New to FTA: Receiver Recommendation Please

[alins]

Hello,

I am completely new to this, and would greatly appreciate everybody's help in selecting a receiver. I've read a lot of the reviews here, but I can't really get a sense of which receiver is best for me. My main requirements are

a) Great picture quality
b) Reliable device (software and hardware)
c) FTA capability (and maybe HD OTA)
d) Video recording and playback via externally attached USB hard drive

I'm an engineer and comfortable with software upgrades and setups. As for money, I can spend up to $400.

Is one brand always better the other (say, Sonicview vs Coolsat)? Or can you recommend your top three receivers in the $100-$400 range? If the receiver can do HD OTA, can it also record in HD onto the external hard drive?

Thanks very much

Paul

 

[voomvoom]

Since most receivers will do something unique to itself, that other receivers don't do or do but in a different way, and some may like one way better than another way, it's really hard to say that any receiver is better than the rest. Although, there are several good receivers out there. You mention HD (OTA & FTA), well that does narrow it down some. And you want Video Recording and Playback, that narrows it even more so. But realistically, from my point of view, I don't think you'll find a reliable Receiver that will Record and Playback, both OTA and FTA in HD and do it in a reliable way, especially in a timed mode...? And as far as HD FTA goes, there are a few different modes to get HD in from a Satellite, and it will take 3 or more different types of HD Receivers to get them all? Because there is no one HD Receiver that will get them all? And on top of that, I'm not sure you will find an HD Receiver under $300 anyway? Good Luck..!!!

 

[alins]

Thanks. Perhaps I should clarify - I meant standard definition FTA, and terrestrial broadcast "over the air" HD (local channels in US). The HD OTA is not an absolute requirement as I already get it via my cable connection. I only added HD OTA because I thought I could record it on a hard drive, in HD. If I can't, or if the HD OTA recording will be in SD, then I'll be happy with a regular SD FTA receiver with hard drive capability.

P.S. Increased budget from $300 to $400.

 

[voomvoom]

The only receivers with Digital OTA Tuners in them, are HD Receivers, and all HD Receivers don't have the OTA Tuners in them. The Standard FTA receivers don't have OTA tuners (digital or analog) in them, but most will pass through an OTA signal from an antenna to a tv set.

 

[voomvoom]

You can get an OTA (terrestrial) PCI card that does ATSC (HD) for your computer and record onto your computers hard drive or to an extenal hard drive.
You can get a FTA PCI card for you computer and do the same thing from satellite signals. Don't know the cost off-hand, but it is less than STB's (set top box). Only more stress to work with (at least in my case).....

 

[voomvoom]

I'm sure tomorrow when others around here see this thread, you'll get some better answers. There are several on here with standard FTA Recording Receivers. I think there's at least 5 different models? They can tell you more about them than I can...

This is a Review of one of them:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/fta-mpeg2-equipment-reviews/101350-visionsat-iv200-pvr-plus.html

 

[alins]

Doesn't the Sonicview 8000 HD have both OTA HD, and regular FTA (and also the Coolsat 8000/8100)?

 

[voomvoom]

I don't know anything about the Sonicview, but here is the Review of the Coolsat 8000:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/fta-mpeg2-equipment-reviews/88696-coolsat-8000-hd-receiver.html

I think the difference in the Coolsat 8000 and the Coolsat 8100, is the 8100 comes with the ability to use an external hard drive for Recording, while the 8000 won't..?
There are people on here with both of these Receivers (Sonicview & Coolsat), so they can answer your questions. Only problem right now, is me and you may be the only ones up and on here?

I just looked, and it says 143 are viewing the FTA Section. I guess none of them have any of these receivers?

 

[alins]

Thanks again, I will re-read the reviews and hopefully others can chime in tomorrow.

 

[Anole]

big disappointment

If I could find a decent (to my specs) HD FTA receiver, or even one that reliably recorded HD OTA, I'd have it already.
That subject has been the focus of quite a bit of discussion this year.
Most all receivers in either category suffer from major shortcomings!

HOWEVER, if a nice SD FTA PVR would suit you... then the Visionsat IV-200 review that VoomVoom linked above, would be my suggestion. (see my signature)
Then, once you are into FTA, and have a chance to get your feet wet, maybe you can see if any of the HD receivers interest you.

 

[gillham]

Doesn't the Sonicview 8000 HD have both OTA HD, and regular FTA (and also the Coolsat 8000/8100)?

On one of the Sponsor's pages above you can find a list of most HD FTA receivers. I can't post it being a newbie also.

Of the current models only the Viewsat Max does NOT have OTA capability from what I can tell. There are only a couple HD channels on Ku FTA. I would suggest getting one of the cheaper HD units with OTA HD, providing people have good things to say about them tomorrow.

I have a Coolsat 7000 and I've been thinking of an HD unit for some time, but with missing 4:2:2 support and limited (two?) Ku FTA HD channels I still haven't bought anything. The Coolsat 8100HD for $329 is getting interesting. My problem is the technology might be completely obsolete in a couple of years and $100/year for a couple PBS channels isn't quite worth it to me. (yet)

 

[alins]

Nobody has commented on picture quality - are all the top end units more or less the same?

I looked at gosatellite.com for the VisionSat IV 200. It shows up when you search for it, but not on their main FTA page (prefer to buy from them since they are local and overall appear to be a good outfit).

 

[Wescopc]

I looked at gosatellite.com for the VisionSat IV 200. It shows up when you search for it, but not on their main FTA page (prefer to buy from them since they are local and overall appear to be a good outfit).

Look at this thread:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/fta-shack/150852-gosatellite-com-owes-me-big-thank-you.html
Bob

 

[alins]

Look at this thread:
Bob

Yes, just saw that and posted there too. Now having second thoughts. I don't care for hacking at all; just want a solid, regular FTA system. No interest in grabbing paid signals for free.

 

[Anole]

Nobody has commented on picture quality - are all the top end units more or less the same?

If the quality of the programming you are look at is good, most all receivers will deliver a great picture.
Once in a while someone comments on a superior picture, but for the most part, all get an "A" rating, in my opinion.
It would be more likely that someone would comment on a bad video output, as it is far more rare than an excellent one.

Svideo outputs help.
Component video outputs help
What's funny is to see folks using the channel 3 modulator most FTA receivers have, and commenting on how good the picture is.
While that should get a big laugh, the truth is, many channels are delivered in such great quality, even a modulator is okay...
Or it may still produce much better pictures than they are used to seeing off the air, locally! :up

Then there are channels which look like crap... the very popular Whitesprings comes to mind.
They have very old masters, of very old movies, and transmit in a very limited bandwidth.
Don't use that channel as your yardstick.

 

[alins]

Visionsat IV-200

Where (online) can one buy a Visionsat IV-200? (reputable, reliable place).

Also is there a receiver as good as, or better than the Visionsat IV-200, but with the USB port on the back, instead of the front?

Thanks ...

 

[turbosat]

visionsat

Was looking around for those a couple of days ago, one of our sponsors was big with them for awhile, but now they have disappeared off the website. (visionsat's site is still up). And it was sparse, googling for dealers who sell them now. Wonder what happened...they seemed to be going all out, fixing numerous problems with their firmware, etc. Now I don't hear much about 'em. Lots of members here bought them though, they seemed to like them.

 

[phlatwound]

IIRC, Brian of SatAv said that Visionsat was developing and/or getting ready to release a new model?

 

[SatelliteAV]

Visionsat is still in business, but the IV200 was phased out and the new model will be out soon..... though it may not have the Visionsat name....

We decided to clear IV200 inventory as a special for the SatelliteGuys, rather than holding on to a few units past their time.

We certainly put in many hours to help the engineers perfect the IV-200 and make it a performer for the hobbyists. We are working on another unit that we think will be a hobbyist favorite ..... (if and when it is released).

 

[alins]

Brian,

Can you recommend a full FTA package (motorized, receiver, antenna, LNB, ...) for the pacific northwest (Seattle)? Channels would include those at Galaxy 25 (97W) and perhaps other satellites. I would like a high quality receiver with PVR capability, via a USB port on the back.

Thank you!