OPENBOX Z5 - quick review

[SR Hadden]

Ordered an OPENBOX Z5 from ebay seller in China (pm me if you need seller name), arrived in about 3 weeks.

Pros:

-Really tiny
-HDMI/composite video
-Can do IKS with secret menu
-USB port
-Wifi dongle was included from the ebay seller
-CHEAP CHEAP, about 75 bucks shipped.
-AWESOME for true FTA (fast blind scan)
-Fast FTA channel switching
-did I mention fast blind scan? 3-5 minutes for a normal Ku bird and 5-8 mins for an echostar
-Can do IPTV
-USALS compatible, works with my motor
-Diseqc options
-Some other web apps like youtube
-DVB/DVBS2/MPEG2/MPEG4/QPSK/HD

Cons:
-Doesn't do Turbo FEC 8PSK (no d!ck HD/B3v)
-kind of odd feel to the remote especially nav pad
-no analog s-video
-interface kind of bland/boring
-can't change menu background (as far as I know, anyone?)
-some quirks in UI
-can't delete all channels at once for a specific satellite. Have to highlight all channels and then delete.

There's more features I didn't mention but so far I'm happy with the box. Haven't tired iks yet but I hate SD so I may not even do iks on this box.

[Anubis]

Why would you purchase a box that does not have 8PSK and is strictly a sd unit. Was that not on the vendors advertisement?

[SR Hadden]

it's not strictly SD, it does HD just not 8PSK. It will do HD Iks on some channels on Intelsat 1R 50W, mostly spanish though. I got it because I'm more of a true FTA fan and I had a couple of european channels from my country I watch that were MPEG 4 on Galaxy 19 so I needed a cheaper solution for that. I previously had Pansats not capable of mpeg 4.

[Anubis]

it's not strictly SD, it does HD just not 8PSK. It will do HD Iks on some channels on Intelsat 1R 50W, mostly spanish though. I got it because I'm more of a true FTA fan and I had a couple of european channels from my country I watch that were MPEG 4 on Galaxy 19 so I needed a cheaper solution for that. I previously had Pansats not capable of mpeg 4.

Ah ok. Thanks for explaining.

[iq180]

Will the Z5 record the powervu stream, I know the S16 will but the X5 want.

[SR Hadden]

Will the Z5 record the powervu stream, I know the S16 will but the X5 want.

No clue, I have no way to test. Which powervu chans are you opening?