Reviews: SatHawk PVR800 WorldDVB DVB-S2 HD FTA Receiver

[Mr Tony]

Greg
AC-3 audio was noted right away from the beta testers/guinnea pigs. Either need a sonic voom or a audio receiver that can do dolby digital

 

[greg harris]

Thanks for the info Iceberg.
I seem to remember Sadoun saying some televisions would do the ac3, and I was hoping mine was one of them. It would be interesting to know which televisions do work with this receiver. I bet it is a short list.
Anyway, my dilemma for ac3 audio consists of having a TOSLINk input on my digital receiver and a coaxial ac3 audio output on the Solomend. Never thought I would see this problem on anything new.

 

[Jim S.]

If somebody wants to experiment!!!!!!!!!!!
There are a few receivers that are similar to the Solomend / Sathawk, namely the AZ America S900
(as pointed out by lpraderi in http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...-hd-pvr800-feature-dvb-s2-15.html#post2133635)
So I went to az-america.com and download the Firmware, Channel Editor, and Loader.
I tested the Loader for 3 seconds, it did connect using a Null Modem cable.
So if someone is bored today, and wants to experiment with the loader

I don't have a cable, and won't buy one unless I know it works for sure.

But, I launched the channel editor, told it to open the last firmware update file that Sadoun posted on his site, and selected "default database". It displayed the European satellites that always used to show up on the SatHawk. Then I told it to open the file again, and this time selected "user database". Now it displayed all the American satellites that the SatHawk shows when you load the newest firmware! So I wonder if we could enter our own channel data (by the way, the European satellite list comes with transponders), save the file, and load it via USB.

What would be more interesting would be to see if we could use the editor to download our existing satellite data from the box, but like I said, I don't have a cable.

 

[Lak7]

What would be more interesting would be to see if we could use the editor to download our existing satellite data from the box, but like I said, I don't have a cable.

I was able to download the Firm from the Unit to my PC.
Very slow, takes about 10 minutes
That's as far as I got. LOL

This unit is starting to look like a "Red Headed Step Child", especially with the silence from DVBWorld and Sadoun.
I was expecting these bugs to have been worked out by now, am I asking too much?

 

[greg harris]

I was expecting these bugs to have been worked out by now, am I asking too much?

Well, It usually takes anywhere from 6 months to a year before some things get fixed. Anytime you buy a new receiver like this you are taking a chance. Of course, Some things will never get fixed. I have never seen a perfect FTA receiver.

It will probably be at least a month before I start posting my review. You have got to give them time...

EDIT: I got ac3 audio to work on cable. Thanks for the words of encouragement on this Iceberg.

 

[Lak7]

Downloading the Firm and opening with Az Box editor worked.
I can see My channels, but editing is limited to changing the channel name. I see no way to enter / change PIDS.

 

[rodder]

with this set up on a motor how do you go to another sat you have set up using the remote without going into setup.

 

[Lak7]

with this set up on a motor how do you go to another sat you have set up using the remote without going into setup.

If you already have channels scanned in, just change the channel, and it will drive to the needed Sat.

 

[rodder]

i have only set up 3 sats 85,83,72 it's on 72 now if i pull up epg it only shows channels that i scans in on 72 if i channel up it only stays on those channels.

 

[Lak7]

i have only set up 3 sats 85,83,72 it's on 72 now if i pull up epg it only shows channels that i scans in on 72 if i channel up it only stays on those channels.

Press the "OK" button, you should get a list of all channels. I think you can select a specific Sat from that menu too.

 

[greg harris]

This receiver came up two hours short on a 7 day EPG test. I consider that to be excellent. It populates the EPG well and it will find and set the correct time providing you have entered the correct time zone info.
Some receivers that advertise this extended EPG feature will not do it. Greg

 

[Jim S.]

Huh? It will only set the correct time if it's tuned to a broadcaster who's broadcasting the UTC time. Some broadcasters instead put in their local time or garbage. Manual time setting is worthless because it forgets it when you turn it off.

 

[Lak7]

Doesn't the time change every time you turn it off, of was that fixed?

 

[Blindowl1234]

Well thought mine would be here yesterday....nope today. I can't believe that a distributor can't work with a manufacturer for the perfect HD receiver. If someone could find a receiver thats close enough to being what most of us want....think of the sales potential. You go to the manufacturer and say here's what we need can you build it for us. The first manufacturer and vendor that gets it right will make a fortune. Maybe FTA is such a small market that no one wants to invest in it seriously. Sadly if you look at a lot of the stuff we buy it's garbage from the start. I've had at least one lousy FTA receiver, and a bad motor for KU so far in the last year. I guess I've never had a hobby where many of the products I spent good money on, were not of decent quality and didn't do what they were supposed to. This isn't a slam on our sponsors I realize they are doing the best they can with what they have. Blind

 

[Lak7]

for the perfect HD receiver

Looks like the AZBox Perm Plus: DVB-S2 Blind Scanning and 4:2:2.

 

[rodder]

Press the "OK" button, you should get a list of all channels. I think you can select a specific Sat from that menu too.

Thanks lak that will let me move from sat to sat according to have you got them set up.
but what about moving from say 72 to 125 i have not found a way to jump directly
from one sat to the other.

 

[Lak7]

but what about moving from say 72 to 125 i have not found a way to jump directly
from one sat to the other

Do you have channels scanned in on both 72 and 125? If so, you should just pick the channel and the Dish should move. (as long as you have the receiver setup as Motorized)

 

[rodder]

yes if you hit the ok button it only pulls up the channels for the sat you are on.the only way i found to move from 72 to 125 is to hit ok and stroll thru the sat quickly till you get to 125. i have already had it to freeze up and have not been able to get ac3 sound thru my sony stereo receiver hooked up with hdmi. this receiver is different than any receiver i have ever had. I'm split 50-50 on the good and the bad of it.

 

[Lak7]

it only pulls up the channels for the sat you are on.

I believe when I hit "OK" mine shows "All Channels", and can then select specific sats.
As for AC3, did you select the proper Sound setting in the Setup Menu?
You are connecting the HDMI from the Sathawk to the Sony Receiver?

 

[greg harris]

Huh? It will only set the correct time if it's tuned to a broadcaster who's broadcasting the UTC time. Some broadcasters instead put in their local time or garbage. Manual time setting is worthless because it forgets it when you turn it off.

Look at tp 11801 on 125 West.
Set the correct time zone for your area, put it on a channel that has a guide and see what happens. Granted it is not perfect but I am surprised that it even works. It does forget when you turn it off, making you put it on a channel and let it set the time when you turn it on. Most of the other features that I have tried on this receiver are BELOW the beta level so I was happy to see something that tried to work!!!. IMO, this receiver should not have been released to the public in this condition but I guess money talks. Greg