Upgrading to HDtv so advise on receiver please

[giantspider]

Currently have Spiderbox, had Technomate before. Now looking to get 32" 1080p HD tv and don't know which stb to get.
Currently have motorised dish setup (Dark Motor) and would like to be able to store sat least 5000 channels. Need to be able to add keys/softcams. Need to be able to easily add new transponders when following up feed hunter finds. Need to do blind scans. Forget internet as my speed is poor - 300kb - except for downloading data, not images. Willing to pay up to ?300 but would prefer to spend less, however, don't want false economy!

[digicon]

Technomate 5402HD or the F3/5 or even the Dr HD D15 will fulfil your needs, Price range from ?130 -?150

[giantspider]

Looked at Tm5402 and seemed to meet most needs. But reviews and support seemed to be 2011/12 with less current forum support than say a linux based stb. Am I buying the past? Is the linux system needlessly (for my needs) too complex?

[digicon]

Looked at Tm5402 and seemed to meet most needs. But reviews and support seemed to be 2011/12 with less current forum support than say a linux based stb. Am I buying the past? Is the linux system needlessly (for my needs) too complex?

Not too sure where your looking at for firmware support a Patch for the 5402 was released around 10 days ago in the Download centre:

http://download.for-better.biz/bbs/reply.php?board=tm5402hd&num=36

If you want ease of use for softcams and Biss keys etc.. then a Closed source receiver such as the TM5402 or D15 or CT4100 is about as easy as you can get, if you want something to play aound with then a Linux E2 receiver is the one to get but i can tell you now running softcams and Biss is not easy in an E2 receiver you are looking at installing various Cams to get the Keys working as well as Biss and then if you want something with a 'proper' Hardware blindscan instead of a software one you need to look at something like a Vu Duo2 or the very cheap Vu Uno.

Choice is: Easy or Hard with many days and nights of configuring for E2

[giantspider]

Thanks for advice. I agree totally with you - but fear that if softcams become irrelevant because of encryption upgrades then my search for football broadcasts will be more limited and I might start to wonder whether I should try card sharing - which I'm against at the moment. You have summed up my dilemma perfectly. And you made it worse for me by recommending a box close to one I originally owned and liked - a Technomate 5400. Thanks digicon.