Price Paid:  $549.00 from radioshack

Summary:
This thing is a total piece of crap, when it works it's not too bad for picture quality.

Strengths:
OK picture

Weaknesses:
The thing broke down in six months and I have spent the last two months trying to get it replaced. The RCA service people are totally clueless and most do not seem to be able to read or write. They have sent a replacement unit to everywhere except my address and can't seem to understand why I might be getting a little POed. I have talked to 10 different people and so far have had the same result with each one, nothing.

Similar Products Used:
This is the second RCA product I have owned in 20 years and both were miserable experiences.

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
What? no reviews? I posted one a month or so ago but it dissapeared. Anyhow:
I have the DTC-100 connected to a Sony 36HS20, which IMO is a great TV.
I had the TV connected to a Sony SAT-A3 DTV receiver (which at one time was top of the line). I had held off on an HD capable receiver because there is no HDTV in Wichita Kansas and I didn’t think it was worth the money to buy expensive equipment for 2 channels of DirecTV HD. I found the DTC-100 as an opened item at Best Buy and the price made it worth it. The HD channels are great as they should be (sort of more on that last) but what really got me was how much better ALL channels were. I don’t know whether the Sony was a piece of crap, or whether it’s the built in line doubler in the DTC-100…but every channel on DirecTV looks stellar. I mean there is no comparison with the old Sony DTV receiver. Regular TV…not HD. Also, I have cable for my local networks and you can tell instantly when you are on cable rather than satellite.
Synopsis: The RCA DTC-100 makes DirecTV look fantastic…better than ever…and this is my third receiver.

Now the HD part and this may only apply to the Sony 36HS20 or XBR4XX series.
Channel 199, HD-NET: boring content but fantastic picture. Can’t wait for the winter Olympics though.
Channel 509, HBO-HD: These Sony TV’s, when receiving an HD input automatically switch to 16x9 mode. This is fine except for the fact that most of HBO’s HD content is filmed in 4:3. So what you get is a 4:3 picture inside a 16x9 box. In other words…a tiny picture. Guess that’s what you get for watching HD on a 4:3 television that thinks it’s 16x9 for HD? It looks fine in non-HD and full screen…but hey if you buy this thing it’s for HDTV right?

Another thing that I don’t like is that you have to have a VGA to component video adapter if your TV doesn’t have one. ($125).

Anyhow, I’m HD ready for over-the-air broadcasts, HD running for DirecTV, if they would only give us more channels on DirecTV, and my regular DirecTV channels look WAY better than they ever did.

Cheers

Strengths:
Picture! All pictures. HD or not

Weaknesses:
VGA out

Similar Products Used:
Sony SAT-A3