Rating: 
Summary: I really shopped around, I am very happy with this TV!
Review: I would have said 4.5 if I could have. What keeps it from a 5 star rating? The grey bars on the side when watching 3:2 format programs, no outputs whatsoever, and the digital zoom (for fake widescreen and real widescreen for anamporphic programs) is just the slighest bit less crisp than the "normal" image with the bars on the side. Although I was surprised by some of these small setbacks, I in no way regret the purchase of this TV.I do recommend the stand, as this TV is HEAVY, and building your own or using a generic stand may not be appropriate. SVHS input from my computer is awsome, and allows me to use my computer DVD player to watch DVD's, although a progressive scan DVD player would take more advantage of the HDTV quality. If you are trying to take advantage of the "HD"TV, don't count on the attenna method... Direct TV ability is built in, and the cheapest plan is $21.00 a month. The fact that this TV includes a built in HDTV receiver is a real plus, and if you already have another receiver, you can pay a minimal fee to activate both of them through Direct TV. Tube, in my opinion, is better than any projection and most LCD TV, however, I've seen Plasma TV's, and they are very bright and clear, but very expensive. This TV rules, and will be modern and up with current technologies for many many years to come. As all TV's will be standardized with the HDTV format by 2006, why wait for the future? You can have it now... this TV RULES!!!
Rating: 
Summary: RCA F38310 38" REVIEW
Review: I HAVE OWNED ONE FOR OVER A YEAR AND IN THIS TIME I HAVE HAD 3 RECEIVERS PUT IN AND HAVE THE SERVICE PEOPLE OUT 5 OR 6 TIMES AND EACH TIME IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.BUT WHEN IT WORKS IT'S THE BEST TV I HAD EVER HAD GREAT FOR PLAYING X-BOX OR NINTENDO ON.
Rating:
Summary: No progressive scan, but who needs it.
Review: This is not meant to be a full review. I just want to correct something that another reviewer said. This set is apparently not compatible with progressive scan. I've tried three different DVD players (different manufacturers) and whenever I hit "progressive" mode I receive a "not able" indication, regardless of whether S-video or component video inputs are used. However, the picture is so good I'm not sure progressive scan would add anything. Incidentally, my digital cable service uses the component video inputs, so I use the S-video input for my DVD player, and picture quality is just as good as with the component inputs. The HDTV picture (from digital cable HD channels) is extraordinary. Even though I'm unable to use the built-in DirecTV receiver (too many tall trees around my house), I'm very happy with this set.
Rating:
Summary: Great for the money but a few flaws.
Review: I purchased TV. in Dec 2001 And I like 75% of the reviewers had a problem which needed to be repaired. Thankfully the tech repaired it in house and from the symptons I told him he new the trouble before he opened the TV. He had seen the same trbl before 2 capacitors were bad in the power supply.
Yes the fan runs 24/7 and it bothered me at first but now I dont even notice it. No video output to record directv channels, speakers sound bad at high volumes when watching certain shows, The local channels dont look as sharp as on an analog tv.
But on the plus side The picture with HDTV or DVD is phenominal, It is the largest widescreen direct view on the market. And it is cheaper then most 34" widescreen. It has HDTV tuner and sat tuner built in.
Rating: 
Summary: Be Careful When You Buy!
Review: As many reviewers have mentioned throughout the internet, this TV-set looks great when playing DVD's, and it's stunning when watching HDTV material, but after that, there's a lot to be desired. I wasn't crazy with the picture quality on my digital cable, and although I'll soon be ditching cable for satellite, I'm still skeptical about the non--HD channels actually looking good. I agree with many of the complaints made by others, and I hope somebody affiliated with RCA, or Thomson, will read this. They could make another 38 inch, or even better, 40 inch model of this TV, and improve on all of the first-generation mistakes. Make the new model flatscreen, but keep it a TUBE model, as some of us love. I would take OUT the internal receiver. I enjoy the benefits of an external receiver. Improve the craftsmanship INSIDE the TV--no more loose circuit boards, cheap parts, etc. Maybe even some additional HIGH QUALITY connections on the back. A newer, updated model of this TV could be the most awesome, mid-size HDTV produced thus far! It would sell very well also!! Are you listening RCA-Thomson??? Perhaps if RCA-Thomson isn't interested, SONY would be willing to step up to the plate and make the perfect tube-based HDTV. They could produce it as a 40" model, make it flat-screen of course, widescreen (OF COURSE), and otherwise you could have a HD version of their 40" fullscreen Wega TV!! Sony, are YOU listening??
