TR-40CRA Converter-Rewiew/Recomendation

[aqw8326]

After months of reseach, and 2 unhappy purchases, I have just picked up 2 of these boxes, and I can't tell you how pleased I am with them.
(There is one thing to note here- I puchased them from Dish Network, but the label and the manual says EchoStar.)
First, it is the tiniest thing, about the size of a paperback novel! It comes with a remote, 2 AAA batteries and a short piece of coax cable.

Connection is easy, antenna in, antenna out, and plug in, if you use RCA Audio/Video, those cabls were not included, but most of us have the red-white-yellow cable.

Once you choose channel 3 or 4 on your TV, the Installation Wizard takes over and guide you thru the set up process, after It scans for the available channels, you set up your time zone, and display settings, and you are finished!

Some of the features with this box and remote are:
EVENT TIME- lets you use the guide to switch the channel to you favorite program.
PARENTAL CONTROL - For those who need it.
ANALOG PASS-THROUGH - Lets you view channels that are still analog(read manual for set up)
GUIDE - Just like the guide on cable or sat. tv, you can scroll up/down/left/right to see what the lineup is.
INFO - Show program information
RECALL - Return to previous channel
PAGE UP/DOWN (PICTURE FORMAT/CC) - Moves you thru the guide, adjusts picture th fit your screen, turn on/off closed captioning.
SYS INFO - Technical details on your T-40CRA.
BROWSE - Lets you see what's showing on other channls.
SEACH - Open Event Search screen.
VIEW TV - Exit out of menus to view TV.
MENU - Open the main menu, which allows you to open al othe menus.
CANCEL - Exit out of any menu without saving changs.
VOLUME - adjust volume
MUTE - Mute volume
SELECT -
ARROW - Up/down/left/right
POWER

The remote buttons are nicely places, it took one day for my fingers to know where they were in the dark, which is important for those of us who cannot see without our glasses!
The manual is written in English and Spanish, 38 pages each, and is very easy to understand and follow.

I am using this box to replace a Magnavox and a RCA, and I like it so much, I am ordering another one and will pay the full price of $40.
I got my boxes from Dish Network, they cost $40, and is coupon approved, the s/h is $8.95ea by UPS.
I was charged tax, which I dusputed, because Tax CANNOT be charged if a coupon is used on the $40. only the amount above the $40. They claimed it was the tax on the S/h, and I am researching that.

Ann

[hdtvlabs]

Hi Ann,

Thanks for sharing!

hdtvlabs

[MotherLode]

Thanks for the great detail on this item. It helped a lot. And for the tip of getting the TR-40CRA directly from the Dish Network. (http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/tr40CRA.shtml).

When Consumer Reports.org (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/digital-tv-converter/ratings/dtv-converter-boxes-ratings.htm) rated it best of their "better" tier converters I was interested, and your post cinched the deal!

I agree with you ~ the S&H is not a taxable item. It's a service, and non-taxable. They taxed me, too.

On the flip side...if I ordered from Solid Signal (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TR-40CRA), which is the one everyone seems to refer to, it would have cost $0.35 more...they charge $9.95 for S&H!

[If someone goes to Solid Signal, be sure you go direct. Several companies who refer to them sell the same thing at a higher rate, and I assume the referrer gets the commission!]

I ordered mine this afternoon. Dish Network b Should be here by the end of the month (being generous). Tomorrow I plan to buy a Zenith DTT901 at a local store. Tonight Circuit City they had a lot at $60. Perhaps they will bring them down to $40 with their liquidation sale, and still honor the coupon. I need 3...or two if I buy an HDTV tomorrow!

Thanks again.

ML