Zenith HD-SAT520 DirecTV Digital Set Top HD Tuner/Receiver

by Zenith

Product Details

• Item Weight: 15.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 16 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006L7U2
• Item model number: HD-SAT520
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,637 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy the visual splendor of full high-definition programming with this Zenith DirecTV HD tuner/receiver, which connects to any HD-ready TV. The fully integrated tuner receives ATSC/HD and SD DirecTV satellite signals, with a selectable output for 1080i, 720p, and 480p resolutions in both 4:3 and 16:9 formats. It's also capable of up-converting and down-converting from one format to another, with 1080i (integrated) and 720p (progressive) delivering the highest-quality images (rivaling film resolution). The effect is particularly vivid while watching sporting events, nature documentaries, and other programs that depend on both minute and expansive visual details to tell a story. At the same time, the receiver picks up standard NTSC and analog cable signals and refines them using its 4-line Y/C digital comb filter. It then bundles all the digital and analog channels together into a unified DirecTV Advanced Program Guide that contains schedule and programming information. The guide offers a variety of program and content search modes, including searches for categories and key words.

Additional features include a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital decoder, which lets listeners enjoy full, theater-like audio when available; auto programming, which simplifies the setup process; favorite channel selection for users who want to streamline their channel options; V-chip parental controls, a multi-zoom mode; and a flashback feature that replays just-missed scenes for repeated viewing.

The tuner connects to your TV and other components through its DVI (digital visual interface) output, which enables the highest possible HD resolution, and a host of other outputs, including a high-resolution component video jack, an S-video output, a 15-pin RGB output, two A/V outputs, a Dolby Digital output (for connecting to your surround receiver), an RJ11 phone jack, and an RF output. Additional jacks include a calibration port, a DirecTV RF input (for satellite), a DirecTV Smart Card, and two RF antenna inputs for cable connection.

What's in the Box
HD-SAT520 tuner/receiver, video cable, audio cable, S-video cable, component video cable, RD cable, remote control, batteries, telephone line cord, DirecTV access card, user's manual.

Product Description

Receives SD and HD DirecTV / Selectable Output: 1080i, 720p, 480p / Dolby Digital 5.1 Output / ATSC - Satellite - NTSC Tuner

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Flaky when new, now dead after 2 years, March 15, 2006

By 

Richard Fry "HD Enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zenith HD-SAT520 DirecTV Digital Set Top HD Tuner/Receiver (Electronics)

I've learned my lesson. I'll never buy a Zenith product again.

The problem with being an early adopter of new technology is that you often pay a premium for a less than solid product. I accept that. But you don't expect the device to completely stop working after only a couple of years.

That's the case with the HD-SAT520 I purchased. Picture quality was excellent using DVI with my HD set and the user interface was pretty good.

Even when brand new, I had problems with losing my channels and having to rebuild the channel list. About once a month or so, the video would go out completely - turning to snow - while the audio remained. The only solution when this happened was to power off the unit and back on.

My unit hates power outages. If I lost power - even briefly - I usually had to unplug the receiver's AC power and wait about 60 seconds before plugging it back in. Then I had to wait for the channel list to rebuild again.

I've now had the receiver a little over two years. About two months ago, the receiver started having problems with all channels except for OTA broadcasts going dark with "No Signal" message popping up. This would last for minutes to hours at a time. At first I thought it was a problem with DirecTV's signal and didn't worry about it too much - until I discovered my bedroom receiver (an 8 yr old RCA) was working with no problem at all.

This problem got progressively worse over the last two months - with the loss of signal occurring more and more frequently for longer and longer periods of time. When I bring up the signal strength meter it detects no signal at all.

I'm pretty savvy when it comes to AV and electronics equipment and know to keep my valuable units well ventilated and never stack units one atop the other. I also use high quality power strips / surge suppressors. I believe the malfunction occurred through no fault of mine or through any kind of abnormal use.

I spent almost $600 for this receiver and expected to get at least a good 5 years out of it if not more. Most of my AV components are over 10 years old (except DVD players which seem to die on a yearly basis - at least they're cheap to replace).

Hope this helps someone avoid buying into trouble.

5.0 out of 5 stars Works Great For HDTV., December 11, 2010

By 

Steve C (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zenith HD-SAT520 DirecTV Digital Set Top HD Tuner/Receiver (Electronics)

I got one of these at Goodwill and it works great for off air HDTV, better than other Hughes and Samsung models that I've tried. I can get all the Phoenix and Tucson channels just fine. The unit is made by LG and is similar to the Hughes HTL-HD model. I understand the first reviewer's complaint about failures though since I've had 4 older Hughes models not made by LG fail already as well as about 8 Samsung models that I've been using since HDTV first went on the air back in 1999. So far the Zenith and Hughes/LG models seem to be the best made and the most reliable although I also have an LG LST-3510A combo HDTV receiver/DVD player that don't work that well. It plays DVDs OK but still has some software problems and won't even get Ch. 45 but they stopped development of the unit several years ago so there are no more upgrades.