Buzz Out Loud Lounge: Echostar TR40 VS DTV PAL Converter Box
Echostar TR40 VS DTV PAL Converter Box
by Katie53 - 6/14/08 3:10 AMThe reviews of the Echostar TR40 say this digital converter box has a VCR Event Timer. I use 3 old time VCR's attached to 3 analog TV's and I record around 420 hours of programming OTA each season. {about 70 VHS Tapes} During off hours and when rerun season begins, I watch programming I have recorded on a VHS Tape. How can I continue to do so after the change to digital TV? You know, program VCR to record CH 3 at 8:00, CH 27 at 9:00, CH 5 at 10:00, etc., when I am not home.
I thought the Echostar TR40 with the VCR Event Timer would allow me to continue using my existing VCR's. Now, the new DTV PAL comes on the scene and the reviews do not mention a VCR Event Timer.
Does anyone know if the DTV PAL has a VCR Event Timer or if I need to wait for if/when the Echostar TR40 becomes available? My coupons expire July 7.
Or-----are my days of TOTALLY FREE TV over? 
Worry not
by RodderRodder - 6/14/08 2:52 PM In reply to: Echostar TR40 VS DTV PAL Converter Box by Katie53I have some good news, some possibly better news, and a little bad news.
The DTV Pal will still allow you to use your VCR. That is assuming that your VCRs are TV guide on screen or Gemstar compatible.
http://www.tvguideonscreen.com/support/directv/setup.asp
If so, you should have a G-link cable (shown in the link above), that you hook up to your VCR with the sensors being attached to the DTV Pal. This will allow you VCR to change the DTV Pal's channel when it comes time to record your shows.
If your VCRs are older and don't have this capability, I'm afraid you might be out of luck. There is an alternative, though. The Echostar TR-50, which is the TR-40 with built in Digital Video Recording will is coming out, which sounds like it would be a better solution for you.
http://crave.cnet.com/8300-1_105-1.html?search=echostar+TR-50
The bad news is that it cannot be purchased with the coupons and even if, won't be out by the time your coupons expires. Sorry.
By the way, I'm under the impression that the TR-40 will still be more like the DTV Pal when it comes out. But if you plan to wait for it, I don't think it would be frowned upon if you ordered some more coupons and had them sent to someone else's name and address. Not that this has been tried, mind you, but it sounds like a viable alternative to me.
TV Guide On Screen
by Katie53 - 6/14/08 9:00 PM In reply to: Worry not by RodderRodderThanks for the info, Roddy.
I have never even heard of TV Guide On Screen, until now. My VCR's do not have it. I looked it up, it sounds like TVGOS has a LOT of problems.
My old system, look up programs in TV Guide MAGAZINE, set timers on VCR's, seems so much simpler and trouble free. 
I just want an easy, simple, cheap way to record programs like I do now! Even if I bought all new VCR/DVD Combos, I don't know that I could manage that TVGOS hook up. But if that is what I need to do---I will.
I just wish thare was someone you could call to figure out and install what you need. I have had enough experience with the sales people at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. to know that they do not know what they are talking about. I have gone from sales person to sales person with one question and gotten different answers from all of them. How is someone as technically challenged as I am, supposed to get all of this stuff figured out and set up?
Anyway, for now it sounds cheaper to wait for the TR50. As far as getting more coupons....everyone I know is using their coupons....good idea though.
Tv guide Not required
by muffinmonster - 7/19/08 6:12 PM In reply to: Worry not by RodderRodderIf your recorder can control a scientific atlanta cable box it will work. Set picture format, audio,closed caption format before seting DTVpal to TV Guide mode. These can not be changed once in this mode. To select channels add 100 to 2 or 3 digit channel no, 5-2 would become 152 ,channel 41-1 would become 511 etc. The DTVpal will behave like it is a cable box,with no guide information,it also can not be turned off except by unpluging
DTVPal's web site
by BobOnTampaBay - 6/15/08 11:51 AM In reply to: Echostar TR40 VS DTV PAL Converter Box by Katie53Per DTV Pal's latest web site:
"Event timer
Set a timer to turn your DTVPal on and tuned to the desired channel before your favorite show starts playing
"
My GUESS is you could tell the DTVPal to turn on and off for a specific event* AND program your VCR to record at a certain time, for a certain duration, on the "line-in" or Ch 3 or 4 (wherever you have your DTVPal inputed to your VCR).
*You might define the specific event by the good old DAY / TIME / CHANNEL method used for decades in VCRs or the Electronic Program Guide method by selecting the program from a grid. With a little luck you will be able to do both.
Here's their web site:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/features.shtml
Changing Channels Automatically
by Katie53 - 6/15/08 9:24 PM In reply to: DTVPal's web site by BobOnTampaBayThanks Bob,
I checked out the link you posted. What concerns me is this, the wording is vague.
"Set a timer to turn your DTVPal on and tuned to the desired channel before your favorite show starts playing
"
"Turned to the desired channel before...." Does that mean you can only record on one channel while you are away from home? I want to be able to set the VCR to record, let's say---CH 5 ar 8:00, CH 27 at 9:00, CH 8 at 10:00---while I am at work.
My VCR's are not TVGOS compatible either---I hope that isn't going to be a problem. I just use the TV Guide MAGAZINE to get my programming and then set my VCR----so simple and mistake proof---IMO.
Anyway---I sure hope your take on it is correct---for sure---it is going to mean a LOT to me.
Changing Channels Automatically
by almost_silent - 6/19/08 11:41 AM In reply to: Changing Channels Automatically by Katie53Based on the review I read, the timer for the DTVPAL allows up to 5 events, which means, you could record up to 6 different channels using the VCR's timed recording function. You would leave the DTVPAL on, tuned to the first channel for the first recording, and put the other 5 in the timer, which would be synchronized to the VCR's timer events.
