Typing the receiver's address into the browser under normal circumstances presents you with Enigma2's web interface. Channels can be remotely selected from here – you can also invoke recording, access EPG info and schedule timer events.

If you have the freely downloadable VLC Media Player installed on your PC you can start viewing the current channel in a window – it's desktop TV without the hassle of installing a tuner card and dish feed. Yet the picture quality can be just as good and, theoretically, you can remotely stream live TV and playback and schedule recordings.

Great all-round performance

Searching speeds are average; a full search of the Astra 1x cluster took just under six minutes. The user interface and menu system are pleasantly responsive in use – it takes about a second to switch between channels on the same satellite.

Owing to the previously mentioned bug, setting up our usual test satellites (e.g. Thor) proved impossible. However, pictures from Astra and Hot Bird were maintained even during periods of heavy rain and so the 800HD's ALPS tuner must be on the sensitive side.

Sound quality and picture quality are both excellent, especially if DVI/HDMI is used. Thanks to the external power supply, the Dreambox DM800HD runs quite cool – even over prolonged use.