TEST REPORT
Satellite-TV Streaming Box
TBS Streaming Box MOI
2 unique features: new concept of splitting software and hardware new concept of delivering tv signals by streaming them uses third-party software uses the Xbox Mediacenter software to receive TV streams
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TEST REPORT
Satellite-TV Streaming Box
A Satellite Receiver With an Entirely New Approach
At first glance the blackcolored metal box MOI from Tenow doesnt look all that remarkable and certainly doesnt resemble a satellite receiver. On the front side there are a total of three LEDs; two of them signal a lock on one of the two tuners while the third indicates the receivers status. Right along side them are two CI slots that are capable of accepting all the standard modules for PayTV reception. Dont bother looking for a display or additional buttons to control the box; you wont find them. Even the rear panel is rather sparsely equipped: theres a USB 2.0 interface, a micro SD card reader, an RS-232 interface as well as a LAN port. Notably missing are HDMI, Scart and RCA outputs! How are you supposed to be able to watch TV with this kind of setup? The secret of the Streaming Box lies with its name: the word streaming should be taken literally. Its a receiver that doesnt send video and audio directly to a TV but instead streams it via a network for reception on a PC, laptop or other mobile device (such as a tablet, Smartphone, etc.). In this way Tenow is using paths
that are totally different from that of a classical satellite receiver. Tenow separates the hardware from the software that in an ordinary satellite receiver would form a single unit. Customers would be provided the hardware from Tenow (the MOI Box) while the software would come from existing open source projects available from the Internet that would, of course, already be pre-installed. This gives Tenow the huge advantage of being able to focus all of their design efforts on the matching hardware, which already happens to be their specialty, while the software can be further developed by everyone thanks to the open source concept. It also benefits enormously from strong online communities with their many dedicated members. On the hardware side, Tenow gave the Streaming Box MOI some kick. It comes with a 1.0 GHz Cortex TMA8 processor along with 512 MB DDR2 RAM and 256 MB SLC NAND Flash memory. The box also operates, as you might expect, under the
TBS Streaming Box MOI Offers a double-shot of innovation for the future of TV with its channel streaming and separation of hardware and software
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www.TELE-audiovision.com/13/07/tenow
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Linux operating system. The two built-in tuners support DVB-S2 in both the QPSK and 8PSK modulations making the box perfect for HDTV reception via satellite. And its on this hardware framework that the pre-installed TBS software builds on. It includes a simple TBSdesigned web interface with which the configuration of
the network interface and the date/time is taken care of. In the background the freely available TVHeadend software is doing its job. It was only thanks to this that the Streaming Box MOI could even become a DVB-S2 satellite receiver. The box comes delivered from Tenow with a preset IP address. Once this IP ad-
dress is entered into a web browser with the box connected to a network, youll then have access to the web server installed in the box allowing you to modify the IP data as necessary. You can set the box to automatically receive the IP address from a router via DHCP or you can select the IP address manually. We recommend the latter;
it makes the future configuration and setup of the box easier. Once the Streaming Box MOI is working with an
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active Internet connection, the date and time is then automatically updated. Further setup and configuration of the box is handled via the web server from the pre-installed TVHeadend software. All you have to do is click on the corresponding link or enter the boxs IP address and the port 9981 into the browser and just like that youre routed to the TVHeadend. At first glance its quite obvious that this software is geared towards ambitious users; it comes with
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1. The Streaming Box Moi's web interface for setting up the IP address and the date/time 2. The IP address can be selected manually or transferred automatically via DHCP 3. Time settings
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4. The TVHeadend Software's web interface 5. The two DVB-S2 tuners can be configured completely independent from each other 6. The preprogrammed satellite/ transponder list is missing a few critical entries 7. DiSEqC and LOF settings 8. The EPG Grabber reads the EPG data of all the stored channels so that it's instantly available 9. Even non-DVB conforming EPG data such as from Sky or Freeview UK is supported 10. The DVR configuration can be customized, including the recording path 11. Timeshift is also available
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12. The TVHeadend Software doesn't come from Tenow and is financed by donations 13. The TVHeadend Software's full channel list 14. User management with individual user rights assignment 15. The DiSEqC Protocols 1.0 and 1.1 are supported 16. The list of all stored transponders makes it easy to search for channels 17. Here the TVHeadend Software shows all the channels that were found; only when they are
