The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic! - Page 147

so has anyone been able to transfer recordings to a PC for archiving. seems like I read awhile back that someone had tried, but didn't have any luck using a windows PC. I wonder if a Linux PC would work better since the DTVpal DVR runs on a version of Linux.

I believe that it was with a Philips DVR that someone had pulled the SATA cable to the hard drive out a hole cut in the rear and had run another SATA cable to the controller inside. I don't remember for sure how he did the power to the drives, though it would be nice to power down the drive not being used. He was using a SATA/SATA through-the-case connector and would plug in the internal or the external drive as needed -- a bit inelegant, but whatever works for you. A SATA/eSATA converter (or one of those backpane PC adapters) that lets you plug a SATA cable from the MB inside and has an eSATA port on the back side could be used. One should be able to cobble something together with an external powered enclosure and the SATA cable to inside of the DVR. Those bare-drive-slide-in SATA caddies could be used as well, but then you would have bare drives that could be damaged more easily. I have a couple of those and they are handy to keep from cracking the case for every drive change or backup, or moving a drive between computers. I'm just a hobbyist and I tinker a lot; and I still have the last five or so computers that I built and all kinds of "spare" parts -- some new and unused. I'm a packrat and and an impulse buyer. My house is too small for all of my "stuff" and it's a wonder that my wife of 23 years is still around!
It should work with the DVR -- routing the SATA cable to external enclosure, allowing you to use all of the hard drives there. I don't know that I would need that much storage, though. I watch stuff and then erase it. I don't really "archive" stuff, though I have about 70 or more DVD-RAM discs full of TV recordings that I haven't watched, yet. I recently started trying to finish the last season of Enterprise, and I still have VHS tapes like that as well, which is why I bought a Panasonic DVD-RAM/VHS recorder.
Needless to say, I can't talk to my wife about this stuff. This forum is kind of like my Home Page.
Back to the PAL DVR -- I didn't get TVGOS until maybe a month ago. When the PAL started receiving TVGOS, my SONY DHG-250 suddenly stopped receiving it. I'm seeing some weird stuff like the PAL is still receiving PBS on the 7.1, etc. channels but the SONY doesn't anymore, even though the host channel now shows the local digital CBS channel. Even the DISH DVRs have been erratic with those channels and their TVGOS data for those channels was missing for days. I think that the switch to digital is happening here and there, but it's weird that all of these Digital receivers don't react the same. I haven't used my Philips DVDR3576/37 since getting the PAL, so I'm not sure how it's doing. Some "Quick Reply", huh?

I was wondering the same thing yesterday. I have played recordings from the DVR to my old Panasonic DMR-E80H for recording. It looses a lot of quality.
We were wondering what operating system the DVR uses. I heard that it wasn't Linux. If it does use Linux, my 13 yo son may try transfering recordings to our computer (we run Fedora)

What about the Black Magic HDMI capture card? HDCP prevents capture?

The Hauppauge HD PVR model 1212 has a "loop through" for component HD and digital audio, allowing it to be put between your video source (DVD, Blue Ray, or DVR of any kind) and the TV, allowing the onboard processor to record real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i by way of USB2 interface to a PC.
You can check the reviews by actual purchasers/users for this on some site like newegg and see if it might be what you need for archiving HD material, with digital sound. This seems to bypass the DIGITAL copy protection, so far.

I bought the DTVPAL DVR in December. Received it in January. Rebooted just shy of 100 times between January 19th and April 13th.

Last Monday the DVR rebooted 3 times while I was watching 24. My wife just about had enough (with the DVR and me, because I'm the one who bought it). So I went onto DTVPAL.com to see if a new update was there and no luck. So I checked on this website and I noticed chatter about F206. Hallelujah!

Update to F206 Tuesday (4/14) after work and it has not rebooted since. I just got done watching 24 this week reboot free. I love this DVR now. Yes, I would make a few changes, but I can finally recommend to friends (well, almost. I'll give it a week or so more just to make sure). It appears that DISH has solved this reboot problem.

I've been off for a while and am wondering if anyone had the same problems and hopefully a solution. I have had my DTVPal DVR for about 95 days counting Dish's way. Tomorrow would have been my 90th day of use. So my warrantee is gone.

I have been away for 2 days. I came back and my PAL is cycling every 4:30 minutes. The lights are off. The white loading screen comes on. The Downloading guide screen comes on. When it is over, the green light comes on and the screen is blank. This goes on until about 4:25 into the cycle. Then the red light comes on with the green, my tv screen lights up again with the comment that there is no signal. Then, the lights go out, and the cycle starts again.

I've been on the chat with Dish for about half an hour. They said it would need to be replaced. They gave me a name of a company where I could buy another one. So I'm out $279 dollars and, it looks like, all of the shows that I was saving on the DVR and hadn't downloaded.

