GEOSATpro HDVR3500 - New DVBS2 STB - Photos and Initial Testing

[N6BY]

... I have no problem at all with my wifi speed and buffering when streaming movies to my laptop computer through the same G router. There is a lot of knowledge here so I am just wondering what some of the technically sharp minds on here think?...

I had mine connected via the ethernet connection and streaming wasn't as problematic as you describe. Never tried the WiFi. (I say that in the past tense because I shipped it back today).

So as a workaround, maybe try streaming via ethernet instead of the WiFi? Could be a WiFi driver problem in the HDVR3500.

Hope it works out.

 

[. Raine]

I am working with the latest 937 firmware as well. iTBN is still there in my MENU section. I never had any crashes or lockups with iTBN or XBMC, only had the stop and buffer issue. The only thing that ever locks mine up is when dealing with the last recording in the list. When that last recording finishes it freezes up, or by pushing the down arrow on the remote DVR section while the last recording in the list is selected it will freeze up so the 2 are probably related and are already on the firmware attention list.

Thanks for the help!

That's odd, I don't have it in the menu anymore:



XBMC, YouTube, IPTV, Schedule, Internet App, Media Center, Web Browser and Manager. If I remember right, it was somewhere on the right side.



Crappy picture and you can see my ugly mug reflected on the TV, but you can make out the firmware version, I hope!

 

[. Raine]

Interesting you could be right.

What would be a fair way of testing?? Say Kodi Pi vs 3500?

The Pi2s win against the HDVR3500 without a doubt, when it comes to Kodi, as the HDVR3500 is now. I have three Pi B+ and a model A too, but I've never installed Kodi on them. The A might be a somewhat fair comparison because it too only has 256 MB ram, but it's been a while since I've messed with the model A, I don't remember what it has for a processor. 700 MHZ? The B+ Pis are 700MHZ with 512 MB ram and could be overclocked, so that wouldn't be quite fair.

 

[Titanium]

Haven't all RPi units been the same price? $35

 

[. Raine]

Haven't all RPi units been the same price? $35

Yes.......

 

[Gfox]

That's odd, I don't have it in the menu anymore:

View attachment 109122

XBMC, YouTube, IPTV, Schedule, Internet App, Media Center, Web Browser and Manager. If I remember right, it was somewhere on the right side.

View attachment 109123
Crappy picture and you can see my ugly mug reflected on the TV, but you can make out the firmware version, I hope!

Hmmmm, I don't have schedule on mine. That space is where I have iTBN but I do have 937 because it shows in the STB info as 937, I do have the MUTE capability via the GOTO button, and I can record both manually and timer. I was at 898 and I put the 937 on a flash drive, I upgraded via USB, but I did not do any Factory Default restore when I upgraded. It worked so I just flashed the new upgrade and that was all that I did.

 

[. Raine]

Hmmmm, I don't have schedule on mine. That space is where I have iTBN but I do have 937 because it shows in the STB info as 937, I do have the MUTE capability via the GOTO button, and I can record both manually and timer. I was at 898 and I put the 937 on a flash drive, I upgraded via USB, but I did not do any Factory Default restore when I upgraded. It worked so I just flashed the new upgrade and that was all that I did.

I have the mute capability with the GOTO button and can record manually too, I haven't tried recording with a timer yet. I upgraded via USB too, I don't think I did a Factory Default restore either at that time. I did backup user info before flashing 937 and restored it after. Before the 937 firmware, I had the 935 firmware installed.

The schedule icon looks to be for recording, I'll have to give it a try:

 

[fred555]

So as a workaround, maybe try streaming via ethernet instead of the WiFi? Could be a WiFi driver problem in the HDVR3500.

What wifi chipset does the 3500 use? Even with a Pi2, I have found that certain wifi drivers are problematic.
EDIT: I will try to check my notes tonight as I remember at least one popular chipset where the mainline drivers were trash, and had to search for some custom ones that worked properly.

As mentioned by N6BY, streaming through wired ethernet would be a good comparison.

 

[jibaro29]

Is there a channel editor for the 3500HD? Just wondering!!

 

[Gfox]

I had mine connected via the ethernet connection and streaming wasn't as problematic as you describe. Never tried the WiFi. (I say that in the past tense because I shipped it back today).

So as a workaround, maybe try streaming via ethernet instead of the WiFi? Could be a WiFi driver problem in the HDVR3500.

Hope it works out.

