Which Receiver is better? Fortec Classic or Mercury?

[GoGiants]

I need a second receiver (have a fortec lifetime already). I want a good receiver that won't give me any trouble and is simple to use. I do not want to have to download any software or updates either.

Can people give me their recommendations on which one is better? I read that mercury has a faster processor but I see in the forums that people seem to need updates and software for it which I am not sure what for!

All advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[datacom]

I'm not so sure if as many people NEED the firmware updates as simply want to try the latest and greatest. I've read the newest firmware for the merc 2 may be a bit buggy. So those who want the newest may want to wait until a later version. But that may happen with any software or operating system. I have been running the original software since I've had the unit without a prob.

[rainman]

I have 2 MercuryII and like them very much as the previous poster stated I am running on the original firmware and software with out a problem. And I don't think the picture quality can be beat when using the component hook up. Very fast channel change and above average power scan capabilites. So I would defintely recommend the MercuryII.

[Larry Acklin]

I also have a Mercury II and I am very happy. PBS on component out with AC3 audio to the Bose speakers is darn near to a theater experience.

On a Toshiba 27" CRT television, by the way.

Updates were not needed, and Fortec said not necessary. I am waiting until I need one or the warranty expires. I doubt I will need one based on the performance so far.

A 36" dish pointed well is getting me 75-80 on signal, and 70-75 quality on the PBS transponder.

Larry

[q12345]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but does the Mercury II display the name of the satellite it is pointing to? I'm also looking for another receiver, and my Viewsat Ultra has this feature. It was very handy when I was trying to get G25 and it told me I was pointing to G3C. But the Ultra is a bit pricy, so I'm hoping to save a few bucks. Thanks for the great info guys!

[rainman]

Originally Posted by q12345

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but does the Mercury II display the name of the satellite it is pointing to? I'm also looking for another receiver, and my Viewsat Ultra has this feature. It was very handy when I was trying to get G25 and it told me I was pointing to G3C. But the Ultra is a bit pricy, so I'm hoping to save a few bucks. Thanks for the great info guys!

It doesn't show the sat on the front pannel but when you pull up the channel it does tell you what sat you are on.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by q12345

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but does the Mercury II display the name of the satellite it is pointing to? I'm also looking for another receiver, and my Viewsat Ultra has this feature. It was very handy when I was trying to get G25 and it told me I was pointing to G3C. But the Ultra is a bit pricy, so I'm hoping to save a few bucks. Thanks for the great info guys!

This "feature" is something that confused me when people first started posting about it.
Really none of these FTA receivers have the capability of figuring out for sure what sat they are on, however some of them seem to do it somehow, however I think as often as not, they tend to make mistakes. I'm not completely sure how they do it, but I'm guessing that they lock onto a transponder and look for the NIT stream. Sometimes this NIT stream tells what satellite you're on, however often it doesn't and often it tells the wrong satellite.
Re the Mercury, I don't do much searching with my Mercury, so my memory is a bit faulty here. I can't remember in what windows it does this, but there at least one window where in the upper right (I think) it will pop up some info about what sat the receiver *thinks* it's on. I distinctly remember programming in a new satellite, and being surprised when the Mercury tried to tell me what satellite and channel it was seeing. So I think that to some extent, the Mercury has the feature you're referring to. However, I sure wouldn't choose one receiver over another based on this feature, because it is not really a very reliable thing, because the receiver really has no way of knowing what sat it's on, so it's just guessing. I have seen more than one post here from people who thought they were on one sat, but were really on another, based on things like this.

Re GoGiant's original question though, I don't have a Classic to compare to, but I do have a Lifetime and an Ultra. The Mercury seems to have very nice picture quality compared to the other Fortec receivers, but only if you use the component output, otherwise there isn't much difference. Re searching, it does seem to search a bit faster than my Ultra, but I'm not sure which is best. I have tried searching the same signal with both Ultra and Mercury, and sometimes the Mercury does a better job and other times the Ultra does, and I think search wise, the Classic is probably similar to the Ultra. Re uploading new firmware, for the Lifetime and Ultra, this was an absolute necessity, as these receivers either had bugs or didn't have advertised features until you upgraded the firmware. I don't know about the Classic and firmware. The Mercury on the otherhand, people seem to be posting about the newer firmware having significant bugs. I don't have the original firmware in mine. I upgraded from 1.06 to 1.33 when I got mine, primarily because I was having problems with the AC3 output not working correctly, however the upgrade didn't solve the problem. I didn't have the 1.06 installed long enough to know if there were bugs, but the 1.33 certainly has some bugs, and from what Bill190 has posted, the more recent versions have even more problems. So at least with the Mercury, you are better off with the older versions, but I'm still hopind that they will come out with a new firmware that fixes some problems, but I think that they must be focusing all their work on trying to come out with a new HD receiver rather than fixing their old receivers unfortunately. But I sure wouldn't rule out uploading firmware updates on any receiver, because generally receivers come out with bugs that need to be corrected.
My biggest complaint about the Mercury, and I think that the Classic is the same, but i'm not positive, is that the channel editor is next to worthless, because it doesn't give you any control over many important things, such as the DiseqC1.2 sat numbers, and several other important channel/sat/transponder data items. Also, they keep the channel data file in a format that makes it hard for 3rd party programs to work with it. The Lifetime and Ultra have nice useful channel editors that save files that can be used with other programs. I think the Classic is more similar to the Mercury in this respect.

[lumpkin666]

I have the classic and it works great. I've never updated it, just hooked it up, setup usals, scanned some sats, and watch tv - nothing else needed. If you're just looking to hookup a receiver and watch tv, nothing else fancy, most any receiver will work for basic use. Heck, I have a receiver that I paid $37 for (including shipping), and it does as good of a job tuning channels and basically providing trouble-free tv as any of my other receivers.

