The DTVPal DVR is the final version of the TR-50 converter box that DISH Network announced last year but never released.

Like the DTVPal and the DTVPal Plus, the DTVPal DVR has a seven day electronic program guide. The DTVPal DVR also offers:

• two digital tuners (so you can watch one program while recording another)
• the ability to record up to 30 hours of HD video or up to 150 hours of standard definition video

Unlike Tivo and most other DVRs, the DTVPal Plus has no subscription fees of any kind.

The DTVPal DVR costs $299, but there will be a $50 instant rebate. Because of the extra features, it will not be eligible for digital converter box coupons.

Although much pricier than other digital converter boxes, the DTVPal DVR does offer a whole new set of features. I suspect that it will interest a lot of people who need a converter box but who wouldn’t normally be in the market for a DVR.

The DTVPal DVR will be available for pre-order starting on November 19, 2008, probably at the DTVPal website.

Now DISH Network has released the DTVPal Plus, which costs $20 more than the DTVPal. This time, the DTVPal Plus seems to be a different unit from the DTVPal and the TR-40 CRA. The main advantage of the DTVPal Plus seems to be an improved tuner for weak digital signals.

I think it is safe to say that the DISH Network’s strategy for converter box releases could be described as haphazard at best. If you’re interested in the DTVPal Plus, you can order it at the official DTVPal site.

Now the TR-40 has been reborn as the TR-40 CRA. You can read the DISH Network press release here. The TR-40 CRA price is $40, which is $20 less than the DTVPal, even though it is the same unit! It says so right on the TR-40 CRA FAQ page:

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.

With a limited supply available, you should probably act soon if you want to buy a TR-40 CRA.

But SkyReport noticed, judging from a FCC filing, that DISH Network did have a DTVPal distribution deal with Sears. On July 17, Sears made an official announcement confirming the deal. Presumably we should start to see the DTVPal in their stores in the coming months, or possibly coming weeks. According to these posts on the Satelliteguys forum, some Sears stores are already offering them for sale. There is still no word about Radio Shack, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a similar deal.

Although some have suggested that the DTVPal has already become one of the best selling converter boxes nationally, I find that claim hard to believe. Several other converter boxes (including the Insignia NS-DXA1 which I bought) have long been sold through national chains. Those boxes, with national distribution, must be selling far better than the DTVPal, with its limited distribution. This deal with Sears might help DISH Network to correct some of that imbalance.

• a guide with up to seven days of program listings
• event timers that can change channels
• analog pass-through

Note that price is no longer one of its advantages. You can order the DTVPal at the official DTVPal site for $59.99 plus $8.95 for shipping and handling. That is a far cry from the price of $39.99 originally promised for the Echostar TR-40, thought to be the original name for the DTVPal. But DISH Network now says that the DTVPal is a separate product from the TR-40 and that they are still planning to release the TR-40 later this year.

There were rumors that the retailers Radio Shack and Sears would also be selling the DTVPal, but there is no mention of the DTVPal on either of their websites. The DISH Network press release makes no mention of retailers. When I asked him, the manager of a local Radio Shack store said that he had no idea if they were going to be carrying the DTVPal. But he also said it was possible that he wouldn’t know until the store received a shipment. So you might want to take a look at your local stores anyway to see what is available.

There is still no word about where you will be able to buy the DTVPal, but presumably those details will be revealed when the DTVPal is officially released. Of course, DISH Network might be planning to bypass retailers and sell the DTVPal directly. We should find out on June 19.

• a program guide with up to seven days of listings
• event timers that can change channels
• analog pass-through

According to this account of the latest Charlie Chat, DISH Network has now released some new details about the DTVPal. The DTVPal will be available on June 19 and the price will be $59.99. Also according to the chat, the $39.99 converter box is a separate product and it will be available later. This seems to be an official confirmation of the $59.99 price for the DTVPal. This is a bit disappointing (free with coupon has a nice sound), but it is still priced comparably to other converter boxes.

In other DTVPal news, Scott Greczkowski has written a comprehensive review of the DTVPal. This is the best look at the DTVPal that I have seen, and his included pictures give us our best look at the DTVPal yet. Interestingly, he states that the DTVPal could receive stations that the Zenith DTT900 and the RCA DTA800 converter boxes couldn’t. The DTT900 is known for having a good tuner, so this is an interesting development. The many delays have given me doubts about the DTVPal, but this review makes it sound pretty good. I just hope that they become available before our coupons expire later this month.

The finished DTVPal seems to have a different design than earlier versions and looks quite a bit smaller. Not surprisingly, the remote control looks the same as the ones used by DISH Network satellite receivers. The DTVPal looks promising; both the screenshots and the unit seem quite polished.

I expect we will see more first looks at the DTVPal soon. A number of questions remain unanswered: will DISH Network manage to release the DTVPal by late June? Will the price remain at $39.99 (effectively free with converter box coupon), or has been increased to $59.99? Which retailers will be selling the DTVPal? Even with an early release, I suspect that it will be available only after most of the earlier converter box coupons (including ours) have expired.

The DISH Network has set up a new website for the DTVPal, their heavily anticipated digital television converter box. Formerly known as the Echostar TR-40, the DTVPal has been eagerly awaited ever since it was announced. Despite a price of only $39.99 (effectively free with converter box coupon), the DTVPal has some of the best features of any converter box, including:

• a program guide with up to seven days of listings
• event timers that can change channels
• analog pass-through

There is nothing on the DISH Network website listing retailers, so they may be planning to sell the DTVPal directly. There had been rumors of availability in mid-June, but now there is a (nearly) firm date on the website:

DISH Network will begin selling DTVPal in late June 2008

But I wouldn’t be surprised if that date is pushed back further. Unfortunately, this is past the expiration dates for the early batches of converter box coupons, so maybe applying early wasn’t a good idea after all.

There isn’t much on the website that wasn’t already known, but now we have confirmation for most of the rumored details. If you have enough time before your converter box coupons expire, then you might want to wait and take a look at the DTVPal.