Gizmo Lovers Blog » DTVPal

Dish Network DTVPal DVR Due This Month

MegaZone — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:28:47 +0000

In a larger article in TWICE about the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA) joining with Dish Network to promote their digital-to-analog converter boxes was a little nugget I found interesting.

Dish Network is selling several converter boxes — the TR-40 CRA, DTVPal, DTVPal Plus and the DTVPal DVR (the latter available latter[sic] this month) — that will receive and convert digital TV signals to analog and pass through remaining low-power TV channels.

Information on the DTVPal DVR, introduced back at CES as the EchoStar TR-50, has been pretty scarce. It is an OTA-only DVR, basically a DTVPal (TR-40) converter box with added DVR features. So it’ll be interested to see those hit the market.

As for the main subject of the article, the CBA will be teaming with Dish Network to promote Dish’s lineup of converter boxes to TV viewers who will be impacted by the February 17, 2009 digital transition.

Disclaimer: I work for Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, who makes the boxes for Dish Network.

Get The DISH Network DTVPalTR-40 CRA Digital Converter Box, Free With Coupon

MegaZone — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:41:10 +0000

Back at CES, EchoStar announced the TR-40 ATSC digital converter with an expected MSRP of $39.99. That would make it free after the $40 government coupon. Then it appeared to be rebranded as the DISH Network DTVPal, which launched with a $59.99 MSRP.

To muddy the waters a bit more, DISH Network is now offering the TR-40 CRA for $39.99 – free with a coupon. And it looks like the TR-40 CRA is identical to the DTVPal, save for the labels. From the site’s FAQ:

What is the difference between TR-40 CRA and DTVPal?
TR-40 CRA is a special limited production version of the DTVPal. Offered at the government coupon price of $40, the TR-40 CRA includes the highly-acclaimed features and functionality of the DTVPal.
DTVPal has garnered much praise in recent months and is recommended as a “top choice” by CNET. DTVPal’s amazing features and consumer-friendly technology make it a great value at only $19.99 with a $40 government coupon.

So if you’re in need of a set-top box for the DTV transition you can get the TR-40 CRA free with a government coupon, and get the same hardware and features as the $60 DTVPal, which is $20 with the coupon.

Interestingly the NTIA list of approved set top boxes also includes the EchoStar TR-40 and a DISH Network DTVPal Plus, both of which are listed as approved, but currently unavailable. At first I thought the DTVPal Plus might be the EchoStar TR-50 ATSC DVR shown at CES, but it can’t be as having the TR-50s capabilities make it ineligible for a coupon, hence it wouldn’t be on the approved list. Curious.

Disclaimer: I work for Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar.

EchoStar Signs tru2way Host Device License Agreement With CableLabs

MegaZone — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:28:15 +0000

EchoStar Monday announced that they’ve signed a tru2way Host Device License Agreement with CableLabs, which allows them to implement devices using CableCARD and OCAP/tru2way. This may seem odd at first, since EchoStar is often conflated with DISH Network, but remember that EchoStar and DISH split into separate companies, and EchoStar is pursuing non-satellite markets such as OTA with the DTVPal (ironically being marketed by DISH Network) and cable with devices like the SlingModem, from EchoStar subsidiary Sling Media.

This license does open up new possibilities. A CableCARD-enabled Slingbox, perhaps. EchoStar could take their DVR platform, as used by DISH Network, and re-purpose it as a CableCARD DVR for cable MSOs and/or consumers. Something like the recently announced 722s DVR with built-in Slingbox & SlingCatcher features, only for cable, could be quite an interesting product. (Perhaps waiting for the final act in the DVR patent lawsuit with TiVo to remove any uncertainty for customers.) They could produce a whole new cable STB unrelated to any of their current platforms. It will certainly be interesting to see what they do with the license, I’m sure they didn’t sign it just for laughs.

