Dish DTVPal / Echostar TR40 digital to analog converter - Page 58

Has anyone reviewed the Apex 250, at best buy. that look like a good deal. I wanted the dtvpal for the recording uses. but now i think it's not that much of a big deal to just leave some other box on then come home and turn it off.... anybody see any probs w/that? i haven't heard of any boxes over heating...

The checkout page on dtvpal.com is secure and does use encryption. The entire dtvpal.com website just loads a frame with a page from dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/index.shtml.
From here the order page is actually secure but because of the frameset most browsers won't recognize that. More dish incompetence at it's finest. Right click on the order button and choose open link in new window or new tab to easily see for yourself.

I've got a snag on my e-Bay order. When I first sent in my coupon numbers + the three digit code on the back, I failed to also send the Valid Thru date. Apparently they need that also. After getting an e-mail back, I sent all the numbers necessary. Just tonight however I received an e-mail from them saying that I must have mistyped some of the digits because the numbers did not work when they called them in.

I double checked the numbers and the ones I sent were correct (although I did not put the spaces in the 16 digit number). All day I've been entering those numbers at the coupon site to see if they had been used, but kept getting the "your coupons will ship on" date info. Which means the numbers are correct. But the Valid Thru date and three digits on the back aren't asked for. When a dealer calls the numbers in, some other process must be taking place.

Hopefully he will try again tomorrow (he said he can only do it once a day).

it's been reviewed by a few here and there. generally positive reviews with a few issues due to 4:3 vs 16:9 display/broadcasts. a few people already have it on here. soon I will too, as I didnt know the DTVPal was gonna go on sale today (thank you for the advance notice, Dish)...so I ran to BB last night to get the Apex to avoid having my coupons expire tomorrow.

I'm so disgusted with this whole ordeal at this point...both with the Dish/DTVPal stuff and the whole coupon thing. What is the point of having the coupons expire...I mean if they didnt...I'd have been able to pick out the box I wanted instead of going with whatever to beat the expiration date.

Now...even if I hate the DT250...the best I can do is get my out of pocket expenses back, not the coupons so I could take them and get another one. With the way its setup I have to go to the trouble of ordering another coupon using someone else's name and address...and then when that one comes in, I have 90 days again. I guess I'll wait til the TR-40 comes out that is free (like it was supposed to be in the first place! ) before I order another set of coupons.

I really hope there are class action lawsuits against the gvt and/or even Dish and other CECB manufacturers for all the BS (price gauging, false advertising, etc.) the consumers are being put through. I'll join it.

I like price gauging, or measuring. Now, price gouging, that's lame and I'm looking at cheaper boxes because of it.

Yep, this morning DTVPAL.COM still had the selling "late June 2008" icon while it was actively selling it...if people clicked on the icon. Now at least it mentions it up front.

I feel for you but there were several options out there the last few days had you wanted to order from "CDC", the CECB retailer on ebay or Solid Signal (if you really wanted to throw your money away at $79.99 or $79.98).

But I'm sure it'll be nice to have various CECBs anyway after things settle down. Get the "best" CECB for each setting. A DTVPAL where recording might be #1, and maybe the Apex for viewing...

Regardless, the CECB coupons are just that... use em or lose them... I remember a coupon I had once for a FREE 3-liter of Mountain Dew. My market doesn't sell 3-Liter bottles. I don't think I've ever SEEN a 3-liter bottle of soda in my life. I was upset that I couldn't use it... but I can't blame the Coupon or it's issuer... I should blame the Retailers. If I had planned things out I might have found somebody that would have taken that coupon. A FREE 2-liter might have worked as a substitute.

As you mentioned coupon/CECB swapping might become more a bit more frequent in the near future. People might hand off their "OK" CECBs for "new" Coupons toward the "big/better" CECBs.

The difference between $79.99 and $79.98 is a 39.4% savings

Just apply for another set of coupons using relative's addresses.
I want to get this box if there is no other box with VCR ability, and hope to get this in Radio Shack or Sears instead of mail order ordeal.

