verizon wireless,Fios TV,BlackBerry,o2 phones,Palm,Tmobile, verizon,iPhone,PDA,Comcast,AT&T,HD Receiver,Dish TV,Dish Network,Direct TV,Home Theater,Freesat

Archive for October, 2009

HDTV Tuner LG DVR

October 31st, 2009 zou

HDTV increasingly expanding horizons,the role of independent HDTV tuner has diminished but certainly not disappeared. Of course, this year, the FCC ordered TV manufacturers to start incorporating internal ATSC tuner to a new 36-inch-or-more TV that has NTSC tuner, but what if you have built your home theater around a high-end projector or a flat panel with no internal tuners? Sure, the satellite and cable companies are offering more HDTV content by the minute and adding DVRs to their new HD set-top boxes, but that doesn’t help the person who can’t have a satellite dish, isn’t getting much (if any) HDTV from their cable company, or doesn’t want to pay a monthly fee to watch and record HDTV.

If you fit into any of the above categories,LG Electronics new LST-3410A is worth a look. This attractive silver box contains an ATSC and an NTSC tuner to pull in over-the-air signals, a QAM tuner to decode unencrypted cable channels, and a 120-gigabyte hard drive. The TV Guide On Screen user interface unites them in a user-friendly package that both the novice and veteran will appreciate.

Making the Connection
Setting up the LST-3410A is a breeze. The owner’s manual is logically laid out and thorough, but LG includes a Quick Setup Guide to make the process that much easier. Just connect the tuner to your HD display via the component, RGB, or DVI output, connect your indoor or outdoor antenna’s RF cable to the Ant In RF input, and choose an audio connection to your TV or audio system.

If you want to pass standard-def digital or analog cable signals through the LST-3410A to utilize its DVR, you can use either the second RF input or one of the tuner’s A/V input sets; LG recommends the latter if your cable box has A/V outputs. Not surprisingly, there’s no component or DVI input to feed your HD cable box’s signals through this box, but I was a bit surprised that the box doesn’t at least offer an S-video input for slightly better signals from your cable box. However, many standard-def cable boxes don’t give you anything better than composite anyhow, so it’s not a critical omission.

After you power on the unit, you need to make sure it’s configured to match your TV, which is a no-brainer, thanks to the clearly labeled front-panel buttons. Use the Display Format button to first select your video connection (DVI, component, etc.—only one output is active at a time) and then your desired resolution—in my case, 720p to match the Epson TW100 (LCD) and Sharp XV-Z12000 (DLP) projector I used for this review. The large front-panel display always shows what resolution and output type you’ve selected, how much hard-disk space you’ve used, and other useful info. It’s a vast improvement over early generation boxes that offered only a power light on the front panel.

Lastly, the onscreen interface walks you through a simple process to set up the TV Guide On Screen program guide and prompts you to run your first channel scan a relatively quick endeavor, even when I included digital cable channels in the scan. After that, you’re good to go, but you need to turn off the LST-3410A overnight to let it download the necessary program info. (After the initial download, you can leave it on all the time.)

The Tuners
The LST-3410A did a commendable job of tuning in and holding HDTV over-the-air signals, both with an inexpensive RCA indoor antenna in my apartment and with a rooftop antenna at our testing facility. It didn’t find as many channels as a few tuners that have passed through our doors, but its performance was on par with most and better than some. At home, the initial scan didn’t find the Fox and UPN DTV channels; at the studio, it didn’t find ABC, UPN, and PBS. However, it did a reasonably good job of holding the signal once it found it—more so with the rooftop antenna than the indoor one, which isn’t terribly powerful and often loses the signal when police helicopters circle my neighborhood (an all-too-frequent occurrence, I’m afraid—no, really, I’m afraid).

Adding channels is easy with the Channel Edit function: A numerical grid appears onscreen, and you select the channels you want. If you’re uncertain where a channel falls in your local UHF/VHF band, go to www.antennaweb.org to get this info. For instance, in Los Angeles, Fox is on channel 11, but their DTV feed is on channel 65. Once you add the number, if the tuner can find a signal, it will label the “DTV channel” by its common local delineation (i.e., 11-1, not 65). I successfully added Fox but couldn’t tune in UPN at home or our studio. I never got ABC or PBS at the studio, but I received strong signals for these channels at home, which likely means the problem was with the rooftop antenna’s orientation. I recommend that you do your homework about signal locations before putting up a rooftop antenna.

The DVR
The LST-3410A’s 120-GB DVR doesn’t have all the gee-whiz features you get with a TiVo or ReplayTV unit, but it also doesn’t cost anything extra or tie up your phone line. It can record up to 12 hours of  HDTV; with SDTV, you can choose between four picture-quality settings for up to 120 hours of recorded content.

The hard drive doesn’t automatically back up programming the way TiVo does; you must hit the remote’s Time Shift button to begin the backup process that allows you to pause, rewind, and fast-forward pseudo-live TV. Once you end a Time Shift session, the last 30 minutes of saved content will remain on the hard drive until you begin another Time Shift session.

The TV Guide On Screen program guide contains eight days of programming info and kindly lists SD and HD channels on the same grid, grouping the HD channels at the bottom of the lineup. The guide is easy to maneuver and customize. If you see a show you want to watch or record, just select it; the LST-3410A will figure out if it’s an antenna or cable broadcast and take care of the rest.

You can access a recorded program by hitting the Program List button on the remote; in addition to providing a list of the recorded shows, this screen tells you how much room is left on the hard drive. Unlike its fee-based counterparts, the LST-3410A’s DVR won’t let you begin watching a program that’s still recording or watch one recorded program while it records another; again, we’re talking pretty basic functionality here.

