I am a former D* subscriber who whet with Comcast a couple of years ago when D* was asking $900+ for the HD DVR. With the new HD channels on D* there is now a compelling reason to return to Directv. My install is scheduled for this Saturday. Hopefully someone can answer my question. I am planning to have 3 receivers, a DVR, a HD receiver and a thirdd receiver in my son's bedroom. I have a Sony SAT-HD200 receiver which I planned to use for the third receiver. Can this older Sony receiver pick up the new HD channels? Will a BBC on this receiver allow the newer mpeg4 channels to be received? I will be having the 5 LNB dish installed.

no the Sony won't get the new chs. you'll need the H20 at minimum.

HDntheCity is correct, the older receivers won't get the new HD channels and never will. Only the H20/H21 receivers and HR20/HR21 DVRs will get them.