Here's an early review of the LinkBox 9000i (Not Local model) after only 1 day of use.I'll update later after I have more time to test it.Some may be considering a purchase before I get around to a more thorough review.
The only previous FTA receiver I had was a GeoSatPro MicroHD.So that is the only receiver I can compare it to.That and just my personal preferences. Dish only covers 78W (True South) to 133W due to actuator failing.
First off: HyperMegaSat shipped incredibly fast as in prior purchases.2 Day shipping to USPS.Overall outside appearance of the receiver is pleasing.Looks good and appears well built.Has internal power supply..so no wall wart.Several buttons on the front of receiver to get you by when you temporarily misplace the remote.Remote works well,feels good in the hand.I find the remote button arrangement to be logical and easy to understand.
Picture quality is outstanding.Even better than the MicroHD...but my MicroHD may have been suffering some picture clarity due to the coax connector going bad.Receiving some channels that have never been received before.For instance, Willow on 121W.Never got a blip on Willow before.Gone Viral channels were never lockable before either,IIRC.There are some transponders that are missing...but most probably due to the dish being off of peak.Dish will have to be properly aligned and rescans done to get a total channel count and make a quantitative comparison.
C Band Sats for USA pre-listed except for: Galaxy 28/89W, Galaxy 25/93W, Anik F2/111W, Anik F3/118W, and Galaxy 18/123W.(Sats of little importance) AMC 7C/137W still listed,but I believe it was relocated a while back?
While viewing a program,Hitting <Enter> brings up the channel list for the Satellite you are on.You can arrow left or right to view channels on OTHER satellites without the dish MOVING until you make a selection.I like that!
TP list goes to the Satellite you are already on.MicroHD tended to take off to the most far-eastern Satellite programmed in or reverted to the All Channels list...which could send it anywhere.Less strain on the actuator is a big plus.
Wireless adapter included in the package gets good signal level.Buffering problems on some IPTV channels but that may be net related.
Now for the bad.Or just not what I'D prefer to see.
As noted by some early reviewers,the blind scan is sloooow.I mean, go make yourself a sandwich and come back slow.Not a deal breaker,but a tad annoying during the initial setup.But once you get set-up,who needs to blind scan often anyway?
Any renamed channel is reset to the original name after a subsequent blind scan.( I believe that is common with other receivers...but I find it a dang nuisance.)
Satellites are listed by name,not the position number.This may be a PLUS for some users.I prefer 97W to Galaxy 19.I plan to manually rename them soon.
No Netflix? If it's there,I have not found it.Youtube works,but many times file formats are incompatible.
IPTV... I only tested it briefly.What I did find were many channels that either would not load or were of the wrong format.Some that did load had buffering problems.Some channels DID play fine.Personally,I am not interested in the IPTV and do not plan to waste my time searching for what plays and what doesn't.So far I have not found a way to add or remove the IPTV channels.Hopefully there is a way to do this?
The signal meter can be a bit slow to register changes while calibrating the dish east or west.I had to slow down and wait a few seconds more than was necessary with the MicroHD at times.Also the meter registers at a higher percentage than the MicroHD...what was 85% before is now 98% with the 9000i.(How much is actual signal Improvement...IDK.)
Finally,what was especially time consuming.While manually clicking east or west to find each satellite during the initial setup: Some transponders absolutely would NOT register on the signal meter.Transponders that would blind scan in with up to 98% SQ were not even a blip while calibrating the dish.One channel I recall in particular was LATV on 3839V 97W.After blind scanning and locking LATV in,I went back to recalibrate the dish a tad better...LATV was STILL not even a blip on the meter there.So...if you think you have clicked too far and not found a Sat yet...be sure to try with different transponders! I never experienced that while using the MicroHD.Still scratching my head.
Conclusion:
I was not looking for IPTV capability and have never considered it desirable so my opinion is obviously slanted.In other words,I would be hard pressed to find much good to say about ANY IPTV.I was looking for a good FTA Satellite Receiver and I believe that I have found one.I may never try recording with the 9000i...I'll leave that aspect to some one else to review.The apparent absence of Netflix might be a concern for some,but I'd prefer you use the Roku and let the FTA receiver cool down.Am I glad I bought the 9000I...darn straight!
As for the MicroHD...I still hope to repair the old box or find another.At this point in time,I have to give the top rating to the 9000i.
