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Sony BRAVIA VE5 Series KDL 52VE5 52 Inch 1080p 120Hz Eco friendly LCD HDTV

December 22nd, 2009 | Author: LCD TV

Sony BRAVIA VE5 Series KDL 52VE5 52 Inch 1080p 120Hz Eco friendly LCD HDTV

Go green without sacrificing picture quality. Combining energy-saving features with quality picture performance, BRAVIA VE5 Eco Series HDTVs make other televisions green with envy. The 52″ Class VE5 boasts a high-efficiency HCFL backlight which provides outstanding image quality while exceeding ENERGY STAR 3.0 requirements by over 65% in Home Mode. An integrated Presence Sensor detects if you’ve stepped away from your TV for a while and shuts the picture off. A built-in LightSensor(TM) automatically adjusts to your room’s ambient light and lowers the brightness of the TV’s backlight to conserve energy. Plus, enjoy Full HD 1080p picture quality and smooth motion with Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate technology. Dynamic Backlight Control feature adjusts the brightness of the backlight both to optimize image quality and to reduce power consumption BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor HD input x 7; Four HDMI inputs Connect your camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device directly to your HDTV’s USB input 24p True Cinema mode provides a direct connection to 24p video sources, avoiding conversions and allowing you to enjoy films at their intended 24 fps (frames per second) cinematic picture quality when using a 24p True Cinema capable output device ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM VESA compatible hole spacing Power Consumption (in Operation) max. – 180 W Max Power Requirements (voltage) – AC 120V Dolby Digital Audio Power Output – 20 W (10 W X 2) VESA Hole Pitch – 300X300 M6/12-16MM In the box – Remote Control RM-YD028 Batteries (Type AA x2) AC Power Cord (attached) Screws (4) for pedestal Operating Instructions Quick Setup Guide Warranty Card Table Top Stand (separate, pre-assembled) Unit Dimensions – 49 3/4 x 34 3/8 x 14 3/8 inches (with pedestal); Weight – 76.3 lbs. (with pedestal) Manufacturer’s limited 1-year labor & parts warranty

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Picture and Features, plus it’s eco-friendly
This is an excellent TV.

Picture Quality:

The picture quality of this set is superb. In the setup menu, I set the picture to “vivid” mode and the HD quality is simply life-like. The color and contrast are excellent. It also uses something that Sony calls MotionFlow which helps to smooth out the image when you are watching fast-action pictures.

Backlight Technology:

It is an LCD set, but uses a hot cathode fluorescent lamp for its backlighting. This technology allows it to be much more energy efficient and close to par with the energy usage of LED backlit LCD TVs. Most LCDs use cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The 40″ model uses a maximum of 140 watts, the 46″ uses a max of 160 watts, and the 52″ uses a max of 180 watts.

Eco-Friendly:

It has a sensor called a presence sensor that does two things. First it senses the ambient (room) light and if the room gets darker, it will automatically dim the picture of the TV. This works well if you are watching TV in the bedroom at night and you want less light output. The second thing that the sensor does is senses the room for motion and body heat. If you leave the room for a preset amount of time (5 min, 30 min, …) and the TV doesn’t sense anyone around, it will turn off the picture. If you walk back in the room, it senses you and turns the screen back on. The sound stays on for another 30 minutes or so, then the whole set will go into stand-by mode if it does not sense you. Both of these features can be turned off via the setup menu and help to conserve energy.

Features (just a few of them):

The TV is loaded with features. It will automatically sense if you have something connected to an input (for example HDMI2). This is great when you want to hit the input button on the remote because it will not select items that aren’t currently sending out a signal. This means you don’t have to scroll through 10 items if you only have two components connected to the TV. In the setup menu, you can set each input for always on, always off, or auto. I used the always on setting for the PC input because the cable I used to connect the PC did not send a power signal so the TV did not sense it. By setting it to always on, the PC input will always be available when I scan through the inputs.

It also has a lot of inputs. There are 4 HDMI inputs. If you have a DVI port on your PC, then you can connect it through HDMI port 1 which also has an analog audio input. There is one dedicated composite (with S-video) and one dedicated component input, but there is another switchable composite/component input that you can use if you have two composites and one component, or vice versa. There is a PC input to connect via VGA connection. The audio outputs are one optical digital out and one analog out.

