This overview is not 100% complete, it is just to let the beginner help to choose the right digital receiver for him/her!

Thanks to everyone who made this list possible!

FTA receiver:
- (FTA = Free To Air = free to view)
- receives only the TV en radio channels which broadcasts without a decryption.
- no possibility to view decrypt channels.
- these cheap receivers are simple in use and with there connections.

Receiver with one or more cardreaders:
- are used to view decrypted paychannels with the use of a subscribtion
- receives always the FTA TV and radio channels
- shows only the channels from the supported (smartcard) decryptions.
- some receivers can be patched * now the internal cardreader can handle more decryptions.
- no possibility to use CI-modules **.

CI receiver:
- without build-in cardreader(s) only to use with a Common Interface ***. Further the possibilities as show here under…

CI receiver with cardreader:
- to be used to view decrypted paychannels via a smartcard in the CI module ** with an official subscrition.
- has one or more CI-slots ***
- receives always the FTA TV and radio channels
- shows only the channels from the supported CI modules ** (smartcard) decryptions.
- some receivers can be patched * now the internal cardreader can handle more decryptions.

CI receiver with allcam cardreader ****:
- extra: universal internal cardreader which supports more decryptions (embedded UCAS, AMON or Magic Module)...
- to be used to view decrypted paychannels via a smartcard in the CI module ** with an official subscrition.
- supplied with one or more CI-slots ***
- receives always the FTA TV and radio channels
- shows only the channels from the internal decoder or supported CI modules ** (smartcard) decryptions.

Receiver options:
- internal harddisk so you can watch and record at the same time.
- twin tuners with a harddisk so you can watch and record at the same time to different channels.
- dolby digitaal connections.
- PC connections.
- modem connection (NDS-paytv: SKY digital).
- scsi o ethernet connections.

Where to think about to connect your receiver on your TV / AV / HI-FI installation:
- UHF output to connect your (second) tv without a scart-connector.
- Scart for connecting your TV.
- Scart for connecting your Video recorder.
- Cinch connections for your soundsystem.
- Dolby digital for connecting your receiver to your Homecinema AV amplifier via coax or an optical cable.
- compatibility

Possible/Not Possible:
Possible:
- more then one TV connected at one receiver to view the SAME channel.

Not possible:
- more then one TV connected at one receiver to view DIFFERENT channels.

* patch: addept your official firmware with other (hobby) firmware.
** CI-modules: Common Interface, or “decode module”, also known as “PCMCIA”..
*** CI-slots: slot which cab hold one or more CI-modules.
**** allcam cardreader: can read more decryptions.

Source: sat4all