I just purchased the DTC-100, and although the HD feed from DirecTV is amazing, the menu is by far, the worse menu as user-friendly goes. I also use a cheap Hughes receiver, and it is so much easier to get around to the channels you want. I want to know why for $500 I didn't get something a little easier to use? Color coordination for the types of channels, double lined channel listings, even the channel label are a few things that I miss since upgrading. Previewing the channel and surfing the menu is also troublesome, since you have to hit the > arrow three times to exend the menu out completely. I do have an older version, (the DTC-100 came with a gen3 DirecTV access card) so would upgrading resolve anything? I do not have a phone line, and was told by RCA that I would have to bring it in to get a 'paddle upgrade'. (Which may be easier said than done, since RCA sent me to someone who hadn't dealt with receivers in over 4 years and woudn't help me.)

I also have a fit with HD channels not auto-switching from 16:9 to 4:3. It's nothing but annoying when The Sopranos displays a 16:9 picture, followed by 20 minutes of HBO commercials in a 4:3 picture INSIDE the 16:9 picture.

All I hear is praise about the DTC-100, and I feel like the black sheep. Help me before I lose my sanity and throw this receiver out the door!

A new access card will change nothing. If you have the older firmware, that may be part of your problems, but I'm not sure it is. You look like you are expecting it to do things none of the HD DSS IRDs will do, not just the RCA. The menus can be set in many ways, try changing them and see if you like another way. You will NOT get it to look like a Hughes in the menus though. I myself prefer the RCA menues over the Hughes. You will NOT get it to auto switch from 16:9 to 4:3 for commercials. If the commercial is not made in 16:9, it will be shown as a 4:3 inside the 16:9, that's a programming issue, not your DTC-100s fault.

Believe it ir not the DTC-100 is one of the most controllable STB there is. I have all the discrete codes for that receiver. What tv is it hooked to and what remote are you using to control it. If you need the codes or any other help, email me at [email protected] and I'll be happy to help. By the way any hd STB will give the 4:3 inside the 16:9 johnla is absolutely right.

I think all RCA menus and guides are lacking. I happen to like Hughes the best. With that said the DTC-100 is great once you over look that. I think you need a firmware upgrade as well. I heard a rumor DTV is not sending down the upgrade any more. Go into your menu and let us know what firmware version it is reporting.

I realize that a new card doesn't change anything, I was referring to the firmware upgrade. I know it's a pretty old firmware version, hence the mention of the old access card. The ROM # is <0500 A04.0B 1303.03 MC000>. I guess I was just expecting more than I got. No problem, I'll move past it. What remote do you recommend using with this unit? I have an RCA monitor as well, and just use the universal remote that came with the receiver.

This is from [Link: keohi.com]

"Here are some tips for this STB.

Version A05.10a upgrade is now being transmitted by DirecTV. There are no significant functional changes visible to those who have received it thus far. Unfortunately, neither RCA nor DirecTV are forthcoming about this last upgrade. Note that a few DTCs have been negatively affected by the upgrade, e.g., some functions are slower after the download.

The last significant firmware is 4.037. This version corrects the retrace timing whic allowed for non-RCA sets to work much better with the DTC. Via an on-screen menu, you can now center the image without having to go into your set's service menu. This update also prevents the older DirecTV H cards from being used with the receiver. It will only accept the newer HU cards.

Previous firmware versions are as follows

* Version 372 - original firmware; DSS H card-compatible; all 900 range local channels available
* Version 4.0B - first firmware upgrade; DSS H card-compatible but 900 range local channels disabled
* Version A04.37 - last significant upgrade; no longer compatible with DSS H card; works with HU cards only"

You would like to have A04.37
More info at the above link as to what it will do for you.

I guess I gave the wrong info at first. I'm running version 40b, I figured this thing was sitting on the shelf for a while. Thanks for the link, I have a few questions though. Can I just hook up another dish pointed @ 101° and wait for the upgrade? Does it show the progression? Do you have to have a dish pointed @ 101° for the receiver to show you need an update? My receiver does not show an upgrade necessary, even although it does need one. Thanks for the help.

This message was edited by maddmatt on 01/05/03 01:12.

They are not doing upgrades as often as they used to. You would have to call DTV, to find out if they are going to do anymore in the future. It has no way to tell you if one is necessary, unless it gets the info that there is one scheduled, to compare it to what it now has. If it gets the info from DTV that one is scheduled, then it will show a time for when its scheduled to be. From what I have heard, they have not sent down a upgrade in a long time though. Mine got the last one over a year ago. Even this info from keohi.com is not real recent. It's kinda old, but then again, there has not been any updates to report in awhile either. As per

[Link: avsforum.com]

[Link: avsforum.com]

This message was edited by Johnla on 01/05/03 01:56.