Home > Consumer Reviews > RCA DTC100 High-Definition/DIRECTV Digital Receiver

I recently purchased one of these units. It has version 40b of the firmware. DirecTV used to send updates to the firmware twice a day. These downloads ended on 6 Aug 2001. As a result of not having the latest software for the DTC100, I cannot properly view HD material on my InFocus LP350 projector. In researching this problem, I have discovered that the old software also causes incompatibility with other HD displays (Mitsubishi, for example).

The DTC-100 has been quite a joy for my home entertainment system. Being one of the first HDTV receivers available, it is a very capable receiver and is extremely low priced. Despite being low-priced, its features include a standard and high-definition satellite receiver, and a digital and analog receiver for terrestrial television broadcasts.

It also is compatible with cable systems, however most cable systems to not support the 8-VSB modulation for HD broadcasts. Even AT&T's so-called `Digital' cable is only a poorly implemented method of adding more channels at the expense of picture quality, and it is not compatible with digital television standards. The receiver will receive the standard analog signals on cable systems.

It offers digital and analog outputs for audio, and S-Video and VGA outputs for video. The VGA output is required for High Definition video. While many HD televisions do not support the VGA connection, electronic signal conversion adapters are available to convert the signal to the three-line component video output. Firmware upgrades, received via satellite, have addressed the issues of signal incompatibility with some early high definition televisions.

For this writer, a 21" computer monitor is being used to view the High Definition content, however, when programming to record, the receiver automatically switches to the S-Video output to send a signal to the VCR. The receiver will convert high definition material to standard definition when the S-Video output is used. The quality of the conversion is very good. Something that I've noted is that the S-Video output, in conjunction with a digital television station broadcast, results in a much clearer recording on video tape than the same recording made from the signal available on cable systems or over the air.

As for the availability of High Definition Television content, CBS should be applauded for their commitment to High Definition Television by having most of their prime-time offerings in High Definition. It is my hope that other major networks will soon follow suit.

If I had any complaint about the receiver, it would be that it doesn't send a signal to both the VGA output and the S-Video output at the same time. The receiver does make up for this by offering a button on the front of the receiver that switches between the VGA and S-Video outputs. There is also a button on the remote that can be set to do the switching between the two outputs. It reality, the only time this is a problems is when wanting to record while watching in high definition(not possible unless you record to your VCR through a different tuner, but then you don't get the digital picture clarity), and when wanting to directly compare high definition to standard NTSC. (But it can be done with a seperate tv tuner)

In summary, this is an excellent product that can get a person into the High Definition crowd for relatively little cost. And even after this receiver is obsoleted by newer receiver technology over the years, it will still make an excellent second receiver for the kid's room in conjunction with an inexpencive computer monitor.

Day 0: DirecTV installers wanted to charge me extra for installing it, since it was HDTV, while Best Buy assured me it was free with my package. Finally Best Buy covered the extra.

Day 1:Technician spent 3 hours to get it installed, since the HDTV mode was not able to be viewed in 4:3 aspect ratio. Only 16:9

Month 2: RCA Tech Service was never able to figure out. I finaly forgot the issue.

12 months: Working great...but never in HDTV. [money] bucks for what you can see with a $[money] unit.

17 months: "..looking for Signal.."

18 months: It took 3 visits in 1 month for DirecTV to figure out that the receiver was dead...what an expertise!!...

19 months: Sent an e-mail to RCA to complain and find out a solution...the answer: call a toll free number and follow carefully the instructions.

TODAY: Here at Amazon buying a non-HDTV receiver from Sony.

...The ideal combination....a POOR quality product with an even WORST Customer Service.

You get a one year warranty on parts, 90 days labor. I bought my unit in August of 2001. It just went out April of 2002. It started whistling and then wouldn't broadcast HD signals, it would crash and restart. I called RCA and they have a flat fee exchange. They dont even consider any facts, it is just straight exchange( by two options they have.) The unit cost me 599.00 originally and now 6 months later im paying 129.00 to get it warrantied. I would not reccomend this until RCA gets with the program. I would of rather had the Toshiba or the Sony unit for that price.

Works great as external tuner. Kind of wish more HDTVs had the quality of RCA built into them. This tuner has been around for a while and gave me the most for the money. The only drawback is the remote and the clunky on/off (2-step) process to get your components awake or asleep. Good luck if you DON'T have a RCA TV and DVD in getting this to do your entire button-field of operations from your existing remotes. This remote is probably going to be the first thing I shelve. I like the Guide for Sat, but can't find channels via their call letters. Also could use a easier way of Channel searching off Antennae A, most of my monitor modes need to be 1080i when doing High Definition and this box won't skip those weak analog versions of the HDTV channel that are stuck in between. It probably has great features for passwording and rating material that your entire family can/can't watch, I noticed alot of the manual deals with this, but it doesn't apply to me. My Wish List would include a switchable power plug in back, a desk-side DTC100 (why eat another shelf for this unit), roller wheels on remote for channel & volume control, ability to set the length of time the INFO appears on top of the screen image, a second VGA-out that can be used for PIP images rather than just the shuffling it around the monitor's screen and lastly an ability to use the VCR-plus codes used in the newspaper to schedule favorite programs for viewing on later dates.