For legacy devices or earlier Energy Star products I use the APC BR1500G. Yes, this is a stepped sine wave UPS, but this is not an issue for devices that are below Energy Star 5.0 and Dish equipment is not, to my knowledge, Energy Star 5.0 compliant. I settled on this because, at the time I first purchased them, the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD "Pure Sine-wave" (really simulated) UPS, was significantly more expensive and I bought the cheaper stepped sine-wave UPS for legacy devices to save on costs.
However, for my very new PC's, HDTV's, and audio receivers (Energy Star 5.0 compliant), I use the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD "Pure Sine-wave" (really simulated) UPS. This can be critical and if one has an Energy Star 5.0 product, the stepped sine wave UPS won't prevent many PC's connected from losing power and can even damage other connected devices they power for too long. HP, as one example, lists a number of its PC's that will lose power (and cause other problems) if connected to stepped wave UPS and main power is lost.
Further, if you've got an Energy Star 5.0 HDTV and your stepped wave UPS kicks in, you may well hear a popping noise from the HDTV and the longer it is getting stepped wave power, the more you are damaging it. Also, it is wise not to rely on stepped wave for decent audio receivers, for they can damage the receiver. Of course, it is all a matter of time: the more frequent and longer the Energy Star 5.0 device relies on the stepped wave UPS in active mode for power, the greater the likelihood of damage. A few minutes here and there are not likely to cause problems, but how would any of us know how long our device would need to rely on the stepped wave UPS if we lose main power often enough. I suppose it is a judgement call for most CE devices, but you are SOL if your device is a PC or Mac with Energy Star 5.0 compliance: you are almost guaranteed to lose power using a stepped wave UPS.
Fortunately, today, the cost of the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD "Pure Sine-wave" (really simulated) is just about as low as APC's stepped wave UPS, so I now get the CyberPower exclusively. Although replacing APC's batteries are a much easier task than changing out CyberPower's. I won't go to a true sine-wave, which also provides power from the batteries at all times (yes, an ideal situation), because of the high cost. The latest standby UPS's such as the two I use switch from standby to active faster than it takes for there to be a troubling dip in power. Loss of main power does not occur instantly; it takes time, and the two I use switch to active faster than it takes for the drop in power to be of any consequence to the device's internal power supply. Unless one is depending upon medical equipment in the home, I just no longer see the need for the huge expense of the true sine-wave UPS for consumer electronics. The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD "Pure Sine-wave" (really simulated) not only has worked as it should for me, but has been confirmed on forums and consumer reviews to do the job for Energy Star 5.0 home CE devices, and at a substantial savings.
CE companies could have met Energy Star 5.0 in a way that would allow us to use the less expensive stepped sine-wave UPS, but that would have been a more expensive power supply for their products. Now, there are countless people experiencing the pain of losing power to their PC, especially Macs, and possibly damaging other devices because their stepped sine-wave UPS can't do the job for Energy Star 5.0 as implemented by the cheapskate CE manufactures. Too many stories of lost data and damaged products. Very sad.
Best of luck protecting your expensive devices. A proper UPS for your uses is among the best investments one can make.
