With my 2700a I have found that the only way to save my Programming settings "before" doing a factory reset, is to download ( using a Null Modem cable) my channels from my receiver to my pc with the freeware program, Channel Master. Then, do a factory reset and upload the channel list back to the receiver using Channel Master again. Works good and allows easy cleaning up of duplicate channels and dumping of channels no longer in use or of interest. If you do much blindscanning for feeds on the weekend (sports etc) or during a major news event, it makes it easier to clean things up when some of the temporary stuff goes away again.
So far out of all the different receivers I have played with, I have found my 2700a the easiest to work with and seems to find more stuff with blindscan than others I have tried. (and given up on)
grusome