What is PINWHEEL HD ?
// start of pinwheel description review
Q: What is PINWHEEL HD?
First of all, THE Official PINWHEEL HD is just a standalone media player but you can install 3rd party hardware to do the conversion (see below). Of course, the factory firmware for each model is not able to do anything questionable unless you install 3rd party DVB S2 tuner and optional 3rd party LS400 8PSK turbo module along with 3rd party binary images yourself. Just received my test sample and now able to write a full review based on what it is.
Answer: The PINWHEEL HD Media Player is the world's first HDTV media player with Linux operating system that can be converted into a PVR DVB S2 satellite receiver using a 3rd party DVB S2 tuner card and an optional 3rd party 8PSK Turbo BCM 4500 modular tuner design featuring Full HD 1080p resolution.
Media player officially comes with the following linux apps: Weather, IRC Chat, RSS Feeder, UDP/RTP/HTTP stream player, Shortcuts (1000s of internet radio stations).
It was designed for only one thing in mind, enduser experience. Just like the gift box states, it has been built for solid entertainment. The main reason to use LINUX os instead of closed source is the to avoid legal issues. There is a SDK that allows you to able to write your own scripts and images for your own personalized STB + IP player.
The unit has pure raw power of Linux but has been engineered to keep the simplicity in mind so enduser just plugs & plays!
Very first LINUX OS set top box with solid easy to use menu system, yet open source. With linux running in background, you will see not a single freeze for newcamd protocol. It will seamlessly switch between all your newcamd servers. Even if you define two providers the system will auto switch without causing any freeze.
Future is already IP streaming and now by combining 3rd party DVB and IP, it sets the standard for next generation hybrid FTA+IP entertainment. The 3rd party DVB S2 tuner will out perform any major competitor units, enabling the enduser with the best picture quality. Under heavy motion action video, the 3rd party DVB S2 tuner is the best available in market for avoid any pixelation.
Modular design allows you to easily add/replace the 3rd party DVS2 tuner. 3rd party DVB S2 will operate with or without the optional 3rd party LS400 8psk turbo module. The optional 3rd party LS400 8psk module turbo enables to decode turbo transmission. No one has done this inside a linux environment before.
The unit does not require GenPix USB module to do 8psk turbo. Simply use Optional 3rd party LS400 8psk turbo module.
Easy to use, operate and enjoy. Use the VLC streaming and enjoy your content on your iphone, andriod, mac, or any windows pc by installing the free VLC media player provided by videolan.org
The power-supply is UL approved and is not built inside the unit to avoid any short circuit problems with the unit.
With the latest wifi lan usb stick technology, the unit is compatible with various brands of WIFI usb sticks (b/g/n). One is provided with the unit. They always recommend direct LAN option because the results may vary depending on the proximity of your router.
Q: What's with the name?
Answer: Due to an increasing number of units being introduced in market place as "BOX" or "SAT", the PINWHEEL team decided to be non-tranditional with a new trend setting culture. According to wikipedia
"A pinwheel is a simple child's toy made of a wheel of paper or plastic curls attached at its axle to a stick by a pin. It is designed to spin when blown upon by a person or by the wind."Code:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinwheel_(toy)
so PINWHEEL HD Media player is an entertainment toy just as easy to be used by a child. Simple enough yet fun for everyone.
Image on the box represents the largest galaxy that the world have yet discovered and which is named PINWHEEL as well.
Therefore, this is the best LINUX based stb that you will discover yet!
3rd party PINWHEEL HD images comes for all three flavors!
- PINWHEEL HD Mini – private IKS using newcamd protocol only
- PINWHEEL HD Pro – public and private IKS using newcamd protocol
- PINWHEEL HD IPTV+VOD – public and private IKS using newcamd protocol and IP channel streaming (DVBS2+IP)
The 3rd party linux image files have been posted for each model. Each file is 22.33 MB in size due to a full linux os image sitting inside the binary. This particular image has been modify by PINWHEEL team and there may be other parties developing their own custom image to provide in market place. Again, the factory firmware for each model is not able to do anything questionable unless you install 3rd party DVB S2 and optional 3rd party LS400 8psk turbo module along with 3rd party binary images yourself.
