I've begun a new thread with this subject since the old one is getting quite long, and posters are skipping most of the subsequent responses which clarify the intent and focus of my original "HUGE flaws with SAT-HD200" thread.

I agree that just because an expected feature is missing doesn't mean that the unit *has* a flaw. However, in my opinion, a unit without the features I and others have listed on this thread is a *flawed* product. See the distinction? I realize that other posters on that thread misunderstood my meaning, and hopefully this new thread has a more specific subject that is less dramatic.

Everyone needs to understand that the reason I chose such an effusive subject was because the unit had just come out and many people were eager to get their hands on it... many who, like me, were probably unaware of the significant differences between it and its predecessor, the SAT-HD100. It was meant to be a warning: "Wait! Stop and read this before paying $800+ for this new unit! Make sure the deficiencies aren't ones you require for a satisfying HD experience!"

The fact that a few irresponsible Sony loyalists responded with a few ludicrous "buy it anyway" posts was unfortunate, but I'm glad they're happy with their SAT-HD200s. Hopefully everyone else reading that thread understood the need to weigh the pros and cons before purchasing instead of blindly following those ebullient posts.

Honestly - why would anyone be so forcefully in favor of a piece of electronic hardware? It's not a political candidate; it's not an emotional social issue; it's not a potential spouse; it's just a piece of machinery with definite technical specifications! If those specs meet your needs, then you buy it. Why would anyone be so emphatically positive about a darned receiver? It's not like you're defending it's honor to win its heart! :)

To summarize my one-month experience with the SAT-HD200, I must first state that THE PICTURE IS FABULOUS! ANTENNA RECEPTION IS FABULOUS! THE NEW PROGRAM GUIDE IS FABULOUS! THE UNIT IS FABULOUSLY QUIET!

That having been said, below I list the FEATURES I hope to see in a future iteration of the SAT-HD200:

1) A more responsive remote control. Also, a remote design that replaces the clumsy navigation joystick/button with something a bit more ergonomic, and places the Format button somewhere more accessible (it currently hides under a plastic flip-top).

2) A perpetual event calendar with the ability to program all stations--including antenna stations--and be completely flexible as to start and stop times (which the SAT-HD100 has). Currently, the SAT-HD200 only has a bare-bones Reminder List that will only tune to programs in the Program Guide, will not schedule events on antenna stations, and will not allow adjusting of start and stop times.

3) The ability to have the SAT-HD200 control my VCR (which the SAT-HD100 can do).

4) The ability to automatically turn on when a scheduled Reminder or programmed event begins (which the SAT-HD100 can do).

5) "Always on" coaxial cable and S-video connections, so that I can tape a show in regular definition while watching it in high definition.

6) When switching channels to tune in a program scheduled on the Reminder List, the unit should automatically switch to "Video 1/2" in order for a VCR to record the signal (like the SAT-HD100 does), or at least add an option to the Reminder List to choose the format per event. (Or implement #7 below...)

7) Enable the coaxial cable Out to TV and S-Video Out to work with DirecTV signals when the unit is set to a format other than Video 1/2. (I believe this feature is called "always on.") This way, one can watch in 1080i while recording on standard def. Right now, whenever the SAT-HD200 is set to anything other than Video 1/2, channel 3 on my TV is SNOW.

8) Fix the bug whereby the coaxial cable sometimes fails to transmit to the TV, even when the unit is set to Video 1/2. (My DirecTV installer nearly gave up because the coaxial Out to TV didn't work during the entire installation process. Finally, after switching between S-Video and Component outs several times, the coaxial connection finally materialized.)

9) Incorporate a signal strength meter for Antenna users. (The SAT-HD100 has a Antenna meter, plus a meter on the unit's digital display.) The only meter you have on the SAT-HD200 for your OTA reception is AFTER you have asked the box to search for stations, so if you do not have your antenna pointed in the right direction to begin with, you are out of luck.

10) The ability to set the 1st transponder. (As soon as you set the 1st and 2nd transponder and exit the menu, the 1st transponder resets back to #1. But if #1 is getting 65% and #12 is getting 91%, there is no way to save the 1st transponder's setting for #12. It always reverts back.)

11) The ability to change the width of the screen via the Sony remote when using DVI. Currently, you can do this only through the TV remote or if you set the Sony box to Video 1/2 or 480i.

12) A front display that scrolls through channel info, show time, show signal strength, type of picture, artist/label/song on music channels, etc (all of which the SAT-HD100 can do). Unfortunately, the front display on the SAT-HD200 only shows what channel you are on and the current video format. (It doesn't even show the current time!)

13) A setting that allows the user to input what ratio his/her TV screen is (4:3 or 16:9) so that the unit can determine the correct resolution instead of assuming this based on output resolution. This would allow the unit to present a more appropriate list of stretch/shrink modes.

