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Dish DTVPal DVR (ex-Echostar TR-50) Official Speculation and Order Info Thread - Page 5

post #121 of 3326
1/17/08 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bfdtv View Post

I will edit the first post with all the latest news, so that is the only post you have to check for the forseeable future.

Excellent.
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post #122 of 3326
1/17/08 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdskycaster View Post

As do my first generation Echo SD DVR's and 2nd gen SD DVR's but I would be the first to admit that they are definitely outdated and soon to be obsolete in a few months. Echo continues to update the software on them (Gen 2's) so they have some new features but who cares - they are SD. HD is where it is currently at. I can upgrade through Dish for 2 new HD DVR's with service for about $149.00. That is for 2. How much is the new Tivo HD DVR with unlimited lifetime service that you may or may not actually use?
....
I have owned all of them for at least 4 - 6 years and paid no more than $90 for anyone of them. Since I own them I do not pay any monthly DVR fees (Echo now charges a DVR fee). That cannot be matched by any Tivo owner including S1's - lifetime or not. There are a couple of times over the past 3 years I have thought about switching back to DirectTV (I was a subscriber for 9 years previously) but have declined specifically because of Tivo's monthly charges and upfront costs. I think signing on with Tivo was one of the worst mistakes DirecTV could have made.
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I call Dish, they send me a replacement DVR, I box up the defective unit and send it back postage prepaid.

I choose the provider like Dish or Comcast first and then choose among available DVR and/or STB options.

We used to sub to Dishnetwork. I've still got a 501 DVR stashed away and a 301 STB. If customer has an old 501 and wants to use it today what, if anything, does Dish charge? E* has made credible DVR's over the years. I actually liked their incredible early Dishplayer even with its hiccups!

In some ways renting is better than buying. But even with no strings I ended up returning Comcast's Motorola DVR because HDTiVo (w/Lifetime Service) worked better.
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post #123 of 3326
1/18/08 at 10:23pm
501,508 and 721 are grandfathered and not charged any DVR fees. It does not matter if you own or lease a newer model, they still charge the DVR fee.
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post #124 of 3326
1/19/08 at 1:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bfdtv View Post

TiVo and DirecTV get their guide information from Tribune Media Services.
[snip]
My understanding is that Echostar worked with Gemstar to modify their software so it could accept the information offered by TVGuide.

I don't believe this is correct: Dish Network also gets its guide info from TMS, not TVGuide -- in fact, each detailed program info listing on Dish ends with a copyright notice attributing the info to TMS.

Rob
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post #125 of 3326
1/19/08 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rvonder View Post

I don't believe this is correct: Dish Network also gets its guide info from TMS, not TVGuide -- in fact, each detailed program info listing on Dish ends with a copyright notice attributing the info to TMS.

I think you misinterpreted my post. I was talking about the TR-50, not the Dish Network DVRs.

Dish Network's DVR software was originally written to accept guide data from TMS via satellite in certain format. TVGuide uses a different format for their ATSC (8-VSB) data delivery, so Echostar had to modify their software to support that.
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post #126 of 3326
1/21/08 at 4:50pm
Finally! A viable replacement for my Sony. I've been getting nervous lately thinking that we weren't going to see another OTA DVR again. The timing on this looks to be just about right. As with most new equipment, the delivery dates will probably slip a bit. I think by the time the first batch of units are in the field and a firmware update (or two) has been issued, it should be just about ready for the analog shutdown. My family lives by the guide on my Sony, so I think this is one I'll have to buy regardless of price. I certainly feel I've gotten my money's worth from the Sony. I bought mine when it first came out. It's been flawless all this time and the "user experience" has been excellent. Sounds like this one will be a step up in features as well. Excellent!
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post #127 of 3326
1/21/08 at 8:11pm
This HD DVR will have to leap tall buildings before I am persuaded to give up my (3) LG LST-3410A HD DVR's. The PQ of my 3 machines is so good via their DVI outputs that I regularly use them instead of my Comcast/Motorola HD DVR.
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post #128 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:24am
The HD DVR I'm using (Tvix 4000 with ATSC tuner module) works OK but is still pretty rough around the edges. The reception needs to be PERFECT otherwise the unit will choke on playback of the .tp stream. I hope the UI, tuners and HD playback logic in the echostar unit are a bit more polished.
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post #129 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:37am
All this back-and-forth about DISH and DIRECTV has me a bit confused. All I want is an HD-DVR for Over-the-Air (antenna or rabbit ears). Are there any of them out there besides this new one that I can already buy?
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post #130 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.green@iwon.com View Post

All this back-and-forth about DISH and DIRECTV has me a bit confused. All I want is an HD-DVR for Over-the-Air (antenna or rabbit ears). Are there any of them out there besides this new one that I can already buy?