But will see what the next 3 months has to offer

Quoted from the CNET review:
"The DTVPal can also work in conjunction with a TV or DVD recorder that has TV Guide On Screen"

That's the reason why I ordered from Solidsignal a DTVPal because my women is crazy about multi-programming on our Panasonnic HDD/DVD-R/VCR.

Our 32" Toshiba CRT HDtv 16:9 will continue to use a our Sylvania HDTV OTA receiver.

A map will be useful with the use of 4 remotes - 5 if you count the audio system

Nice! Got a true LOL out of me.

So, for all the people planning to use this with a VCR... won't you have fun when you record one show that's pillarboxed and one show that's letterboxed and can't be there to change the zoom/picture format setting.

that sucks, I thought there was some option to deal with little things like that

On other boxes they remember they remember the setting you do for each station. So zoom wont be a prob I do not think

Well, maybe the thing remembers the right ratio for your channel once you adjust it (or somehow automatically chooses a good one). If I read all these forums correctly, I think the Zenith 901 does this, but other ones like Digital Stream and RCA do not. I don't remember if I read what the DTVPal does for this.

Just ordered from DTVPal.com with my last coupon that expires tomorrow, 6/27/2008.

Have other folks received an email confirmation of their order?

How do I check the status of my coupon?

I think you were Dish trained. They sell the first 2 boxes for $40, and that comes to $60 after coupons and shipping. I saw it on Satellite Guys.

Too bad, we won't see retailers cut the price, because they are already paying $10-12 more wholesale. That cosmetic box redesign and G-link capability are worthless to me, but that's probably why the box was late and costs $20 more.

I wanted this box for unattended VCR recording, EPG beyond now/next, and APT. The search function seemed less valuable -- what's to search if there isn't full data? It's not like there are hundreds of OTA channels.

I have my APT box now, got a Zenith DTT901 ($10 at BiMart) when my DTVPal order was cancelled. Someone today heard again that Dish is honoring expired coupons, but they didn't tell me that two days ago when it was expiring.

The DTVPal advantage is down to timers, which was always my primary reason for wanting one. Well, other than free, to keep an old secondary tv out of landfill.

I will wait for reviews. I guess it's too much to ask for information about that stripped down box. You'd think the NTIA put a gag order on these box makers, nobody seems to have detailed specs out ahead of product.

After reading this morning here that DTVPal was accepting orders, went to
dtvpal.com using Firefox 3.0 . Filled out coupon info; name, address,
credit card no. The upper right corner of the web page had: 59.99 + 8.95 s/h = 68.94.
Clicked on "Order now" button.

The next page "Review Order" adds Calif. sales tax another 5.86 making the total
78.40. But does not subtract the $40 gov't coupon. Didn't hit the Submit Order button.

Called the 800 number listed on the order page, got a sales rep. who took down all
the coupon and my info. Every two minutes I was put on hold. Their computer was
freezing up. I get quoted 78.40 - 40 = 38.40. I ask why sales tax when I'm in Calif.
He says you are paying your state tax. Finally got a confirmation number for the order.

Now the sales rep. reads "DishNetwork does not guarantee you will be able to view
stations from the DishNetwork, only maybe some local stations." By now I'm on the
phone for 40 min. Again I get asked for the coupon no., expiration date, security code.
The rep can't enter data in the computer. He sends me to another dept.

The new rep. says "I'm from the resolution center, what is the problem." I said you have
a problem when you cannot process data. The rep. takes down all the info again, was
on hold every two minutes. The rep. still cannot submit data into their computer.
The first confirmation order was canceled for some reason. The rep said they'd call
when everything is processed.

In total spent 1 hour on the phone, still didn't successfully place an order. Looks like
they were unprepared for the avalanche of orders today. I see other people
had better luck today than I did.

Hope they don't cash in the coupon without delivering the box.

