Phillips Satellite DirecTV~Brings The Moon and Stars, The Best of TV Into Your Home
Written: Feb 22 '04 (Updated Apr 24 '04)
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Pros: Enhanced viewing options, you almost have too many channels to choose from!
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Great options, wonderful variety of programming, picture better then I ever thought.
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| ifif1938's Full Review: Philips DSX 5500C Satellite TV receiver |
Well, I’ve decided to bite the bullet and write another electronics review, this time about the receiver and DirecTV Satellite system we’ve recently installed to give us more options in our daily television viewing. Actually we had this system installed a month or so before purchasing our new Panasonic HDTV television. It even worked well with the old set even though it was in the act of fading away into TV la la land.
When the prices for our cable system went up again we decided to check around to see just what a DirecTV satellite system would cost, then, in that days mail, we received an offer that sounded almost too good to pass up. So, I called the number in the ad and spoke to a very friendly and obliging person. He quoted us a price for monthly service that was less than we were paying for cable which included the receiver, free installation and free HBO package for 3 months, which included local programming (I had heard that local programming was extra).. This price was $39.99 a month. I asked them if it was possible to watch different programs in different rooms since that was very important to us and they assured us the answer was yes..You just pay $5.00 a month for an extra receiver… I wanted the Showtime package as well so another $11.00 was tacked on to the price.. Now our total cost was up to $55.99, plus tax. Still Less then we were paying for cable, before they were to raised the prices.
I was surprised that the equipment was included also since I’ve seen receivers and satellite systems advertised for sale in many newspaper ads for Circuit City, Best Buys and others... It turns out that this is the way they get you to buy that equipment...You actually are leasing the receivers and dish but at the end of the year, when your contract is up, the equipment is yours. You do have to sign a contract, which says you are responsible for paying for the equipment even if you cancel service.
The next day, the installers were there..I couldn’t believe it, one day! And, they were here the time they said they would be! They installed the satellite on the roof, hooked up both sets to the receivers along with our DVD player, VCR’s and the surround sound on the living room set, all within 2 hours time...When we called to activate the receivers I was given another option that included all the movie packages, besides HBO... Showtime, Starz, Encore, Cinemax and the sports package which included the NFL Sunday ticket for 12 dollars more then the original offer and it was for 4 months instead of 3...This was an offer we couldn’t refuse. Actually, it was less since we didn’t have to pay for the other packages, at least for the first 4 months. All this and it was still less then cable.
So what did we get? The DirecTV receiver in this package is the Philips, DSX5500. A sleek little black unit which offers so much for such a small package....It is the control hub for all the other video and audio equipment you may already own and was easily connected with our existing cables. The only difference was the phone line they wanted to connect. I asked if it was really necessary since we already had a split phone line in use due to our DSL connection...the answer was no, the only reason for that was to order pay per view movies but we also have the option to order movies on line so it wasn’t necessary to use that phone connection.
For those interested in the package contents, if you are planning on installing the system yourself, the unit comes with user manual, power supply cord, phone cord, RF Coaxial cable, RCA type Audio/ Video connecting cable, S-Video connecting cable, Telephone Cord, Access card, and the Infrared Universal Remote control with 2 AA batteries..and of course, the Satellite direct TV dish…. You will need a ladder to climb on the roof if you install the dish up there!
The remote is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to use.. A perfect size for any hand including my small hand and perfect for my husbands hand which is a bit on the larger side…At the top are the all important switches that change your viewing options from Satellite to TV which you do have to change whenever shutting off the TV or putting it on..If it’s left in the TV mode, which you have to hit to shut the TV, you will not be able to view the Satellite channels until you switch back but, after a while, you do get used to that and besides, whenever you hit either of those buttons a red light comes on so you know which one is activated.
The front panel of the unit itself does have menu buttons for on and off power with arrow buttons to navigate through the quide and channels if you choose not to use your remote or temporarily misplace it.
The rear panel has the all important card access, the receiver ID number, AC power input, phone jack, Dolby digital outputs, antenna input (if you wish to connect to an off satellite antenna or analog cable system), TV/VCR output, S-Video Output, and Component Video Output and the Sat In, which connects the coaxial cable from the satellite dish antenna. The instruction manual gives all the information you need for anyone installing it themselves.
Now for the satellite service itself....I do not know how we lived without it for so long, not only is the picture sharp and crisp but the sound seems even better then with cable. The viewing options are endless especially with all the many movie channels. I find there is always a movie on that I wish to see whenever I’m searching for one...When you search using the remote there is a feature I just love, you can do a search, as if on a computer, just by choosing a key word on one of the programs the remote offers. For instance, if you are looking for a mystery, just find that option and it tells you which mysteries are playing on which channel and when...You can then hit a button that will remind you when that movie will be on. This is called the Advanced Program Guide and can be programmed for up to 3 ˝ days. You can search by actor, director, title and category...This remind button also works when you are channel surfing...for example, suppose it’s 5 minutes to 8 and you want to see what’s playing at 8 oclock, after looking at all the 8 o’clock shows and nothing interests you, you then decide you want to see what is on at 9 oclock, you just press the little button that highlights the next time frame you are interested in, then, you can see all the programming for that hour or the next half hour or whatever time you wish. If you see something that you want to see you just hit the correct button and an option opens asking if you want to be reminded of that program, hit yes and when the show is about to start your reminder comes on the screen..you then have the option to ignore the reminder or let the receiver switch stations for you...I find this very handy and have recently just discovered it.
There are many options on the remote, basically it does everything any remote can do and more. There is a handy back button that takes you back to the show you were watching if you changed channels, but, it will only go back to the last channel that was on...there is the all important Guide button which gives you all the programming for the time you are watching, if you find a show you want to watch you just hit Ok, with the Ok button and it takes you to that channel. This is where you can program a future show as I wrote about earlier.. If you want you can just hit the channel numbers you wishto watch on the number panel.
With the Pay Per View EZ Search you can conveniently view all your PPV options quickly and alphabetically with another button on the remote.
Another great feature is called the Picture-in-guide which allows you to watch and listen to the show you are watching on a smaller scale in the upper left corner while viewing the guide, so you don’t miss any of that show while searching to see what is on next or at the same time...sort of like a picture in picture.
There is also parental control but I haven’t needed that so I can't really write about how it’s used.
All in all, we have been very pleased with this Phillips receiver and DirecTV satellite system. It has extremely enhanced our viewing pleasure with so many options and programs, at a lower cost then we were paying for our cable system and when the "special deal" we have is up next month I have already picked the plan we will be using. Without sacrificing any of the movie channels it still will be less than cable, but just a few cents, with so much more to offer... I recommend this system to anyone and everyone who has thought about switching over.
I think I'm going to go watch a movie now..I'm sure there will something on that will interest me..:)
My review of our new Panasonic Televison if you are interested in a great HDTV
http://www.epinions.com/content_125629861508
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 70.00 month
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