This should be a popular topic...

What satellite receiver brands/models have the best combination of features, reliability, and most of all, ease of automation?

Has anyone succeeded in RS232 communication through the "low speed data port" on any brands?

Who has good discrete IR codes, but doesn't melt access cards?

Have you ever found a brand that NEVER needs to be rebooted?
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Our experience is this...

Dish Net: The receivers lock up fairly frequently, and periodic reboots are basically a required maintenance proceedure.

No RS232. No IR discretes. There used to be a work-around sequence for the power toggle ("system info" followed by 1 or 2 power toggles), but a recent software update has caused it to stop working reliably and we have had to update PRONTO programs at several existing jobs to correct the "new" sync problem.

There isn't enough power consumption to trigger a current sensor. The video out is always active, even in standby mode.

The SD/HD toggle is difficult to automate (but it can be done with light sensors, relays, & persistence).
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Sony: Discrete codes work pretty well. Smart cards actually "melt" periodically on some models. (We have been avoiding Sony because of the reliability issue, but maybe this has been corrected?)
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Hughes: I really like their menus and interface. IR power is toggle only as far as I know. Haven't tried any creative sync sensing yet. Haven't tried the HD model, but aparrantly there are discretes for SD/HD switching available at Remote Central.
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Mitsubishi: Old models were Hughes chassis, but there are no current models in the line-up.
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RCA: ?

Zenith: ?

Toshiba: ?

Samsung: ?

Other manufacturers?