To find everything, especially on a new and unfamiliar satellite, the blind search is the best option. Blind search steps through the band, hunting out signals as it does so. The frequency interval can be modified between 1MHz and 5MHz in 1MHz increments. You're more likely to find obscure signals with the 1MHz setting, but searches are slow. Blind searches will find HD/H.264 channels.

System configuration

Searching multiple satellites is also possible, motorised dishes automatically-moving to the next satellite in the list. Sensibly, scanning doesn't start until the dish has arrived at the relevant satellite, ensuring that nothing is missed.

Unfortunately, blind searching is not allowed in this automated mode – a lost opportunity, as it was with the 7100S. Other submenus deal with system configuration, channel organisation, parental lock, two games, the conditional-access hardware and 'multimedia' (including USB/HDD and network configuration).

Within the system configuration group are language options, AV settings (TV system, aspect ratio and time- shifting), the clock and timer. From the channel organiser, radio and TV services can be deleted or edited – favourites can also be defined from here. Nine favourite groups are available, although they're not presented in list form.

Streaming capabilities

The Ethernet port has been provided mainly for firmware upgrades – an FTP option accesses the Vantage server.

It should also allow transferring recordings to a PC, or the streaming of TV channels to compatible devices (including other networkable Vantage receivers). Fortunately, the DHCP (auto network-configuration) settings of the review sample worked. The firmware upgrade option also proved reliable.

Trying to access the receiver via FTP was a partial success. Although you could log into it, the folders containing recordings couldn't be opened. And so the only current way of transferring recordings (which are in transport-stream format) is to use the USB port, selecting the multimedia/USB menu's 'connect to PC' option.

Control of the receiver from a web-browser isn't yet possible.

Easy navigation

The channel list can be sorted alphabetically or by provider, frequency or HD/H.264 status. A few SD channels (notably Noursat on Eutelsat W1/10°E) use H.264 and these are compatible with the HD8000S – though they're reported as HD.

When you're viewing a channel pressing the 'info' button brings up signal/quality bars and technical details like frequency, polarity, symbol rate and PIDs. Press it again, and a second screen reveals other information like video format/resolution and audio bitrate. This excellent feature is, to our knowledge, unique.

There's another nice touch. Pressing the remote's 'satellite' button displays the satellite list. From here, you can select a specific satellite and the corresponding channel list. If you're using a motorised dish it will move if need be.

As with the 7100S, the icon that denotes an encrypted channel isn't always a reliable indication; often we selected a supposedly free channel only to find that it was encrypted. But the receiver realises its mistake and 'updates' the database. The ability to sort channels by encryption status is conspicuous by its absence.

Recording options

Pressing the remote's timeshift button starts recording to the HDD – pressing it again initiates the 'Vantage Media Player', from which playback can be started. You get basic rewind/forward, play, pause and the ability to jump ahead or back in 10 per cent increments.

The buffer, which resides in a 'timeshift' folder, is retained until timeshift is restarted, thereby wiping out the previous buffer. If you want to keep the recording copy it to a PC via USB before it's too late.

Removal of adverts is achieved with a 'cut' function. 'Bookmarks' can also be added to a recording. Thanks to the twin tuners, you can record two channels while watching an existing recording – or a third channel that shares a transponder with one of those being recorded.

Recordings can be scheduled from the EPG, which supports seven-day and now-and-next schedules. Regrettably, UK-based FTA satellite TV on Astra 2x/28.2°E only supports now-and-next, which is almost useless for timer setting. But the 40-event/1 year timer can be programmed manually.