I'll try to answer any questions or test features if possible.
I have to close...lightning storm moving in here.
The only previous FTA receiver I had was a GeoSatPro MicroHD.So that is the only receiver I can compare it to.That and just my personal preferences. Dish only covers 78W (True South) to 133W due to actuator failing.
First off: HyperMegaSat shipped incredibly fast as in prior purchases.2 Day shipping to USPS.Overall outside appearance of the receiver is pleasing.Looks good and appears well built.Has internal power supply..so no wall wart.Several buttons on the front of receiver to get you by when you temporarily misplace the remote.Remote works well,feels good in the hand.I find the remote button arrangement to be logical and easy to understand.
Picture quality is outstanding.Even better than the MicroHD...but my MicroHD may have been suffering some picture clarity due to the coax connector going bad.Receiving some channels that have never been received before.For instance, Willow on 121W.Never got a blip on Willow before.Gone Viral channels were never lockable before either,IIRC.There are some transponders that are missing...but most probably due to the dish being off of peak.Dish will have to be properly aligned and rescans done to get a total channel count and make a quantitative comparison.
C Band Sats for USA pre-listed except for: Galaxy 28/89W, Galaxy 25/93W, Anik F2/111W, Anik F3/118W, and Galaxy 18/123W.(Sats of little importance) AMC 7C/137W still listed,but I believe it was relocated a while back?
While viewing a program,Hitting <Enter> brings up the channel list for the Satellite you are on.You can arrow left or right to view channels on OTHER satellites without the dish MOVING until you make a selection.I like that!
TP list goes to the Satellite you are already on.MicroHD tended to take off to the most far-eastern Satellite programmed in or reverted to the All Channels list...which could send it anywhere.Less strain on the actuator is a big plus.
Wireless adapter included in the package gets good signal level.Buffering problems on some IPTV channels but that may be net related.
Now for the bad.Or just not what I'D prefer to see.
As noted by some early reviewers,the blind scan is sloooow.I mean, go make yourself a sandwich and come back slow.Not a deal breaker,but a tad annoying during the initial setup.But once you get set-up,who needs to blind scan often anyway?
Any renamed channel is reset to the original name after a subsequent blind scan.( I believe that is common with other receivers...but I find it a dang nuisance.)
Satellites are listed by name,not the position number.This may be a PLUS for some users.I prefer 97W to Galaxy 19.I plan to manually rename them soon.
No Netflix? If it's there,I have not found it.Youtube works,but many times file formats are incompatible.
IPTV... I only tested it briefly.What I did find were many channels that either would not load or were of the wrong format.Some that did load had buffering problems.Some channels DID play fine.Personally,I am not interested in the IPTV and do not plan to waste my time searching for what plays and what doesn't.So far I have not found a way to add or remove the IPTV channels.Hopefully there is a way to do this?
The signal meter can be a bit slow to register changes while calibrating the dish east or west.I had to slow down and wait a few seconds more than was necessary with the MicroHD at times.Also the meter registers at a higher percentage than the MicroHD...what was 85% before is now 98% with the 9000i.(How much is actual signal Improvement...IDK.)
Finally,what was especially time consuming.While manually clicking east or west to find each satellite during the initial setup: Some transponders absolutely would NOT register on the signal meter.Transponders that would blind scan in with up to 98% SQ were not even a blip while calibrating the dish.One channel I recall in particular was LATV on 3839V 97W.After blind scanning and locking LATV in,I went back to recalibrate the dish a tad better...LATV was STILL not even a blip on the meter there.So...if you think you have clicked too far and not found a Sat yet...be sure to try with different transponders! I never experienced that while using the MicroHD.Still scratching my head.
Conclusion:
I was not looking for IPTV capability and have never considered it desirable so my opinion is obviously slanted.In other words,I would be hard pressed to find much good to say about ANY IPTV.I was looking for a good FTA Satellite Receiver and I believe that I have found one.I may never try recording with the 9000i...I'll leave that aspect to some one else to review.The apparent absence of Netflix might be a concern for some,but I'd prefer you use the Roku and let the FTA receiver cool down.Am I glad I bought the 9000I...darn straight!
As for the MicroHD...I still hope to repair the old box or find another.At this point in time,I have to give the top rating to the 9000i.
I'll try to answer any questions or test features if possible.
I have to close...lightning storm moving in here.
