Worth it?

[fossil112]

***please move this thread if it's located in the wrong forum***

Hi, I need your expert advice. I'm reading more and more about different receivers and am wondering if the Viewsat 360 Elite is worth the hype?
Currently, I'm using a Pansat 3500, which is working just fine, but I'm interested in PVR.
It seems to have some very cool features...but what about support? Is the 360 a good "bang for your buck" purchase? It appears to be, but would love your advise.
Thanks!!

[SystemDude]

I can't give you an objective comparison of models because the Elite is the only stb I have owned, but I have to say I think it is superb value for the money in the non-HD arena. This opinion must be considered in light of the fact that this 'hobby' is one which requires a bit more geekiness than some people would consider reasonable, however. All stb's, I imagine, require fussing and fiddling and loading of files and discovering workarounds for operation funniness, and the Elite is no exception. But if all you want to do is lean back and watch TV from the chair, then FTA likely ain't the place you want to be.

The pvr, although a bit touchy at the moment, is one of the features I absolutely wanted with my stb. I have figured out how to make it work reliably almost 100% of the time, and I am hoping a future factory update will fix the little annoyances. In the meantime, these forums are furnished with a bunch of highly knowledgeable folks willing to help with the glitches.

For what it's worth, I would not have even considered retiring my rabbit ears had it not been for the DTV initiative culminating in the Feb 2009 "all-snow" day. So I guess I need to "thank" the FCC or whoever.....

[lonster]

The 360 is a great box.

[fossil112]

Originally Posted by SystemDude

For what it's worth, I would not have even considered retiring my rabbit ears had it not been for the DTV initiative culminating in the Feb 2009 "all-snow" day. So I guess I need to "thank" the FCC or whoever.....

Funny you mention... This is the only reason I switched to FTA. I'm a geek (electrical engineer) and love tinkering, so this is heaven to me.
I don't mind rabbit ears on my entertainment center, but if I have to add another box (dig to analog), then it's gonna be something cool...like a VS360
I had those "ears" for years, but my obsession for college football prevails over my willingness to fork over $80 to a cable company every month. Ergo...FTA!!

-- GO NOTRE DAME!!! -- (anything beats last seasons record)

[jose2001]

Is the primier in beta or not ??????? Or the elite

[SystemDude]

Originally Posted by JOSE2001

Is the primier in beta or not ??????? Or the elite

Not sure what the "official" company statement is, but as far as I am concerned both units are in late-beta development. They are working well but still have a bunch of little issues that range from silly to annoying.

The world of product development is a lot different now. As long as the hardware is reliable, all other features and fixes can be handled with a simple download of firmware from the manufacturer (just look at Windows, for example). Hence the designers can get a fancy new product out there early to try to get a jump on the competition, and patch any zits later. If they waited 'till everything was perfect, it would be too late.

[arboristman]

Originally Posted by fossil112

***please move this thread if it's located in the wrong forum***

Hi, I need your expert advice. I'm reading more and more about different receivers and am wondering if the Viewsat 360 Elite is worth the hype?
Currently, I'm using a Pansat 3500, which is working just fine, but I'm interested in PVR.
It seems to have some very cool features...but what about support? Is the 360 a good "bang for your buck" purchase? It appears to be, but would love your advise.
Thanks!!

yes,worth every penny.
this one gets buddy arbor's thumbs up.
warning though,you will be mad at yourself for not buying one sooner,and you will be very aware how outdated pansat's stbs are.
(its actually sonicview 360 though,not viewsat. )

[SystemDude]

Originally Posted by fossil112

Funny you mention... This is the only reason I switched to FTA. I'm a geek (electrical engineer) and love tinkering, so this is heaven to me.
I don't mind rabbit ears on my entertainment center, but if I have to add another box (dig to analog), then it's gonna be something cool...like a VS360

I had those "ears" for years, but my obsession for college football prevails over my willingness to fork over $80 to a cable company every month. Ergo...FTA!!

I guess this falls soundly into the "great minds think alike" category....

Electronic designer here, turned instructor, turned computer geek. Guess once you've experienced the feeling of a successful tinkering episode, you're hooked. (And yes, not signing up with the cable folks doesn't hurt either!)