[douglas-b]

They are shipping now and I should have it in my hands on Wednesday...I'll post a mini review after that.

Moderators Note: Please note all 3 units, Centronics ZAT 502 HD / RTC DTA1100HD / Digiwave DTV5000HD, are identical.

 

[Rammitinski]

Please do. Thanks.

 

[douglas-b]



Simple Guide

Signal Bars

Screen Aspect Ratio Setup

Parental Controls

Simple Guide

Remote

HD (with sidebars)

SD (with sidebars)

SD (full stretch mode)

SD (center stretch mode)

Channel Scan Modes

 

[Ken H]

Can you tell us about the guide? Fast? How far does it go out into the future?


Where did you get it from?


Cost?

 

[Rammitinski]

 http://www.centronics.com/products/A...onverter-Boxes

 

[douglas-b]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H /forum/post/16231790


Can you tell us about the guide? Fast? How far does it go out into the future?


Where did you get it from?


Cost?

It really doesn't have a guide when viewing HD material. You can bring it up and it will have an area where it should be but...just gives ratings.

I'm using component for my 1080i maybe that has something to do with it. I will check it out in further detail for you.

http://www.centronics.com/

 

[Rammitinski]



Quote:
Originally Posted by douglas-b /forum/post/16229810


It has screen adjustment for those wanting to use it as a converter box on a 4:3 screen.

Does it have an uneven, non-linear, "just"-type stretch option for 4:3 material (what people sometimes call "the fun house mirror effect"), or just an even, linear one?

 

[douglas-b]

Yea, it looks better if you don't stretch it. I can snap a few pics if you'd like.

 

[Rammitinski]

That'd be excellent. It looks like the PQ is pretty good in general from your other pics so far.

 

[douglas-b]

HD quality looks great. I have had the set ISF calibrated though.

 

[Rammitinski]

How's the general build quality? Can you add singular channels without having to do an "add-on" scan?

 

[douglas-b]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rammitinski /forum/post/16232940


How's the general build quality? Can you add singular channels without having to do an "add-on" scan?

Build quality seems good...metal case...it is little though.


Yes, you can add single channels if you know the frequency they are broadcast on...or the analog channel (antennaweb) is how I did it.

 

[douglas-b]



can you tell us about the guide? Fast? How far does it go out into the future?


Where did you get it from?

 

[douglas-b]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rammitinski /forum/post/16232894


Does it have an uneven, non-linear, "just"-type stretch option for 4:3 material (what people sometimes call "the fun house mirror effect"), or just an even, linear one?

Depending how you do it in the inital setup...if you choose 16:9 you can not stretch HD material but you can zoom SD. If you choose 4:3 you can zoom HD and SD material is already zoomed. I have no idea why but you just have to figure out what you want to zoom or not zoom.

 

[andgarden]

How's the remote?

 

[douglas-b]

The remote is alright but I use a Harmony H659 and I was impressed they already had the codes so I could use it instead.

 

[rabbit73]



Quote:
Originally Posted by douglas-b /forum/post/16229810


Set up was straight forward and I had no difficulties in doing it. I set my rotor toward Fort Wayne and did a "Auto Scan". After that I used the "Manual Scan" so it wouldn't delete the previous channels it had just added. This receiver is sensitive and does a very good job of locking on to channels.

It has a "Signal Quality" and "Signal Strength" bars for tuning a station in better.

I've only had it for 12 hours and I'm very glad I bought it. For the price I paid for it...it's a steal for what it does. Having a older Mitts. without a tuner, I had to have something to get my HD again after canceling my Dish Network subscription. Now I've got it. If you have any specific questions, just ask and I'll do my best to answer. If you need a HD tuner...buy it, you'll be happy.

Thanks for posting the screen shot of the dual signal bars, which interest me because they are so helpful when finding the best location and aim for an antenna. It looks a lot like the Apex DT502 screen. Is that a coincidence or is there a connection between Apex and Centronics?

The ability to add a channel after scan puts it one-up on the Apex even disregarding the HD.


Is there a link for a PDF manual yet?


Update 3-9-2012:

Since the link to the photo of the dual signal bars that douglas-b took is broken, I am putting it in an attachment below. It is much better than the one I took (which is why I saved it), and I hope that he will not mind.

 

[douglas-b]

I never found a PDF one either.

 

[Lazza]

Does it have event timer functionality so that it can working with recording devices (eg, DVDR)? Short of that, any idea on its compatibility with IR blasters?


Thanks.



_Lazza

 

[mousse]

Hmm, now I'm wondering if I should get the 502 or get a Samsung.


Which would be better if I did not want any black bars to appear when watching SD content? I've got a plasma and not a fan of those black bars.