New Amiko A3 Combo QUAD Core STB Coming to North America
1.5GHz QUAD CORE ARMv7 Processor. Unlike some other offerings this is not a bait and switch or a clerical error. This is actually a QUAD CORE processor, not a 2+ year old obsolete single core. As the importer/distributor and AMIKO representative for North America I verified this personally with Amiko, the factory and by doing my own research on the chipset.
4k HEVC H265 Main 8 Support. A3 Combo is the first FTA Satellite STB in North America with 4k support. It is limited to Main 8 and we don’t know what all will be used with NA FTA ITC feeds yet since there are only 2 test channels available. Main 8 is used for the majority of H265 rips and streams on the internet so 4k media playback should not be a problem.
USB 3.0 Support. A3 Combo has (1) USB 3.0 port and (2) USB 2.0 ports. Ultra fast USB 3.0 standard is ideal for quick transfer of large media files and PVR recording of high data rate satellite streams.
Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat. While A3 running 4.2.2 “Jelly Bean” worked decent in most cases, the newer Android Kit Kat offers additional speed, stability and features not available in the older O/S. Being Android it is not limited to a handful of poorly designed, closed Linux Apps that the manufacturer picks for you and has to update. Choose what you want from Google Play, A3 Appstore or Spark Appstore. Netflix, Hulu, KODI/XBMC, Crackle Movies, it is up to YOU.
HDMI 4k Support and up/downconversion. Watch things on your 4k 2160p TV in 2160p. A3 Combo outputs 4k and can down/upconvert between 2160p, 1080, 720, 480.
Analog RCA Output. A3 Combo has the same system with the mini jack to RCA adapter cable allowing 480i and L/R audio output for old TV’s. Things like GUI are not going to look good on an old analog TV given that they are designed for UHD and HDTV’s but the option is there if you really need it.
IR RCU with A3 RF RCU Optional. A3 Combo comes with a simplified Infrared remote control. For those who like the A3 Air Mouse RF RCU it also works with A3 Combo VIA a dongle. Both the dongle and RF RCU’s will be available for purchase. Existing A3 owners should be able to use their existing RCU by just adding the dongle.
Spark2. Like A3, the A3 Combo is a completely custom ROM. It is not a generic phone ROM shoehorned into a STB. The GUI and functions are virtually identical to Spark2 on the A3 so existing owners have no learning curve. Those new to Amiko and Spark2 should find it easy to learn and use.
KODI 15.2 Custom Build. North American A3 Combo will ship with a custom KODI version built here, similar to the Irish Red Custom Edition on the Jenny A3. Features include SuperRepo with over 2000 add-ons available, HDHomeRun ATSC/Cable support installed, optimizations for faster start, better streaming, subtitles/closed captioning and much more. Like A3 original you can update KODI, change to another version or delete it entirely if it is something you don’t want.
North American Dev and Testing. Like the original A3, the new A3 Combo will be extensively tested here in USA BEFORE being made available for purchase. We’re not going to release a half working, incomplete product like others have done in the past. While it is impossible to make any “perfect” product, A3 Combo (like our past Amiko offerings) will be fully functional and ready to go for North America on launch day. Select hobbyists and Retailers will have the opportunity to test the unit and provide reviews/feedback BEFORE USA launch.
Pricing, Ordering, Availability. Estimated USA retail availability is late October with pre-order availability TBD. In order to provide as low of a cost as possible and to simplify support, all A3 Combos will ship directly from FridgeFTA for USA/CA customers. They will be available in USA and Canada and in New Zealand/Australia through Amiko New Zealand. Estimated retail pricing in USA is $109-$124.
Combo Tuner Information: A3 Combo contains two non-removable tuners. The second tuner is for DVB-T2/C. Since North America uses the backward ATSC standard for terrestrial (OTA) the DVB-T/C tuner has no function here and can be ignored.
Specifications
System Resources
Main Processor: ARM-v7 QUAD Core 1.5GHZ, HiSilicon Hi3796M V100 Cortex A7
Flash Memory: 8 GB EMMC (same as A3)
DDR SDRAM: 1GB DDR2 (same as A3)
Tuner & Demodulation
Tuner 1 Type: DVB-S / DVB-S2
Satellite Receiver Standard: ETSI EN 302 307
Input Frequency Range: 950MHz ~ 2150MHz
Input impedance: 75 [?]
Modulation: QPSK / 8PSK/ 16APSK
FEC: QPSK: 1/2,2/3,3/5,3/4,4/5,
5/6,6/7,7/8,8/9,8/10
8PSK: 3/5,2/3,3/4,5/6,8/9,9/10
16APSK: 2/3,3/4,4/5,
5/6,8/9,9/10
Symbol rate: DVB-S2: 2M ~ 45M
DVB-S: 2M ~ 45M
LNB (Low Noise Block)
power supply: Vertical: + 13.5 V;
Horizontal: + 18 V
Maximum current 400mA
(provided with overcurrent
protection)
DISEqC: DiseqC 1.0,1.1,1.2,1.3/USALS
Frequency: 22 kHz ± 4 kHz; Amplitude:
0.6 V ± 0.2V
Sensitivity: between –25 and -65 dBm
Front Panel
Display: 1 LED indicates standby (red) or
running(green) status
IR Sensor: 38KHz
CA card slot: 1
Rear Panel
HDMI: High Definition Media Interface
V1.4 480P/I, 576P/I, 720p,
1080i,1080p, 2160p
RCA output: CVBS Video & L/R Audio out
SPDIF: Output Format: PCM?DD
USB Connector: "Number: 3 2 * USB 2.0+1*USB
3.0 Type: Host
Micro SD card connector: 1
Ethernet Type: 10M/100M Number: 1
Power Supply
External power supply: 12V*2A
More info is over at the Fridge FTA web site:
1.5GHz QUAD CORE ARMv7 Processor. Unlike some other offerings this is not a bait and switch or a clerical error. This is actually a QUAD CORE processor, not a 2+ year old obsolete single core. As the importer/distributor and AMIKO representative for North America I verified this personally with Amiko, the factory and by doing my own research on the chipset.
