Well if the spring training feeds are any indication, this receiver may not be as useful as you would think. All the 4.2.0 stuff so far seems to be standard definition (I can receive it on my Pansat 2500A) and the rest is 4:2:2. Since this receiver won't do 4:2:2, I don't think it will help.
The thing I would most like about this receiver, I think, is that it decodes AC3 audio without need of an external decoder. That's a big plus in my book. Being able to pick up OTA signals is another big plus. The thing I would most dislike about it is the inability to get 4:2:2, which has been around for how long now? I can't believe that anyone would design a HD receiver and not include the ability to decode 4:2:2. And also the inability to do a blind scan would be problematic (I really don't want to have to switch receivers in and out just to be able to scan for signals).
If any other manufacturers are looking at the comments on this review, I hope they will see that there really is a desire to receive 4:2:2, and also to have a built in AC3 decoder and a good OTA tuner. I'm sure that now that one company has come out with a unit of this type others will feel the need to follow, but I'd rather they take an extra month or two and get it right than rush a product to market. Until a receiver comes along that will receive 4:2:2, I'm keeping my money in my wallet, unless the amount of HD programming available in 4:2:0 takes a big jump (but even then I'd prefer to not be limited to just 4:2:0 HD).
What might really cause me to seriously consider making the jump is a receiver that could handle 4:2:0 and 4:2:2, OTA signals, had built in AC3 decoding and smart scan, AND had a built-in PVR (and it all worked without looking like it was patched together with bailing wire and duct tape, and wasn't priced like a small car). I suppose that's too much to hope for, though.
I wonder if anything else will appear that will cause me to reconsider my decision to make do with my Pansat 2500A a while longer.
I want one!
