Fortec Passion

[grusome]

Seems to me I remember reading a post here from one of our sponsors that they would be posting a review of the new Fortec Passion HD STB soon. That was several weeks ago. I am curious what happened. I'm still saving my pennies for
one. Especially if it has 4:2:2 and blindscan abilities.
I hope that the receiver is still going to be released.
grusome

 

[SatelliteAV]

Just received the new Passion firmware from Fortec RD and will be testing over the next few days.

The delay was killing me too! Imagine having the generation in HD FTA sitting on your bench for the past few weeks and very little to test as the firmware was in revision! :

 

[grusome]

Just received the new Passion firmware from Fortec RD and will be testing over the next few days.

The delay was killing me too! Imagine having the generation in HD FTA sitting on your bench for the past few weeks and very little to test as the firmware was in revision! :

Glad to hear you have the new firmware!! Now, if having that thing setting on
your bench is a problem............I know someone who would be happy to store
it for you!!
All joking aside, I am looking forward to your review.
grusome

 

[Tron]

Looking forward with anticipation, as the next-gen Pansat seems to be out of the running for me...

 

[updatelee]

Im really impressed with my fortec mercury II's motor control, its fast and acurate. will you have a chance to test the passion on a motor ? Id love to hear about it.

 

[vfrjim]

Any update on the testing?

 

[W_Tracy_Parnell]

Any update on the testing?

That's what I was wondering too!

 

[SatinKzo]

Ok, I'll say it


ME TOO!

 

[Remington]

Unfortunate detail is when you go to the Fortec web page, if you select North America, the receiver specs dissapear.

http://www.fortecstar.com/estore/storefront/default.asp?CategoryID=13&RegionID=1

It's "coming soon" but not here.... here, it's just "coming later".

 

[grusome]

Unfortunate detail is when you go to the Fortec web page, if you select North America, the receiver specs dissapear.

http://www.fortecstar.com/estore/storefront/default.asp?CategoryID=13&RegionID=1

It's "coming soon" but not here.... here, it's just "coming later".

:river :river :river

I might have to divert my savings to the "soon to be released" Pansat HD receiver. IF, it has blindscan and some of the other goodies!!
grusome

 

[SatinKzo]

I'm still going to hold out for the passion. I was hoping the pansat would have 4:2:2 but no dice on that supposedly.

The 9000 specs seem to be changing daily, so I'm going to be waiting for the reviews to come in.

 

[dst1000]

Any updates?? Blindscan Yes or NO
4:2:2 Yes or NO

 

[Mr Tony]

the Pansat does not have 4:2:2 or Blind scan

Mike Kohl has a review on his site

 

[dst1000]

Thanks Iceberg, What about the fortec passion??

 

[SatelliteAV]

Initial testing of the Engineering sample of the Fortec Passion has yielded a very stable receiver. The current firmware displays PAL on the composite outputs, but the next firmware version will support NTSC output. The channel editor has not been released, yet.

The firmware update file is easily loaded via a thumb drive USB port and providing some great features:
4:2:2 - Yes
Internal Dolby decoding - Yes
AC3 Pass through - Yes
Power Scan - Yes (still in beta testing for North American Market)

Up and down converts resolutions, manual or automatic selection
The tuner is sensitive and outperforms even the Mercury II
USALS is reliably controlling a HH motor (tested through 250' of quad RG6).
Controls all tested combinations of 22KHz / DiSEqC switching
Love the VFD display with channel name display!
Universal remote is boxy but well balanced ( have yet to test av equipment codes)

 

[Anole]

4:2:2 - Yes
Internal Dolby decoding - Yes
AC3 Pass through - Yes
Power Scan - Yes

Wow!

Now yer talkin' !

but, <sigh>...if it only had a hard drive...


Thanks for getting some water to us parched viewers.
We'll look forward to your next comments on the subject!

 

[ghia]

Looks promising, can't wait to see the final specs and US release. I've been patiently waiting for this receiver

 

[Labgate]

Initial testing of the Engineering sample of the Fortec Passion has yielded a very stable receiver. The current firmware displays PAL on the composite outputs, but the next firmware version will support NTSC output. The channel editor has not been released, yet.

The firmware update file is easily loaded via a thumb drive USB port and providing some great features:
4:2:2 - Yes
Internal Dolby decoding - Yes
AC3 Pass through - Yes
Power Scan - Yes (still in beta testing for North American Market)

Up and down converts resolutions, manual or automatic selection
The tuner is sensitive and outperforms even the Mercury II
USALS is reliably controlling a HH motor (tested through 250' of quad RG6).
Controls all tested combinations of 22KHz / DiSEqC switching
Love the VFD display with channel name display!
Universal remote is boxy but well balanced ( have yet to test av equipment codes)

Hello

this is great news !

One last thing to know if it will be THE ultimate receiver for me.

Does it support diseqc 1.1

Greetings

Labgate

 

[SatinKzo]

Oh man! SatAV, thanks for the update. That thing looks like it's going to be a winner for the hobbyist! I know I am going to order one if everything you are seeing stays true.

 

[Tron]

Yes, thanks SatAV! This really DOES sound promising!

Glad I waited

Of course, maybe the NEXT model will have a PVR function and support a USB hard drive