Hardware wise they are all the same. All 3 have same remote, power supply, USB WIFI, 3rd party DVB S2 tuner, optional 3rd party LS400 8PSK turbo module.
Therefore the specifications for all 3 models are 100% same!
* At Glance Features for 3rd party software*
- SOLID 100% true VLC Streamer Player
- 3rd paty DVB S/S2 convertible tuner
- 3rd party optional LS400 8PSK Turbo module
- USB WI-FI
- Able to store System Data to USB/Network
- Able to update Software from USB/Network
- Able to Add Unlimited Newcamd Servers
- Able to switch seamless from 2 major providers
- Auto Connect to All Enabled Servers
- Ability to Enable/Disable Server
- Changeable Server Administrator PIN Code, so your customers/clients do not see the server that is stored inside server list
- Similar to Dreambox, able to load the data from remote server (known as auto updater, customers do not need to scan, and you are able to send db files from server. So if you run run and operate a private server system, you are able to scan everything and simply load on your http server and all your clients will receive the latest channel list update from server ==> Menu, Backup/restore ==> Yellow button (load URL) )
- Simply download FREE VLC media player on any device (windows, mac, iphone, andriod) and type the URL of receiver with port 9000 (File, Open Network Stream)
and click play and/or record on your device! You can also perform port forwarding on your router therefore enabling you to watch the stream from anywhere.Code:http://boxip:9000- Proper SID (program id) for major providers
- Proper Satellite Identification (shows you which satellite you are locked to)
Highlights
- 2x USB 2.0 Ports (front and back)
- USB PVR Ready! (formatted as linux drive)
- Wi-fi network connection.
- Super Slim Modular Design
- Unique 3rd party DVB S2 + 8psk Turbo design (first in the world)
- Supports 3rd party DVB S / S2 / QPSK / 8PSK / 8PSK Turbo
- Uses optional 3rd party LS400 for 8PSK turbo
- Linux Operating System - 100% legal and open source
- Full HD Digital Satellite Receiver
- HD video formats 1080p (Full HD), 1080i, 720p
- Network LAN Internet connection
- Linux Plug-in functions
- Plug-in (weather / RSS / Shout cast etc.)
- Plug-in Manager (server) for additional plug-in applications
- Media player for music / photo / video
Other apps available with properties
- Weather information for 3 cities
- VLC as RTP, UDP protocol with multicast (or unicast)
- Media Center [music (MP3), image (PNG, JPG, BMP), video (AVI, MPG, XVID, MKV, etc) Player]
- Teletext and subtitle screen display (OSD)
- Prepared for an external USB WiFi / WLAN stick
- Multilingual high-resolution graphical user interface (GUI) in English, Russian, German, Arabic and many more
- External USB Playback
- Mono & Multi-EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
- Comprehensive extended EPG
- 12 volt DC adapter
* SPECIFICATION *
Specifications and System Chipset
- Chipset STi7110 (ST40 with SH4 Core) 450MHz
- 64 MB NOR Flash ROM
- 256 MB system RAM
- Resolution video decoding:
H.264 (MPEG-4 part 10) and MPEG-2 HD / SD
multi-format-capable display (1080P, 1080I, 720P, 576P)
- Audio: MPEG-1 Layer I & II & III, Dolby Digital Audio (AC3), AAC, HE-AAC
- Operating System: Linux Operating System
- Input / Output:
1x composite (3 RCA - 1 x Video 2 x Audio L / R)
1x component (3 x Video R/G/B)
1x HDMI output
1x S / PDIF Interface for digital bit stream output (AC -3)
1x LAN (Ethernet) connection to 10/100Mbps
- Approximate dimensions: 250mm x 157mm x 40mm
- Consumption: Stand-by power consumption: <1W
* due to high number of legal problem, the public versions (PRO, and IPTV) are NOT available for USA market. The public system will NOT work inside USA! So if you want to test PINWHEEL HD inside USA, it is encouraged you to only purchase MINI version!
// end of pinwheel description review //
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// PINWHEEL HD images 4
// the 1st post with pics displays does not have the made in China symbol on the bottom right corner but all the other pics show its made in china .
