Dish DTVPal / Echostar TR40 digital to analog converter - Page 2

Only a moderator can change the title now. Not sure if the request would have to come from the Original Poster or if anyone could request it. I agree the dash should probably be in the title. Searches are very picky. Add the dash and you will get nothing the way it is now.

I just talked to my House of Representative's aide regarding the coupon fiasco. He assured me that my Representative (Mac Thornberry of Texas) is well aware of the problems facing those of us who got our coupons early. He assured me that Congress realizes they are going to have to come up with a solution and that he (the aide) has done extensive research into the problems presented regarding Low Power Stations and the need for analog pass through for the boxes. I suggested that they have the coupons expire in a year instead of 3 months and make it retroactive to all coupons issued to date. This should give all manufacturers a chance to get their boxes to market and for the consumer to make an educated choice of boxes. Of course, he said that since this is an election year, he wasn't sure that Congress could act in time to help those of us who already have our coupons. I stressed to him that time was of the essence and that this was just as important to the American people as his getting re-elected to Congress since Congress was the entity that screwed it up to start with! We parted with his assurance that Congressman Thornberry would work as fast as possible to enact a solution to this mess. I am not holding my breath, but if we all write our Congressmen, maybe they will realize how dire this situation has become.

If anyone finds out a way to pre-order these boxes so we can use our coupons before they expire, please let us know.

Does anyone know the exterior dimensions of this box? I need to fit one into my RV and space is limited.

ConvertMyTV figured out a way accommodate pre-orders with the MaxMedia unit and they are paying hell for it over on the MaxMedia thread. Wonder if today's TIVO ruling over Dish will impact the offering of the E*50 or even the E*40?

as of today the site is down, just one page with the words customer service on it.

only the tr-50 was supposed to have a recorder built in so it should not effect the tr-40

touché! That is a disconcerting development


I was thinking if the tr-40 development and manufacturing is just a derivative of the tr-50 design (.i.e. tr-50 minus the recording capability). If the tr-50 development and manufacturing is stopped due to the TIVO ruling then E* has lost it's benefit from economy of scale on both units. They may choose to throw in the towel on the tr-40 as well?

if that happens then i guess i'll buy the channel master cm-7000

dagger what site are you refering to?
It must not be this one http://www.dishnetwork.com/digitaltr....shtml#anchor4

Thanks Malouff, I signed up for the email updates about the TR-40 on your link.
I believe Dagger was talking about the Maxamedia "convertmyTV" website, it has problems at times.

A DISH Network digital-to-analog converter box is an electronic device that converts digital signals into analog signals so that digital broadcasts can be viewed on analog TVs – enabling your analog TV to be able to receive TV programming.

The TR-40 and TR-50 are DISH Network’s digital-to-analog converter boxes. The TR-40 will be priced at $39.99, when available, and is eligible for the government coupon program (click here to learn more). This means that you can use your $40 government coupon to get the TR-40 essentially for free (not including sales tax and shipping, where applicable). Our converter boxes will be available in the summer; so please hold-off getting your coupon until the summer as the coupons expire 90 days after they are issued.

like we have a choice now they have been sent out and the more i read this the more mad it makes me. they had 3 years from the switch date was set to get their box out on time being the time the first coupons were sent out. we only have 90 days since the coupons were sent out and we should gamble on getting coupons by holding ordering them until echostar is ready to ship their box. Screw you Echostar you got a lot of nerve printing that.

Actually the final government specification of what was allowed in coupon elgible boxes was completed only a little more that a year before the coupons became available. The converter boxes that are now available were designed and put into production in a very short time.

Rick R

EchoStar TR-40 (new design) outside dimensions are:
H: 1.3” x W: 5.9” x D: 4.2” This is one of the smallest boxes so far!

New design, and smaller?  Another increase in their unfulfilled promises, and perhaps an excuse for another delay.  Until we can actually buy it, its dimensions are 0x0x0, so yes, that's the smallest box imaginable.

mandy's dad can you provide a source for your information.

Echostar (Dish Network) TR-40 Converter Box gets a new look
http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=855

The TR-40 digital converter box from Echostar (also known as Dish Network) has a new look! My Echostar media contact, Francie Bauer, sent me the image posted above. The TR-40 will be 40%-60% smaller than the original design, shown below.

notice the slingbox logo is gone

n4ygt I still don't have my coupons and have not tried to call (650)-293-8640 the pre-order phone number.
I do have the number correct don't I the image is really fuzzy.

I guess I too should have had a Echostar contact

All I had was a SlingMedia contact Matt Whitlock who is supposedly still digging around for some more information since March 31st.

By any chance did you ask Francie Bauer about a pre-order and if the price is going to change?

Per Don Lindich's Sound Advice column, "The TR-40 has been rebranded the DTVPal and will be available in June or July."

WWL-TV news analyst Jerry Seregni also reports, "The TR-40 has been approved by the NTIA's coupon program and will be sold as the DTVPal by both EchoStar and Sling Media."

The DTVPal brand isn't shown on the DISH Network digital transition page for its CECBs. Regarding the TR-40: "Our converter boxes will be available in the summer; so please hold-off getting your coupon until the summer as the coupons expire 90 days after they are issued". Regarding the TR-50: "The TR-50 will not be eligible for the coupon program, pricing and availability will be announced soon."

