I've been doing a lot of reading on this forum trying to sort out which box to get and found some very helpful information. (Boxes still aren't readily available though.)

I'm confused how the timer function will integrate with the CECBs. From the comparison chart it looks like the DTVPal is the only one that will allow timer programming to record on a VCR. Is that correct? Will the DTVPal work with OTA or is it tied in to Dish Network.

Do all the other boxes require that recording be started and stopped in real time? That would be a real pain . . .

Fortunately my coupons don't expire till mid-July so I have some time to get oriented. Hopefully, boxes that work acceptably will be available by then.

Thanks.

Yes the DTVPal is the only box announced with any type of VCR timer. All the other boxes would need to be left on to the channel you want to record and you would need to manually change the channel. Yes this means that while you may have a 36 event timer on your VCR it will only work from one channel, unattended. On your other point, the Pal like all CECBs work standalone with OTA only. Nothing tied to Dish.

Oh swell. An NTSC converter called a PAL?

:eek::D