GEOSATpro HDVR3500 - New DVBS2 STB - Photos and Initial Testing

[Titanium]

Save your time and energy. Service logging has nothing to do with the LNB/LNBF. This is a setting in the STB firmware.

Also, to clarify... The HDVR3500 is correctly logging separate transponders that actually exist (you see them on a spectrum analyzer). Table parsing for service PIDs is where the HDVR3500 is incorrectly logging PIDs from the adjacent carrier if it is within 4-5MHz and uses the same SID. I have found and recorded .ts examples of 6 examples that share same SID and are within 5MHz. It is simple to fix as the service logging parameters only need to be tightened.

 

[Titanium]

Man I wish I could pick up 139 here!

Between 139w and the Music Choice channels, there is always something to listen to. Amazing how poor Pandora AQ sounds after listening to these feeds!

 

[N6BY]

Some bugs that I encountered in testing the recording function of the newest firmware:
1) Pressed 'record' and entered a duration of 1 hour. After an hour I looked at the DVR recording list and it wasn't there.
2) Recordings over 4 GB are shown in the HDVR3500's DVR list, but not in VLC's plug-n-play directory. I verified this with my network tap runnning Wireshark. The packet capture showed that the HDVR3500 included only the smaller files in the directory list, but nothing over 4 GB. So its not VLC's fault.
3) Recordings currently in progress are not shown in VLC's directory listing like they were in the previous firmware.
4) While recording with the new firmware it lets me change channels. The previous release prompted me and said 'This operation is not allowed while recording' and gave me options to stop or cancel. This new release seems to halt recording without warning. I liked it before when it warned me that I would lose the recording.
5) I tried recording a channel on 117W which was barely above the threshold of being receivable. Within a minute it locked up the HDVR3500 and the only way out was to cycle the power.

All these recording tests were made using the built-in 64GB drive that came with the unit.

 

[stargaze]

If you want to manually enter a channel each time you start the receiver reverts to 177W instead of where your at.
So if I am on a channel on 103W and want to add a channel I have to scroll from 177 to 103W each time.
If there is an easier way to enter a channel that this does not occur I am all ears as this way is a
Major waste of time and energy.

 

[Titanium]

So if I am on a channel on 103W and want to add a channel I have to scroll from 177 to 103W each time.
If there is an easier way to enter a channel that this does not occur I am all ears as this way is a
Major waste of time and energy.

I just tested and it doesn't work that way on the test bench using the latest firmware 7/28. Not going back to 7/10 firmware to test.

The Installation menu screen Satellite List defaults to the satellite that you are currently tuned to when entering the installation menu. For example: If I am watching a channel on 99w and want to blind scan or manually scan a transponder, I press Menu, select Settings, press OK, select Satellite Search, press OK, select type of scan, select Start, press OK.

 

[stargaze]

Brian, I am talking about the manual entry of channels not the blind scan part.
on 103W you have the Muzak channels on the Microspace tp. Those are all manual entry channels from pid 7496 to 7595.
The only way I have found to enter those are to ..
hit "OK" then the blue button, click on Edit Service, then click on the Green Button to Add service.

The Muzak channels do not scan in on any receiver that I know of the ordinary way.

I am using version Halo_V1.0.7.0_935 from July 28th.

 

[Titanium]

here's one for testing - SES-1C @ 101W - about 3754 MHz V pol - SR 727
Three of my dishes with Norsat DRO's can't lock using a PCI card blindscan program but when I use non-blindscan software that supports decimal frequency entry, I can adjust the frequency to 3754.xxx and get a lock. manual entry would be the only place I'd expect to have or see decimal frequency as that would be the only way to add a digital signal to the receiver that blind scan missed.

Minnesota Public Radio 99w - 3744 H 0741 - Manual scans and logs all audio services. The TP doesn't Blind Scan. It would be nice if the option was available to lower the blind scan minimum SR to 700.

