New OS Mio 4K setup questions

[armadillo_115]

Just ordered an OS Mio 4K. Got a few questions before it arrives.Will be using the pre-installed TNAP image. I am mainly interested in streaming and viewing from laptop, pc, etc. I'm hoping WebIF will suit my needs but that may change once I begin experimenting.

Is it possible to do the initial setup/configuration via WebIF (or other app) without a tv connected to the OS Mio? Can the receiver stream afterwards with no tv connected? ( I prefer to work from my desktop location and not interrupt normal use of the den TV while I tinker.)

Is wireless 450Mbps on 2.4Ghz band sufficient for HD streaming? (No UHD streaming)

I only want my channels grouped by Satellite. Anything special I need to configure that way?

Can blind scan be configured to exclude specific items. For instance: TV only, no radio. No data feeds. FTA only, etc etc.

My preferred backup method for all my equiptment: An sd card inserted into a usb reader. I then transfer files to PC hard drives for storage. Much easier than dragging the external usb hard drives back and forth. Any reason that will not work with the OS Mio?

Well, that's enuff noob questions to get me started.... I hope.

Thanks for any tips

 

[Magic Static]

Once you have a network established you can do everything via webif. I stream most of what I watch to the PC. I have a folder of m3u8 playlist files for my favorites. I put that folder on my cellphone so I can watch TV with it also.

 

[arlo]

If you have a monitor with HDMI port, why not?
I prefer a static IP address on my LAN.
Blind scan will pretty much pick up what is on a satellite and store it to a Last Scanned favorite.
The you can use a channel editor to arrange, properly name, and create favorites folders based on the satellite.
In the case of the NASA channels on 127W they scan in as ex: 3919 SID 0x65, 3919 SID 0x67, 3919 0x68.
In your channel editor you can rename, sort, and save them. That's where a good satellite chart comes in like can be found on TVROSAT. Later on you can add "picons" from a logo image folder on your pc to give cool little channel logos beside your channel listings per sat.
Your other question. You have complete file system access using your LAN. So you can do it all with Filezilla or even from Windows Network browser.

 

[armadillo_115]

If you have a monitor with HDMI port, why not?

Limited space around my recliner, otherwise I'd already be running dual monitors on my Linux box.

Once you have a network established you can do everything via webif.

That's what I was hoping to hear.

Your other question. You have complete file system access using your LAN. So you can do it all with Filezilla or even from Windows Network browser.

So the image backups can be done by Lan as well?

Just for future reference:
My ISP router is locked down by the wireless provider. They don't allow user log-ins or any user configuration. I can't monitor connected devices or anything. Would be nice to switch DNS Servers for instance. The internet service is decent but peeves me not having any router control.

I'll be adding a personal Wireless Access Point router to connect the Mio to. That way it will be on it's own wifi subnet. (I believe 'subnet' is the correct term)

I've been wanting a VPN for occasional use. Hopefully my ISP will allow VPN pass through... But I have to visit their office and ask THEM to config their router first. Grrrrrr.

 

[arlo]

Just wait until you get it before becoming a big worry wart. Hah! I was the same a few years ago.
Backups. They can be made on your EHD. I'm using a 1TB WD USB drive for storage.
They will be on it. In the case of a USB specific backup file, as far as I know a restore will need to be done with a USB drive. But the file will be accessible on your LAN and the file structure will be viewable. Get 7 ZIP now. You'll need it. Other kinds of backup files can be restored right from your file system.

So. If you happen to bork the receiver file system, you have the bootloader and a USB drive option.
And don't fall in love with TNAP. It's great and a lot of work has gone into it to make it awesome for the USA.
You will still have 3 "slots" (partitions) to install other image flavors on. I'm using OpenATV 6.3. That's all I use.
Opinions differ. But it's been stable for a long time and it does what I need it to.

To be 100% honest (for me at least) navigating the media player and other bells and whistles on my Mio is a big PITA. My smart tv, Fire device, and Roku does the same things and is so much easier than pressing 57 buttons to do the same thing.

So why don't you just get your own router? Piggy back it to the ISP one. I own all of my own equipment here. The modem paid for itself in less than a year (my ISP charges equipment rental fees).
Yeah. I use a VPN on occasion. Openvpn is on my Asus router and Express VPN makes it easy to install configs.
Back and forth. My Prime, Discovery+, Netflix sometimes isn't happy as is the same for my ISP email accessed with Thunderbird through the VPN. So it's on and off. I don't run any VPN apps on my devices, laptop (at home)....it's all on the router.

