The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic! - Page 500

Originally Posted by wsabcpa95 

Seeking clarification from the engineer/techie audience--
I too have lost the TVGOS stream in NE Ohio. In reading the many posts, references have been made that TVGOS is only available to DVR's enabled with internet connectivity. Is this true or perhaps, misleading? Not being a techie, I think that downloads (say weekly) aren't available from ROVI for public use and... IF they were, would they not have to be in a stream format that the DTVPal could upload either through it's RJ45 ethernet jack or auto-routine through its USB port...and that capability would also require an update to the F208 firmware so it could interpret the packeted data? I guess what I am asking here is that it's not as simple as downloading iTunes file and pushing the data into the DTVPal? When references are made to DVR's with internet connectivity only getting TVGOS, are we really just talking about DVR's tethered to paid satellite or cable services?/WSABCPA95

Originally Posted by P Smith 

ccrider2, according your file, there is no TVGOS stream.

Originally Posted by ccrider2 

Thanks..They cut us off for sure then. :.....: sure didn't waste any time.

Originally Posted by tmn1 

I posted these two messages on the TVGOS thread but maybe someone here lives in the Santa Clara area. How about P Smith? Don't I recall you live in the Bay area? Someone needs to actually make contact soon or this is going away.
Has anyone in the Santa Clara area considered just walking up to their front door and talking with them? How about asking what it would take to keep the service on going? There must be a number that would encourage them to continue. If we have that we at least would have a starting point for discussion. Anyone? What do we have to lose at this point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaltA
I had thought that on-going TVGOS support was thru the revenue generated by the left-side ads. Though, I have to wonder if someone believes that there are too few people viewing these ads on TVGOS anymore. Possibly, this warning message was also intended to get those still using TVGOS to raise their hands, and be counted.
Possibly, we need to "help" Rovi, and support some kind of real TVGOS viewer numbers (ratings)?
This is exactly the reason I suggest someone in the Santa Clara area go to them and speak to someone on a personal level so we can actually know what gives and not have to guess. They may tell us to take a hike but unless someone takes the time everything is speculation. If on the otherhand they are willing to give us some means of supporting the system we can try to work out a plan. If I wasn't 1000 miles away I would go but there must be someone near that can take an hour to find out our options. it must be done soon or everything will be torn down.

Originally Posted by dattier 

If every station provides at least twelve hours of upcoming PSIP guide, you're fortunate.  Many stations in the Chicago market provide none: no titles, no synopses, not even start and end times.  Of those that do, most supply only three to six hours’ worth.Even if the current block block counts, it would still mean that at least nine hours of future listings are required.  Few stations meet that.

Originally Posted by P Smith 

So, you want officially delegate me.
I've passed that building where is ROVI sign appear many times. So, I know it's 10 min drive, no big deal. More important how I would present myself ? As freelancer who loosing TVGOS (we still have it from KPIX) ?
Or we should make a PDF with well written petition (perhaps some lawyer is between us) ? Then I would deliver it and talk to someone (I feel our chances are close to zero) who is willing to hear our opinion.
I've a feeling, if I'll come as lone "wolf", they wouldn't listen.

Originally Posted by P Smith 

So, you want officially delegate me.

Originally Posted by P Smith 

More important how I would present myself?

Originally Posted by P Smith 

Or we should make a PDF with well written petition (perhaps some lawyer is between us) ? Then I would deliver it and talk to someone (I feel our chances are close to zero) who is willing to hear our opinion.
I've a feeling, if I'll come as lone "wolf", they wouldn't listen.

Originally Posted by golinux 

Why not! If I weren't halfway across the country, I'd be there with you.
You could present yourself as spokesperson for all the TV viewers who have enjoyed TVGOS for years (and are now gonna get screwed). Perhaps refer to fellow denizens of AVS forum who have been following TVGOS for many years.
No lawyer is needed to write a petition or simple statement. Perhaps we could start a separate thread to discuss what should be included and for possible wording.
I have been doing a LOT of very effective activism for nearly two decades. If we want to get anything from Rovi but a pat on the head we need to absolutely believe that it is possible. Confidence and patience will win the day if it is at all possible.

Originally Posted by trp2525 

Just my 2 cents on the subject.....

if I'll come as lone "wolf", they wouldn't listen.