101w - 3574 V 0727 - Manual scan does not log, but it shows Signal Quality lock on he transponder. Tried +/-1MHz and it did not log any services. Recorded a .ts of this transponder and posted up for their review. Be cool if >999 KS/s SR transponder would blind scan and then log!

Brian, I am talking about the manual entry of channels not the blind scan part.
on 103W you have the Muzak channels on the Microspace tp. Those are all manual entry channels from pid 7496 to 7595.
The only way I have found to enter those are to ..
hit "OK" then the blue button, click on Edit Service, then click on the Green Button to Add service.

The Muzak channels do not scan in on any receiver that I know of the ordinary way.

I am using version Halo_V1.0.7.0_935 from July 28th.

Sorry! Understand now... Agreed! The manual add a channel's Satellite List should default to the satellite that you are currently viewing. That is frustrating!

 

[bobvick]

Probably might have been answered earlier, but will the HDVR3500 work with a Logitech Harmony One?

 

[goaliebob99]

Is there an overview of what this thing can and cant do. I am thinking about picking one of these up.

 

[Titanium]

Is there an overview of what this thing can and cant do. I am thinking about picking one of these up.

Other than the last 148 posts? Not yet.... No specs or description have been released.

Most of us are still testing and posting while discovering the capabilities and limitations. I put the unit at 95%+. Not to take away from the positive updates that have been released in the past few weeks since this thread was started. Some minor code tweaks are still needed, but what it is, is very impressive!

 

[ThisBUDs4U]

Can I buy subscription channels and play them on this too?

 

[Martyn]

Can I buy subscription channels and play them on this too?

Neither of the two big U.S. pay TV services support use of third party boxes. I'm not sure about niche services for certain diaspora.

The unit has a physical slot for a conditional access card, but I don't think there's an actual card reader in the unit. The software in this version might not support that anyway. You're probably best asking the service provider what boxes they recommend or re-post on her with details of what you want to subscribe to.

 

[Martyn]

Most of us are still testing and posting while discovering the capabilities and limitations. I put the unit at 95%+. Not to take away from the positive updates that have been released in the past few weeks since this thread was started. Some minor code tweaks are still needed, but what it is, is very impressive!

I upgraded to the new firmware and I seem to be getting closed captions a lot more reliably on many channels. What about you Brian?

I don't rely on CC, but I reckon that if I did, I'd want the text a little larger. It's quite small.

 

[ThisBUDs4U]

Neither of the two big U.S. pay TV services support use of third party boxes. I'm not sure about niche services for certain diaspora.

The unit has a physical slot for a conditional access card, but I don't think there's an actual card reader in the unit. The software in this version might not support that anyway. You're probably best asking the service provider what boxes they recommend or re-post on her with details of what you want to subscribe to.

No, I mean the pay channels for big dish. Not the mini dish providers.

 

[Titanium]

Closed Caption is much morer reliable on the new 7/28 firmware. I am seeing EIA608 Closed Captioning on many channels, but no EIA708 type. That is why the CC banner indicates CC, but there is none on channels like the NBC and ABC feeds.

CC is on most SD channels that are distributed for broadcast as they use EIA608 which is embedded in line 21 of the video. On the previous firmware both EIA608 and 708 were active, but intermittently displayed. The font is quite small. Hopefully the font size is increased. If they fully implement EIA708, the user can define size, font color, background transparency/color.

 

[Martyn]

No, I mean the pay channels for big dish. Not the mini dish providers.

Oh, I don't know much about these, but I think the only boxes that work are the old and refurbished Digicipher II receivers. Someone else can properly answer this.

 

[N6BY]

Is there an overview of what this thing can and cant do. I am thinking about picking one of these up.

