Review of the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien FTA Receiver

[elbandido]

 
I started looking around the internet for a new and different fta receiver at the beginning of 2012. The receiver that I was looking for had to be totally different because I was tired of the Ali chip-set receivers that I have been using for the past couple of years. Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed the Ali receivers very much, but it seemed like more and more people were developing these receivers for North America and they all had the same basic functions. I wanted something different with more features, capabilities, and support.
After searching at what seemed to be several hundred places, I ran into the Amiko SHD-8900 Alien receiver. What I saw in its specs and in posts on various European forums made me want to try one. The Alien was the first Linux based receiver that I had seen for sale that was under $300.00. The support and the features that I saw in the Alien convinced me to buy one.
When you buy something like this, you never know what to expect. My plan was to buy the receiver, and if for some reason I could not use it, then I would return it within 7 days. My cost or loss would be the shipping charges.
The only thing the Alien lacked to run in North America was blind scan capability. Its factory satellite file is for Europe where blind scan is not really needed. I was able to run the Amiko Alien with ease after I made a custom satellite file for it.
My antenna system has both USALS and diseqc 1.2 motors in it, and the Alien handles the task of running this dish system without any problems. 
Remember, the Alien does not blind scan so all of the transponder information has to be added manually before the receiver can be scanned.
High bit rate feeds and channels are not a problem for the Alien. It has a superb picture and channels such as Reelz are played without any freezes or glitches. Ac3 or Dolby Digital audio is transferred through the HDMI cable.
The Amiko Alien is an internet ready receiver. I have been able to get on the internet through its opera browser, but I have noticed some freezing while surfing the internet. This could be a receiver problem or it could be a speed problem from my internet provider. I have not had any issues watching You Tube or the other free video services..
Two different operating systems are available on the Alien. Spark is the factory operating system and Enigma 2 or E2 is also supported by the Alien. I have spent more time operating in Spark than in E2 because IMO, E2 needs some more work before it is ready for North America. Spark loaded right up for me out-of-the-box. I did have to change the video format, but spark allowed this with ease. Some of the E2 firmware boots in PAL or in 50hz and this can be a problem. I know E2 left me wondering what to do more than once.
I could write two or three thousand words about the Alien, and still not cover all of its capabilities. So I will try to answer some questions you may have about it instead.
The problem of the satellite file and the blind scan is being looked at and hopefully it will be addressed in some way. I do not regret getting the Amiko Alien because I can use it without the blind scan. I do not suggest the Amiko Alien as a first receiver right now because of the satellite file and blind scan problems. If there is enough interest in the Amiko Alien, you can bet that satellite files will be made for it.
My plan now is to box the Alien up and send it to Hyper for his review because I believe we need more receivers like this in North America. Also, I am starting to review the Optibox Raptor which I think will be very desirable blind scan receiver. Look for more information on the Raptor receiver in another thread.

El Bandido
2-22-2012

[satman5000]

Thanks for the info elbandido. I for one would want the blind scan option. The dolby audio is becoming a must have also. I also would like to see a better display screen on the receiver. I have an old coolsat 7100 and a coolsat 7000 that display the channel name and satellite etc, not just a 4 digit number. Just a thought. Thanks again for taking the time and expense doing these reviews.

[elbandido]

 If you are referring to the receiver's display, only the time or channel number may be displayed. Sorry. 
The Amiko has Dolby Digital Audio that can be played through the HDMI cable. Is there a specific audio channel that you would like me to check?

[satman5000]

No special channel in mind. Was just throwing out a few ideas in general as a wish list for options on any new receiver. Thanks though. 

[elbandido]

OK.
Thanks for the comments.
The Optibox Raptor has both features that you are looking for. The channel name may be displayed on the front of the receiver and it has an excellent blind scan. I will post more about it in another thread.

I think the Amiko Alien would be perfect for somebody that does not do a lot of scanning. The Alien is user friendly and easy to operate when booted in Spark.
Press the OK button on the remote while viewing a channel and you get a three-way sub menu to work with. This menu allows you to change a channel, move to a different satellite or edit/delete a channel. A couple of photos of this menu are attached.

[Hyper]

Thanks EB for the great review, and for taking the time spent to find this receiver, and for taking the chance and spending the $$ to get one shipped all the way from overseas! Its guys like you who help keep us all on the cutting edge of this hobby, and for helping to bring new products to the NA market.

I am really looking forward to checking out this receiver myself, so thanks for offering to send it off to me.

Reading your review my first question is are you using a sat/channel editor that the makers of Alien supplier, or some other editor, or how are you making the sat/channel list?

I have to say thethe Amiko Alien being Internet Ready is very intriguing to me. I have never had a receiver that can connect to the internet, so that sounds really, really cool to me. I cant wait to see how that works and play with it.