[GoGiants]

Thanks for the great feedback.

1st Quesion: Based on what people wrote, can anyone tell me what a component output is and which brand/type to buy?


Someone wrote that the Mercury Receiver was better "but only if you use the component output" -- and I do not know what that entails.

2nd Question: Is this something that a skilled installer would know readily how to install easily? I won't be able to maintain the dish myself since the roof is way high up.


3rd Question: Let's say you wanted to upload the latest software onto the Mercury Receiver - how is it done? Is there a channel that you go to that lists the latest updates and versions and then hit "download" - is it that simple -- or do you need to use a computer too?


Thank you.

[lumpkin666]

Originally Posted by GoGiants

Thanks for the great feedback.

1st Quesion: Based on what people wrote, can anyone tell me what a component output is and which brand/type to buy?

Someone wrote that the Mercury Receiver was better "but only if you use the component output" -- and I do not know what that entails.

Component output basically refers to how the receiver is connected to your TV. If you use component cables (RGBY) the quality can be different than using the composite cable (the screw-on cable). It's not something you buy, it's just the method of connecting to your TV - some TV's support both, older TV's support just the composite, some newer tv's don't support composite anymore.

Originally Posted by GoGiants

2nd Question: Is this something that a skilled installer would know readily how to install easily? I won't be able to maintain the dish myself since the roof is way high up.

A skilled FTA installer should have no problem. People who "think" they are skilled just because they install DirecTV or DishNetwork would have a tougher time generally than they would installing their "pizza dishes". If you're going to pay someone, get someone who has a track record of installing Free-To-Air systems - and make sure that they understand that you want someone to install a "true" Free-To-Air system (some people hear "Free-To-Air" and think "Free-To-Hack".... which generally will not require the same attention to antenna installation since they would use the smaller/easier to configure "pizza dishes")

Originally Posted by GoGiants

3rd Question: Let's say you wanted to upload the latest software onto the Mercury Receiver - how is it done? Is there a channel that you go to that lists the latest updates and versions and then hit "download" - is it that simple -- or do you need to use a computer too?

Updating the firmware/software on the receiver requires a computer. Some receivers, like the Mercury, require a serial cable connection (check your PC, it may not even have a serial cable connector), some can update from a usb thumb drive, and some can update over a network connection. Regardless, the typical receiver requires you to load the software from a PC.

Originally Posted by GoGiants

Thank you.

You're Welcome!

[rainman]

Originally Posted by GoGiants

Thanks for the great feedback.

1st Quesion: Based on what people wrote, can anyone tell me what a component output is and which brand/type to buy?


Someone wrote that the Mercury Receiver was better "but only if you use the component output" -- and I do not know what that entails.

2nd Question: Is this something that a skilled installer would know readily how to install easily? I won't be able to maintain the dish myself since the roof is way high up.


3rd Question: Let's say you wanted to upload the latest software onto the Mercury Receiver - how is it done? Is there a channel that you go to that lists the latest updates and versions and then hit "download" - is it that simple -- or do you need to use a computer too?


Thank you.

component output is when you use 3 cable to send the video to your monitor also used for alot of hi def tvs. a installer should have no problem installing it. to download new firm ware and soft ware you will need a computer.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by lumpkin666

Component output basically refers to how the receiver is connected to your TV. If you use component cables (RGBY) the quality can be different than using the composite cable (the screw-on cable). It's not something you buy, it's just the method of connecting to your TV - some TV's support both, older TV's support just the composite, some newer tv's don't support composite anymore.

....

Again, adding to what Rainman said...
I think the above might be a bit misleading. The "screw on" type cable connection (ie "F" connector) is really an RF input. This is the type of signal that would come from a rooftop antenna.
A composite input is typically an RCA type connector, not a screw on. Usually there are 3 connectors, yellow, red and white. The red and white are for L/R audio, and the yellow is NTSC video, or it can even be PAL.
The component connections require 3 coaxes with RCA connectors, just for the video, ie red, green, blue, and a couple more for audio. Component is typically used for HD, but can also be used for SD, as is the case with the Mercury.
The Mercury also has composite and RF outputs, so you can use the Mercury with virtually any TV, however if you use the composite or RF output, there is no difference in quality between the Mercury and any other DVB receiver. However the component output of the Mercury is significantly better in color saturation than the other 2 outputs.
I have a TV that has side by side PIP mode, and ran component from the Mercury in one window, and composite from Lifetime receivers in the other window, and you could really see the difference, whereas, composite vs composite showed no noticeable difference.

[Salukian]

I need a new receiver too. *prolly a dumb*Question:

1) Does the Power Scan on the Classic NA work exactly liike the Lifetime Ultra?
____1a) Specifically; can you to enter a specific set of transponder frequencies in Power Scan?

On another forum, I read that Viewsat receivers advertised that they could do blind scan, but when you go to set up your scan, there is no way to adjust the frequency parameter and it scans the entire spectrum whether you want to or not! I have a Viewsat VS2000 Ultra and this is absolutely true. Let the buyer beware. However, I;ve had my Lifetime Ultra for a long time, never messed with the software/firmware and it works better than many of the other manufacturers newest models.

My Fortec Lifetime Ultra Power Scan allows you to choose the start and stop frequencies, along with other options like the symbol rate < or> 7500 option, both of which are NOT avalilable on the Viewsat.

The other problem with Viewsat blind scan is that you must select the frequency "step" from 5~16. When you scan, if you don't land on the right freq, the stupid thing will go right by an active signal.