HDTV Receiver

[Debbi]

I'm thinking about purchasing an FTA HDTV receiver. I'm looking for suggestions and recommendations. Has anyone got one and how does it work?

[rainman]

That makes 2 of us Debbi so any suggestons would be great.

[Debbi]

Looking back in this forum I saw that Fortec makes one. But I guess it's not available in this country.

[BYX]

Let me know when you find one worth buying

[pmb1010]

I read somewhere - dont remember where now.. that the "eye patch" gang is big on the hd receivers.
Once dish gets their act together and puts them out of business there should be a gaggle of HD receiver models out there at cheap prices.

They've been saying that it's only 2 months away for the past 2 years so I dont know for sure. I dont follow that stuff.

Coolsat 8000 was one model I remember as being one to look for once things happen. I dont even know if it's even made anymore. Theres probably a followon model by now.

[Jim-S]

I did a Google search for HDTV FTA receivers, I did come up with some or are these not true HDTV receivers. Examples: Fortec, Coolsat, and Viewsat, there are more what about these besides the price they want for them.
Jim

[1captain]

Well let me chime in an give my 2 cents on some HD receivers. now I have ran an used a lot of different models of HD receivers an some are more trouble an buggie, an most people will pull their hair out running them. wile others are top self.

Sonicview-8000 my 1st HD bought back April 2007. still run this 1 to this day very nice receiver an has blind scan thats fair to good, an is a PVR, an a great pvr at that the best that I have owened. but no dvbs-2, an out of all receivers this is the best for its motor functions working a motor controler like the G-box, if you need to tune you're dish at any given time just hit signal button an you can move you're dish E or W an save it with out entering into installation menue. remote range is poor an response will lag from time to time.

Pansat-9200 very nice reciver, added dvbs-2 board an worked great on s2. but don't owen 1 any more sold it very buggie with its software, an it will blind scan best blind scan hd receiver I have used, an the newer 1s are a pvr, when I had mine that was not active at it time, also they have a limited satellite locations is you use the 1.2 user mode working a motor controler 22 thats it, but still a very nice receiver.

Coolsat-8000, had 1 for about 6 months nice receiver, little hard on setting 1 up does do dvbs2, no blind scan, an also limited satellite locations working a motor controler. now mine use to reboot a lot on high SR rates, bought it off flee-bay an it came from the eye patch gange. now their newer model 8100 is a pvr but never used 1, an is supposed to be the same as 8000, but with pvr added.

Viewcrap-9000, this was the worst receiver that I have ever owened, no s2 has blind scan but don't work good at all on ku, an forget c-band. wile I owen it I only had 2 happy days with it, 1st when it arived an then the 2nd when I sold it.

Neosat an Captain never owen 1 but have set them up for customers on c & ku dishes, that they had a hard time getting them to work an they leave a lot to be desired, not intended for fta think more for the eye patch gange. did a blind scan with a captain on C let it run 20 minutes latter still running an found nothing on Gal-16. they are cheep to buy but would never owen them.

Diamond-9000, nice receiver I owen 2 of these, no blind scan, does dvbs-2 (have enter TP data via nfdeditor for s2) an is a pvr. pvr will studder on high SR rates over about 29,000 but under bullet proof. great motor functions in it for working a dish with a motor controler, not as good as SV but close to its performance. an it has the best channel editor (NFDEditor) that I have ever used, a click of a mouse TPs or Satellites can be aranged in order that you want them. tunner in is is good, but will not lock any SR under 2,000. but NEVER buy a used 1 from the eye patch gange, if you do you will have problems no audio, studdering video on hd channels, an their is now way to fix that to this day.

Saved the best for last.
Pansat-9000, I have owen 1 well over a year now an this is my favorite, no pvr, no way to use a channel editor either, no blind scan, does dvbs2 GREAT an don't need no add on board for s2 does it right out of the box like the coolsat, an it can lock signals that other receivers will not lock it does not matter on SR if is 1400 or 33000, it will lock them, also will lock a week an play video HD or SD that another receiver from the same dish will pixel or not lock it it at all. motor functions same as the 9200 crude an limited locations useing a motor controler. no bugs in the 9000 like its big brother 9200 has, but 1 great receiver to run.

hope all helps guys, just watch what you buy on used receivers, me my self I ask ?s before I ever think about bidding on a used 1.
good luck

[crankbooster]

can you just break this to a scale of 10 and make it more easy to understand your excellent review

[1captain]

Originally Posted by crankbooster

can you just break this to a scale of 10 and make it more easy to understand your excellent review

No because on a HD receiver's different models will blind scan some will not, some will tune dvbs-2 some will not, some have channel editors an some don't. along with playing low SR rates, you need to know what you want in a HD receive 1st before considering buying 1.

that is why I did a short list an brief description of what I have used an still use to this day.

