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Archive for the ‘FTA Receiver Reviews’ Category
Monday, March 16th, 2009
The KBOX K1 Plus Edition
by Sammy Satellite. – Staff Writer for n2news
With a less than great entry on their first attempt, the KBOX Team from Seoul, South Korea updated their K1 product line with the K1 HEROS Plus Edition. The marketing material boasts the promising slogan, “Faster. Stronger. Better.” With new features such as a USB 2.0 high speed engine, network features, and awesome picture quality. The new system keeps the dated-looking external case of previous K1 units, however, the internal menu system has been completely redesigned. On paper, everything done here sounds great but the receiver falls short of success and earns Sammy’s lowest rating so far. Remember folks, these are just my opinions so do your own research.
The KBox K1 comes with a unique feature called the Weather Hub. When connected to the internet this module allows you to view the weather forecast. This is one of the best features of the K1 and does a great job, although my living room window also tells me the weather and I don’t have to turn on the TV First. Other than the Weather Hub, the K1 STB comes with the standards such an RS-232 Cable and a remote and this should have been my first clue. The RS-232 cable was so short I tossed it because I don’t actually have a way to balance my laptop on top of my audio visual gear.
On the positive side, the unit does offer a really nice picture. The video quality was above average. It has a nice MP3 player has well. Setup took only about 10 minutes and the IKS feature worked very well. The was actually very simple. Once setup, however, the unit starts to show signs of weakness. The main menu is simple, possibly too simple. In an effort to make the K1 Plus “idiot proof” they have taken away some of the more advanced options I love in other receivers. Parental control is weak as is control over satellite specifics and channel specifics. The EPG is short on data, slow to move around in, and really doesn’t manage on-screen space very well. There are also a host of nice features missing like browse by themes, wish lists and other things that are common in receivers at this price range.
What you pay for: Very high picture quality. If you can tolerate the sub-standard features in other areas, the picture quality is actually very good in a very noticeable way. The setup and scanning was very fast. Scanning was on par with the fastest receivers around. Built-in system recovery and a USB Port with MP3 Player was also a nice touch although I have much nicer and more flexible ways to play music.
What you don’t get: The Picture in Picture feature constantly causes problems. Upgrading the bin was not as simple as the other features. Terrible EPG with no search functions and many other nice touches are missing. The EPG only shows about 1 day. The manual claims other features such as a calendar that I couldn’t figure out how to access and getting support proved 100% impossible.
I put my KBOX K1 HEROS Plus Edition back in the back and stamped it Return to Sender. Maybe the K2 due out in the summer will work out better.
Some specs from the manufacturer
* Main Processor: Conexant Virgo (32-bit RISC CPU 180 MIPS)
* Memory: 2 MB Flash ROM, 32 MB SDRAM
* Extended 9day EPG
* USB 2.0 Host Support(MP3 Player & JPEG Viewer)
* MPEGII Digital & Fully DVB Compliant
* Blind Scan
* MultiLNB Controlled by DiSEqC Control Version 1.0, 1.2 and USALS
* MultiSatellite Search
* OnScreen Display with 65535 Color Full Resolution
* Favorite Channel Groups
* Powerful Channel Control by Favorites, Lock, Skip, Move and Delete
* Channel Sorting by Alphabet, Transponder and CAS
* Multilanguage Supported (OSD & Menu)
* Closed Caption Support
* Maximum 10,000 channels Programmable
* Multipicture Display
* Parental Lock / Receiver Lock
* CVBS Video & Audio Output via RCA
* Component Y/Pb/Pr Output via RCA
* SVHS Video Output
* Optical & Coaxial Output for Digital Audio
* Software & Channel Data Upgrade via RS232 & USB
* Universal Remote Control
* Made in Korea
* 1 Year No-Hassle Warranty
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Tags: free to air, fta, k1 plus, kbox, receiver
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Thursday, January 8th, 2009
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The Official N2News Conaxsat Nano Review
“It’s all about the file dates” is the first thing that I heard from a sales person at Conaxsat. When I took a look for myself, I found something interesting I thought I would share with my readers. The Conaxsat receivers have a track record of impressively long stretches of uptime and are always in the front of the pack when it comes to new bin files. For TV lovers there is little else that matters sometimes, but the Nano also has an impressive list of features.
