No More Missed Programs!
Written: Feb 25 '02 (Updated Feb 25 '02)
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Pros: Picture-in-picture, simultaneous view and record, easy to program recordings
Cons: WebTV a nuisance unless you need it
The Bottom Line: Reasonably priced, but be prepared to pay higher subscription fees. Highly recommended if you prefer UltimateTV over TiVo.
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| erazo's Full Review: RCA DWD490RE DIRECTV with UltimateTV |
My wife and I are discriminating TV viewers, but our schedule required us to use our VCR to watch our favorite programs. However, when we switched from cable to DirecTV, our VCR+ features were no longer usable, and we had to go back to manual recording of shows, which means leaving the VCR tuned to the satellite receiver, etc.
So we decided to get a digital video recorder (DVR) integrated into a satellite receiver. We hade two systems to choose from under our DirecTV subscription: UltimateTV (by Microsoft) and TiVo (by TiVo). Either one would cost us and extra $10/month in subscription fees. We chose UltimateTV because it currently is the only system which allows simultaneous recording of two programs, or simultaneous recording of one and live viewieng of another, or simultaneous viewing of two programs using Picture-In-Picture (PIP). TiVo does not currently have this feature, which incidentally requires a dual-LNB dish. (With a single LNB, you can still use PIP to view a live program and a recorded program simultaneously, but why would you want to do that?)
For DVR receivers, we had three models to choose from: RCA DWD490RE, RCA DWD495RE, and Sony SAT-W60. Well, the RCA DWD490RE offered a $100 rebate (in January '02) so the selection was easy.
The UltimateTV functionality of the three receivers is identical. Undoubtedly the specs and prices are slightly different, but I'll leave you to look them up while I focus my review on this unit only.
I also purchased the optional RCA Wireless WebTV keyboard ($50) because I am a computer professional and I hate handheld remotes. More on the keyboard later.
The unit is exceptionally easy to install, and if you're a new subscriber, DirecTV will probably install it for you. I just took out my cheap Panasonic satellite receiver end replaced it with the RCA. The Setup Guide is excellent. It gives clear, step-by-step instructions and diagrams for a "typical" TV/VCR setup, but doesn't cover the very common situation of an audio/video multi-channel receiver component system. But if you have one of those, you probably already know how to hook it up.
The RCA receiver has a lot more connections than your vanilla satellite receiver: S-Video, RCA audio/video (2 input banks and one output), and digital audio output. And for the WebTV functionality (but not required), a dual USB port and a printer port (I can't attest to how well these work since I don't use them).
I give the system the highest marks for video and audio quality, simply because our own eyes and ears haven't detected any flaws.
For our primary purpose, the receiver is a quantum improvement over conventional VCR recording, even VCR+. It actually makes VCR recording obsolete, while conserving a capability to make tape recordings for those special situations where you want to archive a program on video cassette. In these cases, you program the receiver, not your VCR, and the receiver controls the VCR via a tiny IR transmitter stuck to the front panel of the VCR over the IR sensor. All of the fancy features your VCR had (and you probably hadn't even figured out how to use) are now useless, as the UltimateTV receiver can only be programmed to start and stop it. (So you are free to put electrical tape over that flashing "12:00".)
One of the fancy features your VCR may have which you'll need to disable is the auto off. Like I said, the receiver is only able to start and stop the VCR, not turn it on. You have to leave the VCR on to be able to record an UltimateTV program, and if it turns itself off, the receiver can't start the recording. This is counterintuitive, since recording through my Panasonic VCR alone (no DVR), required the VCR to be left off after scheduling.
This DVR isn't smart enough to skip commercials like my VCR can (perhaps others are), but I don't care since it has a nifty skip button that instantly skips forward 30 seconds.
