Vantage HD 8000s review

[slick]

Hi all sorry this is a late response ive been in hospital for a while regarding all the above posts. Alot of our vantage members are experencing problems with heat from there stb,s (most vantage models as well as others etc)inc vantage 8000s and latest models etc.
what i alway,s do is install feet under the box approximatly one inch or even inch and a half, to allow enough air flow in assisting cooling. it never hurts to include this addition and i find i very rarely encounter heat problems now especialy on my own vantage 8000s.
Hope this post helps all concerned that have not yet taken this route.you could also leave the front facia cover down to assist any cams installed.

[satsid]

Originally Posted by thecaretaker

Thank you so much Billet for your reply. It's much appreciated.
Unfortunately, with 2 kids, it will be on for long periods, so the heat issue might be a problem. Especially with a Diablo CAM, I cooked one in my first Passion HD box. Thankfully the shop replaced it for me.

I'm using the passion now and have put a fan in that. The TM6900 is showing really blocky pictures on any resolution. Guess it is dieing a death.

If the vantage comes with a fan or a proper fan kit is provided, it would put my mind at rest. Spending that sort of money, I don't want to superglue a fan to the lid (break any warranty) and externally power it by wires poking out the lid. I've had enough of that nonsense.

May I ask another question?

How easy is the vantage to navigate the menus?
Only I've just spent 4+ hours scanning and setting up the Passion to tide me over until I can order something to replace the TM. I'm amazed at the quality of picture on the PassionHD considering it is a budget box, but the menu I find a nightmare to use (slow and not very logical) and I can't record anything.

I could stretch to the Dreambox (I'll not tell the wife how much it cost), but Linux puts the fear of god into me. I'm used to updating, patching and playing with channel lists on the PassionHD and TM6900's, I'm pretty good with computers but I've never used Linux or even seen it.
Can I download files and update using a Windows PC?

How much of a learning curve would it be?

Decisions decisions....

Iv a Vantage HD 8000 mine dose on get hot @tall.I dont use a built in hard drive,why not use a ex hard drive with usb?seagate works very good.Media you can save channels & its easy from remote to use.With delete channels in menu you can get rid of the cr*p one channel a time.Once youve done your channels,then save to media settings.What i like here as to other receivers,it loads back what you want & saved.Iv known in other makes of sat receivers,settings dont always load back right.No problem with Vantage HD 8000.