Directv receiver with toslink

[jamesd3rd]

About a year and a half ago I saw a non-HD DirectTV receiver that had a toslink port. Unfortunately I didn't buy it then and I don't remember the brand (or model number). Now when I'm looking for one, I can't seem to locate one. I've done some looking on the web but the only ones I can find are either HD receivers or receivers with Tivo. I'm looking for neither. I just want a plain DirecTV receiver with a toslink optical output.

Anyone know if such a thing even exists?

[CCarncross]

There were tons of them made with digital outputs. Almost all of the non-basic receivers have had digital outputs since ca. 1997.

CHeck www.valueelectronics.com

they should still have several models available with digital outputs.

[jamesd3rd]

Originally posted by CCarncross
There were tons of them made with digital outputs. Almost all of the non-basic receivers have had digital outputs since ca. 1997.

CHeck www.valueelectronics.com

they should still have several models available with digital outputs.

I checked this site but the only receiver w/o Tivo or HD capability had RCA audio outputs. I would think that the type I'm looking for would still be available. My cable STB has a coax digital output and I know some have toslink outputs as well.

Doesn't DirecTV broadcast content that is encoded with 5.1 Dolby Digital? I currently have Time Warner cable and the converter has a coax output. I use a converter that does a conversion to optical that I connect to my Sony HT receiver's toslink port. Both HBO and Showtime broadcast dolby encoded content that I watch and the cable STB isn't even an HD receiver.

So I find it hard to believe that an entry level DirecTV receiver does not come standard with a toslink or coax digital port.

[CCarncross]

None of the entry levels have it, you have to step up a model or two. Most everyone that isnt using a basic DSS receiver these days is using a Tivo model, so you can understand that since there is not a large demand for SD non-Tivo with digital outputs, there arent many avaialble.

[corba]

i can't recommend a TIVO ENOUGH!

it even records Dolby Digital (DD).

fyi, tivo has a search mode (for its 2 weeks of guide data) that allows searching of DD programming, for 2 weeks, i had 174 shows w/DD, this is only with HBO/MAX, my friend whom has dtv's premier package had 198 shows (granted many are repeats of same show).

yes, the TOSLINK interface works great too, valueelectroncs (where i got one of my 2 tivos) has tivo 70 hour model for under $100.

it is easy to A/B compare the TOSLINK w/RCA analog, i'll never use analog again, even for non-DD material.

get a TIVO even if u find a non-DVR receiver w/TOSLINK.

[avguygeorge]

I have one D* stb for each--meaning hd and sd.If my Panny would down convert to pcm 44.1 I wouldn't need 2 boxes. In the menu on the Panny-there is an option--but it don't do it.-----This to feed my 2ch.dac for music channels.---Sounds 10xs better with a coax going into a hi.quality 2ch.dac.
Movies are different. For that I want 5.1 when it's there.

[jamesd3rd]

Originally posted by CCarncross
None of the entry levels have it, you have to step up a model or two. Most everyone that isnt using a basic DSS receiver these days is using a Tivo model, so you can understand that since there is not a large demand for SD non-Tivo with digital outputs, there arent many avaialble.

After numerous hours of searching I've learned that the RCA DRD485RG and the DRD486RG receivers both have optical audio outputs. The 486RG also has component video outputs.

The problem is that I can't seem to find any vendors that sell just receivers. Most I've found sell multi-room packages. That's ok but I would prefer to just get the receiver. I can buy a dual-lnb replacement for my current dish to support the additional receiver. Of course as cheap as these packages have gotten, buying a multi-room system might be more cost effective.

At any rate, can anyone give any information as to where I might find a reliable vendor where I can just purchase the above mentioned receiver(s)?

As for the Tivo option, I already have a ReplayTV DVR. A Tivo capable DirecTV receiver would just be redundant. I guess there's no law that says I have to use the feature. But the extra money spent on a receiver that has a feature I'm not using would just be a waste.

[virus]

Seriously, if you want a regular SD box, get the Tivo unit. You can get the 35 hour ones between $50-99. Once you try the Tivo, you will wonder how you lived without it. I had mine for 2 months without using it. I was on a business trip in Hawaii and my wife called me excited as hell. She tried the Tivo and loved it. She never gets excited about electronics.

