reception equipment

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb (More info?)

I am still not sure which system I am going to go with the topfield ird,
others? or pci card. I am thinking tho that to start out maybe I should try
out the pci system as all I would need is the card. is there any
recommendations for pci card packages (Hardware/Software) that will handle
DiSEqC 1.3 (USALS), hardware decoding, pvr, time shift ( this would aloww
me to record I guess). The Hauppage Pci cards look real nice but seem to be
on the pricey side.

And I know nothing about the LNB, Motor, Dish combo, other then I should get
a 90cm dish, can anyone recommend brands or specs I should look for when
buying this hardware.

From what I have seen so far the topfield units pack a wollop for the buck,
Brian if I go with Topfield, which model would you recommend.

One last thing I guess before i go out and buy this equipment, does anyone
know what is in the future for free to air channels, is there more today
then there was 3 years ago, will there be more channels 3 years from now, my
guess is, if there's lots of FTA IRDS being used, then channels or stations
would see it as an untapped market, but I am sure dishnet/direct
tv/expressvu and cable operators would see this as a threat to there
business as well, I guess governments would most likely like to limit what
you view to what they approve of. Might there be a UK type system, where one
needs to get a access card to view even the free to air stuff?

Gord