Samsung SIR-TS160 Multiple Platform DirectTV Receiver
Easy set up, reliable, good value
Positives:<br />I'm replacing a RCA DirectTV receiver and samsung's UI is much better and much FASTER.  Set up was a snap.  It even worked off my old non-HD dish until the installer arrived to install its dish.  It found all my local OTA stations on the first try.  Having the OTA stations mixed in with the satelite channels is nice. (I had assumed that OTA would be some separate, hard to get to, guide). The DVI connection is amazing! I've suddenly become critical of my progressive scan DVD player.  Another excellent feature is that the DVI and S-Video are live at the same time.  This works nice for recording through S-Video while watching DVI.  Using it with a Hitachi 51&quot; G500 set.<br />Not so positive:<BR>Actually, the only thing that bugs me about the unit are the stupid games that come built in.  What a waste of engineering.  Let see, I've bought an HD monitor, I'm a satelite customer, I have a home theater system--that's right samsung I'm going to cheap out on a gaming system if I want to play games--please give me some crappy games.  <br />An actual problem I had was that my older PVR doesn't have a code to control the 160.  Replay wasn't much help and it's really a limitation of the PVR.  I mention it only as a unforeseen gotcha you might have.<br />Finally, I've seen a lot of remote complaints, which I too experienced with the samsung remote. It's might be the weakest IR signal ever.  My advice, get a good universal remote to replace the samsung.  I personally have been using a Home Theater Master MX500 for some time and once I programed it to the samsung the problem disappeared, I can even close the door over the IR sensor. The MX500 actually has 2 IR beams just in case your aim sucks. Go to [...] to get reviews.  The MX500 is to remotes what HDTV is to TV. It will solve the samsung's remote problem and any other remote problem you might have.