Searching can take place on single or multiple transponders – multiple-satellite searches are also allowed. Here, you just select the satellites from a list and the receiver 'visits' each in turn, moving the dish where necessary.

Unfortunately, on occasion it starts searching before the dish has stopped missing some of the lower-frequency transponders. As regards manual searching, PID entry is supported for non-standard services. Also welcome is a 'satfinder' option, with its large signal strength/quality bargraphs and ability to select a specific satellite/transponder.

Blind search is invoked by a plug-in selected by the handset's blue button when the receiver is in its normal operating mode. Unfortunately, it didn't work for us. When I mentioned this to the manufacturer I was told that 'the wrong' tuner had been installed in the review unit (you need an ALPS BSBE1-D01A module). Dreamboxshop.co.uk told us that blind search would be enabled on the receiver via a future software update.

Navigation and features

The DM600PVR doesn't behave like regular satellite PVRs, and its use is fairly unintuitive. What looks like a pair of channel-change buttons in fact switch between 'bouquets' – Dreambox nomenclature for favourite channel lists. The 'standard' list has a Germanic flavour, but thanks to the DM600PVR's 'service management' option it's easy to delete these and add channels more to your liking. It's also simple to add additional bouquets.

Selecting channels instead involves the up/down keys of the navigation 'joypad'. This doesn't change channels; it instead brings up the channel list. Using the handset's coloured buttons, the list can be switched between all services, the channels carried on individual satellites, service providers and the previously mentioned bouquets.

If you just want to change channels, use the left/right keys. A nice touch is that if the relevant EPG data is in the machine, the name of the programme currently being broadcast by the channel is listed next to it.

Although it supports both now-and-next and seven-day schedules, the EPG is rather dull looking. It's simply a text list and is not presented in the traditional magazine format. The timer can be programmed from the EPG; highlight the relevant entry and press the green key. Manual timer programming is also allowed, although there's no OTR.

One tuner, two channels

This may only be a single-tuner unit but the DM600PVR will let you watch one channel while another records, if both are on the same multiplex. As with other PVRs, you can play an existing recording while a new one is in progress – bring up the channel list and then press the 'text' button to access the table of recordings.

Timeshifting is also possible, but via a similarly non-obvious route: press the 'video' button and then the
yellow button. The timeshift buffer is retained as a recording, so don't forget to delete it if it's no longer required!

A key Dreambox advantage is the promise of third-party firmware, which can be obtained freely from
various online sources. Here's where the DM600PVR's networkability comes into its own. Hold down the
receiver's front-panel standby button and then enter its IP address into a web browser. You can then
upload the firmware (which must have a '.nfi' extension) from a PC via the 'bootloader' page that's shown.

This is better than the documented procedure, which involves messing around with crossover Ethernet
cables or null-modem cables! If you simply want to update the pre-installed 'Enigma' firmware, then just let the 'Itsy Package Management System' plugin do all the work.