Dislikes:

1. All of the Inputs and Output are on the left side (when looking at the front of the TV) of the TV. This is unfortunate for me since my A/V cabinet is on the right side of the TV. It is a minor inconvenience, but something that I did not think about until I got the set home. I would say about half of the inputs are one the left side and the other half are on the back, next to the side inputs.

2. The presence sensor is right where I have my center audio speaker. I will have to raise up the TV to still have that speaker front and center.

Overall, this is not a cheap TV, but I think this is a case where you get what you pay for. It is a really great set.

5 Stars My first Sony product and I have to say that I am impressed.
I had been apprehensive about pulling the trigger on an LCD TV for months now waiting for all these promised LED LCD TVs to become available from various manufacturers. With Samsung hitting the market first and disappointing most of us with their outrageous prices and availability with gloss screens only, they were quickly removed from my list of potential purchases. LG then hit the market with their model, which is very impressive, but with a $2400+ price tag, it was still a bit too much for my budget. Then there was Vizio which still hasn’t been able to apparently get the bugs out of their LED LCD TVs that were promised in June, then September, and now October. So needless to say they were removed from my list.

This model of Sony hit the shelves roughly around the same time as the Samsung LED TVs. Its specifications were pretty good, and the promise of low wattage similar to the LED LCDs was very attractive. What I wasn’t happy with was the fact that this is an 8-bit LCD panel as opposed to the 10-bit panels that the other manufacturer’s models used. A local retailer finally had the Sony in their show room, so I could see if the 8 bit panel made a difference, and after spending over an hour comparing its picture detail and clarity to the Samsung and LG models, I could not see anything negative about the Sony. In fact, to my eyes even the contrast differences between the LED models and this ECO series was negligible, and definitely not worth the extra price tag for the LED models. The color was also more natural on the Sony than the Samsung and LG models that were next to it. One of the most noticeable segments they had running was a cooking channel scene where the cook was making some broccoli dish. The broccoli on the other sets was almost fluorescent, but on the Sony it was a perfect medium dark green. I was sold.

Now with the KDL-52VE5 dropping from $2100 to what it is now, I decided I had waited long enough. Since my local retailer could not come close to Amazon’s price, I purchased it from Amazon. The set arrived within a week with the free shipping, and I have to say that the shipping company (Pilot) that delivered the set was great. The delivery man was very friendly and helpful. He quickly unpacked the new set, helped me take down my old (325 lb) 36 inch tube TV from its stand, placed the new TV up on the stand, and powered it up to verify that it was working. Great delivery service.

Now that I have the TV at home, I am 100% happy with the purchase so far. I was worried that I would be disappointed with the contrast ratio once I played a movie at night, but I couldn’t be happier. A 100,000 to 1 contrast ratio is just fine. I am very picky about how well a television handles black (as well as color), and this set produces blacks even better than the HD CRT set that it is replacing. The color is amazing. Playing any Pixar film with this set in vivid mode will blow your mind (or at least your kid’s minds). I haven’t had the time to tweak each of the picture settings, but I have to say that right out of the box this thing is amazing. I have simply been switching between standard and vivid depending on what we are watching and I couldn’t be happier with just these factory setups.

The sound from this is fine for watching anything that you don’t feel like firing up your surround sound receiver for. It is very clear, and has very good range for TV speakers.

I then had to test the power consumption with my kill-a-watt plug in meter. With the set in vivid mode, with the light sensor on in a daylight lit room, the set averages just 145 watts. In a dark room it uses even less, since the sensor automatically turns down the backlight level. Only 145 watts for a 52 inch television with 120 Hz motion correction. I’m impressed!

As far as longevity goes, only time will tell, but since this basically a standard Sony LCD with just a more efficient backlight setup, it should be fine. If things do go wrong in the future, I will make sure to update this review.

Anyway, if you are on a sub $2000 budget and want a great 52-inch TV that won’t jack up your electric bill, then this is the one to get (unless you want to wait yet another year).

