10 best satellite receivers

Television is a very powerful thing. It can both entertain, and teach something new, and inform about the news - there are channels and programs for every taste. Of course, its popularity has been declining somewhat recently due to the spread of fast Internet, but it is still too early to write off TV. Nevertheless, the sphere continues to develop: interactive projects, new channels appear, and the equipment is becoming more and more technological from year to year. Already no one is surprised by the ability to record a certain program on an external medium for viewing at a convenient time, or access to the Internet - this and much more can be done by modern TVs without any additional equipment.

However, the owners of old equipment still have to deal with the issue of purchasing a special receiver. At the moment, there are IPTV receivers on sale, cable, digital and satellite television, but we will focus only on the last two. The reasons are simple: fast Internet, like cable TV, is not available in all settlements of our vast country, and where there is, people have long been using modern televisions that initially support these standards. Digital television is slowly replacing analog and is widespread almost everywhere, and satellite television can work even in Antarctica, if you can tune in to the desired satellite. The best representatives from each category are traditionally waiting for you in our rating. Go!

Best satellite receivers

Let's start with a more complex system in all plans - satellite television. To watch video from orbit, you need not only a TV and a receiver, but also a satellite dish. Because of this, the cost of the finished system is high. It should also be borne in mind that certain skills are required to install and configure. The main advantage of satellite television is the ability to install it almost anywhere in the world. Yes, you will have to follow a few rules, but the result will be a pleasant surprise.

But there is one more fly in the ointment - not all channels are free. To access paid resources, you must additionally purchase a card from a local provider. The most popular are Tricolor and NTV +. Of course, these same companies also sell equipment, but its quality and cost give rise to a lot of criticism.

5 DTS 54

The rating opens with a model that can be safely called an entry card into the world of satellite television. DTS 54 costs very little compared to its competitors - the average price is 2,800 rubles, but you can find a price tag of about 2 thousand rubles. And the device is really worth this money.

Outwardly, everything is as simple as possible - a matte practical plastic block with a ladder of slots for ventilation, and six control buttons. There are also a minimum of connectors: power, LNB input for the antenna and HDMI for image transmission to the TV. There is one slot for an access card. It is conveniently located on the side - it is very easy to install or remove the card. The only drawback is that the device works only with the Tricolor TV operator.

There is no need to talk about any additional functionality. DTS 54 is suitable for those who just want to watch satellite TV without overpaying for unclaimed functionality.

Advantages:

• Minimum cost
• No bells and whistles

Disadvantages:

• HDMI connection to TV only

4 General Satellite GS B534M

The next satellite receiver costs twice as much, but it also offers an order of magnitude wider functionality. The appearance is still minimalistic, but not at the expense of functionality. A USB port is placed on the front panel for easy access. On the back: two LNB ports, S / PDIF, Ethernet, HDMI, composite video output, and even a connector for an external IR receiver.

Two antenna connectors correspond to two TV tuners. One slot for an access card - GS B534M is designed to work with Tricolor TV.There are already familiar functions Timeshift (pause on-air TV) and PVR (recording a program), which work is provided by a smart eMMC drive with 16 GB. Internet access is needed, for example, for the Tricolor TV-mail service to work, which displays your emails directly on the TV screen. We also note support for DiSEqC, which allows, for example, redirecting a dish to another satellite using a motorized suspension.

Advantages:

• Wide functionality
• Lots of ports
• Remote IR receiver

3 Tiviar Mini HD

The next line of the rating is occupied by an inexpensive receiver from Tiviar. This model does not stand out much from the competitors, which you will see below. Mini HD is just a high-quality receiver with a relatively nimble processor, universal card reader and OS Linux on board. The latter, by the way, is very useful, because a full-fledged operating system provides the work of such functions as Time-Shift, support for Web browsers, YouTube, and third-party applications. With such a set, even an old Soviet TV can be turned into a newfangled SmartTV. The features of the model include the presence of an external IR receiver, thanks to which the device can be hidden from view (for example, by hanging it on the back of the TV using the included Vesa Mount), without losing the ability to control the receiver using the remote control.

Advantages:

• Lowest cost in the ranking
• Remote IR receiver

Disadvantages:

• Complex initial setup

2 General Satellite GS A230

Another model from General Satellite takes the silver medal. The model is somewhat cheaper than the leader of the rating, providing similar functionality. The main feature of GS A230 is support for 4K UltraHD resolution. Given the increasing prevalence of ultra-high definition content, the acquisition of such a device is becoming quite relevant. In addition, the 230th has a whole heap of additional functions - we described them in more detail on the example of the GS534M.

Outwardly, the receiver is still simple, but the use of glossy black plastic and touch buttons make it look a little more expensive and attractive - you no longer want to hide the box in a distant box, displaying only an external IR receiver. We also note the built-in 1 TB HDD - it will probably be enough to record all your favorite TV shows. And if not, you can replace it yourself with a more capacious model.

Advantages:

• UltraHD resolution support
• 1 TB hard drive
• Good functionality

1 AX (Opticum) HD51 4K

UltraHD strides the planet. And it got to not only YouTube and cable videos, but also satellite TV. So far, there are very few channels broadcasting in 4K, but it is already worth purchasing the appropriate equipment. As you already understood, the HD51 4K is capable of displaying images in SD, HD and 4K resolution. But there are many other benefits as well. First of all, it is worth paying attention to a powerful by the standards of receivers, a 2-core processor from Broadcom, operating at a frequency of 1.7 GHz, which guarantees nimble work and "digestion" of ultra-high definition content. Secondly, you can install an HDD inside the device - it will come in handy if you want to record UHD content. The undoubted advantage is the ability to “Plug and Play” the replacement of the tuner - you can install satellite, cable or terrestrial. Finally, not the most necessary, but pleasant feature is the ability to control from iOS and Android devices.

