dannyzzz
01-25-2009, 11:32 PM
All thanks to No_PaRoLe for this review.
http://www.visionsatcanada.com/IV200-BF-MOD.jpg
Features
USB 2.0 Host Support(MP3 Player & JPEG Viewer)
MPEG-II Digital & Fully DVB Compliant
Blind Scan
Multi-LNB Controlled by DiSEqC Control Version 1.0, 1.2 and USALS
Multi-Satellite Search
Support 9-Day EPG
On-Screen Display with 16 bit Color Full Resolution
Favorite Channel Groups
Powerful Channel Control by Favorites, Lock, Skip, Move and Delete
Channel Sorting by Alphabet, Transponder and CAS
Multi-language Supported (OSD & Menu)
Closed Caption Support (OSD and VBI Insertion)
Maximum 5,000 Channels Programmable
Multi-picture Display
Zoom Function in Pause
Parental Lock / Receiver Lock
CVBS Video & Audio Output via RCA
Component Y/Pb/Pr Output via RCA
S-VHS Video Output
Optical & Coaxial Output for Digital Audio
Software & Channel Database Upgrade via RS-232 & USB
Universal Remote Control
Smart Card Reader (Option)
The Visionsat IV-200 PVR is a low cost PVR solution for the FTA market. This unit has fully functioning recording for a low price. Over the years the cost of FTA units have been decreasing yet the quality and the functionality of these machines are steadily improving. The IV-200 is not the only PVR option on the market but it maybe to the most cost efficient.
Let us take a look at some of the features ..
EPG
The electronic programming guide is probably one of the most important features of any STB. The EPG provides the ease of allowing you to scroll and view channels without just flipping blindly. The Visionsat IV-200 PVR Plus, like many other FTA units, has a fully functional guide. The guide allows for full screen view of you programming while scrolling thru the guide. The transparency is set enough in which you can view the guide and continue to view your programming. A wonderful feature of the EPG is the ability to view programming for the next day by one click of a button instead of scrolling thru the entire programming for that day. When viewing a particular channel in the EPG you can also press the EPG button again and it will lay out the entire schedule for that channel for the next few hours. This is really great when a particular program plays the entire day and you are looking to a particular time to view or record this programming. Since this is a PVR unit, it is great that you have the ability to record right from the EPG. You can find a particular program that you want to record in the EPG, press on the button and this program is set to be recorded at that date and time. The duration is automatically set and nothing else is needed. The EPG has so many great features that it is difficult to praise them all in a short review. Another great feature is the ability to load the EPG for 3 or 9 days right from the guide. There is no need to go to any other menu options to do this. This option is right where it needs to be, in the EPG portion of the unit.
Audio/Picture Quality
The picture quality of these lower priced units are really shocking. You would think that you would lose quality when you a purchasing lower priced unit. The manufacturers are continuing to give you great wuality for a low price. This goes the same for the audio. Although on this particular unit my Dolby Digital is a lot lower than normal, the sound quality is still excellent.
Software/Features
I have never owned a PVR unit but I am impressed with what I am seeing from the Visionsat unit. I love the features. Let start with the ability of easily loading upgrades to the unit. Upgrading unit via the USB port will be the dominant form in the future. The IV-200 has the USB upgrade function. Simply stick in a USB thumb drive and select the software that you want to upgrade to. It is that simple. The unit reboots itself, do a factory reset it you wish and done. USB loading takes seconds instead of several minutes like loading via a serial cable.
Upgrading is not the only software feature that is impressive. The utilities menu also has various different options. When the USB or hard drive is inserted into the USB port you have the options of playing MP3s. Now you have your own built-in MPS player. It does not stop there. You also have an image viewer. You can view different picture formats as a slideshow. This is great for birthday parties and special events at home.
The data transfer option under the utilities menu has everything you need in case you have multiple units. In this section you can transfer all system data to USB storage, transfer only the channels, or only the key data. Transferring only key date lets you take your USB device from unit to unit instead of entering long key strings in you other IV-200 receivers. Of course there is the ability to load all of the above from the USB storage device. Like other new units on the market, the unit has the ability to create your own channel list. Although I have not tested this option, you should be able to transfer the channels data to others units via the channel transfer options in the utilities.