It appears that the source of the streaming video is a big part of the reception. I just watched an entire sermon by Dr. Tony Evans without as much as a hick up for 30 minutes, then on the same iTBN addon I scrolled to a sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley and it would not play without stopping and buffering every few seconds. Spent more time buffering than it did playing. Maybe it was the picture quality difference HD vs SD or something. Sure wish that when you paused it that a length of the stream could be buffered to the internal drive or my 1T external drive I have connected to the back of the unit. When I pause for a few minutes it will play for a bit longer between buffering but not much longer. When I stream video on my computer and when I pause it the stream will continue to load and I just let it get way ahead and then resume watching. Does it do like that because of the internet explorer or player used on the computer? Wonder if something could be changed on the HDVR 3500 that would allow it to continue buffering when you pause the stream to allow it to buffer and store up the video ahead of watching?

 

[SatelliteAV]

Is there a channel editor for the 3500HD?

Not yet. I will update everyone on one.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Wonder if something could be changed on the HDVR 3500 that would allow it to continue buffering when you pause the stream to allow it to buffer and store up the video ahead of watching?

We have tested with increasing the buffer and calculated, if the internet does not have enough throughput, increasing buffer does not help. We are still trying to manage how the GIT does it's buffering.

 

[fred555]

What wifi chipset does the 3500 use? Even with a Pi2, I have found that certain wifi drivers are problematic.
EDIT: I will try to check my notes tonight as I remember at least one popular chipset where the mainline drivers were trash, and had to search for some custom ones that worked properly.

As mentioned by N6BY, streaming through wired ethernet would be a good comparison.

The mainline driver had issues with I believe is : RTL8188EU

 

[Titanium]

I am almost afraid to say what WiFi chip is used! Luckily, I don't have to pull off any heat sink....

The chipset on bench HDVR3500 is a Media Tek MT7601UN. Streaming with WiFi is so problematic as the buffering could be as simple as another WiFi device in the house conflicting. Example: I am unable to use my favorite wireless keyboard on the HTPC when my wife is using her Android tablet and her streaming is interrupted when I power-use the wireless keyboard!

Media Tek Mt7601un Mini WiFi Module 150Mbps 802.11b/G/N

1. Introduction

The GWF-7M01 is a tiny WLAN PCB module with USB2.0 interface and RF output, it supports IEEE
802.11b/g/n standards. This module operates in 2.4GHz ISM frequency band with low power consumption; It
Applies a highly integrated MAC/BBP and RF single chip MT7601UN with 150Mbps PHY rate supporting.
The small form factor and low cost design provide excellent performance for the wireless connectivity, it is
Ideal for confine space application for consumer products.

2. Features

20MHz/40MHz bandwidth support. 1T1R mode

802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps; 802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps;

802.11n: Support PHY rate up to 150Mbps.

Security support for WEP 64/128, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES

3. Application

Portable Smart Device: Mobile, Tablet, Mini-PC, etc.

Others: TV, Meida player, Set top box, IP cam, Camcorder etc.
General
Main Chipset MediaTek MT7601UN
Device Interface USB 2.0, 4 PCB Semi-holes
RF output 2 PCB Semi-holes, (50 ohm impedance at 2.4GHz)
Dimensions 13x12.2mm
Weight 0.5g
WLAN
Operation Frequency 2412~2483.5MHz, ISM band (Depends on country region)
Operation Channel Ch1~14 (Depends on country region)
Protocol 802.11b: CCK, QPSK, BPSK, 802.11g/n: OFDM
Security 64/128 WEP, WPA/WPA2, WFA, WPS2.0, WAPI
Others QoS: WFA,WMM,WMM PS;
RF Characteristics (Typical)
Antenna 50 ohm external antenna via PCB soldering
Transmit Power 802.11b (CCK) 11Mbps: 18+/-1dBm
Receive Sensitivity 802.11b: -88+/-1dBm;802.11g: -72+/-1dBm
DC Characteristic (Typical)
Operating Voltage 3.3VDC +/-5%
Current consumption Normal operation (Average) <80mA

 

[fred555]

That would be the mt7601u Linux driver. I have no experience with that one.

 

[jibaro29]

One quick question before I go to bed, how do I store sat position? Can't find positioner command. The manual has me a little bit confused.

 

[SatelliteAV]

For the official record, wifi chip is MTK7601.

 

[SatelliteAV]

One quick question before I go to bed, how do I store sat position? Can't find positioner command. The manual has me a little bit confused.

The manual satellite positions are available in the new firmware we should approve tomorrow or day after. The automatic assignment happens when you just click Store Position in Positioner Settings.

 

[jibaro29]

The manual satellite positions are available in the new firmware we should approve tomorrow or day after. The automatic assignment happens when you just click Store Position in Positioner Settings.

Well then, this receiver doesn't save position and does not clear transponders of a satellite either. I have tried pushing the yellow button and nothing happens. Hopefully the new firmware would take care of that also. By the way where do I get this firmware from? I most say I like this receiver. Better than the microHD.

 

[rodder]

DiSEqC 1.2 motor number assignment Firmware when??