Fast, relatively to the Sony or Hughes equivalent

4 months from order to delivery

I moved and must have a DSS to pick up most TV. I found that the RCA was much faster than the Sony in a side by side click the button change station mode which was of importance to me. I'm a remote hog so I like flipping stations quickly.
I bought the 4280 from a WWW site and being a first time user of DSS, got mine with dish and rf remote for $139 plus shipping. I bought in Oct 1999 and received delivery in Jan 2000.

Value wise, 5 stars because I purchased for less than 1/2 retail.

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Cable TV???

On-screen guide, dolby digital.

Tuning, RCA customer service, tuning, no coax audio out, tuning, no componenent video out, tuning, tuning...

I really like the program guide on this RCA reciever... my older RCA reciever had the semi-transarent guide and this has the small opaque picture in the corner of the guide.

Unfortunately, being able to tune the stupid thing would be a definite plus. Don't get me wrong, it works... sometimes.. and please!!!! DON'T ASK ME WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE!!! I've beeen on the phone with RCA constantly for the last week trying to resolve this and all they can say is "has there been any bad weather?" or "it can't be the reciever"...

I assure you, it is the reciever. There are certain channels that I cannot tune to directly... I have to tune a couple of channels before them and then hit the channel-up button to get to them. I also still have the Phillips DSX5350, so I connected that one and called directTV to activate it for me and I have no problem with the Phillips tuner... unfortunaly, the guide on the Phillips receiver is is horrible and it has no ditial audio output.

Also, the channels that I can tune to are slow to be displayed.

I'm planning on returning the RCA and perhaps getting a Hughes... I've heard good things about it.

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Other RCA receivers, Phillips DSX5350

dolby digital potential, better menu options,

upgrade to sofware destroyed my system,does not decode all
dolby digital offered program

I am not new to DirecTV. I purchased my first system in November 1994 and was reasonably happy for the first three years. Then they started playing around with the channels, packages options, and local channels price increases and it goes on. I live in San Diego and recently they began offering local channels, but the catch is you have to buy a new antenna at 150 bucks and then a new receiver because you have to have directv plus so I bought the drd480re system. They have offered no "deals" here as of this date. Yes I asked but no deal. So all went fine until they wanted to send an upgrade to the system to offer an interactive feature. Following that system upgrade the receiver quit decoding and all I received was searching for signal. I checked the system and it checked ok, but no programming. A call to RCA and a tiring minute wait before a human answered and complaint got me a replacement (thank goodness I was within the three month window). The new receiver works ok, but I am not happy with the overall upgrade cost. I have had offers from Dish Network that are very appealing and if this gives me any more trouble I'm going to change. My opinion is that DirecTV has gotten so big they have lost perspective of who put them there-- John Q Public

Similar Products Used:

RCA first generation receivers, Dish system (daughter has one)

(Initial)picture quality, DD sound quality. User profiles

Pink shift on flesh tones, average navigation ergonomics

I too thought I was getting a good deal over the net on a state of the art system, and forgot to check HERE before I bought this thing. Of course, I have the below mentioned pink shift, really anoying when looking at faces. Dishdirect says it is my Sony tv and RCA 4280 combo that is causing this, and they are willing to swap it with a Hughes 45 system (??) or a Sony SAT-B50 for another $100, which got even lower points than this thing. If RCA/Thomson and Dishdirect know about this, then all of these units should be gathered together and used to make a reef in the Florida Keys. Any advice would be appreciated. Good price from the sellers, $99 + 11 s/h and a $50 rebate, but it won't do me any good. I am considering the Sony 'cause I have used an older one and it was great, fast menu's and easy to use remote.

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old dish network system

Program Guide (You can watch the current channel in a mini-window while browsing the guide), Dolby Digital, RF Remote

None Yet.

This unit has been nothing but good to me. The installation was simple. It took 20 minutes to install and start getting TV. Menu system is easy to navigate and quick. Picture quality seems to be fine..no different from the other models I have used/owned before. The remote RF function works well, as well as its ability to figure out what TV you have so you don't need to go though entering 10 or so remote codes.

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Older Sony and RCA models

ON SCREEN DISPLAY DOLBY DIGITAL

THE RF REMOTE DOES NOT WORK IN MOST OF THESE UNITS. IT IS A
PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE DRD4820'S

I AM A DSS INSTALLER AND HAVE INSTALLED HUNDRED'S OF UNITS.

ALMOST EVERYONE OF THESE MODELS HAS THIS PROBLEM OF THE REMOTE NOT WORKING ON RF..

I HAVE CALLED RCA FOR HELP BUT GOT NO ANSWER...

eazy to use, good picture, dual I/O's

cant find any

Had a sony for over a year now before getting the RCA. The sony A55 was a so so unit. I got very hot and almost melted my card. And the picture was not up to speed, so i got the rca and what a differance, The menue is alot eazyer and the picture is alot better to look at. The picture doesnt have what the sony had and that is a gray shadow in the back ground. Dolby digial output is great and the logo on the screen is better than the sony........very happy with the RCA.........enjoying moives more now

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sony

Hmm...if you only use analog its good.

Digital Sound Problems, Quirky Menus

If you dont care about digital sound this might be the one for you. I have not noticed the red tint problem that everyone else speaks of but what has ticked me off is that it continually hiccups whenever you try to watch a dolby digital channel like starz or ppv. Happens a lot when you first tune to the channel and then intermittently through the movie. DD5.1 is the only reason i upgraded so i am pretty miffed.

I give it 2 stars only because it works fine without dolby digital.

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Magnavox DSS

Quick and easy to use. Excellent picture and sound. Smaller size than previous models.

Digital output is only optical (which works fine). I'd also like to have a cabled bitstream option.

I bought this unit as a replacement for an older RCA DSS receiver when I added a DVD player and revised my bedroom's sound system to include DD 5.1. It has performed flawlessly. Some people seem to have problems with every brand and model of DSS receiver so perhaps it's partially a compatibility issue. I use this receiver with a 36" JVC into the S video jack and optical out into a Pioneer DD receiver. I honestly can't tell the difference between watching a movie on one of DirecTV's pay-per-view channels or on my DVD player. I must say the "i" (interactive TV) thing on some programs was driving me nuts until i figured out how to turn it off. I think the best way to choose a DSS receiver is to find the brands and models that have all the features you want, make a list starting with the one you think you like the best, and buy it from a source that has a "no questions asked return policy". If it works to your satisfaction with the rest of your equipment, then keep it. Otherwise, go to the next one on the list. There just seems to be a lot of variables that must match up to create the perfect DSS experience. If you still have cable, ditch it. DSS is well worth the extra effort.

Similar Products Used:

First and third generation RCA DSS recrivers.

Dolby Digital, VCR control

No favorites menu

This is actually a review of the DRD480RE. This is my first satellite receiver and I'm quite happy. Picture quality is excellent when using the s-video output and Dolby Digital seems to work fine (connected via optical cable). The unit also seems to work quickly -- in contrast to the Sony A55 which was my other choice.

There is also an infrared emitter that can be placed on a vcr to enable automatic recording. It works well with my JVC s-vhs recorder. I just push the "record program" menu choice and it's done with no programming or other hassles.

My only complaint is that there doesn't seem to be any way to set up a favorites menu for commonly viewed channels.

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none