But How Does It Look?
In terms of color and detail, HDTV content looked wonderful from both the DVI and component outputs with the projectors I used. It was difficult to conduct an A/B comparison because the two outputs aren’t active at the same time, but the DVI signal appeared to be just a hair sharper. I also saw no discernible difference between a live HD broadcast and a recorded one. Overall, I was quite pleased.

Fun with FireWire
The LST-3410A features two four-pin FireWire ports, to which you can connect a D-VHS player or a few compatible camcorders. After I connected the LG box to the JVC-HM30000U and pressed the remote’s 1394 button, I could watch and control the JVC’s signals through the LST-3410A without having to switch any connections or find other remotes. The quality of D-VHS signals didn’t appear to diminish when passed through the LST-3410A. The shuttle launch at the start of Digital Video Essentials looked absolutely stunning.

Through that FireWire connection, you can transfer content from a D-VHS tape to the LST-3410A’s hard drive, provided that content is not copy-protected. I was able to transfer PBS HD demo footage from a D-VHS tape to the hard drive, but not a segment from the Digital Video Essentials tape. Perhaps the best feature of all, though, is the ability to archive HD recordings from the hard drive to D-VHS for permanent storage; not only is this a rare and much-desired ability in an HD device right now, but it couldn’t be easier to do than it is with the LST-3410A.

Living Easy
Easy is the best word to describe the LST-3410A: It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and easy to get used to. It’s also the perfect HDTV source component for the person who hates monthly fees. For $1,299 and the price of a good antenna, you can enjoy over-the-air HDTV (and NTSC, for that matter) without paying a cable or satellite company, and you can experiment with a basic DVR. For those of us who are committed to paying too much for cable or satellite, the LST-3410A would make a great second tuner for recording one HDTV program while watching another.

HDTV tuner may not hold the place of prominence they once did, but the LST-3410A’s performance and its DVR and FireWire perks make it a viable and valuable piece of the HD puzzle.

Posted in HDTV Receiver Tags: , Comments Off

File-based Distribution and Broadcasting

October 31st, 2009 zou

File-based distribution and broadcasting provides a non-traditional approach to traditional video and audio broadcast applications. The move to an asynchronous transfer of content and playout is a big departure for an industry built around distributing linear programming via satellite. A file-based broadcasting model brings efficient use of bandwidth and streamlined downlink operations, which leads to greater programming flexibility and significant cost savings.

There are many benefits to file-based broadcasting, but adopting this type of business model requires a commitment to a new way of thinking. It’s not just about delivery at the network level  file-based broadcasting also affects how content is played at the local level. Program elements are distributed to each location, then played (and replayed) as needed. The file-based design of the model is critical to its success.

One of the most dramatic changes broadcasters will notice immediately with file-based broadcasting is a significant reduction of bandwidth requirements. In a linear-based distribution model, repetitive content means repetitive transmission of that content. Every time a particular movie or program episode is aired or each time a song is played in a programming block, it has to be redistributed.

Consider a television broadcaster that fills a 24-hour daily schedule with repetitive hour or two hour blocks of programming. If those program blocks are simply identical to the original program block or they are scheduled to match different time zones, the network is essentially paying to retransmit multiple hours of content every day. They also miss out on additional regional marketing opportunities.

Another example of wasted bandwidth is a radio network that plays top 40 hits. If the hottest hit of the week is a four-minute song programmed to play every 90 minutes or so, that means the same song is replayed about 16 times a day. That’s more than an hour of transmission time each day – and more than seven hours that week — to play the same four-minute song at different times throughout the on-air schedule.

By adopting a file-based broadcasting model, there is no longer a need to redistribute repetitive content. The distribution model builds on satellite network control systems to allow operators to both pre-position repetitive content at each downlink and send commands for playout when required. To do this, each affiliate is equipped with a device that combines “satellite receiver” and media server functionality.

The model takes advantage of a network control system’s ability to command a group of receivers. Expanding the ability to manipulate an affiliate database to create multiple groups or sub-sets of receivers enables operators to setup the delivery of playlists, regional advertisements or targeted programming to specific receivers. Then, using playlists, operators control what content is played, in what order, and at what time.

When you consider the amount of content that is repeated on quarterly or annual basis, it’s easy to see how quickly a file-based approach can save on transmission costs.

Another reduction in bandwidth requirements comes from transmitting some, or all, programming content in non-realtime. Content is now just a data transfer of a file that will be broadcast at a later time. As a result, it can be distributed at non-peak times or trickle-fed, which can shave off even more transmission costs an important consideration particularly for video broadcasters, as the demand for bandwidth-hungry high definition content continues to increase.

File-based broadcasting naturally extends from production, where file-based workflows are currently replacing tape-based environments. A central network operator can efficiently move finished media content into the distribution pipe and manage targeted delivery to multiple sites. It opens the door for the use of more custom programming, regional advertising and, in the case of radio, custom radio announcements and station callouts. Combining content collection and playout functionality for all national and localized content into one box at an “affiliate site” reduces operational complexity and improves production scheduling capabilities at the network level.

Of course, it might not be feasible for an entire network to discard all of its existing hardware at each affiliate, backward compatibility is possible to ease the transition. New file-based broadcasting solutions are designed to work with existing local ad servers and to cue local devices. File-based broadcasting also does not mean the end of local or live programming. In fact, it fully supports the blending of live and file-based content at the local level. For example, the new technology can provide automatic time zone shifting allowing network affiliates to record a live program feed, but automatically play it out at the correct time several hours later.