Thus, we have before us an excellent device, which cannot yet show all that it is capable of. But in a couple of years there will be more quality content, and HD51 4K owners will be ready for it.

Advantages:

• 4K support
• Powerful processor
• 4 GB of built-in flash memory and the ability to install HDD (2.5 ')
• Availability of USB 3.0 input
• As OS - Open Linux with Enigma2 shell

Best digital receivers

In early 2017, Norway announced that it would completely phase out analogue broadcasting in favor of digital broadcasting. The case, it would seem, is far from us, but very indicative, because the process of transition to “digital” in television is taking place in our country at the moment.The new technology allows a better picture to be transmitted over a greater distance. It would seem that there are some advantages, but not all houses now have modern TVs with support for DVB T2. Fortunately, the problem is solved very simply - by purchasing an external receiver, the cost of which is very low. The only thing to remember is that you need a decimeter antenna, but almost certainly you already have one.

3 Selenga T81D

We reopen the category with the most budgetary device. The cheapness of the T81D is noticeable right away - the case is assembled from simple materials. Besides, not very high quality. But what else is worth waiting for 1000 rubles !? Inside, everything is more civilized. The tuner supports DVB-C, DVB-T and DVB-T2. The case has a pair of USB ports (front and rear) that can be used to connect external drives: you can record live broadcasts on the HDD or, on the contrary, play movies from it. Even more interesting, you can buy a Wi-Fi adapter and use the T81D to watch YouTube!

There are no complaints about the usability. On the front surface there is a clock / channel indicator and four large buttons. The remote control is simple, but it can be used to complete any task without any problems. To display the picture, you can use HDMI or composite video output, which allows you to connect both modern and old TVs with a resolution up to FullHD.

Advantages:

• Cheapness
• Upgradeability

Disadvantages:

• Not the best build quality

2 D-COLOR DC1302HD

The second line is occupied by the receiver, which is very popular among buyers. Outwardly, there is little remarkable - an ordinary black box with the necessary set of outputs (audio, HDMI, composite) and slots for adequate ventilation of the insides. Technical characteristics do not impress either: support for DVB-T2, maximum FullHD resolution.

But digging a little deeper, you understand - the Maxlinear 630 tuner provides excellent reception away from TV towers, and the voltage on the USB outputs allows even large hard drives to work smoothly. The latter will come in handy if you intend to record terrestrial television or play movies / series from an external storage device. Fortunately, in the reviews, users call D-Color "omnivorous" - all common audio, video and photo formats are supported. We also note that the manufacturer claims support for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound technology, which will clearly delight movie lovers at home.

Advantages:

• excellent quality
• Confident signal reception
• Dolby Digital support
• "Omnivorous" media player

1 BBK SMP240HDT2

Finally, the leader is the digital receiver, which, on paper, does not differ much from its competitors in terms of characteristics, and the only visible advantage is its relatively low cost. However, the reviews put everything in its place. Reception at the set-top box is confident, it catches a little more channels than competitors, and the image quality is good at the same time. The built-in media player easily "digests" most of the video and audio formats. The only drawback is the conflict of the remote control with Toshiba, Onyx and Akira TVs.

Advantages:

• Good build quality
• Confident signal reception
• "Omnivorous" media player

Disadvantages:

• Remote control conflict with some TV models
• Narrow directional IR sensor - you have to aim the remote control directly at the receiver

The best digital receivers with USB connectivity

We conclude the selection with an unusual type of receivers - models with a USB connection. They can be used even without a TV. Just plug the device into your laptop or desktop PC, plug in the antenna, and you can enjoy TV. And if such a combination is connected to a TV, you can get both a familiar TV and a truly "omnivorous" media player - nevertheless, the capabilities of a full-fledged PC are noticeably superior to even the most advanced Smart TVs.

2 ESPADA ESP-DVBT2

The model from Espada can hardly be called affordable against the background of receivers from the previous category, but if you intend to watch TV on a computer, ESP-DVBT2 is one of the most budget models.The design is simple and somewhat outdated, but no complaints about convenience - the dimensions are small, the antenna connector is hidden inside the case. There are slots for cooling the "filling". Except that the quality would be better - even in the photo, uneven molding of the plastic case and uneven gaps are noticeable. The scope of delivery includes a compact telescopic antenna. The reception quality with it is not ideal - if possible, you should choose a more powerful one.

It makes no sense to describe the software, because Espada can work with a whole range of programs: TVRplayer, ProgDVB, DVBDream. It will not be difficult to find software for your taste. You can only find fault with the remote control - it is too compact and flat, which makes it inconvenient to use.

Advantages:

• Affordable price
• Cooling slots
• Compatibility with non-standard programs

Disadvantages:

• Inconvenient remote control
• Mediocre build quality

1 AVerMedia Technologies AVerTV Hybrid Volar T2

The leading position is taken by a product of a company specializing in the production of capture cards, cameras, TV tuners, etc. The Hybrid Volar T2, like the previous participant, is made in the form factor of a large flash drive. The body materials are nicer, but the dimensions are somewhat larger. From the connectors: USB for connecting to a PC, an antenna input and a proprietary connector through which you can connect the usual "tulips". The latter is useful, for example, for digitizing old videotapes - you connected a VCR and you can immediately create a digital copy. Also, the device can be used as an FM-receiver - the set includes a special antenna with a very long wire.

The receiver also performs its direct functions - broadcasting TV - perfectly. The signal level even with a compact complete antenna is acceptable. Supports 3D TV, TimeShift, recording broadcast to a drive and much more.

Advantages:

• Extensive functionality
• Good build quality

Disadvantages:

• High price