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GEOSATpro My take on the HDVR3500
SatelliteAV has provided me with an HDVR3500 for evaluation. My approach is, and has been, to evaluate this box as a new unit with no pre-conceived ideas or opinions based on a long running thread here on the forum. I have read all 140 pages of that thread so I'm familiar with the issues presented but I have put them aside to take a fresh look.
Be aware this is an evaluation of this box strictly as an FTA receiver – not Internet, Wi-Fi, Linux apps, dish moving, or recording (at this time, maybe later). The box is piggybacked onto my 4DTV which moves the dish and controls polarity.
In my opinion this is a well put together box, unlike many (most?) of the inexpensive (usually plastic) Chinese imports. Although not perfect, I also like the remote. People could nit-pick the remote to death, primarily based on personal preferences but the only really annoying thing, for me, is the use of the blue button in combination with the menu button to access setup, but more on that later.
Pros:
Great picture
Fast blindscan
The ability to scan a single polarity at a time (this is a big deal when piggybacking)
No audio breakup on Grit, Escape, Bounce, Justice or any others
Cons:
Funky signal quality display
Occassional errors in the transponder lists
Less than user friendly menu system
Let me expand a bit on the menus. First, it would be nice if, when first started, it would have a basic menu offering two options, FTA or Apps. It annoyed me that I kept having to hit Menu followed by the blue button to get back into FTA setup.
There are some inconsistencies in the way the menu functions. On some selections just continually hitting the Enter button rotates you through the choices, on others you need to use the arrows to scroll left or right and on at least one dropdown you need to arrow up or down to make a choice. Having them all work the same would have been nice and more user friendly.
As for the transponder lists, I came across several preprogammed transponders with the wrong polarity. Unless you're scanning by individual polarity you might never notice that.
I noticed an odd anomaly with the signal quality graphic bar. Blindscans locked in, and the box displayed perfectly, a handful of channels that only showed 5% signal quality while a couple of channels showed better than 80% quality but the picture was loaded with digital artifacts. An FEC display bar would be helpful.
I do have it connected via Wi-Fi to my system in order to keep the clock accurate. Normally I wouldn't care but since the clock displays on the front panel when the box is in standby I decided it would be better if it showed correctly. I do not like that it's a 24 hr clock however.
Bottom line, for my application this is a great box; great picture, individual polarity scanning, and no audio breakup on the problem channels gets it done for me. YMMV.
Be aware this is an evaluation of this box strictly as an FTA receiver – not Internet, Wi-Fi, Linux apps, dish moving, or recording (at this time, maybe later). The box is piggybacked onto my 4DTV which moves the dish and controls polarity.
In my opinion this is a well put together box, unlike many (most?) of the inexpensive (usually plastic) Chinese imports. Although not perfect, I also like the remote. People could nit-pick the remote to death, primarily based on personal preferences but the only really annoying thing, for me, is the use of the blue button in combination with the menu button to access setup, but more on that later.
Pros:
Great picture
Fast blindscan
The ability to scan a single polarity at a time (this is a big deal when piggybacking)
No audio breakup on Grit, Escape, Bounce, Justice or any others
Cons:
Funky signal quality display
Occassional errors in the transponder lists
Less than user friendly menu system
Let me expand a bit on the menus. First, it would be nice if, when first started, it would have a basic menu offering two options, FTA or Apps. It annoyed me that I kept having to hit Menu followed by the blue button to get back into FTA setup.
There are some inconsistencies in the way the menu functions. On some selections just continually hitting the Enter button rotates you through the choices, on others you need to use the arrows to scroll left or right and on at least one dropdown you need to arrow up or down to make a choice. Having them all work the same would have been nice and more user friendly.
As for the transponder lists, I came across several preprogammed transponders with the wrong polarity. Unless you're scanning by individual polarity you might never notice that.
I noticed an odd anomaly with the signal quality graphic bar. Blindscans locked in, and the box displayed perfectly, a handful of channels that only showed 5% signal quality while a couple of channels showed better than 80% quality but the picture was loaded with digital artifacts. An FEC display bar would be helpful.
I do have it connected via Wi-Fi to my system in order to keep the clock accurate. Normally I wouldn't care but since the clock displays on the front panel when the box is in standby I decided it would be better if it showed correctly. I do not like that it's a 24 hr clock however.
Bottom line, for my application this is a great box; great picture, individual polarity scanning, and no audio breakup on the problem channels gets it done for me. YMMV.