Adding to what Titanium said a few posts earlier:
1) Its a quad-core linux box with 256MB of DDR3 RAM, 256MB of NAND flash, WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI, Component, a serial port (LOL), and 2 USB 2.0 ports. A 3rd USB port is inside the box with a 64GB flash memory stick plugged in (for recordings and time shifting).
2) I think it is currently the most capable STB for satellite radio since it can receive 8PSK ACM (on 125W) and scan more than 32 PIDs per transponder.
3) It has XBMC, YouTube, and some other apps.
4) Its one of the few satellite boxes that does a good job of keeping the correct time.

What I think it needs:
1) More RAM (but that would require a new circuit board since its soldered on). The Amiko A3 has 1 GB, this just 256MB. Will 256MB be enough for Kodi?
2) The ability to stream to other devices on a local network. A SAT->IP server like the Amiko Mini HD SE has would be great. I understand that they are working on that.
3) Bug fixes and some interface refinements, especially for manually entering PIDs.
4) A complete rewrite of the manual. The current one appears to be written for a different configuration (Europe?). It mentions things that the unit doesn't currently do, and doesn't fully explain some things that it can.

 

[Martyn]

Adding to what Titanium said a few posts earlier:
1) Its a quad-core linux box with 256MB of DDR3 RAM, 256MB of NAND flash, WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI, Component, a serial port (LOL), and 2 USB 2.0 ports. A 3rd USB port is inside the box with a 64GB flash memory stick plugged in (for recordings and time shifting).
2) I think it is currently the most capable STB for satellite radio since it can receive 8PSK ACM (on 125W) and scan more than 32 PIDs per transponder.
3) It has XBMC, YouTube, and some other apps.
4) Its one of the few satellite boxes that does a good job of keeping the correct time.

What I think it needs:
1) More RAM (but that would require a new circuit board since its soldered on). The Amiko A3 has 1 GB, this just 256MB. Will 256MB be enough for Kodi?
2) The ability to stream to other devices on a local network. A SAT->IP server like the Amiko Mini HD SE has would be great. I understand that they are working on that.
3) Bug fixes and some interface refinements, especially for manually entering PIDs.
4) A complete rewrite of the manual. The current one appears to be written for a different configuration (Europe?). It mentions things that the unit doesn't currently do, and doesn't fully explain some things that it can.

This appears to be the base model: http://vivant.en.alibaba.com/produc...H_264_HD_Receiver_xbmc_receptor_satelite.html

The hardware could have been customized, so that's not necessarily the correct specs.

 

[N6BY]

This appears to be the base model: http://vivant.en.alibaba.com/produc...H_264_HD_Receiver_xbmc_receptor_satelite.html

The hardware could have been customized, so that's not necessarily the correct specs.

As Bill Clinton would say "I feel your pain".

Sorry, only 256MB RAM. The RAM and flash specs in my previous post are what I have. I looked in the box shortly after I got it and was a bit disappointed to see that it has a Hynix H5TQ2G63FFR DDR3 chip (2 Gigabit) and a Hynix H27U2G8F2CTR NAND flash (also 2 Gigabit).

2 Gigabits = 256MB.

Here's a photo of my STB info screen which confirms that in the model number containing 'N256' and 'DDR256':

 

[FTA4PA]

No, I mean the pay channels for big dish. Not the mini dish providers.

You'll need to be able to 'see' 105W. Before you jump in you should understand a few things. You will be buying used equipment for these channels since the receivers are no longer made. Some models used are DSR920, DSR922 & DSR405. If you choose to go ahead, make sure you don't buy one with a bad battery, especially if you get one somewhere other than Skyvision. This holds the unit ID info used to activate subscriptions and once dead the unit can't be subcribed. There are also a limited number of channels available and availability does change. Not trying to steer you away just wanted you to know the caveats up front. If you are still interested, the company thats sells subscriptions is Skyvision. There have been several threads where members receive FTA channels and subscribe to their channel packages so try searching the threads for Skyvision. Here is their website: http://skyvision.com/programming/ and http://skyvision.com/store/Receivers.html