Eric10301
03-02-2008, 05:34 PM
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7764/neosatfront1cp6.jpg
When most people think IKS they think Nfusion. Well believe it or not there are other STB's out there that do IKS (Internet Key Sharing) and thats where the Neosat iPro PVR 2000 Plus comes into the picture. A more advanced receiver that as of now has replaced the Nfusion as my main IKS receiver.
The Neosat iPro PVR 2k+ Front Pic (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7764/neosatfront1cp6.jpg) Back Pic (http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6076/neorearpt5.jpg) comes packaged with everything you've come to expect. A rather stylish Remote Control (http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3392/neorcu1cn0.jpg), Batteries, Diseqc, RS-232 Cable, RCA Cables and Instruction Manual.
When you first boot up the receiver you are greeted with an Installation Wizard (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4673/img0833iw9.jpg). I decided to exit it out of this and go straight to loading the newest bin. In the Main Menu you will see the Installation Sub Menu which has the Upgrade by USB option. Since I had only planed on running the Neosat in IKS mode I loaded bin v2.73 which seems to be the most stable IKS bin currently (if the bin doesn't show up in the menu you can try renaming the bin to just "up.hzf"). Once the receiver has finished updating it will reboot and you will once again be greeted by the Installation Wizard. This time I went through it entering the settings I wanted. Its extremely "noob" friendly for those new to the wonderful world of FTA. Using the colored keys on the remote you advance through the setup.Stage 1 (http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5426/img0835qr3.jpg) Stage 2 (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/787/img0837jc2.jpg). The next screen is where you enter the serial located at the bottom of the Neosat Stage 3 (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1093/step3du3.jpg) which gives you access to the IKS server (note: the server wont allow 2 STB's using the same serial to connect) The next stage Stage 4 (http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8715/img0840qj7.jpg) is an Auto Setup feature which will automatically figure out which sats you are pointed and which Diseqc ports to use. You can also bypass this and enter the settings manually. During my initial setup I used the Auto Setup feature. After it has gotten your setting you will see Stage 5 (http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/518/img0842hs2.jpg) of the Installation Wizard which asks if you want it to go a head and Auto Scan or finish without it and be brought to the Antenna Setup page. I went ahead and let it scan and it was finished in a little over 1 and a half minutes Pic (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9263/img0845oi7.jpg). This was the fastest scan time out of all the receivers I currently own. Now I was all done with the Installation Wizard Pic (http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7613/img0847yh8.jpg).
The Main Menu (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8475/img0849vz0.jpg) is comprised of 5 Sections:
Channel Manager:
Program Guide (http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1397/img0874bb0.jpg) which takes you directly to the EPG. Within the EPG there is also a Theme drop down menu Pic1 (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/5637/img0887tm0.jpg) Pic2 (http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8955/img0889lj3.jpg).
Schedule (http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/6425/img0877mv5.jpg) where you can set the Neosat to record or remind you of programs in the future.
Channel Editor (http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8130/img0861op1.jpg) where you can delete and set your favorite channels.
Update EPG (http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9364/img0871ws2.jpg) this feature updates your EPG data.STB Setup:
User Setup (http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9269/img0863zh9.jpg)
Language Settings
Time Setup
Security Setup
USB Setup
Network Setup (http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9905/img0865yq6.jpg) where you can change the settings for the IKS connection.Installation:
Antenna Setup (http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6854/img0878kl3.jpg)
Receiver Information
Factory Default
Upgrade by USB (http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/508/img0881yp1.jpg) Update your Neosat via USB if you want to load an older bin or for when you aren't connected to the IKS Server.
Upgrade by Network allows you to directly download the newest bin Server1 (http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1285/img0896ku4.jpg) or change to Server2 (http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/1015/img0884bt0.jpg) for an IKS only bin.
