The OPENSAT XT-9500 HD receiver provides HD reception and good connection options at an attractive price. It has a minimalist design and intuitive menus. While it gets hot, it displays channels clearly and allows customization of channel lists through multiple favorites lists and filtering options. However, there is limited FTA HD content currently available.

1. TEST REPORT HDTV Satellite Receiver
OPENSAT XT-9500 HD
Designed for High Definition
I’m one of those people who prefers The front panel contains an pay-TV modules and even a
on/standby button, and the Smart card reader. Also under
function over aesthetics – beauty is only vertical set of buttons control the flap is a USB socket, used to
skin-deep after all. There’s no point in channel and volume. These
light up in red when the unit
upgrade the receiver’s firmware
from a USB stick.
something looking good if it doesn’t do is powered up, and they’re
the job. But I have to admit, as soon quite bright too - almost too
bright when watching TV in a
Initial setup
as the box was opened, I was seduced dark room. A crisp text display There’s plenty of options to
choose from when it comes to
shows the name and number of
by the minimalist good looks of the the channel being received, or hook-up time. Two Scart sock-
ets are available for TV and
OPENSAT XT-9500 HD. This classy black the clock in standby. In standby
mode, the button lights are still VCR. Helpfully for recording
receiver from distributors ABC BIZNIZ of on, joined by the matching red purposes, the VCR Scart always
glow of the on/standby button. outputs in standard definition,
Slovakia boasts HD reception and good so even HD channels can be
connection options at an attractive price, Under the flap on the front easily recorded to DVD or vide-
panel we find two CI slots for otape if required. The TV Scart
could we have both style and substance
in a single package?
0.52
38 TELE-satellite & Broadband — 12-01/2009 — www.TELE-satellite.com

2. TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
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can be set to use component up to 1080i. This gives an extra German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/deu/opensat.pdf
English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/eng/opensat.pdf
video, so if your TV can handle use for the permanently stand- Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/esp/opensat.pdf
such signals and only has a ard definition VCR Scart, and Farsi ‫ﻓﺎﺭﺳﻲ‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/far/opensat.pdf
French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/fra/opensat.pdf
Scart connection available, this cured my initial confusion. Greek Ελληνικά www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/hel/opensat.pdf
you can still get HD resolution. You can use this as a backup Croatian Hrvatski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/hrv/opensat.pdf
Italian Italiano www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/ita/opensat.pdf
HDMI, the standard connection when finding the correct reso- Hungarian Magyar www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/mag/opensat.pdf
for HD is also present along with lution for your TV. Mandarin 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/man/opensat.pdf
Dutch Nederlands www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/ned/opensat.pdf
component video RCA jacks. A Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/pol/opensat.pdf
composite video output is also If you end up with a scram- Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/por/opensat.pdf
Romanian Românesc www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/rom/opensat.pdf
available, but there’s no place bled picture in a resolution your Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/rus/opensat.pdf
in the modern world for our old TV does not support as I did, Swedish Svenska www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/sve/opensat.pdf
Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0901/tur/opensat.pdf
friend the UHF antenna loop. you can switch over to the VCR
Available online starting from 28 November 2008
Scart and still see the menu.
I am somewhat unusual in Once I’d got it up to 1080i, I had
having an old-tech CRT TV a perfect HD picture and could between this and HD delivered able increase in picture quality
which can handle HD signals via say goodbye to the temporary via component is amazing, and and sharpness over the stand-
a component input. After just a VCR Scart route. makes the usual picture look ard Scart, but of course it’s not
few minutes of head-scratch- quite fuzzy by comparison. So close to the clarity of a true HD
ing, I was viewing BBC HD from The picture quality of HD much for RGB then! broadcast.
ASTRA 2. is, as you’d expect, superb.
My usual everyday TV view- Sadly, we’re still in the early Audio output is available via
Whilst the type of connection ing setup consists of stand- days of HD so there are few FTA the traditional RCA connec-
in use can be switched between ard definition broadcasts via a channels to choose from. We tors, or a S/PDIF digital optical
RGB, Composite, or Compo- Sky+ receiver, and I am usually can still get the benefits though, output.
nent in the menus, a dedicated quite proud of the picture qual- as standard definition broad-
button on the remote sets the ity from an RGB Scart connec- casts are upscaled when view- The receiver’s menus are
screen resolution. Available tion with good quality cables. ing through component video or clear, simple, and logically laid
resolutions range from 480p The quality increase though HDMI. This results in a notice- out. Choice of language is very
12-01/2009
OPENSAT XT-9500 HD
Style and substance in a
single package
www.TELE-satellite.com — 12-01/2009 — TELE-satellite & Broadband 39

