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**carpenter1** · June 9th, 2007

Have to agree with you and the auto setup for the antenna settings makes the beginner an expert. They don't need to know what type of LNB or dish they have because the receiver will scan and setup all.

Here is a C/P

Welcome everyone. Isn't this exciting? A USB PVR with all of the features we need including a great price!

The Visionsat IV-200 hits the market at a great time. With so many new USB PVR units debuting, Visionsat finds its place as one quality and well priced STB with easy to follow menus and setup. The Visionsat IV-200 is very similar to the coolsat 7000 having many menu options and functions alike.

Satellite Setup

When you select dish setup from the installation menu, you have every option needed to set up your satellites. First select the satellite [screenshot], then edit your settings for lnb type, lnb frequency and diseqc. Pressing ok on your remote control brings down a drop menu. You can also manually input the frequency for your lnb if you do not see it in the list. Truly a simple setup screen having everything right there. From the very same screen, you can select channel search at the bottom....

Channel search

Channel searching is another very user-friendly process in the Visionsat IV-200. If you have selected channel search from the dish setup menu you are taken to a screen [screenshot] where you may select the type of search you would like to do. By first selecting the search mode, you may choose from auto, manual, blind or advanced. Now slide down to search type where you may choose from FTA channels, All channels or TV only. Now just decide whether you would like network search on or off and press ok at start search. You are now scanning [screenshot]. If before you scan you think you need to check on the settings once more, you may select dish setting from this menu and check or change any settings. We have included a few sample screenshots here of the scanning process.

Once you've scanned in your channels, Visionsat has a great channel list manager. Easily manage your channels.

Motor setup

Visionsat does have a nice motor setup menu and it functions well. You can choose from 1.2 or usals. Inputting your lat and long is easy to follow and for those of us that use this function, motors that is, it is so nice to see this simple setup and have it function well.

A few onScreen options...

You can easily access the PIP display by pressing the Blue button on your remote. It has a nice little print of 4 boxes on it, so it is easy to identify. You can also adjust audio and video from the on-screen-display. We have uploaded several screenshots of options in the Visionsat IV-200. Please be sure to visit the gallery to see them all.

Updating Firmware

From the factory the USB port is accessible and usable. With your unit off simply insert the USB stick or attach your USB supported HDD and then turn the unit on. If new firmware is present on the drive, the Visionsat sees the firmware and displays a message. [screenshot] asking you if you wish to update the firmware. Press the ok button on your remote and you are updating. [screenshot] The entire process only takes seconds. We'll cover the USB formatting process a bit further on in the review, we just had to let you know how fast and simple it is to update channels or Firmware in the Visionsat.

Recording

Recording with the visionsatIV-200 is also a user-friendly procedure. All you do is press the record button on the remote and you are recording. You can stop the recording anytime by pressing the stop button on your remote. You can also reserve a recording by pressing the record button while in the epg. A nice feature I might add. Play back is also rather simple. By pressing the playback button on your remote, the screen appears showing you all of the recordings on your device as seen here. Navigate through the list and select the recording you would like to view and you are watching your recorded program. Thats it... very fast and simple. Play back quality is very good!

Hard Drive formatting.

For our testing, we used a usb stick of 256 mbs and a Western Digital 100 gig external hard drive. Both formatted and both used the same procedure. When you begin with a new drive.... After you have attached your device, navigate to the utilities menu and select Format USB. Once selected you will be prompted with a menu warning you that all data will be lost. Select ok on your remote and the format begins. When complete you will see the format complete message. If you are formatting on your computer prior to attaching your device, the format is fat32. The Visionsat will easily format for you, so you probably can save the time and just let the Visionsat do the formatting.

Summary

To summ it up on the Visionsat IV-200.... The IV-200 is a nice well rounded STB that offers plenty of options. Easy user-friendly recording and playback, Crisp OSD, a nice EPG, a built in card reader. and a good price to boot! The Visionsat IV-200 offers everything you would expect from a USB PVR. Hmmm good functionality and a good price.. what would you say!