An additional benefit is the ability to offer new loss of signal (LOS) strategies to affiliates. A network can save consumers from experiencing dead air by utilizing the receiver/server’s ability to automatically switch to locally stored content during a period a live feed is not available, either due to signal loss or encryption. The network can regularly update this LOS content and associated playlist to keep it timely and, even locally, relevant.

File-based broadcasting can also improve productivity in teleports and digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) applications. For teleports, file-based broadcasting streamlines the process of ingesting and broadcasting client material, plus it increases opportunities to help clients tailor broadcasts to their affiliates. For DSNG, decoder/server units make it easy for affiliates to receive and record live feeds for later use. Plus, feeds can be augmented with pre-packaged media assets filled with related materials (graphics, scripts, web video, archival footage, etc.) from a network to affiliates for local news coverage.

The file-based distribution and broadcast model is a gateway to cost savings at the network and local levels for any video and audio broadcaster. The reduction of bandwidth usage for repetitive material can be significant, while the digital workflow can reduce operational complexity. Meanwhile, the handoff from production becomes more efficient and programming options at the network and affiliate levels more flexible. It is a logical next step for broadcasters managing video or audio, from ingest, through archive, targeted delivery, and playout.

WEGENER’s file-based broadcasting solution builds on a linear satellite network to allow operators to pre-position repetitive content at each downlink and control later playout, while mixing in live broadcasting segments. The solution includes a range of devices that combine satellite receiver with media server functionality called iPump® media servers and the corresponding network control products to manage distribution and digital assets.

Each iPump model features an integrated satellite receiver decoder that allows it to record or playout live streams and IP encapsulated files. It can also connect to a local area network for non-realtime file delivery, control and monitoring.

The WEGENER video iPump media servers handle MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video files for commercial broadcasters or private networks, while the WEGENER audio iPump media server is specifically designed to support regionalized affiliate radio broadcasts.

Posted in Satellite Receiver Tags: Comments Off

Home Theater Denon AVR-989 A/V receiver

October 29th, 2009 zou

Denon has achieved a strong reputation and good enough in the ongoing wrestling match which is A/V receiver market for several years. And has done this by sending a stream of well-performing product, especially at rational prices. Denon is the latest from the pressure cooker recipe is the Denon AVR-989, which manages to pile on functions and features while coming it at just $200 over the magical $1,000 price point.

The AVR-989 eschews the fancy high-def color graphical displays that are becoming common on receivers, contenting itself instead with a rather dated-looking  but perfectly functional black-and-white text menu system. It also omits the home-network connectivity and media-player functionality that is fast becoming standard on up-market receivers.

What this new Denon does offer is the full palette of Audyssey-licensed audio processing. These include MultEQ XT auto setup/room equalization; Dynamic EQ, for massaging equalization and relative channel levels on the fly so that a movie soundtrack will retain its integrity when listened to at lower-than-reference-level settings; and Dynamic Volume, a “smart leveler” that adapts the receiver’s master-volume setting to changes in the source or program signal (including those damn infomercials).
SETUP

Audyssey’s MultEQ XT setup routine is by now a familiar one: plug in the mike, call up the Setup screen, and hit Go. To perform the second step, you have to invert the AVR-989’s remote and flip open the bottom panel to reveal keys that are mostly used for setup and tweaking. The routine includes moving the included mike to various positions (as many as eight) within the listening area. Rinse and repeat.

As usual, MultEQ XT’s results proved reliable, with just about spot-on channel levels and crossovers. The Denon adjusted my dipole surrounds a dB or so too high, but every robotic setter-upper I’ve used does this. In truth, you almost always have to tweak dipoles by ear anyway.
MUSIC & MOVIE PERFORMANCE

It didn’t take me long to confirm that the AVR-989 maintains the Denon-receiver tradition of excellent-quality amplifiers. Its rated 115-watt (stereo) output proved easily able to drive my medium-sensitivity full-range front speakers to realistic levels with truly elevated sound quality, eliciting the clarity, impact, and detail of which I know they’re capable. Multichannel music was even better. The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack on the Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City Blu-ray Disc is a magnificent surround production. Just listening to the opening crowd noise and then the open-tuned drone introducing “Bartender” offered enough proof that the Denon was more than capable of reproducing this production’s spatial and tonal richness.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has a world-class soundtrack, and the Denon again handled the DVD’s wide-ranging demands, delivering pristine music, dialogue, and effects with ease. For example, the dense spatial activity in the exam-room fireworks scene was wonderfully represented, with outstanding dynamic “pop” and transparency.

Denon uses Faroudja processing for the AVR-989’s analog video paths, a reliable solution that in this case delivers deinterlacing and rescaling of analog video up to 1080p format by way of the HDMI output. As usual, this processor passed my eyes-on tests without a hitch, delivering crisp, full-resolution, artifact-free images.