17 Replies
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4457 views
The flashing error message came up because of the extremely low video frame rate of the source channel (1 frame every few seconds). It probably would have happened even if the signal modulation was other than ACM, but there are no other channels with that low of a frame rate to test that theory. All they (the developers) would have needed to do was increase the tolerance of frame rate before it reports 'signal lost' -- just adjust a parameter. But I don't think they ever bothered because, even back in July '15 the receiver was far past its prime.
The 3500 is yet another box made in China (by Vivant) that may have been supported OK for a few months and then dropped in favor of the next one in the pipeline. This might have worked, but in this case I don't think they actually got the bugs out. In fact, I think they gave up with it.
In my opinion (as noted by others above) the 3500's strength is its fast blind scan and ability to receive ACM. I also like the fact that its Linux based, which I really prefer over Android.
That being said, the box never reached its full potential because of what it is: An outdated receiver with a slow, narrow bandwidth 16-bit data bus, along with limited RAM and processing power. I think the only reason it was 'resurrected' for this review was because SatAV is still stitting on a pile of them they want to unload. IMO, this is the current state of the 3500 ----->
I think there are some misunderstandings going on here and I don't want things to get heated.
Let's not let ourselves come to a personal attack level guys.
We have a great group of guys here in the FTA forum and a great atmosphere, and I would like it stay that way.
Let's not let ourselves come to a personal attack level guys.
We have a great group of guys here in the FTA forum and a great atmosphere, and I would like it stay that way.
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
114 Replies
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1806 views
Browns lead the AFC North 
I guess even the patience of us laid-back Hoosiers has its limits:
www.colts.com
Colts relieve general manager Chris Ballard of his duties
Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon released a statement Monday announcing the news.
www.colts.com
Be nice to see a Cowboy headline like that.I guess even the patience of us laid-back Hoosiers has its limits:
Colts relieve general manager Chris Ballard of his duties
Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon released a statement Monday announcing the news.
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Stargate SG-1 cancelled, Atlantis renewed
Monday - August 21, 2006 | by Darren Sumner
The future of Stargate is in question today, as SCI FI Channel has cancelled the long-running Stargate SG-1, Multichannel News reported today and a GateWorld source has confirmed. The news regrettably follows the airing of the show's milestone two-hundredth episode on Friday.
Stargate Atlantis, meanwhile, has been renewed for a fourth season, with the network hoping to see that the spin-off series can stand alone, according to a source.
Source Gateworld
Monday - August 21, 2006 | by Darren Sumner
The future of Stargate is in question today, as SCI FI Channel has cancelled the long-running Stargate SG-1, Multichannel News reported today and a GateWorld source has confirmed. The news regrettably follows the airing of the show's milestone two-hundredth episode on Friday.
Stargate Atlantis, meanwhile, has been renewed for a fourth season, with the network hoping to see that the spin-off series can stand alone, according to a source.
Source Gateworld
2033 Replies
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184119 views
Watch Stargate SG-1 for Free Online | Pluto TV
Stargate SG-1 picks up where the blockbuster film left off as the SG-1 team sets out to explore the mysteries of the Stargate and the worlds beyond it in the pulse-pounding series which became a worldwide phenomenon and a science fiction classic. Stream Stargate SG-1 for free on Pluto TV.
pluto.tv
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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....
68535 Replies
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2673354 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wVdnjWsw2Uk
Direct YouTube Link - Defender on Linux: Microsoft's Big Security Move #shorts
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TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wVdnjWsw2Uk
Direct YouTube Link - Defender on Linux: Microsoft's Big Security Move #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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5 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
152 Replies
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1913 views
M
They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
. Hated to see my dawgs go down but I still say being ranked #1 is a hex on you!
They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
. Hated to see my dawgs go down but I still say being ranked #1 is a hex on you!
Yup, I agree, I'd rather be 2 or 3 till the last few weeks.They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PSGt6dUXdnI
Direct YouTube Link - RTX Spark: NVIDIA's AI PC Powerhouse Details! #shorts
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TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PSGt6dUXdnI
Direct YouTube Link - RTX Spark: NVIDIA's AI PC Powerhouse Details! #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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11 views
Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!
7 Replies
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212 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A_V4A_ne8wE
Direct YouTube Link - "You Can See Everything" Is 1 of the Century's Best #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A_V4A_ne8wE
Direct YouTube Link - "You Can See Everything" Is 1 of the Century's Best #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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17 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
We have a Breakfast and Dinner thread so...
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
5446 Replies
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335541 views
