First Look: Dish Network's DTVPal Digital Converter

[Hall]

Malouff, did I miss something? Where were we told that they were only using the Echosphere distribution channel?

I think Claude of DishStore.net mentioned it... Malouff seems to be "investigating" this whole fiasco regarding the TR-40/DTVPal quite in-depth.

[A guy who read the manual]

It looks like the DTVPal is now ONLY available through the DISH Network Sales organization?
I don't know any possible retailers that are listed as a NTIA participating retailer and also in the DISH Network Sales organization.

Do you know how to find out who is a member of both?

What I find interesting at dtvpal.com (which, like dtvpal.net, dtvpal.org, etc., is just masking the real URL
www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/

) are those three big buttons across the page that say "Order your DTVPal," "Get The Coupon," "Contact Us".

First, there's no doubt they're encouraging everyone to use a coupon for purchase, evidenced by the center "Get The Coupon" button.

Second, I suspect that the first "Order your DTVPal" button might be replaced by a working online ordering link in the near future. But if so, are they set up to accept the coupons themselves (NTIA-approved as an online retailer)? If not, it's misleading to put that "Get The Coupon" button right next to the order button. (By the way, although the button links to
www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/order.shtml

, the ".shtml" does NOT mean "secure html"; it just indicates SSI, a server-side scripting language, is being used, so it is not necessarily evidence that a secure online ordering site is coming. All the links on the page end with .shtml.)

Why have a big "Order" button if it won't eventually be used for taking orders? The page it goes to now gives the link to the email signup/survey (which has sent no email except for the acknowledgment which Malouff has quoted), but other than that, it just repeats the information that appears on the button itself ("DISH Network will begin selling DTVPal in late June 2008")! In other words, it's pretty useless now, and that's why I suspect it is intended to become a "real" order button in the future.

Ok, I'm sort-of repeating myself, but as a final point about this button, it's not a "Where can I buy it?" button (and there is no such link on the site), it is an "Order" button. However, if they aren't authorized to accept coupons and sell directly themselves, maybe they will just be providing links to online sellers once it is available, and it really will be more of a "Where can I buy it?" button. There is at least one online seller that apparently still believes they will have some in stock within a week. I don't think it's a sponsor of this site, so I'll just say its name starts with "Solid."

Third, the "Contact Us" button only provides the email press@echostar.com. A former Sling employee has said (Dave Zatz on his blog and at avsforum) that maybe we, as individuals, shouldn't contact the woman in charge of press relations with questions (and I haven't), but a "press" contact is the only one we are being given on the official site!

[camteax]

I was wondering if Scott Greczkowski could answer the question if the DTVPal have any vent holes and has any thermal problems?

[rglore]

Thanks for the update Claude.

Once you start selling you might want to give us all an update and post a link.
I am sure there will still be people looking for these who have had coupons expire.

The US congress is going to mandate that those with expired coupons be able to re-apply for new ones so just wait awhile and see what happens.

[pabeader]

no vent holes at this time. no overheating problems either...

[Malouff]

pabeader "Where were we told that they were only using the Echosphere distribution channel?"

The retailer where I had my pre-order had Sling as his distribution partner and they cancelled his order not only that but:

If you eMail TR40@slingmedia.com it now has the following at the end.

The DTVPal (TR-40) and TR-50 are now ONLY available through the DISH Network Sales organization.
To receive updates as information becomes available, please
sign up

for their analog to digital newsletter.

This alone says they are only using the Echosphere distribution channel but to make sure I have sent eMails to other retailers and Dish to find out and will report back once I get a reply.

[pabeader]

thanks man. i knew i read it but i needed to see it again

[pabeader]

have you looked at all the Zatz videos? I watched them this weekend and I found myself trying to get him to press buttons and hear me answer his unspoken questions. like when he was searching for the antenna pointer screen. or the page up and down buttons. I almost woke up the wife.

[A guy who read the manual]

Sorry if my post above got a little long-winded, but does anyone have any insights as to whether dtvpal.com will eventually start taking orders and shipping directly to consumers, or do you expect them to sell only though their network of authorized sellers (apparently called DISH Network Sales and using Echosphere distribution)?

I don't own any DISH equipment yet; I thought others here who do might have more insight. (I know you can place orders for satellite equipment and service by starting at
https://customersupport.dishnetwork....lddish/land.do

but that's just about all I know about their capacity for direct online sales. By the way, don't order from there! Patronize the sponsors of this site! ) My earlier post was based on what the dtvpal.com site design appears to be intended for since it has an "Order" button.

Although DISH is not on the
authorized sellers list

now, that may be only because the DTVPal is not shipping yet, and DISH Network (and/or dtvpal.com) could be added to the list of online sellers at that time.

@pabeader, Re: Zatz videos -- Yeah, I wanted him to type text into the onscreen keyboard using the numeric remote buttons like a cell phone keypad. He later confirmed somewhere that that works.

[Malouff]

Malouff,

Thank you for your email. Our records indicate that converter box called the DTVPal should be available this month of June 2008. This DTVPal will be free if the customer has a federal coupon. The DTVPal leverages EchoStar’s award-winning technology and will provide analog-TV owners a TV-viewing experience better than that offered by digital-TV sets. If you want more information about our DTVPal Converter Boxes,please go to
www.dishnetwork.com/dt

Analog to Digital Transition Info:
www.dtv.gov

DTV Converter Box Coupon Info:
www.dtv2009.gov

You may please call our Customer Service at 1-888-DTV-2009 at your convenience for assistance.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused you.
Your business is greatly appreciated and we thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to
www.dishnetwork.com


or reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Nima M.
DISH Network eCare
Pine Brook