I'd say chill out on all of the unknowns until you get your receiver. I'm no guru by any means. But it will come to you.
Besides. There are tons of old-farts here to help you along.

 

[armadillo_115]

Who is worried? LOL. I just like to plan a little ahead.

Actually, I prefer to use my Linux box for any on-line streaming.Yahoo videos and Tune-In Radio is about all I use. I have privacy concerns with my Smart TV. Heck, the Roku hasn't even been hooked up in 6 months or more. Just not my cup of tea.

I detest eye candy crap. Flashy stuff hurts my eyes. I hope to config the Mio in a similar fashion.

You can bet that if I figure how to strip unwanted crap out of my Enigma2 images, I'll be tearing it down.

I'm not happy if I don't break the Operating System once in a while.. so frequent OS backups are a must.

On the other hand, when I want to watch some tv.... I just want to watch some tv.

 

[primestar31]

Put images in each slot, even IF you don't set them up beyond setting the proper video settings for your tv set. IF something goes wrong with the slot 1 main image and you can't boot into it, you'll likely be able to boot into one of the others and fix it easier. A few of us learned that quickly.

Oh, and after trying to set it up yourself, read through ALL the threads in here, as there's little jewels of info in many of them.

 

[arlo]

I'm seeing you're a Linux junkie. Many resources there to do most everything you need to do on your receiver by terminal. Which, I hope, is built into the webif. But if I remember right not all commands are available and to get those you'll maybe have to add a package to your build on the box.

I don't really understand all of the paranoia of privacy concerns these days. My TV ads don't contain any more or any less ads since having my Sony, Roku, Fire TV Cube..and my Win 10 computers....that's all in the browsers I use Just Like Linux users will get in cookies and crap like that. Someone explain all of the cold-war era in the 21st. century things to me.

Flashy stuff hurts your eyes? Haha. So you close your eyes when a Los Angeles based show or movie laden with silicone babes comes on. Nah. Come On, Man!

These receiver images come with few "bloatware" apps....the basics really. Until you run across an image like PurE2 where they pile as much into it as they can as "Eye Candy". On in simple terms "Look Mommy what I can do".
But if you read about the good and not so good things you can do with TNAP....you'll be searching for other E2 images. Enough on that.

I see many different ways to access the Internet. If I get it correctly you say you have a Jetpack style wireless package? With very limited access to the info. inside of the ISP unit. But it does have a NAT router with wifi and an Ethernet port? Being the Linux dude you are I'm surprised you don't have a nice Asus or Netgear wifi router butted up to it with custom firmware like Asus Merlin or DD-WRT flashed to it. Much, if not all of your waiting to "duck and cover.....paranoia" would stop inside the firmware with a few keystroke configs. Anyway creating multiple VLAN's with your own router would be a breeze. If that's really how you want to do it.

Anyway. Don't make your new receiver endeavor too complicated. Plug it in, get it configured and use it just like it is designed to be. You're not on Mars until you get there. Build and get to know the rocket first. Then dig for rocks. And at least for God sake's hit a pawn shop or local ad and grab another monitor with HDMI. Maybe send the wifey out shopping?

 

[Magic Static]

But if you are a nerd like me, I have 15 tuners connected to four motorized dishes (2 C-Band & 2 KU) with three multi-switches. Only one tuner is used with an HDMI connection to a 55" Samsung. The rest provide an assortment of other options.

 

[arlo]

But if you are a nerd like me, I have 15 tuners connected to four motorized dishes (2 C-Band & 2 KU) with three multi-switches. Only one tuner is used with an HDMI connection to a 55" Samsung. The rest provide an assortment of other options.

"Other Options" is always a good thing. Sure loving the 4K HDMI channels and 7.1 audio with my new extractor though. TNAP doesn't easily give you too many of those....ummm....options. Enuff said.

 

[Magic Static]

"Other Options" is always a good thing. Sure loving the 4K HDMI channels and 7.1 audio with my new extractor though. TNAP doesn't easily give you too many of those....ummm....options. Enuff said.

Oddly enough my most used receiver and the one that controls the dish positioning is an Edision mio 4K with TNAP 2.0 loaded on it. It works very well. While I have several Edision E2 receivers with many different images loaded I always come back to my first one. I also use the TBS6903 PCIe card a lot.

