Should have looked on these forums as we highlighted IR lssue long ago

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64463

I understand Xantech is aware of this and now offers an "LCD-friendly" as well as "Plasma-friendly" IR receivers in addition to their standard IR receiver and CFL-friendly models. Unfortunately, they're a little expensive.

I have often wondered what the "LCD friendly" remote is. Now I know.
As my display is a CRT, it's never come up.
I did have trouble with a cheap RF remote extender getting swamped but that's another story.
Learn something everyday.:)

I have two questions regarding DTVPal:

1. Is it possible to enable automatic timeshifting on this unit? In other words is there a way the unit will start buffering when turned on without having to pause live tv manually?

2. Has anybody found a way to copy recorded files to a PC?

Thanks

1. It does this automatically. Once you reach one hour, it will start dropping off the beginning of the buffer. If you change the channel, the buffer clears.

2. Not possible.

Is there an option to increase the buffer to 2 or 3 hours?

Here's a new one I found at our Sponsor's site....

Channel Master CM 7000PAL DVR (http://blog.channelmaster.com/2010/01/cm-7000pal-dvr.html)


Dual ATSC tuners
Record up to 130 hours of SD content or up to 30 hours of HD content
Electronic programming guide
Closed caption support
No subscription fees
HDMI output
Component HD and analog video outputs
Optical digital output for Dolby digital and PCM digital audio
Ethernet port (says for "future use")
USB 2.0 port ("future use")
It's a little spendy, but the dual ATSC tuners are a real bonus. The only downside is what appears to be a fairly small hard drive and no way to get the files to a pc for burning. The epg would be similar to their digital converter box, I'd imagine.
ss

Here's a new one I found at our Sponsor's site....

Channel Master CM 7000PAL DVRIt and the DTVPal are one and the same machine, I believe. :) Their cases and minor labels are identical and that remote control sure looks like an EchoStar model.

If they are the same machine, this means Canadians will now have a Canadian DTVPal supplier (http://saveandreplay.com).

DTVPal TR-50:

http://www.echostar.com/DTVPalDVR/images/DTVPal-DVR.gif

Channel Master CM7000PAL:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/picture.php?albumid=260&pictureid=1999

Stampeder:

Thanks for fixing my post and finding the pics.

I had assumed that it was some sort of upgrade to their CM7000 digital converter, but it looks like you may be right. With all the D-Pal's teething pains, that may or may not be a good thing.

Substantially more expensive,as well. Let's hope the eventual street price is a little more realistic when it's released in April.

Here's a link to the product page at CM http://www.channelmasterstore.com/CM_7000PAL_DVR_p/cm-7000pal.htm

If anyone picks up the CM unit, would appreciate a post with the firmware level.

I'm not sure if this will fly on the Canadian market. That hefty price is in US currency not $CDN..., so I don't think Canadian market will prove to be very successful. As a retailer, I won't be ordering these PVR's any time soon.

I found this:

We invite your questions to Store@channelmaster.com and hope you all are enjoying the Free digital programming being offered in your area. http://blog.channelmaster.com/2010/01/cm-7000pal-dvr.html

Maybe a good way to get some info on this product rather than speculations.

I bet this came out under channel master to get around the lawsuit issues Dish Network is having over the EPG.

You know when something is too good to be true? Yup, lastnight my DTVPal died.

The screen froze, so I did the usual re-boot by unplugging the unit. I got the startup DTV screen, saying it was loading (about 2 minutes), then it went to the screen saying it was downloading the guide (which took about 20 - 30 minutes). It does eventually get to the current channel. However, all I get is frozen screen that changes about every 30 seconds to 5 minutes to a new frozen screen. The menu also is frozen and the the only button that works is the Power button. No access to Guide or Menu. Sometimes if I'm lucky I might actually get 5 seconds of actual TV or access to the Menu.

What I've done:

- reboot (many times)
- tried to access the diagnostics menu during those rare times the TV is playing but never have enough time to get to diagnostics before it freezes again.


Does anyone have any suggestions at all. Is there any master reset? Is there anyway to format the harddrive (I doubt it due to proprietary file structure) and see if that helps. I am bummed!

Thanks,

Faz68

You can reformat your HDD but with the small window of time available, you need to be fast.

Hit Menu, then the keypad numbers 3 - 2 - 6 and scroll up to HDD then Reformat

Good luck, but from what you have described, I think its a problem with the main unit circuitry rather than the HDD.

The other thing to try is get the unit to as near virgin as possible by deleting any recording schedules, TVGOS capability, Zip code and other settings. Then do a cold boot and see what happens.

I'm taking the plunge into OTA and just bought a DTVPal DVR. It should get here in a few weeks. I presently own two BEVs 5800/5900 PVR. They were also made by Dish. The menu structure of the DTVPal is almost identical to the BEVs I have.

Reading about faz68's problem I can't help but wonder if the advanced remote commands to access the memory dump screen on the bevs PVRs could work on the DTVPal DVR. Reading about the PAL, the similarities between the two machines are astounding. Of course he needs to be able to get there first to try it in the 5 sec window he sometimes gets.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=330119&highlight=format+hard+drive#post330119
It's a long shot I know, but maybe worth a try using a frozen DTVPal.

Can you use a home PC to burn to DVD from the DTVPal PVR?

Can the Channel Master 7000 PAL DVR output to a regular stand alone DVD player/burner to save video to a disc?

RD

Rudster:

Yes....and no :)

Technically yes, the signal can be sent to a pc or stand-alone dvr for burning. Unfortunately none of those will have component or hdmi inputs to capture the digital signal. You will be forced to use the composite (red, yellow, white) or at best s-video outputs on the PAL 7000 which, being analog, will reduce the picture quality significantly.

If your goal is to archive HD programming in HD, an FTA receiver may be a better choice. The external usb hard drive these units use can be connected to your pc, and with the right software you can burn anything you've recorded. Another alternative is a full-fledged home theater pc, which can record, play, or burn anything captured by an attached tuner.

A stand-alone PVR with the ability to capture and burn HD programming is something the movie/TV people apparently don't want you to have.

Steve

Unfortunately none of those will have component or hdmi inputs to capture the digital signal.

The Hauppauge HD PVR (http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html) will let you capture HD programming from component video, but it is a bit kludgy since you will be converting to analog and then back to digital.

What I've done:
- reboot (many times)
- tried to access the diagnostics menu during those rare times the TV is playing but never have enough time to get to diagnostics before it freezes again.

Does anyone have any suggestions at all. Is there any master reset?

Hi,

I know this isn't timely but I stumbled across some information that might help. Did you try disconnecting the antenna and then rebooting?

I was reading a faq elsewhere that mentioned:
"DTVPal DVR may get stuck in a "loading...please wait" reboot loop

This is known as the "corrupt timer" issue.

If your DTVPal DVR has the F208 software, disconnecting the antenna coax will usually halt the reboot loop. While the antenna coax is disconnected, reset the DVR to the factory defaults under Menu -> Setup -> System Setup -> Restore Factory Defaults. That will delete your timers and settings, but it will preserve your recordings and allow your DTVPal DVR to function again with the antenna connected."

It's worth a shot I think.

Good Luck,
Spamnotca

I received my DTVPal DVR Friday. The serial number ends in M and it came with the F208 upgrade installed. I've had once instance of the "please wait... loading" screen after I unplugged it to move the plug. Fortunately, the DVR functioned normally and came out of it to the normal screens after a couple of minutes.


I tried the hidden codes of the BEV remotes to check if it could access hidden functions like in the BEV's pvr. Sorry to say, it didn't work.