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Sagem DSI86HD
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NOVember 2009
Freesat Freeview euro tv skyThe best kit, The best programmes
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November 2009 What Satellite & Digital TV
TesT saTelliTe
If you want non-Freesat channels there’s a separate menu where you can enter frequency, symbol rate and polarity for your desired channel – but not select satellites to scan.
Located channels are added to the main list and can also be added to favourites lists.
The ePG looks much like those on other Freesat boxes, giving you the option of viewing a guide for all channels or certain types such as news or radio.
You can view a grid of data for eight channels at a time and skip back and forth in two-hour or daily chunks. Selecting a show brings up a synopsis in the top-left corner of the screen.
The guide can also be used to schedule timer events with once, daily, weekly and weekday repeat options.
Unfortunately, the decision to use the colour amber throughout the software – including the ePG – proves somewhat garish and occasionally hard to read (on the programme information banner in particular).
In its favour, the receiver makes quick work of loading text and red-button interactive services.
Although we suspect that anyone buying an HD box will probably be relying exclusively on the HDmI output, standard-definition Freesat pictures are rather soft-looking viewed via TV Scart, even with rGb enabled.
The HDmI output gives better results with standard-definition sources and effective upscaling to 720p and 1080i makes good-quality SD broadcasts look appreciably sharper as a result.
True high-definition broadcasts from bbC HD are also crisply presented.
Audio performance is decent and on a par with Sagem’s Freeview boxes, with added sharpness audible when using the S/PDIF output n Grant Rennell
FeaturesReceiver: Sagem DSI86 HD Price: £130
No LNB inputs: 1LNB loopthrough: No DiSEqC: NoneNo. channels: N/ASelectable FEC: NoSymbol rate range: 10-30000Blind search: NoLinux: NoCAM: NoCommon interface: No
Teletext: DVb decoded and re-inserted EPG support: DVb now-and-next, 7-dayTimer: 8 events, once/daily/weekly/weekdayHard drive: None
UHF modulator tuning: NoneSoftware upgrade: rS232/downloadData ports: ethernet, 1x USb 2.0SD out: TV Scart (composite, rGb), VCr Scart (composite)HD out: HDmIAudio out: S/PDIF, analogue stereo audio
Sagem DSI86 HDSagem finally produces its first Freesat zapper – but it’s not all that it could have been
Sagem was originally tipped to be one of the first manufacturers of Freesat receivers, but we’ve had to wait more than a year for its first
effort – an HD zapper box with PVrs set to follow before Christmas.
In that time we’ve seen an assortment of HD and SD boxes appear, ranging from budget efforts from bush, Grundig and Goodmans to a few blessed with notable multimedia enhancements from metronic and Technisat.
So where does the DSI86 stand in comparison? Closer to the former, as it happens.
Sagem has teasingly included a front-mounted USb port for attaching storage devices and even buttons for accessing media files on the remote control but, sadly, the functionality is not actually supported on this model and it’s not certain if it will be added in future via a software update.
The case design mirrors Sagem’s current Freeview PVrs, being a squat, rather plasticky, black construction.
Channel-changing and power buttons are set alongside an amber LeD readout that tells you the number of the channel to which you’re currently tuned.
A 12V external power supply will be a boon to caravanners who like to take their entertainment on the road with them and it also ensures that the receiver doesn’t run hot after prolonged use.
The accompanying remote is again familiar – light-grey but still eminently functional.
Those multimedia buttons may be redundant but most key functions get a button, although a greater varation in their size wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Forever amberThe rear has a single LNb input and AV connectors comprise an HDmI, twin Scarts (with rGb on the TV Scart) and both coaxial and phono audio outputs. ethernet connectivity should make it compatible with on-demand services such as bbC iPlayer (not available at the time of writing).
Setup is pretty standard for a Freesat box. You enter your postcode, pick a desired PIN-lock code and the receiver then scans for Freesat channels.
Channels can be accessed from a single list where they can be hidden and sorted into up to four favourites, labelled A to D.
n www.sagem.co.uk n £130 n www.techradar.com/639026
VerdictThe DSI86 HD is not a bad receiver but, with Metronic’s SAT HD 100 currently going for a tenner less in some stores and throwing multimedia playback into the mix, it’s hard to get enthused about it. Even with multimedia features enabled it would still be the lesser option. Perhaps the imminent PVRs will be the boxes to really provide the ‘wow’ factor that’s missing here.
RatingsPLUSn Easy setupn Upscaling works well n Good HDMI pictures
MiNUSn Scart pictures could be bettern Multimedia features not enabled n Limited non-Freesat support
Build hhhhhhhhhh
Setup hhhhhhhhhh
Searching hhhhhhhhhh
Navigation hhhhhhhhhh
Performance hhhhhhhhhh
Features hhhhhhhhhh
Value hhhhhhhhhh
69%
Tech DataFreesat scan: 0m 31s
Power consumption: 22W (in use), 2W (in standby)
0 5 mins