Has anyone overcome this? I loved this machine. It had its problems before. But I was willing to put up with them.

I'm hoping someone has words of hope, because I am not going to spend another $279 possibly to do it again every 4 months.

Any ideas anyone?

Susie

Have you tried updating the FW?

Hopefully someone will crack that file system soon.

Check with your credit card company some offer extended warranties when you buy something with your card. I used my American Express card for just this reason they extend the warranty by one year.

Have a chat with somene else at Dish. A few folks were able to convince Dish that the warranty period should start the day the unit was recieved or placed in service, not ship or order date.

Sounds like its trying to update the firmware.
What firmware version do you have installed?
Do you have it connected to the Internet? If so unplug the ethernet cord.
Have you tried unplugging the power cord for a few minutes?

I updated to FW206 about two weeks ago. I was pretty happy with it. I had it connected to the internet for about a week after that. It's the only time I've had it hooked up. It wasn't connected to the internet when the problem occurred, but I can try hooking it up and seeing if that helps. I'll talk to my credit card company too. But I really want to save it, not replace it, if possible. Thanks.

I'll try anything anyone suggests.

Susie

Try unplugging the power cord for 30 minutes.

Made the folder on the thumb drive, just like it said in the instructions. Nothing else was on it. It was a brand new 1GB thumb drive from staples. It was less than $10. Not sure what kind of format.

I posted yesterday with no problems for 10 days with F206, but jinxed myself. I had a screen frozen last night with the picture on it and had to press the power button for 10 seconds to induce a reboot.

Looks like FW206 made engadget:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/04/21...solves-issues/

Mine is doing the exact same thing as yours. Hope someone figures this out. Tim

Sorry replied to the wrong post .I Should have replied to this post. Tim

Here is a shot in the dark:

Unplug the box.
Remove the card in the front of the box.
With the card out, plug the box back in.


If that doesn't work, you may want to describe your setup a little more. For example:


What is the box plugged into (power strip, UPS, directly into the wall)
How is it connected to your tv (HDMI, component, composite, analog out)
How is the box receiving its OTA signal (direct hookup to antenna, inline amplifier)

I had a new problem today, most (not all) of my timers were pushed forward by one hour last night. The last thing that I did with the receiver was set 2 timers using the event search.

I'm not complaining at all, but I placed my order on the 20th, was charged immediately, and received this today:

"Greetings from Solid Signal,

We thought you'd like to know the following information regarding your order (# 45447228xxxxxx)

Thank you for your recent order. We are unable to promptly ship your order because we are temporarily out of stock on one or more of the items within your order. Please be aware that this status is only temporary and your order should ship within the next 3-4 Business Days. If you need to update your order for faster shipping because of this delay, please reply to this email mentioning the order changes.

Thank you,

- Solid Signal Order Review"

Again, I have no complaint. This is just for general knowledge about availability.
Wynn

On the Solid Signal website it states that it usually will take 2-5 business days to ship the item (DTVPal DVR).

-Slicker2k

I was going to suggest F206 but it sounds like you have done that.

It won't fix the problem but try connecting to the internet for a while (overnight in standby) in case the DVR wants to phone home.

Also go the diagnostic counters menu and copy down all that stuff (several screens) like where the error occured, reason code etc and email it to tech@echostar.com. The only reason code anyone has reported seeing is "MLG1". I expect yours should be different since I don't think anyone else has reported these symptoms. I see one other person said they were having the same issue.

This may help Dish determine what the problem is (if they give it to someone who understands the box. I am not sure a real person reads the email at the address above because the responses are always signed with the same name and sometimes look like as AI program scanned the email.

This may not help you but it may help Echostar improve the box.

Had frozen screen during play. Had to reboot (remote 10 sec.). Back on, but no signal. Had signal on other dtv equipment. Took 3 reboots, and let go thru update schedual. Picture. Software update friday f206 Last recorded reason USR1 whatever that means. Diagnostic vram failure. Failure original indicated with f201 in January. Chat with dr. dish online. Cooperative Given RA number, ship my expense 30 day expire. Suggest you check diagnostic. Request RA, This is hardware problem, I think.
Foxy2

Actually "USR1" is a code as well. It appears when you do a force reboot by holding the power button down on the remote till the unit reboots itself. I believe "MLG1" is the code for the standard nightly auto reboot.



I would try a force reboot by holding the "Power" button on the remote down until you see the lights change and the unit reboots. This might fix the issue. You could try a factory reset as well.

Has anyone that received a unit in the "latest round" of shipments had theirs shipped with an outer shipping box, either from Solid Signal or Dish?

I really want to get one now that it looks like it's improved significantly, but not if it's going to come damaged and/or just in the retail box...that rubs me the wrong way.

TIA

I kind of worry about that too. I'd prefer to buy it in a store and take it home. Pure speculation here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see these in Sears before too long as the PAL was before it. However, not going to wait...... just purchased mine.