Certainly.

There's the dual-tuner TivoHD @ $200-$250 + $129/yr in DVR fees. Until recently, TiVo offered a $698 version with no DVR fees. And there's the discontinued, single-tuner Sony DHG-HDDxxx whose guide may cease to function one-year from now.

But the [Echostar] Sling TR-50 is the first dual-tuner unit with no monthly fees. It should cost significantly less than the "fee-less" $698 TiVo.
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post #131 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.green@iwon.com View Post

All this back-and-forth about DISH and DIRECTV has me a bit confused. All I want is an HD-DVR for Over-the-Air (antenna or rabbit ears). Are there any of them out there besides this new one that I can already buy?

Tivo3 + a few not any still being made. Believe me, if Mr. Hifi (three posts above) likes his LG HD DVR's then I would strongly recommend you send him a PM asking if he will sell one.
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post #132 of 3326
1/22/08 at 11:28am
Hi Simple,

You know I would never get rid of my 3410A's. They have become an extension of my frontal lobe. Even so I love my Comcast/Motorola DVR. I can record 2 programs while playing back a third. I never watch TV in real time.
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post #133 of 3326
1/22/08 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrHifi View Post

HEven so I love my Comcast/Motorola DVR. I can record 2 programs while playing back a third. I never watch TV in real time.

With a TiVo or the upcoming [Echostar] Sling TR-50, you'll be able to do that with OTA too.
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post #134 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:47pm
I've been following this thread since its inception. I know that the price is not public info yet, but does anyone know where the TR-50 is going to be sold? Will it have to be ordered thru E*, sold on the internet, or available at BB, CC, Wally World, etc. or a combination of outlets?
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post #135 of 3326
1/22/08 at 10:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by milehighmike View Post

I've been following this thread since its inception. I know that the price is not public info yet, but does anyone know where the TR-50 is going to be sold? Will it have to be ordered thru E*, sold on the internet, or available at BB, CC, Wally World, etc. or a combination of outlets?

It will be sold under the Sling brand and should be available at popular retailer such Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.
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post #136 of 3326
1/23/08 at 7:18am
Been following this thread from the start. I want one, can't wait to get it. The only reason I have cable is for the DVR. Can't wait to be free of the cable bill again.

I heard the release date is going to be in July, can sombody confirm that?

Heck I would be willing to do some testing for them

Jay
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post #137 of 3326
1/23/08 at 11:06am
I haven't been following this thread, so this may already be posted, but here's what appears to be a good site that discusses the Echostar TR-40/50 based on interviews and direct contact at CES 2008, etc.
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post #138 of 3326
1/24/08 at 7:54am
I have also been following this development with interest and would consider switching from the Tivo Series 3 to avoid fees as I only use OTA. My main concern is the use of the TV Guide On Screen System. I have read that it is to be broadcast by CBS digital stations. Has this started already? Does anyone have a link to participating stations? I am especially skeptical since the "auto clock set" feature on VCR's seldom worked here in El Paso.
Also, I have checked TV Guide's site and their listings for El Paso have several inaccuracies in that some channels are listed by their "mapped" designation and others by the actual RF frequency used. That could certainly confuse a receiver.
I submitted a correction to TV Guide but have never gotten the on line guide Titantv to fix mistakes nor even zap2it/Tivo as a paying customer.
Any input on these concerns would be appreciated.
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post #139 of 3326
1/24/08 at 9:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister B View Post

I have also been following this development with interest and would consider switching from the Tivo Series 3 to avoid fees as I only use OTA. My main concern is the use of the TV Guide On Screen System. I have read that it is to be broadcast by CBS digital stations. Has this started already?

It's not yet available in many areas, but should be by July.
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post #140 of 3326
1/24/08 at 10:35am
In my area, the following is happening as of about a week ago.

