IceBox Setup & User Guide

 

This guide will take you through connecting the IceBox and setting it up.

Table of Contents

  1. Plugging it all in
  2. The IceBox Remote Control
  3. The IceBox Setup
  4. Additional Setup Steps
    1. Set correct timezone
    2. KODI Main Screen Customisation
  5. Using the TV Section of the IceBox
    1. Channels
    2. Guide
    3. Timers
    4. Search
    5. Recording Preferences
  6. Home TV Settings
  7. TV Settings on the IceBox
  8. Using the IceBox
    1. Setting Recordings
    2. View Recordings
    3. Sort Recordings
    4. Delete Recording
    5. Skip Adverts on Replay
    6. Screen Saver
    7. Power Saving
  9. Software Updates
  10. Technical Questions and Nerdy Stuff
  11. Teach yourself

Plugging it all in

Set Up:

First base: unpack (note the thin protective film on the top of the IceBox), find remote wifi dongle in battery compartment of remote control, fit supplied batteries, fit remote control wifi usb dongle into either of the two USB ports on side of IceBox.

 

For two tuners (one dual USB tuner)

Plug the short USB cable into the tuner and into either of two rear IceBox USB ports.  Connect a HDMI cable to one of the two rear ports on the IceBox and TV.  Plug home antenna cable into tuner.

 

For four tuners (two x dual USB tuners)

For splitter if supplied and see helpful images below:

Fit four splitter "F type" to "PAL" adapters to splitter side-by-side outputs using male to male adaptors for "OUT1" and "OUT2" and male to female for "IN" and "OUT1". Adaptors only need to be finger tight.

Fit tuners into male connectors on splitter, short USB cables into tuners, USB cables into miniPC rear USB ports.

Fit home antenna cable in to the splitter "IN" adaptor, if needed plug TV antenna cable into splitter "OUT3" adaptor.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If your home ever has a power cut your IceBox will stop.  To enable the IceBox to automatically restart when power is restored so it can continue recording as needed we have changed its internal software.

To manually shut the system down either briefly press the power button on the front of the IceBox or the on/off button on the remote control.  This will bring up a menu on the TV screen to "Power off system".  Choose that function and it will shut down and its small light on the front will go off.
To restart the IceBox after a full "Power Off" press the IceBox "On" button for about 4-5 seconds, its small light will come on and the TV screen will display its start up.

The short press of the remote or IceBox Off/On buttons also show a "Reboot" option which takes the IceBox through its off and startup process without any intervention if needs a recycle to fully install new software update or it has become unstable for any reason.

"Custom Shutdown Timer" turns off the IceBox after a preset period.

To fully turn off the IceBox simply pull out its power pin or, better still, switch off its power supply at source.

 

Splitter and adaptors for standard antenna cable

Splitter_%2B_Adaptors.png

 

F-Type._-PAL_cropped.png

 

Assembled.png

 

Tuner

Annotated_Tuner.png

 

Assembled_inc_cables.png

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The IceBox Remote Control

 

The Remote Control

Remote_Annotated.png

Remote_Skip_Buttons.png

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The IceBox Setup

IceTV Setup Wizard

NOTE - For all on/off sliders within the IceBox, the "ON" is the white dot and the "OFF" is the grey dot.

When the IceBox is first switched on the IceTV Wizard will run, bringing up the following screens one-by-one:

English (Australian) is the default.

Wizard_Welcome.png

Next you can name the IceBox but that is the default and we advise leaving it as it is.

Wizard_Welcome_IceBox_name.png

Choose your WiFi or Wired Internet connection by the up arrow.

Then press "OK".

Wizard_Internet_Connection_Choices.png

Choose "Connect".

Wizard_Internet_Connect_choice.png

For WiFi enter your Modem password.

Wizard_wifi_password.png

 

IMPORTANT: if you are using a wireless network, please double check that the connection is established and is showing an IP Address before continuing through the setup wizard.

 

For sharing leave these defaults.  SMB enables the IceBox to be found by home networked computers.

Wizard_SSH_SMB.png

 

The Wizard then moves to set up your IceTV account.  Please note there will be a short delay of approximately 30 seconds while the IceBox configures this feature.

 

Please do NOT click with the remote until the IceTV Setup menu appears as when it has it will activate the "OK" button and take you on to entering your email and IceTV password.  Doing so beforehand will skip this setup and so you will not log in to IceTV.

 

Wizard_30_secs_Welcome_to_IceBox.png

Wizard_IceTV_Setup_Banner.png

 

Enter your IceTV email address.  If a new user you will be asked for your region too.

Wizaard_IceTV_Email.png

 

Enter your IceTV password.

