and that operating system until
dedicated online platform, a new option is chosen.
both of which can be used
with the receiver. Multime- After the receiver is
dia features include play- turned on for the first time
back of YouTube videos, In- an installation wizard pops
ternet radio via Shoutcast, up and guides through the
photo presentation via Pica- entire installation process.
sa as well as subscribing to At first you need to select
various RSS feeds. Thanks your preferred OSD lan-
to the Spark software plat- guages, with the options be-
4 form Amiko is able to pro- ing English, German, Arabic,
vide its customers with valu- Catalan, Hungarian, Czech,
able files such as manuals, Danish, Dutch, Greek, Por-
Q&A documents, channel tuguese, Estonian, French,
lists and software updates Lithuanian, Icelandic, Ital-
in real time for online ac- ian, Norwegian, Polish, Ro-
cess. We particularly loved manian, Russian, Span-
Amiko’s own news service ish, Swedish, Turkish and
which alerts Amiko custom- Ukrainian. The next step is
ers to available software up- to adjust the video output
dates, up-to-date channel of the SHD-8900 to the ex-
lists or any other worthwhile isting TV panel. Next to the
information. This takes a lot standard HDMI resolutions
5 of work and research off the of 576p, 720p, 1080i with
shoulders of Amiko’s cus- 50/60 Hz the receiver can
tomers. also create a 1080p output,
a feature that is rare even
Enigma 2 among newer satellite re-
No operating system is ceivers. Next, the Amiko box

1. Adjusting the contrast setting on the TV using a test pattern
2. Adjusting the brightness setting on the TV using a test pattern
3. Channel list categorised by satellites
4. Automatic channel search on HOTBIRD 13° East
5. Using Enigma 2 as the operating software the Amiko SHD-8900
can download EPG for any number of pre-selected channels

1

6 11

7 12

8 13

9 14

10
creates two test patterns for Before we’re ready to
adjusting brightness and rumble the receiver needs
contrast settings of the TV some information about the
panel so that you will arrive individual reception setup in
at an optimum video qual- place. All DiSEqC protocols
ity. In our opinion this is a (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) are
particularly helpful and in- supported so that the Amiko
novative feature and goes to box is the right choice for
show that developers have a standard single or multi-
put a great deal of thought feed antenna as well as for a
into this system. multi-focus dish or a DiSEqC
motor.

1

15 18

16 19

17 6. DiSEqC settings
7. In our test we were able to record up to four streams at the same
time without any problems
8. Graphic multi EPG
9. The info bar appears every time a new channels is selected
10. Main menu of Enigma 2 with the SHD-8900 Alien
11. Manual channel search
12. Network settings
13. List of installed plug-ins
14. Setting the recording time
15. List of recorded events
16. Pre-stored satellite entries can easily be edited
17. Language selection
Network access is a must satellite positions are pre-
18. Two different standby modes are available
in order to use all Enigma 2 stored so that we can start
19. Creating a timer entry
feature to the full, and this scanning these birds right
is why network configura- away.
tion is included in the instal- box had a hard time locking All you need to do is press
lation wizard. Unless your Manual and automatic the 12.620 (V) transponder the MENU button while the
network at home is of a truly modes are available for on EUTELSAT W7 36° East, channel list is displayed and
complex or exotic type we channel search. We tried while the same receiver with the software will offer you
recommend activating the out an automatic search on a different software (Spark) all editing features that are
receiver’s DHCP so that it HOTBIRD 13° East, which couldn’t care less about low available. Want to move a
will detect and take over all unfortunately took nine long symbol rates. All this shows channel to your favourites
network parameters (IP ad- minutes and found 2056 TV that some fine-tuning is list (which, incidentally, can
dress, gateway, DNS server) and radio channels. It seems still required to propel the be organised using mark-
automatically. like the interplay between Amiko/Enigma couple fur- ers)? One touch of a button
hardware and software has ther up on the receiver rank- and it’s done. In the overall
Now that the basics are some room for improvement ing. list you can either chose all
finished we can’t wait to in this regard. After all, the channels, all satellites, all
explore all the features of Spark platform achieved Once the channel list is providers or favourites.
Enigma 2. Yet, there is one the same task five and half filled it can be edited to your
more job to complete – the minutes faster, which can heart’s content with Enig- The keypad on the re-
receiver’s channel list is still feel like an eternity. In ad- ma 2 without even having mote control can always be
empty and begging to be dition, the Spark software of to run through a dedicated used to enter text in the
filled with everything the the new Amiko receiver also menu. We cannot think of same way we use our mo-
sky has to offer. Transpond- did a better job with SCPC any other operating system bile phones for texting, a
er data of major European signals. With Enigma 2 the with the same ease of use. feature that is awesome for


