Which Vast TV Decoder

Gundog · Guru

Which Vast TV Decoder

Mike196 · Senior Member

The Satking does OK by me, seems to be a good unit.

Joe50 · Guru

I have an Altech DSR4639 dual tuner box which can record two channels simultaneously to its internal 500GB disk drive. Works fine for 99% of the time but will occasionally refuse to record a program for no apparent reason, and when using the remote to browse channels or set up a future program for recording the box will decide it's a good time to reset and reboot itself. I returned the original box & remote under warranty and received a replacement, but it's started doing the same things. Also, the remote will often just stop working - fixed by pushing the batteries up against the spring to briefly create an open circuit and it works again ... for a while anyway. This happened with the remotes that came with both boxes. I've had the current one for about 18 months and the batteries still show 1.52 volts each on my multimeter.

Joe

johnwf · Member

I considered buying the combined TV/vast tuner so did not have to carry both TV and tuner and the resultant two power sources, but decided no, because the combined unit does not have a headphone jack for the vast reception (I watch TV with headphones so as to not disturb others nearby). A response from the supplier on this matter below,

"There is only one audio out on this unit , that is the Coaxial Out (orange plug on the DTV side, which means no audio out from Vast side."

banjo · Senior Member

Only one I would consider, Humax HD1003s, comes with 500 or 1000gig hard drive, watch one channel while recording 2 others, super reliable and made in Korea not China !

Mines 3 years old now, and full time use, had one minor hiccup which was found to be a dirty smart card contacts, which could happen to any stb.

Buying combined units is not good thinking, one fails you've lost both. Tv's are cheap as chips nowadays so can easily be replaced. Remember tv's with dvd players built in ? dvd unit fails so might as well have bought a tv only in the first place.

For a cheap basic no frills unit the Satking is popular but not my choice. Wouldn't touch an Altech unit, overpriced and poor quality, just my opinion after owning the original vast model.

-- Edited by banjo on Tuesday 11th of August 2015 11:50:05 AM

Gundog · Guru

I dont need a PVR in the decoder, there a bit like dvd players in tv's a waste of time, and there is not much on F2A tv that I would want to record. I have a Foxtel box just the basic package with movies, thats time linked to vic, so for local news its either via the antenna or go with satelite. My dish is a 90cm with a 4 input LMB, this allows me the option to use 2 for foxtel and 1 for vast. I have seen other sat receivers on ebay that are not Vast what can they pick up

KFT · Guru

G;day Gundog

non vast decoders can view the free to air channels on many satellites from horizon to horizon. there is a world of scanning and viewing pleasure to be had if you want to put in the time to equip yourself and spend the time looking for channels.

some idea of what is available here: www.lyngsat.com

have fun

frank

-- Edited by KFT on Tuesday 11th of August 2015 10:38:13 PM

Woody n Sue · Guru

So. KFT are you saying that with the right equipment one has only to line up the satellite and all these "channels" are there for the looking at for free if so what equipment is required and if it's not a rude question what $ does one need to part with to achieve this ?

KFT · Guru

G'day woody and Sue

A suitable HD satellite decoder that will receive FTA channels from either Ku or C band with a suitable dish and LNB (dish size may need to be up to 2.4m depending on which sats you wish to receive)

Satking have one that retails for around $160 or you could use an old Aurora box and do some re-scans once lined up on different satellites

If you explore the signal charts from Lyngsat(see link in post above) and click on the asian satellites you will see what is viewable from Australia with the correct equipment.

There are many FTA channels out there to view and also thousands of radio stations.

hope that helps

frank

banjo · Senior Member

We find thee pvr very useful, I hate adds and we can blast them away on a recorded program.

Often a good movie is on late at night, we record and watch when nothing else appeals. Sometimes two programs clash, we watch one record the other.