DISH Network's DTVPal DVR converter box set to roll out in December

This unassuming little device first popped up way back at CES in January, where it was known as the Echostar TR-50, but it looks like it's now finally going to see the light of day courtesy of DISH Network, which has dubbed it the DTVPal. From the looks of it, however, there's not a whole lot of changes beyond the name, with it still promising to handle the digital-to-analog conversion with ease, and record 30 hours of HD video or 150 hours of standard-def -- a task made considerably easier with the included seven-day programming guide which, best of all, doesn't require a subscription or contract. If that sounds like the box you've been waiting for, you'll be able to get your pre-order in on November 19th for $250 (after a $50 instant rebate), with the device supposedly set to start shipping in mid-December.

[apple fanboy @ Nov 11th 2008 5:02PM]

this thing is awesome perfect for my tv upstairs with no digital cable or anything. but theres no subscription or ties to dishnetwork right?

[jmastera @ Nov 11th 2008 5:04PM]

"which has dubbed it the DTVPal." should probably read DTVPal DVR, not to be confused with the DTVPal from DishNetwork whihc will run you $0(not incl shipping) after the $50 Govt Rebate. The DTVPal does not have the ability to record while the DTVPal DVR does, hence the name.

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:15PM]

I think the TR-50 is the one that cnet and engadget are talking about; although the link on cnet appears to go to the TR-40 website where you can order a DTVPal (TR-40). It doesn't appear that the DTVPal DVR (TR-50) is available for pre-order just yet but it says on cnet that it'll be available for that on the 19th.

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:04PM]

YAAAAAY! A HD-DVR with an atsc tuner! This makes me happy; but only if it is available in Canada.

[rcrh @ Nov 11th 2008 5:11PM]

Anybody got any specs on this?
What format does it record in?
does it offer any editing features to remove commercials?
can you digitally transfer recording to a computer?
This could be great for those with good feeds to OTA signals.

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:18PM]

I've found some pretty vague specs while searching 'TR-40' on dishnetwork's website.
http://tech.dishnetwork.com/departmental_content/TechPortal/content/tech/receiver/images/tr40.shtml

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:21PM]

...if you click on the remote on the link it downloads a pdf of the remote with details on it.

[Bluegrass Geek @ Nov 11th 2008 7:13PM]

It sounds like this is just a Dish DVR with OTA digital instead of satellite. If that's the case:

What format does it record in?
MPEG-2
does it offer any editing features to remove commercials?
Nope. There's a nice 30-second skip-forward button, but no automatic commercial removal.
can you digitally transfer recording to a computer?
No.

[Johnny @ Nov 11th 2008 5:26PM]

About the time this comes out, I'll be dumping my Dish. L8r, suckas.

[dmusser5 @ Nov 11th 2008 5:35PM]

Are you saying Dish Network sucks?

[kal326 @ Nov 11th 2008 5:35PM]

Wait so it only records OTA broadcasts? Well that seems like a bit of a waste and why would Dish market this? You can already record to your Dish DVR local channels OTA or through the Sat if you pay for them. Now if I could just slap this onto an extra SAT feed and have a bonus DVR that would be worth it for no additional monthly fee. For OTA I already have a free DVR solution, its called an antenna and media center.

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:46PM]

I think this is marketed toward the people are currently using antennae for tv and who will never switch to cable or sat. because they are not willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money for HD when they can get it for free (sure you only get the main networks, but it's good enough for me). Right now the only way to record OTA HD content (that I know available in CAN) is through Windows Media Center or use the software bundled w/ your TV tuner (unless you're got one from Dell, in which they don't include any software because they're crooks); which is rather annoying since you have to have your PC on.

[dcoaster @ Nov 11th 2008 6:01PM]

Will this work in conjunction with a DirecTV HD receiver box? I like the no subscription part.

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Nov 11th 2008 6:05PM]

Funny that the DTVPal actually works in NTSC.

[EricC @ Nov 11th 2008 6:18PM]

I see what you did there.

[randy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:32PM]

Ooooh!!! There's nothing like experiencing gorgeous crystal clear 51 mbps 1080i HD violently and selfishly compressed all the way down to a miserable 1-8 mbps by our friends at DiSH Network, Inc.! JoY!

[Valicore @ Nov 12th 2008 2:22AM]

Hmmm, yes, well, rtfa.

[bull3964 @ Nov 11th 2008 7:04PM]

I wonder how easy it will be to pull programming off this device. If it's moddable to that purpose, I could easily see it being worthwhile as a way to record and archive OTA HD stuff. Sure you could do it a bit less with a PC TV tuner, but that would require leaving your whole computer on to make sure you got all the recordings.

[MGM Grand @ Nov 11th 2008 10:53PM]

Sweet! This gadget was made for me: too cheap to pay $60/mo on satellite TV or cable TV (yes, I have rabbit ears antennas on all my TVs. and soon to be buying two more digital-TV to analog converter boxes), and too cheap to pay for the subscription of a Tivo, but I love me some HDTV action, and I love me some DVR action (I have two RCA DRC8000s which are non-subscription Gemstar/TV Guide ad-supported DVRs (with DVD player and memory card reader; you can still find them online for about $150)).