The Short Form
$1,199 / USA.DENON.COM / 201-762-6665
Snapshot
Outstanding audio performance outweighs basic onscreen displays
and limited video processing in
Denon’s newest receiver
Plus
• Excellent overall audio performance
• Good analog-video processing
• Accurate auto-setup and calibration, and useful room/speaker EQ correction
Minus
• Onscreen graphics are a bit slow, and aren’t available with all video signal formats and inputs
• Video scaling limited to analog video inputs, with HDMI-only output
Key Features
• 7 x 115 watts (1 or 2 channels driven)
• (4) HDMI 1.3a inputs, (1) output
• Upconverts component-, composite-, and S-video signals to 1080p via HDMI
• Decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and multichannel SACD
• Audyssey MultEQ XT auto-setup/equalization with supplied microphone
• Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Loudness level- and volume-correction
• XM/Sirius satellite-radio-ready
• iPod input and control via optional dock
•Assignable front biamp or powered
Zone 2 amp channels
• (3) Quick Select presets store source and mode adjustments
• IR in/out, 2x 12v trigger, RS-232
serial port
• 17 1⁄8 x 6 7⁄8 x 10 3⁄8 in, 28 1⁄4 lb

Posted in Home Theater Tags: , Comments Off

Home Theater Sony STR-DA5400ES A/V receiver

October 27th, 2009 zou

Last few years, we have witnessed a procession of seemingly endless new audio and video technology. From the HDMI connection to a growing array of Dolby and DTS surround sound mode, it reached the point where people on the lookout for new A/V receivers need to shop with a lengthy checklist of must-have features. But things appear to have finally settled down, with most new receiver offerings letting you tick off all of those essential feature boxes.

Sony’s STR-DA6400ES

A good example of this new breed of fully up-to-date receivers is Sony’s STR-DA5400ES, which sits one step under the company’s flagship STR-DA6400ES. Both models come with similar feature sets and performance, the main difference being that the 6400ES is DLNA-compatible and can stream high-def video over a home network. Otherwise, the 5400ES has the key bases covered, with Faroudja DCDi video processing, six HDMI 1.3 inputs, and dual HDMI outputs for sending HDTV programs to two separate displays. (Picture resolution for second-zone video maxes out at 1080i.) Audio formats are fully covered, too, with onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and even DSD (SACD). While it lacks the flagship model’s networking prowess, the 5400ES can distribute high-def video to another room over CAT-5e cable, and can even provide a third zone with 2-channel analog audio.

At 7 x 120 watts, the Sony receiver rated power is a bit less than what you can get with some similarly priced competitors, although it should be plenty unless you have a huge home theater or hideously insensitive speakers. Additionally, if your plans call for a simple 5.1-channel setup — as opposed to a 7.1-channel one  the 5400ES lets you reassign those two extra amp channels either to power a second zone or as duplicate front channels for speaker biamping.

SETUP

With binding posts that accept either bare wire or banana plugs for all seven channels, hooking up my 7.1-channel speaker array to the Sony was a snap. I also connected my Blu-ray Disc player and cable box/DVR by way of HDMI, along with a Sony Digital Media Port iPod dock, an XM satellite-radio tuner module, and an Oppo DVD/SACD player so I could investigate the Sony’s upscaling and DSD input features.

Sony’s Xross Media Bar onscreen menu is attractive, and once you get the hang of navigating it, you’ll find it simple enough to step through the receiver’s setup without cracking open a manual. The supplied calibration microphone is unusual in that it uses two elements spaced a few inches apart to get a better handle on speaker positioning and room reflections. Along with the normal level, phase, crossover, and frequency-response calculations, the mike allows the receiver to determine the angle between your front speakers. It then uses this information to calibrate some of the surround modes to match the front-speaker placement.
Rather than use an established system like Audyssey, Sony has its own automated setup routine that can store measurements made from three different mike positions. While some receivers calculate room correction based on readings from several points, Sony’s setup only lets you select one stored “position” at a time. What’s good here, though, is that you get the option to correct all speakers for a flat response, correct them to a target curve, or match the center and surrounds using your front left and right speakers as a reference. Personally, I rather like the way my PSB Synchrony tower speakers perform, so I mostly stuck with the Sony’s Front Reference mode or left the equalization off altogether.

The Short Form
$2,000 / SONYSTYLE.COM

Snapshot
Sony’s near-flagship A/V receiver covers
all the bases with its host of performance-enhancing audio features

Plus
• Bang-up-to-date audio processing
• Superb analog video processing
• Enough inputs to accommodate even the largest systems

Minus
• No HD Radio
• No network connections
• No HDMI upconversion

Key Features
• 7 x 120 watts
• 6 HDMI 1.3 inputs, 2 HDMI outputs
• Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DSD (SACD) decoding
• Dual Faroudja DCDi video processors
• Automated speaker setup and calibration
• XM satellite radio-ready
• Can send HD video over CAT-5e cable (requires optional CAT-5e-to-component-video adapter)
• Compatible with 1080/24p video sources
• Phono input, (3) IR ports (2 in, 1 out),
RS-232 serial control port, multichannel analog audio input, (2) Sony Digital Media Port inputs, (3) 12v triggers
• 16¼ x 6¾ x 16 in, 34½ lb

Posted in Home Theater Tags: , , Comments Off

Software AB IPBox Receiver

October 17th, 2009 zou

Enigma Alternative Firmware for AB IPBox HD
Why would someone consider installing an alternative firm are to a satellite receiver now a days? If we take a look in the past, some 10 or 15 years ago it really made sence. When mass public conference call service providers satellite television started to appear in Europe, satellite DXers and enthusiasts who wanted to see “almost everything”, had not much choice in receivers. Being seriously limited with its original firmware,a receiver fully unlock edits potential only after being upgraded with an alternative image file.Although its interface couldn’t be called user friendly, alternative firmware in the old days made possible the SCPC reception, PID entering and much more. It was a real revolution back then.

But enough nostalgia, we live in the 21st century now. Not just digital satellite television, but also HDTV made its way into all parts of the world. There are lots and lots of different receivers available, which would perfectly fit the needs of almost any user already with its original firmware.So does it make sense to “think alternative” today?

