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⚡ Quick Reference

Locked vs Unlocked Virtual Tuners

Quick reference guide to SATLINE.TV virtual tuner types with essential information, pricing, and key facts

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🔒 Locked Tuners 🔓 Unlocked Tuners 📊 Quick Comparison 🎯 Decision Guide
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Locked Tuners (Frequency-Locked)

Most Cost-Effective • Unlimited Sessions • Fixed Transponder

Price (1 tuner)
€28/month
Price (4 tuners)
€99/month
Price (8 tuners)
€139/month
Sessions
Unlimited

Frequency-locked virtual tuners stream a specific transponder frequency you select — and you can change that frequency yourself, anytime, from your client area — swap it to whatever feed you need, even a transponder for an upcoming live sports event, and request a new transponder if the one you want is not yet in the list. Perfect for IPTV operators with known channel requirements. Provides unlimited simultaneous sessions from the same transponder.

Key Benefits

  • Lowest cost: €28/month per transponder
  • Unlimited sessions per tuner
  • Full transponder bandwidth (20-75 Mbps)
  • All channels on transponder accessible
  • Perfect for multi-user scenarios
  • Billing discounts: -5% to -15%

Limitations

  • Cannot change frequency
  • Locked to 1 transponder only
  • Need new tuner for different frequency
  • Requires known channel list
💰 Pricing: €28/month (1) | €38/month (2) | €99/month (4) | €139/month (8) | Discounts: Quarterly -5% | Semi-Annual -10% | Annual -15%
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Unlocked Tuners (Satellite-Locked)

Maximum Flexibility • Full Satellite Access • Single Session

Price (1 position)
€38/month
Price (4 positions)
€139/month
Price (8 positions)
€219/month
Sessions
1 active

Satellite-locked virtual tuners provide access to an entire satellite orbital position (e.g., Astra 19.2°E) with dynamic frequency tuning. Access 1,500-4,000+ channels per satellite. Perfect for Enigma2 STBs and content discovery.

Key Benefits

  • Full satellite access (1,500-4,000+ channels)
  • Dynamic frequency tuning
  • Complete satellite scanning
  • Best channel-per-euro ratio
  • Perfect for Enigma2 STBs
  • Content discovery capability

Limitations

  • Single active session only
  • Higher cost: €38/month per position
  • Requires middleware for multi-user
  • Session exclusivity
💰 Pricing: €38/month (1) | €58/month (2) | €139/month (4) | €219/month (8) | Discounts: Quarterly -5% | Semi-Annual -10% | Annual -15%

📊 Quick Comparison Table

Feature Locked Tuner Unlocked Tuner
Price (1 tuner) €28/month €38/month
Price (4 tuners) €99/month €139/month
Price (8 tuners) €139/month €219/month
Frequency Access 1 transponder (fixed) Entire satellite (flexible)
Channel Access All channels on 1 transponder 1,500-4,000+ channels per satellite
Frequency Changes ❌ Not supported ✅ Dynamic tuning
Satellite Scanning ✅ Transponder only ✅ Full satellite
Best For IPTV operators, hotels, multi-user Enigma2 STBs, single-user, discovery
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Quick Decision Guide

Choose the Right Tuner Type for Your Needs

✅ Choose LOCKED if:

  • IPTV service with multiple subscribers
  • Known channel list and transponders
  • Need unlimited simultaneous sessions
  • Hotel or multi-user deployment
  • Want lowest cost per channel
  • Using middleware (Cesbo Astra, TVHeadend)

✅ Choose UNLOCKED if:

  • Enigma2 STB user (Vu+, Gigablue, Zgemma)
  • Need to scan entire satellites
  • Single user or small household
  • Content discovery and research
  • Want maximum channel variety
  • Testing before committing to transponders
💡 Hybrid Approach: Start with 1-2 unlocked tuners (€58-€75/month) to discover content, then provision locked tuners (€28-€139/month) for proven transponders. This optimizes costs while maintaining discovery capability.
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Real-World Cost Examples

Actual Pricing Scenarios

Small IPTV Operator (50 subscribers): 8 locked tuners = €139/month (Professional VPS). With annual discount: €118.15/month. Compare to €3,000+ hardware setup.
Personal Enigma2 User: 1 unlocked tuner = €38/month for 1,500-4,000+ channels. Compare to €700-€1,500 hardware setup or €30-€80/month cable TV.
Hotel (1000+ rooms): 10 locked tuners = €179/month (€99 base + €60 for 6 additional). With annual discount: €152.15/month. Compare to €50,000-€150,000 traditional setup.
💰 Hardware Alternative: €700-€1,750 upfront + maintenance vs €28-€219/month with zero upfront cost

About the author

Gleb Sazanov

Project Leader

Gleb Sazanov is an accomplished Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with over 20 years of experience in software development, system architecture, and cloud-based solutions. As the CTO of SATLINE, a leading provider of virtual and colocation services tailored to SATCOM businesses, Gleb drives the company’s technological strategy, fostering innovation and efficiency in data center services. His expertise spans various domains, including DevOps, system scaling, and high-performance infrastructure management. With a deep passion for cutting-edge technologies, Gleb plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the SATCOM industry.

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