Price Paid:  $79.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I bought the unit as part of a RCA mulit-room package. I like it, but I wish I had bought the Hughes system instead. The Hughes system was cheaper, and has the nice VCR control cable for easy recording. I hate having to program two timers in order to record something. Now I am looking to buy a VCR that will enable me to control the receiver. Picture quality is great using a S-video connection, and the audio sounds great on my surround system.

Strengths:
Program guide, good sound and picture, well layed out universal remote

Weaknesses:
No VCR control

Similar Products Used:
Hughes HSYS-D2532

Price Paid:  $99.00 from radioshack

Summary:
I like the menu and guide, very easy to use- but 1 glaring problem. The color is constantly changing. Green turns Teal, back to green. White skin is tan, then white. Keeps happening. Picture is sharp, sound is great.

Strengths:
menu,guide,remote,

Weaknesses:
color

Price Paid:  $99.00 from self

Summary:
As an installer and tech for DirectTV, I get to see it all. I have had to replace at least 1 out of ten of the RCA DRD420RE boxes for failed audio. As a rule, I like RCA equipment especially their TV's. Somehow, they dropped the ball on Quality Control and at first denied the problem even existed. I think the bug has been fixed as I haven't had any problems in recent weeks (October 2000). Ignore the message "Move dish 3 degrees" as it will show up whether or not the dish is even connected to the receiver. The signal level on coax out is relatively poor. Use component if at all possible.

Strengths:
Great guide and menu system, some models are WINK compatible.

Weaknesses:
major manufacturer defects. Audio dies and/or video completely freeze frames.

Similar Products Used:
Hughes D2, Sony Sat A55