5 Stars Excellent Big Screen HDTV
I’ve been holding off on buying a big screen TV for 4 years and finally pulled the trigger on this one. Originally I was going to get a projection DLP set and I’m so glad that I held off. The LCD technology has gotten so much better than 4 years ago. I’ve had this TV for almost a week and can’t imagine picking anything else. The picture quality is perfect in Vivid picture mode with an 80% color setting. There is no motion blur with the standard setting for Motionflow. What takes getting used to is utilizing the Cinemotion setting for film based movies and Game Mode for the PS3. It doesn’t explain these functions very well in the product manual so I had to go to Sony’s website to learn about these. CGI movies like the Pixar and Shrek films have choppy video if you have the Cinemotion enabled because they’re not film based so you have to turn the Cinemotion off. When I was on Sony’s website I also learned that they already have a software update for this TV. I had to format my USB drive for FAT32 and download it but it was no problem installing it via the service port on the back of the set. The things I don’t really care for are the ECO settings. I thought these would be helpful but they really aren’t in my setup. The Presence Sensor only detects out to 9.8′ from the screen but I sit 12′ away so it shuts the TV off even when I’m in the room. Also, the Light Sensor reduces the brightness of the screen at night, but like I said, I’m sitting 12′ away and have to have it bright so I don’t need to squint to see the picture. But, you can turn these features off in the menu which is good. The sound quality is a little mute on the factory default so I tweaked it to Max on the Bass setting and Dynamic with Trusurround. For movies it also helps to have an external speaker system for more effect. I am very happy with this TV and got a great price with free shipping. If your looking for an HDTV that has lower power consumption with excellent picture quality this is the one.

1 Star Greatly Dissapointed
I just bought a Sony Bravia VE5 52 inch LCD TV last week, and I must say I am greatly disapointed by the product.

Yes, the picture quality is great but there is this delay of 2-5 seconds every time I change a channel. When I try to change the channel the screen goes blank for 2-5 secs before the next channel comes on. I called Sony customer service and they said that this delay is normal both with basic cable or with a HD receiver box connected to the TV and said I have to live with it. I am astounded as to how in this day and age with all this advancement in technology and Sony says it is normal to experience a delay while flipping channels. If I have 100-200 channels and if I want to browse/checkout few of them I must spend a heck of a lot of time in changing channels and waiting patiently for the channel to show up on my expensive 120Hz LCD TV. It’s like spending approx $2000 on an advanced computer and saying it’s ok if it’s slow to turn on and it;s ok if it has a delay every time I go on the internet even if I have a high speed connection….would you live with that?. Also, the remote is poorly designed. The buttons that are most frequently used such as vol, channel up-down etc are placed in difficult to use positions. I mean you cannot easly hold the remote and glide you thumb to go to these buttons. Besides, the remote is roughly 12 inches long and after holding it for a while you can feel it uncomfortable. Below is my sincere recommendation:

1. Try to avoid buying a Sony….

2. If you really want to buy a Sony then make sure you’ve checked it out in a store or somewhere first thouroughly

I wish someone had warned me so I could have avoided this disapointment…but I guess you at least can.

FYI…I’ve always been a Sony fan…all my other electronics …video and digital cameras etc… are sony.

5 Stars bravia 52ve5
that tv is just incredible!!! now i am ruining myself only buying Blurays because the motionflow and movieflow on that tv makes it so realistic!!!

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Posted in LCD TV | Tags: 1080p, Ac 120v, Ac Power Cord, Cinema Mode, Control Feature, Control Rm, Digital Video Processor, Fps Frames, Green With Envy, Hdmi Inputs, High Efficiency, Hole Pitch, Hole Spacing, Limited 1, Power Consumption, Presence Sensor, Smooth Motion, Type Aa, Video Sources, Voltage Ac | No Comments »

Sony BRAVIA W Series KDL 52W5100 52 Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

