This may not rate as a complete review, but maybe it will be helpful to someone. I decided to try the Ultra, that I've had for one year, and generally pleased with, against the Traxis 3500 that I bought about 2 months back.
I realized I was not getting the best blind scan after all once I started up the Traxis. It has found channels the Ultra doesn't recognize at all on a scan.
What I mean, is the low symbol rate signals. In the test I used the ABC feed on G10 at 12104, SR 2222, the Correctional Education channel also on G10, 12135 SR 2666. Neither channel I even knew existed until the Traxis came along. It finds both on a blind scan, displays them without annoying breakups. The Ultra doesn't see the channels on a blind scan, nor will it display them without breaking up, to the point that they are unwatchable.(the VS does 'find' the channel if you enter the transponder info manually, but its too unstable to watch)
There are 2 low SR channels on AMC6, both religious, one has a SR of 1666, the lowest of any I have found, both found/display properly with the Traxis but ignored by the VS. Again, the VS will locate both if manually added transponder info is input, but both are unwatchable, break up badly.
Also found a new Spanish station, or new to me, on AMC5 at 11900H, SR 2170. Traxis found on BS and displays without problem, VS only if manually added to the transponder list, this one it will display without breaking apart.
This was all done on a 1m primestar, stock primestar lnbf tonite around 11-12mid.
It seems the traxis outplays the VS, does better blind scans, and cost a hell of a lot less! A high-stability lnbf might make a small difference, but it appears the Viewsat mostly ignores anything with a SR less than 3600 on a blind scan, can display some channels with lower rates if the info is manually entered, and has no problem with high SR channels (won't lock up even on high SR-HD channels even though it's a SD box). Anything in the average symbol rate range, is found/stored and displays properly.
The Traxis will sometimes lock up on high SR signals, but overall it outperforms the Ultra in my opinion.
I realized I was not getting the best blind scan after all once I started up the Traxis. It has found channels the Ultra doesn't recognize at all on a scan.
What I mean, is the low symbol rate signals. In the test I used the ABC feed on G10 at 12104, SR 2222, the Correctional Education channel also on G10, 12135 SR 2666. Neither channel I even knew existed until the Traxis came along. It finds both on a blind scan, displays them without annoying breakups. The Ultra doesn't see the channels on a blind scan, nor will it display them without breaking up, to the point that they are unwatchable.(the VS does 'find' the channel if you enter the transponder info manually, but its too unstable to watch)
There are 2 low SR channels on AMC6, both religious, one has a SR of 1666, the lowest of any I have found, both found/display properly with the Traxis but ignored by the VS. Again, the VS will locate both if manually added transponder info is input, but both are unwatchable, break up badly.
Also found a new Spanish station, or new to me, on AMC5 at 11900H, SR 2170. Traxis found on BS and displays without problem, VS only if manually added to the transponder list, this one it will display without breaking apart.
This was all done on a 1m primestar, stock primestar lnbf tonite around 11-12mid.
It seems the traxis outplays the VS, does better blind scans, and cost a hell of a lot less! A high-stability lnbf might make a small difference, but it appears the Viewsat mostly ignores anything with a SR less than 3600 on a blind scan, can display some channels with lower rates if the info is manually entered, and has no problem with high SR channels (won't lock up even on high SR-HD channels even though it's a SD box). Anything in the average symbol rate range, is found/stored and displays properly.
The Traxis will sometimes lock up on high SR signals, but overall it outperforms the Ultra in my opinion.
