"Any dual lnbf would work? Are there particular brands you recommend?"
Yes, any dual ku standard lnbf will work. I have used different brands and don't see any differences. If you want good deal, check out ebay. I got 2 DishNet standard ku lnbf, 10/each.
"I live in central California. One dish will be pointing to TelStar5 and I'll keep it that way. I'm not sure which bird I'm going to point the other dish to. I'd like some educational and movie channels. Which bird would you recommend for my location and preference?"
Some
PBS channels on AMC3, few local channels on G10R. For the PBS, you need a receiver which output
AC3 such as Fortec Lifetime.
"For my second receiver, I would like to have something a bit fancy in terms of features in comparison to the DMT1000 model I have. I want to be able to update the firmware, has AC3 audio, and what-not. Which one would you recommend?"
I would recommend the Fortec Lifetime, AC3 audio, fast, and user-friendly.
Michael
PS: If you buy a
Diseqc switch, get a 4x1. It's a little bit more expensive than the 2x1, but it'll be more flexibility in future if you plan to put up more dishes.