I’ve written before about the DISH Network DTVPal, a $59.99 digital converter box with some of the best features of any converter box available. DISH Network later released another converter box, the EchoStar TR-40 CRA, with a price $20 lower than the DTVPal. This was somewhat confusing because the TR-40 CRA was exactly the same unit as the DTVPal!
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.
I have the Dish Networks DTVPal that I bought at Sears for $59 minus the $40 coupon that Uncle Sam gave me, I thought it wasn’t too much money to pay for something I was going to need to continue watching Free TV broadcast.
It works great, I like the program guide it has like most cable TV providers boxes have and the signal strength meter makes pointing your antenna in the right direction a breeze.
The only things I don’t like about the Dish Networks Digital converter box is, it get hot. Put your hand on it after it’s been on for a few hours, could be used as a hand warmer during the winter. The other thing that I don’t like and it kind of creeps me out, the box is turned off but the green light comes on every half hour or so for about 30 seconds and then goes out. And it does that more often if you are watching a video or DVD it seems like, as if Dish Network is spying on us, listening when everything is turned off or monitoring what we are watching when it’s not on, I told you it kind of creepy.
You’re probably thinking it’s just downloading the TV guide info but when you turn the Dish Box back on it takes a minute or so to download the TV Guide. So it leaves us wondering exactly what the heck it’s doing when it comes on and goes off all the time.
73s
I love my dtvpalplus converter box! There is one thing about it that I just don’t understand, it makes absolutely NO sense at At! I can pick up all the channels. There is one channel that comes in very strong, good, clear picture, AND NO SOUND!
Channel “THIS” out of Knoxville, TN.
If anyone cna tell me why that one channel has a great picture and no sound, PLEASE let me know. It’s driving me crazy!
Thanks, have a great day!
Laura