First, the Nano shares the same code system as the rest of the Conaxsat products. This means that the coders have less work to do and get patches out quicker. Updates are easily done through a usb key system.
The CNX Nano, along with all CNX receivers are priced around the same as similar receivers with similar features. The PVR function is basic but workable. If you are a heavy PVR user you’ll certainly want to avoid the Nano product as the pvr is really as basic as it gets.
The Nano excels in two areas when compared to other receivers. First is the video decoding chip. The picture produced from the system is clearly better than other units. It’s hard to put your finger on it exactly but when you see the picture, it just looks better. The receiver also has a blinding blind search function that can scan an entire satellite in about 2 minutes.
Warranty and support seem to be pretty good as well. Tech support in the US was difficult to reach but the Canadian contacts make up for that. The Conasat Nano looks like your average set top box although it does have a lot of lights which Sammy finds annoying but it won’t both most people.
People in know claim to have a plan for the N3 card swap currently underway if this affects your buying decision. Like the other teams, their plan isn’t well known or tested yet.
For the price, around $130 USD street, the receiver may be worth looking at if you don’t like the idea of using an IKS receiver.
Features from the manufacturer:
- Upgrade Software & Update Channel Database through USB Port and RS232
- MPEG-II Digital & Fully DVB Compliant.
- C/KU band control for each antenna
- LNB Tone Switch 22KHz mode on/off’
- Multi-LNB controlled by DiSeqC =>DiSEqC 1.0, 1.2 and USALS
- Total 5,000 Channels Programmable
- Blind Scan
- Smart Card Reader(Optional)
- Picture In Graphic (PIG)
- Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for On Screen Channel Information
- Multi-language supported for Menu and OSD
- Zoom Function by 2x..4x
- Parental Lock
- Closed Caption Support
- Dolby Digital Bitstream Out through S/PDIF
- CVBS Video & Audio Output via RCA
- Component Y/Pb/Pr Output via RCA
- S-Video Output
- MP3/JPEG File Play via USB Port
- 7-Segment(4-digit) Type of Front Panel Display
- SMART CARD(Optional) 1 Slot: ISO 7816, GSM11.11 and EMV (payment systems) compatibility
Tuner & Channel
- Type 1 × F Type, IEC169-24, Female
- Frequency Range 950MHz to 2150MHz
- RF Impedance 75 Ohm unbanlanced
- Signal Level -65 to -25 dBm
- LNB Power 13.5/18.5Vdc +/- 5%, 0.5Amax, Overload Protected
- 22KHz Tone Frequency : 22KHz +/- 2KHz, 0.6Vpp +/- 0.2V
- DiSEqC Control Version1.0, 1.2, Tone burst A/B
- Demodulation QPSK
- Input Symbol Rate 2~45 Ms/s, SCPC/MCPC
- FEC Decoder Convolution Code Rate 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 With Constraint Length K = 7
System & Memory
- Main Processor 32-bit ARM946 RISC Processor
- Flash Memory 2 Mbytes
- System Memory 32 Mbytes
- Channel Capacity Digital Channel: 5,000
- Front 7-segment Display (4 digit)
MPEG Transport Stream & A/V Decoding
- Transport Stream MPEG-2 ISO/IEC 13818 Transport Stream Specification
- Profile Level MPEG-2 MP@ML
- Input Rate Max. 90Mbit/s
- Aspect Ratio 4:3, 16:9, Letter Box
- Frame Rate 25Hz for PAL, 30Hz for NTSC
- Video Resolution 720×576(PAL), 720×480(NTSC)
- Teletext Through VBI
- Audio Decoding MPEG/MusiCam Layer I & II
- Audio Mode Single Channel/Dual Channel Joint Stereo/Stereo
- Frequency Response 20~20kHz, <+/-2dB; 60Hz ~ 18kHz <+/- 0.5dB
- Sampling Rate 32, 44.1, 48KHz
A/V & Date In/Out
- RCA Output CVBS, L, R Output(Yellow, White, Red Jack) with Volume Control
- Component Video(YPbPr) Out
- S-VHS Output 4 Pin Mini
- SPDIF Dolby Digital Bitstream Out(Coaxal, Optical)
- Data Interface - RS-232, Bit Rate: 115,200baud
- Connector: 9-pin D-sub Male type
- USB: Type A Connector
RF Modulator
- RF-Connector 75 ohm F-Type
