Channel Master CM-7000PAL HD DVR - AKA Dish DTVPal - Page 11

PVR = Personal Video Recorder?
DVR = Digital Video Recorder?

Why personal?

I guess it's because you can pause and rewind live TV as well as timeshifting, so the idea is you can record for yourself and watch on your own terms.

A little OT, but since you asked, the Roku with over 100 channels (most are free) and streaming Netflix at $8/mo, in addition to my CM-7000PAL mean no regrets about dropping cable 6 months ago.

AJ

Some people make the distinction that a DVR is a stand-alone box with the sole purpose of timeshifting television broadcasts, while a PVR is a personal computer with a TV-tuner card and software for timeshifting television broadcasts, but the term can refer to either of them.

This has always been my understanding as well.

I did the same thing. I already had streaming capabilities on my PS3 and I picked up a couple of Roku boxes as well. I cut my cable completely the day after I received my 7000PAL about six months ago. I have absolutely no regrets other than missing some of the NBA playoff games.

Ah. I always thought PC setups were called HTPC (Home Theater PC) or Media Center (from MS?).

The HTPC term refers more to the playback capabilities (monitor type/size, speaker configuration, and remote control capabilities) than to the recording capabilities of the computer, but this is again more a matter of perception than definition.

Ah thanks.

TiVo always described their recorders as PVRs because of the amount of customization provided, season passes, suggestions, wish lists, etc. TiVo always referred to their competition as providing more generic DVRs, lacking much of the customization, or personalization.

That's a historical view of the two terms, going back 10 years. Beyond that, many folks use PVR and DVR interchangeably.

Now if we can just get people to stop telling us they are going to tape a program on their PVR/DVR.

ROFL. I hate that too. I tease them tape like a VHS and casette tapes? :P They need to say "record"! Even VCRs can use that term.

And, a VCR might honestly be called a PVR (why not, no mention of "digital" in Personal Video Recorder, but it can't be termed DVR.

I must confess, I still say that I "taped" something with my DVR. Gotta work on breaking that old habit!

AJ

Funny about language. It takes time to change. I often hear coaches and players say "we won't know for sure until we look at the film." Of course, they haven't used film in...what...10-15 years? (And I think "NFL Films" needs to change their name eventually, too.)

Mark

Also, sport coaches say look at tapes. TAPES?! VHS tapes?

OK, it's been a couple days, and I've tried it both ways. Hands-down, the best way (as I'm sure you all already know) is to keep the PVR/DVR "in line" all the time. I saw no degradation in the quality. The Harmony remote had no trouble adapting, so there was no additional training needed for my wife, so she's happy. This is a very nice unit!

I do think the menus could be a bit more clear. It still take me a minute to find something I recorded.

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

Mark

On a Star Trek episode, Abraham Lincoln asked Captain Kirk where the music (Hail To The Chief) was coming from. Kirk said it was taped...

Old habits die hard. We still "dial" a phone number!

Oh yeah, I still say that. I should say "call". :P

Nonsense. Keep saying "dial" and "tape". Embrace the old terms. They provide sense of history and an appreciation of our roots.

Bah, I am trying to be technical. :P

The majority of people here in Chicagoland refuse to call the old, Sears Tower the "Willis Tower".

After all, it's a friggin' landmark.

Is it just me...

Shouldn't the dual tuner be recording the current and last channel you visit? My old FiOS DVR did this, and I guess I just assumed this would do the same. This really makes watching two shows at once REALLY annoying.

All,

I recently purchased the CM7000PAL.

Two or three times so far I've noticed that I'm unable to turn on the unit from the remote. The 'only' way I got it to turn on was if I held the remote an inch away from the base unit's remote sensor. Most other times, I'm able to turn it on from the couch which is about 10ft way from the unit.

has anyone experienced this or do I have a defective unit ?

I googled this odd behavior and came across a hit where a user reported a workaround by taping a piece a paper over the unit's sensor ?

Any feedback regarding this is greatly appreciated.

thanks,

Light sensor on some TVs may cause poor / intermittent remote response

A number of newer LCD and plasma TVs feature "light sensor" or "day-night sensor" to adjust the TV's picture depending on ambient light conditions. When enabled, this "light sensor" or "day-night sensor" causes havoc with many STBs and DVRs using IR remotes. Disable this option in your TV settings and remote response should return to normal.

from: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...95&postcount=1

If I were to buy this at Walmart, would it be worth it to get the extended warranty? I am not knowledgeable about the reliability of this dvr.

Has anyone tried connecting a Logitech Revue for Google TV on this unit? Any idea if it would work?

I very rarely buy an extended warranty on anything, but I did for my CM-7000PAL. From what I've read I do not expect it survive 3 years of heavy use without problems and repairs for this unit can be problematical. So, when I got mine from Amazon I also bought the 3 year SquareTrade warranty.

Not sure what the price is at Wal*Mart, but you might compare it (including sales tax) to Amazon's price (free shipping and no sales tax).

http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master...3151369&sr=8-1

AJ

Just bought one for my mom at Chruchfield. $299.99 and free 2 day shipping!

I think somebody just did in the DTVPal thread, and it worked fine.

^ Thanks, Rammitinski. I'll check that out.

I wanted to know if there are any owners here using this DVR with the Terk HDTVa OTA antenna. I own this antenna and a 2010 samsung plasma and was wondering if this DVR would make a good addition as I went ahead and cut the cable cord a couple of months ago. Do you get good reception and noise free play back recordings?

I'm also trying to picture how the connection is going to work for me. Terk DTVa-> 7000 Pal-> Samsung HDTV via HDMI is how I'm thinking it's going to work. Does this sound right?

Your feedbacks is greatly appreciated

By the way for anyone out there who is having antenna reception issues but isn't willing to run long cables and deal with setting up an outdoor antenna, I strongly suggest this model as it deals excellently with multipath interference. I bought it after doing my research here and have to say that I haven't looked back since