Metronic DualStream - TechRadar UK

Would you like to record one FTA digital programme while watching another? You can buy twin-tuner PVRs but these might be outside your budget. And what if you already have a DVD recorder?

The DualStream from French company Metronic is, as far as we know, unique; a twin-tuner, free-to-air receiver that - with the appropriate dish configuration - can deliver two channels simultaneously. One channel is available on the TV Scart, while the other - which can be the same channel, or a different one - is fed to the slave VCR Scart.

So you can record a second channel with your off-board equipment without affecting your viewing. As an alternative, that VCR Scart could feed a video sender so that digital TV can be viewed in another room. Sadly, video senders are the only practical route here; the DualStream makes no provision for UHF aerial connections.

Only one remote handset is supplied. If dual-room operation is envisaged, you're advised to program a learning universal remote from the DualStream's handset. The midi-sized DualStream has a four-digit LED channel indicator, plus LEDs for mains power, standby and 'signal good'. Alongside these are buttons for channel selection, volume adjustment, menu access and standby. Finally, we have a card-slot flap that's been glued shut. There's nothing behind it because the DualStream is free-to-air only.

The rear panel sports the two LNB inputs (together with their respective loopthrough outputs) and the VCR and VCR Scarts. The main tuner is also available on composite video, optical digital and stereo analogue audio outputs. The only other connector is a RS232 serial port for service purposes, presumably firmware upgrades. For those wary of standby modes, it also has a mains power switch.

To make the most of the DualStream you'll need a dish with a dual-LNB so that channels of different polarity can simultaneously be viewed and recorded; each LNB section would feed one of the inputs. But up to 16 satellites are possible, thanks to DiSEqC. Such dishes must, of course, be fitted with dual-LNBs. Each LNB input would be fed by a DiSEqC switchbox. The inputs of these two switchboxes would, in turn, be connected to one of the two LNB outputs of each dish. Only DiSEqC 1.0 is supported; you can't use the DualStream with a motorised dish.