![]() |
|||||||||
| Home >> HDTV Reviews | |||||||||
User Submitted RCA F38310 38" 16:9 HDTV with Built-In DirecTV and HDTV Receivers Reviews Date: 2010-03-02 BEWARE!.......Read this 1st! In keeping with the "whole philosophy" of consumer reviews, when I saw these for sale on Amazon I felt obligated to post a review of this product. To make a "long story short", DON'T BUY THIS TV UNLESS YOUR IN THE SALAVAGE BUSINESS. I purchased one of these approx. 7 years ago for over $2,000........picture quality was OK but not as good as the new generation flat screens. Looking back, I would of had to have been "nuts" to buy a TV with a "built-in" DirectTV box. Not only was I then "locked in" to DirectTV, but the internal box promptly became obsolete! Owners of these TV's have no options, plus, were forced to upgrade at their own expense by DirectTV to an new external box in order to continue receiving HD content! The set has no HD suitable HDMI, etc. jacks to run an add-on box through the "auxiliary inputs" and even with a new H-20 DVR, picture quality is worse than it was originally. There are 2 fairly loud fans inside the TV that run 24/7! "I literally tore/ripped the skin right off the palm of my hands trying to carry IT, IT weighs 250 lbs.!" Then........IT broke! Even though the TV was rarely used, maybe once a week, suddenly about a month ago (1/10) IT stopped working; IT won't "power-up"!. The first repair shop I had IT at charged me $65 only to inform me that repair parts are largely unavailable, and if the suspected culprit part could be found it was likely to cost in the neighborhood of $500-$600. Oh, and also, they report that RCA has "gone away" so forget about any support, etc. I've taken the TV(IT) to a second repair shop just this afternoon, supposedly a RCA authorized repair center. RCA has a web-site w/links for service. This seems weird since years ago RCA became Thompson Electronics, and now is some other company. Anyway, as a past loyal RCA customer I was completely disappointed by the concept/design, technology, and reliability of this TV. I'm also amazed by RCA, the company. (What's up w/that?) Hope you've benefited by this "heads-up"! Date: 2008-05-19 After 5 years, still works GREAT! I guess it is the luck of the draw; after 5 years, it still works GREAT! Yes it is heavy as hell, and I've stayed in apartments longer than I wanted to because of it, but the HD picture is four star (being 720P). Luckly, I had to need to service it to date. Date: 2008-03-05 2001 it was ahead of its time Good stuff - look on eBay for great deals ... except shipping on 90# may be something for FedEx Ground .... Date: 2006-04-16 no sound A relative who owned this for a year using surround sound just gave me this unit. Unfortunately I can't get the sound to work. I am hoping someone will see this review and offer some suggestions or might be able to donate an owners manual to us. I can be contacted at racindave99@yahoo.com. Thanks Date: 2006-03-06 I GUESS I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES I purchased this TV in August of 2002 and as of this day I have not had a problem with it. What is fustrating is when I moved and DirectTV sent one of their "contractors" out to install the TIVO DVR, they did not understand that the TV had a buitl in reciever. I had to explain this to two different techs. I am now looking for a newer modle with a built in reciever, but can't seem to find one with a slot for a DirecTV card. If anyone can help, drop me an email it would be appreciated. * Price is subject to change. |
|||||||||
| Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | |||||||||
| ©2008 HDTV-Source, All rights reserved. | |||||||||