I will add to the review thread once i get it and start to play with her.

But in the meantime, folks can go here for the Tele-Sat magazine review from a few months back:

http://legalfreetoair.com/index.php?topic=14696.msg65990#msg65990

And here is the description and features/spec's from the manufacturer:

Description of product:

Digital satellite receiver to receive programs in High Definition 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p and SD quality; 576i with card reader Conax. The device of small dimensions. Support for YouTube, Picasa, Web radio and weather forecasts, RSS feeds reader. Ethernet connector. Excellent price/performance ratio.

Technical parameters:

-Reception of DVB-S MPEG-2 and DVB-S2 MPEG-4/H.264 output with 1080p
-Linux Operating System
-1x Conax reader (uploaded by alternative software and plugin system supports Cryptoworks, Irdeto, ICE card)
-The possibility of alternative software is uploaded Enigma 2
-PVR function via USB 2.0-Time Shift
-Support for playback of AVI, MPG, MKV, MP3, WAV, WMA, JPEG, PNG, GIF files
-RS 232-software update
-Ethernet connector
-Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for OSD Channel information
-Favorite Channels
-Teletext (VBI)
-Aspect Ratio 4:3, 16:9 (Letter Box)
-HDMI Output
-1 TV Scart
-2x RCA Audio
-Composite video output RCA
-Digital audio output RCA
-Supports DiSEqC 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, USALS
-Automatic and manual search
-User-friendly graphical menu
-Parental Lock
-Last Channel Memory
-Low power consumption in standby mode, 1 W

[elbandido]

I appreciate you helping me get that special dish mover a while back. Too bad that thing was a dud. Sending you the Alien was the least I could do for that dish mover effort!

There are a couple of channel editors that work with the Alien, but it is still not easy for me to edit the sat file. I am expecting some help from the manufacturer, we will have to wait a bit and see. A more powerful sat and channel editor could probably be had at SetEdit.de. Their editor programs usually run around 35 dollars. (I bought one from SetEdit for the Raptor because I could not find a free editor that worked on the Raptor.)
For the time being, I will load the satellites you are viewing and send it to you running. The Alien and the other receivers I am reviewing have not seen much use in this part of the world, so it is up to us to get them fixed. I am real interested to see if we get any factory support in the sat file area.

The Alien is more of media or internet receiver than the Raptor. There are more media choices on the Alien than the Raptor, plus the Alien seems to be more network friendly. I think the alien is designed especially for the person that wants to watch tv, whether it is on the satellite or on the internet. I think the Raptor is designed more for the serious feed hunter because of the design of its menus and its available features.

I did not do as good of a review on the Amiko Alien as I would have liked because the receiver sat in customs a long time. I planned to have about three weeks between the Amiko arriving and the Optibox arriving. That did not happen.
The Alien will be mailed Monday so you should get it by Thursday at the latest.

Having these new receivers in the United States is nice for me. It has really made my year. But the question is will other people like these receivers as well as I do? The people that are behind the Amiko and Optibox products are very serious about what they are putting on the market. They also seem eager to serve North America, and I hope their products are greeted with enthusiasm, but we will have to wait and see...

[birdman]

I have the alien also. Did alot of eu looking around , some said it blind scan but it ditnt, also i worked about  2weeks trying to get the na satellite put in it,so i give up. It is good for internet use.

[Hyper]

The people that are behind the Amiko and Optibox products are very serious about what they are putting on the market. They also seem eager to serve North America, and I hope their products are greeted with enthusiasm, but we will have to wait and see...

I have contacted them, thanks for the contact info EB. Im hopeing to hear back from them right away.

If the price is right i will bring these products in to HyperMegaSat.com immediately.


 

[LilBit]

I have contacted them, thanks for the contact info EB. Im hopeing to hear back from them right away.

If the price is right i will bring these products in to HyperMegaSat.com immediately.


 

Any word yet as to price and availability?

[elbandido]

Here is an update for the Amiko Sat file: NA Sat list should be available via the online update sometime next week.

[Hyper]

Here is an update for the Amiko Sat file: NA Sat list should be available via the online update sometime next week.

That is great news. Please keep us updated EB.

[Hyper]

FYI, i have been testing the Amiko Alien elbandido sent me all weekend   

Its a great box with some real cool features! I am very impressed with it so far

I will post my test results/thoughts and add to the review shortly.



 

[elbandido]

An updated file has been released. 
You may want to get the new update installed and see what it is like to upgrade over the internet. It is much better than downloading a file, putting the unzipped file on an usb stick  and load it into the receiver. EB

[birdman]

Thanks, eb i am glad to here the good news.