I know there are bits and pieces about this subject scattered among a bunch of previous threads, but I am hoping someone can help guide me in the right direction....
I currently have the standard 18" dish (D*) with two receivers. Due to some annoying "regulations" in my condo complex, I have not been able to upgrade to the triple LNB dish. I have a 65" widescreen and have been forced to use my cable provider for all of my HD so far (I know I could be using an off air antenna as well). And yes, cable does suck.
Anyway... In the next six months to a year, I am going to be moving and will be getting a house either here (Seattle) or more likely back in New York. I know there is supposed to be some new birds up by then and I would like to know what to expect...
I see that the phase 3 dishes are going for literally a few bucks brand new these days (which makes me a bit nervous about their usefulness in the near future)... I also have seen that there is a new bird up around 72.5 now. With all of the new birds planned to be up in the near future, I don't want to go out any buy any gear just yet if it is going to become obsolete. Same goes for a receiver. I have come close to buying a Sony HD300 a few times now, but just couldn't bring myself to do it just yet.
So finally, a question. What is the future of satellite receiving equipment (standard and HD)? Please tell me that I don't need to be one of those houses (no offense to anyone here) that has four dishes mounted all over my roof... I have also heard that D* may be forcing everyone to buy the equipment directly from them and from "authorized installation centers". Is there any truth to that? I want to do my own work... I refuse to have some part time, minimum wage "dude" blasting holes in my house!
Ok, I'm done now... Thank you everyone.
I currently have the standard 18" dish (D*) with two receivers. Due to some annoying "regulations" in my condo complex, I have not been able to upgrade to the triple LNB dish. I have a 65" widescreen and have been forced to use my cable provider for all of my HD so far (I know I could be using an off air antenna as well). And yes, cable does suck.
Anyway... In the next six months to a year, I am going to be moving and will be getting a house either here (Seattle) or more likely back in New York. I know there is supposed to be some new birds up by then and I would like to know what to expect...
I see that the phase 3 dishes are going for literally a few bucks brand new these days (which makes me a bit nervous about their usefulness in the near future)... I also have seen that there is a new bird up around 72.5 now. With all of the new birds planned to be up in the near future, I don't want to go out any buy any gear just yet if it is going to become obsolete. Same goes for a receiver. I have come close to buying a Sony HD300 a few times now, but just couldn't bring myself to do it just yet.
So finally, a question. What is the future of satellite receiving equipment (standard and HD)? Please tell me that I don't need to be one of those houses (no offense to anyone here) that has four dishes mounted all over my roof... I have also heard that D* may be forcing everyone to buy the equipment directly from them and from "authorized installation centers". Is there any truth to that? I want to do my own work... I refuse to have some part time, minimum wage "dude" blasting holes in my house!
Ok, I'm done now... Thank you everyone.
