New FTA Receivers - HD or not?

[weejimsdad]

I have been reading with mounting confusion whether or not the new line of HD receivers (CS, VS, SV, Captain) are actually capable of true HD now...without an expensive add-on module.

Most if not all of the product adds say "yes"....a lot of threads say "not really"...which is it?
If the standard is now MPEG4...with DN there, and talk of BEV going over soon....would any of them be worth the money at this stage of the game?

I am looking at getting into this soon, but am becoming more confused by the day.

[wec4104]

Typically, all these HD units are capable of outputing HD signals to an HDTV. The question becomes "What is your source of the HD signal and how is it being transmitted to you?" If the source is MPEG2 / QPSK then you are able to handle it with most units. If your source is MPEG4, some can handle it, some cannot. Turbo 8PSK (sometime just listed as 8PSK) usually requires that the STB have an add-on module.

[weejimsdad]

Thanx for the reply, maybe I didnt phrase it properly....so MPEG4/8PSK is the true HD broadcasting standard right?

Here is a quote fm the stats of the new VS9000HD..

"Enable to decode QPSK satellite and ATSC terrestrial transmissions.Mpeg2 and Mpeg4"

So for this model, even though it says it does MPEG4......it only will decode MPEG2/QPSK? To get true "8SPK"...would you need an add-on module.

Seems to me the people putting the specs on their products are either not doing it properly...or, God forbid, are doing it for reasons perhaps obvious.

Does anyone know of a receiver, that is capable out of the box of doing MPEG4/8SPK? I cant honestly say I have seen one...maybe I'm reading too much between the lines...appreciate the help.

[stereo]

I am in the same boat. I am considering an HD FTA, but confused by all the different manufacturers. I want a unit that outputs HDMI, is capable of Mpeg4 (even if it needs an add-on card), software updates are as quick as my sonicview SV-4000 has been and is capable of recording to an add-on hard drive (PVR).

I need comparisons. It is hard to weed through all of the reviews, and most don't have any comparisons to other HD tuners. Some reviews are done within a week of the reviewer getting the unit, how about after a few ECM's. Is it still good, or would you buy something better and what would that be?

[TD52]

I have talked to the owner of Visionsat and he told me he was coming out with a new HD FTA soon and it will be built in..so I am waiting to see if it is so or not
Or I will go with a CW3000HD with a external HD converter
but that is my choice

[Le_Gnome]

There are only three units that will do "all" DN and Bev.

First one out and the most mature in features and functions is the SV8000.

The VS9000 can also do it but does have some teething problems.

Panast 9200 is the new kid on the block so we don't know how well it will work.

The loner is the CW3000 which does a few but not very many DN HD.

So you are only down to three choices right now!

[stereo]

Thanks for the info. How the support? Any comparisons for picture quality?
The Pansat 9200 looked interesting. I wasn't sure if it had the possibility of being a PVR.

[jugycas]

is the cs4000 v158 bin working. if so is it just for the non premium channels like most other boxes

[Le_Gnome]

Originally Posted by stereo

Thanks for the info. How the support? Any comparisons for picture quality?
The Pansat 9200 looked interesting. I wasn't sure if it had the possibility of being a PVR.

I've used the CW3000 before and presently have two SV8000. The picture is fine on my 50" Sony using the SV8000, HD is great. Support is top notch, record function works so I have tons of recorded movies for backups.

[inquiring]

Originally Posted by Le_Gnome

I've used the CW3000 before and presently have two SV8000. The picture is fine on my 50" Sony using the SV8000, HD is great. Support is top notch, record function works so I have tons of recorded movies for backups.

Besides the SV8000, what other hardware did you buy in order to receive the HD? I assume that you have an HD display. What Q values do you need minimum to receive the HD?

Thanks.

[stereo]

I was considering the SV8000, not sure though. There maybe a lawsuit that may make it more difficult to get updates. I don't want to spend $600.00 for an HD receiver and adapter and then get no support. Sonicview has always been good with my SV4000. I know everyone is having troubles with the new ECM's. I don't want to buy at the end of the testing DN stage.

[inquiring]

Anyone try the Super HD format yet?

[Le_Gnome]

SV doesn't have any legal problems in US at the present time.

[lucydog3]

Just my opinion on this HD receiver-to buy or not,I have the Captain 8000 HD .I've had it for a while and have yet to see any HD except Bev HD preview channel.It does look good on my HDTV .But one channel?The way these bins are up and down so often,If I had to do it all over again I would and should have bought the Nfusion for less money.Forget about the HD stuff.

[solara07]

Hi guys,

1st time posting here for me......some input from me concerning this matter......sonicview only has a 1 year warranty but has the better support with bins and all from what I have seen. I chose the viewsat for the 2 year warranty...vs9000hd Version2........I am pulling in all the BEV HD channels with no add-on card since they are in mpeg2 720p. I purchased the add-on card (8psk) and am getting all the DN HD channels they are putting out, even some not listed on their website.....testing channels and such.......I have a 62 inch toshiba hdtv and the picture quality is amazing. there is a signal modulation problem with the add-on board....S drops from 100 to around 75 strength but everything is coming in strong. They are still working on adding features to the settings for this STB, slowly but surely. Now, I am being told by a person who has the sonicview8000 and a vs9000 that the picture quality from the VS9000 is better using the same hdtv. So, there are pluses and minuses on which one you wish to purchase, it comes down to what is the most important for each user....support vs picture quality vs features and so on.........also, I have not lost all off my hd channels thru these last few ECM they have put out, I lost all of BEV and only half the DN channels...................hope this helps some to choose............

[crash53]

Currently all the HD units require an adapter board to be able to receive DN HD channels. The units being up or down is the same whether HD or SD. The sonicview coders are good and their HD unit is up as fast as the regular units.

[stereo]

I have the SV-4000 and i am happy for the support. I am considering the SV8000 or maybe the VS9000. I need to read up on it. Does it have a PVR function via USB?

[delhess]

do you need a special dish/lnb setup to receive hd?