 

[ZetaMale]

Just ordered an OS Mio 4K. Got a few questions before it arrives.Will be using the pre-installed TNAP image. I am mainly interested in streaming and viewing from laptop, pc, etc. I'm hoping WebIF will suit my needs but that may change once I begin experimenting.

As I recall, Webif will ask you what app you want to stream through the first time you click on a programming source. I think you have the option of doing that one time if you want to experiment with different apps or you could say that you want the app to always be used. I recommend VLC. It'll do 4:2:2 but there might be others that can handle 4:2:2.

Is it possible to do the initial setup/configuration via WebIF (or other app) without a tv connected to the OS Mio? Can the receiver stream afterwards with no tv connected? ( I prefer to work from my desktop location and not interrupt normal use of the den TV while I tinker.)

Yes and yes. Webif has a MENU button that'll allow you to configure your mio. To use Webif you'll need to know what IP address is assigned to your mio, though. I assign static addresses to all of my IP connected devices which makes it easier to connect to them. But you have to make sure that your static addresses don't conflict with the DHCP address range. Yes you can stream with no TV attached but it's beneficial to have a TV attached. You'll find that it's easier and faster to setup the mio with a TV because Webif has a refresh interval which slows down moving around in the menus.

Is wireless 450Mbps on 2.4Ghz band sufficient for HD streaming? (No UHD streaming)

That should be adequate even for 4K. I believe Netflix requires 25 Mb connections for UHD. Anyway, I use 5 GHz myself. I wish they had WPA3 and wireguard available for the mio.

I only want my channels grouped by Satellite. Anything special I need to configure that way?

The mio uses bouquets. A European design for grouping channel lists.

Can blind scan be configured to exclude specific items. For instance: TV only, no radio. No data feeds. FTA only, etc etc.

You can do free-only scans but it'll still scan radio. If I recall correctly, 105W C-band will take hours to scan if you do a free-only scan.

My preferred backup method for all my equiptment: An sd card inserted into a usb reader. I then transfer files to PC hard drives for storage. Much easier than dragging the external usb hard drives back and forth. Any reason that will not work with the OS Mio?

My understanding is that if the thumbdrive is formatted as FAT32 it can be read by the mio and Windows and Linux . I'm not sure about Macs.

Well, that's enuff noob questions to get me started.... I hope.

Thanks for any tips

 

[ZetaMale]

So the image backups can be done by Lan as well?

You want to send the backups to a remote computer instead of the mio attached thumbdrive or HDD? I don't believe so. I've never tried to do that though.

Just for future reference:
My ISP router is locked down by the wireless provider. They don't allow user log-ins or any user configuration. I can't monitor connected devices or anything. Would be nice to switch DNS Servers for instance. The internet service is decent but peeves me not having any router control.

I'll be adding a personal Wireless Access Point router to connect the Mio to. That way it will be on it's own wifi subnet. (I believe 'subnet' is the correct term)

I've been wanting a VPN for occasional use. Hopefully my ISP will allow VPN pass through... But I have to visit their office and ask THEM to config their router first. Grrrrrr.

That's why I told my ISP that I'm using my own router. I don't know what ports your ISP blocks but if you do go for a VPN service you should find one that does wireguard - faster data transfer over others. But there are some privacy issues with wireguard that some services have a workaround in place. It's a logging issue but the VPN itself is secure point to point. By the way, if you do use VPN you'll need to use change the mio settings to allow VPN connections. You might want to consider using webif with the HTTPS protocol instead of the default HTTP, also.

 

[ZetaMale]

So. If you happen to bork the receiver file system, you have the bootloader and a USB drive option.
And don't fall in love with TNAP. It's great and a lot of work has gone into it to make it awesome for the USA.
You will still have 3 "slots" (partitions) to install other image flavors on. I'm using OpenATV 6.3. That's all I use.
Opinions differ. But it's been stable for a long time and it does what I need it to.

The main reason I use TNAP is that it has the no-T2MI feature which allows me to scan in both Decades and H&I East.

So why don't you just get your own router? Piggy back it to the ISP one. I own all of my own equipment here. The modem paid for itself in less than a year (my ISP charges equipment rental fees).

The only thing my ISP owns is the ethernet to fiber optic bridge. Anyway, I'd see about getting rid of the ISP owned router. You'll be double NAT'd with 2 routers in serial with each other - unless you know what you're doing. Double NATing isn't always fatal though.