renaming channel names on automatically at a given (3) single EPG with content under Enigma 2 (or if more
or recordings, for example. time (during night-time, for information, a listing of ac- than one is possible at all)
Several people in our edito- example) and download EPG tors in a movie and the like we were lost for words: One
rial offices tried it out and data from previously select- (if provided by the channel). recording is the minimum
they all felt this was a much ed channels to be stored lo- requirement, two simulta-
more convenient way of en- cally. That’s a truly brilliant In our opinion the Enigma neous recordings would by a
tering text than using a vir- feature which makes EPG 2 info bar is worthy of spe- brilliant bonus, three would
tual keyboard on screen and data available for channels cial praise. Every time a new be great, but the Amiko box
the arrow buttons on the from different transponders channel is selected it is in- even managed four, all of
remote to select letters. We at any time. serted on the bottom of the which were neatly stored on
should not have to mention screen for some seconds our external hard disk. The
that all channel list entries In general, the EPG of the and shows current and next impressive thing is that the
can be augmented with cur- Amiko SHD-8900 Alien in events, as well as icons for number of simultaneous re-
rent EPG data so that cur- combination with the Enig- additional channel informa- cordings is only limited by
rent event information is ma 2 software is a good ex- tion (encryption, EPG, sub- the data speed of the hard
added to channel list data. ample of how to do it right. titles, audio channels, etc.). disk, which in our case did
This way you can see what’s It offers three presentation not allow for more than four
on before even zapping to a modes: (1) graphic multi All PVR features worked SD streams at the same
particular channel. Those of EPG for five channels at time smoothly under Enigma 2 – time. As far as HD content
you arguing that the Amiko – you simply select the re- but frankly, we didn’t expect is concerned, our setup only
SHD-8900 only has a sin- quired bouquet and get EPG anything less. Time-shift managed one channel at a
gle tuner and therefore can information for five channels viewing is available at any time. As mentioned before,
only provide EPG data of per screen page, all nicely time for lossless interruption the SHD-8900 is a single
the selected channel, or of presented; (2) standard of the live program. When we tuner receiver, which means
channels on the same tran- multi EPG for 15 channels tested how many recordings that all simultaneously re-
sponder, are right. However, per screen page without the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien corded content must be
Enigma 2 can be set to turn graphic presentation and can handle simultaneously transmitted on the same