Their press release is below:

For Immediate Release

EchoStar™ Signs tru2way™ Host Device License Agreement with CableLabs®

Company strengthens its commitment to the cable market with tru2way™ agreement, signaling its intent to build set-top boxes for the cable industry.

Englewood, CO., August 11, 2008 â€” EchoStar Technologies L.L.C., an operating entity of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), solidified its commitment to providing innovative products and technologies to the cable industry with its recent signing of the tru2way™ Host Device License Agreement with CableLabs®. This agreement grants EchoStar the rights required to implement OpenCable™ Application Platform (OCAP™) middleware and the CableCARD™ interface on devices using tru2way technology, allowing users to take full advantage of two-way, interactive cable services.

Tru2way technology is an innovative national software platform that enables cableâ€™s interactive services to be delivered to two-way plug and play TVs, set-top boxes, and other devices. Tru2way also creates a national footprint for the creators of interactive services to develop products that work on cable systems in nearly every U.S. market. Major cable operators have committed to support the tru2way platform on systems covering more than 90 million U.S. homes by the end of 2008.

The agreement consolidates, clarifies, and provides an alternative to the existing CableCARD-Host Interface License Agreement (CHILA), and the OpenCable™ Application Platform Implementer Agreement. The tru2way License Agreement is available to any consumer electronics manufacturer on a nondiscriminatory basis.

â€œWe are firmly committed to becoming a vendor of choice in the cable industry, leveraging decades of systems and manufacturing excellence and todayâ€™s announcement asserts our commitment,â€ said EchoStar President, Mark Jackson.

The new tru2way Host Device License Agreement provides manufacturers of retail consumer electronics devices streamlined access to technology required to interface with two-way interactive cable networks, and aligns with the â€œopennessâ€ focus announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Among other terms, the license provides for self-certification and paper certification of retail devices, formal rights of participation by consumer electronics manufacturers in CableLabs processes, approval of new digital outputs via a four-studio approach, and a tru2way trademark license.

EchoStar enters the cable industry with a strong consumer electronics background in innovative and intuitive products, including state-of-the-art, award-winning set-top boxes and value-added features such as Sling Mediaâ€™s innovative and award-winning placeshifting technology.

EchoStarâ€™s set-top box veterans have over 35 years experience in engineering, manufacturing, product development, and end-to-end systems.

EchoStarâ€™s introduction to the cable industry began at The Cable Show, May 18-20, 2008, where the company displayed the SlingModem™ â€” a CableLabs Certified® DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem combined with the placeshifting technology of a Slingbox™.

About EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.

As an operating entity of the publicly traded EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. spans 25 years of delivering innovations in TV entertainment, products, and end-to-end systems. EchoStar services satellite, IPTV, cable, terrestrial, and consumer electronics markets worldwide by combining engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and service into one company. With over 1,600 professional employees worldwide, EchoStar is focused, dedicated, and ready to service our customers in creative and cooperative development efforts. Through extensive experience with set-top boxes and end-to-end systems, EchoStar is able to provide more competitive business strategies, practices, and reduced product and operational costs.

EchoStar is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with operations in Foster City, California; Denver, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; Steeton, UK; Almelo, Holland; and Kharkov, Ukraine. Visit www.echostar.com for additional information.

CableLabs, OpenCable, OCAP and tru2way are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.

Press Contact
For inquiries and additional information, please contact Brian Jaquet, at Office: (650) 293-8022, Mobile: (415) 235-4844, or jaquet@slingmedia.com.

Disclaimer: For the record I’m employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar.

Dish Network DTVPal Now Available – For $59.99

MegaZone — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:20:13 +0000

The Dish Network DTVPal digital-to-analog converter is now available from the official website. When it was first announced as the TR40 back at CES the price target was given as $39.99, the value of the government coupons, which would’ve made it ‘free’. However, between then and now things have changed, and the release pricing is $59.99, so the box is $19.99 after the coupon, plus $8.95 for shipping. So it will cost you $28.94 to get a DTVPal from the official site, if you have a coupon, or $68.94 without one. You can order one or two DTVPal’s at a time, though there is no discount on shipping for ordering two. Dave Zatz’s unboxing videos will give you a look at the DTVPal.

