Questions about the Linkbox 9000i

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Brct203

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Dec 24, 2016
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Hello all,

I'm a bit new to digital FTA (but some experience with analog Ku FTA in Europe in the 90's, and some C-Band in Europe as well - Intelsat, Gorizont, Arabsat, also in Analog). After more than 20 years, i'm rediscovering the joys and excitement of scanning the skies!

I experimented briefly with a cheap receiver, which I returned as it was not able to record the audio on AC3 channels (PBS on 125W, NHK on 103W, etc...)

So now i'm looking for something a bit more sophisticated. Something stable and reliable, with PVR and IPTV, good at blind scanning. I have read many threads that mention the Manhattan 1997, the GeoSatPro HDVR3500, and the LinkBox 9000i. I like the possibility of adding a UHF remote kit on the LinkBox.

However I still have a few questions:

- Can the 9000i record channels with AC3 audio and play them back properly?
- Can it record IPTV channels?
- Would it be able to receive the HEVC MUX on 30W?
- Can it output to Component and HDMI simultaneously (allowing it to be connected to 2 HD TVs at the same time)
- Has anyone on this forum tried the UHF remote kit? Is it any good? What approximate range can I expect (the walls are drywall over wood frame)?

Also, I see that HyperMegaSat has a Manhattan RC-1978 that's been "coming soon" for a little while... Would that be a better receiver than those I mentioned above? I believe that one can receive HEVC channels

Any advice and recommendations would be welcome!
 
:welcome to SatelliteGuys!!!
I currently do not have that receiver, but several others do. So I will leave it to them to answer, just wanted to welcome you to the site!
 
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I had a UHF remote on my STB like 17 years ago. It was a nice remote. I was able to control the receiver from the other end of the house. Yes, it was through a couple walls.
 
- Can the 9000i record channels with AC3 audio and play them back properly?
Yes, I've had no problems with PBS East/West (9000i shows as h264 video, ac3 audio).
- Can it record IPTV channels?
I haven't tried yet, but I doubt it. The pre-loaded channels themselves are hit-and-miss as to whether they work. I have not yet tried adding any custom ones yet.
- Would it be able to receive the HEVC MUX on 30W?
I'm not sure. I'll let someone on the east coast check (I'm west of the Rockies)
- Can it output to Component and HDMI simultaneously (allowing it to be connected to 2 HD TVs at the same time)
Probably. It has no problem outputting HDMI and composite.

I have the Local, which has all the OTA and FTA channels in one list. It can load the program guide that's broadcast by the stations.

The only issue I've found is that it tends to sync the time to whatever it's tuned to. It's only an issue for me on Montana PBS. Even though I'm in their time zone, it knocks the clock back by 2 hours. Once I tune to another channel the clock fixes itself.
 
Yes, I've had no problems with PBS East/West (9000i shows as h264 video, ac3 audio).

I haven't tried yet, but I doubt it. The pre-loaded channels themselves are hit-and-miss as to whether they work. I have not yet tried adding any custom ones yet.

I'm not sure. I'll let someone on the east coast check (I'm west of the Rockies)

Probably. It has no problem outputting HDMI and composite.

I have the Local, which has all the OTA and FTA channels in one list. It can load the program guide that's broadcast by the stations.

The only issue I've found is that it tends to sync the time to whatever it's tuned to. It's only an issue for me on Montana PBS. Even though I'm in their time zone, it knocks the clock back by 2 hours. Once I tune to another channel the clock fixes itself.

Great news about the AC3... Thanks! Strange about the time issue... I thought I read somewhere that they had updated the firmware to use internet time. Is your connected to the internet?

Also, one more question... I am reading in the specs about DiSEqC: "Diseqc 1.0,1.2 & USALS Compatible". What about 1.1? Would be nice to be able to use an 8-port DiSEqC switch.

