[MichaelHL]

Hey everyone. I decided to get DirectTV now since I have a coupon for an additional 10% off this weekend at Best Buy. I need your help as what is the best Dish and Receiver to get? I know I need the big elliptical Dish for HDTV and multiple rooms(HDTV in main, and regular in 3 bedrooms). I need to figure out what is the best HDTV receiver as well. Have a HDTV ready TV and Projector coming. There is the RCA and Sony, etc. receivers, but which one? Any help or advice on bext peices and way to set this up? I have had a hard time figuring out which one to get. Thanks a bunch.


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Michael

 

[JasonATL]

If you're getting an HDTV receiver from BestBuy, my guess is that you have one choice: Toshiba DST-3000. Your BestBuy might have the RCA DTC-100 still around. Note that you'll have to get a transcoder for the RCA unless you have an RCA HDTV-ready set. I got my Toshiba DST-3000 from BestBuy and I'm quite happy with it. If you don't want an HDTV receiver, I'm not sure why you're posting here. For my bedrooms, I just have the cheapo RCA boxes. I hated the Sony's guide. I think the hughes looked okay, but I still preferred the RCA. You mentioned a Sony. If BestBuy has the Sony HD-100 (I've not seen it there), then this is an option. But, I've read many complaints about this receiver on this forum (do a search). Again, I'm very happy with my Toshiba DST-3000.


I will say, however, that you might want to do the following: Go to BestBuy and price out what you'd be getting. Then, go online to a DirecTV retailer (I used American Satellite) at www.americansatellite.com and I was extremely happy with their service). My point is that they might actually have a better deal, even with your 10% off discount at BestBuy.


Are you planning on installing it yourself? I did (with a good price on a system from American Satellite that included the self-install kit and a toll-free technical support line that was actually answered on a Saturday morning -- no waiting). Installing the elliptical dish is more complicated than the regular, but it wasn't brain surgery. However, I didn't want some yahoo to install it -- and you can find horror stories in this and other forums of less-than-competent DirecTV installers who don't have a clue about installing an elliptical dish and HDTV setup. BestBuy probably won't even give you a discount for a self-install. BTW, American Satellite has the Hughes E86, which is the equivalent of the Toshiba DST-3000. Also realize that you probably won't pay sales tax at an online retailer, saving you 5% right away (depending on where you live). I'm not trying to write an advertisement for American, but their service was phenomenal and they actually knew something about DirecTV (unlike the kiddos at BestBuy).


Good luck and enjoy.



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-Jason

 

[MichaelHL]

Thanks for the info. That was actually the box that I was looking at. I want HDTV to go onto my HD RPTV and LT150 projector I am getting. This is for my main room. So the Toshiba will be my best bet it sounds like. I will getting the cheaper RCA boxes for the bedrooms but wnat HD for the living room as that is what I am mainly concerned with as we use it the most there.


However, it does not seem that I have any digital feeds here in the area I am at locally, checked on TitanTV, will this be a problem or can I just watch local regular?


I will be having the system installed as I do not have anytime to install it myself at this point. Thanks for the help.




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Michael