Dr.HD F15 - A review.

[sonnetpete]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I've just got round to upgrading the DrHD firmware to the HD GUI. Wow, what a difference! Much cleaner and I find the spectrum analyser a little easier to interpret. I particularly like the volume graphic, a bit retro but cool at the same time (shame it doesn't go to eleven!). It's dissapointing that the screen resolution info has gone but the additional info bar readings, L -quality? and db - BER? are interesting. Worth downloading.

 

[strs65]

, L -quality? and db - BER? are interesting. Worth downloading.

I'm not sure about L (I guess it has something to do with the output of the LN, but dB gives the SNR value (almost identical to the SNR values my TBS 6925, TT S2-1600 and a Satlink 6902 meter give). I think the "HD GUI" firmware you have now is not the latest. There are some minor changes, for example the dB bar is green in the latest firmware, but more importantly the spectrum analyzer works almost as it should (in previous versions it was not working properly in low Ku band).

The latest HD version (F15_121pSE) is here,
_http://drhd.legion.name/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=875

 

[Lazarus]

Is that a WebCam? :-hide

 

[strs65]

What, who, where?

 

[sonnetpete]

Yes Tivù, I'm often mistaken for Barry Gibb in the supermarket - or indeed a pro wrestler. My resemblance to both is legendary.

 

[sat-tv-fan]

What is going on here, the GUI is exactly the same as the new Technomate 4302 M3 apart from % used instead of db

 

[digi247]

What is going on here, the GUI is exactly the same as the new Technomate 4302 M3 apart from % used instead of db

Thats probably because the 5402Hd M3 version is just another copy from the D15 and the CT4100 they are all identical apart from the fact that the 5402 M3 uses the older style HD Gui form the previous model the F15

 

[Captain Jack]

And why do with immitation when you can have the real thing?

 

[gibertini]

the same GUI is used on certain brands of television also

 

[digi247]

Not Copy's so to speak just re-brand's. Company goes in says we want 100,000 units and stick satellites.co.uk on the logo :-);)

 

[Captain Jack]

Now there's an idea ... ;)

I wonder what company designed the F15 et al in the first place? Is it Dr HD, TM, CT, Blade or something that doesn't even exist but specialises in sticking logos on receivers?

 

[timo_w2s]

...or something that doesn't even exist but specialises in sticking logos on receivers?

Hehe.

To be fair there is a bit of customisation between the boxes. For example, TM have in the past had RF modulators whereas DrHD did not. So it's not just down to stickers... ;)

 

[digi247]

Hubtech are the manufactures of the box in Korea anyways the new breed of the TM5402Hd MK3 version and the Dr HD D15 and CT 4100 are all now produced in China on the cheap

 

[william-1]

Hubtech are the manufactures of the box in Korea anyways the new breed of the TM5402Hd MK3 version and the Dr HD D15 and CT 4100 are all now produced in China on the cheap

Yes the original Hubtech Korean built versions used better quality parts for the build.
I gave away the TM1000D to a friend for FreeSat SD still working ok after 8 to 9 years they do not build them like that in China

 

[Captain Jack]

Well, I am still impressed with the F15's tuner sensitivity, especially at low SRs that the Uno seems to struggle with. Half the time sub<2000 k/s won't lock on the Uno at all, whereas the do on the F15... after a while. I managed to receive all C band transponders on 37.5W (Metro, UTV and Silverbird) whereas Uno refused to acknowledge existence of UTV and Silverbird, even though signal is between 8 and 10dB on those. Uno's tuner is on par with F15's at higher SRs, though.

Where the F15 trumps most receivers is its ability to show signal when it's below lock. And I don't mean just random values but real SNR reading... For example, I know that some TPs need 6dB to lock but if I only get 4dB, it will show 4dB not absolute 0 as with the Uno, for example. Of course, PCI cards can also show signal that's below lock... Makes it very handy to see if there's a hint of signal of whether there's no hope at all. You do have to use v1.25 software or less, though. Later ones "break" this... I understand D15 will not show any signal unless there's a lock...

 

[Costactc]

I would prefer video resolution to Ln on the info button. I've noticed that the F15 will not scan in those tp under 2k sr but do on a manual scan. I was told most peeps are using 125p, any reason to change?

 

[Captain Jack]

No, 125p is the best.