Funny that you mention the Dreambox 500s, as this purchase was supposed to take over duties from my old 500s which has now seen better days.
Granted the Dreambox is so much more capable, but I just need something to pick up 28e when I'm out of the UK actually, but in Bulgaria, where I can receive some UK channels, most notably radio channels.
I've had my DB probably 20 years now, and used to mess about with it wasting my life away trying to unlock channels etc, but it is now just used for basic viewing, free channels only.
At least, up until channels kept disappearing from 28e over the past year or so.
From what I gather now, it's because a lot of the transmissions are now broadcast with DVB-S2, and again from what I gather, DB's tuner is now showing it's age as it can only pick up DVB-S.
I'm probably using all the wrong terminology, but that's just how I understand the situation.
Anyway, hence buying this PSI which declares it is DVB-S2 compatible.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like it can do much other than the preinstalled satellites.
I've just booted up again, I can add "28e" as a new satellite, but that's as far as I can go. There's no provision to add transponder etc, so I've no idea how it could ever scan, and find anything other than Thaicom, other than a complete change of firmware.
It was cheap, it was a gamble, but it looks like it can stay in Thailand.
Next time I'm over I might consider setting up a dish on my balcony, but only if I knew I could pick up some English language channels.
I'll save that for another thread.