Thread: Viewsat 2000 Extreme

The Viewsat 2000 Extreme arrived a few minutes ago....Will attempt to set it up and keep all informed. If i do not surface for a while...send bloodhounds!
jeff

OK, I am a 4DTV guy (since they began) and I have spent about 3 hrs playing with this new (neat) toy. Dish is an Old Wineguard 8ft with a .6 ku lnb (have not split out the C band to the Extreme yet). My 4dtv is a new 922, now with an HDD200 High def add on. I was the one who saved the old 920 with a new battery after the 922 arrived. (Yes, I buy my toys at Christmas time!!!

After quite a bit of fiddling, I landed on 4DTV W3 = FTA sat AMC3.

I did the blind scan after fiddling with the antenna settings (using the 4dtv to move the dish and woa...when it found 8 channels, I really knew it! The Quality meter pegged at 100!

Picture is extremely good so far (PBS is almost HD quality on my HP 43" Plasma!!!!) and I have not played with the sound yet. I am only hooked to the COMPOSITE VIDEO (of all things) just because it is easier to figure out what I am doing, since everything else is routed through my HDMI inputs on a Pioneer 72tx. Can't wait until I use the component outputs on the extreme routed thru my receiver and converted to HDMI (tomorrow...I am whooped) Unfortunately for the Extreme, my newly ordered HD200 box came in for the 4dtv and I had to get that setup too!

Will report something more as I learn about this neat receiver.....I am obviously a total NOOB at FTA but I think I am going to like it! (gotta teach these guys how to write a manual! <grin>
Later
jeff

Merged threads.......

Sorry about that...I am also new to the board (obviously)

OK, a little more now that I am beginning to get some channels...

The build quality of the Extreme seems to be solid, and it looks just like the 2000 Platinum. The rear now sports the 3 component out jacks and a Toslink out (do not know if the Platinum had the Toslink but with the new type cables...I like it as well as coax! (which is good because i have 3 spare Toslink inputs on my Pioneer Elite 72tx Receiver and the coax are taken!

I have nothing to compare the Blind scan feature to but it sure helped me out and rather quickly too! Took under 5 minutes on AMC3 and I am scanning another bird now. My biggest problem is that I know the satellites by their 4DTV names and have to refer to the position on Lyngsat to get the FTA names.

That really cool feature is the F2 button where you can bring from 4-9 split views of different channels.(on the same bird)

The unit responds to the remote quickly and the response time is faster then the 922 4DTV.

The GUI menu system is really simple and even I can manuver my way around with little trouble (instictive I guess)
Have not seen anything on the guide yet but only have 2 sats programmed so far...we shall see who is broadcasting the guide.

More later
Jeff

FTA has no guide to speak of in the U.S., its a feature that we really can't use.

You occasionally get guide info off of the audio channels on the BEV/Echostar birds... just to let you know that the guide feature on your receiver actually works

gizzer

you might be able to rename the satellites to make them the same as the 4DTV names....most receivers will allow you to rename them

Iceberg is correct (AS USUAL!), The Extreme 2000 will permit me to rename satellites and regain my sanity! Tron...too bad about the Guide but.......oh well, thanks for letting me know.

It is almost like rediscovering satellite again for the 1st time way back in the 70's...stayed up until 2:30am playing and marveling at the quality of picture and being able to see realtime foreign TV! Since I really have no clear idea what I am doing....BLIND SEARCH does everything for me until I learn more! I LOVE THAT FEATURE OF THE VIEWSAT EXTREME!
After reconsideration, I think the manual is adequate (barely) for those with prior satellite experience and would be a snap for someone with FTA experience!

Another neat FEATURE IS THAT THE Extreme can limit normal channel search to All, Free etc....a nice touch! (Not in the Blind scan mode though)...No problem since you can assign the found channels as you please to different Favorite groups, move them between groups. etc...This thing is really something else! (Again I am new to FTA so I have no basis for comparison)

Unfortunately my actuator servo motor went out last night so I am stuck on one polarity until the new one comes in. Also have ordered some new component cables and Optical cable, since I want to make the most of what I am seeing/hearing.

BTW: is there enough FTA stuff out there on C band to warrant splitting out a C band feed for the FTA. With the 4DTV, HDD200 HD addon, and noW the FTA receiver...it is a jungle behind my system!

Got about 130 channels using blind search ON 2 SATS (AMC3 and G10) before my Sat actuator motor quit. A nice touch is when it locates a pay channel, it puts up a green $ sign so you don't have to waste time with it. Adding/ Deleting channels is a snap with the GUI menu system too.

With 4DTV on the virtual channels (those above 24), I do not think the motor has to work so it has not been used too much during the past 5 years (poor thing probably was horrified with being excercised so much)....should have a new one by Friday

IN THE MEAN TIME CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BEAUTY? I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP ANYONE THAT I CAN!

I moved this to the review area and made a sticky

Thanks for the review giz! Really appreciate it

Originally Posted by gizzer777

Iceberg is correct (AS USUAL!), The Extreme 2000 will permit me to rename satellites and regain my sanity!

glad you are able to rename them.

It is almost like rediscovering satellite again for the 1st time way back in the 70's...stayed up until 2:30am playing and marveling at the quality of picture and being able to see realtime foreign TV! Since I really have no clear idea what I am doing....BLIND SEARCH does everything for me until I learn more! I LOVE THAT FEATURE OF THE VIEWSAT EXTREME!

I felt the same way the first time I got a blind scan receievr

BTW: is there enough FTA stuff out there on C band to warrant splitting out a C band feed for the FTA. With the 4DTV, HDD200 HD addon, and noW the FTA receiver...it is a jungle behind my system!

there is a fair amount of C-Band stuff that is FTA. Here is a list...there are feeds too that are C-band

http://www.global-cm.net/MPEGlistCBandUS.html