I am trying to decide between two PCI receiver cards. One has DSS support and the other (which is cheaper) doesn't. Are there any unencrypted DSS broadcasts that are even worth looking for? Dish Network only has a couple FTA (NASA and Angel One), and I am assuming the FTA DSS broadcasts (if any) are about the same. I don't want to spend more money on a card with extra features that I won't even use.

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Channel Master 75E-3 dish/NJR2119F separate H&V output LNB/Eagle Aspen 3x4 mini multi switch/9 foot mast @101W. Viewsat Ultra Lite receiver.
WIP 1: Multiple LNB's on my channel master dish, add another dish with multiple LNB's to the same mast right below the CM dish.
WIP 2: Finish my media server with Windows 7, Windows Media Center, Twinhan1020a, Pinnacle Pro USB OTA tuner, 4GB RAM, Dual core AMD 3.0GHz processor, Nvidia 9500 GT w/ 1GB DDR2

DSS is used by DirecTV. There may be a few unencrypted banner or promo channels up there, but probably nothing worth spending extra money on.

A DVB-S2 capable card would be my choice.

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Dishes in current use...
10' Unimesh with BSC621 scanning the arc, 6' Prodelin #1- 4DTV on AMC18C and AMC4-ku, 1m Primestar on AMC9, 90cm Ariza on AMC21, 1.8m Fortec Star on AMC21-G14, 6' Prodelin #2- G3C and G19ku
Receivers in use...
DSR922,DSR905 sidecar,Uniden Ultra C band analog,Diamond
9000HD 4DTV subscriber and C band user for 22 years

The last time I checked with my Twinhan 1020a, all audio on Directv was not encrypted.

How many FTA channels are there that use DVB-S2? I am a poor college student and would rather buy a cheaper Twinhan 1020a or 102g. The 1020a has the DSS support, while the 102g does not. I have found some cheap ones on ebay and would rather buy one of these cheaper ones to use until I graduate (next May) and have more money for nicer equipment. So, unless DVB-S2 is going to be standard among all FTA channels within the next year, I would rather just upgrade to DVB-S2 capable equipment later and buy cheap now

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Channel Master 75E-3 dish/NJR2119F separate H&V output LNB/Eagle Aspen 3x4 mini multi switch/9 foot mast @101W. Viewsat Ultra Lite receiver.
WIP 1: Multiple LNB's on my channel master dish, add another dish with multiple LNB's to the same mast right below the CM dish.
WIP 2: Finish my media server with Windows 7, Windows Media Center, Twinhan1020a, Pinnacle Pro USB OTA tuner, 4GB RAM, Dual core AMD 3.0GHz processor, Nvidia 9500 GT w/ 1GB DDR2

When was the last time you checked? And when you say audio do you mean radio/music channels? I think it would definitely be worth if I could pick up a bunch of music..

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Channel Master 75E-3 dish/NJR2119F separate H&V output LNB/Eagle Aspen 3x4 mini multi switch/9 foot mast @101W. Viewsat Ultra Lite receiver.
WIP 1: Multiple LNB's on my channel master dish, add another dish with multiple LNB's to the same mast right below the CM dish.
WIP 2: Finish my media server with Windows 7, Windows Media Center, Twinhan1020a, Pinnacle Pro USB OTA tuner, 4GB RAM, Dual core AMD 3.0GHz processor, Nvidia 9500 GT w/ 1GB DDR2

I just checked 101. All audio is FTA, including channel audio and XM music channels. I'm using TSReader with DSS to DVB Converter plugin on a Twinhan 1020a.

If the 1020a supports DSS, why do you need a DSS to DVB converter? and since there is such a thing, would I be able to buy the cheaper twinhan 102g and just use that kind of converter? and a reminder...the 102g does not have DSS support.

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Channel Master 75E-3 dish/NJR2119F separate H&V output LNB/Eagle Aspen 3x4 mini multi switch/9 foot mast @101W. Viewsat Ultra Lite receiver.
WIP 1: Multiple LNB's on my channel master dish, add another dish with multiple LNB's to the same mast right below the CM dish.
WIP 2: Finish my media server with Windows 7, Windows Media Center, Twinhan1020a, Pinnacle Pro USB OTA tuner, 4GB RAM, Dual core AMD 3.0GHz processor, Nvidia 9500 GT w/ 1GB DDR2

The plugin is needed to make TSReader work with the DSS data. The Twinhan 102g won't be able to lock the DSS signals. Also apparently there are different versions of the Twinhan 1020a card and some will not lock DSS signals. More discussion here:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air...tv-stream.html

Ok, so why is it that none of the XM stations are encrypted? I find it sort of odd that Directv wouldn't encrypt them or XM wouldn't require Directv to do it. Is it a mistake on Directv's end? I would hate to buy the 1020a for all these XM stations if they are going to all be encrypted in a month and then it would serve me no more purpose than a cheaper 102g. However, if the XM stations are never encrypted, then I would be more willing to spend a few extra dollars on the 1020a.

__________________
Channel Master 75E-3 dish/NJR2119F separate H&V output LNB/Eagle Aspen 3x4 mini multi switch/9 foot mast @101W. Viewsat Ultra Lite receiver.
WIP 1: Multiple LNB's on my channel master dish, add another dish with multiple LNB's to the same mast right below the CM dish.
WIP 2: Finish my media server with Windows 7, Windows Media Center, Twinhan1020a, Pinnacle Pro USB OTA tuner, 4GB RAM, Dual core AMD 3.0GHz processor, Nvidia 9500 GT w/ 1GB DDR2

They've been that way for while... think of how many people have DSS capable PC cards and the software to play it. Not worth it to them with no video. Reminds me of the VideoCipher analog days...none of the video was encrypted.

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