December 8th, 2009 | Author: LCD TV

Sony BRAVIA W Series KDL 52W5100 52 Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Packed with innovative features, the 52″ Class BRAVIA W Series incorporates the latest in HDTV performance into a slim and stylish design. Personalize your entertainment experience and access the latest news, weather, stocks and sports information with BRAVIA Widgets. You can also stream on-demand entertainment including hit movies and TV shows with BRAVIA Internet Video. Additionally, the W Series comes with the newly developed BRAVIA Engine 3 for enhanced overall image detail and Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate technology for a crisp, more natural viewing experience while watching fast-paced scenes. HD input x 7; Four HDMI inputs S-Force Surround Sound Dolby Digital Power Requirements (voltage) – AC 120-240V Power Consumption (in Operation) max. – 300 W 24p True Cinema Audio Power Output – 20W (10W+10W) VESA Hole Pitch – 300×300 M6 (wall mount optional) Includes TV table stand ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM In the box – Remote Control RM-YD027 Batteries (Type AA x2) AC Power Cord (separate) Operating Instructions Quick Setup Guide Warranty Card Table Top Stand (attached) Unit Dimensions – 48 7/8 x 32 3/8 x 14 1/8 inches (with pedestal), Weight – 65.9 lbs. (with pedestal)

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great TV for the Price! Very Happpy!
I received the KDL-52W5100 about 2 weeks ago. It replaced a KDL-52V5100 that I got in March, which replaced an older Sony Hi-Def LCD rear projection 1080i model (KDF-60XS955). The KDL-52V5100 was great at first, but it had a very annoying dimming problem that Sony eventually fixed with a firmware update. The problem was that the firmware update then broke the audio for me. The audio would cut out a few times a night on all HDMI inputs. Tried new cables, new Dish receiver, everything. They finally, after weeks of fighting with them, sent me another KDL-52V5100 which then had the same problem. Sony was very good about taking care of me with these issues, once I got a hold of the right person. Before that, they give you the run around and are willing to let your brand new TV sit in a repair shop for weeks while you wait for it. I will be keeping the contact names/numbers/email addresses for future reference. It’s amazing how fast your problems get addressed when you email the Vice President of customer service for North America directly at his actual personal email address! They finally, just 2 weeks ago replaced it with this TV. The KDL-52V5100 had a great picture (when I wasn’t having problems with it) but this TV performs very noticeably better! I have used it with an XBOX360, a PS3 and with Dish Network Hi-Def receiver/DVR. The standard def is better than most of the other LCD’s I looked at but as with all you can see the flaws of the SD picture. This one looks better than most for SD though. It also doesn’t have the HDMI color space issue that the KDL-52V5100 had with my XBOX360. I have it set to Y’CbCr and it looks AMAZING! The PS3 also looks INCREDIBLE! This TV had all the features I wanted and has delivered higher performance and picture than expected. This TV does have noticeably better picture quality than the V series. The contrast is better (possible due to the Bravia 3 engine as opposed to the Bravia 2 engine in the V series) and there are more advanced features for scene selection and other video options. Plus the Xross media bar menu system is WAY better than the plain generic menu in the V series. It looks to be more customizable. The internet connection, DLNA and widgets are just a bonus for me. When I received it, it already needed a firmware upgrade which very conveniently upgraded right over the internet rather than having to use a flash drive. Because of that I can’t comment on issues with the old firmware. The stand is average size but I wish it swiveled. The TV is not too heavy. The appearance is very sleek, it appears less clunky than the heavier V series and I like the option to have the Sony logo glow. It’s pretty cool. The one thing I was worried about was the fact that it has an 8-bit LCD panel, rather than a 10-bit panel. I was really worried it would have banding or “paint by number” effects. I picked up a copy of Digital Video Essentials (DVE) HD Basics on Blu-Ray to calibrate the TV and to my surprise it included a test for checking for slow processing and for color banding “paint by number” effects. This TV was able to reproduce a perfect gradation in both color and gray scale with ABSOLUTELY no banding or “paint by number” effects whatsoever! I was really impressed. According to DVE an 8-bit panel should be able to do this as long as the processing board is fast enough and good enough quality. These problems are more due to the processing than an 8-bit panel according to DVE. The 10-bit is not necessary if you have adequate processing. After more research I have found that, that is why most higher end manufacturers, like Sony have started using 8-bit panels again in most but their very high end models. After calibrating this TV with DVE the picture is far better than I had ever hoped for, with great black levels and extremely vibrant, true to life color. The off angle viewing is exceptional. The picture morphs a little from extreme side view due to the flat screen, but the contrast and brightness even from almost sideways is awesome! On the last note, the Dish Network receiver/DVR looks great as well. Any problems with the picture was due to the signal from the satellite and not the TV itself. All the HD channels have some compression and it shows, but wouldn’t matter how good the TV is for that. DVD, Blu-Ray, XBOX350 and PS3 have absolutely the best picture I have seen on any other LCD. They only thing that could be as good or better is Plasma, but I really wanted a Sony and they only make LCD’s now. I am very pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend this TV for anyone. The matte finish is great as I have a lot of ambient lights and side windows in my living room. The only other TV I was considering was the Samsung and the highly reflective, glossy screen just would not work for me. Other than that, the Samsung has a great picture too. I mean Sony uses Samsung panels in most of their TV’s, so…