The unit was very easy to setup. It was setup in a matter of minutes. As I said before you can literally load upgrade in second and the scanning is one of the fastest I have seen. From time of taking the unit out of the box, upgrading software and scanning, you can be watching TV in less than 10 -15 minutes. This is a great unit for the newest of users. Easy loading and easy setup are some of its main benefits.
PVR Features
As I stated earlier there are many great PVR option in the IV-200. You can record directly from the EPG without any effort. Just simply press one button while in the EPG and the unit will record that program at the designated time. The IV-200 also has the option of instant recording. Just like a VCR, press the record button and it starts. Another great feature is the instant playback capabilities. Instantly playback what you recorded or just wait later to view.
Hardware
Main Processor
Conexant Virgo(32-bit RISC CPU 180 MIPS) CX24302-13AZP -150Mhz
Memory
Flash-ROM : 2 MBytes
SDRAM : 32 MBytesAudio / Video & Data IN/OUT
CVBS Video Output (RCA)
S-VHS Video Output (Mini-DIN)
Y/Pb/Pr Video Output (RCA)
Audio L/R
RCA(Volume and Mute Control)
AC-3 Dolby Digital (RCA & Optical)
RS-232C
9 pin D-SUB (Male) type, Transfer rate 115Kbps
USB 2.0 Host Support
RF Modulator
RF Connector
IEC 169-24, Female
Frequency
CH 3 : 61.25MHz
CH 4 : 67.25MHz
Output Channel
CH 3 / CH 4
TV Standard
NTSC-M
Preset Channel
This is the first PVR unit that I have tested. I am very impressed with the wide range of features that this unit includes. Visionsat may not be a well known name in the industry but its product seems to be second to none. The OSD programming is excellent. It was done sparing no expense and attention to every detail. The price of this unit is extremely affordable at a cost of about $130.00. My only disappointment was that it only came with a 64mb USB adapter and that the ability to pause programming and resume where left off was a little tricky to figure out. You have to press the record button and then pause. This will enable the time-shifting feature. I would rather just press the pause button and have the unit automatically know that it is to begin recording and playback upon pressing the pause button again. This may be including in releases to come.
In my opinion this is a really great unit and for the price of $130.00, this is a great choice for a PVR unit.
http://www.visionsatcanada.com/IV200-BF-MOD.jpg
Features
USB 2.0 Host Support(MP3 Player & JPEG Viewer)
MPEG-II Digital & Fully DVB Compliant
Blind Scan
Multi-LNB Controlled by DiSEqC Control Version 1.0, 1.2 and USALS
Multi-Satellite Search
Support 9-Day EPG
On-Screen Display with 16 bit Color Full Resolution
Favorite Channel Groups
Powerful Channel Control by Favorites, Lock, Skip, Move and Delete
Channel Sorting by Alphabet, Transponder and CAS
Multi-language Supported (OSD & Menu)
Closed Caption Support (OSD and VBI Insertion)
Maximum 5,000 Channels Programmable
Multi-picture Display
Zoom Function in Pause
Parental Lock / Receiver Lock
CVBS Video & Audio Output via RCA
Component Y/Pb/Pr Output via RCA
S-VHS Video Output
Optical & Coaxial Output for Digital Audio
Software & Channel Database Upgrade via RS-232 & USB
Universal Remote Control
Smart Card Reader (Option)
The Visionsat IV-200 PVR is a low cost PVR solution for the FTA market. This unit has fully functioning recording for a low price. Over the years the cost of FTA units have been decreasing yet the quality and the functionality of these machines are steadily improving. The IV-200 is not the only PVR option on the market but it maybe to the most cost efficient.
Let us take a look at some of the features ..
EPG
The electronic programming guide is probably one of the most important features of any STB. The EPG provides the ease of allowing you to scroll and view channels without just flipping blindly. The Visionsat IV-200 PVR Plus, like many other FTA units, has a fully functional guide. The guide allows for full screen view of you programming while scrolling thru the guide. The transparency is set enough in which you can view the guide and continue to view your programming. A wonderful feature of the EPG is the ability to view programming for the next day by one click of a button instead of scrolling thru the entire programming for that day. When viewing a particular channel in the EPG you can also press the EPG button again and it will lay out the entire schedule for that channel for the next few hours. This is really great when a particular program plays the entire day and you are looking to a particular time to view or record this programming. Since this is a PVR unit, it is great that you have the ability to record right from the EPG. You can find a particular program that you want to record in the EPG, press on the button and this program is set to be recorded at that date and time. The duration is automatically set and nothing else is needed. The EPG has so many great features that it is difficult to praise them all in a short review. Another great feature is the ability to load the EPG for 3 or 9 days right from the guide. There is no need to go to any other menu options to do this. This option is right where it needs to be, in the EPG portion of the unit.
