Review: Azbox Elite HD FTA Receiver

I will likely be installing a c/ku-band system in the near future. I was wondering if this would be a good unit to choose if I want to be able to receive HD. Would you all recommend this or is there something better now?
 
I guess this thing really is in beta. Sometimes the volume control quits working until I do a complete reboot of the box and now some stuff doesn't show a signal quality on a TP but a TP scan locks on a signal on the TP. Sometimes I lose channels and then they mysteriously reappear. I don't know if the 2880 firmware fixes these problems but I guess I'll do the upgrade to find out.
 
Can someone please summarize the Pros and Cons of this receiver.
Pros: A DVB-S2 4:2:2 DVR Satellite Receiver for under $5000.00
Cons: No Blind Scan, "Klunky" Menus, High Bit Rate Recording not working, No "AAC" Sound

Should we sell it, or not bother?
I would. Honestly, if you can be competitive with the other sellers at about $285 with shipping.
Especially now, College and Pro Football Season. :)
 
Is there a way to set the timers to go to a specific program or is this a future addition? From what I've been able to determine, you can tell the unit to turn off or on but you can't select a program channel. It makes no sense to provide a timer function without allowing you to select a specific program/channel.
 
Is there a way to set the timers to go to a specific program or is this a future addition?
Are you talking about setting a Timer for recording?

Also, remember that the Firmware is still in Beta Testing, so many options are a little rough
 
Are you talking about setting a Timer for recording?

Not necessarily. I'm just trying to make it easier for the wife to operate the system. Too many remote controls and devices to operate. Without getting too detailed, some of the components are downstairs and some upstairs. Sometimes even I get confused. :)
 
Pros: A DVB-S2 4:2:2 DVR Satellite Receiver for under $5000.00
Cons: No Blind Scan, "Klunky" Menus, High Bit Rate Recording not working, No "AAC" Sound


I would. Honestly, if you can be competitive with the other sellers at about $285 with shipping.
Especially now, College and Pro Football Season. :)

Sadoun,
I love the Azbox, but for me , it's a specialty box, for the feeds that nothing else can tune. I think you need an HD offering in your receivers section, but I question whether AZbox will ever get out of Beta stage. I bought mine from Rick's at $379 and consider it a bargain at the price. I trust Rick's support as I would yours or SatAV's, and I'm willing to pay more for that security ( and to support people who support this hobby).
:)
 
Ever since I got my Elite my wife and I haven't used either the Coolsat or Viewsat. We love it.

The only thing I want to figure out how to do (and I know it's doable) is stream the sat stream to another computer from the Azbox so we can watch HD on the laptop and ditch the TV on our dresser.
 
The only thing I want to figure out how to do (and I know it's doable) is stream the sat stream to another computer from the Azbox so we can watch HD on the laptop and ditch the TV on our dresser.
Nope, not doable yet. Will it ever be, who knows.
 
Sadoun,
I love the Azbox, but for me , it's a specialty box, for the feeds that nothing else can tune. I think you need an HD offering in your receivers section, but I question whether AZbox will ever get out of Beta stage.

Thanks for the feedback and the suggestion. I agree we need to offer an HD receiver. Fortec has been slow to offer one to the market. The word from them to me lately, they will have one soon within the next couple of months. I hope so, since I really like the Fortec receivers for performance reliability and long term durability.

I bought mine from Rick's at $379 and consider it a bargain at the price. I trust Rick's support as I would yours or SatAV's, and I'm willing to pay more for that security ( and to support people who support this hobby).
:)

Rick is a great guy to deal with. I have talked with him on the phone a few times in the past and he comes across as a very decent man.
 
Thanks for the feedback and the suggestion. I agree we need to offer an HD receiver. Fortec has been slow to offer one to the market. The word from them to me lately, they will have one soon within the next couple of months. I hope so, since I really like the Fortec receivers for performance reliability and long term durability.
I realize this is a satellite forum, but to me having an integrated ATSC tuner is a plus (especially if it could display PSIP in the EPG). Part of the fun of the hobby is finding programming, the other part is not paying for it. :D The same could be said for ATSC with some of the re-emerging interest in long distance OTA.
 
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Ever since I got my Elite my wife and I haven't used either the Coolsat or Viewsat. We love it.

The only thing I want to figure out how to do (and I know it's doable) is stream the sat stream to another computer from the Azbox so we can watch HD on the laptop and ditch the TV on our dresser.

That would be nice, but what I really want is to be able to stream TO the Azbox, not FROM it. This should also be doable, but at least for high bitrate stuff, will probably have to wait until they remove the recording limits, as I'm guessing that receiving a stream will probably share the same routines as playback from recording.
 
Thanks for the feedback and the suggestion. I agree we need to offer an HD receiver. Fortec has been slow to offer one to the market. The word from them to me lately, they will have one soon within the next couple of months. I hope so, since I really like the Fortec receivers for performance reliability and long term durability.

not to knock Fortec but I have one word about that "soon" ;)

PASSION

That was suppose to come here what 2 years ago? Was gonna have 4:2:2 capability. That ended up being vaporware :(
 
not to knock Fortec but I have one word about that "soon" ;)

PASSION

That was suppose to come here what 2 years ago? Was gonna have 4:2:2 capability. That ended up being vaporware :(

After doing a few beta test on the unit, Fortec felt the PASSION is not ready for the NA market. They have decided not to bring it in half a** and have problems with it not performing as desired. So, I agree with their decision, if a receiver is not ready, why introduce it?
 
WHY you say............MONEY

I got my AZBox Elete last Friday and it is everything that they say about what it will do. Would be nice to have blind scan however the Pros vs the Cons didn't stop me from buying it. Yes I paid the price and got it from Rick. Yes I looked on Fleabay but didn't like the words "No Return" on some of the vendors so went with reliability. The way I looked at it some of those must be clones on Fleabay.

Todd
 

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