PVR200HD HDTV FTA Receiver with PVR Function Free to Air Satellite

16 December 2017 update to my 29 September 2016 review.HDMI works for video, but this receiver no longer decodes the audio signal on my favorite channels. I have tried both HDMI and analog audio outputs. I would have thought it would work for at least a year.29 September 2016This receiver did not completely function when I received it. I had these six problems:1. No output from HDMI, so no HD video.2. No HDTV Video Output setting as in User Manual page 12 section 8.243. Time will not set as in User Manual page 12 section 8.264. Will not drive my USALS motor.5. Some channels do not output analog audio. My AV Receiver will decode digital audio from the coaxial output.6. The WiFi settings do not accommodate any secure WiFi. I can't use the WiFi. There is no provision for wired Ethernet.The seller sent me new firmware. The firmware date code did not change.Updating firmware solved problems 1. & 2. I now have HDMI output.3. I can't set the time manually, but I can set the time. The date is DD/MM/YYYY, which is unfamiliar in the US.4. I can force it to drive my USALS motor, but not consistently or conveniently. My LNB allows two receivers, but only one receiver can drive my motor. I will let my other receiver drive my motor.5. Some channels still do not output analog audio. I will use HDMI.I'm disappointed. At this price I expect the product to work as described.

I am no expert on these things. It's bought for my father as a back up. Just to say, it is small, like compact small (this being for those who skim the dimensions). My father tested it out for his purposes, and it works, and it's what matters.

It's a pretty descent receiver, but there is one thing to be aware of when you set it up. My company purchased 2 of these to replace some old Globecast receivers still in use in a downtown high-rise apartment building for Arabic channels. They feed into an analog SMATV system. When I installed the first one into the modulator (then later bypassed it with the same result), the picture on the tube test TV in the headend was monochrome and rolling downward. Thankfully, I carry a small, multi-format LCD test TV. My initial fear was that the receivers were designed for European markets only. After connecting my test TV and getting into the menu, I discovered that format was configurable, but be aware, these receivers output PAL video by default. This is not typically a problem for a modern TV, but it is critical in an analog system. Once the format was corrected, the install went smoothly.

The User's Manual is useless. First of all, you need a magnifier to read the instructions. Second, there is a lot of information about how to set up the unit using a laptop or a desktop. But there's hardly any information about setting up the receiver manually (without a laptop). There is no Troubleshooting Guide in the User Manual either. As for the display, the unit comes with PAL factory default setting, so once you manage to get a display (on your NTSC TV), the display will keep on rolling until you struggle your way through the Menu Settings to change the display format from PAL to NTSC. Annoying! To program the channels is a challenge too, prior experience with satellite system setup is definitely a plus. My biggest problem with the unit is that it will NOT turn off completely. I power off the unit with the remote control (that is the only way to do so since there is no Power On-Off switch) but after a short time the receiver turns on by itself. I tried a couple of different ways to combat the problem but couldn't find a solution to make it stay powered off. The only way that I can power off the receiver completely is if I unplug the power supply from the 120VAC outlet which in turn causes the clock setting to be lost. Because of that, I don't even bother programming the clock anymore. Another annoying problem! Once you struggle through the installation part (and accept to live with the receiver's shortcomings), the receiver seems to be working as expected.