Thread: Review: Sonicview SV-HD8000

I just purchased an SV-8000HD off of Craig's List for $100 - - - can't wait to get it home to play with it.

Bet you anything it had hack code installed

Hello Gents
Regarding the power supply on this STB I read there is a known problem with the power supply going out, If the front display goes out and you only see a orange light every time you press any key on the remote, there is 2 capacitors in the power supply that go out, C10 AND C24, you need to replace them with a 1000 mf caps, voltage 16 to 35 volts dc. make sure they the same size, they cost about 1 to 2 dollars at the local electronic store
hope this helps
Chewie

Originally Posted by chapelrun

I just purchased an SV-8000HD off of Craig's List for $100 - - - can't wait to get it home to play with it.

Bet you anything it had hack code installed

You're quite lucky! At times it works pretty good with some extras (like cooling fans, etc).

Originally Posted by chapelrun

[COLOR=Black]I just purchased an SV-8000HD off of Craig's List for $100 - - -

great new box
but a hd box for 100 bucks. not so bad
just slave it off the 200.

Originally Posted by avg1joe

See if you can find some of the higher numbered factory firmware files. I believe I am running 4.43 which I downloaded from the sonicview website. They later removed it from their site but you can probably still find it floating about on the net. I've used the file currently on their website and it stinks.


While other folks on this forum are forced to enter hd channel id's manually with their stbs the sonicview has scanned them right in for me.

Does someone have the offical 4.43 that they could post - - - I agree the 2.50 version that is currently posted as the official firmware is NOT VERY GOOD!

Many Thanks

Just keep in mind guys that most firmware fixes for any STB receiver are usually not entirely about "hacking". Some long term bugs and outstanding issues are often fixed along the way. Nobody forces you to use firmware features, you consider questionable. In fact, as I remember reading, regardless of firmware version Sonicview STBs are harmless for signal "hacking" without some sort of extra devices. More, same extra devices were reported to have legitimate use as well. Try using the latest firmware version you can find, and if not satisfied, switch one step back...Just make sure to avoid stealing sub signals. Unless, of course, you intend to ship the STB for warranty repairs right after you bought it.

Finally I got some info on NIM tuners used in Sonicview 8000HD:

DVB-S QPSK Digital Satellite NIM Receiver:
Sharp BS2F7VZ0295 Tuner (Specs are the same as for smaller size
BS2F7VZ7395

) with built-in Sharp Demodulator STx0288

ATSC (8VSB) & NTSC & Clear QAM Digital & Analog Terrestrial / Cable TV NIM Receiver:
Samsung DNVS263QV261A OEM Tuner with built-in Samsung analog NTSC & digital VSB / QAM demodulator S5H1410:
Ports: RF Input & RF Loop Through

One can connect coax cables from both Cable TV and Terrestrial Antenna to the ATSC Tuner's RF IN port via an A/B Switch, and loop it through to your other TVs. The channel file may need to be edited manually with ChannelMaster to save both Cable and OTA digital channels. I doubt that SV8000 is designed to process Analog NTSC signals from this tuner, but it needs to be tested.

I finally got this receiver working like I thought it should - - - took some work.

First, I finally found the old "GOOD" Factory Firmware - - HD8000_P_MASS_14AUG2008_v402_b207.zip (Uploaded here because it was so hard to find). I would highly recommend this firmware over the version 2.50 currently hosted on the SonicView web page.

Second, as someone suggested I made my VisionSat IV200 Primary and hung the SonicView SV-HD8000 off as secondary. This allowed me to let the SonicView "learn" all the motor locations using DiSEqC 1.2 and once it learned these locations USALS works but now quite as well as on the VisionSat.

The picture is great - - - especially on MPEG4 1080i feeds that I have found.

I'm still getting everything setup, but now I'm SOOO glad I picked this up from Craig's List.

I will post some PIX later.

glad to hear your getting good use of it. might give this firmware a shot on mine see if can put some life back in it. thanks for sharing it.
still $ for $ i got my use out of mine already. and the best box i ever bought.
have you tried the PVR yet ?

ps. you might want to edit your other post if you can. keep forgeting the time limit here.
should fix that. at least allow small edit whenever.