RCA DRD420RE

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Jeff Milstead
• Reviewed on: 02/13/2001

Given the competitive nature of the satellite-TV business, entry-level satellite-TV packages can be had for a song these days. RCA's DRD420RE is a no-frills workhorse receiver with all the basics, including the ability to pick up local broadcast and Spanish-language program channels. It also works with DirecTV Interactive channels.Given the competitive nature of the satellite-TV business, entry-level satellite-TV packages can be had for a song these days. RCA's DRD420RE is a no-frills workhorse receiver with all the basics, including the ability to pick up local broadcast and Spanish-language program channels. It also works with DirecTV Interactive channels.

Plugged in
The $99 list price of the DRD420RE buys you only a single set of video outputs, an RF connector, the standard RCA audio/video outputs, and an S-Video output. Plug the S-Video output into your TV and you'll have to use the RF connector to hook up the VCR, but one set is typical in this price range. One thing missing on this and on other low-end DirecTV receivers is an optical digital-audio output. If you've already splurged on a surround-sound system, you should definitely consider a more expensive receiver that can help deliver Dolby Digital soundtracks.

The basic nature of this receiver is reflected in the remote, a somewhat bulky number with pointier buttons than most and no backlit controls to aid in surfing in the dark. Though RCA claims that the included remote is universal, this isn't quite the case. We found that it wouldn't switch the inputs on our late-model Toshiba TV set.

RCA DirecTV receivers, including the DRD420RE, were the first to add DirecTV Interactive. On the Weather Channel, for instance, a small window appears on the screen from which you can bring up the local forecast right away. A handful of other channels, such as CNN, offer similar interactive features. Continue reading

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