[jamesd3rd]

Originally posted by virus
Seriously, if you want a regular SD box, get the Tivo unit. You can get the 35 hour ones between $50-99. Once you try the Tivo, you will wonder how you lived without it. I had mine for 2 months without using it. I was on a business trip in Hawaii and my wife called me excited as hell. She tried the Tivo and loved it. She never gets excited about electronics.

As I stated in the previous post, a Tivo capable receiver would be redundant. I already use a ReplayTV DVR with 80 hours of recording. Plus it came with 3 years of free activation and an additional 3 years for .99 a month. If I wanted another DVR, I would get a Replay because of their ease of upgrade. But I do understand your endorsement.

What I'm still looking for is a reliable vendor where I can get an RCA DRD486RG model receiver or a comparable receiver from any other manufacturer with component video and optical outputs.

Thanks

[restart88]

You know you don't HAVE to pay the $5 monthly PVR fee. What he's saying is that the box does what you want and only costs $99 plus is easily found, but at $5 a month why not take advantage of the extra storage capacity?

[virus]

I just saw several commercials for the DirecTivo for $50 this week. It has Toslink.

[restart88]

I believe that's for NEW customers.

[harley1]

Samsung sir-75 and sir-310 both have toslink.

[CCarncross]

Originally posted by restart88
I believe that's for NEW customers.

Did you bother to call Direct and ask? I believe that current customers can call that 1866 number and you can get the 40Gb Tivo, for $49. Noone says you have to use it as a Tivo, and you cant buy new receivers for any less if you are an existing customer.

[restart88]

Originally posted by CCarncross
Did you bother to call Direct and ask? I believe that current customers can call that 1866 number and you can get the 40Gb Tivo, for $49. Noone says you have to use it as a Tivo, and you cant buy new receivers for any less if you are an existing customer.

I don't want to lock in for a year myself because I will likely jump ship when I get the HDTV set, if not sooner. My recent experiences with Customer Retention was a real horror story of screw ups on their part!

[jimthor]

JAMES, I have a Hughes receiver model#HaH-SA. This is a Brand new unit.
Contact me if you want it. It is sitting in a box in my spare bedroom.
This model is Hughes top of the line non hd receiver.
It has the Toslink and caller ID.
jIM

[ClearToLand]

Originally posted by jimthor
JAMES, I have a Hughes receiver model#HaH-SA. This is a Brand new unit.
Contact me if you want it... Check your PMs...

[jackbnimble]

Why even bother with a toslink for a non-HD dss receiver? The limited and I mean limited amount for non-HD broadcasts from DirecTV makes this feature useless. I have nonHD service from DirecTV and they emailed me the programs that come across in DD and its only some pay channels. I tested this when I had a free HBO weekend and the sound was choppy.

[upNdown]

Originally posted by jackbnimble
Why even bother with a toslink for a non-HD dss receiver? The limited and I mean limited amount for non-HD broadcasts from DirecTV makes this feature useless. I have nonHD service from DirecTV and they emailed me the programs that come across in DD and its only some pay channels. I tested this when I had a free HBO weekend and the sound was choppy.

I was thinking that too. An earlier post siad that recently he found 174 DD shows on in a two week period, and that was with a channel package including HBO/Cinemax. That works out to 12 shows per day, and when you have over 100 channels, what are the odds that one of those 12 shows is a show you want to watch?

One of the reasons I subscribed to Dish Network was that all the channels are digital. I assumed this meant better picture quality and better sound. The only stuff that is better is the HD content and that's available on cable anyway. I'm not complaining though, cause its cheaper than cable.

[leesweet]

I never understood this either. I've got two Samsung 75s SD receivers that have optical out (I've replaced them with D10s for the serial channel switching from Replays...), and I couldn't see the point of optical on an SD receiver.

(I guess no one else did either, since the new D10 and others don't have it! :) )

Many sites sell 'just receivers'. It's called 'expansion' or something, adding additional rooms for current D* customers. American Sat does, here: http://www.americansatellite.com/products/viewprod.asp?ITEM=1598

But most only seem to have the D10, the 'current' SD receiver.

[Eyleron]

jackbnimble,

I guess one point of a digital connection to your receiver is that you eliminate the digital to analog to digital stage. It stays digital up to your processor.

[jwl48]

Hughes-model# HAH-SA: toslink digital audio out: bought in November of 2003: $85.00: also component video outputs(pr out;pb out;y out... Hughes- model#GCEBOA: toslink digital audio out: bought in April of 2003:
$99.00
: