The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic! - Page 99

Originally Posted by catmother

Don't be to sure of that. See my post 492 here:
http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sho...=1#post7074164

Originally Posted by Padawan

So, now that these have been out a while, is it worth purchasing? We have cut the cable for a few months now and are finding that we can't really go without tv. The wife and I are watching shows off the websites right now on a 19" laptop and that works, but is annoying. Like watching the same commercial all hour long. Ugh.

We are looking at getting a small 1080p tv for the bedroom, getting a OTA HDTV DVR, and going that route just to quit all the "poor user experience" of the laptop solution. Is it worth it?

Thanks,

Padawan

Originally Posted by jerrisn

I just looked at http://www.dtvpal.com/. It appears that the DTVPal DVR is all sold out. Has Dish Network realized the problems and heading back to the drawing board, or is this the end of the DTVPal DVR? I have my unit that is rebooting fairly often now. I am going to try the choke idea. I have removed it from a APC Backup with no results. I just find it odd that they are "Sold Out" with as many problems that are showing up. hmmm...

Originally Posted by kerrym80

Solidsignal still has them, and the price is now $249.

Originally Posted by kerrym80

Solidsignal still has them, and the price is now $249.

Originally Posted by kerrym80

phil,
The first zip that worked for me was that of KPIX in SF, that is 94111, but after that worked, I switched to my real zip, it works also.

Originally Posted by RAS49

On 23 December I received the following:

Receiver ID R188004967-67
Software Version F201TALD-N (subsequently upgraded to F202TALD-N)
Boot Strap Version 1011 TALD
Processor ID 29347110

On 28 December I contacted Dish due to the number of reboots (coming at the rate of one every 2 - 3 minutes). After approximately 10 calls and a similar number of hours on the telephone they finally sent a UPS label by email to return the machine (note: machine only, not the remote, cables or book). I received a new machine on 10 February as described below:

Receiver ID R1880052685-89
Software Version F201TALD-N
Boot Strap Version 1011 TALD
Processor ID 29379332

The latest machine appears to be working well and only reboots when the guide is updated. (I have now shut off the guide updates and eliminated all stations with a signal strength of less than 80. I live in the Dallas area so have only eliminated 3 stations as most signals are strong.) The latest machine was sent shrink wrapped without remote controller, cables or book. It did, however, contain another return UPS label!!

I do not understand the differences between the two machines except one did not work and the other does. Any ideas on the differences? (I have deliberately not updated the software version on the latest machine lest it effect it in some detrimental way. Any advice on this will be appreciated.)

I appreciate this forum and the good efforts and goodwill by so many. Thank you.

Originally Posted by NorthDallasGuy

I also live in Dallas. I was curious if you get the full 7 days for your TVGOS guide. I get a few stations that go 7 days out but over half of them (including NBC (channel 5), ABC (channel 8) and CBS (channel 11)) only go out 24 hrs or less. Is your guide loaded similarly to mine?

Originally Posted by bfdtv

The last TiVo software update introduced a nasty bug where the analog tuners periodically "go out." To get them back, you've got to either reboot the TiVo, or switch to a digital channel and then back to the analog channel. This is a killer bug for customers that are using basic (analog) cable.

A variation of bug was actually introduced back in late 2007, it was fixed shortly thereafter, and then it was introduced again a bit over a month ago. According to that thread, TiVo is rolling out a fix this week to a limited number of users.

Thankfully, this issue does not affect OTA digital channels.

Originally Posted by Super_Chachi

I'm in Austin and I experience reboot/lockups at random. I probably average 3 per week during heavy use, but I've gone up to 2 weeks without anything. Are you getting more than 12 hours of guide on KXAN NBC?

Originally Posted by bfdtv

Did anyone order from Solid Signal? If so, what revision did you get? F20*TALD-N or F20*TAKD-N?