5 Stars Best 52″ TV for the price
Just got it about 4 hours ago and this completely beats out my old 32″. First off, the border around the TV is thin which I find GREAT. It doesn’t draw your eye to it like larger glossy finishes. Out of the box most of the settings are very good, a few tweaks is your more techy tho. The speakers do pretty good as well, not surround sound but as close as it gets. I haven’t set up the internet yet tho. Still need to buy a wireless bridge, which might be the only thing I found wrong with it. But that may be stretching it. A definite buy!

1 Star Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR4
I purchased a Sony KDL-46XBR4 LCD TV in Feb. of 08. This May, 3 months after the warranty expired, the screen started flickering and was dark in spots. After 30 minutes of warm up the screen would appear normal. I contacted Sony support. They had me unplug it, wait 1 minute and plug it back in. They said if this didn’t fix it to contact one of their repair companies in the Austin area. The repair company said it would cost $1400 to $1700 to repair. For this kind of money I could buy a new TV. Maybe M. Barnes can get the contact information for the VP of Customer support. Buyer beware!

5 Stars EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR 52″ LCD
FIRST OFF, I’M NOT AN AUDIOPHILE OR VIDEOPHILE. I’M INTELLIGENT, CONSERVATIVE AND WANTED A MEDIUM PRICED, GOOD QUALITY LCD HDTV. I WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE FRILLS ON THIS TV EVEN THO I WILL OF COURSE UTILIZE SOME OF THEM. I WANTED A TV WITH A SMALL FOOTPRINT FOR IT’S SIZE, EXCELLENT RESOLUTION, GOOD SOUND QUALITY EVEN THO IT IS HOOKED UP TO A BOSE SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM. I FOUND THE SETUP WAS CLEAR AND EASY. TV GUIDE SETUP A BREEZE. THE PICTURE QUALITY IN HD IS FANTASTIC. I COULDN’T RATE IT HIGHER! I FOUND THE BLURRING ISSUE MINIMAL WHILE WATCHING SPORTING EVENTS (FOOTBALL & BASEBALL). I WAS ALSO HAPPY THAT IT HAS THE UPDATED BRAVIA ENGINE 3. I MADE A WISE CHOICE WITH THIS TV AND I AM VERY PLEASED.

4 Stars Great LCD TV, with a major design oversight
I just bought this TV last week. I’ve been in the market for a 52″ LCD HDTV for about a month, and ultimately chose this model for several reasons: (1) Based on my research, Sony and Samsung are the top brands. I ruled out Samsung after realizing that none of their 2009 models (B line 5, 6, 7 series) come with S-video input for some unknown reason. The 2008 models (A line) had them, but not in 2009. I have older equipment that defaults to S-video output, so for me having an S-video input is very important. Also, 3 of the 4 HDMI ports are on the side, and since I’ll be wall-mounting the TV, I think easy access to the ports is very important, too. (2) Between the Sony 52″ models, there are 5 selections: S, V, W, Z, XBR. The W is neither too low-end (it has Bravia Engine 3, unlike the S or V which only has Bravia Engine 2) or too high-end (120Hz is good enough for me, Z and XBR are 240Hz). It is the smallest in dimension, with the thinnest bezel. It comes with DLNA and Internet support, although I don’t see myself using the widgets that often (because I have it hooked up to a Mac mini anyway), having the capability to connect to network greatly increases the value and flexibility of it.

Overall, I’m happy with the TV. The picture looks sharp, the colors are gorgeous, and setup was easy. Once on the network, it found a firmware update to fix some known issues so that was very easy.

Then, yesterday, I discovered a major design flaw in it. I was hooking up an indoor digital antenna to the TV, and looking for a signal strength indicator so I can best position the antenna. To my disappointment, I couldn’t find it in the owner’s manual, so I called Sony support. I was told that it does not have a signal strength indicator. I find it absurd that a $2000 TV with built-in HD receiver does not include such a critical feature. Samsung T260 LCD HDTV (~$350) has it, and EyeTV 3 software even announces the signal quality every second while I’m up fine-tuning the antenna position.

I hope Sony recognizes this inexcusable oversight and corrects it in a future software update.

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Posted in LCD TV | Tags: 24p, Ac Power Cord, Control Rm, Great Tv, Hdmi Inputs, Hdtv Sony, Hole Pitch, Kdf 60xs955, Kdl, Max 300, Power Consumption, Qam, Sony Hi, Stylish Design, Tv Table, Type Aa, Unit Dimensions, Voltage Ac, Warranty Card, Weather Stocks | No Comments »

Sony BRAVIA VE5 Series KDL 40VE5 40 Inch 1080p 120Hz Eco friendly LCD HDTV

December 3rd, 2009 | Author: LCD TV

Sony BRAVIA VE5 Series KDL 40VE5 40 Inch 1080p 120Hz Eco friendly LCD HDTV

Go green without sacrificing picture quality. Combining energy-saving features with quality picture performance, BRAVIA VE5 Eco Series HDTVs make other televisions green with envy. The 40″ Class VE5 boasts a high-efficiency HCFL backlight which provides outstanding image quality while exceeding ENERGY STAR 3.0 requirements by over 50% in Home Mode. An integrated Presence Sensor detects if you’ve stepped away from your TV for a while and shuts the picture off. A built-in Light Sensor automatically adjusts to your room’s ambient light and lowers the brightness of the TV’s backlight to conserve energy. Plus, enjoy Full HD 1080p picture quality and smooth motion with Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate technology. Dynamic Backlight Control feature adjusts the brightness of the backlight both to optimize image quality and to reduce power consumption BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor HD input x 7; Four HDMI inputs Connect your camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device directly to your HDTV’s USB input 24p True Cinema mode provides a direct connection to 24p video sources, avoiding conversions and allowing you to enjoy films at their intended 24 fps (frames per second) cinematic picture quality when using a 24p True Cinema capable output device ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM VESA compatible hole spacing Dolby Digital Power Consumption (in Operation) max. – 140 W Max Power Requirements (voltage) – AC 120V Audio Power Output – 20 W (10 W X 2) VESA Hole Pitch – 300X300 M6/12-16MM In the box – Remote Control RM-YD028 Batteries (Type AA x2) AC Power Cord (attached) Screws (4) for pedestal Operating Instructions Quick Setup Guide Warranty Card Table Top Stand (separate, pre-assembled) Unit Dimensions – 38 7/8 x 27 x 10 3/4 inches (with pedestal); Weight – 42.6 lbs. (with pedestal) Manufacturer’s limited 1-year labor & parts warranty

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars I love it !
This TV is awesome! the picture is great and the sound is prety good.

5 Stars Great Picture. TV is finally off in the morning!
Auto-off feature is really nice. I’m not as green as I should be, but this set has solved my teenager falling asleep with the TV on all night. Picture is great, menu/settings are very user friendly, and only ports with an item plugged in are in the “input” rotation on the remote. Highly recommend.

One weird thing about the White Glove delivery from Amazon. They showed up on time, and even phoned ahead…very nice, plus set the TV up and took the garbage. However during the setup the TV searches for channels automatically. When this seemed to be going slow, the delivery guy says “this can take awhile the first time it runs”, and my wife let them leave. After performing a “search” for about 30 minutes I discovered that they had used input cables from a DVD player that was not hooked up to the satellite system. I simply plugged an HDMI cable from the dish to the TV…and whammo…200+ channels almost instantly.

Everything else was great. I would make a similar purchase again with Amazon without hesitation.