I realize I am in the minority, perhaps even a minority of one, but I'm not really interested in decrypting protected programming. For me, this is a hobby and I'm satisfied hunting out channels that can be watched without hardware / software modification. I want to buy a 'Universal' receiver capable of as many signal types as possible right out of the box. It looked like the Fortec Star Passion was the best bet, but when I contacted them I was told that this receiver will never be sold or supported in the U.S. So what else has as much flexibility? Mpeg-2, Mpeg-4, 8psk, 4:2:2? I have a Pansat 3500 and am happy with that, but apparently the Pansat 9200HD is more limited than the Viewsat 9000HD or Sonicview SV8000HD. What ever I buy is going to have to last me a long time, so I want to get it right. All suggestions are appreciated.
Well i guess that you miss understood what I ment, about encripted feeds, lyngsat will show them as encripted but realy they are not when you scan them, they will be ITC. didn't intend for any type of soft-ware mod at all or hardware either, sorry for not being clear about that. I just wish that the providers would put something into their data stream to stop the hacking, because it has given fta a bad name. an I do not condone it it any way...
Now the only receiver that Iknow of that will do 4:2:2 is the QualiTV, but they do not do DVBS-2. Now it does do 4:2:0 SD & HD, along with 4:2:2 SD & HD, along with mpeg-2 & 4, also a real fine receiver. an the QualiTV needs to be a slave to a master receiver like a DSR922, due to its satellite list, not for this country, an you can not change the name of the satellites either.
Now on the Viewsat-9000 I had 1 for a wile an it will not do DVBS-2 at all, no hint of signal. will do mpeg 2 & 4. an I did not care for it at all when working a motorized dish, very poor compared to other receivers the way they work. an the blind scan missed alot when looking for signals, an also took a fair amount of signal to lock an play a picture, around 40 to 50 on the Quality meter picture would break up. also of all the mpeg HD receiver this was the poorest performer, that I have used.
Now on the Sonicview 8000, It will not do DVBS-2 at all. but is a very nice receiver for working a motor. I have ran 1 since april of 2007, an its the only receiver that you don' have to go into the menue to tweek a dish to the east or west, all done just by hitting the signal meter button. now the blind scan is alot better than the Viewsat9000 but still doesn't work that good, slow an will miss stations, an will not lock on real low SR under 2000, but it will play with a low signal very well, I have played picture with only 25 for Quality with no break ups.
now the pansat 9200 has a great smart search, an it does do DVBS-2 with the add on board. but in all that is a much better receiver than the SV8000 & VS9000, now the 9200 soft-ware is buggie right now but with Pansat they will fix it just give them some time to iron it out. an it will do mpeg 2 & 4 along with DVBS-2, an even can record with it also. an the Pan 9200 is not limited copared to the SV & VS, the 9200 is a far better receiver by far, an with owening all 3, I would pick the 9200 in a second.
Now Transco I have ran just about every type of HD mpeg receiver, wife says i get more receivers than see gets shoes. the only 1 have not used is a Captain. now another receiver that does do DVBS-2 is a Diamond9000 an alot cheeper than the Pan9200, the only problem is that the TP data for S-2 needs to be enter via compt on rs232, an it doesn't have a blind scan, but will lock an play with low signals also. an may even think about a Coolsat 8000, also another nice receiver an it does do DVBS-2, but no blind scan also, but nice to work a motorized dish.
Did not mean to be long winded Transco but just wanted to give you a short feed back of the receivers that I have used tru out my years of satellite, an do not under estamate the Pan9200 its a nice receiver, an my 1st mpeg receiver was a Pan300a, an that was a few moons ago, an have always been a fan of Panerax an still am to this day.
Good Luck
Hope you get your money back. 
