Rating: 
Summary: Great Buy
Review: This machine is great. Installation was easy. I just unhooked my existing directv box and plugged this one in. I got this because it was way cheaper than a regular tivo. The monthly service was cheaper as well. If you're the kind of person who cannot program a vcr this unit is definetly for you. It is very simple to use and very fun as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Once you get one you will wonder how you went without
Review: We just got this through DirecTV and already are trying to figure out how we did without it. The set up is a snap, and I have found that the picture quality actually improved! While my picture was always good, this receiver actually seems to improve it to near HD level.
The best features are the "season pass" options. It is very easy to find a show, and set it up to automatically record every episode. For example, I set "Seinfeld" and every day scan the two or three episodes from various channels it has picked up. I skim the description and watch the episodes or delete them. I can also set it to record only "first run" shows so I don't pick up reruns. Very simple and easy to use.
The only issues so far: the scanning through the guide is rather slow, there is an annoying "blip" sound with every change through the remote, and I had to figure out to shut off the "suggestions as it was recording from pay channels I don't get. Other than that, it is the way to go.
Best feature of all? We feel we will watch far less TV, and when we do only watch what we want. That in itself makes this machine worth having. Once you get one, you will wonder why you went so long without it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great idea - dual receivers - drops second line repeatedly
Review: Well, at first this product was great. Dual receivers worked with my multi-switch and i was able to watch one show while recording another.
For some reason, one of the satellite lines in keeps dropping. The hookups are good and the signal strength continues to show all of the same strengths as the working tuner (they are shown on the screen side by side). However, on a daily basis - I have to reset the receiver (without adjusting any wires) or continue to try reacquiring the information on both inputs.
I really do like the other features of the unit having had a Sony TIVO unit that also had some common flaws. The comment about the slow screens and transitions is accurate. The response of the unit is a little slow and from what I understand, this feature is improved with more expensive units having faster (ie. more expensive) processors.
For the price, I think I paid $79 for the unit while signing a 12-month contract, (my DirecTV contract had already expired) this would be a great unit.
This is the fourth DirecTV receiver in the house (since it is dual - it is really the fourth and fifth receiver with the dual switch purchased from Radio Shack). If the second line didn't drop periodically and regularly - this would be five stars at the current price point.
| 
