If you buy one, make sure it will work with 110V/60Hz. I was looking at a nice HD receiver in Tele-satellite magazine that I would have loved to get my hands on, but it was only rated for 230V/50Hz.
Make sure you will be able to connect it to your tv when you get home. European receivers use scart connector to connect to the tv and we don't. The HD ones should have HDMI which should be able to a be compatible with HDMI port on NA tvs. The plug in to the wall will be different to our's also but at long as it accepts our V/Hz (110V/60Hz) ratings, an adapter plug or a new plug in from a hardware store will work. BTW if you have never changed a hard wired plug, it is your own responsibily if something bad happens (hot and neutral wires may not be the same colours as NA standards).