Product Review - Pansat 9500HDX DVB-S2 MPEG4 PVR Receiver

[Hyper]

Product Review - Pansat 9500HDX DVB-S2 MPEG4 PVR Receiver!

I am sure many have read about this receiver in the New Product Release section, and now that I have one in my posession i thought i would start a product review thread.

For the others that will be getting a sample in the next couple of days feel free to add your review information in this thread, or start your own of course if you want to.

Like all the reviews I like to start with pics from the manufacturer, plus the list of features and specs from the manufacturer. Here is that:

From the manufacturer:











Features/Specifications:

Standard Definition/High Definition contents (MPEG1,MPEG2 and support MPEG4 AVC/H.264)
High Definition Video output : HDMI1.3(HDCP) and YPbPr
Audio Decoding :ISO/IEC13818-3(MPEG-1 layers I,IIand III), Dolby AC-3(option)
Full Compliant of MPEG-S &DVB-S2 Digital & DVB broadcasting
Satellite Tuner, 950-2150 MHz input Frequency (IF Loop Throughout),Symbol rate 2~45Msps
Satellite Scan - single or multi scan and smart scan(blind scan)
Flexible receiption of SCPC & MCPC from C/Ku-Band Satellites
Demodulation : QPSK/8PSK/16APSK
Video output resolution: 480i/p, 576i/p,720p,1080i
User selectable output resolution
Support EPG (Electronic Program Guide) for 7 days
Multi language on screen menu(OSD):English,German,French,Russian,Arabic,Spanish,Turkish, Portugues
Automatic PAL/NTSC Conversion
Fast Channel Change( <1 second )
10000 Channels TV & Radio program
Timer Function (Automatic Turn On/ Off by Setting Function)
RTC (Real Time Clock)
5 Favorite List & Unlimited Programs per each
Powerful Channel Editing Fuction - Sorting: Alphabetic, Satellite, FTA/Scramble, Parental Lock
- Move, Delete, Favorite Edit
- Parental Lock, Channel Rename, Channel Skip
Manual PID/ Satellite & TP/ Network Scan
S/PDIF (Digital Audio or Dolby AC3 stream out)
Multiple LNB switching control :Diseqc 1.0/Diseqc 1.2 and USALS Compatiable
Closed caption output through VBI
Software Upgrade via RS-232C (Receiver to Receiver, PC to Receiver) and USB2.0
Support external USB PVR and Media player :default 2 hours record,2 record at the same time
Timer Record,EPG Timer record,2Rec+1Play with T.S,Time shifted recording
Multimedia files playback by USB2.0(BMP/JPG/Ogg/MP3(option))
Screen Format : auto,4:3,16:9
Skew LNB Control
Support Hard drive format(FAT12,FAT16,FAT32,NTFS)
Made in Korea
2 Years Manufacturers Warranty
 
Tuner

1 Input Connector: F-type, IEC 169-24
IF Input Frequency : 950MHz to 2150MHz
Input Level : -65 dBm~-25 dBm
LNB Power : 14 /19V/ 400mA Max,Overcurrent Protection
DiSEqC Control : 1.0,1.2 &USALS compatible
Band Switch : 22KHz Tone(22 +/- 4KHz,Amplitude :0.6 +/- 0.2V)
Modulation Method : LDPC/BCH(DVB-S2) 8PSK/QPSK, DVB-S QPSK
Symbol Rate : LDPC/BCH(DVB-S2) 8PSK/QPSK :10~30Msps
DVB-S QPSK : 1~45Msps
 
MPEG TS Audio/Video Decoding

Demultiplex : According to ISO/IEC 13818-1(MPEG-2 system)
Aspect Ratio : auto,4:3(default), 16:9
Video Decoding : ISO/IEC 13818-2(MPEG2 vidoe) MP@HL,ISO/IEC 14496-10 HP@L4
Video Resolution : 480i/p or 576i/p,720p,1080i
Audio Decoding : ISO/IEC13818-3(MPEG-1 layer I,II,III), Dolby AC-3(option), HE-AAC v1
Audio Mode : Single Channel /Dual Channel, Stereo, Joint Stereo
Video Ouput : HDMI(HDCP),RCA,YPbPr
 
Main CPU & Memories

Main Processor : 32bit RISC CPU
CPU Clock : 396MHz MIPS
Flash Memory : 4 Mbyte
DDR SDRAM : 128 Mbyte
 
Data port

Connector : 9 Pin D-Sub Type
Protocol : RS232 Asynchronous
Data Rate : Max. 115200 bps
 
A/V Output

Digital output : HDMI(HDCP), YPbPr
RCA A/V : CVBS, Audio Left.Right, Componenet(Y,Pb,Pr)
Digital Audio : 1 coxial output S/PDIF
 
