[Mark40930]

Hi all, I know it's been awhile since I visited this site, but other things have been occurring of late.
I plan on getting my FTA system up and running and I just wanted to know if the Pansat 2700 and/or the Viewsat Ultra V2 VS2000 receivers are capable of doing blind search. I want to make sure I have this feature in whatever receiver I pick and I am endeavoring to keep the receiver cost under about $150.
Looking forward to everyone's replies and recommendations. Thanks!

Mark

 

[jeffgbailey]

Pansat...yes...works really good
Viewsat...unknown...heard both good & bad

Visionsat has a PVR capable unit and the blind scan is pretty good...they're under 100 bucks new on Ebay

 

[Mark40930]

Not interested in recording just need a regular receiver, but thanks for your suggestions, Jeff.

 

[PTown]

I've read Coolsat X000 units are great for FTA. No personal experience however.

 

[sattec]

coolsat good, viewsat bad...if echostar hates coolsat, I love it. I'm an RTN head.

 

[FTA Michael]

I had a Pansat 2500 that did blind search very well. I had even better luck with my Fortec Mercury II, which was recently discontinued but is still available on eBay for less than $100. In between, I had a Traxis DBS-4550, and it also did a decent job with blind search.

Now I'm wrestling with a Pansat HD 9200. The blind search is still pretty good, but the rest of the receiver feels like an engineering beta way too often. I sure wish Fortec would market a HD receiver here!

 

[jeffgbailey]

michael

what version software is in it? I know 1205 is good but 1216 (the supposed newest) is really bad and has lots of hiccups (mainly channels saying "scrambled" when they are not)

 

[T_N_T]

Has anyone used a Coolsat 8100 HD w/PVR and how do you like it?

 

[Davenlr]

I tried flashing the old software back to my 9200HD and it wouldn't run...Can you not go backwards? Getting sick of scrambled or bad channel messages, and now I'm getting a bad hum from the audio out and red/green hum bars on component outputs (hdmi still clear so far)...probably the power supply failing. Emailed Panarex two weeks ago, no answer yet.

 

[FTA Michael]

what version software is in it? I know 1205 is good but 1216 (the supposed newest) is really bad and has lots of hiccups (mainly channels saying "scrambled" when they are not)

I've got 1215 (July 11 2008). The release notes on 1216 didn't indicate any of the problems I've been seeing, so I'll wait to update.

 

[sadoun]

The Mercury II has been replaced with the DYNAMIC. The same receiver guts, only the outside shell is different.

Mercury III receiver will be out 1st-2nd qtr 2009. Also NEW Fortec HD Receiver will be available as well around that time.

 

[PTown]

Still waiting for a AIO HD unit.
S2+blindscan, 8psk, 4:2:2, etc. wouldn't that be nice!

 

[hyedipin]

Which one would your prefer/recommend?

Sonicview 360 Premier STATIONARY + 79 cm Winegard Dish+ Dual Linear LNB + 1GB USB Drive - $220 ($40 Extra for Elite version, with 2 tuners)

Conaxsat Nano PVR STATIONARY + 79 cm Winegard Dish+ Dual Linear LNB - $225

Fortec Star Mercury II Stationary + 79 cm Winegard Dish+ Dual Linear LNB - $180 (no PVR)

 

[FTA Michael]

I have a Mercury II, and I just love its performance. No DVR, but very solid.

I haven't tried the other two. If their DVR is as flaky as my Pansat 9200's, you won't be missing much. Then again, maybe they've got good DVRs.

 

[Davenlr]

I took my eSATA drive off my Directv dvr, and plugged it into the Pansat, and the Pansat wont even recognize it. Its "supposed" to be a new enough unit not to have to be returned for a mod, but appears not. Hauppauge HDPVR works GREAT with it tho.

 

[PTown]

I took my eSATA drive off my Directv dvr, and plugged it into the Pansat, and the Pansat wont even recognize it. Its "supposed" to be a new enough unit not to have to be returned for a mod, but appears not. Hauppauge HDPVR works GREAT with it tho.

May be a formatting issue or propriety directv thing.

 

[hyedipin]

Thank You Michael.

 

[Gray1]

my vote for the Fortec Merc II...its a great reciever

 

[sadoun]

The Fortec Mercury II receiver is a great and reliable receiver, but no longer available. It was replaced by the Fortec Dynamic.

The Dynamic is basically a Mercury II receiver, but with a new front panel design. The menu and inside guts the same.

http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Order/Receivers/FTA_Free_to_Air_Receivers_Satellite.htm

 

[MentalMidget]

Traxis has some pretty decent receivers for the cost. Great for people starting into FTA.