Having made this very rapid “roundup” of the main characteristics to be taken into consideration before purchasing a satellite decoder, we see some receivers that are able to offer good value for money.
Best Economic Satellite Decoder
Anadol HD 222 Plus
Let’s start with Anadol HD 222 Plus, a DVB-S2 compatible decoder therefore with the most modern standard available on the market and with support for different technologies and Full HD resolution. This model also supports WiFi, but only after installing the external module. Between the ports, we have two USB, but no Ethernet: here below I propose directly the version with Wi-Fi included.
Among the economic models, there is also the Free SAT V7, a satellite decoder with support for Full HD resolution, weekly EPG, playback and recording on USB. This model can also connect to the Internet, but only with a wireless USB adapter that is not offered in the original box. Supports YouTube, has an HDMI port and does not support either the SCART socket or smart cards.
Opticum HD AX150 is a decoder for the reception of satellite TV channels with PVR functionality (there is also the version without PVR at an even cheaper price). Supports Full HD resolution in MPEG 4 format with H.264 codec and can connect to DVB-S and DVB-S2 channels. Along the body, it contains a USB port and both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs.
If you want to spend very little, I suggest the Cobra Cigno HD model, a combo decoder that receives free-to-air digital and satellite channels. Supports Full HD maximum resolution and PVR function to record programs on external memory. With the Time-shift function, it is also possible to reproduce the direct channels also in a deferred mode and a media player for audio, photo or video playback is also implemented. It stores 4000 TV and Radio channels, but unfortunately, it cannot accept expansion cards or smart cards.
By spending a little more you can buy a more famous product: TeleSystem TS3010HD, a satellite receiver compatible with DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards, even at Full HD resolution. It supports different video formats, such as MPEG 2, MPEG 4, AVC and H.264, while on the audio level support for AAC and MP3 is guaranteed. The remote control is offered included, and along the frame, you can find a USB port and an HDMI port. This model does not provide any connectivity with the Internet.
The HD-Line SD-40 model also costs less and can record up to a maximum of 4000 channels through the conveniently integrated menu. It supports only plaintext transmissions, 4: 3 and 16: 9 image formats and connects to channels transmitted via DVB-S. It integrates two USB ports and is supplied with a dedicated remote control. This product can be connected via SCART or RCA, it is rather limited but costs very little and has limited dimensions.
Among the cheaper models, I also recommend the Thomson THS222, an HD satellite receiver that supports the more modern DVB-S2 standard and allows you to store up to 4,000 channels and 64 satellites. It provides a USB port for playback of contents from compatible keys and peripherals, an HDMI port, a SCART port, and you can connect to the Internet via Ethernet or external Wi-Fi adapter. It is not compatible with smart cards, so no TivùSat.
The Dmyco V9S Pro has an Ethernet port, a USB port and is compatible with DVB-S2 channels. You can store up to 1000 channels and playback is guaranteed up to Full HD resolution. The initial configuration is available to everyone and is sold with a remote control for remote management of the functions. This model also supports USB PVR Ready and USB WiFi capabilities for sharing content over the network.
The GTMedia V8 Nova boasts a slightly more sparkling design than the rest of the category thanks to the orange sideband. It can connect to the DVB-S2 channels, while on the back we find an HDMI, a SCART, AV and RS232 ports, a USB and as far as the Internet connection is concerned, it can take advantage of both the Ethernet port and the integrated Wi-Fi. Among the functions, we have instead of the WebTV, the PVR registration and general ease of use thanks to the Plug & Play installation which does not include configurations.
Still, in the mid-range, I propose the BWare Combo HD receiver, a satellite decoder with digital terrestrial support and an integrated digital display. It has a USB interface and a Conax card reader compatible with Pay TV cards. It can memorize a maximum of 6000 channels, supports various video formats and can connect to DVB-S2 and DVB-T signals, being able to reproduce the channels even at full HD resolution. Comes with remote control and instruction manual in Italian.
The Golden Interstar HD FTA + model is interesting for the number of integrated features. It is a DVB-S2 satellite receiver with full HD resolution support. It has the predisposition for IPTV with Wi-Fi that can be enabled via USB, with which it is possible to play YouTube videos, online games, and more. In addition to the USB port, it has an HDMI 1.3 output, SCART output and digital audio output (via optical). Unfortunately, the Ethernet port is missing to enable cable Internet connectivity.
Among the cheaper mid-range products I also point out the Comag SL40HD, with support for DVB-S2 channels (hence the most modern technology available today) that offers a USB port with PVR Ready functionality, a SCART, a GDMI and even an Ethernet port for connection to the network. In the original equipment we also find the HDMI cable, while the Plug & Play mode is not missing for the initial configuration (connect everything and it works).
A model of good quality and very versatile for the price that it costs is the Zgemma H5, which implements both the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial tuner and the DVB-S2 satellite tuner. It supports the HEVC and H.265 codecs and among the available ports has a USB and also a microSD card reader. It can connect to the Internet with the integrated Ethernet port or via Wi-Fi adapter to be purchased separately and features IPTV function to play online videos.
Among the cheapest combo models, I recommend on this page there is also the Traesio Trade Shop, compatible with DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 channels. It, therefore, works both with satellite connections and with digital terrestrial and can reproduce content up to Full HD resolution. As ports, we have a USB in the front panel, while in the rear we have a SCART and an HDMI. However, there is no smart card reader, and there is also no possibility to connect to the Internet.