Wizard_IceTV_password.png

 

Channel Scanning will now begin.  The channels will be mapped to match your IceTV Guide Settings if you are already an IceTV user.  If a new user your channels will match your region's broadcasts, but we do not include "shopping channels" or "horse racing channels".  The broadcast channels can be found by logging into your IceTV account on our website and going to "My Account" - "Guide Settings".

Wizard_IceTV_Channel_Scan_cont.png

 

Wizard_IceTV_Channel_Mapping.png

 

Wizard_Download_IceTV_Guide_data.png

 

Once the setup is finished the IceBox will return to its home screen as shown below.

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Additional Setup Steps

Set correct timezone

The default is Sydney

On the Kodi main screen scroll up to the Kodi Settings "Cog"

Kodi_Settings_

 

Press "OK" on the remote and choose "Interface", press "OK".

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On the left menu scroll down to "Standard", press "OK" on the remote and it will change to "Advanced"

Standard.png

 

"OK"

Advamced.png

 

Scroll back up to "Regional" and the language, time zones and date, month, year and 12/24 hour clock etc options will appear on the right.  Choose your Australian time zone which will be a default to Sydney.  Some options such as date or time format have various choice which will pop up when they are selected  and "OK" pressed and will become the display on the TV screen once they are chosen and "OK" is pressed.

Timezone_etc.png

 

Press the "Back" arrow to return to the Kodi Main Screen

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KODI Main Screen Customisation

"TV" is the one used by IceTV and will always return to it once chosen.

Note that unused menu items can be removed by right arrow to choose by "OK" on  "Remove this main menu item".  To later replace any of these menu items removed, go to Kodi Settings "Cog" - "Interface" - "Skin" -  "Configure skin" then back to Main Menu Items.

 

Main_Kodi_Screen.png

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Using the TV Section of the IceBox

Channels

Kodi - Down to “TV” then “Channels”. A list of all scanned in channels will be present.  These channels will match the channels you had activated in your IceTV account - "Guide Setting".

Left arrow for “Options”. Various options are present which are shortcuts to various choices as listed below. Simply needs exploring.

Kodi_-_TV.png

 

Channels.png

 

Guide

Kodi - Down to “TV” then “Guide”.

Guide.png

 

Scrolling up through the Guide to the top row enables the guide to be sorted to view just one Network group.  "TV Channels" are your complete IceTV - "Guide Settings" ones.

Guide_Network_Selection.png

 

To sort the guide channels into alphabetical order press the left scroll button of the remote until the EPG runs all the way back to its beginning at which point a sort menu will appear so you can sort by name etc.

screenshot00001.png

 

Timers

Kodi - Down to “TV and across to “Timers”.

“Timers” lists all upcoming recordings and enables options such as varying padding time for a specific airing (good for tennis that may run very late!!).

Timers.png

 

IceBox_Add_Timers.png

 

To sort timers see the bottom left "left arrow/half cog" icon beside "Options". The left arrow means press the left button and the half cog means a setup menu. Press the left scroll button of the remote and a sort menu will appear the same at the one for the guide enabling the timers to be displayed in the order you choose.  That option is available for "Channels" too.

 

Search

Kodi - Down to “TV”, across to “Search”.

Search.png

 

Search_String.png

 

Search_Result.png

 

Recording Preferences

 All recordings set by the IceTV app or website currently have a padding default of -3 and +30.  This will be able to be adjusted in a software update due soon. On the IceBox Guide the following padding can applied as you choose.

Kodi System “Cog” then across to PVRs & LiveTV.

Kodi_

 

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Down left menu to “Recordings”, See “Default start and end padding time”.

NOTE - the bottom left menu needs to be set to "Advanced" or "Expert" for these settings:

Padding_Settings.png

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Home TV Settings

Firstly disable any setting on your TV, usually under "Picture" or similar, that says:

  • Frame interpolation
  • Video interpolation
  • Motion smoothing
  • Motion plus
  • Smooth motion
  • Enhanced motion
  • TruMotion (LG)
  • Auto Motion Plus (Samsung)
  • Motionflow (Sony)

These are settings to interpolate between frames to give a fake representation of a true smooth image and can cause judder/jitter in replay.  Your TV may allow the "feature" to be disabled on the specific HDMI port used by your IceBox or it may simply be across all inputs.  Either way it is commonly considered to be a nuisance (a Google search will answer any questions).

When the TV setting is disabled switch the TV off, wait a few seconds then on again.

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TV Settings on the IceBox

NOTE:  The IceTV Setup Wizard will set all these for you however occasionally the TV interaction with the IceBox via the HDMI cable can change them so in case they are needed for reference:

 

Kodi "Cog", then "System", then down that menu and set user to "Expert", then  "Display" and choose "Resolution" = 1920 x 1080p and "Refresh Rate" = 50.00.

Note: If a 4K TV is used and the IceBox is rebooted for any reason these settings should be rechecked as the TV connection can change them. If so set them back to as above.