Originally Posted by LenL 

.....I wonder if ROVI or us know how many thousands or millions of people would be impacted?.....Not enough viewers are using ROVI to make it worthwhile for them. Or so they think?

Originally Posted by videobruce 

I bet if you go in there with a number from the local media they would listen.
Of course you could also bring some friends:

Originally Posted by golinux 

I have been doing a LOT of very effective activism for nearly two decades. If we want to get anything from Rovi but a pat on the head we need to absolutely believe that it is possible. Confidence and patience will win the day if it is at all possible.

Originally Posted by trp2525 

I can only speak for the number of DTVPal DVRs that were produced based on the receiver ID numbers that I have seen. The lowest receiver ID number that I have seen started with R1880052xxx and the highest number I have seen started with R1880068xxx. That would equate to approximately 17,000 units numbered from 52000 through 69000. This is based only on the receiver IDs that I have seen or been made aware of but I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of units of users on this forum fall within that range. If anybody has any outliers, please post them so we can get a better handle on the actual numbers.

Originally Posted by trp2525 

I have some thoughts regarding the cessation of TVGOS by Rovi and its impact on our DTVPal DVRs. While I am disappointed that we all will be losing TVGOS data by next April, I feel that we will still have a very functional product even though it will only have PSIP data available for the program guide/program descriptions.
I'm not sure if I'm the typical purchaser of the DTVPal DVR, but I purchased my two units to replace two VHS VCRs. The main reason I purchased them was that I wanted the ability to be able to record OTA in high definition. Well not only did I get that ability with the DVR but I also got the ability to record two programs at once and watch a third recorded program at the same time. The fact that it had ANY program guide was an added bonus. I am fortunate enough to be in an area with TVGOS so I have had the full 7-day program guide since I have owned my two DVRs.
Regarding the economics/financial side of my purchases I really feel that I have gotten my money's worth (and continue to do so today). I purchased my two DVRs at the "pre-release" price of $250 before they went to the full $300 retail price when Sears started selling them in the late summer of 2009. That $250 purchase price was much less than the prices I had paid for the two Super VHS VCRs that the DVRs were replacing. My oldest DVR will be 4 years old next month so that averages out to just $5.21/month thus far and the unit continues to function to meet my needs.
We should be thankful that Dish brought this DVR to our niche OTA market in the first place at such an attractive price point. I don't think any other manufacturer would have done this if Dish hadn't. (Sony did have the DHG-HDD units but they only had a single tuner, required TVGOS to be fully functional and were priced significantly higher in the $800 to $1,000 price range because of their higher build quality.) Till this day I don't really understand Dish's reason for doing it other than to possibly get their OTA equipment in our homes and hope that we would then become Dish subscribers when we craved for more programming than OTA could supply.
The bottom line is that I feel the TVGOS has been a bonus for me for the last four years. Luckily Dish had the foresight to make this unit functional in the absence of TVGOS so that it would not become obsolete in its absence. For me the remaining functionality of my DTVPal DVRs after TVGOS disappears will suit my needs just fine and will still be light years ahead of the VCRs that they replaced. I also have two DVRs that don't report my viewing habits/preferences to any "mother ship" like other subscription products do and I can enjoy 39 OTA channels/sub-channels with absolutely no recurring monthly fees.
Just my 2 cents on the subject.....

Originally Posted by wiscojim 

I have one out of that range, here are the 5 I have:
R1880050851
R1880052788
R1880053321
R1880055862
R1880060985

Originally Posted by keyboard21 

Yet if media gets involved and shows angry people with signs outside the office of Rovi. Imagine if if there were 50 people yelling "Hell no do not let tvguide go"

Originally Posted by golinux 

Considering there are people who still don't have power weeks after Sandy much less TV entertainment, I think that a media protest like that would make us look like self-indulgent idiots.

Originally Posted by tmn1 

I have no preconceived idea how anything will work with Rovi. I only would like to hear from them what they need and then we can see what is possible. I have seen two weeks worth of complaining here and think that will get us nowhere. If there is a chance to save TVGOS it has to be done quickly, thus my suggestion of someone visiting their headquarters. It is a long shot but if we do nothing we will get nothing. Pretty simple. Thanks for your efforts.
Tom