Azam Quick Review:
Over last weekend I had a chance to install an Azam decoder for a friend plus a 90Cm dish.
The decoder is MPEG4 – HD and comes married / paired to a smart-card. The retail price of Sh.5040 includes one month free viewing of all channels. The popular MBCs are present (MBC2, 3, 4, Max, Action); Discovery Science; Crime Investigation, Nat-geo Gold; Outdoor channel; Cartoons, Fox sports, FX channel, Nickelodeon, BBC, etc. Check the following link for the full list:
Azam TV on Eutelsat 7B at 7.0°E - LyngSat . There are other channels which are not listed on the Lyngsat page too.
The box supports DiSEqC 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 and willingly accepts a 16 LNB "Dish farm". I connected by 8 X 1 DiSEqC and it performed very well. One interesting feature on its channel menu is demarcation between ‘Azam TV Channels' and ‘Other TV Channels'. In other words, the Azam pay channels are organized on one page while other channels from sources are listed in the next page. I did not get time to check if I can mix the two on a favourites folder.
On switching on, the Azam banner (which does not look very interesting) stays on for close to 45 seconds before opening your last channel. This is rather long compared to SRT4922. The setup menu allows one to rename a satellite and also enter TPs manually.
The main feature missing is blindscan. The Info window displays details such as AudPID, VidPID, PCRPID, Signal Intensity, Signal Quality, BER, etc. There is a 7-day EPG and password/parental lock function too. At the back, there is an HDMI output port as well as USB 2.0 port (I guess, for software upgrade and media play back. One can play back photos, music and video too.
In addition, each unit comes supplied with two manuals: Kiswahili and English. Resolution for the local Kenyan channels KTN, NTV, Citizen and K24 is satisfactory. The ETV-Africa movie channel listed in the link above was off-air over the weekend.
The gadget uses a standard ‘switch-mode-power-supply' external 12V, 1.5Amp power adapter; which means that you can easily get a replacement on the market in the event of a fault. Unlike the SRT4922, the remote for the Azam is smaller with soft keys which, in my opinion, are not durable. The remote uses size AAA standard batteries.
Maybe for a monthly subscription of Sh.870 per month, for those who can afford, you could get ‘value for money', especially if you want to watch the numerous movie channels listed, plus using the box to combine all your other 16 dishes for FTA.
Remember that with the usual Z*u*k*u or D*S*T*V decoders, their software are programmed such that you cannot use DiSEqC.
I might purchase one, just to add to my growing collection of receivers; and maybe for educational purposes, figure out how to ‘programme' the gadget to understand the code of D*i*g*i*t*u*r*k goodies ……. eeeeeh ……. You know what I mean? …….
I have attached here some pictures for reference. Pardon the pictures are not ‘crystal-sharp'; but can convey the message anyway. Gooday to you all.
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