Some questions to which there are probably no answers at this point:
- Can the hard drive be easily upgraded by the consumer?
- Is it ad-supported (are there ads in the Program Guide like TV Guide's online guides)?
- I wonder if it has hidden hardware / firmware inside to support future business models that Dish might enable (e.g., get you to upgrade to satellite in the future, deliver movies/shows/music over-the-air for purchase (would need an authorization system, 'f 'course), etc.

[DannyRig @ Dec 30th 2008 1:56PM]

You sound just like me! I don't see the worth in paying for TV service when there is equally valuable programing available for free. If there were actually good shows still on cable/satellite like the original format of "The Big Idea" on CNBC or "The Real Estate Pros" on TLC.... I would be tempted to get basic satellite, but that is not the case.
So many people got themselves in so much trouble financially because of many things, like pay TV service. Think about it $45-60 for programing, $5 dollars per box, $6-10 for DVR service, $10 for HD programing (often only 720p)! It all adds up. It dosen't make sense to me.
My parents pay $60/mo for ANALog cable from Comcast, have 70 channels with nothing on them (1/4 of them foreign language or religious), and my father still uses a VCR to record shows. I get 33 digital channels, 14 of them in HD, and for a flat fee of $250 can have probably the most affordable HD DVR on the market, all for $0.00 every month, it never increases, and I own all of my equipment. It just makes more sense.
I watch a lot of TV and have found several cable programs that are a year or two old on MyNetworkTV here in Chicago and can record them all w/ my DTVPal DVR.
Here's a good link about the HD, EPG, future plans for the box... all of that with some nice pics too! That link is: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1099071

[mcdj @ Nov 12th 2008 12:36AM]

Why do all these companies have Carl from the loading dock design their STBs? I wouldn't buy that on sheer ugliness alone.

[Valicore @ Nov 12th 2008 2:21AM]

I concur. It looks about as bad as it possibly could. Make it brushed metal or glossy black and some pretty lights or even better a clock. The sad part is I'm serious about the suggestions.

[Gfxlonghorn @ Nov 12th 2008 12:57AM]

If this works the same as their HD DVR, I would love to jump on the bandwagon. I firmly believe Dish makes the best DVRs right now, after using several different models over the past 2 years and then using some of my friends' TWC DVRs or tivos.

[SteveJ @ Nov 12th 2008 8:16AM]

Will I be able to get the video off of the HDD and onto my iPod or to something else that can play the video, either as is or after conversion?

[Colin @ Nov 12th 2008 2:57PM]

So, am I understanding correctly - would this be a viable replacement for my mother in law's VCR? She wants basic VCR functionality, but doesn't want to pay a monthly fee. So far i'd figured her only option would be to get a DTV converter box and hook it up to her VCR, but it seems like this could replace it more easily. Will this thing read and record her basic cable channels?

[RB @ Nov 19th 2008 5:25PM]

I don't know if it's just me or if this is the case with others as well, but I went to the DTVpal site to preorder the DTVpal DVR (TR50) and was unable to complete the transaction seemingly because I had placed a previous order.

Any thoughts?

[Ed B. @ Nov 19th 2008 5:56PM]

I had the same problem today. I'm a Dish Network customer (not for much longer) and they wouldn't let me order it online for that reason!! I couldn't order it online and I couldn't order it over the phone. Lots of wait time etc. and still no DTVPal DVR!!! BTW Does anyone know how to get out of a Dish Network contract?

[Brian @ Dec 28th 2008 1:35PM]

I received my DTVPal DVR on Christmas Eve. I have not been able to explore it in-depth (not sure there is much to explore) but so far I am happy with it. Last night I recorded the re-play of the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in High-Def and replayed great.

My only complaint so far is that the program guide replaces what you are watching with a full-screen menu rather than overlaying the live screen.

Brian
Cleveland

61" Samsung LED DLP
AppleTV 160GB
Sony Blu-ray Palyer (BD-350)
DTVPal DVR
NO Cable or Satellite Service
Monthly fees: $0.00

[Alwaysfocused @ Jan 5th 2009 10:25PM]

Hi. I just placed my order (online) for the DTVPal DVR box yesterday. All I was given was a account number and a shipment date of 1/12, that's it. I didn't even receive a confirmation email after completing the order. I would like to check up on the status of my order from time-to-time. Does anyone know how I can do this? I'm not a Dish customer so I can't check on the status of my order via Dish's website. Can anyone help?

[John @ Jan 24th 2009 1:25PM]

I ordered and received my unit exactly when they said, although it was a few weeks after the order was placed. Believe they have a backlog.

It's a very nice unit but presently has one (maybe more) known software problem. Recording an HD program results in the playback skipping so that the audio is missed (the video too but that does not really hurt) but loosing one or two words every 10/20 seconds makes the recording useless.
Recording an SD program plays back OK

They have no date when this will be fixed