Visionsat Company website http://www.inteltechnologyinc.com

June 9th, 2007	#2 (permalink)
carpenter1 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the computer Posts: 6,225 Credits: 7,885.20 Thanks: 303 Thanked 2,591 Times in 914 Posts	Have to agree with you and the auto setup for the antenna settings makes the beginner an expert. They don't need to know what type of LNB or dish they have because the receiver will scan and setup all. Here is a C/P Welcome everyone. Isn't this exciting? A USB PVR with all of the features we need including a great price! The Visionsat IV-200 hits the market at a great time. With so many new USB PVR units debuting, Visionsat finds its place as one quality and well priced STB with easy to follow menus and setup. The Visionsat IV-200 is very similar to the coolsat 7000 having many menu options and functions alike. Satellite Setup When you select dish setup from the installation menu, you have every option needed to set up your satellites. First select the satellite [screenshot], then edit your settings for lnb type, lnb frequency and diseqc. Pressing ok on your remote control brings down a drop menu. You can also manually input the frequency for your lnb if you do not see it in the list. Truly a simple setup screen having everything right there. From the very same screen, you can select channel search at the bottom.... Channel search Channel searching is another very user-friendly process in the Visionsat IV-200. If you have selected channel search from the dish setup menu you are taken to a screen [screenshot] where you may select the type of search you would like to do. By first selecting the search mode, you may choose from auto, manual, blind or advanced. Now slide down to search type where you may choose from FTA channels, All channels or TV only. Now just decide whether you would like network search on or off and press ok at start search. You are now scanning [screenshot]. If before you scan you think you need to check on the settings once more, you may select dish setting from this menu and check or change any settings. We have included a few sample screenshots here of the scanning process. Once you've scanned in your channels, Visionsat has a great channel list manager. Easily manage your channels. Motor setup Visionsat does have a nice motor setup menu and it functions well. You can choose from 1.2 or usals. Inputting your lat and long is easy to follow and for those of us that use this function, motors that is, it is so nice to see this simple setup and have it function well. A few onScreen options... You can easily access the PIP display by pressing the Blue button on your remote. It has a nice little print of 4 boxes on it, so it is easy to identify. You can also adjust audio and video from the on-screen-display. We have uploaded several screenshots of options in the Visionsat IV-200. Please be sure to visit the gallery to see them all. Updating Firmware From the factory the USB port is accessible and usable. With your unit off simply insert the USB stick or attach your USB supported HDD and then turn the unit on. If new firmware is present on the drive, the Visionsat sees the firmware and displays a message. [screenshot] asking you if you wish to update the firmware. Press the ok button on your remote and you are updating. [screenshot] The entire process only takes seconds. We'll cover the USB formatting process a bit further on in the review, we just had to let you know how fast and simple it is to update channels or Firmware in the Visionsat. Recording Recording with the visionsatIV-200 is also a user-friendly procedure. All you do is press the record button on the remote and you are recording. You can stop the recording anytime by pressing the stop button on your remote. You can also reserve a recording by pressing the record button while in the epg. A nice feature I might add. Play back is also rather simple. By pressing the playback button on your remote, the screen appears showing you all of the recordings on your device as seen here. Navigate through the list and select the recording you would like to view and you are watching your recorded program. Thats it... very fast and simple. Play back quality is very good! Hard Drive formatting. For our testing, we used a usb stick of 256 mbs and a Western Digital 100 gig external hard drive. Both formatted and both used the same procedure. When you begin with a new drive.... After you have attached your device, navigate to the utilities menu and select Format USB. Once selected you will be prompted with a menu warning you that all data will be lost. Select ok on your remote and the format begins. When complete you will see the format complete message. If you are formatting on your computer prior to attaching your device, the format is fat32. The Visionsat will easily format for you, so you probably can save the time and just let the Visionsat do the formatting. Summary To summ it up on the Visionsat IV-200.... The IV-200 is a nice well rounded STB that offers plenty of options. Easy user-friendly recording and playback, Crisp OSD, a nice EPG, a built in card reader. and a good price to boot! The Visionsat IV-200 offers everything you would expect from a USB PVR. Hmmm good functionality and a good price.. what would you say! Visionsat Company website http://www.inteltechnologyinc.com __________________ Last edited by carpenter1; June 9th, 2007 at 12:32 PM..