FAQ: FTA receivers to avoid buying - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Ladybearbc · 2011-08-02, 11:53 PM

We have a KBox (I know not recommended but DH thought he might consider the 'alternative option' - which I have since convinced him is not going to happen) - anyway - we have had it hooked up for just over two years.

Don't have a surround system or anything else that could get us audio on the AC3 stations. We now have something we can hook up (as soon as we get the right cable)

What my problem is - when I look at the list of stations on the PBS 125W that the fta fridge lists - it is MUCH longer than what we get

Does anyone know if the Kbox will get these new DVB S2 stations?
Even after scanning - no additional stations come in -any suggestions on how we can access the other PBS stations?

Thank you

DrSat · 2011-08-03, 10:00 AM

As a rule of thumb, only certain HD FTA receivers such as AzBox or Openbox support receiving DVB-S2 channels out of the box without any extra hardware required. Your KBox satellite receiver does not support tuning DVB-S2 nor can it be upgraded so you will need to get a new receiver in order to receive these DVB-S2 stations.

Generally, you can't upgrade FTA satellite receivers in order to add the ability to tune in DVB-S2 channels. However, Pansat HD receivers can actually be upgraded to receive DVB-S2 by adding a tuner module to it and is the only brand which you can do this with.

Ladybearbc · 2011-08-03, 02:41 PM

Thanks Dr Sat - that helps
To continue on - I was reading one of your other posts and a few of the others relating to Open Box. This is what you said would fit one of the other forum users.

Receiver (one of the following):
AzBox Elite HD (with ATSC module)
AzBox Premium HD (with ATSC module)
Pansat TC-1000HD (with DVB-S2 addon module)
Pansat 9200HD (with DVB-S2 addon module)

We have an HD Tv - and as I mentioned, up til now have not been able to get any of the AC3 audio stations.

So - if I get another receiver - which of these would still need additional connections for the AC3 (because I am not really sure if the ATSC is something I need to worry about)?

DrSat · 2011-08-04, 02:15 PM

ATSC is only if you want to receive your local OTA channels using your satellite receiver. Most TV that are 5 years old or less have an ATSC tuner built-in so the only purpose to have an ATSC tuner in your satellite receiver when using a newer TV is to record using the PVR function of the satellite receiver.

To receive AC3 audio, you can either connect an optical audio cable from your existing Kbox to an A/V receiver that can decode AC3 audio. If you don't have a home theatre A/V receiver and are only using your TV's speakers then you will need to get a device that can decode AC3 for you such as "Cyberhome sonic voom" headphones. You would then connect an optical audio cable from the Kbox to the unit and then use a 1/4 inch to RCA stereo plug to connect the unit to your TV.

Alternatively, you can simply buy a new HD FTA receiver which will be able to decode AC-3 audio internally without any additional devices required.

Ladybearbc · 2011-08-07, 01:18 AM

Thank you

It is looking like (although we now have the decoder box) it would be better to get a better receiver so we can pick up the originally targeted PBS stations on 125

However I was just reading another forum and the azbox seems to get quite hot. This would not work where we would have to set it

Dr sat I thought you mentioned the Openbox was unwieldy - so what would be our best bet?

Thank you

DrSat · 2011-08-07, 12:38 PM

Although the AzBox Elite tends to get hot because of the internal power supply, both the AzBox Ultra and the AzBox Premium Plus have external power supplies so heat is not an issue.

If heat is an issue, you can get always get one of those laptop coolers from most computer shops and put it underneath the receiver. This is a small mat with fans built in to cool down any device put on top. It is powered by USB with a pass through outlet so you can use the back USB port and it provides you with another outlet either in the front or back depending which way the mat is facing.

All Openbox and AzBox models will receive DVB-S2 and decode AC3 internally so any of these would meet your requirements to receive all PBS on 125W. The AzBox also supports 4.2.2 chroma which is used with some "wild feeds" and a few channels such as Azteca on Galaxy 25 (93W). They also include media center functionality which allows you to view youtube videos and play video and audio off your network.

Dr. Sat

cyberham · 2011-10-08, 04:42 PM

As a newbie, last summer I had a heck of a time trying to install a complete FTA system including this receiver. It really becomes a challenge when you don't know what you're doing plus you have a receiver that has faults. I experienced the "Update required" error despite trying various different firmware versions and consulting with Sonicview tech support. I tried to use USALS (whatever that is) and concluded my lack of knowledge was the problem. Maybe it was the receiver.