Audio/Picture Quality
The picture quality of these lower priced units are really shocking. You would think that you would lose quality when you a purchasing lower priced unit. The manufacturers are continuing to give you great wuality for a low price. This goes the same for the audio. Although on this particular unit my Dolby Digital is a lot lower than normal, the sound quality is still excellent.
Software/Features
I have never owned a PVR unit but I am impressed with what I am seeing from the Visionsat unit. I love the features. Let start with the ability of easily loading upgrades to the unit. Upgrading unit via the USB port will be the dominant form in the future. The IV-200 has the USB upgrade function. Simply stick in a USB thumb drive and select the software that you want to upgrade to. It is that simple. The unit reboots itself, do a factory reset it you wish and done. USB loading takes seconds instead of several minutes like loading via a serial cable.
Upgrading is not the only software feature that is impressive. The utilities menu also has various different options. When the USB or hard drive is inserted into the USB port you have the options of playing MP3s. Now you have your own built-in MPS player. It does not stop there. You also have an image viewer. You can view different picture formats as a slideshow. This is great for birthday parties and special events at home.
The data transfer option under the utilities menu has everything you need in case you have multiple units. In this section you can transfer all system data to USB storage, transfer only the channels, or only the key data. Transferring only key date lets you take your USB device from unit to unit instead of entering long key strings in you other IV-200 receivers. Of course there is the ability to load all of the above from the USB storage device. Like other new units on the market, the unit has the ability to create your own channel list. Although I have not tested this option, you should be able to transfer the channels data to others units via the channel transfer options in the utilities.
The unit was very easy to setup. It was setup in a matter of minutes. As I said before you can literally load upgrade in second and the scanning is one of the fastest I have seen. From time of taking the unit out of the box, upgrading software and scanning, you can be watching TV in less than 10 -15 minutes. This is a great unit for the newest of users. Easy loading and easy setup are some of its main benefits.
PVR Features
As I stated earlier there are many great PVR option in the IV-200. You can record directly from the EPG without any effort. Just simply press one button while in the EPG and the unit will record that program at the designated time. The IV-200 also has the option of instant recording. Just like a VCR, press the record button and it starts. Another great feature is the instant playback capabilities. Instantly playback what you recorded or just wait later to view.
Hardware
Main Processor
Conexant Virgo(32-bit RISC CPU 180 MIPS) CX24302-13AZP -150Mhz
Memory
Flash-ROM : 2 MBytes
SDRAM : 32 MBytesAudio / Video & Data IN/OUT
CVBS Video Output (RCA)
S-VHS Video Output (Mini-DIN)
Y/Pb/Pr Video Output (RCA)
Audio L/R
RCA(Volume and Mute Control)
AC-3 Dolby Digital (RCA & Optical)
RS-232C
9 pin D-SUB (Male) type, Transfer rate 115Kbps
USB 2.0 Host Support
RF Modulator
RF Connector
IEC 169-24, Female
Frequency
CH 3 : 61.25MHz
CH 4 : 67.25MHz
Output Channel
CH 3 / CH 4
TV Standard
NTSC-M
Preset Channel
This is the first PVR unit that I have tested. I am very impressed with the wide range of features that this unit includes. Visionsat may not be a well known name in the industry but its product seems to be second to none. The OSD programming is excellent. It was done sparing no expense and attention to every detail. The price of this unit is extremely affordable at a cost of about $130.00. My only disappointment was that it only came with a 64mb USB adapter and that the ability to pause programming and resume where left off was a little tricky to figure out. You have to press the record button and then pause. This will enable the time-shifting feature. I would rather just press the pause button and have the unit automatically know that it is to begin recording and playback upon pressing the pause button again. This may be including in releases to come.
In my opinion this is a really great unit and for the price of $130.00, this is a great choice for a PVR unit.