Installation Wizard
User Data ManagementCAS:
Smart CardPVR:
PVR Setup (http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8025/img0868dk2.jpg)
Playback ListWith all the ECM's hitting what seems like every few days the IKS capability of the Neosat iPro2k+ is easily the most important feature. I had no qualms with being connected to the IKS server at all times, because lets be honest, the ECM's are constantly hitting and I'd rather just run it off IKS and never be down then worrying about loading the newest cardless fix. For those of you who also like the ability to watch TV without being connected to the IKS server will be happy because unlike the other IKS STB the Neosat team also releases cardless fixes for each new ECM. In the hidden compartment of the remote there are 2 buttons that get you into the various IKS setting. By pressing F3 you can gain access to the Current key Info (http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1550/img0891aq0.jpg). Here you can view the different autoroll options depending if you are running a cardless fix or just having the IKS server take care of the keys. Pressing F4 gets you into the IKS Panel (http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6439/ff672bnc2.jpg). Here's where you can Connect or Disconnect to the IKS Server or change which of the IKS Servers you are connected too. I assume this is in case one server is down you have the ability to connect to a different one. Neosat has had their IKS Server online for a number of months now and it has weathered all the ECM's thrown at FTA by the 2 providers. I only wish I had owned this receiver months ago to save me a lot of trouble and headaches. Heres a couple of quick points below.
The Good:
IKS Server supporting 58w/61.5/91/110/119/148
Very fast satellite scan times
Fast channel changes even while using IKS
Has a USB connection for updating or recording content with the PVR features
Nice GUI
The Bad:
A couple instances of minor freezing but nothing major
Using the PVR function requires your Hard Drive or Thumb drive to be formated in Linux file system
The 16:9 option for those of us who own wide screen TV's does not work. (The coders are aware of this issue and working on it)
My experience while using bin v2.73 in IKS Mode Only was enjoyable, not only are the channel change times quicker than the Nfusion but the GUI and Picture quality also nicer. Like I stated in the beginning of this review, the Neosat iPro2k+ has now become my main IKS receiver. If you are tired of being without TV every couple days you should definitely look in the Neosat iPro2k+. You can purchase the Neosat iPro PVR 2000 Plus from our forum sponsor ftapros. I hope you found the review informative and thanks for reading.
When most people think IKS they think Nfusion. Well believe it or not there are other STB's out there that do IKS (Internet Key Sharing) and thats where the Neosat iPro PVR 2000 Plus comes into the picture. A more advanced receiver that as of now has replaced the Nfusion as my main IKS receiver.
The Neosat iPro PVR 2k+ Front Pic (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7764/neosatfront1cp6.jpg) Back Pic (http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6076/neorearpt5.jpg) comes packaged with everything you've come to expect. A rather stylish Remote Control (http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3392/neorcu1cn0.jpg), Batteries, Diseqc, RS-232 Cable, RCA Cables and Instruction Manual.
When you first boot up the receiver you are greeted with an Installation Wizard (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4673/img0833iw9.jpg). I decided to exit it out of this and go straight to loading the newest bin. In the Main Menu you will see the Installation Sub Menu which has the Upgrade by USB option. Since I had only planed on running the Neosat in IKS mode I loaded bin v2.73 which seems to be the most stable IKS bin currently (if the bin doesn't show up in the menu you can try renaming the bin to just "up.hzf"). Once the receiver has finished updating it will reboot and you will once again be greeted by the Installation Wizard. This time I went through it entering the settings I wanted. Its extremely "noob" friendly for those new to the wonderful world of FTA. Using the colored keys on the remote you advance through the setup.Stage 1 (http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5426/img0835qr3.jpg) Stage 2 (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/787/img0837jc2.jpg). The next screen is where you enter the serial located at the bottom of the Neosat Stage 3 (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1093/step3du3.jpg) which gives you access to the IKS server (note: the server wont allow 2 STB's using the same serial to connect) The next stage Stage 4 (http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8715/img0840qj7.jpg) is an Auto Setup feature which will automatically figure out which sats you are pointed and which Diseqc ports to use. You can also bypass this and enter the settings manually. During my initial setup I used the Auto Setup feature. After it has gotten your setting you will see Stage 5 (http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/518/img0842hs2.jpg) of the Installation Wizard which asks if you want it to go a head and Auto Scan or finish without it and be brought to the Antenna Setup page. I went ahead and let it scan and it was finished in a little over 1 and a half minutes Pic (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9263/img0845oi7.jpg). This was the fastest scan time out of all the receivers I currently own. Now I was all done with the Installation Wizard Pic (http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7613/img0847yh8.jpg).
