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Review of the OpenBox S10 FTA HD satellite receiver. 11-12-2011
My receiver was purchased from the ebay seller shop4fta for $99.99 delivered. I got the receiver, remote with batteries, an HDMI cable, and a set of RCA type cables.
It arrived with a European satellite list installed. The seller promptly furnished S9/S10 firmware with North American satellite list when contacted. After installing this firmware I had the usual default to PAl video mode on bootup, rolling picture trouble. Since I had it hooked up to an RGB monitor, I was able to adjust the vertical hold and stumble through the menus until I found a compatible video mode.
The video format button on the remote will not function unless the receiver is in receive or playback mode. To put it another way, this button is useless in the menu screens to correct the rolling picture at bootup with new firmware.
After fooling with it on the test bench with the replacement firmware from shop4fta and confirming that it worked okay, I downloaded and installed the latest firmware from Shenzen Wanying This firmware also had a European satellite list, so I downloaded and installed the North American satellite list for the Openbox S9/S10 from this forum.
The latest available firmware load worked okay when tested, so the next day I installed the new OpenBox as our primary FTA receiver. After using it for a few days, I offer the following observations.
The receiver is tiny. A non-contact thermometer shows a maximum top of case temperature of 103 degress Fahrenheit with an ambient room temperature of 72. 30 degrees above ambient is fine, and cooler than many home video/audio devices run.
The owner's manual is the typical Chinglish booklet, printed in fuzzy black and white. I downloaded a full color PDF owner's manual from Shenzen Wanying, and printed it out in larger format. Much better, but a sixth grade English teacher would hardly give it a passing grade.
The good:
Performance is great for the price. The tuner seems more sensitive than my Coolsat 6000 or CNX Mini on MPEG-2 signals. Picture quality using the RCA cables connected to an RGB monitor is excellent. Diseqc and 22KHz switches are controlled without issues. It's great to be able to tune MPEG-4 signals; there are more of them all the time.
The Bad:
The remote lacks a mute button. Every firmware I have tried defaults to PAl video mode on initial bootup, and you will have the well-documented rolling screen trouble.
The ugly:
It's a cheap receiver assembled at one of many factories in China. Their biggest market is the eye-patch buyers in Europe, and the firmware is designed for that use. Firmware updates for the North American true FTA market are non-existant. We get European firmware with a North American satellite list. All firmware that I have loaded boots up in PAL video mode and the screen rolls on initial bootup when the RCA cable video output is used on a North American TV.
Summary: It's cheap and it does the job. Picture quality is excellent. Difficult to setup for North American FTA use. If you can afford to spend a little more and get a better receiver, you should probably do so.
Moderators, please move this to the review section if desired.
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24497 views
Having reviewed the various openbox models issues & support I think I'm spending my money on the geosat micro
Pub Member / Supporter
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51 views
But.....if you like Tulsa King....looks like you would probably like this as well. I don't mind spin-offs as long as they don't involve a sassy niece who moves from the big cityAnother Tulsa King spin off.
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
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Anyone else watch this show? Any guesses as to what was in the box Gibbs gave to Abby that was on her desk? It look liked it was glowing.
I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
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214677 views
Tony as the director.
Would you rather have LaRoche ???Tony as the director.
No. Bring in someone new.
Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
I don't think Tim and Tony are that far apart in Age ...No. Bring in someone new.
Remember what Tony said to Tim when they first got back together ...
Tony said: I am the New Tony, Tim .... (something to that effect)
Tony has changed, he's been running his Security Business ... I'm sure he has grown up.
Give it time ... your judging the New Tony from the old Tony.
It sounds like Tim won't be around the Team much longer either.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Might be worth a watch when it comes out. Looks like typical big corp against the little guy movie BUT....there is a reason this plot type is so oft repeated, it draws audiences.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f9OGsKHd4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f9OGsKHd4
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6 views
Lifetime Supporter
If you're going try to read / listen to the book (can't recommend the audio book enough) before this comes out, I'd avoid trailers.
Trailer below, spoiling it to make sure you read the above bold message first. The book / audio book are fantastic. Go into this blind if you can IMO!
Kind of disappointed at how much they show. A lot still to see, but man, some good reveals in the book that are just served up here.
Trailer below, spoiling it to make sure you read the above bold message first. The book / audio book are fantastic. Go into this blind if you can IMO!
Kind of disappointed at how much they show. A lot still to see, but man, some good reveals in the book that are just served up here.
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712 views
"Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
www.ign.com
'It Is Time Go!' — Project Hail Mary Is Officially Coming to Prime Video
Amazon has confirmed that Project Hail Mary will be coming to Prime Video.
www.ign.com
That's what I will be watching this weekend."Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
'It Is Time Go!' — Project Hail Mary Is Officially Coming to Prime Video
Amazon has confirmed that Project Hail Mary will be coming to Prime Video.
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
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1610 views
Y
Browns lose a close one with... The Jets. That is a classic Browns loss (granted, any loss is a classic one it seems). 49'ers, Vikings, and Chiefs remain undefeated. The AFC north have a three way tie at 3-2 for second place.
A big win for the Patriots, and they are now 3-2.
Browns lose a close one with... The Jets. That is a classic Browns loss (granted, any loss is a classic one it seems). 49'ers, Vikings, and Chiefs remain undefeated. The AFC north have a three way tie at 3-2 for second place.
Troy Aikman seems to confirm he'll be leaving ESPN
Aikman says he looks forward to "where my next landing spot will be."
www.nbcsports.com
M
Hopefully nowhere near a microphone.Troy Aikman seems to confirm he'll be leaving ESPN
Aikman says he looks forward to "where my next landing spot will be."
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
I had quit watching this show years ago because I ended up more annoyed than entertained. Well......I'm STILL more annoyed than entertained. I DO find it interesting to see how things work behind the scenes at many businesses. What annoys me is how utterly out of touch CEOs are with the companies they run. At the end of almost every episode the head of the company is amazed at how hard the employees have to work and many times have to work around impossible guidelines set forth from headquarters.
I found this one interesting because the new CEO had big plans for this company, Muscle Maker Grill, and it looked like the stores were all pretty busy. Recent history hasn't been good to this company however. I bet the covid lockdowns were the real killer.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhZm0qkz0o
I found this one interesting because the new CEO had big plans for this company, Muscle Maker Grill, and it looked like the stores were all pretty busy. Recent history hasn't been good to this company however. I bet the covid lockdowns were the real killer.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhZm0qkz0o
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Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
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For quite a while now, people with a VIP211k have been losing their recordings on their activated external HDDs... even when there's nothing physically wrong with HDD. I believe this is an intentional and underhanded tactic that Dish is pulling in an attempt to force users away from the VIP211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
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7368 views
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
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18024 views
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. 
WTF… …What the Foxbat!Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
S
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming youWTF… …What the Foxbat!
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you
S
OMG to freaking funny