I just saw some guy posting a review for DTVPal on Cnet saying that "DTVPal requires Dish network Service Fees for local channels."
Here's the link: http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tune...sageID=2597781
Is that true?

If TVGOS data is broadcast digitally by CBS after the switchover, and the way they base the information is the same as it is now (by zip code), they should also send the Canadian data along with the domestic data. I live near the border and got lots of Canadian station data for stations I could not even pick up, only because TVGOS assumed I could get them based on my zip.
So, what remains to be seen is if the digital TVGOS is populated purely by digital channels, or if it will continue to be populated by all current stations that submit data to TV Guide.

He's a hater or confused.
Or the customer service rep screwed up!

I'd say there was some severe miscommunication there and it isn't true. It's a normal converter box without fees. Dish Service, on the other hand, sells "boxes" that require fees to decode satellite signals. It sounds like he got a customer service rep. who was selling the Dish Service and had no idea what the DTVPal is... or was devious... but my guess is ignorant. And I see someone said as much in far fewer words.

Funny thing is I didn't see an easy way to report that review as "flawed" so that people don't freak when they see it. Of coarse if they care to read CNETs review it doesn't make any mention of "pay" features.

Of coarse who's fault is it that some customers think they need to "pay" a fee to Dish to get locals? That's right, Dish Network... because they haven't trained their CSR staff well enough.

Checked My Account status at "CDC" and I'm currently in "other" status. When I first placed my order I was in "new" status. Didn't get any UPS # or confirmation yet, as some members appear to have gotten already.

"CDC" current says it is "Sold Out" of the DTVPAL and they are not taking Phone Orders at this time. No estimate on future shipments, yet.

To anyone who is interested, there is a full DTVPal manual available online at www.dtvpal.com. Just select the Support link on the main page, and then select the DTVPal User Guide and Manual link, or just follow the handy links I've included here.

1 DTVPal Receivers $59.99
1 Govt Coupons $-40.00
SUBTOTAL $19.99
Taxes $5.77
Shipping & Handling $8.95
TOTAL $34.71

who said the first 2 were going to be 40.00

Another miscommunication... when you buy two for $40, you're not paying $40 each (minus coupon = free), you're paying 2x60=120... minus 80 for coupons = $40... for two... before more than $20 in jacked up taxes and shipping...

From the handy manual link:
"To change to a sub-channel, enter 0 before entering the channel number.
For example, to change to channel 9-2, enter 0092 on the NUMBER PAD."

Blah, yes, this makes IR blaster/glinks happy, but it seems mildly annoying. Especially when they go on to say:

"Note: The STAR (*) and POUND (#)
buttons are not used by the DTVPal."

It would have killed them to make (*) work as the (.) in channel 5.2, etc., and still support 0052 as another way to enter it (assuming it doesn't)?

If you check the DTVPal Sales Disclosures link on the DTVPal home page, you'll find the following. Take note of number 5.

1. The DTVPal cannot receive DISH Network programming.
2. Coupons can only be used for the purchase of DTVPal equipment and will not cover the cost of taxes or shipping which can be paid for via debit card, credit card.
3. DISH Network does not operate nor control the digital over the air signals as these are operated by the local broadcasters. Because of this, DISH Network does not guarantee that you will receive useable digital signals or receive all the digital channels using the DTVPal or an Over the Air antenna. Also, in the future local broadcasters could change the location of the broadcast towers that send the digital signals and this could affect signal reception and ability to receive channels.
4. All DTVPal sales are final.
5. There is no monthly fee for the use of these products.
6. Once a converter coupon has been verified it cannot be replaced, canceled or reused.

in what way, you can't return for your money back or if defective you are out of luck.

The warranty is listed on page 31 of the manual. It's actually page 41 in the pdf.

SLING MEDIA 159365 seems to be same box and only $40
dont know if thats the old box thats not out but it seems to be available
i ordered the dtvpal so have not checked it out if its correct it saves $20

At first CDC say place an order and there is nothing to click to place an order- - so I thought it sold out..