Dish DTVPal / Echostar TR40 digital to analog converter - Page 219

What version is your firmware on that box?

Do you know where I can see pictures of the EPG of the Memorex MVCB1000
ty

OK found the manual and the EPG is really bad but the box does look nice

oppps it was just $285 I made a mistake

I assume it has a Now/Next type EPG and the graphics design does make that box look like a tank... Kind of reminds me of my late 90's DVD825 Philips/Magnavox DVD Player. Yet for the user that wants to "see" their converter box, I'm sure this will do nicely.

I would be surprised if any manufacturer is still making them since they are obsolete. Since they quit making analog (only) tvs several years ago, the number of analog tvs in service has been decreasing (even up to the transition). The transition required each analog tv in use at that time to have a box. And if the assumption is made that this is now true then there is no longer a market for the product in practical numbers. Even if the failure rate of the existing converter boxes exceeds that of the existing of analog televisions, I see no viable market and I believe the opposite will be true: there will be an increasing number of available used converter boxes as analog tvs fail and/or are scrapped.

Except in Canada. Identical digital TV specs and transitioning OTA in Aug 2011.

Won't 2007 technology be obsolete by 2011?

They probably wouldn't even want to buy most of these buggy, junky boxes up there.

They are exactly what you get when you have to buy them and they are meant to last less than 3 years (not a durable good like a tv)!

CAN the DTVPAL be found anywhere? Can it be purchased anywhere?

Ebay and craigslist.org sometimes when you are lucky.

Keep checking your local Sears. Ask them what days they get shipments and call the next day after they have time to stock the stuff (ask them how long it takes to stock the stuff too). I've been calling mine and unfortunately these people don't know what's been ordered, they have to wait to unpack and stock it. Sad. One guy told me there was an email circulating about getting more in due to all the enquiries. I read on this MB that some stores in CA recently got more in so there is hope.

Economicaly no. Even if someone comes up with a 7th generation tuner, it's hard to believe that the canadian OTA market would justify the cost of a major redesign. Most of the converters were updated in 2008 so the better ones are already refined designs.

On the other hand, there is no sign of a coupon program up North, so we can always dream of someone bringing out a cheap ATSC/QAM converter to cover both the OTA and digital "open" cable markets. Back when converters first showed up there was speculation that some were designed with QAM in mind, and were just crippled to meet coupon program specs. No coupon program means no QAM restriction.

used or new?

There already are a few of those out here right now that are under $100.00 (though they can never keep them in stock). That's about the cheapest you're probaby going to get. Anything with QAM will not be cheaper than the most expensive CECB.

Just wondering, what models are showing up in Canadian stores? Are they decent ones like the Zenith or are they the so-so models that you can still find new in the US?

Speaking of QAM, I wonder if the chips in any of these CECBs support it given the right code and a few hardware mods?

That I wouldn't know. All the ones here are only avalable on the internet.

I hope for their sake they get better than what we've got - I hear about a lot of QC issues with the ones here (in the threads here and in customer reviews on the net).

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no.

Sorry for the late reply... F105 (screen capture: http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2702/snapshotqoq.png ).

What was the original question lol

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post17330805 :P

Time changes are a bug. 106 fw is the best firmware ,but still have bugs.

Too bad no way to update FW. The DTVPAL DVR has two ways to update.

Used and considering someone got mine on eBay for almost $50 the prices are holding up very well. If anyone has any of these laying around, this is a good time to unload them.

I have a brand new TR-40cra, still sealed in the box, never been opened. Pretty sure it has firmware 105 according to the serial number, and the fact that I bought it at the same time as another that has 105. I believe firmware versions 105 and 106 are the same.

I've had it listed on craigslist.org for a few weeks now at $40, but so far no takers. I don't really care for e-bay that much.

Heh, I have 3 still sealed in my closet somewhere. I should get rid of them while I still can...

I have a few barely-used Zinwell ZAT-970As. I didn't need to use them but preferred to run them (hopefully) enough shake out any infant mortality-type defects since I knew the warranties would expire before doing anything with them.

eBay is the way to go - Craigslist doesn't seem to do as well.

I have had a VCR go out and replaced it with a Magnavox DVD Recorder and 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR, (Model: ZV457MG9 which HAS a ATSC tunner built in). I have not had time to try setting this up but would like to be able to use it in such a way that I can be recording from one station via this DVD Recorder/VCR and using my Pal to watch another. Has anyone successfully done this? Neither manual seems to give any real guidance for doing this.

Any help available with be greatly appreciated.
Jane B.

Hook the DVD/VCR up to a line in port on the TV, and put the DTVPAL on the RF input (or a 2nd line input on the TV). Use an RF splitter coming out of the wall, with one output on the splitter going to the DTVPAL and one to your DVD/VCR.