I borrowed a SonicView 360 Premier receiver to do some testing and to find out for myself some of the problems with this box. Here is a small sampling of the defects I found, and a step by step fix to recovering from a receiver crash, hope this helps:
1. USALs does not function as it should with the original factory firmware. Apparently there is a table in the firmware that links USALs to the specific satellites; also the ID banner is derived from a prewritten table. The tables appear to be in error, some satellites you select using USALs drive to the correct location, others do not, for example you may have selected Galaxy 18 at 123W orbital location but USALs drives it to 91W. You also might be at 95W Galaxy 3C and locked onto a signal and the ID banner displays AMC4 at 101W. These examples may not be the exact satellites and drive to locations, can't remember the exact scenario it's been several months since I tested the SonicView. But you get the picture, the firmware tables are written incorrectly and there has been no factory firmware upgrade to correct for this.
2. The satellite data along with transponders is not upgraded to reflect the current names and transponders in use. It is a little bit of a choir to edit all the data.
3. The front end of this receiver is weak and difficult to scan in all the various TRUE FTA broadcast DVB signals. However it seems to have no problem locking onto the 20000 SR signals of Dish Network or Bell Express if that tells you anything.
4. This receiver does not work with channel editing and loading using Channel Master. Anyone familiar with Channel Master can understand the convenience of this channel editing tool.
5. This receiver has issues locking up and either displaying a single digit on the front panel, or a repeating pattern, or the infamous "MAIN". I locked up this receiver on many occasions trying different ways to edit or load a channel list I created with Channel Master.
And this brings me to my last point of the receiver locking up. Something you have done has caused a corrupted file that causes the receiver to crash. The best way to recover is to clean out all files in the receiver. The easiest way to do this is to load "SV360Premeir_sysCleanFile.rom", then the factory firmware version "0105.rom", and the downloader, either on your computer to use in conjunction with the RS232 cable or better yet to a USB stick. Then follow these steps:
1. Power off the receiver by switch on the back, insert the USB stick to front panel USB port. Push and hold the "OK" button on the front panel while powering on the receiver from switch located on back of the stb. Keep pressing the "OK" button until the USB prompt screen appears. The files loaded on the USB stick will now display on your TV screen. Use the black ring that encircles the "OK" button on front panel to scroll up/down, right and left as your remote will not be functional at this point. Select the "sysCleanFile.rom" and load. Follow any screen instructions that appear.
2. Power off from back and then repeat step (1), this time select the factory firmware and load to the receiver.
3. When the box boots back up after factory file is loaded go to menu and do factory reset. Your box should now be back in original working order.
You can get the same results using the serial cable if you choose, the USB flash stick was handy for me and found it took less time to clean out the corrupted files and reload the factory firmware.
I am glad I only borrowed this stb for testing purposes, as it is now collecting dust in my closet. I love my Coolsat 5000 it does what I want for FTA satellite broadcast reception. I am sure there are better boxes other than the Coolsat, but currently haven't the the $$$ to run out and buy one. Best advice that I can give others is to read, read, read. Do your research before you buy, and watch out for other sites promoting or allowing any hack talk, as they tend to promote boxes that do not work well for TRUE FTA use.