Especially if we are talking about powerful Linux-based HD PVR receiver. ABCom, one of the market leaders in this segment, even with the original firmware could reach such flexibility,that hardly any thing was left to be desired. And once we learned that even ABCom itself is releasing an alternative firmware for its IPBox HD receiver family, we decided to have a look and find out,what made them do so. We decided to carry out the tests on AB IPBox 910HD, although, Enigma1 is already available also for 91HD, 900HD and 9000HD as well.

Installation
The most comfortable and worry free way could be an Online Update, which normally would allow us to download the image right into the box’s memory from the Internet, however, we didn’t findEnigma1 in the list of available updates. So we had to download the image from http://download.abcom.sk and upload it via USB. To do so, first you need a USB stick,which should be formatted in FAT or FAT32 just before the image file is transferred to it. Next step is to rename the image file to usb_update.img,and“safely” remove the USB stick from your PC, stopping it in the OS you use. Now plug it into your IPBox receiver, and for some time put the remote control away now all the operations need to be done with the buttons on the front panel.

Simultaneously press “Standby” and “OK” buttons to reboot your box, then hold “Standby” and “Up” for a few seconds, releasing firstthe“Standby”,then the “Up” button. The front display should clearly read “USB Upgrade” now, and if the receiver finds the usb_update.img file on the USB stick and no extra files were left there by the user, the process should start. In some cases it might say “ER 10”, nothing is wrong, it could happen sometimes with earlier versions of boot loaders. Just try it couple of more times, and soon you’ll have the job done. Upgrading this way is safe enough, just make sure that the power is not shut off until the new image file success fully lands in the box’s memory and it’s front display says “Done”.

Following an upgrade, you’ll first see “Booting”, then “Loading”, then “Load Enigma HD”. Then just a black screen.

Strange, in case of an official firmware a nice wizard would greet us here, offer-ing to select various options. Enigma also has it, but in the current version it only appears after a “Factory Reset”. Don’t worry, just press “Menu” on the remote control, then choose “Setup” – “Expert Setup” “Factory Reset”, and you can configure the new firmware from zero right the way you’d like it. First the receiver asks you about the TV system (PAL, PAL60, Multinorm and NTSC are offered), then you can select the preferred OSD language (the on-screen menus are currently available in English, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish, French, Croatian, Hun-garian, Icelandic, Italian, Dutch, Nor-wegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Serbian, Swedish and Turkish). Third step is the time zone, with lots of sample cities to select from the dropdown box. Next menu brings three icons to the screen, which pretty much speak for themselves – “No DiSEqC”, “Simple” and “Complex”. Yes, it’s the right time to select the options of your multi-satellite system. And once you’re done with it, nothing prevents you from starting the most interesting procedure at this point the Channel Search.

Again, three options are offered here, “Automatic Transponder Scan”, “Automatic Multisat Scan” and “Manual Scan”. Unfortunately, the current beta version of Enigma1 is behind the official one here. Automatic Scan on a 100-transponder satellite position kept the receiver busy for a long 19 minutes and 30 seconds, storing 1052 TV and Radio channels.

Some work is surely still to be done here, as well as with adding new satellites and transponders to the Enigma’s database.

The built-in list of satellites is more or less up-to-date for Europe, but if, for example, you plan to receive some Asian bird, like ABS-1 at 0750, the only way now to do this is to download the satellite / transponder list from the receiver to your PC and manually edit it. The OSD allows adding new satellites and transponders, but, unfortunately, once you exit the menu, even pressing “Save”,all entered information is “forgotten”.And since the official PC Editor does not support Enigma (as it’s clearly stated in its readme file),the only choice is to use some text editor that would not ruin the Linux CR/LF in the downloaded file.Most of IPBox HD users have their receivers connected to the Internet and know the box’s IP number, if not, it’s easy to find it out go to Setup Expert Setup Communication Setup menu and make note of it, since, most likely, the receiver already automatically configured the connection.If for whatever reason it didn’t happen, all the connection parameters can be entered manually in the same menu.

Open your favorite FTP client, then enter the IP address of your IPBox HD. Once prompted for username and pass-word, enter root and ipbox respectively. Go to /var/etc directory and download satellites.xml file.First make a backup copy of it in case something goes wrong, then copy one of the existing satellites, changing the name, position and transponders to the ones you need. Note that all the frequency values are in Hz and all the symbol rates are in sps, which means three extra zeros compared to values available in SatcoDX satellite chart. Once all the changes are made, make sure there are no extra spaces, returns or letters, then save and upload the fileright to where you got the original from. If you go to Setup Service Searching – now, the new satellite becomes fully visible and available.

Probably this is the biggest problem with Enigma currently, which should be relatively easy to fix.And most European users would hardly notice it since their favorite birds are already there with quite-up-to-date transponder lists.

Enigma1 also has an Internet update function, which can be reached by accessing Setup  Expert Setup  Software Update Internet Update menu. The updating process is as easy as with official firmware,and once the new image sees the light, it can be in the memory of your box within minutes, fixing old problems and bringing new features.

While we’re still at the Installation stage, it’s worth noticing that even Enigma itself can look totally different after just a few clicks. You can swtich between several “skins”, the menu i self can appear like a “wheel” which can be moved left and right by the cursor keys, or can be easily switched back to a more traditional look. Even the buttons on the remote control can be used for different purposes by selecting a different “Remote style”. However, not to get too lost at first we would advise to stick to “Ipbox (Relook)” style at first,which copies almost all remote functions of the original firmware.

