http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/ Engadget Comments for Hands-on with the EchoStar TR-40 and TR-50 converter boxes http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
I live on 650 a month, have a housing subsidy, don't even drive (I have a classic cruiser bike I worked hard on) and really have a hard time getting good, quality food (and I'm a diabetic). Somehow I have to wonder if I'm going to find something WORTHY of what I've taught myself over 35 years about radios and TVs and other electronics. I found a 7-input Mitsbishi control center at the local auction for $2 so why shouldn't I build a headend with one? I bought capture cards for my two computers (hand built from parts) and I own two vintage CRT projectors? If it's junk I will pass it by and be a videographer and collect tapes and laserdisks. I already do that...]]>Feb 1st 2008 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Feb 25th 2008 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 7th 2008 4:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
They can not have component so the TR-50 is not a coupon eligible box. ]]>Jan 7th 2008 5:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 7th 2008 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 7th 2008 5:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
Joe]]>Jan 7th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 8th 2008 2:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
Also, Scott, can you show me where it explicitly states that component outputs will NOT be allowed to qualify for the coupon? My reading says that certain "advanced features" won't be allowed -- and they then mention DVR functionality as an example. I can't find anything to indicate that component outputs are necessarily considered an "advanced option." If you have something that indicates that explicitly, please let me know.

- John...
]]>Jan 8th 2008 10:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_2e.htm

55. In the NPRM, NTIA proposed that “the converter box would not be required to render pictures and sound at more than standard definition quality.”[ 101 ] This proposal follows from the definition of a converter box contained in the Act, which limits the converter box to a unit so “the consumer can display on television receivers designed to receive and display signals only in the analog television service.”[ 102 ] If NTIA were to permit any digital output to the CECB, then it would cease to be a digital-to-analog converter and would become a digital tuner capable of providing a digital signal to a television monitor. This would clearly be beyond the plain language of the Act which states that the CECB shall “convert any channel broadcast in the digital television service into a format that the consumer can display on television receivers designed to receive and display signals only in the analog television service.”[ 103 ]

56. Therefore, NTIA specifies in the Final Rule those connectors that will not be permitted in a CECB. Likewise, NTIA clarifies in the Final Rule that CECBs are prohibited from containing items such as display screens, recorders or storage devices that go beyond the simple task of converting a digital television signal to an analog signal for display on analog television receivers. ]]>Jan 8th 2008 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
It also addresses the CC thing. It says: "With regard to Closed Captioning and Parental Controls, NTIA will require that CECBs comply with the FCC receiver requirements for Closed Captioning and Parental Controls and NTIA will not impose any requirements beyond those contained in the FCC Rules."

So -- it just says that, as far as if CC is required or not, it must comply with the FCC received requirements. So -- does the FCC requirements require that this has CC?

I'm just curious because the press releases so far imply that the TR-40 does NOT support CC -- but the dtv2009.gov web site FAQ very clearly states that CC is REQUIRED in all of the eligible receivers. So, either the TR-40 info is wrong -- or the FAQ is wrong and doesn't line up with the actual Final Rules that you just linked to.

- John...
]]>Jan 8th 2008 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 8th 2008 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
It looks like it would work well with my Dish Network 522 DVR. Maybe, I could even use the same remote for it.]]>Jan 8th 2008 9:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
-Cory]]>Jan 13th 2008 10:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9840910-67.html

Component, HDMI, USB for more HD space and Ethernet for online content. Man, this pretty much kicks Tivo in the butt. I love the DVR on Dish boxes and to have this on a OTA set top box is awesome]]>Jan 12th 2008 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm and this website has specifications and information about most of the Converter Boxes - http://www.ezdigitaltv.com
]]>Jan 17th 2008 7:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/Jan 20th 2008 12:50PM