Confused about HDTV Receivers

[obeythelaw]

Hello. Now that DirecTV is on the HD express and offering 6 months free I want to buy an HD receiver. My only question is I don't know which one to buy. I can get the following three for cheap and would like any thoughts on what is the best one.
The first one is a Samsung SIR T165. However this isn't a DirecTV specific reciever. Does that make a difference? This is the cheapest of the three. The other two are an LG LSS3200A which according to LG's website is a DirecTV receiver and a Toshiba DST3100 which according to the Toshiba website is a DirecTV reciever. Which one should I get? I don't know much about High Def programming just that it looks beautiful in the store
Also, my HD TV only supports 480 and 1080i and not 720. Is this a problem? I noticed that the specs of the above recivers mention that they support all formats but I only have 480 and 1080i on my receiver. What if a program is broadcast in 720?
Thanks

 

[slacker9876]

The LG box you referenced is the same as a Sony 200 and Hughes HTL-HD, it is a very nice box and I am VERY partial to it. If you are interested in Tivo you may want to consider the HR10-250 ... as long as you do not plan to use the HDMI port that is available on it. These have been dying like nothing.

Rather than make a recommendation on what to by I would say steer clear of the old boxes like the E86 and though my TV is Samsung, I do no like their SAT receiver menus and software. Find something that make you happy and get it.

 

[obeythelaw]

Thanks. I think it will be between the LG or Toshiba because I haven't heard great things about Samsungs in general and its also not a DirecTV recevier just a HD receiver in general. The other two are DirecTV specific.

 

[obeythelaw]

had one more question. I was reading the manuals online for each receiver and noticed that both support DVI input. My HDTV doesn't have DVI, only the component RBG or the Yb, etc. one. Am I at a disadvantage?

 

[Neutron]

I know the HTL-HD box has the RGBHV (15-pin VGA like connector).

What TV do you have?

 

[obeythelaw]

It's a Panasonic 51" projection TV. I don't know the exact model number. Its a couple of years old. I know that both the Toshiba and the LG have DVI as well as the RGB. I was just concerned if you got a better picture with the DVI. My TV has both 480 and 1080i regardless of the input so I'm thinking it should be just as good.

 

[lowjeep]

Per all the reports I've read on the 2 any difference in picture quality between the component video cables and the dvi cable is negligible and highly unlikely discernible by the human eye.

 

[JamesJ]

Rather than make a recommendation on what to by I would say steer clear of the old boxes like the E86 and though my TV is Samsung, I do no like their SAT receiver menus and software. Find something that make you happy and get it.

okay I have asked this in two forums, and no one has said anything, whats wrong with the e86 I just purchased one and no one has said anything negative against them, please tell me so I can be informed and maybe buy another one and sell that one back, please help me! and remember I have had the 811 when it first came out so can it be that bad?