DISH Network finally released their TR-40 digital converter box yesterday, and once again there seem to be more questions than answers about the unit.
The Echostar/DISH Network TR-40 was introduced back in January at the CES show in Las Vegas. Promoted as a “free” unit for the consumer, many waited anxiously to use their $40 government coupon on the TR-40. After months of waiting, however, DISH Network instead introduced a rebranded digital conversion box, called the DTV Pal. Unfortunately, the price was raised to $59.99, thus costing the consumer around $20 when using their government coupon.
The TR-40 was not dead though. It has been resurrected, this time with the name TR-40 CRA. So how is this unit different than the DTV Pal? Apparently it is different in name only. Checking the FAQ section on the DTVPal site, there we find this information:
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.
DISH Network touted the fact that they were keeping their promise to release a converter unit at the $40 price point;
“We made a commitment to sell a $40 coupon-eligible converter box — making it free when a government coupon is applied — and are delivering on that commitment with our entry-level TR-40 CRA. Our digital-to-analog converter boxes, along with the $9.99 programming package solutions, are additional ways DISH Network is making high quality TV more accessible to consumers nationwide.”
That according to Tom Stingley, EVP of Sales and Distribution for DISH Network.
Hmmm….same box but lower price. That shouldn’t make your decision too difficult. The catch here looks to be in that DISH Network is only offering the TR-40 CRA on a limited quantity basis. The unit is being offered by phone, website, and at participating DISH Network retailers. How “limited” the quantity ends up being is another question, but it looks like once the TR-40 CRA units are gone, you will have to buy the DTV Pal at the $60 dollar price. Order the TR-40 CRA unit from DISH Network here.
1 comment so far ↓
Some of the early DTVPal units were defective and DISH is exchanging them. I wonder if they are re-selling them as these CRA models?
If so, hopefully they have been fixed.
Among the issues I am experiencing are that the defective units do not remember the channels of “daily” timed events properly. My unit also does not handle “weekday” events for early morning shows properly. It also sometimes takes as many as five presses of the power button before the unit stays on.
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