I got this receiver with a Sony satellite dish at a discount price for new DIRECTV customers. I have thoroughly enjoyed the receiver and the DIRECTV and UltimateTV services that I get through it.

First of all, the UltimateTV service allows you to use such exciting features as pausing, rewinding, and instant replaying a live show and recording shows to the receiver's hard drive. To prevent an accidental channel change after a live program has been paused, rewinded, or is being recorded, the receiver displays a message telling
you that you either need to "Go Live" or "Stop Recording" (depending on the situation) before changing channels. Likewise, a message appears warning that the receiver is about to record a program or act on a reminder one minute before the scheduled time. It's also possible to
set up automatic recording with the press of a button (quite literally!). Or for those still recording to tape, it takes just a few steps and the included IR blaster (which sends signals from the receiver to a VCR and/or a cable box) to set up an automatic recording to the VCR. A convenient feature about automatic recording to the hard drive or a VCR is the fact that recording starts approximately two minutes before the show is scheduled to start and ends two minutes after the show ends (to allow for the overflow of a show). There is also an option to automatically extend the recording by a specified time. One of the most useful features is the automatic rescheduling of recordings if the start time for a show has changed. So, for example, if a show was initially set to record at midnight, and the broadcaster later rescheduled it for another time, the receiver will automatically make the adjustment.

Secondly, the basic UltimateTV service also includes 3 hours per month of access to MSN TV (formerly WebTV). Unlimited access is available for a few dollars more a month. A keyboard, which is useful for the MSN TV feature and for searching the program guide, is included. Top-rate technical support for both UltimateTV and MSN TV is available from one number. As with all other Microsoft support numbers, I have received quick, friendly, helpful, and professional service.

As for the receiver and its accessories, there is much to be complemented. The receiver is larger and heavier than other DIRECTV receivers (due to the fact that a hard drive is contained inside the Sony UltimateTV receiver), but is still rather unobtrusive in design. The remote is quite logical in setup and is rather easy to learn. (From previous experience with an RCA DIRECTV, non-UltimateTV,
receiver, I can easily say that the Sony remote has fewer problems switching between devices and is less cluttered than an RCA remote. Although, I have not personally used an RCA UltimateTV remote, I know that these remotes are designed very similarly to the RCA remote that I have used.) The keyboard is also very logical and includes features such as volume control, power buttons for the TV and receiver, and channel controls. There are also many other specially designed buttons. Caps lock is indicated by a small red dot on the bottom of the screen.

Finally, the free software upgrade that was released and automatically installed in April 2002 solved many of the technical and interface issues that had been brought to Microsoft's attention. These include improved response to the remote and keyboard, a history for events in My Shows, a disk-space indicator, additional ways to search the 14-day program listings, and a complete changeover to the new MSN TV interface (for the Internet features).

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 200