Can you give the top three models you would look at today if you were to buy a new receiver? How about the top two retail dealers in Canada you'd buy from?

PBC · 2011-10-17, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberham

As a newbie, last summer I had a heck of a time trying to install a complete FTA system including this receiver. It really becomes a challenge when you don't know what you're doing plus you have a receiver that has faults. I experienced the "Update required" error despite trying various different firmware versions and consulting with Sonicview tech support. I tried to use USALS (whatever that is) and concluded my lack of knowledge was the problem. Maybe it was the receiver.

Can you give the top three models you would look at today if you were to buy a new receiver? How about the top two retail dealers in Canada you'd buy from?

Newb on the FTA forum as well, but I'm fairly certain he may recco this site...

http://www.drsat.ca/

michelstlouis · 2011-10-18, 07:59 AM

Ok now we know witch one to avoid, thanks to DrSat. Now is there a post where there is suggestions on what to buy. I am interested on installing a system at the cottage and I am stating to look for a solution. thanks

Kraven · 2011-10-18, 09:19 AM

From what Ive read, it seems the popular models are the OPENBOX S9/S10s and the Azbox units (all available on our sponsor's site). The advantage of the Azbox is it can decode 4:2:2 scheme. Otherwise both brands are HD, PVR compatible and do *S2

Can't remember if its MT or BRN, but they like their Sonicview8000 but these are hard to find IMO.

At first I hated the S10, but it eventually grew on me.

Cheers, K

tdti1 · 2011-10-19, 05:55 PM

I have the Manhattan 1933 and it's a nice little receiver so far, they seem to have good support and have released a steady amount of updates, I have the 3.2 will update to the new 3.4 on the weekend.

The Pansat 9500 has servo control but I have not read many reviews on it, and my local dealer has a new receiver coming probably by Christmas time if thats the case I will be getting a new gift

HDTV Junkee · 2011-11-25, 09:49 AM

Great advice.

My suggestion is to throw all of those "not working" boxes away. Take them to the local re-cycling centre (electronics area) and start over.

Go to Dr. Sat's location and he will set you up.

With many local TV stations putting onto their websites TV show episodes and news and other sports (delayed by about 12 hours), there is lots to watch.

Best wishes for the holidays.

Tim Cake · 2011-11-25, 12:11 PM

As a note -- most if not all of the STBs used for satellite piracy are perfectly workable for legal free to air reception. All you need is a good quality linear LNB, a 39" elliptical dish and an horizon-to-horizon motor. I receive over 50 legal channels in the western part of the north American footprint, using a "junk STB" purchased on Kijiji.

DrSat · 2011-11-25, 02:11 PM

True, any FTA receiver previously used for satellite piracy can be used to receive FTA channels with some effort. However, as some of these receivers were strictly designed with satellite piracy in mind, they perform very poorly when used for FTA as the software developers of these units typically only test to make sure the receiver works on a non-motorized satellite piracy setup.

The intent of this thread is to inform members which receivers to avoid purchasing as they require significant effort to setup properly, especially on a motorized system due to outstanding defects in the software. Even experienced satellite installers such as us can take over 1 hour just to setup one of these receivers properly and even then, the user experience is not always very good.

Some of the user experience issues that we have seen that these receivers have include:

- Having to go in dish setup every time you want to switch to a different satellite.

- Significant delay when tuning in a different channel and/or satellite.

- "Update required" error message appears when receiver is used to tune in FTA channels forcing the user to reboot the receiver.

- Having to select a channel on an horizontal transponder when changing to a different satellite.

- "Please wait... moving dish" message even though the satellite dish is already done moving to the new satellite

- Inaccurate USALS positioning requiring some satellites to be manually programmed using DiSEqC 1.2

- Unable to easily add or modify existing satellites.

- Channel list corruption after using the receiver for a period of time requiring a factory reset and all channels rescanned. This is not really a big issue for receivers that allow the user to save a channel list backup on USB at it can easily be restored.

- Blindscan has poor performance or does not even work at all.

Regards,

DrSat

cyberham · 2011-12-01, 08:11 AM

"....Openbox and az boxes are pretty buggy and don't have good North American support, so mite as well support those who support us...."

Above comment from another board. Is the writer out-of-date with his information, basing the comment on older boxes?

