Sales Rank: 9446


Features:

Digital MPEG-2 compression provides a sharp, clear, analog-converted picture

Watch 2 shows at once with picture-in-picture

Pause or view instant replays of live TV shows; dual-LNB satellite antenna dish included

Includes multifunction remote control

Average Rating:
Rating: - DESPITE the HYPE: Technically superior to digital cable!
I've been a DirecTV subscriber since 1995, using the same RCA system (first generation) before I upgraded to this system. I also have digital cable in our bedroom, though I will soon remove it and add an additional receiver.

The reason I upgraded it complicated, but let's discuss why this is a great system to have compared to digital cable:

1) Broadcast satellite technology is hands down faster than digital cable. The simple act of changing the channel functions faster with a DSS unit (my signal strength is about 86).

- Digital cable seems to lag between every channel change and sometimes gets downright bogged down.

2) The onscreen guide for DirecTV lets you look furthur into the scheduling future with more accuracy.

- several times in the recent past we have turned on a channel because of the digital cable online guide and a different show was on. This happens from time to time with DirecTV, but with much less frequency

3) There are more channels on DirecTV, including a better selection of music. We often tune the television to one of the theme music channels while we clean house.

- sometimes on digital cable the music channels were garbled.

- The online guide on DirecTV shows the music channels, digital cable omits them

4) The original RCA DSS unit was the fastest selling consumer electronics item in history. After selling millions of units, many companies are now supporting this technology and pushing the technological curve forward. You can look at upgrading in these directions with DSS (and not digital cable):

- Tivo : There are several units out there that work directly with your DirecTV to let you record one show and watch another one.

- Integrated televisions: RCA sells a big screen television that has a built in DSS receiver. No additional boxes, and it tunes itself.

5) More pay per views with a wider selection

In digital cable's defense, DirecTV is slightly more expensive and my DirecTV unit has more outages than my local cable, but not many more. One noticable difference is that I always seems to lose at least one local channel on cable during a rainstorm, as opposed to losing all of my DirecTV channels during the peak of the storm. In the years I have had my unit, I would be able to say this happens to me four times a year.

After you get a dish installed, you can disconnect the main coaxial drop from your cable company and use the same coaxial to transmit the encoded signal to your individual units.

Why did I upgrade to this unit?

Because I had my card 'zapped' and lost contact with the person who did it. My access card died and it was cheaper to turn the account off, wait a few months and then buy a whole new system.

DirecTV has been plagued with these pirate access cards and has really stepped up security against them. I advise you not to let anyone manipulate any data on your access card because DirecTV can electronically turn them off and the card pirates themselves can permamently damage the cards.

You really can't get something for nothing, or at least not forever.

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Rating: - Great System
I purchased the Directv system and had it installed within 3 days after receiving it. The folks in Shreveport LA who performed the installation called me to set up date and time for installation. The guess the service all depends on the local installation company.
By the way, it is not hard at all to install yourself. I will to it myself if I ever have to.
The system is a great beginner system, however, I also purchased a Panasonic 49" HDTV wide screen TV thinking I would get some HDTV signals, but of course this receiver doesn't support HDTV. If you want to receive HDTV you will need to do some research and spend more on a receiver that supports it.
Overall, the system is great and I love the NFL package. I will never go back to cable again. It is easy to use and there are simply to many channels to choose. I am using the S-Video connections and the picture is great. The HDTV receivers are around $500-$600 until I find a good deal on the average price for one I will live with what I got. IMHO there is not enough HDTV broadcasters yet.

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Rating: - PRETTY GOOD
I HAVE HAD DIGITAL CABLE FOR A WHILE NOW. THE REASON FOR THE SWITCH WAS STRICTLY PRICE. IT SEEMS EVERY YEAR CABLE RAISES THE PRICE JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK AND I GOT TIRED OF IT. THE SATELLITE IS PRETTY COOL. FIRST ALL OF THE CHANNELS ARE DIGITAL AS COMPARED TO MY OLD CABLE WITCH IS HALF DIGITAL AND HALF ANALOG.MY ONE BIG DRAWBACK IS THE FACT THAT RAIN AND SNOW KNOCK IT OUT SO EASILY. IT DOESNT TAKE A STORM AT ITS PEAK TO KNOCK IT OUT,IT JUST TAKES A MODERATE RAIN STORM. AND WHEN THEY GO THEY ARE GONE(MY SIGNAL STRENGTH IS 85 OR SO...). WITH ALL THE CHANNELS KNOCKED OUT YOU HAVE TO RELY ON YOU OUSIDE ROOFTOP ANTENNA TO WATCH TV AND THATS PRETTY DRAB BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY FOUR CHOICES OR SO. WHY THE DISH IS SO VERNERABLE TO RAIN FADE IS ODD. IT DOESNT HAPPEN EVERY DAY BUT IT HAS HAPPEND (3) TIMES THIS MONTH ALONE. CABLE HARDLY EVER WENT OUT AT MY HOUSE. THE SYSTEM PREFORMS WELL FOR WHAT IT DOES AND THE PICTURE IS GREAT. IF ONLY IT NEVER RAINED OR SNOWED!