Forget DirecTV- $550 brings air-broadcast digital television
Written: Nov 14 '00 (Updated Nov 29 '00)
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Pros: HDTV, Inexpensive
Cons: Might not work with any HD-Ready TV
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| romanval's Full Review: RCA DTC100 DIRECTV System |
Although it's listed here as a satellite receiver, I bought the DTC100 just to receive digital television broadcasts from regular off-the-air (OTA) television antenna. I don't have a DirecTV subscription and have no desire for it at the moment. (In my opinion, this device should be in a separate catagory - "HDTV receiver/set top box")
Briefly described, the DTC100 is a set-top box that receives digital television broadcasts from an ordinary UHF/VHF antenna (or DirecTV dish) and outputs it either by 15-pin VGA (RGB) or composite/SVHS output.
Only the VGA output can produce a high definition picture (you'll have to buy a converter if your HD-ready television only accepts component video inputs - around $100) the composite/SVHS output are for regular old (analog) televisions.
There are also stereo audio outputs and an optical output for dolby digital 5.1 audio.
I bought my DTC in June 2000 for $650. (It has since dropped $100). It worked right off the bat with my 17" computer monitor and an indoor TV antenna. The picture quality from HD broadcasts are phenomenal. I got most digital channels from the indoor antenna, but I got a few more when installed an outdoor antenna. (Here in Los Angeles, we have about 9 stations transmitting digital TV). I got tired of using my small computer monitor and bought a 29" Monivision SVGA presentation monitor. (I'm waiting for the price of 16:9 HD-ready TV's to come down to something reasonable). It works wonderfully.
The DTC100 will also recieve analog television broadcasts and de-interlaces it into a 540p image. This makes the image a little softer, but it'll eliminate the "scan-line" look of analog television. (HD-ready TVs that have their own line-doubler are inherently better at doing this; if that's the case, you may want to use the television's tuner when viewing analog broadcasts.)
Some cavets:
The DTC100 is not for every HD-ready TV. It has a non-standard retrace timing that can cause some distortion on some monitors. The basic solution to this problem is to adjust the TV by using it's service menu (or the geometry adjustment if it's a computer monitor). This might be beyond the scope of the average consumer's ability; and indeed there are certain HDTV sets that are incapable of such adjustments; so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of DTC returns were from such reasons. I've heard that RCA is working on this issue and will have it remedied by early 2001.
The DTC also does not output 720p resolution; it up-converts such resolutions to 1080i for output. This isn't too bad a deal, since most affordable HD-ready televisions can't display 720p anyway. It's also a subjunctive matter whether 720p looks better then 1080i. Either way, both resolutions make ordinary TV look pale in comparison.
For OTA use, the DTC works best with an outdoor antenna. If you're put off by installing an antenna or if your location doesn't allow it (you live in a home owners association that frowns on visible antennas, etc), you'll have to make up your mind on this. Be aware that there are federal laws that assert your right to install an antenna for television reception regardless of the rules of your HOA.
Finally, there isn't a whole lot of high definition (HD) programming, but it's getting better. Basically, there's the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, much of the CBS prime-time, some PBS specials, and a few programs that are not HD but are in widescreen format (recent FOX programs). Non-HD programs that are digitally transferred are have a quality similar to DVD's. HD programs look even better.
Personally, the lack of HD material isn't much of an issue for me. Just being free of analog channels and all of its ghosting, color shifting, and noisy interference is worth it. You're getting the broadcaster's intended sound and image, not some half-baked carbon copy of it. A program shown in HD is just an added bonus.
If you spent over $3000+ for a HD ready TV, you owe it to yourself to try a DTC100. It's the only game in town as far as HDTV set top boxs go-- other manufacturers have announced their own but have not delivered... Meanwhile, RCA's offering at $550 is an unbeatable bargain.
*** Update 11/29/00 ***
I have found out that RCA has fixed the retrace timing on the DTC100's by updating the firmware: This makes the DTC100 a viable set-top box for nearly all HD-ready TV's! The only catch is that the update is only delivered via satellite-- those that have DirecTV will get it automatically. Those that don't have a subscription can take it to a friend who has a DirecTV dish and leave it plugged in overnight. A DirecTV subscription is not required to download the firmware. All it needs is a connection to a DirecTV dish (any dish, even the cheap 18" round one) that is pointed at the 101 satellite.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 650
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Epinions.com ID:
romanval
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Reviews written: 2
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