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]

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.