Everyday Use
If you’ve selected the above mentioned “Ipbox” remote control style in the menu, press “OK” to open the classic Enigma channel list. If you already had a chance to try out the Enigma firmware one arlier SD models of ABCom receivers, you would know that coloured buttons of the remote control play the key role here. For example, red button brings up all channels from all satellites in one list, green one first shows satellites as directories, you can open them one by one to find the channel you’d like to watch tonight. Yellow one forms the directories by providers, and the blue button opens the “Bouquets” mode, which actually means the favorite lists here. Differently from original firmware,channel list editing here could be reached by going to Setup – Service Organizing menu. And actually editing here only means the favorite lists, unfortunately, it’s not possible to delete, move or rename channels in the main list. However, maintaining the favorite lists is absolutely easy just select the “Add Services to bouquet” submenu, mark the needed channels with “OK” button and voila! You always have the needed channels in one place, without the need to endlessly browse through one of the main lists.

Channel list can be displayed in three different modes channel names would come in one column, in three columns, or, in case of “bouquets”, the left column becomes outlined, displaying the “directories”, while the rest of the screen is filled with channel names.This way,reminding some popular file managers,channels from several different favorite lists can be quickly accessed, without the need to endlessly change screens and select different lists. Pretty convinient ! Three channel list modes can be selected by repeatedly pressing the “check” (“v”) button on the remote control.

Satellite DXers would really enjoy the extended channel information screen, available at Information – Stream info menu. Channel name, provider, Video, Audio, PCR, PMT, Teletext PIDs, video format, Transponder Stream ID, Original Network ID, Service ID, Encryption systems, as well as transponder parameters are displayed here. Audio and video bitrates are available from the Bitrate Viewer plugin, accessible by clicking the Yellow button and selecting “Bitrate viewer”. Pretty helpful to find out if the channel is really HD or just pretending to be one.

Double-click on the EPG button makes the “EPG Style” menu appear, with three options – Channel EPG, Multi EPG and EPG Search. The first one displays the EPG only for the currently selected channel, line-by-line. Multi EPG brings to the screen a grid with the current and neighbouring channels. The selection that you make (Channel EPG/Multi EPG) is remembered, and next time you single-click the EPG button, the chosen EPG type would be displayed. EPG search allows looking for a specific program either in the EPG of selected channel, or on all available channels, even “Genre” can be selected here. Another serious improvement! Although, it would be nice to make the text typing a bit more user-friendly, not just by pressing “up” or “down” in the typing field,butal so in the SMS style,using the numerical buttons to enter letters, for example.

Unfortunately, at the moment it’s not possible to select specific programs for recording right in the EPG, this was mentioned in the release notes. However, manual recording timer programming is there, in the “Timer” menu. Start/stop times can easily be selected, and there IS a link to EPG here that would help you to get the proper values for beginning/end of the show you’d like to record.

PVR
Our tests were carried out on AB IPBox 910HD with a built-in HDD. The file systems of original and Enigma1 firmware are not compatible with each other, so make sure you’ve backed up all the valuable recordings before switching to the new OS. Once the Setup System Settings Harddisk Setup menu is accessed, the receiver will offer you to format the HDD so it becomes accessible from Enigma. The process doesn’t take too long and the experimenting spirit has no chance to disappear until it’s completed.

Surely the good old red circle button starts the recording right away, and the files are stored properly,regardless if SD or HD channel is recorded. Fast for-warding/pausing still needs some work to be done, but the regular playback rises no questions. The recordings are easily accessed from the wonderful “File Mode” (Menu – File Mode), which might look simple, but from the usability view-point leaves the original firmware far behind. Indeed it looks like a computer’s file system with different directories for photos, MP3s, PVR recordings and so on. Everything is so logically organized that you’ll find the needed file within seconds. But the really hot thing here is the Internet streaming radio,which was also introduced in the latest original firmware versions. In case of Enigma1, there is no need to endlessly look around and edit endless files,just get them 3u file from your favorite station, and upload it via FTP to /media/mp3.Voila, the station immediately appears in the File Mode menu. Getting access to Internet music outside of your PC has never been so easy!

Description of the glorious “File Mode” would not be complete without mentioning the “Playlist”, which stores all lately accessed recordings, files or Internet radio stations.That’s right, the receivers are no longer storing just the list of lately accessed channels, but also of all other accessed multimedia. Since we are no longer talking about just a satellite receiver, but about a really powerful computer-like device – it’s just a matter of installing the right firmware.

Web Interface
This is also something Enigma1 can be proud of. Open your favorite web browser and type in the same IP address you’ve used earlier to access the box via FTP. Being prompted for User ID/password, use root/ipbox again. Almost all receiver features can be addressed from here, even a virtual remote control can be brought to the PC’s screen. Are your kids too busy watching cartoons instead of doing their homework? You can send a “message” to the IPBox that will appear right on their TV set! Extended stream, channel, EPG and teletext information is also available via Enigma1 Web Interface in one or two mouse clicks. PVR  recording and playback can also be controlled, up-to-date information about remaining disk space is provided in the upper right part of the screen.

Conclusion
Although it’s clear that the first beta version can’t be perfect from all sides, Enigma1 is really a promising project. Computer geeks at heart and hardcore DXers would be absolutely happy with it, since it really erases the borders between a PC and a satellite receiver, unlocking the full power of the Linux-based box. And now we are not talking about some amateur project, but about the one fully supported by the manufacturer. It’s definitely worth trying out, and hopefully easy-to-install updates will follow soon, making it even more flexible,powerful and reliable.

