DVB-S or DVB-S2, SDTV or HDTV receiver which type to choose?

[mattwj2005]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at receivers and I am wondering if I should spend extra money and get an HDTV and a DVB-S2 receiver. What do you guys think? Is there that much content out there that would make it worth it?

Thanks.

Matt

 

[Mr Tony]

They have receivers that do both (Coolsat 8000 being one). It does HD & DVB-S2 out of the box. Only drawback is no blind scan

I use a Coolsat 5000 to blind scan then load the HD stuff into the 8000

 

[brentb636]

Another nice thing is that the CS8000 is out of production, and can be had for about $200 , used , from the auction site. A very nice box for that money.

 

[GreatFTA]

Another nice thing is that the CS8000 is out of production, and can be had for about $200 , used , from the auction site. A very nice box for that money.

You got that right!!! :up
Plus you can still get the latest firmware from Coolsat company.

 

[mattwj2005]

I appreciate all of the great advice. This will be my first satellite system of any kind and definitely my first FTA setup. Here are a few systems I have been looking at:

Motorized Free To Air Satellite system will allow you to move the dish to several satellites to watch more channels.  A powerful solution if your favorite channels are available over several satellites. The receiver's remote control will actually con

Either one of these system with the link above. I definitely think I want to go motorized.

Here are some other systems that have caught my interest:

GOsatellite.com - FTA Receiver - Viewsat Ultra

GOsatellite.com - FTA Receiver - Captiveworks CW-800S

GOsatellite.com - FTA Receiver - Viewsat Max

I guess the main reason that I started this thread was because I wanted to know how much HD and DVB-S2 content was out there and if it was worth the extra investment.

If you look at my previous threads you'll see that I don't have the best view of the sky, but I would definitely like to get this try and see what I can pick up.

So please let me know what you guys think.

Matt

 

[Tron]

There's very little full-time HD on Ku-Band (PBS is about it), but there are plenty of feeds that come and go all the time. There aren't a whole lot of DVB-S2 channels either, but that is likely to change in the future (as is the lack of full-time HD).

 

[mattwj2005]

Are there any DVB-S2 and HDTV systems that have blind scan?

Thanks for all of the help!

Matt

 

[Tron]

The Pansat 9200 has blind scan, can receive HD, and can receive DVB-S2 with an optional add-on card... BUT... The 9200 will NOT blind scan DVB-S2. The PVR function of this receiver is buggy, and it uses a non-standard file system for recording. Therefore, I don't recommend it. The Coolsat 8100 does everything you ask EXCEPT blind scan. You can use a standard definition receiver to blind scan the satellites, then take the info from the blind scan and manually add it to the HD receiver.

 

[Mr Tony]

The Coolsat 8100 does everything you ask EXCEPT blind scan. You can use a standard definition receiver to blind scan the satellites, then take the info from the blind scan and manually add it to the HD receiver.

I have the 8000 and use my Coolsat 5000 to blind scan then load the HD channels into the 8000

 

[Anole]

Here are some other systems that have caught my interest:

Viewsats and Captiveworks are on my $^&*% list, so if there's a good one in the bunch, I wouldn't know.
Search this site for the names of the particular models, and see if there are favorable comments or not.
I can't say one way or the other.

 

[Alec]

Viewsat max (vsmaxhd)

I just received a Viewsat max today and was severely disappointed that it wouldn't blind scan well at all ! Now I'm trying to find out what the problem is, looks like I'm not alone on this matter. As Ice had pointed out, I was expecting to blind scan w/Pansat 2700a and transfer data to vsmax. Yea, I'm bummed out about it. The Vsmax does have a nice picture. The menu texted is small, hard to read, jumbo-tron needed ! best wishes

 

[vc2]

Many of the new HD services are using 4:2:2 video. None of the receivers mentioned (Viewsat, Coolsat, Pansat) will demodulate this format. They will only decode 4:2:0 video.

The Quali receiver will decode 4:2:2 video, but it does not accommodate mpeg4.

I haven't seen any good solutions for this dilema.

 

[boomer_106]

Bottom line is that there is no one box does it all solution currenty. I think it's a conspiracy to keep us buying different things.

 

[cracklincrotch]

The closest you would probably ever get to an everything box that doesn't blindscan is a DVB-S2 card for your (high powered) computer. That way you get 4:2:0, 4:2:2, SD, HD, and DVR capabilities.