2011-08-02, 11:53 PM	#16
Ladybearbc Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 21	We have a KBox (I know not recommended but DH thought he might consider the 'alternative option' - which I have since convinced him is not going to happen) - anyway - we have had it hooked up for just over two years. Don't have a surround system or anything else that could get us audio on the AC3 stations. We now have something we can hook up (as soon as we get the right cable) What my problem is - when I look at the list of stations on the PBS 125W that the fta fridge lists - it is MUCH longer than what we get Does anyone know if the Kbox will get these new DVB S2 stations? Even after scanning - no additional stations come in -any suggestions on how we can access the other PBS stations? Thank you Last edited by Ladybearbc; 2011-08-02 at 11:53 PM. Reason: wrong time frame

2011-08-04, 02:15 PM	#19
DrSat Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, ON Posts: 664	ATSC is only if you want to receive your local OTA channels using your satellite receiver. Most TV that are 5 years old or less have an ATSC tuner built-in so the only purpose to have an ATSC tuner in your satellite receiver when using a newer TV is to record using the PVR function of the satellite receiver. To receive AC3 audio, you can either connect an optical audio cable from your existing Kbox to an A/V receiver that can decode AC3 audio. If you don't have a home theatre A/V receiver and are only using your TV's speakers then you will need to get a device that can decode AC3 for you such as "Cyberhome sonic voom" headphones. You would then connect an optical audio cable from the Kbox to the unit and then use a 1/4 inch to RCA stereo plug to connect the unit to your TV. Alternatively, you can simply buy a new HD FTA receiver which will be able to decode AC-3 audio internally without any additional devices required. Last edited by hugh; 2011-08-04 at 10:22 PM. Reason: pls do not quote the entire previous post. It serves no purpose and makes the thread more difficult to read

2011-10-08, 04:42 PM	#22
cyberham Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	Sonicview SV-360 Elite PVR As a newbie, last summer I had a heck of a time trying to install a complete FTA system including this receiver. It really becomes a challenge when you don't know what you're doing plus you have a receiver that has faults. I experienced the "Update required" error despite trying various different firmware versions and consulting with Sonicview tech support. I tried to use USALS (whatever that is) and concluded my lack of knowledge was the problem. Maybe it was the receiver. Can you give the top three models you would look at today if you were to buy a new receiver? How about the top two retail dealers in Canada you'd buy from?

2011-10-19, 05:55 PM	#26
tdti1 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montreal Posts: 908	I have the Manhattan 1933 and it's a nice little receiver so far, they seem to have good support and have released a steady amount of updates, I have the 3.2 will update to the new 3.4 on the weekend. The Pansat 9500 has servo control but I have not read many reviews on it, and my local dealer has a new receiver coming probably by Christmas time if thats the case I will be getting a new gift __________________ 4DTV DSR922 HDD 200 VC 2+ GI2500R VC 2 Pansat 2500a c/ku/dbs feed 10.6ft Clearview mesh AMC-8 to AMC-12 24"Venture.

2011-11-25, 12:11 PM	#28
Tim Cake Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wherever work takes me! Posts: 98	Not working STB As a note -- most if not all of the STBs used for satellite piracy are perfectly workable for legal free to air reception. All you need is a good quality linear LNB, a 39" elliptical dish and an horizon-to-horizon motor. I receive over 50 legal channels in the western part of the north American footprint, using a "junk STB" purchased on Kijiji.

2011-08-03, 10:00 AM	#17
DrSat Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, ON Posts: 664	As a rule of thumb, only certain HD FTA receivers such as AzBox or Openbox support receiving DVB-S2 channels out of the box without any extra hardware required. Your KBox satellite receiver does not support tuning DVB-S2 nor can it be upgraded so you will need to get a new receiver in order to receive these DVB-S2 stations. Generally, you can't upgrade FTA satellite receivers in order to add the ability to tune in DVB-S2 channels. However, Pansat HD receivers can actually be upgraded to receive DVB-S2 by adding a tuner module to it and is the only brand which you can do this with.

2011-08-03, 02:41 PM	#18
Ladybearbc Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 21	Thanks Dr Sat - that helps To continue on - I was reading one of your other posts and a few of the others relating to Open Box. This is what you said would fit one of the other forum users. Receiver (one of the following): AzBox Elite HD (with ATSC module) AzBox Premium HD (with ATSC module) Pansat TC-1000HD (with DVB-S2 addon module) Pansat 9200HD (with DVB-S2 addon module) We have an HD Tv - and as I mentioned, up til now have not been able to get any of the AC3 audio stations. So - if I get another receiver - which of these would still need additional connections for the AC3 (because I am not really sure if the ATSC is something I need to worry about)?

