In the process of setting up a DBS4000 (3500 went to my kid) that arrived here yesterday. Great little box, slightly smaller than the 3500, looks great. I'd left my dish pointed at my south satellite (103W) when I unhooked it. When I hooked up the DBS4000 and booted up, there was no signal on the known 103W tps. After doing a blind scan to see if I could get anything, I scanned in two feeds and tps that should have been on the 107.3W bird. Went out and looked at my dish and it had traveled west of the 103W position. Strange but Pete speculates that there may be leftover memory in the motor that did that? Is that possible?

At any rate, I used the usals menu to get back to 103, then switched the positioner to DiSEqC, bumped it to peak the signal of a known tp (12100 V 20000), and saved the position. Then, used usals to motor to each satellite, selected a known tp,  then changed to DiSEqC, peaked, and scanned in the tpscan menu. Takes some time but I'm slowly getting positions saved in DiSEqC.

Just a heads up, although "universal' is the default for the lnb type in antenna setup, when you peak and save the position, then go on to the next satellite, "standard" pops in to that menu item, and you need to change it again, for each satellite. Easily done but if the user doesn't notice it, a signal won't be found with the wrong lnb type selected.

The sharpness (using a hdmi cable connection) of the picture was immediately apparent looking at the onscreen menus, and the quality of the channel pictures is fantastic, even better than the 3500, which is very good. When trying to use the 576i setting, got a "unsupported resolution" error, so I'm using the 480p setting instead. Not quite the HD 1080i picture I get on dishnetwork HD, but very close to the same quality, can't wait for college hockey.

Blind scanned a couple satellites with good results, the blind scan is slightly slower than the 3500. Also, it takes a bit longer to tune in a channel when you change channels. A small difference and considering the picture quality, worth having the extra patience.

The initial menu screen is a bit different than the 3500, but when drilling down to sub-menus, those who have used a 3500 will recognize them immediately, since they are almost exactly the same. I really like the whole menu setup, very nice.

One thing I like in the 3500 was, when editing a channel list, I could arrow from channel to channel in edit mode, and that channel would appear in the side window, so I could decide if I want to keep or delete it. With the 4000, this does not work, it will stay on the same channel and I have to choose to delete, exit and save the deletion choice, then password back into edit mode to check out the next channel. Also, when going into channel mode, you always get the "all satellites" window, with all channels listed, unless you first press the "list" button and select a satellite, then it works as the 3500 does. Two minor changes and since I got used to the 3500, I'm struggling to get used to these changes, but I will.

One more item, the quality on same tps reads several points higher on the 4000 as compared to the 3500 (ie low 70s on the 3500 is high 70s to low 80s on the 4000). Have no idea if this is just a difference in the boxes or if the 4000 is actually grabbing additional signal. As in the 3500, when pressing the info button, you get the quality reading on the front display of the box, and pressing 1 adds the audible tone if you want to use it when pointing.

I don't have the easy find lnb, but easy find is easily turned off if you don't want or don't need to use it.

Certainly the slight extra cost of this receiver is worth it, especially if you have an hdtv and want to use an hdmi cable setup, you can't go wrong on the picture quality.

And, before I forget, don't spend a bunch on a "name brand" (monster cable) at the local tv store or online, Get your cables from monoprice.com. Absolutely equal or better quality than any name brand, but you'll pay less than $10, rather than 50-100 for the others. This is not an example of " you get what you pay for". I use the high speed 28awg cables, if you need in wall hdmi cables, get the 24awg cl2 rated cables.

[Licensed - Bonded - InsuredPSB@Invacom.net InstallSat@aol.com]

Thanks for the review, your right monster cables are a waste of $ over such short distances.  As for the signals being higher, I have noticed all makes and models are calibrated slightly differently. The result being your actual signal has not went up or down, but well worth pointing out.

I just got a new flat screen TV so next receiver I get maybe the 4000 of course my 3500 would have to die before I upgrade........... and just like my 7 year old motor DMSi products just seem to keep going and going (A great complaint to have!)

One more difference with the 4000, after peaking and saving position in DiSEqC, I go to the same tp in tpscan. No signal shows on the quality bar in tpscan, went ahead and scanned anyway, and the channel on that tp scans in, with the quality shown in the DiSEqC menu. Just a heads up, don't trust the tpscan quality bar.

[Licensed - Bonded - InsuredPSB@Invacom.net InstallSat@aol.com]

Did you highlight the word SEARCH first?

I have noticed (on the 3500) that sometimes the quality will not show unless you do.

Thought I would mention.

Didn't, I'll try it; hadn't noticed that on my 3500.

Did you highlight the word SEARCH first?

I have noticed (on the 3500) that sometimes the quality will not show unless you do.

Thought I would mention.

That did work; thanks for the tip.

Also, noticed the 4000, in addition to the LNB in/IF out coax jacks, also has Antenna in/Antenna out coax jacks. Since I don't have off air antennas, I can't check to see if the 4000 would scan in local digitals, or if there is an input select on the remote changing you from "IF output" to "Antenna output". Wonder if Lance or Tim could weigh in on this one; nothing in the manual that I can find.

[Licensed - Bonded - InsuredPSB@Invacom.net InstallSat@aol.com]

I am pretty sure there is no off air digital receiver in the 4000, I wish there was : )  So really the input is really just an analog pass through, so you can switch between off air and satellite (SAT/TV button) Plus being if its converter box you use for off air, then its now connected to your TV with HDMi

Hope I am wrong : )

I am pretty sure there is no off air digital receiver in the 4000, I wish there was : )  So really the input is really just an analog pass through, so you can switch between off air and satellite (SAT/TV button) Plus being if its converter box you use for off air, then its now connected to your TV with HDMi

Hope I am wrong : )

Would guess you're right, but still a nice addtion for someone who can get a bunch of local channels to add FTA and make cabling a bit simpler.