As for the OTA, it is an interesting option, at least in theory. In my case I unfortunately have a very limited availability of OTA channels (only about 5, only ABC in HD, and no NBC, CBS or PBS!), so probably not worth the extra money - might as well spend it on an extra LNBF

thanks for your help!
 
30w is the big fish I call it since its so low in the horizon. those channels are in sd can be receive real easy done that off my back porch. The new manhattan receiver will be here in a couple of days that can do H.265. The linkbox cannot I believe does H.265.
 
Yeah from here (73W, 41N), 30W is about 25 degrees elevation, so not too difficult, but probably more or less my eastern limit due to trees and power lines. I could probably see further east from the top of the roof but that requires a bit more planning... I was able to get most of the other channels on 30W (Cuba, Argentina, Spain, Arab countries, even T5 Satelital) on a 60cm "superdish", but a few channels were a bit unstable. Most in SD indeed, if I remember correctly only TV Luz was in HD.
 
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For the limited time my linkbox 9000i local worked, it worked well. Im currently waiting on a replacement.
 
For the limited time my linkbox 9000i local worked, it worked well. Im currently waiting on a replacement.
Sorry to hear it failed... Do you know if there is any known problem (affecting many of them), or was it more like an isolated incident?
 
Sorry to hear it failed... Do you know if there is any known problem (affecting many of them), or was it more like an isolated incident?
Pretty sure it was an isolated incident, i was using it on my ku system and it just stopped moving the motor, no usals or diseqc commands. all other receivers still operated the motor. Still received both horizontal and vertical tp on what ever satellite it was stuck on. Thats the other thing all of the products like the manhattan and the link box and all of the titanium products youll get top notch customer support. Not so much on the cheap china boxes.
 
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Pretty sure it was an isolated incident, i was using it on my ku system and it just stopped moving the motor, no usals or diseqc commands. all other receivers still operated the motor. Still received both horizontal and vertical tp on what ever satellite it was stuck on. Thats the other thing all of the products like the manhattan and the link box and all of the titanium products youll get top notch customer support. Not so much on the cheap china boxes.
yes sounds like a fried DiSEqC... BTW, do you know if it does DiSEqC 1.1 too?
Good to know about the customer support. Looks like those companies also have a good presence on the various forums, which is also a big plus.
 
IM pretty sure it did, I know one option allowed me to do a 4 port switch and the other was more. Ill probably never use more then 3 or 4 ports.
 
There are options in my 9000i to enable/disable DisEqC1.0 and DisEqC1.1. I have never needed to turn them on, so IDK how well they work.

The Motor DiSeqC options are: DiSEqC1.2, USALS, and Disabled.
 
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There are options in my 9000i to enable/disable DisEqC1.0 and DisEqC1.1. I have never needed to turn them on, so IDK how well they work.

The Motor DiSeqC options are: DiSEqC1.2, USALS, and Disabled.
Awesome, thanks for confirming! For now I only have a DiSEqC 1.0 4 port switch, but am considering expanding to more LNBs, so 1.1 would be a big plus.
 
Great news about the AC3... Thanks! Strange about the time issue... I thought I read somewhere that they had updated the firmware to use internet time. Is your connected to the internet?

Also, one more question... I am reading in the specs about DiSEqC: "Diseqc 1.0,1.2 & USALS Compatible". What about 1.1? Would be nice to be able to use an 8-port DiSEqC switch.

As for the OTA, it is an interesting option, at least in theory. In my case I unfortunately have a very limited availability of OTA channels (only about 5, only ABC in HD, and no NBC, CBS or PBS!), so probably not worth the extra money - might as well spend it on an extra LNBF

thanks for your help!

It is connected to the internet, but still picks up the time from the OTA channels (a couple minutes off) or Montana PBS (2 hours). It may be a lazy end-user missing some setting somewhere.

Also, you asked upthread and no, it doesn't record IPTV. I hope to find an easy way to edit the channel list, since some don't work and some aren't interesting to me.
 
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