4k HEVC H265 Main 8 Support. A3 Combo is the first FTA Satellite STB in North America with 4k support. It is limited to Main 8 and we don’t know what all will be used with NA FTA ITC feeds yet since there are only 2 test channels available. Main 8 is used for the majority of H265 rips and streams on the internet so 4k media playback should not be a problem.
USB 3.0 Support. A3 Combo has (1) USB 3.0 port and (2) USB 2.0 ports. Ultra fast USB 3.0 standard is ideal for quick transfer of large media files and PVR recording of high data rate satellite streams.
Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat. While A3 running 4.2.2 “Jelly Bean” worked decent in most cases, the newer Android Kit Kat offers additional speed, stability and features not available in the older O/S. Being Android it is not limited to a handful of poorly designed, closed Linux Apps that the manufacturer picks for you and has to update. Choose what you want from Google Play, A3 Appstore or Spark Appstore. Netflix, Hulu, KODI/XBMC, Crackle Movies, it is up to YOU.
HDMI 4k Support and up/downconversion. Watch things on your 4k 2160p TV in 2160p. A3 Combo outputs 4k and can down/upconvert between 2160p, 1080, 720, 480.
Analog RCA Output. A3 Combo has the same system with the mini jack to RCA adapter cable allowing 480i and L/R audio output for old TV’s. Things like GUI are not going to look good on an old analog TV given that they are designed for UHD and HDTV’s but the option is there if you really need it.
IR RCU with A3 RF RCU Optional. A3 Combo comes with a simplified Infrared remote control. For those who like the A3 Air Mouse RF RCU it also works with A3 Combo VIA a dongle. Both the dongle and RF RCU’s will be available for purchase. Existing A3 owners should be able to use their existing RCU by just adding the dongle.
Spark2. Like A3, the A3 Combo is a completely custom ROM. It is not a generic phone ROM shoehorned into a STB. The GUI and functions are virtually identical to Spark2 on the A3 so existing owners have no learning curve. Those new to Amiko and Spark2 should find it easy to learn and use.
KODI 15.2 Custom Build. North American A3 Combo will ship with a custom KODI version built here, similar to the Irish Red Custom Edition on the Jenny A3. Features include SuperRepo with over 2000 add-ons available, HDHomeRun ATSC/Cable support installed, optimizations for faster start, better streaming, subtitles/closed captioning and much more. Like A3 original you can update KODI, change to another version or delete it entirely if it is something you don’t want.
North American Dev and Testing. Like the original A3, the new A3 Combo will be extensively tested here in USA BEFORE being made available for purchase. We’re not going to release a half working, incomplete product like others have done in the past. While it is impossible to make any “perfect” product, A3 Combo (like our past Amiko offerings) will be fully functional and ready to go for North America on launch day. Select hobbyists and Retailers will have the opportunity to test the unit and provide reviews/feedback BEFORE USA launch.
Pricing, Ordering, Availability. Estimated USA retail availability is late October with pre-order availability TBD. In order to provide as low of a cost as possible and to simplify support, all A3 Combos will ship directly from FridgeFTA for USA/CA customers. They will be available in USA and Canada and in New Zealand/Australia through Amiko New Zealand. Estimated retail pricing in USA is $109-$124.
Combo Tuner Information: A3 Combo contains two non-removable tuners. The second tuner is for DVB-T2/C. Since North America uses the backward ATSC standard for terrestrial (OTA) the DVB-T/C tuner has no function here and can be ignored.
Specifications
System Resources
Main Processor: ARM-v7 QUAD Core 1.5GHZ, HiSilicon Hi3796M V100 Cortex A7
Flash Memory: 8 GB EMMC (same as A3)
DDR SDRAM: 1GB DDR2 (same as A3)
Tuner & Demodulation
Tuner 1 Type: DVB-S / DVB-S2
Satellite Receiver Standard: ETSI EN 302 307
Input Frequency Range: 950MHz ~ 2150MHz
Input impedance: 75 [?]
Modulation: QPSK / 8PSK/ 16APSK
FEC: QPSK: 1/2,2/3,3/5,3/4,4/5,
5/6,6/7,7/8,8/9,8/10
8PSK: 3/5,2/3,3/4,5/6,8/9,9/10
16APSK: 2/3,3/4,4/5,
5/6,8/9,9/10
Symbol rate: DVB-S2: 2M ~ 45M
DVB-S: 2M ~ 45M
LNB (Low Noise Block)
power supply: Vertical: + 13.5 V;
Horizontal: + 18 V
Maximum current 400mA
(provided with overcurrent
protection)
DISEqC: DiseqC 1.0,1.1,1.2,1.3/USALS
Frequency: 22 kHz ± 4 kHz; Amplitude:
0.6 V ± 0.2V
Sensitivity: between –25 and -65 dBm
Front Panel
Display: 1 LED indicates standby (red) or
running(green) status
IR Sensor: 38KHz
CA card slot: 1
Rear Panel
HDMI: High Definition Media Interface
V1.4 480P/I, 576P/I, 720p,
1080i,1080p, 2160p
RCA output: CVBS Video & L/R Audio out
SPDIF: Output Format: PCM?DD
USB Connector: "Number: 3 2 * USB 2.0+1*USB
3.0 Type: Host
Micro SD card connector: 1
Ethernet Type: 10M/100M Number: 1
Power Supply
External power supply: 12V*2A
More info is over at the Fridge FTA web site:
