A Mini-Dish That Serves Up A Full Plate Of Programming: RCA DS4280RE
Written: Mar 08 '03
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Pros: Dual output for multiple receiver connections; 32 bit processor; Dolby Digital sound
Cons: Cost of monthly programming
The Bottom Line: Need a satellite system where you can have multiple receivers, each able to receive it's own separate programming? Then check out this RCA system~
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| JDinPA's Full Review: RCA DS4280RE DIRECTV System Dual LNB |
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a review of the EchoStar Digital Satellite system that the Dish Network uses. In that review you got to know how we have a big dish on a pole and a digital dish in a tree some 250' from our house. We changed from the EchoStar to the RCA Digital DS4280RE and Direct TV for one programming difference ~ Center Ice was only available through Direct TV. That small programming difference (though a huge "gotta have it if I'm going to live" difference if you ask my husband) was all it took to change from the EchoStar to the RCA.
If you are interested in reading about the EchoStar and how it performed please go to my review, "Oh Give Me A Home, Where My Satellite . . . Oops! Wrong Song!" ~ hopefully you'll get a few laughs over our dish in the tree experience. The link to that review is:
http://www.epinions.com/content_85478248068
The RCA DS4280RE (it would be nice if all the RCA models had a name ~ they all have this long string of letters and numbers that do little to endear you to any model. The EchoStar is a great name, the DS4280RE is not) is an 18" mini-digital dish that is a light gray in color. It fairly easily blends into the scene so that it does not stick out like a sore thumb. The dish and the receiver together weigh about 18 pounds, but the majority of the weight is all in the dish. Be sure to follow the installation directions to make sure you secure the dish holding bracket to a solid surface.
The mounting /install package comes with a hardware packet for attaching the dish and mast to the mounting foot, but you will need to provide the hardware that will attach the assembled dish & mount to your house/railing/pole or whatever you will be placing the dish. The dish does come unassembled in the box and you will need some tools to complete the job, so before you start pulling everything out of the box, go over what materials and supplies you will need and have them on hand.
This RCA model has a 32 bit processor that allows immediate access to where you want to go. It is very fast and there is no noticeable lag time between the time to punch in the channel number and when the channel appears on your TV. As soon as you punch in the channel (a three digit number for all channels) you will see in a "transparent" banner on the top of the screen basic program details such as name of show, time it started and when it will end.
If you want more indepth information it is just a touch of the remote control button away! Indepth program information will give you a rating, a summary of that show's or movie's story, the main actors, running time, start/end time, and varying other specific information that will help you decide whether you want to watch that show or not. If you are scanning the guide to see what is on later on in the day, or right then, as you move along using your arrows on the remote control the shows you pass over are "highlighted" with program information shown on a banner along the top of your TV screen. This certainly saves time in making those quick decisions to look further or to move on. The information on the banner automatically changes as you move your way throughout the guide.
The RCA DS4280RE has Dolby Digital Sound capability with 6 independent sound track channels that run through an optical output jack. If you have a sound system that is also capable of Dolby Sound, you can hook up the receiver to a 6-channel amplifier and speakers. If you have not heard a set up like this go to your local electronics store where they have "sound rooms" set up where you can experience how it can sound for you. You will never go back to just plain old TV speaker sound after hooking up to your sound system.
One nice thing is that this RCA model has dual outputs for connecting multiple receivers. There are only 2 RCA models that I know about that allow you to do this ~ this model and the DS2232RD. What this means is that you can have TV's in different rooms and you can be watching different shows at the same time, with only 1 dish receiving the satellite information. When you want to watch what no-one else wants to see, now you can all be happy at the same time!! The model RCA DRD420RE has a 2nd room receiver that comes with it's own remote. The receiver itself comes with 2 sets of audio and video outputs and a phone jack connector.
The RCA DS4280RE has an 8-event scheduler that allows you to program your receiver to turn on and off at set times. This model will also tune itself to the channel you want to record. This works very well, and the only time it is an annoyance is if it was programmed, you didn't know it and was in the middle of watching a show, and wham the channel changes and the VCR starts recording!!! lol But of course if you have the system hooked up to another TV, then you can change rooms and continue watching your program!
Most new units anymore have parental control locks and this receiver is no exception. You can set the rating allowed, set spending limits (on pay per view events), and even set specific times during the week or weekends when you can watch TV at all.
Software upgrades are quick and easy via the satellite. If the programmer (Direct TV) has announcements of news that apply to you, there will be a small flashing envelope icon as well as a flashing power light button on the receiver to alert you to a message.
This unit normally sells for $299, (plus a 2nd receiver at $99+) but Circuit City was having a "special" where we got the RCA DS4280RE (dish and receiver), a second room receiver, 2 universal remote controls, and an installation package for $199 total. That really was a fantastic deal and needless to say we left the store with our RCA in tow!~ So, do check around for special deals, and check out the on-line auctions for reduced prices.
If you are interested in checking out the digital satellite products by RCA, check out their website at www.rca.com ~ They now have a satellite receiver that is for enhanced performance (to go with the enhanced performance TV's and DVD systems out there now) ~ oh, boy, I guess that one's going on my husband's upgrade list now~~~He's just got to have those toys you know!~!! lol
Programming costs vary widely with the number of channels, pay-per-view movies you may watch in a month, premium movie channels, sports channel packages and the like. Programming like "Center Ice" runs for about $125 a year which is usually added on in 4 "easy" installments on your programming bill. You can also add "Sunday Ticket" for reception of all the professional football games. Don't forget the Wrestle-Mania special events, Boxing events, and the list goes on and on with what you may want to pay to watch. You may end up paying $35 a month to over a $100 a month ~ check those package deals carefully and only subscribe for what you will really be enjoying and watching. The use of the 2nd receiver will also add an additional $5+ dollars a month onto your bill.
Thanks for reading ~ Judy
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199
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JDinPA
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Member: ~*~ Judy ~*~
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