Thank you seatacboy for reporting and giving the sources.
Now we know to stop searching for the TR-40 and the hunt is on for the dtvpal.

I wounder if since they changed the name if they also changed the pricing and features.

Does this also mean that SlingMedia will also have a dtvpal?

Most can remember the MaxMedia/ConvertMyTV change from MMDTVB03 to MMDTVB02

Looks like dtvpal.org dtvpal.com and dtvpal.tv were registered 2008-03-18 by Echostar Satellite, L.L.C. but dtvpal.com was dropped.

Those with contacts please keep us updated.

Based on Jerry Seregni's report for WWL-TV, "The TR-40 has been approved by the NTIA's coupon program and will be sold as the DTVPal by both EchoStar and Sling Media."

Seregni's report also emphasizes another distinctive feature of the DTVPal:

"Unlike many converters, EchoStar's DTVPal uses an external AC power supply ("wall wart"). The box requires 5 volts DC, so it could also be powered by a cigarette lighter adapter or a battery pack. EchoStar hasn't announced plans to offer either as an accessory, but viewers in this area who have asked whether converter boxes will let them use their battery-powered, analog TVs to get news and information during tropical storms or power outages after Feb. 17th would snap them up."

Another thread indicated that the EchoStar/Sling CECB styling also was being changed. The cosmetic changes and brand name changes probably do not affect the NTIA certification of this CECB, but stay tuned.

By looking at the photos of this box.... My guess is that it well have the same sort of problems as people are supposedly having with that magnavox box (aka overheating due to no vent holes).

echostar has one advantage the magnavox doesn't, the power supply is out side the box. Transformer type power cord so that should cut down on the over heating problems.

It's still the TR-40. It's just being branded to market as the DTVPAL. Both are valid ways to refer to it. Here's the latest I have with a rendering. There's nothing new in this doc, and I can't say for sure if the rendering is the final design of the box.

 

TR-40.pdf 109.380859375k . file

I wonder if they have promised the Moon, World, ... and are going to the forever to deliver?
My coupons expire 28 May 2008.
I think I need its VCR timers and other features to schedule recording of programs on my analog TiVo DVR.

I emailed the Sales & Equipment department at dishnetwork.com. I asked if I could pre-order the ECHOSTAR TR-40 before my coupon expires on 6/13/08.

This is a copy of the response I received:

Thank you for your email. We apologize for the inconvenience this issue may have caused. Please be advised that we will still honor the $40 coupon even if it has expired. Unfortunately, there is no way to pre-order a converter box.

We thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to www.dishnetwork.com or reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Charles T.

TID:OR-Chrysler

DISH Network eCare

and how are they going to do that, take the $40 loss on expired coupons or are they raising the price by $40. I would not take their word on that unless they know something we don't about the goverement changing the rules.

I think this threads name should be changed to "Echostar TVDPAL digital to analog converter (a.k.a. TR-40)

They could back date the sale to cash in the coupon?

I've read that they're already planning on taking a loss on these boxes to promote Dish Network. Maybe they feel it's that important that they're willing to take a total loss on some boxes.

how would free digital TV decoder promote dish pay TV? How will this coupon thing effect retailer like Mosquito unless Echostar will pay the $40 which will cost them plenty. You should have them explain how they and retailers plan to honor expired coupons for this box. No way am i wasting another coupon on their word or anyone else's, got screwed by Maxmedia already. When my other coupon arrive if they arrive then I'll give it a try.

Not positive how these CECB coupons work but with grocery store coupons stores usually get 6 months to get the coupon back to the mfg. after they've expired. Maybe that's what's going on??
On another note here's a copy of a email I just got from Echostar when I inquired about the TR-40 ship date:

Thank you for your interest in the recently-announced EchoStar/Sling Media TR-40 or EchoStar TR-50 products.

EchoStar’s TR-40 over-the-air, digital-to-analog converter allows analog TVs to receive digital over-the-air broadcasts and comes with an onscreen setup wizard for easy installation. Other features include up to a seven-day electronic programming guide (EPG), program search, parental locks and VCR auto-tune timers. The box will be sold under both the EchoStar and Sling Media, Inc. brand names for $39.99 at retail, and can be purchased via the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program.

EchoStar will also offer the TR-50 DVR digital-to-analog converter box that includes a digital video recorder, allowing customers to view, record and play back local over-the-air analog and digital broadcasts, including high definition. The TR-50 DVR offers all of the TR-40 features, plus closed captioning, reminder pop-ups for pre-selected programming, simultaneous output from HD and SD connections, as well as Ethernet, modem and USB connections to support additional functionality. Pricing for the TR-50 DVR will be established in the coming months. The TR-50 will not be eligible for the $40 Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program as it functionality extends far beyond the maximum functionality of eligible converter boxes as set forth by the NTIA.

At this time we are working toward final arrangements with resellers as well as creating a Consumer Awareness program to better educate consumers on the products as well as the transition from analog to digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009.

Update: The TR-40 is expected to launch in June while the TR-50 is expected in September. We understand a great number of consumers have already received their coupons from the NTIA and are concerned that they will expire before the TR-40 is on the market. We are currently working with federal agencies to try and augment this process but we do not have any control over it.

Kindest Regards,