Buy now... or wait... or ??

[MountainTV]

OK - long time lurker first time poster.
Have a Mitsu WS55805 HDTV-ready unit and want to do the next step.
Just been on a trek to find a Direct-TV or Dish HDTV receiver/decoder and could use 'advise' ( if you're not tired of giving it, that is :rolleyes: )

Given these facts:

Don't have a Dolby 5.1 stereo (yet - but thinking about it) just Dolby 2.0 (surround) w/5 speakers
Cannot get cable as I live in the mountains
No over the air broadcast (same reason as previous)
Do have a good view of southern skies
Tired of watching the same DVD's over and over (progressive scan DVD)
Had TV for two years - time to see what HDTV will do!
I also want the signal to feed a non-HDTV in my bedroom (hence need RF remote)

Given these assumptions

New equipment out in November (7th generation??)
Any receiver will work well with my Mitsu set (16:9 1080)
There's no reason for me to have DVI/Firewire/etc... just a good signal!


My ears are open to your opinions and hopefully your knowledge in this matter. Should I wait another month and see what's out? If I don't need the new DVI (do I?) then why not buy the 'soon to be outdated' Hughes E86 or (??? opinions ???).

I've been looking at bestbuy.com (Hughes E86 at $474, RCA triple-LNB dish at $94) as well as americansatellite.com for more 'high end' units.

I don't mean to sound like a lost newbie... oh wait! I guess I am!! :D
I'm guessing most of the receiver/decoders will work with my current setup - and things like the Hughes E86 will work if I get a fiber-optic dolby 5.1 stereo.
But should I wait? Will the stuff in November (if true) drive down the existing prices, and would I be happy with the HughesE86 (though will need another remote).

[Marty]

Also check out www.orbitsat.com . I bought from them and they have pretty reasonable prices, especially for new directv customers who purchase a multi-room system. I got a Smasung SIR-S75 (dolby digtital, component output) with an 18x24 dual LNB dish from them for $100!

[MountainTV]

Thanks Marty, I appreciate your input.
Again, I'm searching for HDTV (in one room), and am currently thinking of the Hughes e8674 / GAEBO System, at www.2000networks.com ($599).
Just don't know if two HU cards, therefore two DirecTV subscriptions, are necessary with this configuration.

[greggae]

MountainTV. I have the E86 and an older non HD receiver. You need a card for each (which you get in the deal you are looking at), but only need one subscription. After your first receiver, each additional one is $5/month more. The dish you are looking at has a multi-switch that allows up to 4 receivers.
You can also just mirror the 2nd tv....set it up so it shows whatever you are watching on the main one, with no second receiver needed. The problem is that if you are watching HD on the main one in 16:9 aspect, the image on your second (conventional) TV will not be right. Is your main TV 16:9 or 4:3 aspect?

[MountainTV]

My main TV is 16:9 - so I understand! Thank You Thank You! It's so nice to have someone explain this to me. I've decided to go ahead and get it - and now I can't wait! Since it's only me (yeah - I'm a true hermit!) I can probably live with just a 'mirror', but what the heck, might as well do things right! I don't think the GAEBO unit does HD, but all in all it's easier this way, I think. Do you just have a dual LNB or tripple or multiple dishes?

[greggae]

MTV. I have a triple LNB Dish, like what you will have. The multi-switch takes the signal from the three LNBs and combines it so that you just need one coax to take the signal from the three birds to your receiver. However, the switch has four outputs....hence you can have four separate receivers.

You are right, your second receiver will not be HD. If you are the sole viewer, a mirror setup might really be better (and cheaper for sure). For example, if you are watching a PPV movie, selected on the HD tuner, you can also watch it on the second set (with my other caution noted about the aspect difference between the two sets). With two receivers you would actually have to select the movie on both and pay for it twice. This may not be a problem, depending on your viewing habits.

The E86 does give you some flexibility in changing from 4:3 to 16:9 just in case you are using a conventional set with this HD tuner. So.....if you were just using your second set in a mirror arrangement, you could make the picture appear as it should, but then it wouldn't look right on the 16:9 set. You'd have side bars, stretching, compression or some combination of these. So that is the dilemma. Let me know if this is not clear.