The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic! - Page 476

I wrote Trip and here is his response:
Hello,

The TVGOS equipment is notoriously unreliable. At this very moment, I have heard there could be two or three separate TVGOS outages, KIRO being one of them, so while I suspect it will be fixed, I can't really offer you a timeframe since I lack the inside information on it.

The local station engineer likely has no control over the situation, as the TVGOS box is usually completely remote controlled by Rovi. The most the local station engineer can do is remove it from the system or reboot it if it locks up.

Your best bet would be to call Rovi, but I'm not sure they will be of much help either, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful, but I do hope your issue is resolved sooner rather than later.

- Trip
By the way on the Seattle forum someone has posted the TVGOS is back up and running. I have not been home yet to check but maybe someone got tired of all of us whining. Miracles do occasionally happen.

Sometimes public 'bitching and moaning' getting result.

For those people who still are thinking about an OTA recorder you can still buy some of the 7000 PAL (DTV-PAL)at [url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Channel-Master-CM-7000PAL-DVR-Dual-Tuner-Antenna-Digital-Recorder-HDTV-Open-Box-/220959126879?pt=US_DVRs_Hard_Drive_Recorders&hash=item337230b55f or you can try http://www.ebay.com/itm/Channel-Master-CM-7000PAL-DVR-Dual-Tuner-for-over-the-air-antenna-HDTV-Open-Box-/140715145974?pt=US_DVRs_Hard_Drive_Recorders&hash=item20c346baf6and I believe it has a one year warranty. It seems to have the superior tuner and there is so much information about how to change the HDD as well as it has the TVGOS one week program guide for free where available. I have noticed several people continuing to lament losing their DTV-PAL. If you really feel that way get another while you can!

3 DTVPal DVRs up and doing fine. TVGOS is good too although sometimes I can be looking at a fringe channel's program description and the next second, it is gone... and then a minute later it is back again. Still, no biggie.

BUT, tonight, I looked at my Recorded Programs and at the top is a 3 hour and 20 minute show only labeled as /DVR/STRM0300 ?

When I try and play it back by clicking on Start, nothing happens... so it doesn't seem like there is anything there?

What is it and is it okay to delete it?

You can try, but it's strange to see _almost_ native file name ( it's not suppose to be exposed to end user), not a meta-name eg show's name from a catalog, what the DVR is using in My Recordings list.
I would do cold restart, or at least soft (hold Power on remote for 10 secs)

[quote=Jack Morris;22031714]3 DTVPal DVRs up and doing fine. TVGOS is good too although sometimes I can be looking at a fringe channel's program description and the next second, it is gone... and then a minute later it is back again. Still, no biggie.

I think what you are seeing is actually an EPG program guide mixed in with the TVGOS data. I may be wrong but TVGOS does not seem to pick up all the fringe channels. I have had my program guide do the same thing. If you find something missing on one of these channels go to the channel and watch 30 seconds it will repopulate the program guide and the information comes back. Where TVGOS will keep its material once information is downloaded until the date passes the EPG information works somehow differently. My understanding is that information is from the actual stations directly and must need to be constantly updated.

Those prices are insane. I think Sears would still be selling them if they could get those prices. I believe they cleared out at $50 each. I missed that, natch, but managed to get four in the $100 to $200 range. I went $260 for one with a 1t disk. Keep looking for bargains.

No matter. It's been three years since I stopped paying $160/mo for cable. Even after $45 for internet and $15 for netflix, I'm ahead $3600. After my DVRs and OOMA, I'm ahead $2400. After paying for my antennas and infrastructure, I'm ahead $2000. Of course, adding four additional DVRs to my cable bill would have cost an additional $2200. Maybe $320 isn't a bad deal after all

My original remote is getting squirrelly and I am interested in getting a backup before it dies. I have noticed mention in this thread of more than these three remotes. although I suspect one of the last two is a typo).

DTVPal 5.3, Dish 20.0 and Dish 21.0 remotes

Should I get the 5.3 even though on Amazon it seems to be most expensive?

Thanx,

Brian in Atlanta

I bought a 20.0 IR remote on ebay for $12.00 about 2 years ago and I use it everyday. It does everything that the standard remote does plus you can teach any buttons in the other three modes to send any code you need.

This remote is well documented in this thread.

Pete,

Thank you.

Yes, but a) some replies said that it doesn't work the TV part in certain modes and b) if my 5.3 IR dies, can I use the 20.0 without the 5.3 to reprogram it?