Yeah. I use a VPN on occasion. Openvpn is on my Asus router and Express VPN makes it easy to install configs.
Back and forth. My Prime, Discovery+, Netflix sometimes isn't happy as is the same for my ISP email accessed with Thunderbird through the VPN. So it's on and off. I don't run any VPN apps on my devices, laptop (at home)....it's all on the router.

That's why I changed from openvpn to wireguard. Openvpn takes much longer to encode and decode the packets so things get slowed down big time. For example, my internet connection without openvpn is 500Mb/500Mb but with openvpn it's less than 100Mb/100Mb. Even wireguard slows things down but I have been as high as 300/300 but usually around 200/200.

 

[ZetaMale]

Put images in each slot, even IF you don't set them up beyond setting the proper video settings for your tv set. IF something goes wrong with the slot 1 main image and you can't boot into it, you'll likely be able to boot into one of the others and fix it easier. A few of us learned that quickly.

Oh, and after trying to set it up yourself, read through ALL the threads in here, as there's little jewels of info in many of them.

We need a FAQ. I wish I had more technical data and usage info on this box.

 

[arlo]

The main reason I use TNAP is that it has the no-T2MI feature which allows me to scan in both Decades and H&I East.

The only thing my ISP owns is the ethernet to fiber optic bridge. Anyway, I'd see about getting rid of the ISP owned router. You'll be double NAT'd with 2 routers in serial with each other - unless you know what you're doing. Double NATing isn't always fatal though.

That's why I changed from openvpn to wireguard. Openvpn takes much longer to encode and decode the packets so things get slowed down big time. For example, my internet connection without openvpn is 500Mb/500Mb but with openvpn it's less than 100Mb/100Mb. Even wireguard slows things down but I have been as high as 300/300 but usually around 200/200.

#1: I'm not so sure you have even tried to use other images. I've heard your mention of T2MI and your hesitance to try other images. I even offered you my USB image to try. All setup and ready to go. But I assure you that I get Decades and H&I no problem on OpenATV6.3. Plus the image allows some things in addition to TNAP that are cool.

#2: If the OP has a cellular based system there surely isn't much you can do but get wifi or Ethernet a-la carte.
My previous company provided me a Jetpack ready to go as we had mission critical data that needed to be available without fail. And the ISP was prone to go down like a prom dress at the worst times. There were a few end user things that could be accessed in its webif.....but not much. And yes. Some ISP owned routers suck. Zyxel and others rot if they have built in wifi and especially if they are the wifi/Ethernet/VOIP models. Suck!.
I own my Arris DOCSIS modem outright.

#3: Not much you can do with round trip latency. My ISP gives me a 100 Mbps and a speedtest shows consistent 90-110 Mbps. I don't really need the 1000 Mbps package. OpenVPN and ExpressVPN on my router shows anywhere between 70-90 Mbps depending on where I "dump out". But reading a little on Wireguard and installing the Entware package on the Asus looks good. Minus side is the OpenVPN client lets me choose different config files in a jiffy. I might have to try it.

 

[ZetaMale]

#1: I'm not so sure you have even tried to use other images. I've heard your mention of T2MI and your hesitance to try other images. I even offered you my USB image to try. All setup and ready to go. But I assure you that I get Decades and H&I no problem on OpenATV6.3. Plus the image allows some things in addition to TNAP that are cool.

I forgot about your offer. I have too much on my plate! Who says retirement is boring? Anyway, only TNAP with no-T2MI was able to scan in both Decades & H&I East. I have 3 other images that don't have that option and I can only get one or the other but not both.

#2: If the OP has a cellular based system there surely isn't much you can do but get wifi or Ethernet a-la carte.
My previous company provided me a Jetpack ready to go as we had mission critical data that needed to be available without fail. And the ISP was prone to go down like a prom dress at the worst times. There were a few end user things that could be accessed in its webif.....but not much. And yes. Some ISP owned routers suck. Zyxel and others rot if they have built in wifi and especially if they are the wifi/Ethernet/VOIP models. Suck!.
I own my Arris DOCSIS modem outright.

I run a R7800 router with dd-wrt firmware. My network has 5 R7800 routers connected to each other using WDS. Sure is great having this setup so I don't have to run wires all over the house. I can't say I haven't had issues with that custom firmware but it gives me a lot more options than the vendor firmware.

