A couple newbie ?'s

[Carb]

Hi all, I hope you can help me on a few questions. I've been reading as much as I can as is the preferred thing to do in most forums. So here goes with a couple questions I have.

I'm switching from E* to D* due to some poor customer service at E* (long story). Anyhow, I'm trying to figure out what receiver set-up to get. I am only going to set up one room, no hdtv, etc at this time. I need a semi-basic receiver preferably with Digital output. Here are the ones I'm looking at right now:

Samsung SIR-S75D - $60, digital out
Hughes GCEB032 (exec dir) - $40, digital out, Uhf remote
RCA DS4250 - free, digital out

I'm leaning towards the hughes due to the uhf remote as I have my sat run to another tv as well. The samsungs seem to be a bit nicer with their on-screen guides, etc. What would you all recommend? Pros/cons to these? Are there differences in the on-screen guides and usability?

I have a couple weeks before my E* subscription is up, so I hope to learn a bit more before I have to make my choice.

Also, I am thinking of just getting the dual-lnb dish. Do you think it is possible to obtain the triple-lnb dish if I do a self-install vs a prof. install? All my coax is run and I have no problems mounting the dish and aiming it.

TIA

[PSB]

TIA,
I am a satellite installer from your area, if I were you I would go for the great free deals out there right now, you could get one of the new Philips DSX 5500C recievers and a FREE professional install for swapping over to DirecTV! I like this new receiver, and I would take what ever you can get for free, then you can always replace it at a later date if you want, there is virtually do difference in picture quality between the systems, just in the menu and on-screen graphics...and who watches them? Not me! I think you will be doing the right thing swapping over as DirecTV is a better system/ picture/service...need I go on? As an independent installer I install both, but every second job I do is a swap from Dish to Directv! A customer gave me their old Dish system the other day and I hooked it up tonight.....what a mess, I don't believe people pay for this quality of picture never mind service...good luck and let us know how you like your new DirecTV system when you get it!!!!

[Carb]

Pete,

thanks for the input. BTW, TIA is thanks in advance. I am more or less looking at free set-ups. The main thing I would like is an optical out as well. The rcvr's I have found so far with that option cost $40-60. Any suggestions of local places to look at systems? Currently I'm looking only online (Orbitsat, The Satelite Guy, & Expert satelite).

[PSB]

Whoops! Got it, . You would be best getting a new Phase three dish at the same time as they work great and you would be future proofed for all three DirecTV birds (satellites) As for an optical out, you would have to sniff a receiver out that has what you want, and pay that wee bit more for it. I think buying on-line is the way to go for a good deal for most people. I get my supplies direct from local dealers, at wholesale,so I don't really know what kind of deals you can get locally, but I am sure they are all about the same. When you make your mind up let me know what box you are going for and I can let you know if you are getting a deal! Try.......
http://www.mini-dish.com/
Let me know how you get on !

[PSB]

also try...
Americansatellite.com