3. is quite fast – an entire network betically, or by FTA/encryption
scan of ASTRA 2 takes 16 min- status – and even filtered by
utes to scan 83 transponders. just one encryption system if
After the scan is complete, the more than one is in use - per-
list of found channels can be haps useful if using more than
edited before they are commit- one CAM.
ted to the receiver’s memory.
There’s no blind scan func- The best feature relating to
tion, but as this is a receiver channel lists though is perhaps
designed to be used to watch the most obvious, yet so often
standard TV rather than search forgotten when receivers are
for unusual channels, it doesn’t designed. The receiver remem-
really feel like it is missing. bers which favourites list is in
use, or what type of filter you
With the channels safely in have applied, until you decide
memory, we get to the further to choose a new one. This alone
editing of the list to suit our makes the receiver so much
individual preferences. This is nicer to use on a regular basis
never much of a pleasurable than so many others I’ve used
good, with 18 languages avail- also supported and all neces-
experience, but the XT-9500 in the past.
able. Most major European lan- sary LNB parameters are edit-
does a good job here of making
guages are covered plus Arabic able, so most setups will be
it easier than most. One possible criticism how-
and Persian, and those in East- easily catered for.
ern Europe will be pleased to ever is that the channels keep
All the editing, sorting and their original numbers even
see Czech, Slovak, Slovenian Channel scanning is well-
filtering functions we need are when a favourites list or filter
and Hungarian included along- thought out. All transpond-
available, and are easy and is being used. There are advan-
side the more usual choices. ers can be scanned, or just a
intuitive to use. Eight favour- tages in this, as long as you can
single one. Network scanning
ites lists can be set up, and
The installation menu is the is also available which is very remember the numbers.
adding to these is easy too. A
first port of call when setting useful on large satellites like
second window appears next to
up for the first time. A com- ASTRA and HOTBIRD. A nice I personally might have found
the channel list ready for chan-
prehensive list of 51 satel- addition is a PID filter func- it easier to have the channels
nels to be copied into it. This
lites is pre-programmed into tion, allowing scanning of only numbered 1,2,3 based on what-
can then be switched to, allow-
the receiver, and these can be TV or radio channels. The sat- ever list I’d chosen, rather than
ing arranging and editing in the
edited, deleted or added to as ellite and transponder menus their original numbers – espe-
same way as the main list.
required. The corresponding work together, aiding any edit- cially after I’d manually moved
them around. But it’s still easier
transponder lists appear to be
equally comprehensive and up-
ing required. The transponder
list menu also contains a PID Everyday use to navigate than many other
to-date. editing function, invaluable for Once we have our lists set up, receivers.
those rare but important times finally we can sit back and watch
DiSEqC 1.2 and USALS are where PIDs need to be entered some TV, and everyday viewing I was initially a little disap-
included to give easy control of manually. is helped by some good design pointed there was no “view
a DiSEqC motor for multi-satel- here too. The main channel list the last channel” button, which
lite users. DiSEqC switches are Searching an entire satellite can be sorted or filtered alpha- is always good for those of us
40 TELE-satellite & Broadband — 12-01/2009 — www.TELE-satellite.com

4. who try to keep up with two takes over. When our analogue this was available during our
channels at once. But OPEN- transmissions end, so will tra- tests. The EPG links to the
SAT have included a little sur- ditional analogue text. But receiver’s event timer, where
prise along these lines, one while it lasts, the XT-9500HD sleep and wake-up options
that’s not even mentioned gives us a choice of both ways are available in addition to
in the manual. The “back” of receiving teletext – either the usual function of chang-
button is usually used to exit through the receiver’s inbuilt ing to the required channel
a menu to the previous level. decoder, or on the TV itself via at the preset time.
But pressing it when no menu VBI insertion.
is displayed produces a list of
the last eight channels viewed The XT-9500HD’s EPG is also
Summary
Whilst there are no
to select from. Not quite the clear and easy to use, bearing
gimmicks or extras added
one-touch zapping solution in mind the limitations of the
such as games that get
we’ve seen before, but it is usual now/next data trans-
forgotten quickly, this
still a nice feature to include. mitted. Buttons are available
receiver does what it
to scroll forward and back by
needs to easily and well.
It’s good to also see teletext 24 hours, so perhaps in some
The menus are logical,
fully supported. Here in the places it can find further pro-
the on-screen displays
UK, it’s rapidly losing out as gramme information, although
are clear and helpful.
its inferior digital counterpart I couldn’t find anywhere where
www.TELE-satellite.com — 12-01/2009 — TELE-satellite & Broadband 41

5. The remote is well laid-out and to pay for the extra horsepower
matches the receiver’s beautiful needed to get pictures in HD
black and silver looks. There are quality onto our screen. A new
few downsides to the receiver. software should help to solve
Perhaps a dimmer function, or this problem.
one to turn off the front panel
lights altogether could be good It’s just a pity that there is not
for viewers who like to view in so much FTA HD material out
the dark without distractions. there to watch at the moment.
The secret channel history screen
That will no doubt change in the
One thing I did quickly notice near future, and when it does
is how hot the case becomes, I’d certainly be very happy to
even in standby mode. I sup- have the XT-9500 as a perma-
pose that’s the price we have nent fixture in my living room.
Expert Opinion
+
Great looks and design
Intuitive menus, easy setup and editing
Well implemented favourites lists and channel
list filtering
- Andy Middleton
TELE-satellite
Generates a lot of heat Test Center EPG
UK
Bright always-on front-panel lights
TECHNIC
DATA
Distributor ABC BIZNIS, Krušovská 4646, 955 01 Topoľčany, Slovakia
Tel/Fax Tel +421 38 5313508 - Fax +421 38 5313508
Contact info@abcbiznis.sk
Websites www.abcbiznis.sk, www.opensat.sk
Model XT-9500 HD
Function Digital HDTV receiver for DVB-S and DVB-S2
Satellites / CI + Card 51+ / 2 Common Interfaces + 1 Smart Card Reader
Modes MPEG-2 MP@ML, MPEG-4 Part 10/H.264
SCPC compatible yes PID editor
DiSEqC / USALS 1.2 / yes
Scart connectors 2 / USB2.0 Connector for Software Upgrades
Symbol rates 1000-45000
Audio outputs 2 (L&R)
Video outputs 1x composite, Component, HDMI
Video Resolutions 480p, 480i, 576p, 576i, 720p, 1080i
Digital audio output yes, S/PDIF
RS-232 / EPG yes / yes
C/Ku-band compatible yes
Power supply 100-250V AC, 50/60Hz
ENERGY
DIAGRAM
Satellite setup
Mode Apparent Active Factor
Apparent Power StandBy 28 W 14 W 0.50
Reception 36 W 19 W 0.52
Active Power
User preferences
42 TELE-satellite & Broadband — 12-01/2009 — www.TELE-satellite.com