Rating:
Summary: Better pray it doesn't break
Review: I've owned my F38310 for 30 months and have had relatively little problem with it. Picture quality is good, far superior over any rear projection TV that I have seen.
Last week my wife called me at work saying the TV was making a "beeping and whistling" sound and that there was a burning smell coming from it. I told her to unplug the set immediately. A service man came out the next day and made no secret of the fact that these TV's were a big mistake on the part of RCA. He went through the motions of checking a few things and then just removed the whole chassis to take it with them to the shop.
Earlier today I received a repair estimate for $1,350! The DM1 module, which is basically the brain of this TV, is gone and needs to be replaced. For a TV that is not even 3 years old, that is absolutely unacceptable!
I'm not sure yet how I am going to run with this, but I will put up a struggle before I get handed a bill that big. The amount exceeds 50% of the purchase value of the actual TV, which just boggles my mind.
Maybe other owners are luckier and will never have this problem, but reading through the reviews here gives me little indication that this is an isolated problem. I should have known better than to buy an RCA....
Rating:
Summary: Excellent HDTV Value
Review: Great overall performance, great picture, I have had it for 2-years without any problems. Only weakness is no video outputs jacks(what were they thinking?) and only one HD RGB input,
Rating:
Summary: RCA F38310 Widescreen TV with DirecTv
Review: I have had this set for 2-years now and it's still working great. Picture quality is quite good since it's the largest CRT available in a widescreen set. Overall this set is an excellent value. The Tube blows away any Plasma picture quality due to the CRT still being the sharpest and brightest picture available. Strengths Built in DirecTV receiver
Twin built-in HDTV off-the-air tuners
TosLink Optical output for Dolby digital audio receivers
Enough video inputs (3-SVIDEO and 1-Component Video)
Largest of all Widescreen Picture Tubes 38"
Great Sound setup; external and internal speakers supported
Lots of menu driven setup options
Easy to use once setup Weaknesses No video output jacks (what fool forgot this?)
Only one Component Video Input
Very heavy, about 268-lbs
Rating:
Summary: Why No Video Out? Guess
Review: I have owned my F3810 for about 15 months, and I concur with most of the glowing assessments of the HDTV picture quality and other features of the set. But the complete lack of video-out
connectors is a major omission and not, I think, an accident. When I purchased my set, I was encouraged to purchase something called Ultimate DirecTV (an RCA/Microsoft knock-off of TiVo) that would require installation of a second satellite dish. I declined, thinking I might do that later. For some reason the
Ultimate DirecTV is no longer offered in the stores I visit, and there seems no way for me to install a legitimate TiVo
receiver. Worst of all is that I have never gotten a response to any question or complaint I have addressed to RCA/Thomson.
For that reason alone I would never buy another of their products.
Rating:
Summary: RCA F38310 38" Widescreen
Review: I have had this TV also a year and have not had one problem. I feel sorry for those of you that had many issues. The picture quality isn't the absolute best when viewing regular channels (but I don't care). HD Channels are the best I have ever seen. Yes, the fan runs 24/7..but on my set I can barely hear it (it's in a cabinet and the back of the cabinet has been cut out). I can't even begin to explain how heavy this thing is. Let's just say it's a challenge for TWO large guys. VERY, VERY dissappointed in the fact that there are NO outputs on this TV...the designer of this TV should be fired!!(I really mean that) Who doesn't put outputs on a TV????? I guess any electronic purchase is a gamble but I do believe as one person mentioned in their review, that it all depends on whether the manufacturer is willing to stand behind their product. Where are you RCA?? Help all of these people...fix your rep. I purchased the extended warr. I am praying that I don't have to use it. Not real happy that the PIP doesn't work with Digital channels but is there a TV out there that can?? Really, is there? I really hope that RCA reads these reviews because I used them to make my decision on buying this TV... The positive reviews don't outweigh the bad by many. As for the remote, it's not bad. It does everything I need it to do. When is someone going to make a remote that either completely lights up or all the keys glow in the dark. In all I hope this TV lasts a while because I am not looking forward to the time when I have to haul this thing out of the cabinet. I would almost choose to buy another house and leave it. ha
I hope those of you that have had problems get some sort of resolution.... good luck to all of you !
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