Posted in Satellite Receiver Tags: , Comments Off

Technomate Single LNB

October 8th, 2009 zou

Technomate TM-1’s Colorful Family of Single LNBs
We all know that Technomate is one of the manufacturers of classy digital satellite and terrestrial receiver. Recently, Technomate have decided to expand their products conference call line, with Ku-Band LNB. The choice is really wide: from the single models to octo and even the monoblocks. Are they all as good as the receivers they are supposed to match? Their noise figures (0.2dBand0.1dB) are very promising but we know that only a test with real world signals can prove the value of an LNB. We started with the universal single models. We will present the other models in separate reports.


Technomate’s single LNBs are designated as TM-1. We have got 5 different versions: TM-1 0.2 dB (black color), TM-1 0.2 dB (grey color), TM-1 Super 0.2 dB (blue color), TM-1 Super High Gain (black & gold color) and TM-1 Super High Gain (gold color). The last 2 ones except for having better noise figure,had their F connectors plated with gold. Short form data sheets we found in the packages contained only the specification of the basic TM-1 model. Our test was to reveal what exactly the difference between the versions was.

The noise figures printed on TM-1 packages promise very good performance. However, it is not a secret that some manufacturers over specify their products to gain a market advantage over competition. Did Technomate follow this trend? Or perhaps their products are really the state of the art LNBs? We decided to submit them to a really hard test. We took probably the best LNB we had  the one that had out performed many other 0.3 dB and 0.2 dB models in our previous tests. At the same time this reference LNB had a high gain (high signal level at the output). Could TM-1’s match it?

We chose the Hotbird satellite fleet on 13° East our signal source. That’s because their transponders are spread all over the whole Ku-Band in both polarizations. The noise performance of the 0.2 dB versions of TM-1’s is shown in figure1and2. TM-1 0.2 dB Super model (the blue one) is surprisingly good. It defeated our reference device in almost every point of the Ku-Band! The grey model was at par being sometimes above and some-times below our reference LNB. Only the black TM-1 looked slightly worse.

The higher the gain of the LNB the higher its output power should be for the given signal. The results for the 0.2 dB TM-1 versions are shown in figures 3 and 4.

And again the blue model (Super TM-1) was the leader. Our reference LNB was no match for it. The basic TM-1 models had lower gain but still sufficient enough for the regular reception conference calling system (except for the ones using really long cables or a lot of distribution devices). Super TM-1 was really a top performer.

Having so perfect results with 0.2 dB Super TM-1, we doubted if the 0.1 dB Super High Gain version could deliver anything better. As you can see in figures 5 and 6, the noise performance of both models was better than our reference. However, if you compare them with the Super TM-1 (the blue one) presented in figures 1and 2, they are practically the same.

And what about the gain? The output power related directly to the gain is presented in figure 7 and 8.Also here, the 0.1 dB Super High Gain TM-1’s were better than our reference. The golden model was visibly better than the black & gold one but only slightly better than the 0.2 dB Super TM-1.

If we were to order the TM-1 versions starting from the best one, it would be:1. TM-1 Super High Gain 0.1 dB (gold color) 2. TM-1 Super 0.2 dB (blue color)3. TM-1 Super High Gain 0.1 dB (black and gold color)4. TM-1 0.2 dB (grey color)5. TM-1 0.2 dB (black color).

However keep in mind that while the golden model is an absolute top performer and probably the best LNB we ever tested, even the black one version is in the high class among the modern today’s devices.
You won’t regret the money if you buy one of them!

Posted in Satellite Receiver Tags: , Comments Off

SCR LNB Satellite Channel

October 7th, 2009 zou

SCR is short for Satellite Channel Router and is a specification defined in the EN 50494 standard, which applies worldwide and which is the result of joined forces between several conference call companies under the guidance of SES Astra. So what’s in it for you?

The problem SCR addresses is as old as satellite reception: Satellite signals which reach the LNB are transmitted in the 10.7 to 12.75 GHz range and are then converted by the LNB to the 950 to 2150 MHz range for transmission to the receiver via a coax cable. This limited frequency range is not wide enough for covering the full frequency band of a satellite, which is why the signals broadcast via satellite are split up into four distinct ranges.

On the one hand, we distinguish between low band and high band. The low band covers the range from 10.7 to 11.75 GHz and the high band goes from 11.8 to 12.75 GHz. Thanks to a 22 kHz control signal which is modulated using the LNB supply voltage  receivers are able to tell the connected LNBs which band the selected channel is on (no control signal = low band; 22 kHz control signal = high band).

On the other hand, there are two different polarisations, namely horizontal and vertical, or left and right respectively. Switching between the two is controlled with the LNB supply voltage. If, for example, the receiver transmits 13 V to the LNB the LNB receives the vertical (or left) polarisation, while 18 V power means the LNB will pick up horizontal (or right) signals.

From this it follows that each tuner input requires a dedicated line all the way to the LNB or multiswitch. Other-wise, the receiver will not be able to receive signals from the complete frequency range. For argument’s sake let’s assume that two receivers are hooked up to the same coax cable. If receiver A requires a vertical signal and sends 13 V to the LNB while receiver B is looking for a horizontal signal and therefore transmits 18 V via the same cable then this would result in receiver B being prioritised as the higher voltage overrules the lower voltage with regard to the selected polarisation in the LNB. And with the 22 kHz control signal it’s the same story.

So as far as satellite reception is concerned, it has been evident right from the beginning that signal distribution requires a substantial amount of planning and infrastructure. In the case of an apartment building, for instance, an individual coax cable has to be provided for each wall outlet from a central distribution point. Simply creating a cable ring that transmits signals from one outlet to the next (as is the case for terrestrial or cable TV distribution) just won’t cut it for satellite signals.

