Dreambox

The Dreambox is a series of DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) cable, satellite, and terrestrial digital television decoders (set-top box). The Dreambox series uses a Linux based firmware and is produced by Dream Multimedia, a German multimedia firm. Dreambox is most known for its Linux-based firmware, which is officially "user-upgradeable", and as such, the Dreambox is different from other DVB set-top boxes which utilize third-party "patching" of alternate receivers for the same purpose. Every Dreambox device supports Dream Multimedia's own DreamCrypt conditional access (CA) system and comes with software emulated CA Modules (CAMs) for many alternate CA systems. The Dreambox’s Linux-based firmware is the same that Kirch Media used in its DBox2, before it filed for bankruptcy. The Dreambox comes with a built-in Ethernet interface that allows networked computers to access the recordings, which the users can save on internal hard disks, which are found on some Dreambox models. Courtesy this built-in interface, Dreambox users can also use the receiver to broadcast digital copies of DVB transport streams as IPTV to Video LAN clients or store the streams on networked file systems. Dreambox’s built-in conditional access system allows users to receive and encrypt content, unlike many PC based PVR systems that use free-to-air type of DVB receiver cards, which do not come offer this ability. As Dreambox can use many third-party software and also offers network connectivity, thus facilitating card sharing, it is very popular among enthusiasts.

The different Dreambox models that Dream Multimedia has launched over the years includes DM 7000, DM 5600, DM 5620, DM 7020, DM 7025, DM 600 and DM 500, among others.