DirecTV reciever question??? (1 Viewer)

[Rachael B]

I recently got DirecTV for the first time. I'm definitely not experienced! I bought one of those specials down at Busted Buy. I got a Hughes DirecTivo which is right nice. I got a LMB dish that's hi-def capable and the weak sister in the deal was this nasty little black RCA reciever, it's a DRD430RGA. isn't that a lovely model #? It's got such a ring to it. I use if for my secondary tube set and I hate it. I could tolerate it but the bleeding guide fuction is pathetic. You press the navigation buttons and sometimes sit and wait a second or two or even 10-15 seconds for the on-screen menu items to actually move.

OK, the question is do most other stand-alone DirecTV recievers have guide menus that function better? Faster! I hope! I'm tempted to buy a better reciever, already! Thanks in advance!

 

[Grant B]

Hey Rachael, long time!
Some the GUIs really suck. I set up a few Mits HD for friends and didn't care for them. I really like Sonys menu. I have the HD100 (HD200 is out now) and a Sat A4 in Bedroom. Very fast menus (except if you have a TIVO hooked up) and fairly easy to follow.
Do you have 2 or 3 LNBs?
if there is a space in the middle, you have 2 and cant get Showtime HD. If you have ST you can get the LNB from Directv for around $8 if you install it your self...fairly easy unless you have it way high.
They quoted me around $300 for them to come do it.
Email me if you have any more questions if you want.
BTW I was going to send you those cds but I lost your mailing address when my HD crashed. Let me know again when you can

 

[Rachael B]

Grant, I have 3 LNB's. I left '3' out of a sentence in the original post. Grant I do have a Sony 2000 Tivo running with the RCA box. The RCA box has no serial control port so I have to use IR blasters. Do the Sony's have a port for serial control? Anybody else have an opinion about a good, modestly priced reciever?

P.S.- Grant I'll e-mail you soon.

 

[Grant B]

I have the same one but the sony xcvr does have a serial port.
I think part of the delay is the Tivo and not the RCA.
I have it hooked into the bedroom system since it cant do HD and I am not fond of it's delay or picture degradation.
I believe my HD 100 has a serial port too

 

[Rachael B]

Grant, I bypass the Tivo when I use the guide feature, to look at the guide, not to change the channel. That's the only thing I do with the clumsy remote that came with the RCA. I'm gonna look around and see if I can find a last year's model Sony, maybe? Every place I've looked so far just offers the $800 hi-def one. I'm thinking that may be the only current model...? Sony seems to have shrunk it's lines in many categories lately. Have you used Hughes? Recuerdos mi amigo!

 

[TomCW]

Rachel,
I have an older Hughes DTV receiver, not hdtv, and the GUI is very good, it's fast, makes sense and is easy to use.
Don't get a Sony A65 (I think it's non HDTV anyway), as it has a severe overheat problem.
Tom