The on-screen menus are very clear and exceedingly simple to use, but this is UltimateTV working for you, not the receiver. The recording options are very powerful and versatile. You simply have to get used to navigating through all of the menus, such as Advanced Program Guide, Favorites (your custom program guides), My Shows (your recordings), and the really cool Search feature. All you have to do is find the program you want and press the record button once for one-time recording or twice for weekly recording. Even my dog can do it (I suspect he's the one who's been scheduling all the Animal Planet programs). Go to the DirecTV web site to learn about UltimateTV features. (Or read the brochure they probably already sent you. Just be aware that contrary to the brochure, you CAN'T view two RECORDED programs at the same time.)
I can't help but comment on WebTV, even though its problems are not related to this receiver, but to UltimateTV. Unless you don't already have internet service, and you want to get started through WebTV, don't even bother checking out WebTV. If you do, you'll hate it. It's excruciatingly slow; it ties up your phone line; and the web browser (specially designed for TV viewing) is awful. Of course, UltimateTV subscribers get two hours of free connection per month. (You'll need it if you want to do Interactive TV.) But this can be eaten up pretty quickly if it connects itself without your intending to (this happened to me a couple of times, but maybe the dog did it), and runs in the background (look for the little yellow LED on the receiver to be on). And once you're connected (or trying to connect), it's very difficult to disconnect - first it has to complete the connection and log on and then you have to navigate to the "hang up" button and click it. There's no "hang up" button on the keyboard, so I found it much easier to just pick up the telephone to disconnect.
An internet interface such as WebTV (now MSNTV) can't possibly succeed with these handicaps. I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase hardware just to get WebTV connection. But I really like UltimateTV, the reason I bought this receiver, so I'll stop talking about WebTV and go back to the receiver.
The handheld remote control is just OK. I was able to program it to control only my Panasonic VCR (basic functions only) and TV (it's also an RCA). I was unable to get it to operate either my Panasonic DVD player or my Pioneer multi-channel receiver. I realize that these units have far too many functions for even a universal remote to handle. But it would be nice to be able to adjust the audio receiver volume. (Did I mention that I hate hand-held remotes? They're room-cluttering battery gluttons that try unsuccessfully to cram too many functions into too few keys.)
I had hopes for the optional wireless keyboard, but they weren't met, though I still prefer the keyboard over the remote. The receiver provides audible feedback over the speakers when it receives a command (valid or invalid), reminding you to just be patient, as each command takes a couple of seconds to be carried out (slow, but not intolerably so). I like this feedback, because the receiver could easily be in the wrong mode to accept keyboard commands. But the keyboard can't be programmed to control my audio receiver either.
The keyboard has a WEBTV button as well as a TV-WEB button, side-by-side. The WEBTV button turns on the receiver and tells the keyboard to control the receiver (so why is it labeled WEBTV instead of RCVR?). And the TV-WEB button switches viewing mode between TV and Web. I frequently press the wrong button and find my receiver trying to establish an internet connection over the phone line. Then I have to off-hook my phone to cancel.
At least two shortcut functions are not shared between the keyboard and the remote. The keyboard has a FAVS key, a shortcut to your custom program guides. The remote has no such shortcut, but it does have a PIP button, for controlling Picture-In-Picture (a cool feature). If the keyboard can control PIP, I wish someone would show me.
I did have one problem after installation that required phone calls to DirecTV and UltimateTV technical support to resolve. I was unable to receive a number of subscribed channels. The UltimateTV support person said the fault was with DirecTV. The DirecTV support person, after we verified that the satellite signal strength was satisfactory, put the fault back on UltimateTV. The last UltimateTV person I talked to finally found out that the receiver had not yet accepted the software upgrade downlink. All I had to do was leave the receiver on for 24 hours and wait for the next automatic upgrade. Success.
I can't comment on durability since I haven't had a hardware problem. But the DVR's storage medium is a hard disk drive, no different from computer hard drives, and we all know what that means. If you turn the DVR off, it will turn itself back on to record a scheduled program. I don't know (and doubt) whether the DVR drive goes into a power-saving standby mode after a period of inactivity.
Some day the technology (or FCC regulations) will allow seamless integration of broadband internet with satellite TV. I am still waiting for that day.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 170
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Epinions.com ID:
erazo
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Member: Rick Erazo
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 9 members
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