John Shutt wrote: >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Craig Birkmaier" <craig@xxxxxxxxx> > > > >>I seriously doubt that any physical modification of the boxes sold in >>markets not currently served by USDTV will be required. But it is >>likely that you will need to add a smart card to activate the >>subscription service when USDTV does offer service in your market. >> >> > >The boxes sold in non-USDTV markets are clearly labeled "USDTV Ready" and >the website says that when USDTV shows up in your market, you would be ready >to activate the service. > > That seems to be another mistake. The boxes as sold in WalMart in other cities will not work with USDTV until they have been physically modified. > > >>Clearly Hisense is investing in their brand name. But it is also >>clear that they need to sell the inventory, and USDTV is not getting >>enough subscribers to consume the existing inventory. >> >> > >Judging from the fact that the Wal*Mart website shows that the Hisense boxes >are currently out of stock tells me that Hisense has either sold out their >initial run, or are reserving them for USDTV market areas. Further, I do >believe that Hisense is waiting for the LG/Zenith 5G chipset before they >crank up production again. > >I am also wondering if the next batch of Hisense/USDTV boxes will only >operate with FTA signals with a subscription. Just because Hisense dumped >their current gen boxes for what is essentially cost does not mean that this >will be their future business plan. > >BTW, does anyone in a USDTV market know if you can purchase the receiver at >Wal*Mart for $99 without actually signing a contract in the store with >USDTV? Will Wal*Mart charge you the $199 price in USDTV market cities if >you refuse to sign a contract? Just curious. > > I don't think you can buy a Hisense receiver for $99 anywhere. It is either $19.95 in Salt Lake with subscription or $198.76 in any other city. These are two different receivers. The ones sold in Salt Lake AFAIK are ONLY for USDTV. I don't think you can buy a non modified unit there and with the modification these units will not work with free OTA channels with out being turned on by USDTV. The answer is a phone call away. They didn't know this morning and were going to find out but I said forget it. Bob Miller >John Shutt > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.