We use the harmony 300. excellent, inexpensive remote.

No sure what you are referring to.

In Sat (DTVPal) mode none of the buttons are programmable they do the same functions as the DTVPal remote. (Text on several buttons has changed.)

There is a "device code" that has to be the same for the remote and the DTVPal. I set the remote to agree with the DTVPal.

The other modes (TV,VCR,AUX) are programmed using the remotes that came with various devices. (if needed.)

Because of another problem I did teach the "DISH" button on the 20.0 to power on the DTVPal using the 5.3 as a source.

Hope this helps

And it's only $19.99 w/free shipping on Tiger Direct.com right now (open box).

I just ordered western hard drive from amazon, WD10EVDS. They accepted order $88. They gave delivery time of 3-5 weeks. I suspect I'll hear from them in a month it's out of stock, or maybe they will stall. Anyone get that HDD from Amazon lately?

According to Western Digital, this and several other models in this series are not currently available - that no one has any new in stock, these models were out of production, and no new production is scheduled. Only re-manufactured or used but tested units are still available at around $100 if you can find them. They wouldn't even make a recommendation for a suitable replacement from currently available production.

I'm afraid that you most likely will be waiting a long time for delivery. Good luck.

Donald1800

I picked this one up for my HTPC. In stock, brand new.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0360102

Thanks. It's great that local stores carry such remotes (I don't think I want to risk an open box version). Does the Harmony 300 have all the buttons and controls of the original 5.3 and are they easy to identity relative to the 5.3?

Brian in Atlanta

Since I don't plan on upgrading until I have viewed what's on present HD, I decided to chance it. But, knowing Amazon, I'm 99% sure your right. I know the comments about any AV unit type will work, I prefer not the hassle of experimenting and returning, so I hope some one will suggest a unit that Amazon carries, since it's easier to return to them if no workee.. Also, price was better than $110 units. I do want 10000 size.

I hope you guys can help me. I haven't read much of this thread, but I'm hoping my symptoms are common enough that someone can point me to a solution without having to read all 14K+ posts.

I bought a CM-7000 pal dvr on CL a few months ago. Up until now, it's worked nearly perfectly. Now, when I try to tune in a channel, I get only a black screen. I unplugged my unit for 24 hours, and it went through the boot-up cycle, and it even downloaded current guide data, but when it's when I choose a channel on the guide that the unit hangs.

Does this sound like my hard drive might be taking a dump? Or could it be another issue? I would appreciate any input you guys could give me.

I would search the thread for "black screen" ...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...ostcount=12891

What is CL?

Did you try unplugging the antenna coax on the box and then do a factory restore in the menu

Does it play any previous recordings OK. or do you also get a black screen when you try to play them?
Have you double checked all the cables (antenna, HDMI etc)?

Probably it meant "Craigslist."

man should of known lol thanks

Hi

Can't get to my recordings...

Just moved where I can't record OTA any longer (to rural). So the set up wizard keeps coming up and won't let me get to my previous recordings on the HD. Any way around this?

Thanks, Rick.

It won't let you cancel the wizard?

Nope, the "cancel" button is grayed out. Choices are "point antenna" (NA), "continue" (runs the scan and brings me back to the beginning) + "help" (nothing there).

Since we travel full time in a motorhome I ran into this problem early on due to the frequent changes in our location. I found no way to get around this other than going to a location where you can find at least one channel and then saving that channel. As long as you have at least one channel stored you can get to your recorded programs.

TY jcgc50, will give it a try. Happy travels 2 U

Weird Problem here.

Unit works perfectly and have had no problems at all with it until yesterday.

Came back into the room and on the TV screen was a white box the exact size of where the picture should have been. Sound was fine, All menu's worked fine. Guide was on screen and channel changes worked as usual.
BUT, no picture.
Did a soft boot and then when nothing worked, I pulled the plug and left it unplugged for 10 minutes or so. Plugged it back in and after doing the usual downloading guide/programming usual hard boot stuff, everything works as normal.

It worked fine all last night and early today, when I looked, once again I had the white box on my screen. Hard boot once again worked.

I've searched for this problem but haven't found it and it is not like the black screen of hard drive death which I had on another one of my DTVPals.

I wonder if it has something to do with the setting for turning off the unit after a period of non-activity... but instead of turning it off now, it is just shutting off the TV signal video output?

Anyone ever hear of this problem... and if so, what is the solution, other than doing a hard boot once a day?