1

transponder. Still, we’ve to jump to a selected time lite receiver, ranging from We believe the huge variety
never had a single-tuner index within a recording. conventional video games will cater for every taste.
PVR receiver before which to current weather reports
was capable of handling up On a much brighter note, all the way to emulators. The comprehensive net-
to four SD recordings at the the multimedia features of All you need is your set-top work integration of the
same time. Even the Spark Enigma 2 are nothing short box and access to the Inter- Amiko flagship receiver is
software does not allow of unique. Not only is a me- net. Software updates are rounded off with a very spe-
more than one, although the dia player available that will loaded and implemented in cial feature of the Enigma
hardware apparently is ca- process virtually all current the same way, so you will no 2 platform: A fully-fledged
pable of much more. audio, video and image file longer need modem cables web interface for remote
formats, there is even an and a PC to install a new access to the receiver from
Where there is light, there integrated DVD player. This version of your receiver‘s anywhere with an Internet
is also shadow – in this case way you cannot only watch operating system. connection. To access your
playing back recorded con- satellite TV and listen to Amiko SHD-8900 at home
tent lacks some important satellite radio with the SHD- We particularly liked the all you need to do is key in
features. To tell the truth, 8900 but also call up a DVD option to fully customise its IP address in the address
all entries are presented movie, provided its content the OSD of the receiver un- field of any Internet browser
in a very pleasing way and has been extracted and der Enigma 2 to reflect your and – no matter where you
can be edited to make for stored on an external hard personal taste. A number are – you are then able to
large font sizes or to add disk or USB stick before. of skins (pre-stores design access the most impor-
additional information, but schemes) can be down- tant functions like channel
this is reduced to eye candy A virtually endless supply loaded from the Internet switching, creating a timer
when it’s not possible to fast of plug-ins is part and par- and then activated on the entry for a recording, send-
forward or rewind. Enigma 2 cel of Enigma 2, all of which receiver. So if you‘re not en- ing a message to the receiv-
even goes so far as to insert can be downloaded from tirely happy with the default er, and so on. If you need
a message that this feature the Internet free of charge. look of your OSD you are to access a receiver feature
is not yet available. As an With these software exten- free to browse available al- that is not implemented in
alternative, you can use the sions you can add all sorts ternatives and exchange the the web interface you can
number keys on the remote of features to your satel- existing skin with a new one. always call up a virtual re-

1

Expert Opinion TECHNICAL
+ DATA
With two different operating systems users Manufacturer Karmacom Kft., Ganz Ábrahám street 5,
Nagytárcsa 2142, Hungary
can decide which one is best for them.
Excellent remote control with quick access to Tel. +36-1 431 8932

special features. Fax +36-1 431 8933
Both software platforms appear to be well- E-Mail info@karmacom.tv
Thomas Haring
designed and mature – we experienced no free- TELE-satellite Model SHD-8900 Alien
zes or software bugs. Test Center
Austria Function Digital HDTV receiver with various
High-definition 1080p content is processed multimedia & Internet features including dual boot
natively and put out as 1080p.
Channel Memory unlimited

- Symbol rate 2-45 Ms/sec.
SCPC Compatible yes
None
DiSEqC 1.0 / 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3

mote control and use it like ma 2), the Amiko SHD-8900 USALS yes

your real remote at home always offers either normal HDMI Output yes

by clicking on the required standby or deep standby. Scart Connector yes

button on the screen. Since Looking at the energy dia- Audio/Video Outputs 3x RCA

you can do this from more or grams in this report the vast Component Video Output no

less anywhere you can eas- difference in power con- S-Video Output no

ily access your box while on sumption between the two UHF Modulator no

holidays, change some set- modes becomes strikingly 0/12 Volt Connector no

tings if required, and put it obvious. Digital Audio Output yes

back into standby mode – all EPG yes

with a few mouse clicks! The Amiko SHD-8900 is C/Ku-Band compatible yes

a very well built HDTV PVR PVR-Function yes

Talking of standby: No receiver with high-quality USB 2.0 Connector yes

matter which operating sys- hardware. Being shipped Ethernet yes
tem is active (Spark or Enig- with two different operating E-SATA no
systems users can decide Silicon Tuner yes
which platform better meets
their requirement and of-
ENERGY
fers the features they really DIAGRAM
want and need. We tested
both platforms and can rec-
ommend both, as neither
of them had obvious flaws.
They look and feel entirely
different, but both are user-
friendly and will work nicely
for the whole family. With its
1080p video output via HDMI Mode Apparent Active Factor Apparent Power
Regular StandBy 15 W 7.5 W 0.5
this receiver will be a good Active 16 W 8W 0.5
choice even for future HDTV Deep StandBy 3.5 W 0.5 W 0.14 Active Power

transmission standards.

First 15 minutes: Active use with recording, playback and channel
switching
Second 15 minutes: Standby mode
Third 15 minutes: Deep standby mode with very low power
consumption


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