You are right it does look like a pager. No size given or anything to compare it with.
I am told that it does not have an NIT function, but what it does have is an AUTO search function which works in pretty much the same way. You can enable or disable any of the satellites in the list, then when you sweep the dish and it finds a satellite enabled in the list, it will then display the satellite name direct on the LCD soon as you get a lock. This feature works on the data stored in the satellite database menu (which is fully customable) where NIT uses info direct from the satellite (only when the satellite broadcasts such info as not all do).