The Edision OS Nino Plus is a satellite decoder that uses Edision OS to manage all the integrated functions, a real operating system based on Linux. It can be connected to DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 channels have a Wi-Fi adapter and can also connect to the Internet via Ethernet. It supports Web TVs, the Sat-IP protocol, USB keys via the two ports present and can connect to the TV via HDMI. Do not miss the smart card reader for the vision of TiVùSat.
Going up slightly with the price compared to the decoder analyzed above we meet the Vu + Zero, another Linux based Enigma2 decoder that offers excellent value for money. It supports all the free channels of satellite and digital terrestrial, including those in Full HD, and can be connected to the Internet via Ethernet cable or USB adapter. It has an expansion slot for smart cards, supports the DVB-S2 standard and includes two USB ports.
If you want a more serious and much more customizable decoder then I recommend a Dreambox, a family of satellite decoders that uses a Linux distribution, Dreambox OS, to provide more advanced features than the category average. Dreambox DM 520 is designed for experienced users and can be connected to DVB-S2 channels. It can also be managed remotely via a web interface available on a PC or smartphone and features a card reader, digital optical output for audio, two USB, an Ethernet and Wi-Fi via an external adapter. The supported resolution is Full HD.
An excellent high-end satellite decoder extremely economical for the integrated technical features is the Zgemma H9.2H, the least expensive of the models that can also handle 4K resolution channels. It is a combo decoder compatible with both DVB-T2 channels and DVB-S2X channels and has an Internet connection for playing IPTV content both via Ethernet and via Wi-Fi. Among the available connections, we have USB ports and microSD reader, in addition to the smart card reader for TiVùSat
The i-CAN 3900S is another TivùSat-certified satellite decoder that includes the TivùSat card in the sales package and offers two slots for smart card reading. It has an Internet connection via Ethernet cable with access to Infinity, Rai Replay, Mediaset Rewind and other online services offered by the main Italian broadcasters, supports the DVB-S2 standard and also includes two USB ports for playing multimedia content.
In the same price range as the Telesystem and i-CAN decoders, we also find the Humax Tivumax Easy HD-6400S which offers TivùSat HD support with a card included in the price. It has a slot for smart cards, two USB ports through which you can both play and record TV programs and have Internet connection support (via cable or Wi-Fi through the use of a special USB adapter).
The Dreamboxes are the most famous and widespread satellite decoders based on Linux in the world. There are various models on the market, among the most accessible ones, I recommend the Dreambox DM 525 HD, which has 512 MB of Flash memory, 512 MB of RAM and supports the DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 standards. It has a slot for smart cards, an Ethernet port to connect to the Internet, USB ports and a Mini USB port for software updates. A solution to be taken into consideration if you want to enter the Dreambox world containing costs.
Of the same company I also point out the i-CAN 4000S model with TivùSat high definition card, and universal remote control provided. Also, in this case, we find two USB ports, support for the DVB-S2 signal, but Internet connectivity is also offered via Wi-Fi through the integrated adapter. This model also implements PVR functions for recording HD content on a USB stick.
The TELE System TS9011HD is one of the most sold satellite decoders in our country. It has TivùSat HD support with the card included in the price and of course, it is compatible with all the free-to-air channels of the satellite (DVB-S and DVB-S2). Includes two smart card slots, one for the TivùSat card and one for Pay TV services (Conax). It connects to the Internet via cable and allows access to services such as Rai Replay and Mediaset Rewind. It also features a media player function to play videos from USB keys and USB hard drives but unfortunately does not allow you to record TV programs.
If you are looking for a high-quality product, but at the same time with a good quality-price ratio, I suggest you take a look at the Octagon SF4008 model. This decoder can reproduce 4K resolution channels and supports the DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X standards and the HEVC / H.265 codec. Under the body can boast two satellite tuners, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage, while on the front of the connections there are a smart card reader, the CI slot and an Ethernet port that lets you connect to the Internet and to play IPTV channels and content.
This model costs more, but it is among the most complete that you can find on the market. It is aimed at an audience of connoisseurs and the list of technical specifications confirms what has just been said: Vu + UNO 4K is a DVB-S2 satellite decoder capable of reproducing contents at the maximum Ultra HD 4K resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels) through the HEVC x265. It has a CI slot, a Smart Card reader and an HDMI 2.0 video output in addition to the optical output for digital audio. Along the body, there is also a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, two USB ports and 2 GB RAM and 4 GB flash memory. This product is expandable with installable applications.
One of the best satellite decoders you can buy in this model is the Vu + Duo 4K, characterized by a 2.1 GHz quad-core CPU based on ARM architecture, and working through the Chromium OS operating system deriving from Linux. It offers two CI inputs and a smart card reader for TiVùSat and is recommended mainly for experienced users. It offers a great level of customization, and supports the most modern technologies in terms of satellite reproduction: it can manage 4K channels and DVB-S2X technology for satellite.
If the UNO 4K model is not enough for you and you are willing to spend a lot of money, then I recommend Vu + Ultimo 4K. With a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor designed by ARM. Vu + Ultimo 4K offers the best that current technology can offer. It integrates a native WebKit-based browser, a Gigabit Ethernet port and dual-band Wi-Fi support (so from 2.4 and the fastest 5 GHz). Do not miss the support for Bluetooth and Wake on LAN (for the awakening of the device via network), while in this case, we find 3 GB of RAM and 4 GB of flash memory. This product is also based on Linux, supports 4K Ultra HD resolution and can connect to DVB-S2 signals. Implement two Smart Card slots and support for DVB-S2 signal.