[Vitruvius]

This is a great topic to discuss.
1Captain, That was a great review, thanks. Not many people have experience with so many receivers.
I have been eyeing (not eye patching) the Captiveworks HD receiver that is basically a computer with DVD and runs on Linux. What looks good about it is that it has the 8QSP built in and can also be used to watch internet TV. Don't know anything else about it though.
Since I have only used a Mercury II, I would hope whatever receiver I get has similar functions and is as easy to use.

[jchance]

I have been doing a lot of research on receivers both SD and HD and dishes, etc, in trying to put together a home system under budgetary and condo association constraints. From what I have read when it comes to HD receivers they are HD ready not HD out of the box. In order to get true HD you need the 8PSK module for the box installed.

Installing the module will usually void your warranty unless installed by an authorized reseller. This is the best route to go in all honesty if you want the card put the additional money up front. There is a lot of cheap counterfeit modules currently coming out of China that are near impossible to tell apart from a "legit" one. They are being passed off not only to consumers as the genuine article but to retailers as well who can not tell they have purchased a counterfeit. These modules will work initially, they do have the same chips on the board but these chips are usually knock off of the real chips too. What happens is they tend to overheat and fry themselves and only themselves if you are lucky. I have read about peoples receivers being fried from them too. FTA HD satellite is limited currently on available content.

On the Ku frequencies there is little if any HD content in the clear but there is some HD content on C band. Everything I have read on this content increasing says that there is no change in what is out there for the immediate future. Beyond the content though everyone who has commented on their HD receivers has stated that the quality of the picture on SD programming is better then their SD receiver regardless the connection type. S-Video and RGB composites both tested by these people reviewing usually too and there was a variety using and not using the 8PSK module.

The one that looks to be the best out there is the Captiveworks HD. Every STB has to run some form of operating system to accomplish its task. A lot of the cable STB's use Windows Mobile or have traditionally. Not sure about satellite receivers, anyways, Linux is the perfect choice for a set top box.

It can be as lightweight or as robust as the task requires and not be bloated. Embedded Linux is extremely fast and reliable platform that has been around and developed for years now. Being open source it lowers the total cost of manufacture and allows for a bigger bang for the buck which this receiver has nuclear size bang. It is as Vitruvius says, basically a PC.

I am starting my setup running SD but when I do make the switch to an HD receiver this is the one that I plan on buying. To me it is worth every penny. It is an all inclusive HTPC in a STB.

I haven't experienced these receivers first hand but in my research this is what I came across and thought it might help others.

[Vitruvius]

Has anyone gotten any good HD receivers? My favorite satellite station 'FTV' has moved to HD and now i am all upset and trying to figure out how to remedy this. I have come to the conclusion that an HD receiver is needed, and i don't know which ones I should avoid.

HELP..... I want my FTV....

[rainman]

Originally Posted by Vitruvius

Has anyone gotten any good HD receivers? My favorite satellite station 'FTV' has moved to HD and now i am all upset and trying to figure out how to remedy this. I have come to the conclusion that an HD receiver is needed, and i don't know which ones I should avoid.

HELP..... I want my FTV....

yeah I enjoyed that channel too looking into a AZ Elite sounds like it does the most HD out there just don't have blind scan.

[pmb1010]

Originally Posted by Vitruvius

HELP..... I want my FTV....

before you drop some serious cash on HD receiver make sure it's not pay HD. Saw somewhere they wanted subscription $ for FTV-HD

[Vitruvius]

PMB... that is a good warning.. thanks. It is also popping my bubble.. but I was joking... a little.. Lyngsat should show this by now.. I'll check there too.
There are other HD stations that I think would be worth viewing including the PBS.
I was looking at the Captiveworks 4000 hd receiver which looks like it has loads of functions... because it is basically a computer and has 8psk $430.
I also looked at the the Viewsat Max with 8psk module...$330. It seems that this receiver does have a blindscan ability - "fast booting and autoscan". Anyone have any thoughts?

[rainman]

check satguys they have done some reviews on several HD receivers and their favorites seems to be the coolsat 8000 and 8100 and the AZ Elite.

[1captain]

those 8psk module Vitrusius they are worthless for fta, they are meant for turbo 8psk, an that is what dish uses.

an Rainman the AZ is a nice receiver, but no OTA for use here state side, they are saying that a atsc tuner will be coming in the future. but nothing as of yet.

[rainman]

Originally Posted by 1captain

those 8psk module Vitrusius they are worthless for fta, they are meant for turbo 8psk, an that is what dish uses.

an Rainman the AZ is a nice receiver, but no OTA for use here state side, they are saying that a atsc tuner will be coming in the future. but nothing as of yet.

well the OTA don't affect me much nothing to pickup that way around here.