Front Panel

4 Digits LED : Channel Number Display
3 keys : Power, Channel Up/Down
USB : USB2.0
 
Rear Panel

IF1 Input : F-type Connector
6RCA : Video, Audio L, Audio R, YPbPr
S/PDIF : Coxial
HDMI : Type A
RS232 Serial Port : 9 Pin D-Sub Type
Power Switch : Rocker Switch
Skew Control Port : Pulse, 5V, GND (3 Terminal)
 
Remote Control

Type : IR RCU
Battery : 2x1.5V AAA Type
 
Power Supply

Input Voltage : AC 90 -250V, 50/60Hz
Type : SMPS)
Power Consumption(Stanby : Max. 26 Watts
 
Physical Specifications

Operating Temp : 0 ~45
Size(WxDxH) : 280x230x55mm
Weight : 1.5kg
 
* All specifications are subject to change without notice.

End Manufacturer Info


Next I will be posting some pictures of the unit I took personally here last night and today .......


 

[Hyper]

OK. Here are some pics I took of the actual unit as received from Pansat

More pics in a few moments

Notice the USB port in pic 4 here. Its in the front of the box, which is nice and convenient for updates, but if you will have an external hard drive connected to it always it will look a little sloppy in my opinion. I prefer to have the USB port in back when this is the case.

Pansat has asked me to recommend any improvements, i will suggest a 2nd USB port in the back.

[Slayers]

Thanks looking forward to more pics

Slayers

[Hyper]

Here is some more pics (new ones added to post reply 1 above also)

Notice the UHF port in back.

This is so you can add the optional Pansat U-30 UHF Remote if you want.

That remote will work through walls, from another room, etc...

There is also a SPDIF port.

The quality of everything looks great to me, just like I would expect from Pansat.

So before turning it on for the first time, I am pretty satisfied and impressed with the unit as far as appearances go.

It is about the same size as a Openbox S9.

The last pic is of the remote, i did notice a v-mode button on it like the v-format button on the Openbox but its tucked away down low, so no chance of hitting it accidentally. The remote seems OK, pretty typical really.

Also notice the beer in the remote pic, this does not come with the unit, but i highly recommend one of these.  

[Slayers]

Thats another reason i wanted this unit skew control & the UHF remote option. 

Slayers

[Hyper]

UHF Remote Kits will be here Monday


 

[Slayers]

UHF Remote Kits will be here Monday


 

Ok i will order one thanks. 

Slayers

[Hyper]

Stay tuned for a couple of screen shots yet tonight plus some notes.

This box is very interesting so far, in a good way!

[Slayers]

Brother i will. 

Slayers

[Hyper]

OK. Here is a few screen shots. Dont mind the low quality, that is just the camera and the camera operator.

Showing main menu, antenna set-up menu, and then a screen shot after a blind scan, in that order.

The box takes about 10 seconds to boot when powered on with the rocker switch. The menu came right up after boot and in english language.

One thing i noticed right away is it always displays the time in the menu, no matter what sub-menu i opened up the time is always displayed in the upper right corner. That is cool. I set the time, and it is keeping time. Ive powered it down several times and it is keeping the time so far.

The next thing i did was check out the resolution settings. In System Set-up >> TV System sub menu you can change video resolution

480i
480p
720p
1080i

What i found to be really cool, is that when you change from one resolution to another there is a 15 second countdown to save it. It changes right away so you can see the results and a 15 second countdown begins. If you dont hit Save, it reverts to the last setting.

I have not seen that before.   


More info coming soon ........

[Hyper]

For those who have owned a Pansat 9200 HD and know how hot those boxes run, you will be glad to know this 9500 HDX does not run hot.

I have had this unit on for 4 hours straight now and it is completely cool.

I will leave it on tonight and check it in the morning.

And this box does blind scan, look here:


http://legalfreetoair.com/index.php?topic=1205.msg56274#msg56274



 

[satman5000]

It will be a step forward if it does not freeze up like the 9200

[elbandido]

You may want to try this file if you are not already running it.
Pansat released an update to the 9500 on August 8. EB

[sturmey]

This new Pansat looks good. I've been a fan of Pansat since my first receiver. I'm always surprised that more manufacturers don't copy the functionality of the Pansat setup. As much as I like my OpenBox, my old Pansat is still easier to setup and scan a new satellite.

I look forward to your long term results.

[Hyper]

You may want to try this file if you are not already running it.
Pansat released an update to the 9500 on August 8. EB

Thanks EB, just checked its got the 8/8/11 333 version file in it as i received it.

Shows bootloader as 7/15
Main as 8/8
Sat & TP Data as 5/23
Background as 4/13