| FTA Satellite Receiver TypesFree-to-Air (FTA) | | | | software updating and attachment of external |
| satellite TV receivers are designed to receive | | | | multimedia devices? |
| unencrypted Free To Air satellite transmissions. FTA | | | | * Does the receiver allow you to view High Definition |
| satellite receivers can decode the MPEG-2 data | | | | channels? |
| compression protocol used in most Free to Air | | | | * Does the receiver have dual tuners, which allows |
| satellite transmissions. | | | | viewing and recording of two different channels |
| Evaluating Receiver BrandsFree-to-Air receivers are | | | | simultaneously? |
| an investment, it is important to choose a | | | | * Does the receiver have a PIG/PIP interface? |
| brand-name receiver that is manufactured and | | | | * Does the receiver have an Electronic Program |
| supported by a reliable manufacturer. | | | | Guide (EPG)? |
| Do not fall into the Clone Trap. A clone will not save | | | | * Does the receiver have S-Video output? |
| you more than twenty dollars. You will never find a | | | | * Does the receiver have Dolby SPDIF output? |
| clone receiver whose quality equals that of the unit it | | | | * Does the receiver have an On-Screen Display |
| purports to emulate. | | | | (OSD)? |
| FTA Receiver Features Evaluation Guide | | | | * Does the OSD allow you to move, delete, and |
| General questions to ask when choosing your FTA | | | | rename channels? |
| receiver:* Does the receiver have Blind Search Power | | | | Additional Equipment Needed to View FTA Satellite |
| Scan which will find all channels transmitted by a | | | | TV Programs:In addition to a FTA satellite receiver, |
| satellite? | | | | you'll need to evaluate brands, models and pricing |
| * Does the receiver allow you to zoom into a | | | | with respect to these components: |
| picture? | | | | * A satellite dish (C-Band or Ku-Band) |
| * Does the receiver support true picture-in-picture? | | | | * A LNB (Low Noise Block) |
| * Does the receiver have a built-in PVR (Personal | | | | * An antenna motor, if you want to be able to |
| Video Recorder)? | | | | turn the dish in order to receive channels from more |
| * Does the receiver offer USB compatibility for easy | | | | than one satellite. |