Originally Posted by s73v3

I may have discovered a fix for reboot issues. I have second wave "L" unit:

Receiver R1880052698-02
Firmware F201TALD-N
Boot Rom 1011TALD
Real zip code
Getting TVGOS
No network
Updates disabled

I had been getting 1 to 3 reboots per session. After reading the discussion on power line issues and use of UPS to resolve issues, I got to thinking. The DVR power supply basically is just a regulated 5 Volt and 12 Volt supply. The regulators can't be that bad that they can't handle a little variation in line voltage. It must be that the DVR processor is sensitive to RFI and EMI. So as an experiment I dug through my computer junk box and found one of those ferrite chokes that typically come with computers, monitors and other electronic stuff. Its a RFI filter (ferrite donut) that you just clamp around the power cord. I put it on the DVR power cord last week and now have gone an entire week without any reboots. I plan to leave it on for another week and see how it does. If is still reboot free I'll take it off and see if the reboots come back.

This may be cheap and simple fix. Anyone else tried this?

Originally Posted by Chuck44

It was probably the station.

Originally Posted by Blaaz

Any advantage/disadvantage in buying the DTVpal DVR from Solidsignal?

Originally Posted by schultdw

I am in Arlington and I have the same problem. Only a few stations are getting TVGOS data and it appears that the remainder are using PSIP data. I base this on the fact that the channel 5 PSIP data went away completely recently and so did the schedule information on the DTVPal DVR.

Originally Posted by pheons

The DTVPal arrived a couple of days ago, and I'm very impressed so far. Watching everything in SD right now until my cables arrive from monoprice.

This is my first DVR, and I'm wondering if the included rubber feet isolate the unit sufficiently from the bass and other vibrations coming from a home theater system? Right now I have the DTVPal on it's own stand about 10 feet away from the subwoofer in a carpeted room. The current sub isn't all that powerful (Onkyo HTiB), but I'd like to upgrade to a SVS PC12-NSD in a few months.

Originally Posted by kerrym80

After all the problems dealing with Dish for my order solid signal has got to be better both in orders and returns if need be.

Originally Posted by saxboater

I received my DVPal DVR January 30. Since then, I have had some lock ups, so I started watching this thread. I contacted DISH's tech support via e-mail and chat. I updated my software, and disabled automatic software updates. The unit still locks up under heavy use. I contacted DISH again by e-mail, and they immediately suggested I contact their call center to get an RA. Like many of you, I am frustrated by this company's terrible customer service, and their use of their paying customers to test a product that is not ready. I have included a little of the chat dialogue below for your analysis:

The highlighted response is something I had not seen in any other post.

(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: You are all set. Have I handled everything to your satisfaction?
: No, no one has explained to me why a new unit will work better. If your company really believes this is the correct solution you should send a new one to me first. I should not have to pay the shipping to return a defective device.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: It could be that the hard drive has a bad sector in it that is causing it to freeze.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: Unfortunately we have to receive the defective unit first before we can send out a new unit to you.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: We pay for the charges for the new unit to be sent out to you
: But why do I have pay to return the bad one?
: What if you send another bad one?
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: I apologize for any inconvenience. That is the business rules for the return procedures of a DTVPal unit. If you had a regular DISH account with us I would make an adjustment to your billing to compensate for the shipping charge that you would have to pay to us.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: If by chance you were to get another defective unit, we would have to look into what to do about that if the situation were to arise.
: You can still make an adjustment. You could make an adjustment to the card I used for payment. According to your return policy you still have that number and would use it to charge me if the unit is not under warranty.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: Did you purchase the DTVPal through a retailer?
: No, according to your own website this unit is only available directly.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: The credit card information is used for customer's that have an actual DISH tv services
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: It is just a standard disclosure that we give
: You could send me a paid shipping label.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: We would not be able to send out a pre-paid shipping label to you.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: I apologize for any inconvenience.
: sure you could.
: just send it out.
(24DrDcb) Brandi S. OFB: I apologize for any inconvenience, but we would not be able to send you a pre-paid shipping label

Originally Posted by saxboater

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