First Look: Dish Network's DTVPal Digital Converter

[Malouff]

Scott Greczkowski
I have to say I am VERY impressed.
Thank you for doing this

Looks like my only complaint would be the power plug.
I wanted to use a cigarette power adapter and it looks proprietary.

I also didn't want to use a power inverter as that uses more energy and drains the trailers battery faster.

Do you know of there will be a adapter being sold by Dish or 3rd party so this would become portable and great for a emergency.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Sorry just had something on while I was taking screen shots. Wasnt even really looking what was on the TV for programming when I was doing those screenshots.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Scott Greczkowski
I have to say I am VERY impressed.
Thank you for doing this

Looks like my only complaint would be the power plug.
I wanted to use a cigarette power adapter and it looks proprietary.

I also didn't want to use a power inverter as that uses more energy and drains the trailers battery faster.

Do you know of there will be a adapter being sold by Dish or 3rd party so this would become portable and great for a emergency.

I am sure you can use a cigarette power adapter, since its just 5v DC. You just need to take a meter and figure out which pn of the two is the negative one.

 

[brownover]

Scott, do you have to push the analog pass thru button when you want to watch a satellite program on the tv? Of course, I am feeding it from a 622.

Scott, you probably missed this question since it was the last one on page 1 and occured at the same time as the lst post on page 2. Thanks for all the work you do!

 

[grydlok]

I might buy one since I need 2 of them.

 

[duckydan]

I was wondering if one of these could be piggy backed with the 622 to pull in more channels? I realize it may not be possible but it'd be interesting if it could.

 

[partsman_ba]

Why?

Scott, you probably missed this question since it was the last one on page 1 and occured at the same time as the lst post on page 2. Thanks for all the work you do!

brownover, why are you wanting to put a box between your 622 (with ASTC tuner) and your TV?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Scott, you probably missed this question since it was the last one on page 1 and occured at the same time as the lst post on page 2. Thanks for all the work you do!

Why would you need a DTV converter if you have a 622?

The analog pass through is like taking the DTVPal out of the line between the antenna and your TV.

 

[brownover]

brownover, why are you wanting to put a box between your 622 (with ASTC tuner) and your TV?

So that my spouse can watch ota without using the satellite receiver. Due to an accident, her memory will not retain the steps needed to get the satellite receiver on. Its a long story and I will use the box on the kitchen tv and then she can watch tv while I am not home.

 

[riffjim4069]

The device which has TVGOS would control the DTVPal.

...need DTVPal to convert digital TVGOS and pass-thru analog TVGOS to the TVGOS device since 90% (a figure pulled out of my arse) of the TVGOS devices are analog and, without this conversion, these devices will be dead in the water come Feb 2009.

Source

"The TV Guide On Screen data "piggybacks" on analog broadcast signals that your TV normally receives from selected TV stations across the United States and Canada (and other countries?). Gemstar provides each of its host stations with data to broadcast via telephone or satellite download and the host stations insert the data into the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of their broadcast signals on VBI line 14. TVs and recorders equipped with TV Guide On Screen are able to receive and decode the electronic program guide (EPG) data from the VBI."

I could be wrong, but the G-link cable won't solve this problem...the DTV Pal will to provide a digital to analog conversion and insert TVGOS data into the analog VBI in order for this to work. I guess the simple question is does this DTV Pal property convert TVGOS data? Also, do you have an analog TVGOS device you can test?

To be honest, if you already have a digital TVGOS there would be no need for the DTV Pal.

 

[johnpost]

event timer(s)

Scott,

Good reviewing. Thanks.

How many timer/alarms?

How set:
manually with date, time, channel similar to vcr
on screen program guide PSIP

thanks

 

[brownover]

So that my spouse can watch ota without using the satellite receiver. Due to an accident, her memory will not retain the steps needed to get the satellite receiver on. Its a long story and I will use the box on the kitchen tv and then she can watch tv while I am not home.

In earlier post, I failed to mention that it was for my 2nd tv.

 

[partsman_ba]

Hat's off to you

So that my spouse can watch ota without using the satellite receiver. Due to an accident, her memory will not retain the steps needed to get the satellite receiver on. Its a long story and I will use the box on the kitchen tv and then she can watch tv while I am not home.

What a great partner to think of your spouse's needs and try to find a workable solution for her. I hope this box will do what you need it to do!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

To be honest, if you already have a digital TVGOS there would be no need for the DTV Pal.

Not necessarly, I have a VCR which has TVGOS, so the VCR can control the TV Pal and record from it.

 

[brownover]

What a great partner to think of your spouse's needs and try to find a workable solution for her. I hope this box will do what you need it to do!

Thanks! I have to keep it very simple for her. My other alternative would be buy a new tv with digital tuner, but the tvpal is a lot cheaper. One personal reason for it is if the 622 breaks, we will still be able to watch some tv until the new one comes.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Brownover the DTVPal would work fine in that situation.

 

[TalkingRat]

Is VCR Plus something that would work with this? Sorry, I'm about 10 years obsolete on electronics stuff.

 

[riffjim4069]

Not necessarly, I have a VCR which has TVGOS, so the VCR can control the TV Pal and record from it.

True, but I'll bet your VCR has analog TVGOS and, as such, it will no longer be working come February 2009. My Sony HD DVR may be colder and deader than Charlie's sympathy for a VOOM spending error...

 

[Ronald_Jeremy]

Two questions come to mind that you didn't cover.

How fast does the guide populate? Was it fully populated 10 minutes after hooking it up.

Also, I assume on the analog pass-thru, that only works if you use the coax connection to hook it to your TV.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The guide (for the most part) was populated just seconds after it came on.

Yes the pass through only works on the coax connection.