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System_-_Display.png

 

System_-_Settings_-_Refresh_Rate.png

 

In "System" go down one to Audio.

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In "Audio" press "OK and you should see your TV listed, choose it for the audio output.  It will be confirmed if you can hear the "click" from your remote.  If your TV is not listed work through the choices until you hear the "click".

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Kodi "Cog, " then "Player".

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 "Videos, then set "Adjust display refresh" rate to "Always".

Videos.png

 

Finally down to "Processing" at the bottom of the Video main screen and check "Use MPEG-2 VAAI" which should be set it to "On".  This improves the picture quality for SD channel recording.

Use_MPEG-2_VAAPI.png

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Using the IceBox

Setting Recordings

Recordings can be set by either the IceTV app, website or on the IceBox Guide itself. Recordings set but not yet recording will show as a "tick" in the lower left corner of the Guide (EPG) or in the "Timer" list.  Recordings currently recording show as a red dot.

NOTE: Recordings set on the IceBox Guide itself do not yet synchronise with IceTV so will not show up on your IceTV account website or app. They will show on the IceBox Guide or Timer list as described above.

Set_Recordings.png

 

View Recordings

Kodi - Down to “TV”, across, choose “Recordings”.
A list of your current and completed recordings are listed here.
SHORTCUT - press the “IceTV" logo on the remote to go straight to the list.

Recording_Icon.png

 

To play recording - choose from the list which will be a folder with number of episodes if a series is present. Press "OK". Press “Pause/Start” and "Stop” as usual.

 

Recording_List.png

 

Sort Recordings

Note the symbol above at the bottom left - "Options" - "Half a cog" and "Half a left arrow" combined.  This means press the left arrow on the remote and the sort choices will appear.  The same method applies to "Channels" and "Timers".  For the EPG press the left arrow until the EPG scrolls to its end when the sort choices will appear.

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Delete Recording

Highlight the choice and on the remote press Tiny_Menu_Button.png , scroll to "Delete", (plus other choices will pop up).

Delete.png

 

Skip Adverts on Replay

Kodi System “Cog” - choose “Player”.

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 Choose "Videos".

Videos.png

 

 Choose “Skip Steps" which can be +/- 10sec, 30sec, 60sec, 3min, 10min, 30min.

Blue is “On”, white is “Off”. Choose the list and it will appear vertically, then by scrolling the list one can choose which to remove by pressing “OK” for off or on.

Skip_Steps.png

 

Skip Delay is the time period between each right (forward) or left (back) arrow press.

For example a single press on the right arrow gives a 10 second skip, two quick presses give a 30 second skip, three quick presses give 60 seconds and so on.  On the example shown above 30 seconds and 60 seconds have been disabled hence are in "white", so one press for 10 seconds, two quick ones for 3 minutes. The same applies going backward with the left arrow. The Skip Delay defines the "quickness" of the button presses.

Depends on your individual preference.

The up and down arrows give +10 or -10 minute skips.  These may be re-configured if possible to give an option of fast forward or back at later updates.

Skip_Delay.png

 

Screen Saver

This dims or blacks the TV screen to save any burn through.

Kodi setting "Cog" - choose "Interface".

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Choose "Screensaver".

Interface_-_Screensaver.png

 

"OK" to choose Screensaver mode".

Screensaver_Mode.png

 

"OK" and down to your choice".   Please NOTE "Get more" on the right.  Choose that and other screensaver options can be selected such as "Google Earth".

Screensaver_Mode_Choices.png

 

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Down to your "Wait Time" (when screensaver comes on) Then back arrow to get back to the main screen.

Wait_Time.png

 

Power Saving

Kodi "Cog", then "System" and down to "Power Saving".  Choose a suitable time to put the display to sleep when idle.

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Power_Saving.png 

Power_Saving_Setting.png

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Software Updates

Software updates happen automatically in the background.

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Technical Questions and Nerdy Stuff

Look around as there are many options and sometimes different ways in. See Kodi Settings “Cog” and look around - ie - Interface -choose different skins etc.

 

Unnecessary menu items can be removed by highlighting any one and the option appears in the centre of the TV screen.  NOTE - please don't delete "TV" as it is the menu for all IceTV services, recordings etc.

 

"TV Shows" and "Movies" are for content viewed via the IceBox, either imported or, to save hard drive space, via an external drive or NAS etc. including recordings exported from other home PVRs.

 

Please use our IceTV forum page for all technical questions that our experienced users can answer. 

https://forum.icetv.com.au/iceforum/

See "IceTV IceBox"

 

We will soon have a "wiki" as a compendium of all technical subjects and answers.

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Teach yourself

Use the Kodi Wiki -  https://kodi.wiki/view/Main_Page

Use the Kodi forum - https://forum.kodi.tv

Use the LibreELEC forum - https://forum.libreelec.tv

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Colin O'Brien -
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