- Frequency Range VHF CH3, CH4
- TV Standard NTSC
- Audio Output Mono with Volume Control
Power Supply
- Input Voltage AC 90V ~ 250V, 50Hz ~ 60Hz
- Power Consumption Max 30W
- Standby Power Consumption <= 10W
- Protection Separate Internal Fuse
Physical Specification
- Size(WxHxD) 260mm x 50mm x205mm
- Weight 1.4 KG
Environmental Condition
- Operating Temperature 0 °C ~ 40 °C
- Storage Temperature -10 °C ~ 50 °C
- Operating Humidity Range 10~85% RH, Non-condensing
- Storage Humidity Range 5~90% RH, Non-condensing
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Tags: conaxsat, free to air, FTA Receiver, nano, receiver
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Thursday, December 11th, 2008
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CaptiveWorks CW-4000HD
by Sammy Satellite. – Staff Writer for n2news
The CW-4000HD from CaptiveWorks Inc is touted as a new high end Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) receiver with premium features. Read my review and see what you think. This system, unlike most, runs Linux and offers a wide range of features beyond the normal FTA functions found in this price range. The startup tells you that you’re in for something totally new with its slick interface rich with graphics and add-ons. For example, the startup screen keeps you constantly updated with your local weather conditions displayed subtly off to the side of the screen. Before getting into the review, let’s look at the standard features:
CW 4000HD The CW-4000HD is a available in a black finish with high-gloss front panel and silver highlighting.
Dimensions:
- Width: 367 mm (14.45 in)
- Height: 99 mm ( 3.89 in)
- Depth: 350 mm (13.78 in)
Hardware:
- Processor: AMD 4600 X2 Processor
- Memory: 512MB DDRII RAM Expandable to 8GB
- Flash Drive: 1GB Fast System Flash
- Hard Drive: Not Included
- Video: Nvidia GeForce 7050
- Satellite Tuner: Genpix Skywalker-CW3K (internal)
- Input terminal: F-type 75 Ohm
- Receiving frequency: 950~2150 MHz tuning range
- Input level: -65~-25dBm
- Support MCPC and SCPC
- Symbol rate: 256Ksps~30 Msps
- FEC Codes: 1/2,2/3,3/4,5/6,7/8 and Auto
- QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM
- LNB/switch control: 13/18V (or 14/19V), 22khz, Tone Burst, DiSEqC 1.0/1.2, Legacy switch commands, 450 mA
- ATSC Tuner: (optional)
- Latest LG 5th generation tuner for enhanced reception.
- Supports QAM 64 and QAM 256 Cable signals.
- One TV antenna 75 ohm reception port.
- One stereo connection jack to sound card for analog TV.
- Video Output: HDMI/SVGA/Component/S-Video
- Audio Ouput: Analog and SPDIF Dolby Digital Audio output
- USB Ports: 4 USB v2.0 ports on back panel and 2 USB v2.0 ports on front panel.
- Ethernet Port: RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbits compatible.
- DVDRW: Read/Write DVDs and CDs.
Software:
- Open Source and available for download online
- Linux Operating System - Version 2.6 Kernel
- Powerful X Windows Environment
- Java 1.42 Graphical User Interface
- Software Upgradeable Via Internet and/or USB Storage Device
- Windows file sharing
- Firefox browser with support for popular plugins including Flash
Multimedia Software:
- DVB-S Free To Air Using Open Source Video Disk Recorder (VDR)
- ATSC Reception Using Open Source Video Disk Recorder (VDR)
- EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Support - Stored on Hard Drive
- Automatic Channel Scanning
- Comprehensive DVR Functionality
- Pause Live TV With Full Fast-Forward and Rewind Capability
- Timer Recording Through Program Guide
- Automatic Timer Recording For Series and Daily/Weekly Programs
- Grid And List Style Electronic Program Guides Stored on Hard Drive
- Updates Download via the Internet
- Internet TV (IP TV) Streaming Video Player (*)
- Peer To Peer TV (P2P TV) Streaming Video Player (*)
- Customizable User Interface via Themes
- Video Player For popular video formats.