The Main Menu (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8475/img0849vz0.jpg) is comprised of 5 Sections:
Channel Manager:
Program Guide (http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1397/img0874bb0.jpg) which takes you directly to the EPG. Within the EPG there is also a Theme drop down menu Pic1 (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/5637/img0887tm0.jpg) Pic2 (http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8955/img0889lj3.jpg).
Schedule (http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/6425/img0877mv5.jpg) where you can set the Neosat to record or remind you of programs in the future.
Channel Editor (http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8130/img0861op1.jpg) where you can delete and set your favorite channels.
Update EPG (http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9364/img0871ws2.jpg) this feature updates your EPG data.STB Setup:
User Setup (http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9269/img0863zh9.jpg)
Language Settings
Time Setup
Security Setup
USB Setup
Network Setup (http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9905/img0865yq6.jpg) where you can change the settings for the IKS connection.Installation:
Antenna Setup (http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6854/img0878kl3.jpg)
Receiver Information
Factory Default
Upgrade by USB (http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/508/img0881yp1.jpg) Update your Neosat via USB if you want to load an older bin or for when you aren't connected to the IKS Server.
Upgrade by Network allows you to directly download the newest bin Server1 (http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1285/img0896ku4.jpg) or change to Server2 (http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/1015/img0884bt0.jpg) for an IKS only bin.
Installation Wizard
User Data ManagementCAS:
Smart CardPVR:
PVR Setup (http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8025/img0868dk2.jpg)
Playback ListWith all the ECM's hitting what seems like every few days the IKS capability of the Neosat iPro2k+ is easily the most important feature. I had no qualms with being connected to the IKS server at all times, because lets be honest, the ECM's are constantly hitting and I'd rather just run it off IKS and never be down then worrying about loading the newest cardless fix. For those of you who also like the ability to watch TV without being connected to the IKS server will be happy because unlike the other IKS STB the Neosat team also releases cardless fixes for each new ECM. In the hidden compartment of the remote there are 2 buttons that get you into the various IKS setting. By pressing F3 you can gain access to the Current key Info (http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1550/img0891aq0.jpg). Here you can view the different autoroll options depending if you are running a cardless fix or just having the IKS server take care of the keys. Pressing F4 gets you into the IKS Panel (http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6439/ff672bnc2.jpg). Here's where you can Connect or Disconnect to the IKS Server or change which of the IKS Servers you are connected too. I assume this is in case one server is down you have the ability to connect to a different one. Neosat has had their IKS Server online for a number of months now and it has weathered all the ECM's thrown at FTA by the 2 providers. I only wish I had owned this receiver months ago to save me a lot of trouble and headaches. Heres a couple of quick points below.
The Good:
IKS Server supporting 58w/61.5/91/110/119/148
Very fast satellite scan times
Fast channel changes even while using IKS
Has a USB connection for updating or recording content with the PVR features
Nice GUI
The Bad:
A couple instances of minor freezing but nothing major
Using the PVR function requires your Hard Drive or Thumb drive to be formated in Linux file system
The 16:9 option for those of us who own wide screen TV's does not work. (The coders are aware of this issue and working on it)
My experience while using bin v2.73 in IKS Mode Only was enjoyable, not only are the channel change times quicker than the Nfusion but the GUI and Picture quality also nicer. Like I stated in the beginning of this review, the Neosat iPro2k+ has now become my main IKS receiver. If you are tired of being without TV every couple days you should definitely look in the Neosat iPro2k+. You can purchase the Neosat iPro PVR 2000 Plus from our forum sponsor ftapros. I hope you found the review informative and thanks for reading.