PSI S2X Satellite Receiver

[Johnlkuk]

Hi, hopefully I'm posting in the right area of the forum. 

 

I've just recently bought one of these receivers with the idea of taking it back to Europe and using it there. 

 

I don't have a dish set up here in TH but I've plugged the unit in and found it only has 2 satellite's information preinstalled, and with seemingly no way of adding others. 

Ideally I would be able to add at least 28e, and to just watch free channels. 

 

I've sent a Line message to PSI ready, and they simply say "PSI S2x is not recommended for use abroad."

 

Does anyone know of a way to add other satellite info, therefore making the box a bit more usable?

 

I see there's ways to update the box, and there's downloads on the PSI website, but will any of these help with what I'm trying to do? 

I've now ordered a PSI dongle to at least enable me to get it online, in case that helps too. 

[johng]

I believe PSI use an over the air update  system that I would guess is hardcoded to use the Thaicom satellite every time it boots up  so even if you could search and receive  the freeview channels @ 28 east  it wouldn't be a nice experience ..so not much use in the UK.. that woulld be my informed opinion  but I don't have the box to try  so could be totally wrong.

 

You need to look for a box that says it does blindscan. 

 

for example

https://www.infosat.co.th/en/product/26546-32014/hd11

 

or if you're feeling very wealthy  and adventurous an enigma II   linux box

https://www.phuket-satellite.com/dreambox500S.html

 

There are lots of other linux receivers now running Enigma II  Dreambox was the original and so commands a premium.

 

Ahh such memories  I loved my  Nokia Mediamaster DVB 9600 S,

making a BDM interface flashing the bootloader and firmware

Dr overflows DVB2000 

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.0zyrqFe8XX5G3Q7MqDBhrAAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=178201699dc1d0f201bce61d0529962cae8344a8dc616e86dada9891ab2e485f&ipo=images

the SCSI interface   the RS232 interface !!

the Irdeto/Aston/Viaccess/Conax cams ,the season interface 

and then phoenix interface

followed by the PIC 16F84 programs  and ultimately MOSC

 

So much stuff to watch  but the time was mostly taken up perusing "free"

methods and equipment to watch it  and the never ending cat and mouse games to stop the freeloaders !

[Johnlkuk]

2 hours ago, johng said:

I believe PSI use an over the air update  system that I would guess is hardcoded to use the Thaicom satellite every time it boots up  so even if you could search and receive  the freeview channels @ 28 east  it wouldn't be a nice experience ..so not much use in the UK.. that woulld be my informed opinion  but I don't have the box to try  so could be totally wrong.

 

You need to look for a box that says it does blindscan. 

 

for example

https://www.infosat.co.th/en/product/26546-32014/hd11

 

or if you're feeling very wealthy  and adventurous an enigma II   linux box

https://www.phuket-satellite.com/dreambox500S.html

 

There are lots of other linux receivers now running Enigma II  Dreambox was the original and so commands a premium.

 

Ahh such memories  I loved my  Nokia Mediamaster DVB 9600 S,

making a BDM interface flashing the bootloader and firmware

Dr overflows DVB2000 

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.0zyrqFe8XX5G3Q7MqDBhrAAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=178201699dc1d0f201bce61d0529962cae8344a8dc616e86dada9891ab2e485f&ipo=images

the SCSI interface   the RS232 interface !!

the Irdeto/Aston/Viaccess/Conax cams ,the season interface 

and then phoenix interface

followed by the PIC 16F84 programs  and ultimately MOSC

 

So much stuff to watch  but the time was mostly taken up perusing "free"

methods and equipment to watch it  and the never ending cat and mouse games to stop the freeloaders !

 

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. 

 

 

[Johnlkuk]

After saying all that I've now found it can do a blind scan... 

 

 

I've got more playing to do..... 

 

[johng]

If you can add a new satellite and the box can do blind scan  then i think you have a fighting chance  , only problem maybe the auto update at every boot

does it erase those custom satellite settings  after a reboot ?

[johng]

19 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

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.

 

There is very little English language programing on Thaicom..

perhaps with other satellites nearby and/or C -band  but that requires a much larger dish  1.5 meter diameter  than you might want to put on your balcony...

 

Aha I see as you say the original Dreambox only has a DVB S1 tuner  so if the freeview stuff is moving over to  DVB s2 

( most likely they want to call it HD  but still stuff as much onto one transponder as they can)  then it's days are numbered that's a shame  but it had a great run.

[Johnlkuk]

4 hours ago, johng said:

If you can add a new satellite and the box can do blind scan  then i think you have a fighting chance  , only problem maybe the auto update at every boot

does it erase those custom satellite settings  after a reboot ?

 

The minimal info for a new satellite that I added yesterday was still there when I booted up today, so that's also hopeful. 

I'll really have to see after connecting up to a new satellite and successful scanning it in. 

 

3 hours ago, johng said:

 

There is very little English language programing on Thaicom..

perhaps with other satellites nearby and/or C -band  but that requires a much larger dish  1.5 meter diameter  than you might want to put on your balcony...

 

Aha I see as you say the original Dreambox only has a DVB S1 tuner  so if the freeview stuff is moving over to  DVB s2 

( most likely they want to call it HD  but still stuff as much onto one transponder as they can)  then it's days are numbered that's a shame  but it had a great run.

 

My DB is an early one, it doesn't even have HD channels, but it has been handy over the years, especially on my travels. 

It's just a shame it will be another piece of electronics in the landfill just for the sake of "progress".

 

I will take the PSI back with me in a couple of days, and then I'll test it out in BG shortly after. 

I'll report back here just as it may help others in the future. 

[johng]

10 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

I'll report back here just as it may help others in the future

Yes please do report back,I for one would be interested in the results.

[gargamon]

Back in the 80's and 90's I used to use satellite stuff a lot. Then somebody came up with this new thing that works a lot better. It's called the internet. You should check it out.

[Johnlkuk]

52 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Back in the 80's and 90's I used to use satellite stuff a lot. Then somebody came up with this new thing that works a lot better. It's called the internet. You should check it out.

 

Nice of you to drop by, and thanks for your help. 

 

It's certainly something I'll look into. 

[johng]

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

It's called the internet. You should check it out.

 

In the year 2000  I tried out receiving Satellite internet  from Europe online

http://www.europeonline.com/en/search.shtml

 

This was using the above mentioned Nokia 9600 connected to PC via SCSI interface  and a program called  IPDVB  of course this was only receiving data as there was no uplink  to request any data..the results were "intersting"

 

These from the analogue days.