New user advise please!!

[brians]

Have had a BUD for 15 years, but just got the bug to add an MPEG2 DVB. Need some advise before I go out on the limb!!! I currently have a 10' dish with a C/KU feed and a 4DTV receiver. Obviously I'd like to add the MPEG to my existing system. I understand I'll use my 4DTV to position the antenna. Have seen the typical hookups in a number of websites. I need advise on these issues:
1 Do I need to have a skew control on the MPEG2?? Most I'm looking at don't have it.
2 I read somewhere where it's best to install an A/B switch instead of the DiSEqc switch. Too much line loss with the DiSEqc or 12v switch. Any comments??
3 Do I need the DC pass splitters or just any splitter in that frquency range??

Any comments on my choices?? Having a hard time, I have it "narrowed" down to the Pansat 100e, Pansat 2300a, Fortec Lifetime, Fortec 786, Satcruiser 101+, or Coship CDVB5300b. All seem pretty even for features, what about quality and dependability?? Any or all comments would be appreciated!!

[deadfly]

1. You use your existing analog or 4dtv receiver to move the dish, change polarity and adjust the skew as needed. Once the dish is moved then hit the tv/sat button and switch over to the DVB receiver remote to select the DVB channel.

2. I guess that is up to you. I have not heard anyone complain about too much loss going through a diseqc switch though. Another option is a 22 khz tone switch. Every switch will have some loss. A poor quality A/B switch can be very lossy.

3. Yes you need DC pass on one side of each splitter. Put the coax from the 4Dtv on the DC pass side to power the lnb.

I have a Pansat 2300A. Overall works good but I have found some bugs. On channels with different audio feeds on L and R the L/R mode change in the receiver does not work at all. On the Sat list to switch the channel list to only include channels from the sat you are on currently, once the window fills it does not start to scroll. You can still cursor down and select a different sat, but I'm not sure what will happen if you add enough sats that they no longer fit on the TV screen. I'm totally unimpressed with Pansat's response to my questions regarding this. They did not tell me why this is happening and would not say if this has been fixed in the latest software upgrade. I would probably suggest a Fortec instead.

[brians]

Thanks for the info Deadfly!! I'll take your case with Pansat and put less emphasis on that brand. Have always heard they were one of the top brands, but maybe no more. The Fortecs do look quite impressive. Like I said the six receivers I listed are all pretty much outfitted the same, just a matter of personel preference.

[deadfly]

Best thing is to jump on all the sat forums and ask as many as you can about the receivers. I found bugs with the pansat, but no guarantees that they are not in other receivers also.

I think if you want a Pansat probably the better one to get is the 330A. Lots of people with those. Everything I read made it sound like the Pansats were the best also. It would be interesting to be able to have something to compare it with I guess, but not too many places where you can walk into a shop and look at DVB receivers.

I've heard a lot of people say good things about Sadoun, but I've not dealt with them personally as I live up in Canada.