RCA DRD430RG vs DRD430RGA vs DRD450RG

[D_Thomas]

I've been shopping for a new DirecTV customer deal. I'm looking at a basic 2-room setup then I'll add DirecTivo later.

I've been reading customer comments on the Circuit City website about the RCA DRD430RG. It has generally gotten terrible reviews. It was reported to be very slow and reboot frequently.

I also saw one post that someone got a DRD430RGA receiver -- what does the "A" on the end represent?

The customer reviews of the DRD450RG were better.

But all report extremely slow guide performance on both DRD430RG and DRD450RG models.

It isn't possible to determine when the customer reviews were posted.

Questions:

Has RCA resolved these problems with a software download?

Is the guide on both units still extremely slow?

Is the DRD450RG really that much better in basic video, audio, guide speed over the DRD430RG (I don't require the advanced sound connections)?

I would like a unit with guide information that doesn't require download each time I look at guide. I have DISH Network 301 receiver now and it requires me to frequently wait each time while the guide downloads. (I switching to DirecTV so I eventually get DirecTivo).

Any comments on these units vs other units? Is there a good website with product comparisons?

Thanks.

[DCSholtis]

The DRD430RG receiver is MUCH better now..the speed of the guide is now much faster....it was fixed by a software download a few months ago..Corrected that prob and the prob it also had with frequently switching off by itself and having to sit there while it "reacquired the satellite signal"

[raj2001]

Originally posted by D_Thomas
Is the DRD450RG really that much better in basic video, audio, guide speed over the DRD430RG (I don't require the advanced sound connections)?

The only differences between the 430 and the 450 (I've had both) are :

Dolby Digital out connector
VCR Recording with StarSight and the IR Blaster
Extra set of A/V composite out connectors
Onscreen Caller ID

Other than that it's virtually identical to the 430. The 430's have also been upgraded recently via satellite and the guide is MUCH faster now. Video and audio quality will be the same for every single DirecTV receiver, because I think they use the same decoder chipsets.


I would like a unit with guide information that doesn't require download each time I look at guide. I have DISH Network 301 receiver now and it requires me to frequently wait each time while the guide downloads. (I switching to DirecTV so I eventually get DirecTivo).

None of the new DirecTV receivers do this. They all download the guide data when the receiver is first plugged in, and trickle it in the background to get new data.


Any comments on these units vs other units? Is there a good website with product comparisons?

Thanks.

This site of course!!

You'll also want to check the "DBS General Non HDTV" section of AVSForum.com.

[David W]

Originally posted by raj2001



None of the new DirecTV receivers do this. They all download the guide data when the receiver is first plugged in, and trickle it in the background to get new data.




Hmm. I could swear my friend's Hughes Director receiver said it was waiting for guide data to download (which was the one of the main reasons I didn't want that model receiver). Then again, the receiver hadn't been plugged in a long time when I saw it, so maybe the guide information hadn't trickled in yet.

I definitely like the 485 guide. :-)