[Vitruvius]

Who has the AZ Elite? It seems to be a European receiver, so is it in the US yet?

[1captain]

Originally Posted by Vitruvius

Who has the AZ Elite? It seems to be a European receiver, so is it in the US yet?

I do, have had since May 1st.
yes Euro receiver with the funny power plug, I put a standard power cord in its place, plugs in the back like a DSR 920 does.

[Jim-S]

Originally Posted by 1captain

I do, have had since May 1st.
yes Euro receiver with the funny power plug, I put a standard power cord in its place, plugs in the back like a DSR 920 does.

Does Europe have the same power requirements such as 120V 60hertz etc. I thought it was different but I could be wrong.

[1captain]

Originally Posted by Jim-S

Does Europe have the same power requirements such as 120V 60hertz etc. I thought it was different but I could be wrong.

Noop, 240 to 250-volt @ 50hertz.

[Vitruvius]

So, do you also have a transformer for the receiver Mr. Captain? I did see the receiver for sale on the web from some company in Arizona...

[pmb1010]

a lot of the electrical equipment these days have autoranging voltage inputs.
For example - This lenovo notebook I'm using has input of 100 to 240 volts with 50 or 60hz.

You need to look at the specifications. It just might take UK and USA voltages natively, simply by putting on the right plug.

[Sadoun]

I would recommend waiting on buying any HD receiver for FTA. Reasons:

• Very few FTA HD channels available
• Current FTA HD receivers on the market today are way too expensive and lack the features

Upcoming HD receivers will be North America compatible and should have MPEG4 DVB-S2 capability. Also, ATSC built-in tuner is a plus.

[1captain]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

I would recommend waiting on buying any HD receiver for FTA. Reasons:

• Very few FTA HD channels available
• Current FTA HD receivers on the market today are way too expensive and lack the features

Upcoming HD receivers will be North America compatible and should have MPEG4 DVB-S2 capability. Also, ATSC built-in tuner is a plus.

Well have to disagree on few HD channels, if you look at lyngsat then yes, but if you start hunting an scanning then no, also not that many on Ku, bunches on C, from AMC-7 over to Intelsat-3r I have HD channel or channels on every sat except for Anik-F2 @ 111.1, not that much is on that sat anyway. an then on some sats like AMC-1 & AMC-15 will go into the teen's for HD channels 24/7. now on sats like AMC-16, 9, 5, H-2, don't have HD 24/7 but do get a lot of HD wild feeds their, 1 week end counted 17 HD feeds on H-2.

but on mpeg-4 an S2 yes an yes, that is a must to have these day's, an more so every day with S2, I would not even think of buying a HD receiver unless it would do S2.

the ATSC tuner is nice but not a must to have, reason why is just about all HD tv's today have it built in, but if you're HD tv is older then you may want to look at, a receiver that has the ATSC tuner, also it is nice when you switch from sat to OTA, don't have to change inputs on the tv.

now on the price yes, but they are not as bad as when they 1st came out. April 2007 is when I bought my SV-8000 paid over $500 to get it to the door, bought it from a dealer like you're self Sadoun, reason why if I have a problem you can help me, it is not that way when you deal with E-bay. now the AZ had it delevered under $400 also from a dealer. now a days you can buy a good HD mpeg receiver from $300 to $400 delevered. back when they 1st came out that was not the case.

also you need to look at what 1 pays for a HD tv, an what type of HD content they want, small dish people, cable people of from the phone people, an now the montly bill. an then you will have all of you're HD channels 24/7. with a HD-mpeg receiver this is not that way, they come an go, look at FTV sd. so for a mpeg HD receiver in my case I think it is not that high priced today, but other buyers of a HD receiver may have a different out look at it.

Just had to add my 2-cents on this 1 Sadoun.

[pmb1010]

Originally Posted by 1captain

I would not even think of buying a HD receiver unless it would do S2..

with "S2" we're talking bigger (and I mean 10 foot) sized dish for C band stuff?

That what worries me about this hobby.
It was neat and easy to put up a 30inch-ish dish for Ku, and with a 6 foot C band, it simply just got fun.

Now things are migrating to HD, and S2. Sure there's still lots of stuff up there, but some of us are unwilling or just don't have the space for a huge dish in the backyard. It was a chore just to get the OK from the other half for the 6 footer. She's happy now that the HH180 motor broke, since that dish is no longer in use.

I've been waiting to do something, but surely don't want to throw a lot of money at a transitioning technology.

Just some random comments...

[Sadoun]

1captain,

Yes, what you said makes sense.

What I should have said is that there aren't many KU band HD FTA channels yet that justify an HD receiver. Most people don't have the money or the space for a C-band dish setup. That market "unfortunately" is getting smaller daily. I would take a C/KU band dish anytime over a small KU band dish. But if I am restricted with the space and funds, then it becomes not an option.