Sony SAT B50 Satellite TV Receiver

Pros: A good variety of channels lots of pay per view
Cons: Bad service, uncaring customer service.

I was using Prime Star Satellite. We did not buy but rented, this way they were responsible for the equipment. For the last year or so all I heard on PrimeStar was Directv had bought the company or merged. Everyone would be contacted to have the...

Pros: Great product with Sony quality
Cons: There wasn't a complete kit with receiver and dish when I was in the market

It started about a year ago, I began noticing these new toys (mini dishes) pop up on poles in the back yards, or on the side of my neighbor’s houses. At first I thought nothing of them, until I was invited to a friends house. I noticed he had...

Pros: Fast response, Ease of use, Portability, Reliability
Cons: Price higher than what we paid, DirecTV can sometimes offer poor customer service

This review is not about DirecTV itself, but about the Sony SAT-B50 receiver that delivers the DirecTV programming. We have subscribed to mini-dish satellite programming since it was first introduced, in 1994. We were one of the first in line at our...

Pros: picture quality and sound
Cons: cost more than cable to install

Satellite T.V. is a big improvement over cable television. The picture clarity and sound quality is much better than cable. The programming choices are outstanding compared to traditional cable broadcasters.

I have had a dish for about 5...

Pros: Great Quality Signal/Great User Interface
Cons: Flaky Timer-Record Functions/Remote support of Mitsu VCR's

I recently bought a Sony DirecTV dual receiver system with one A-50 and one B-50. I feel the signal quality to be excellent, and the variety of ways to view content and navigate the large number of channels to be superb.

DirecTV quality is SO...

Pros: Great station variety, good reliability.
Cons: Takes a while to set up the dish outside, the customer service agency is very slow.

Sony has yet again blessed the world with this high class Satellite television unit. I don't even think about cable anymore. With over 500 channels, I have no thought about the 50 or 60 channel cable boxes anymore.

I have had cable in the...

Pros: Sony name, a few bells and whistles
Cons: Nothing special over the other receivers.. and in some cases, worse!

A lot of people seem to go after Sony just for the brand name. Why they would do this with a DirecTV receiver I do not know. DirecTV is a great option for certain people. It's great for people who can't get cable, or who are paying outrageous fees for...

Pros: Enjoy your time with family and friends
Cons: none

I purchased the Sony Sat-B50 because in 1998 I became disabled, and had to do something to keep from going crazy. as it turned out it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! It has kept me extremely informed on anything I was interested in, and,...

Pros: Numbers on the remote control haven't faded off...yippee. The menu system easy to navigate.
Cons: Poorly designed channel guide. Guide takes frequent breaks to update its info. Slow tuner.

This review is for the Sony Sat-B50 receiver (not DirecTv customer service or picture quality - which I feel are adequate). Several months ago we changed from the Hughes Director Pack receiver to this Sony receiver and there's no comparison in which one ...