DTV Pal Box NOT your "Pal !"
by *~*Wisewords - 6/26/08 4:15 AM In reply to: Echostar TR40 VS DTV PAL Converter Box by Katie53The DTV Pal box is not your "Pal !"
This box has had its name and price changed so many times that one can hardly keep up with it.
One well-known seller started it out at $39.99, then 42.50, then 59.99, all with varying delayed dates for when it would be available. Finally, realizing that the company's actual date of manufacture was unknown and not forth-coming, they canceled orders for sale of the boxes, removing the company from their list of suppliers. (This is well-known to anyone who has been looking for these dubious boxes.)
SolidState.com now has the box listed at $79.99, which is double the original price! However, the box still ain't available!!!
This TR-40 or DTV Pal box, has actually not yet been made. It is just all talk! The box has so many desirable features that it sounds too good to be true, and you know how the saying goes:
If it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
IMO, I would stay away from this box like poison. The manufacturer has lied about when it will be ready, about the price, and even about the name of their box! I bet that if there are problems with the box, the warranty won't be worth the paper it's written on.
Choose a different box, and save yourself a headache.
The RCA DTA800B has been rated as having excellent sensitivity, however, it is currently unavailable from any suppliers.
The entire Converter Box Program is mismanaged, but that is typical for any government program.
Instead of a 90-day coupon, they all should expire 90 days after the switch-over date of Feb. 17, 2009. In the meantime, money set aside for the program would be collecting interest, but that would make too much sense.
I ordered two DTV Pals
by Katie53 - 6/27/08 9:49 AM In reply to: DTV Pal Box NOT your "Pal !" by *~*WisewordsWell, I ordered two DTV Pals last night. Here is the site I ordered them from. Supposed to receive them in 7-10 days. So, now we will see.
http://dtvpal.com/
$119.98 Two Pals at $59.99 each
-80.00 Coupons
+ 8.96 Tax
+17.60 S+H
$ 66.54 Out of Pocket
If and when I receive my Pals, I will let you guys know how they work to record on the VCR's. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Got Them
by Katie53 - 7/5/08 9:04 PM In reply to: I ordered two DTV Pals by Katie53Hi! I got my DTV Pals on July 3.
I glanced at the directions-------not even in the mood to try to hook them up.
DTV Pal Awesome!
by Kenneth159 - 7/27/08 10:09 AM In reply to: Got Them by Katie53If you are looking for a DTV converter you have to get this one.
I just received mine and hooked it up and am very impressed.
I have an external antenna running to a room on the other side of the house but i decided to hook the DTV Pal up to my 1999 JVC 27 inch stereo tv running on powered rabbit ears antenna on the opposite side of the house.
The only bad thing I have to say about the DTV Pal is when I was walking through the setup wizard it got stuck on the date setup page, but I just unplug it and let it reset,then all was good and I was able to start the wizard over again and complete it without a hitch.
A nice little feature about this unit is you can put in your zip code and then you can go to a weather channel and it will show weather for your very city 24/7
Although I just installed it about 30 minutes ago so I'm going to have to look into the linking to a DVDR for recording and dinkering with the program guide which is something i know nothing about at this point,the thing that really blew me away about this DTV Pal is the tuner sensitivity which is way beyond comparison better than the one built into my JVC stereo TV.
Before Hooking the DTV Pal to my JVC I was always moving around the rabbit ears and never really satisfied with the reception.
Now I get about 30 channels of crystal clear reception.
Rarely do products live up to their, but this DTV pal surpasses it.
If you bought one of the other DTV converters, my condolences.
Ken, Tampabay,Florida
DTV Pal Awesome!
by Kenneth159 - 7/27/08 10:15 AM In reply to: DTV Pal Awesome! by Kenneth159Just wanted to edit a mistake
Now I get about 30 channels of crystal clear reception.
Rarely do products live up to their reputation, but this DTV pal surpasses it.
class action law suit
by jtybt - 7/28/08 6:13 AM In reply to: DTV Pal Awesome! by Kenneth159I think it's about time someone initiated a class action law suit. Most stores like Walmart and Best buy simply are not keeping any kind of supply of digital converters. It's as if they are purposely keeping stocks low so people will be forced to buy new digital TV's from them.
Secondly, the gov't should be sued for poor anticipation of these kinds of problems from greedy manufacturers and outlets.
If the gov't is changing their format without any input from the consumer, they should supply the solution free of charge.
[#1] EVENT-TIMER [#2] REMOTE-CONTROL
by dixie_2 - 9/29/08 1:20 PM In reply to: DTV Pal Awesome! by Kenneth159[#1] EVENT-TIMER
o I've read many reviews on CNET indicating there is a huge problem
with the EVENT-TIMER used to schedule programming sent to a VCR.
oo Have you had any difficulties??
o Apparently the problems occur most often with VERSION-100.
VERSION-101 appears to be better.
oo Which version do you have??
[#2] REMOTE
o A CNET-review on 7-8-2008 by ARAKNIS said that the
REMOTE-MODEL-1.5ndb is bad. That we should get MODEL-3.2ndb.
oo Is your remote OK???
oo Which model do you have??
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
DVDR RECORDING
by dixie_2 - 10/3/08 12:07 PM In reply to: DTV Pal Awesome! by Kenneth159Pleasde let me know how DVDR RECORDING worked out for you.
There have been many complaints about the TIMER. It was encapable of holding TIME which caused preset recording-schedules to fail.
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