14) The ability to retain user programming when the unit loses power for more than five minutes (like the Sony SAT-HD100, which seems to retain my customer settings for *days* after it's been unplugged). Maybe it can incorporate Flash ROM in future units?

15) The ability to "zoom" the picture to fill the screen when pulling in Over-the-Air (OTA) digital signals that are not HD. (Currently, many of my local digital stations appear shunken on the screen of my Sony 36XBR450 HDTV when in any format other than Video 1/2 - including 480i.)

Obviously, if anyone knows work-arounds for any of the deficiencies I have noted above, please post them here! But let's hope that Sony incorporates all the above features into future units so that EVERYONE can be happy, and not just the Sony loyalists who only require a perfect HD picture and nothing more.

When Sony releases "version 2" of this unit, it may very well be the best unit on the market. Until then, it's superb picture isn't enough to put it in the winner's corner IMHO. But if you have an SAT-HD100 to compliment your SAT-HD200, then you're set.

- Eric Rosenberg

Eric-

thanks for all of your research into this matter. I have a question regarding the Zenith HD 520. I know that Zenith (or LG Electronics) manufactures both the HD 200 and the HD 520. Do you know if the Zenith shares these flaws, most importantly not being able to record to my VHS while watching in HD?

thanks.


Judd

Call them what you will, features vary from STB to STB. Ideally, the latest, greatest STBs should have everything you or I want, but let's face it they don't.

I wanted an IR Blaster to control my VCR. I wanted a UHF/RF remote control and not a plain IR remote control. I wanted the s-video connector and a/v connectors to stay on when I was watching HD. I wanted DVI. I wanted Firewire. I wanted TIVO or a TIVO like PVR built into the STB.

I was willing to buy a top of the line STB, but couldn't find one that did it all, so I opted for the STB with the most value (IMHO). I bought a Hughes E86. It was $200 to $250 less than the HD200 as of 3 weeks ago. I'm not ready for DVI. My new tv I bought in July doesn't have it. I don't currently have any plans to buy an HD recorder that uses firewire anytime soon.

I got two of the most important features for my purposes (IR blaster and UHF remote) and am happy with the E86 overall. And, who knows maybe I'll be able to use the money I saved towards an HD STB with TIVO and a couple of those other features in a year or two when ones becomes available. Maybe then the E86 will be a secondary STB for use in a bedroom or my study.

I also own the Sony HD-200. I agree there were some features left out of this box. The most annoying for me is the lack of a program timer that will turn the box on when you want to record something.

I also agree that the HD picture is excellant.

I just got off the phone with a sony tech rep. He told me he had heard that a software upgrade was in the works but had no info on a time table or items covered by the upgrade. Maybe they will add some of these features. Let's hope he wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear!

Does anyone know if Sony has a software update in the pipeline that will fix some of the outstanding issues listed here? How about a fix for the unit's inability to hold its custom channels when the power cuts out for more than five minutes? (My SAT-HD100 held its settings for over one week when I lazily moved it from one room to the other.) Also, any fix for the spontaneous rebooting issue? Thanks for any information!

Just got mine this past week, and think some of these things have been resolved - I'm going to go through this list tonight when I get home, and double-check against them... will respond ASAP with the results.
-B

The lack of memory for user programming is my only real complaint . Most of the other things you mentioned are related to recording which I don't do so I don't really miss them. You could replace the hd200 remote with a universal programmable one if your not happy with it. With this many issues you may be better off getting a stb that better fits your recording needs .

Jimmy - I agree that a second STB (and replacement remote) is necessary for those of us who want the features I list. Luckily, I still have my SAT-HD100, and it has almost all the features that the HD200 lacks. However, the perfect picture, amazing OTA reception, and silent operation make the SAT-HD200 indespensible to me.

Naturally, I'd rather purchase a second HD200 from Sony and give them my business, but I'll have to wait until those features are added before replacing my SAT-HD100.

BTW, Sony sent me a replacement unit when I called technical support and told them that my HD200 was losing its custom settings every so often - completely resetting the channel list, once even when I was watching a show! The unit may be lacking, but not their technical support! Good job, Sony :)

i just bought the hd 200 and am very very happy with it, with one exception. the manual is awful! other than connecting the receiver to my system, it's absolutely pointless.

adding and editing a favorites menu, changing the display, determining various settings... none of these things are even addressed.

it gave me another reason to lament the fact that i'm a moron. is it possible the manual just wasn't included? has anyone else had to deal with this?

I couldn't agree with you more regarding sony tech support . Hopefully some of those other issues can and will be resolved with a future software upgrade.

The on screen submenus are mostly self explanatory but post any problems you encounter or want help with