Price Paid:  $99.00 from best buy

Summary:
this is for the DRD 486 RH, as they don`t have it listed yet,as of 4/25/03 these can be found on the top storage shelf at best buy,aperently they won`t put them on the shelf until they sell off the rest of there crappy recievers,these have to be the worst pieces of electronics i`ve ever seen in my entire life,i do like the menu system (easy) and faster menu than previous, this model has component vidio + all the other features (DD) (call id) (optical)cust service is useless plus you have to pay for the call,i swear!!its like they just don`t care,this is my 5th unit in 2 months the sales guy`s at best buy frown when they see me coming, oh well, yes i did try another brand,the (hughes)didn`t like the menu, + $30 bucks more. still have three weeks to decide,or wait for next model.they seem to be improving a little,the higher the model.this reciever is much better

Strengths:
menu system is easy,optical,component video,call id,dolby digital,suggestions,2 sets audio video,RF remote,catagory guide

Weaknesses:
not enough room,but i`ll bore you,suggestion menu doesn`t fully load only goes up to D?,bit rate sent for (DD) is low so surrounds have to be cranked, very sharp and loud audio spikes when changing chanels,this will ruin a good speaker,which they won`t replace!!customer service goes by the owners manual wich you already have!!scout finds movies that aren`t there,(remind me)goes to channel two mins after program starts,turns off when it want`s to,suggestion list tells you of movies that are on channels you don`t subscibe to, can`t get record a program to work properly,owners manual is lacking info,they should be ashamed,a hundred bucks is rediculous,they should find another manufacturer,thompson su--s.

Similar Products Used:
DRD420 (good unit)DRD430(bad)DRD450(bad)DRD485(bad)DRD486rh (better)

Price Paid:  $169.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Quality control for RCA is the WORST. The first unit I bought started screwing up after 10 days. The picture would get choppy, starting and stopping, and then the audio went out a day later. I had to toggle channel up/down to get the audio to come back or lock. I took it back to Best Buy where they swapped it out for another unit. The second one worked about 2 weeks and then the picture went out all together with a message that read "searching for satellite signal". Meanwhile my el cheapo Phillips was working like a champ in he other room. Swapped them out and verified it was the box. Unhooked this one and took the thing back to BestBuy AGAIN! This time I got a Sony! So far I can say the Sony is far superior in scrolling speed through the menus and channels and seems to do a better job of MPEG decoding. I noticed the RCA, when working, had a "background shift" to it - an unstable picture, especially when watching football or something else with a non-moving background! I've had the Sony 2 days now and am holding my breath on this one. I guess I was lucky that the first 2 units went out as soon as the did! Thank God for small favors!

Strengths:
features - caller ID, Dolby Digital

Weaknesses:
Reliability!!!! SLOW to access/scroll through menus and change channels. Cheap remote!

Similar Products Used:
Sony (? model #) - the one with similar features to this. Also a Hughes basic model in another room.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from dss4u.com

Summary:
My experience with the RE 4820 has been positive. The unit has worked reliably on a daily basis for about a year now. I can''t brag about the remote though since mine broke after a couple of months. I called GE and when finally connecting to a live person on the other end, RCA sent me a new one at no charge. Since then I''ve bought another at Wal-mart for $15. Don''t expect the RF remote to radio through walls. Only the IR section of either remote will control my receiver. The menu is very nice and the unit flies through channels without any annoying hesitation. I haven''t yet used the DD connection. The extra set of jacks on this unit in useful. System and dish were easy to install. Manual and acessories were very helpful.

Strengths:
compact size, menu, fast processor

Weaknesses:
RF antenna, 1st remote broke but my other 2 have taken much abuse with no problems, Even when the kids break it to pieces.

Similar Products Used:
would have gotten 5 stars if i could control through walls. I use a RCA RF extender cone to control system from bedroom.

Price Paid:  $180.00 from abt electronics

Summary:
Purchased this to replace an early generation Sony DSS receiver, primarily for the optical audio out. After installation, no audio. Calls to RCA customer service were hopeless. I replaced the optical cable and was beginning to believe the Dolby Digital processor in my receiver was at fault when I discovered that by carefully pushing sideways at the loose-feeling optical connector I could get an audio signal which worked fine. By this time, 90 days had elapsed and a call to RCA informed me that I could ship it back at my cost and for $125 have the unit replaced. Period. Otherwise, the receiver is small and does not get warm. The menu system is confusing, but it does have caller ID and clever search engines. The factory remote is also confusing and very large; the RF antenna is a projectile from the back that is difficult to place. RCA (which is Thomson Consumer Electronics) has very poor customer service as well as poor quality control. "Nipper" would be ASHAMED.

Strengths:
Optical audio out Caller ID RF remote

Weaknesses:
Poor menu system Terrible customer service and warranty Poor quality construction

Similar Products Used:
Sony

Price Paid:  $189.00 from american satellite

Summary:
for the money I found it worth its value.After 10 months of
good service,it decided to die on me during a vintage episode of "Law and Order".Customer service said for the exchange because of its one year warranrty,I will have to send it to Indianappolis,In.RCA has Thompson Electronics to
manufacture their products,so you cannot take it to a local
dealer to get it fixed.
The picture is well worth it,Its small and very compact to
place almost anywhere.the remote is a big"dopey" standard
universal which is very cheap in quality,but does the job.
I will get another one,I guess this one was a lemon.

Strengths:
digital outputs,ease of use,sound quality very good linked to intergrated amp.adapt to bigger dish "24 and 2 more satellites.digital picture

Weaknesses:
the remote antenna is to short and mounted on the back cover
,in small areas it will be a problem.

Similar Products Used:
RCA DRD220DRE