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.
Last edited by jchance; 03-31-2009 at 05:07 PM. Reason: Spelling and grammer
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....
VA 39N, 78W, Mercury II, Fortec 31", 36", 72", SG2100, DG-280, H180 (two DSR-922's sitting in a closet and to be the next project) HDTV TV with no pay tv.
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.Originally Posted by Vitruvius
Rainman's Equipment
Undien 4600,DSR 922, Fortec Ultra, Satworks 3618, Sathawk pvr 800
2 Fortec Mercury II, Fortec Classic NA, DVB World USB 2104D
8.5' Orbitron polar C Ku dish, 8.5' Birdview HH C Ku dish
100cm Fortec dish, 90cm Fortec dish
2 DG-240 HH motors, Co Rotor II feed horn
Norsat 8515 C band lnb, Norsat 4506A Ku lnb
BSC-621-2 Lnbf, Invacom QPH-031 Lnbf
Invacom SNH-031 Lnbf, Fortec Fsku-v universal Lnbf
V-Box, G-box
I Like To Shop at Sadoun Satellite Sales.www.sadoun.com
before you drop some serious cash on HD receiver make sure it's not pay HD. Saw somewhere they wanted subscription $ for FTV-HD
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?
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.
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.
10-FT ChannelView solid, 10-FT Channel Master mess on Ajax 180 mount, 10-FT Channel Master mess on CM H2H mount, 12-FT Paraclispe w/circular c-band, 1.2m on HTS H2H mount, Eagle 90cm w/Pansat-900 motor. 2 many receivers an fixed ku dishes to list.
well the OTA don't affect me much nothing to pickup that way around here.
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.
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