I have had DirecTV for over a year now and have been quite satisfied; however, I would like to put a second receiver upstairs to run two additional tv's (they won't be on at the same time so they should run off a splitter from one line). I suppose I have several options:
1. Get a 2nd LNB for my dish, add a second cheap receiver for the upstairs,
2. Get a 2nd LNB for my dish, get a better receiver to replace my Hughes and move it upstairs,
3. Be cheap, ditch the DirecTV - sign up for Dish and get a dish with 2 LNB's, 2 receivers free and sign up for their service for a year.
Does anyone have any suggestions? In addition, do different brand receivers accessing DirecTV offer different program guides? I would appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Bill

You can't really add a second LNB to an existing dish that wasn't designed for it. If you only have a single LNB, you CAN replace it with a dual LNB (basically two LNBs combined in one housing, with two cable connections leading out of it).

The user interface is unique for each receiver. Different manufacturers display the information, including program guide, in different ways. The data feeding those program guides, though, is the same for all.

It really depends on your systems around the satellite receiver as to whether you should get cheap or expensive new receiver. S-video, digital audio out, HDTV compatibility, TIVO, WebTV are all options that exist now but may not on your old receiver. Plus some other esoteric options are available.

Dish vs DirecTV is a long-winded debate, but mostly the difference right now is DirecTV has more optional sports packages. But Sony seems to be on a mission to alienate all satellite purchasers with shoddy, proprietary systems. Hughes and RCA have pretty similar DSS systems.

Thanks Makai Guy and Spiky,
That clears up some of the issues. At present I have a Mits TV with only 1 s-video in (now dedicated to my DVD player). My Hughes Sat receiver has an s-video out. I have a Sony 835 Receiver and a Bose (don't say anything!) AM 10 with a KLH subwoofer all run with a Pronto (would be nice to have a sat receiver with discrets). I am not sure whether I should go to a receiver with Dolby Digital output for the satellite. I rent/own a lot of DVDs and rely on my satellite for just regular programming and HBO, but it seems that when it comes to a movie that is strong on special f/x I would prefer to have my own copy. Does that help make choices any clearer? Any suggestions on receiver with the best guides?
Thanks again.
Bill

Guides and user interface are really a personal choice - some people LOVE an interface that others can't stand. Best advice is to make the rounds of local dealers so you can play with demo units and see how each mfr's look and feel appeals to YOU. Back in 97 when I bought mine I found I did not like the Sony interface nearly as much as RCA, so I went with RCA. Since then Hughes has come on very strong -- I haven't seen them but owners speak very highly of them.

FWIW, my 10+ yr old Toshiba tv has one s-video and two sets of rca inputs. I run the DVD to the s-video and the satellite receiver into rca. Second set of rcas is fed from the vcr. Before getting the dvd, I had the sat going into svideo - have not noticed any difference in pic quality via rca.

Thanks for the info. I have yet to get my system quite where I want it. I had the sat and dvd both running s-video through my receiver, but when everything reached my speakers, I only had the right front one working. Go figure. I'll take your advice and browse around to get a better idea about the guides. I'm going to the "big city" (Portland) this weekend so I'll have more choices!
Thanks
Bill