Currently running a 5.1 configuration. How do I set the 990 to default to 5 channel stereo when viewing satellite tv? Tried a search. Any ideas on proper search terms to pull up useful threads?
Thanks

If satellite TV is providing a Dolby Digital 2.0 source (which is normally the case because it takes less bandwidth than uncompressed PCM stereo), then 5 Stereo will not be an option - 5 Stereo only works with analog or PCM digital sources. You may be able to change the satellite receiver to output PCM instead of Dolby Digital, in which case 5 Stereo would be an option offered by pressing the "STEREO" button on the remote a few times, but that will also deprive you of Dolby 5.1 from any HD stations (assuming the satellite box is HD-capable).

Gonk - makes sense.
STB is HD & set to output digital audio. When viewing SD channels, 5 channel stereo is available via the stereo button of the 990 remote. However, when the source is changed I must toggle stereo button again to get back to 5 channel, which I prefer over stereo, bypass or upsample.
What search terms do you think would pull this type topic up?

Have you also tried Pro Logic IIx with those stereo channels? If you still prefer 5 Stereo, then I'd suggest setting the STB on one of those channels, going into the 990's menu, going to the setup screen for that input, and setting the default surround mode to 5 Stereo.

As for good search terms, I'd probably have to start with "5 Stereo" because I'm not sure what might help filter more precisely than that.

To set default I simply select the mode & hit set, correct?

Correct, but the mode will only be listed as an available choice if it is a valid list for the signal being sent to that input at the time.