- Music Player For popular audio formats including MP3 and WMA.
- DVD Player/Writer
- CD Player/Writer
You’ll notice right away that this is actually a computer running specialize FTA software and it includes a wide range of software such a the Firefox web browser complete with Flash Player. Forgetting about FTA for a moment, the receiver is capable of a huge range of well thought out entertainment options.
The good: The CW-4000HD is built on the success of the 3000 series that has done very well. The interface is top notch as is the list of included software. Includes a full DVR allowing you to pause live TV as well as multiple ways to view the Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). An additional module provides support for encoding formats used on some satellite systems.
The bad: The boot time is very slow. Support and updates are not as fast as some receivers and the unit is a bit bulkier.
The ugly: This system is built on Linux and offers a huge range of features that are great for some but may be confusing if you have to explain them all to your parents. Requires internet access to be plugged into the unit although it can’t use IKS.
For about $500 you’re getting much more than an FTA receiver, you get a complete living room entertainment device. If you can get past the fact that the receiver and product line is so new that few people have and support it then you may find a great deal here.
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Tags: 4000, captive, captiveworks, cw, cw-4000, fta, hd, receiver, works
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Thursday, December 11th, 2008
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The NFusion Nova Review
by Sammy Satellite. – Staff Writer for n2news
| Complete feature list:
• MPEG-2 Digital and Full DVB
• Ethernet Port For Self-Updating via Internet ( full wireless support optional equipment required) connects to your home network for PVR capability
• Ultra-Fast Advanced EPG
• Simple Satellite Scan
• Fast Multi-Satellite Search
• Blind Search (Power Scan)
• Extended EPG and Program Reservation through EPG (Timer function)
• Tele-text Support (OSD and VBI Insertion)
• Channel Sorting by Alphabet, Transponder and CAS
• Channel Control by Delete, Skip, Lock, Move and Favorites.
• Last Channel Memory Function
• Total 4,000 Channels (+/-)
• TP CH auto update
• Xcrypt software support
• RGB Component Video Output
• RCA Composite Video Output
• S-Video Output
• SPDIF Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• DiseqC Control Version 1.0, 1.2 and USALS
• Powerful Channel Control by Favorites, Loc, Skip, Move and Channel Sorting by Alphabet, Transponder
• 10 Languages (OSG and Menu): English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Turkish, Arabic, Parsi
• Plasma Friendly ( No Burn to Plasma TVs)
• Parental Lock/ Installation Lock/ Receiver Lock
• Zoom-In Function LNB/TUNER |
If we judge this book by its cover it would be terribly unfair. The nFusion isn’t the best looking unit available and menu system reflects that. The design inside and out is very simple but that simple design hides an amazing little FTA receiver.
To be fair, I’ll disclose that Sammy knows and guy that knows a guy who has an nFusion Nova and loves it more than his other receivers for one very simple reason. When you turn on your TV and sit down to watch you always have a working picture. An innovative system called IKS (Internet Key Sharing) automatically polls a mystery system someplace on the world wide web to keep itself running without any interaction. There has been virtually no downtime with this system.
Another common problem with FTA receivers is the EPG guide and missing information. Pressing the blue button on the Nova remote quickly updates the EPG and does an excellent job quickly filling the guide with full show details on every station. The EPG on the nova is fast and effective. It allows multiple ways to access show data that work well for a channel surfer.
The Nova has the ability to record shows on your computer if you run a small program available free on that computer. Getting this setup took a little work the first time and it’s not as convenient as a massive drive attached to the PVR directly but it does have some advantages.