Ring distribution by definition means that a single signal access is used to distribute signals from one wall outlet to the next, no matter how many of them you need to cover. Smart planning and a signal amplifier here and there  thus are all that is required to connect dozens of apartments to cable TV.

If you’re building your own house it is of course not too difficult to make it satellite television compatible right from the start by creating a network coax cables to each room from a central access point. But what if the house is already built or you’ve just moved into a new apartment? In most cases, basic cabling will be available, but how can you best use it for satellite reception, and how can you use your twin tuner receiver if only one cable leads to the wall outlet in the living room?

Global Invacom’s optical LNB, which has been available for a short while now, is one possible solution. And then there’s SCR.

How does SCR work?
In general, SCR comes in two different varieties: The first one has all control technology built right into the LNB, which means no additional equipment other than SCR-compatible receivers is required. The second variant is more complex and only works with SCR-compatible multiswitches and distributors, yet offers a vast variety of different setups and establishes an extremely versatile system. With SCR, each active receiver is allocated a specific frequency range outo fan over all range from 1200 to 2100 MHz. Up to eight receivers per cable can be accommodated according to current SRC specification swhich define the following:

Four bands (high low)/polarisations (horizontal/vertical) are transmitted from the LNB in the 950 to 2150 MHz range. What an SCR LNB or multi-switch now does is wait for requests for certain transponders sent out by connected receivers. These requests are generated as soon as a user selects a new channel on their remote control. Such a request is then checked by the controller in the SCR component and next the selected transponder is modulated to the allocated frequency. With this set-up each receiver invariably only receives the transponder it currently needs for the selected channel.

If an SCR multiswitch is used, it takes care of frequency allocation instead of the LNB. Alternatively, the overall conference calling system can also be setup manually. Existing DiSEqC protocols are used for all communication conference call service provider between receiver and multiswitch and in case of automatic set-up each receiver sends a sign-on signal to the multiswitch as soon as it is turned on so that the multiswitch can allocate an available frequency range to this specific receiver.

The SCR system is not equipped with a return channel and can only reply with an HF burst, which means the receiver keeps requesting one frequency range after the other until the multiswitch confirms a set range.

The following sequence of events takes place every time a user chooses to watch a new channel: The receiver requests a certain transponder, and this request is sent to the multi-switch’s SCR component, which in turn is responsible for each of the up to eight signal outputs. The SCR component analyses the request and then modulates the requested transponder to the frequency that was allocated to the requesting receiver during sign on. The multi-switch also features a built-in controller which supervises the complete process, verifies correct execution and interprets all incoming DiSEqC commands.

One of the huge advantages of using an SCR multi-switch is the possibility of creating a mixed system. This means that in an apartment building, for instance, four coax cables with signals from a quattro LNB may be distributed to each floor,from where the individual apartments are connected with a single line from a central SCR multi-switch on each floor.This single line can be designed like a ring leading from the living room to the children’s bedrooms and so on, with all channels being available independently from each wall outlet.

There even exists an SCR scenario which allows distributing signals from two different satellites. In such a matrix, up to eight users can receive signals from two different satellites using a single ring-like cabling. What is decisive in any ring set-up is that each ring has to be equipped with a terminator resistor with capacitive separation. However, this is a requirement for all ring distributions, irrespective of whether we’re talking about satellite or cable TV.

It is also noteworthy that SCR multi-switches also allow feeding in terrestrial signals and making them available to all users via the same single coax cable. Let’s go back now to the other variety described above, which is using an LNB with integrated SCR technology. While it may save money initially it comes with strings attached  only one satellite can be received and the set-up cannot be cascaded and expanded in future.

With this variety all four reception ranges (low band horizontal, low band vertical, high band horizontal, high band vertical) are converted to the satellite IF right in the LNB, with a built-in multi-switch receiving requests from connected receivers. The respective signals are then forwarded to the individual receivers by SCR components included in the LNB.

Are all receivers SCR-compatible?
SCR is a technology that extends far beyond DiSEqC protocols 1.0, 1.1 and 1.3, which means that only few receivers can deal with SCR distribution equipment.

SCR and pay TV
The development in recent months has illustrated that pay TV providers (such as Sky Italia, for example) are showing great interest in SCR technology. It is particular pay TV platforms which provide customers with proprietary receivers that are joining the bandwagon. Why is that? Most providers these days offer twin tuner receivers, while most custom-ers only have a single cable leading to the living room wall outlet. Thanks to SCR all that needs to be done is exchange the conventional LNB for a new SCR LNB and update the receiver firmware so that it becomes SCR-compatible as well. After that the existing single cable will provide two completely independent tuner inputs and any twin tuner receiver can be used to the full. There’s no better and cheaper way for such an upgrade.

The future of SCR While delivering excellent results with state-of-the-art equipment and professional installation, SCR technology none-theless looks a bit dated in comparison with Global Invacom’s optical LNB technology. So we can expect SCR to be around for a few more years, especially for solving the problem of a missing second cable for twin tuner use, but in the long run Global Invacom’s optical LNB will be the winner. While offering a considerable improvement over traditional set-ups, large-scale signal distribution with SCR is still far more difficult to achieve than with optical distribution, which only requires an extremely thin cable for simultaneously carrying the complete frequency range of a satellite.

Posted in Satellite Receiver Tags: , Comments Off

  • Broadband

  • Seo




  • Verizon