2011-08-07, 01:18 AM	#20
Ladybearbc Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 21	Thank you It is looking like (although we now have the decoder box) it would be better to get a better receiver so we can pick up the originally targeted PBS stations on 125 However I was just reading another forum and the azbox seems to get quite hot. This would not work where we would have to set it Dr sat I thought you mentioned the Openbox was unwieldy - so what would be our best bet? Thank you

2011-08-07, 12:38 PM	#21
DrSat Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, ON Posts: 664	Although the AzBox Elite tends to get hot because of the internal power supply, both the AzBox Ultra and the AzBox Premium Plus have external power supplies so heat is not an issue. If heat is an issue, you can get always get one of those laptop coolers from most computer shops and put it underneath the receiver. This is a small mat with fans built in to cool down any device put on top. It is powered by USB with a pass through outlet so you can use the back USB port and it provides you with another outlet either in the front or back depending which way the mat is facing. All Openbox and AzBox models will receive DVB-S2 and decode AC3 internally so any of these would meet your requirements to receive all PBS on 125W. The AzBox also supports 4.2.2 chroma which is used with some "wild feeds" and a few channels such as Azteca on Galaxy 25 (93W). They also include media center functionality which allows you to view youtube videos and play video and audio off your network. Dr. Sat

2011-10-18, 07:59 AM	#24
michelstlouis Rookie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Ok now we know witch one to avoid, thanks to DrSat. Now is there a post where there is suggestions on what to buy. I am interested on installing a system at the cottage and I am stating to look for a solution. thanks

2011-10-18, 09:19 AM	#25
Kraven Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Shore, QC Posts: 530	From what Ive read, it seems the popular models are the OPENBOX S9/S10s and the Azbox units (all available on our sponsor's site). The advantage of the Azbox is it can decode 4:2:2 scheme. Otherwise both brands are HD, PVR compatible and do *S2 Can't remember if its MT or BRN, but they like their Sonicview8000 but these are hard to find IMO. At first I hated the S10, but it eventually grew on me. Cheers, K

2011-11-25, 09:49 AM	#27
HDTV Junkee Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 174	Great advice. My suggestion is to throw all of those "not working" boxes away. Take them to the local re-cycling centre (electronics area) and start over. Go to Dr. Sat's location and he will set you up. With many local TV stations putting onto their websites TV show episodes and news and other sports (delayed by about 12 hours), there is lots to watch. Best wishes for the holidays.

2011-11-25, 02:11 PM	#29
DrSat Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, ON Posts: 664	True, any FTA receiver previously used for satellite piracy can be used to receive FTA channels with some effort. However, as some of these receivers were strictly designed with satellite piracy in mind, they perform very poorly when used for FTA as the software developers of these units typically only test to make sure the receiver works on a non-motorized satellite piracy setup. The intent of this thread is to inform members which receivers to avoid purchasing as they require significant effort to setup properly, especially on a motorized system due to outstanding defects in the software. Even experienced satellite installers such as us can take over 1 hour just to setup one of these receivers properly and even then, the user experience is not always very good. Some of the user experience issues that we have seen that these receivers have include: - Having to go in dish setup every time you want to switch to a different satellite. - Significant delay when tuning in a different channel and/or satellite. - "Update required" error message appears when receiver is used to tune in FTA channels forcing the user to reboot the receiver. - Having to select a channel on an horizontal transponder when changing to a different satellite. - "Please wait... moving dish" message even though the satellite dish is already done moving to the new satellite - Inaccurate USALS positioning requiring some satellites to be manually programmed using DiSEqC 1.2 - Unable to easily add or modify existing satellites. - Channel list corruption after using the receiver for a period of time requiring a factory reset and all channels rescanned. This is not really a big issue for receivers that allow the user to save a channel list backup on USB at it can easily be restored. - Blindscan has poor performance or does not even work at all. Regards, DrSat __________________ Proud sponsor of the FTA satellite forum Fier commanditaire du forum FTA

2011-12-01, 08:11 AM	#30
cyberham Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	"....Openbox and az boxes are pretty buggy and don't have good North American support, so mite as well support those who support us...." Above comment from another board. Is the writer out-of-date with his information, basing the comment on older boxes?

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