Looking for HD Reciever

[skynyrd]

I am wanting to get a HD reciever soon that will do DVB-S2 and HD.. I am either looking at a Coolsat 8000, or a Diamond 9000 HD, or a Pansat 9200 (however i'm afraid to buy one of those on Ebay because of the problems with sound i hear about).. Here is what I want it to include:

- Being able to Import/Export channels to the PC
- DVR is a plus (if the reciever will keep time correctly. Otherwise, i can use an external recorder)
- Ability to do DVB-S2 (NBC Mux on 105), ect..
- Good price - my budget is under 200 bucks for one...

I'm ok with not having blindcsan.. I usually enter in per transponder anyway. I really like the CS 5000, so I guess thats why I am leaning twoard the Coolsat. Just wanting to get some facts before I buy though. I would really like to have 4:2:2, but from what I hear, there is only one good box for that.. The Quali... Mabye i'll be able to pick one of those up someday.

 

[Mr Tony]

I'll give a word of advice

The 8000 was made by a different group than the 4000/5000/6000. The 8000 menus are dramatically different than the 4/5/6000

I have the 8000 and it is a nice box. No blind scan but does DVB-S2 from the box

 

[1captain]

I have ran a Cool 8000 for a wile, an like Ice said they are different in the menue alot than the CS5000, almost like another learning curve. an it had alot of reboots with the 8000, that is why it found another home, but it has no PVR in it, now the CS8100 is a PVR, but never have ran 1 to tell you about it.

now I also run a Diamond 9000, an I like that receiver, it also is a PVR, an works fine will tune DVBS-2 great with a good tunner, an a real nice channel editor, but NO blind scan. now with the 9000 have never had it reboot on me yet, an seems to lock just about as fast on S-2 signal as the Pansat9000 does. now the bigest draw back with the 9000 is that the DVBS-2 transponder data needs to be entered with the RS-232 using the Channel Editor, can not do it with the remote, but you can enter a regular QPSK transponder with the remote. didn't care for the receiver at 1st, but after using it for a wile it kind of grows on you, I bought mine back in March or April an right now would not get rid of it, very good receiver after you learn it.

 

[skynyrd]

Right now I am looking at either the Diamond and Coolsat. Had a few Questions:

Will a Diamond 9000HD decode AC3 Audio?

Will the Diamond 9000 do DVB-S2 out of the box?

I have heard of the diffrences between the coolsat 4/5/6 and the 8000... I also heard that there was no channel editors available for the 8000 from the posts that I sat from around a year ago.. Has this changed?

 

[Mr Tony]

all HD boxes doe AC-3 from the box (no external decoder needed)

 

[Lak7]

Will a Diamond 9000HD decode AC3 Audio?

Will the Diamond 9000 do DVB-S2 out of the box?

Yes, for both.

 

[Anole]

We have reviews of a number of HD receivers in our Review Department.
If you are thinking of any receiver we have listed, be sure to read everything we have about it.
For a product in that price range (250-500), you should be fully informed before purchase.

 

[empiretc]

HD on a budget is going to be the Diamond 9000. I picked one up on fleabay for $100. it is a great receiver. ATSC tuner + G18 + PVR= happy camper!

 

[skynyrd]

K, there are 2 questions (and all of them are from posts that I have found on the forum from a couple of months to about a year back).. I just want to see if any of these issues are still present:

Coolsat 8000: Anyone know if there is a channel editor available now? I spent a ton of time on my channel list, and would like to transfer that list to the new reciever.. I really would hate thinking about entering in all those channels and renamaming them manually... I have tried it on the 5000.. and well.. If it wouldn't for being able to edit channels on the PC.. i would have probably throwed the box out the window... lol

Diamond 9000HD: in http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...cw-g17-g11-screws-up-nbc-hd-aspect-ratio.html , anik mentions that the feeds on 105W will not show NBC correctly on a SDTV. I did see that another person had the same problem in this thread. Is this a problem that everyone with a Diamond 9000HD has? Anyone figured out a solution? Will the feed display correctly on an HDTV with the Diamond?

Thanks for the information.. I have been trying to comb the threads on both of these boxes on this form, so that I can make an informed decision..

 

[Mr Tony]

I havent found a channel editor for the 8000 yet but I honestly havent looked that hard latelly. I use it for HD feeds so I could give a rats patoot what the channel says...I just wanna see it

 

[Lak7]

Diamond 9000HD: ....... Will the feed display correctly on an HDTV with the Diamond?

I have my Diamond connected to my HDTV via HDMI, and it displays NBC DVB-S2 on 105 just fine.
I will try other connections tonight.

EDIT: I connected the Diamond to my HDTV via a Reg. Video cable and tuned in a NBC DVB-S2 on 105 west, video was "watchable" - changed video format on the Diamond to 480P from 1080i - and there was improvement. Connected to a 7" portable DVD player, video looked fine.