Analog TVGOS data - PBS station until 2009
Digital TVOGOS data - CBS from here on out.

I have confirmed with an engineer that they are sending out the data in the Austin, TX area. I just don't have a box that accepts this data to confirm if it is working
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post #141 of 3326
1/24/08 at 11:00am
I've seen this unit has a option for manual programming, does that also hold true for clock settings. That is does it have a "autoclock off" feature?
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post #142 of 3326
1/24/08 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

I've seen this unit has a option for manual programming, does that also hold true for clock settings. That is does it have a "autoclock off" feature?

We won't know this until the unit is actually released or the manual comes out. Until then, it is all just speculation.

-phil
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post #143 of 3326
1/24/08 at 6:04pm
I have owned a LG LST 3410a for several years and love its ability to record OTA high definition programs. However it is a very flawed design that is too dependent on the TV guide data. Any corruption of the data causes the unit to either lock up, miss recordings, etc. or generally just not respond. Hopefully a lesson will be learned and any future units such as this one will have the ability to turn off TV guide data and set the clock and recordings manually.
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post #144 of 3326
1/25/08 at 10:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ftaok View Post

One more thing that bugs me. The name. TR-50??? What is that supposed to mean? It sounds like the predecessor to the Radio Shack TRS-80.

Or maybe to suggest it's equivalent to the RCA TR-50 video recorder, shown here:
http://www.oldradio.com/archives/har...V/rca-tr50.jpg
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post #145 of 3326
1/26/08 at 7:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebo View Post

Or maybe to suggest it's equivalent to the RCA TR-50 video recorder, shown here:
http://www.oldradio.com/archives/har...V/rca-tr50.jpg

cool! I want one of those
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post #146 of 3326
1/26/08 at 7:58am
ebo good PIC that was hilarious....
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post #147 of 3326
1/29/08 at 12:48pm
I use manual records exclusively on my 3410, so if you want that capability you already have it.

jcg

Quote:
Originally Posted by chasieb View Post

I have owned a LG LST 3410a for several years and love its ability to record OTA high definition programs. However it is a very flawed design that is too dependent on the TV guide data. Any corruption of the data causes the unit to either lock up, miss recordings, etc. or generally just not respond. Hopefully a lesson will be learned and any future units such as this one will have the ability to turn off TV guide data and set the clock and recordings manually.
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post #148 of 3326
1/29/08 at 2:44pm
I could never understand that line of thinking about "turning off the TVGOS". With every unit I've ever had that has TVGOS, you could just ignore it and not use it. I've never seen a recorder that didn't give you the option of manual timing (and even sometimes VCR+).

Some units even have a remote control button which will directly bring up the manual timer screen.

Maybe some people of these people just don't know how to get to the timer menu. In that case they need to RTFM. Otherwise, what's the big deal?
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post #149 of 3326
1/29/08 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rammitinski View Post

Maybe some people of these people just don't know how to get to the timer menu. In that case they need to RTFM. Otherwise, what's the big deal?

The problem with some of the other devices is that there is no way to manually set the time and date. Sure, you can do a manual record, but if you're date and time are off, there is no easy way to set a manual recording. This is the problem with the Sony HD DVR that relies on TVGOS for both the date / time and the program listings.

That is why this is so interesting to me. What happens with my Sony HD DVR's date and time when the analog signal (from TVGOS) goes away?
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post #150 of 3326
1/29/08 at 6:50pm
I only use my LG LST 3410A in the manual record mode. I never use the TVGOS. However the unit still picks up and updates the TV guide listings on a nightly basis. If the data is corrupted, even if you use the manual mode of timer recording, it still causes problems with the manual recordings such as not making scheduled recordings, responding extremely slowly to remote commands, and giving the dreaded AVS1, AVS2 warnings. Again this was during manually set recordings. I know it was the TV guide data because normally I get a week or two of data, but during the time I was having problems, the TV guide was not being properly filled except for some strange reason just the PBS station. After about 2 weekes the TV guide data started being filled again on a regular basis and the manual recordings have been flawless. Somehow the TVGOS is so integrated into this box it affects even manual recordings. That is why I made the statement that I wish I could turn it off completely. Chasie
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AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Recorders › Dish DTVPal DVR (ex-Echostar TR-50) Official Speculation and Order Info Thread