marked with the option "map selected" will they actually end up in the channel list 18. EPG overview directly in the TVHeadend Software's web interface 19. Status display: Tuner 1 is currently not locked while Tuner 2 is receiving HOTBIRD at 13 east 20. The Xbox Mediacenter takes over control of the TVHeadend software and becomes an interface between the Streaming Box MOI and the user
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a rich assortment of settings capabilities and a diverse menu structure. The TVHeadend is totally controlled via the web interface and has a completely new and unique operating concept that certainly has some advantages. Before the software can even begin to do its job, the correct parameters for satellite reception must first be defined in the basic settings menu. Since the Streaming Box MOI works with two separate tuners, this task must be done for each of the two individual tuners. Unfortunately, the lack of a loopedthrough output for at least Tuner #1 means that the box must operate with two independent satellite signal cables since a loop through from Tuner #1 to Tuner #2 is not possible. There is a satellite list that tells the Streaming Box MOI what can be received with this equipment, although, the information it contains is not all that up to date. Critical entries such as the BADR satellites at 26 east are missing. According to the manufacturer, the DiSEqC protocols 1.0 and 1.1 are supported but there didnt seem to be any plans to include motor control. Configuring the LNB parameters such as the LOF was rather difficult. In the end though it could be done so that even C-band signals could be received. As soon as new entries were added to the TVHeadend softwares transponder list, the software started an automatic channel scan. This task is handled in the background so that the second tuner can be used for simultaneous TV reception or recording. And its here that the Streaming Box MOI is a step ahead of an ordinary satellite receiver: since the channel scan takes place in the background, the time needed for this scan is really not all that relevant and shouldnt be bothersome at all even though our test scan of HOTBIRD at 13 east needed a full 15 minutes to complete. After the TVHeadend software has read in all of the channels of a satellite, they dont automatically get added to the channel list. They would only be added when the user marks all of the desired channels and manually transfers them to the channel list.
21. Control of the TVHeadend Software via the Xbox Mediacenter is realized through an Add-on 22. To link the two programs, simply enter the Streaming Box MOI's IP address into the Xbox Mediacenter; the rest takes care of itself automatically 23. The Xbox Mediacenter's EPG. The necessary data comes from the TVHeadend Software 24. After the TVHeadend Add-on is activated, the menu heading "Live TV" appears in the Xbox Mediacenter 25. The Xbox Mediacenter's channel list 26. Timer entries can be entered via the EPG or manually 27. After a channel change, the video is always shown in a minimized window. The channel list is removed with the push of a button thus making room for full-screen mode 28. EPG data, if available, is also shown directly in the channel list 29. What's currently being shown by the various channels in the list? 30. PVR recordings are stored directly in the Streaming Box MOI and are accessible from all devices 31. The main menu can be blended in on top of the currently running program 32. An Info box on the lower right side provides the user with continuous information and status updates 33. The Xbox Mediacenter can directly shut down the PC or laptop or place it in standby 34. HD channels can also be transferred between the Streaming Center MOI and the Xbox Mediacenter via the network 35. As expected with HD, picture quality is excellent
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This concept offers the great advantage of creating a channel list where truly all of the channels in the list are channels that will actually be watched and when needed are quickly available to the user. Even editing or modifying the channel list via the practical web interface is a joy. With just a few mouse clicks channels can be added, deleted, moved or renamed. We also want to highlight practical functions such as the automatic EPG download. Here, at specific times, the software will download the latest EPG data for every channel in the channel list as long as theres no active recording taking place and the Streaming Box MOI is not in use. In this way the EPG data will be available at a later time without any delay during normal everyday use. We also liked that the TVHeadend software can also receive IPTV content; a test with a local UPD stream worked perfectly. We would also like to highlight the complex user management in which individual channels and functions for one or more users can easily be activated or deactivated. Then theres PVR features that in addition to all of the classic functions also include fast-forward and rewind plus programming new recordings using the EPG data with a practical keyword search. But lets get to the Streaming Box MOIs highlight. How does it receive a stream?