#3: Not much you can do with round trip latency. My ISP gives me a 100 Mbps and a speedtest shows consistent 90-110 Mbps. I don't really need the 1000 Mbps package. OpenVPN and ExpressVPN on my router shows anywhere between 70-90 Mbps depending on where I "dump out". But reading a little on Wireguard and installing the Entware package on the Asus looks good. Minus side is the OpenVPN client lets me choose different config files in a jiffy. I might have to try it.

 

[armadillo_115]

Just to clarify.
My Internet comes from a wireless broadcast tower on the mountain. Not cellular. Up to 10 Mbps Download/Up to 2 Mbps Upload Unlimited. (The only other option is a crappy DSL which I had previously) My ISP provides the wireless antenna on my roof and and the PoE device.

I DO own the router. (Tp-Link AC1750 Dual band/Gigabit Wireless) Even so, they only permit routers that they control to connect to their service. I don't like that, but it is what it is.

I've been meaning to add a wireless access point router here. Just haven't gotten 'round to it yet. I believe I can stumble my way through the process.

Spare tv or monitor isn't the problem. I just don't have space to set them up. We live in an A-frame chalet. Slanted roof for the wall. Den is only 9 ft wide at floor... 5ft wide at ceiling. I open up my recliner ... wife can barely walk by. My feet are less than 2 ft from the entertainment center on the 'far' wall. My 24" PC monitor is between me and anyone else sitting in the room. If I had space, I'd be running dual monitors all along. As my Pop used to say: "Ain't got room to cuss a cat without getting fur in my teeth." PMSL

 

[arlo]

Just to clarify.
My Internet comes from a wireless broadcast tower on the mountain. Not cellular. Up to 10 Mbps Download/Up to 2 Mbps Upload Unlimited. (The only other option is a crappy DSL which I had previously) My ISP provides the wireless antenna on my roof and and the PoE device.

I DO own the router. (Tp-Link AC1750 Dual band/Gigabit Wireless) Even so, they only permit routers that they control to connect to their service. I don't like that, but it is what it is.

I've been meaning to add a wireless access point router here. Just haven't gotten 'round to it yet. I believe I can stumble my way through the process.

Spare tv or monitor isn't the problem. I just don't have space to set them up. We live in an A-frame chalet. Slanted roof for the wall. Den is only 9 ft wide at floor... 5ft wide at ceiling. I open up my recliner ... wife can barely walk by. My feet are less than 2 ft from the entertainment center on the 'far' wall. My 24" PC monitor is between me and anyone else sitting in the room. If I had space, I'd be running dual monitors all along. As my Pop used to say: "Ain't got room to cuss a cat without getting fur in my teeth." PMSL

Holy you-know-what 10 megabit? I wouldn't even be concerned with doing any streaming on the receiver then personally. Who is the provider and what ballpark money do you spend a month for their service? Better get on the Starlink bandwagon. I just got my invite but at $99 a month it's a bit steep compared to my 100 megabit cable ISP which is $52. I believe ANY VPN will bog you down further.
But. How is your cell signal? In the best area of your home where you get the best signal?
Off topic I know but have you pondered a mobile hotspot instead of the tower ISP?
10 megabit versus 40-50 depending on the cost seems like a better deal to me. Many people out here in the sticks use them and say they are very happy. Some even use their phones for hotspots.
Of course there are also HDMI auto switches that make life with a single monitor/single HDMI input much easier too.

 

[ZetaMale]

Holy you-know-what 10 megabit? I wouldn't even be concerned with doing any streaming on the receiver then personally. Who is the provider and what ballpark money do you spend a month for their service? Better get on the Starlink bandwagon. I just got my invite but at $99 a month it's a bit steep compared to my 100 megabit cable ISP which is $52. I believe ANY VPN will bog you down further.
But. How is your cell signal? In the best area of your home where you get the best signal?
Off topic I know but have you pondered a mobile hotspot instead of the tower ISP?
10 megabit versus 40-50 depending on the cost seems like a better deal to me. Many people out here in the sticks use them and say they are very happy. Some even use their phones for hotspots.
Of course there are also HDMI auto switches that make life with a single monitor/single HDMI input much easier too.

I get a better deal with my ISP also. A much better deal. 500Mb/500Mb for $60/month. I could get 1Gb service for $90/month. But not everyone lives where they can get good and cheap service. If Starlink becomes a better and cheaper service than what I'm getting now then I would consider jumping ship. But, I still wouldn't use an IP phone with Starlink regardless of it using LEO satellites.