Dish Network DTVPal Plus - Page 8

Does anybody have any suggestions for eliminating the small white line, I guess its called the VBI, thats only visible on a couple of channels?

Zoom!

Thats one solution, but depending on the programming it cuts off the sides of the picture.

Does the plus still freeze or has that been fixed since the first pals?

All CECB's will show the white lines across the top of the picture, when the image is in a postage stamp view and the station doesn't have their image adjusted correctly.

I get times where I can see it run the full width of the screen when there are side bars inserted (the VBI line shows from behind the side bars too).

RE: VBI line across the top of the screen.

This affects HD Tuners as well... the problem (and who you should be yelling at) is at the station...


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Yes.

Except the Zenith/Insignia because it has 5/8 inch more vertical masking on the upper
letterbox mask compared to the DTVPal. (On a 25 inch CRT)

The Zenith mask goes well beyond any possible VBI, but also hides some usable video.

I was noticing that on my Insignia last night. I was amazed at the amount of video frame that disappeared in the cropped mode.

You'll also notice that the Zenith/Insignia has more vertical masking on the bottom letterbox mask, vs. the DTVPal.

Although the amount of viewable vertical video that I see on the Zenith matches what I see on a Samsung HD LCD when it is in 16:9 over scan.

If you put a Samsung HD LCD in what used to be called "Just scan", or what is this model year called "Screen fit", you get the same amount of vertical video real estate as the DTVPal and will notice some VBI, since you are eliminating the over scan.

Yes to which part lol

1) it is fixed

2) still freeze

The DTVPal Plus (F106 firmware, which they all are at this time) still has the same reliability problems that all models and firmware have had.

1. Picture freezes and unit needs to be unplugged to reset. (Only happened to me once, and not sure of the cause.)
2. Unit powers on by itself, but no video or audio and unit is unresponsive. (Seems to turn on for maintenance and stays on.) Unplug to reset.
3. Powered off unit unresponsive to remote. (Power light doesn't flash to remote command.) Unplug to reset.

Number 1. and 3. are fairly rare occurrences. Problem 2. is the most common.

TY beeper as always. You would think they would fix this by now with the new models????????

The so called "New model" is only new in regards to the tuner. The Pal Plus was released a while ago. I bought one last September.
The current retail units still have F106 firmware that was available in the original DTVPal and was the latest firmware at the time it
was released summer of 2008. You may see newer firmware in the Pal Plus in the future.

I think that may take awhile because the Pal Plus wasn't selling very well because it was initially priced higher than the DTVPal/TR-40.
Dish now has an ample supply of Plus' to get rid of with F106.

Ya I saw $60 at Kmart for pal plus.

These freezing problems and VBI lines where here from day one of the DTVpal version 100-101 By 106 this should be fixed. No excuses.

You think so?

I don't know - my F105 seems noticably less buggy than my old F100 did, at least in the couple of months that I've had it. It hardly ever freezes up, where the F100 did constantly. Still not perfect, though.

I was only referring to the lock up problem still being there, not how often it may occur.

I've had F100, F101, F103, F105 and F106 and none of them had the lock up problem constantly. It's been occasional.

I had one of these pieces of junk. I actually had 2 (sent one back and got another) and both of them did all these things. The latest one did it after one day of use, it is now in the garage collecting dust. I just received a Channel Master CM 7000 and all these problems went away. Throw these DTVPal's away. They are junk.

On another note I loved how the tech. people blamed it on being plugged into a surge protector.

The Channel Master struck out because it doesn't have analog pass through that I will continue to need past the transition and the OSD is to small.

I also have a Zenith DTT901 and that is very grandma friendly. Getting the correct DST is the only attention it needs.
However, it is packed away in it's box, simply because it doesn't have a guide like the DTVPal.

Well my aunt is like a Grandma and she has learned to use the PAL very well. took longer then the Zenith

My 80 year old mom was also successfully trained for the Pal. (Showed her how to unplug it to apply a reset when required.)
Those instructions are missing from the user guide.
Although her friend is using the Zenith, because she unplugs every appliance when not in use. The Zenith boots much faster after being unplugged.

I set it to "Scientific Atlantic" and the LED is blinking but the channel isn't changing on any of the ones they tried. Anybody else having this problem?

Get her a POWER STRIP you lazy &#^@#8 lol

J/K

That is what I did for my aunt. No bending

Her's is plugged into a power strip, but the power strip is on the floor behind the TV. I should look for a power strip with a remote control, or plug the power strip into a switched outlet.

I just unplug mine right on the back of the unit. She would be afraid of getting zapped by the 5 volts going into the unit.

put the power strip next to tv. I did.

look for a switch extension. these are sold often for christmas tree use. is a plug/socket device with an electrical cord leading to a switch, allows wired switching of remote device.

you can also make your own. get a two wire extension cord of at least twice the length from tv to viewing location. get an inline rotary or rocker switch (these are make to clamp over lamp cord only requires cutting of the one hot wire in the cord, easy install). place the switch in the middle of the cord. plug in cord, run to viewing spot, run cord back to tv. if wanted could tape to runs together for neatness.

You need something like this:

http://www.acehardware.com/sm-ace-re...i-1286129.html

So what is the consensus on the Pal Plus? For those who have actually compared the two, is it really more sensitive than the Pal Regular? Is the reception quality better in general? If so, how much better would you say?

I've heard varied reports, and I would like to know for sure, because I have a chance to exchange my Pal Regular for one.

Reception in general isn't much different. You may actually see lower signals on some channels.
If you have some marginal channels that tune but are pixilated, it may make them watchable.

At my Mom's 55 miles out, I tested the DTVPal, Pal Plus and Zenith DTT901.

I left the DTVPal Plus with her because it had the best overall reception. The Zenith was #2.
She is fortunate to have all of the towers located in a very narrow compass heading.

yes, if youre comfortable opening the tv's case....in most older tv models u will find a VERTICAL SIZE and maybe even a VERTICAL POSITION control somewhere on the circuit boards...look for a glued-on paper label on the inside of the case cover that may show the locations....

while watching a channel with visible VBI lines tweak these controls just a touch to move the VBI lines up and out of sight....while youre in there do a touch-up of the FOCUS control....and the grey scale adjustments, if u know what they are....

be careful tho, there are high voltages present...u probably wont die but u could easily short out something and kill the tv if youre not careful.....use plastic tipped tools when youre near the circuit boards, if u have them....