36. OSD Teletext Decoder 37. Video settings directly in the Xbox Mediacenter 38. Playback of a previously recorded HD program 39. Editing a timer entry 40. The channel list can be edited either via the TVHeadend's web interface or directly in the Xbox Mediacenter
For this purpose Tenow recommends the Xbox Mediacenter. This is GPL software (General Public License) that is available for MS Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi as well as Apple TV. The Xbox Mediacenter is conceived as a classic media center that, in addition to the ability to play back auxdio and video files, also supports Live TV reception via the TVHeadend software. Before using this function for the first time, it must be activated in the Xbox Mediacenters basic settings. The Streaming Box MOIs instruction manual is a great help here. Once activated, the Main Menu heading Live TV instantly appears providing access to all the available TV and radio channels via TVHeadend. The communication between the Xbox Mediacenter and the TVHeadend software now takes place fully automatically; without any interaction by the user. This togetherness provides the user all the features that hed expect from an ordinary satellite receiver, such as, an EPG display in various formats, an Info bar with data on the current program as well as typical PVR functions. We were especially impressed with the exceptionally fast channel switching time of just under one second. We tested the Xbox Mediacenter on both a Windows PC and a Macbook using Apples own OS X operating system. We were quite happy with the results in both cases. The Xbox Mediacenter displays the same user interface regardless of which operating system is running
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in the background. The picture quality of the TVHeadend received stream was in both cases exceptional. The quality of the picture on an HDMI-connected 42 LCD TV via a Macbook was indistinguishable with that from an ordinary satellite receiver. The Xbox Mediacenter can be controlled through a keyboard and mouse as well as through a remote control. All in all, we were very impressed with the Xbox Mediacenter in conjunction with the Streaming Box MOI. We enjoyed playing with it. One thing though: using the Xbox Mediacenter on iOS devices or Apple TV is only possible with the help of Jailbreak - a deep-reaching modification of the operating system. Apple does not officially offer the necessary Apps in their App Store. Its some-
what easier for owners of Android Smartphones or Tablets. The Xbox Mediacenter is also not downloadable from the Google Play Store but at least you can manually install it without having to play around in the mobile devices operating system. If you dont want to access the Xbox Mediacenter via PC or Mac, you can also receive the individual streams via the VLC Mediaplayer (download from www.videolan. org). But since doing it this way is not as comfortable each channel change must first be activated via the TVHeadend web interface - this method will be the exception rather than the rule. Because of the Streaming Box MOIs open software structure, it will be up to the user when to update the indi-
vidual software components. To make it easier for beginners, Tenow offers updates to their software packages via their website at regular intervals. This will update all of the involved software components automatically. The update itself takes place via a Micro SD card on which the user uploads two files from Tenows website via the Internet. After inserting the card in the card reader and restarting the Streaming Box MOI, the update process runs automatically. For advanced users theres always the capability to supervise the process using a terminal
program and the serial interface and display the associated status messages. The serial interface can also be used to directly have influence on the boxs Linux operating system. For us here at TELE-audiovision this test was exciting for two reasons: the first was the innovative idea to stream the channels and the second was the equally innovative idea to completely separate hardware and software. We are very interested to know how end users will react to this innovative double concept.
expert
OPINION
Manufacturer
TECHNICAL
DATA
TBS Tenow International Ltd.
TBS Tenow MOI Satellite-TV Streaming Box
RECOMMENDED PRODUCT BY
Contact [email protected] Internet www.tbsdtv.com Model Function Input frequency Input symbol rate DiSEqC TBS Streaming Box MOI compatible Twin Tuner Streamingbox 950 - 2150 MHz 1 - 45 Ms/s 1.0, 1.1
Thomas Haring Test Center Austria
HDMI no Digital Audio out no USB 2.0 yes Micro SD Slot yes CI Slot yes (2x) Card Reader no
+ Through the separation of hardware and software, Tenow with
the hardware is able to focus on the companys specialty while the software can be developed and promoted by dedicated private people.
Stereo Audio, CVBS no Ethernet yes RS232 yes 0/12V no EPG yes HDTV yes PVR yes WebTV yes Compatible reception units Dimensions Power Supply PC with Windows/Linux, Mac OS X, Apple TV iOS smartphone/tablet, Android smartphone/tablet 19 x 12.5 x 3 cm 12V DC (85-265 VAC 50/60 Hz)
41. Favorites groups can be easily set up in the Xbox Mediacenter 42. IPTV Streams via UPD protocol can be integrated in the TVHeadend 43. Playback of a local IPTV stream here in our test center 44. The box's Linux operating system can be directly accessed via the serial interface 45. While a software update is being processed, the box provides corresponding status messages via the serial interface
The Streaming Box MOIs installed software stills has a few
bugs in some places in connection with the hardware. But considering that the hardware and software development are totally separated from each other, this is understandable and over time, with the increasing popularity of the Streaming Box MOI, this will continue to improve.
ENERGY
DIAGRAM
Apparent Power
More about this company
www.TELE-audiovision.com/11/03/tenow
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Mode Active StandBy Active Power
Apparent Active Factor 15.5 W 8.5 W 0.54 14.5 W 7.5 W 0.51
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Energy: First 15 minutes active operation; second 15 minutes Standby
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