The web interface, accessed by entering the receiver's IP address into the browser of a computer on the same network, is pretty but lacks functionality. The only things you can do are check mounted folders (including network shares), monitor HDD usage, change passwords, swap between menu skins or manage plug-ins.

Plugging the 9000HD into a PC's USB slot and attempting file transfer thay way was successful, yielding a prompt for a 'Gadget' serial driver. No such driver could be found online.

Performance problems

Searching was not particularly reliable, and we often had to manually seek out channels. No matter what we tried, ITV HD could not be received by the 9000HD.

Another annoyance is that the signal strength and quality meters are close to useless. Even weaker channels that drop out register 99 per cent signal quality!

Searches aren't the fastest either, as our results show. This isn't a problem with the multi-satellite search, as the receiver can be started off while you go off and do something else. An automated 12-satellite search spanning 8°W to 28.2°E took over 40 minutes.

Bizarrely, subtitles are always displayed by default. The manufacturer will fix it in a future firmware release. For now, Satellite Superstore recommends setting the subtitle language to 'Russian'.

We found that the 9000HD is too eager to move motorised dishes during setup and channel selection, and this needs to be addressed. Other criticisms include long start-up times and a tendency to overshoot when changing channel. Sometimes you get just a blank screen after selecting a channel from the channel list. Going up a channel and then back down again usually gets your desired channel.

On the plus side, picture and sound quality are excellent; BBC HD and Arte HD are sublime. Standard-def pictures fare well and it's hard to fault the receiver's upscaling, which is up to the standard of a good budget DVD player .