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ECHO PEACH
INTRO
It does everything except make the tea, it's
one of the most versatile multi-satellite receivers around, it's the Echostar
SR-8700
COPY
If you were to ask multi-satellite system
users what they most dislike about their present set-up we suspect many of them
would point to an unwieldy stack of boxes, hiding a rats-nest of cables and a
small collection of remote handsets. The Echostar SR-8700 looks like the answer
to a lot of STV enthusiasts prayers, like its stablemate, the (bulkier and
slightly less sophisticated) SR-7700, it's an integrated receiver and
positioner, with a built-in Videocrypt decoder, in a box no that's no larger
than many Astra IRDs.
Combining such diverse technologies in one
cabinet is not without its problems, though. Apart from the cost, which
reflects the fact that you're buying a lot of advanced technology, the biggest
drawback often lies with the controls. Some one-box multi-satellite systems
have too many of them, making them difficult to use; or there's not enough
manual controls, denying the user access to important facilities. The SR-8700
treads a fine line between those two extremes; with a little help your old
granny could switch it on and off and change channels, but you don't need to be
a computer scientist to really get the most out of it, (though it might be
helpful, as you delve into some of the 8700's more esoteric installation
menus...)
Before we take a closer look at the 8700's
main features it's worth saying that every
operation is overseen by a easy to follow, multi-lingual, menu-driven
on-screen display system, controlled from the remote handset. In addition to
basic channel and satellite idents the OSD can also show audio and video
frequencies, polarity and receiving modes (de-emphasis, deviation etc.), just
about everything, in fact that you're likely to want to know about the
satellite, the transmission and the status of the receiver. Do bear in mind
this is not the sort of receiver you'd buy if you're only interested in
watching BSKYB programmes, so no apologies for the frequent lapses into
technospeak. If you're at all interested in multi-satellite viewing you'll
either be familiar with the jargon, or quickly pick it up.
PRIME POSITION
The dish positioner is programmed with the
location and transmission parameters of just about every satellite broadcasting
to Europe, African and Asia so initial set-up procedures are greatly
simplified. Using the 'AutoSat' facility the dish has to be manually steered --
using the handset controls -- towards three satellites, one close to the
Eastern limit of the dish's arc, one in the middle, and one near the western
limit. From that information the positioner then works out the actuator's East
and West limits and calculates the position of all the C and Ku-band satellites
in between, after which it goes through an automatic fine-tuning process called
'ArcPeak'. Another automatic programming aid is included, called 'AutoPrompt
II' it's an enhanced version of the
system first used on the SR-6500. In this mode the Eastern limit is set
manually after which the dish moves West, to seek each satellite in turn along
the arc; after the first three contacts it should have enough information to
accurately predict the position of the remaining satellites. Of course, the
positioner can be programmed manually, and all or any of the information
relating to each satellite can be altered; data for new satellites and channels
can also be added, as and when they become operational.
The 8700 is designed to work with as many
different sorts of LNB as possible and the receiver is pre-programmed with
configurations the most common types, including multi-band types, and the
various methods of polarity switching, it's also possible to create a custom
configuration for specialised devices.
TUNED IN AND TURN ON
In addition to the pre-programmed tuning
assignments there's a full set of manual controls for selecting audio and video
frequencies, as well as polarity; once again all operations are shown clearly
by the on-screen display. Additional
refinements and tuning aids include a relative signal strength display,
pre-settable deviation (16, 21, 25 and 31MHz), preselectable video de-emphasis
(PAL, SECAM or NTSC), bandwidth reduction filter, video invert, an internally
generated sync signal for the on-screen graphics information, (should the
transmitted signal be too weak) and variable low-threshold operation. This last
feature increases the tuner's sensitivity on any given channel and is useful
for reducing the sparkly count on very weak signals. The 8700's Wegner stereo
audio system options are: manual tuning on all subcarriers (stereo and mono),
variable audio bandwidth (110, 150, 280 or 400kHz), presettable de-emphasis
(J-17, adaptive, 50uS and 75uS) and audio balance.
After that little lot the Videocrypt decoder
is something of an anticlimax, in fact there's not a lot to say about it,
except that it does the job and works well. Several other secondary features
also deserve a quick mention, they include a clock (displayed on-screen and on
the front-panel, when the receiver is switched off), an 8-event/31-day VCR
timer, display dimmer, self-diagnostic
fault-finding system, password-activated locks to protect the receiver's set-up routines, a parental
lock, to prevent access to particular channels or satellites and a 200 'favourite' channel selection system.
VERDICT
Dish positioning using the on-board
programming systems is fast and efficient and will instantly appeal to anyone
who has gone through the rigmarole of manually aligning a dish and positioner,
or is used to simpler equipment. Receiver performance is excellent, we found a
few of the factory settings needed tweaking, mostly to suit the test dish and
LNBs, but on the whole it's switch on and go! On strong DTH signals from the
Astra birds picture quality is faultless, not a trace of noise, though the
stereo soundtracks on some channels are a mite hissy, it could do with some
more energetic form of noise reduction. Tracking to lower-power satellites the
8700 really showed what it could do, pulling in signals that a comparator
receiver either missed or rejected as unwatchable and with a good dual or
triple band LNB, and a 1.2 or better still a 1.5 metre dish there's no much
this receiver will miss.
The 8700 takes the sting out of
multi-satellite operation. It has a true dual personality with all of the
flexibility and advanced features necessary and desirable to scan the skies for
signs of life, and poke around in between the scheduled TV programmes and broadcast
satellites, yet this one unassuming
black box is just as happy unravelling
those same mass-market programmes. Chaparral finally have some worthy
competition.
THE COMPETITION
The combination of an advanced
multi-satellite receiver with built-in Videocrypt decoder is rare indeed, in
fact the main competition comes from the SR-8700's near relative, the SR-7700.
The closest receiver, in terms of facilities and performance, is the mighty
Chaparral Monterey, though it lacks any on-board decoders, and it is
eye-wateringly expensive. Both the Drake ESR-600 and Manhattan 9000 are worth
investigating, though neither of them have Videocrypt decoders either.
Providing you don't mind the extra boxes the Mimtec Spirit and the Palcom SL650
are still worth considering if you want to stay in touch with Astra, they're
cheaper too though they're a good deal less versatile, and getting on a bit
now.
FACT FILE
Receiver: Echostar SR-8700
System price: £XXXX with 90cm dish
Address: Echosphere Corp. Schuilenburglaan 5a, 7640 BJ Almelo, The
Netherlands
VERDICT
Sound *****
Picture *****
Ease of use ***
Features *****
Value for money ****
A powerful and versatile receiver that will please any dedicated
multi-satellite viewer looking for a challenge
Buying Satellite Rating: 95%
System: Features: up to 48 channels on each of 64
satellites, or 200 favourite channels. Audio: Wegner stereo, selectable
pre-emphasis (J17, adaptive, 50 & 75uS). Sockets: RF bypass, dual LNB input, AV out (SCART), stereo audio out, composite and baseband video
out (phono), antenna positioner and polariser (spring terminals) positioner
motor (screw terminals) mains input (Bulgin), Dimensions . 440 (w) x 63(h) x
350(d) mm
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R.Maybury 1993 2408
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