Disclaimer: I work for Sling Media. Sling Media is owned by EchoStar. EchoStar produces the DTVPal for Dish Network. Sling Media has nothing to do with the DTVPal. So, while you’re free to comment, this isn’t any kind of official feedback channel. Don’t expect comments here to get to EchoStar or Dish Network.

Win A Dish Network DTVPal

MegaZone — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:45:55 +0000

If you’re reading this blog you’re probably not a person still using an antenna with an analog-only TV or receiver who will be in need of a converted box come February, 2009. But perhaps you know some poor benighted individual who is still living with NTSC-only antenna television, who will be out of luck without a converter box. In that case, Dave Zatz over at Zatz Not Funny is giving away his DVTPal review box. Good luck!

Dave Zatz DTVPal Unboxing Videos

MegaZone — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:58:47 +0000

Following up on his initial hands-on post, Dave Zatz has received his own DTVPal and he’s shot some unboxing and setup video.

Dave Zatz Gets Hands On With The DTVPal

MegaZone — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:31:33 +0000

The Dish Network DTVPal, formerly the known less snappily as the TR40, is getting closer to launch. Dave Zatz, of Zatz Not Funny, got some hands on time with the DTVPal and the new retail packaging. He has photos of the packaging, unit, and remote, as well as some of the screens. He also has one of the retail DTVPal on top of the TR40 prototype that was displayed at CES, showing just how much the unit has shrunk – quite a bit.

DISH Network DTVPal Website Launched

MegaZone — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:29:00 +0000

DISH Network has launched a website for their DTVPal Digital-To-Analog Converter set-top box, the STB formerly known as the TR40. A prototype was shown as CES in Sling Media branding, but it looks like they’ll be marketing it as DISH Network. Which actually seems a little confusing to me, as people associate DISH Network with satellite, and might not understand this is a terrestrial ATSC converter box. It is unclear if the DTVPal may yet also show up in Sling Media and/or EchoStar branding.

According to the website the DTVPal will be available for order in ‘late June’, though prices are not yet listed. It is a very simple device. It has one input – antenna coax, two sets out outputs – one RF coax modulated for channel 3 or 4 and one composite video with stereo audio, and one power connector. For such a simple device the remote has a number of buttons, but the image is too small to make out what they’re all labeled. Though they have loaded the box with a number of extra features, which probably explains the buttons. Among the features are an EPG, closed-caption decoding, parental controls, an event timer to auto-tune scheduled programs, and a program search function.

No word yet on the DTVPal DVR, which seems to be the new name for the TR50 OTA DVR shown at CES. It is looking like ‘DVTPal’ will be the new branding for OTA ATSC devices from EchoStar.

Disclaimer: I’m currently employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, who produces the DTVPal for DISH Network. Convoluted enough? It’s like Dark Helmut and Lone Starr.

Echostar/Sling Media TR40 Now The DTVPal, Gets New Look

MegaZone — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:56:14 +0000

Seen at CES in Sling Media branding, the TR40 is a digital TV converter box for antenna users. Slated for a June release, the hardware shown at CES had a Sling-ish trapezoidal shape. Now SlingCommunity is reporting that the final design of the box will be more curvy, with a softer, rounded body. SlingCommunity has an image, which looks like a render and not an actual box. And to go along with the new look is a new name to replace the dry ‘TR40′, it will be marketed as the DTVPal.

I’m ambivalent about curvy consumer electronics devices. It makes it hard to stack the boxes, which many people have to do. But it does look nice.

Disclaimer: While I currently work for Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, I don’t currently have anything to do with the TR40/DTVPal. I’m just reporting on what SlingCommunity said.