The good: Turn on, watch TV. It’s really that simple. You will almost never need to reboot or manually load anything into the system. The blind scan is very fast and does a good job getting stations in the order you expect. The EPG is a shining star and the automatic updates are revolutionary.
The bad: The guide doesn’t always update by itself. Sometimes you need to press an extra button to repopulate the data. PVR setup was overly complicated compared to some other brands and is really an afterthought. The remote sucks, get a nice universal remote instead. You may have to access your wireless router or cable modem router to allow the device access to the network.
The ugly: The blind scan doesn’t seem to pick up every available channel. Many users have reported missing channels in the upper range although there is nothing officially wrong. If you want an inexpensive receiver you can leave at your folks house that just works, get yourself a Nova nFusion. If you need strong PVR features you will be disappointed.
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Tags: free to air, fta, nfusion, nfusion nova, receiver
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Saturday, December 6th, 2008
| The Sonicview 360
by Sammy Satellite. – Staff Writer for n2news
Here’s a great review of one of the receivers on the market gaining popularity the fastest. The brand new release from Sonicview, the 360 Elite and Premier.
Complete feature list:
 Sonicview FTA Receivers * Fully MPEG-2 & DVB-S Supported
* Blind Scan Supported
* 2 USB 2.0 Ports for External HDD and USB Memory Stick
* S/PDIF for Digital Audio / Dolby AC-3 Bitstream Output
* RCA and Components Outputs : Y, Pb, Pr
* S-Video Output
* USAL Supported
* 16 Bit (65,536) Colors & User Friendly GUI for Easy Control
* Fast Booting and Scan Speed
* Signal & Multi-Satellite Auto Scan
* Manual Scan Supported
* High Speed Channel Changing Time
* 6,000 Channel Memory Capacity for TV and Radio Programs
* 8 Programmable Favorite Channel List Groups
* Channel Sorting by FTA, CAS, Satellite, Alphabetical and Network
* Picture in Graphic Available
* Software Downloading with Serial Port and or USB 2.0 Port
* Zoom In / Out function for TV
* Various Aspect Ratio with 4:3, Letter Box, Full Screen & 16:9
* Background Graphic Display for Radio Program Channels
* Parental Lock Function Using Master PIN Code
* 20 Step Volume Control
* Useful Remote Key Functions
* Record, Playback and Time Shift Supported Using External HDD
* Powerful Trick Mode Supported Using External HDD
* Music and Photo File Supported
 This is the Sonicview SV-360 Elite The Sonicview 360 Premier is an excellent receiver that is widely available around $130.00 making it the top receiver in the budget or entry level category.
The Sonicview 360 comes in three models and each includes the basic A/V cables, serial cable, diseqcs, and a remote. The back contains a simple but sufficient set of connectors to hookup your TV and glossy glass front will look great in your living room.
The Premier edition is a single tuner basic system and should be passed in favor of the Elite edition. For a few dollars more you get a second tuner pvr system that is hard to beat. The dual tuner system will allow you to watch one show and record another or use Picture in Picture to watch both.
The EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) looks very nice but displays only 3 hours of information for 7 channels at a time. If you like to surf around you may not be happy with the guide.
The PVR is very basic. If you’re a Tivo® fan you may be disappointed. Sammy found the video to be a bit jerky during playback, especially from a cheaper drive.
The Good: Slick looks and classy style. Simple menu system. Very well supported by Team Sonicview (possibly the best supported unit around). PVR features. Dual Tuner PVR for under $200. Three USB ports allow a lot of external storage and room to upgrade. A nice “Theme” based list of what is on TV.
The Bad: The remote is low end and should be replaced with a nicer universal remote such as the Unifier or Harmony. There is no automated setup wizard so you’ll have to read online guides unless you are a little more experienced. The satellite scan is very slow. PVR video playback could be improved.
The Ugly: There really isn’t anything really bad you can say about a dual tuner PVR from one of the best FTA companies out there. The Sonicview 360 Elite is a great deal for the money. If you’re looking for an HD unit, skip the 360 and go for the SV-HD8000 instead. |
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