Test Report for Fte MAX S500 HD : kappa

Fte MAX S500 HD

The MAX S500 HD is thought and designed to be a new device for HD entertainment in each home. The hardware elements this receiver is using lets the user enjoying HD television at a low price with an exclusive design. This classic receiver from Fte boasts HD reception and good connection options at an attractive price, could we have both style and substance in a single package.

The front panel contains seven buttons. Power button is also situated there. These buttons allow controlling the main functions of the receiver and provide the same functionality as the remote control ones. There is also reception sensor for the IR remote control signals. The remote is well laid-out and matches the receiver’s beautiful black and silver looks. A crisp text display on the left side shows the number of the channel being received, or the clock in standby. In standby mode, the button lights are still on. The rear panel is equipped with TV scart connector, HDMI output, RCA jacks, S/PDIF and power button. The MAX S500 HD includes an installation assistant (Quick Setup) that will help you to setup the different parameters. When the receiver is turned on at first time, the next menu is the Quick Setup.

This receiver is programmed with all channels of Astra, Hotbird and Turksat satellites. DiSEqC, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3 are included to give easy control of a DiSEqC motor for multi-satellite users. DiSEqC switches are also supported and all necessary LNB parameters are editable, so most setups will be easily catered for. The selection of languages include English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Turkish, Polish, Russian, Danish, Greek, Hungarian, Dutch, Arabic and Farsi.

Channel scanning is well-thought out. All transponders can be scanned, or just a single one. Network scanning is also available which is very useful on large satellites like ASTRA and HOTBIRD. A nice addition is a PID filter function, allowing scanning of only TV or radio channels. The satellite and transponder menus work together, aiding any editing required. The transponder list menu also contains a PID editing function, invaluable for those rare but important times where PIDs need to be entered manually.

Searching an entire satellite is quite fast an entire network scan of ASTRA 2 takes 16 minutes to scan 83 transponders. After the scan is complete, the list of found channels can be edited before they are committed to the receiver’s memory. The satellite fans who decide to look for new channels will certainly know in advance the frequencies and could enter them manually to memorize this very particular station they are looking for.

Once we have our lists set up, finally we can sit back and watch some TV, and everyday viewing is helped by some good design here too. The main channel list can be sorted or filtered alphabetically, or by FTA/encryption status and even filtered by just one encryption system. It’s good to also see teletext fully supported.

The MAX S500 HD EPG is also clear and easy to use, bearing in mind the limitations of the usual now/next data transmitted. Buttons are available to scroll forward and back by 24 hours, so perhaps in some places it can find further programme information. The EPG links to the receiver’s event timer, where sleep and wake-up options are available in addition to the usual function of changing to the required channel at the preset time.

The picture quality of HD is, as you’d expect is superb. The switching from one channel to another is immediate, even on scrambled channels, the picture quality is flawless. Despite all this, the MAX S500 HD remains a well thought-out receiver for the whole family with a very stable operation.




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