Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

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Jaker’s Blog 4.1 » Blog Archive » The Mythbox Project: Quest for HDTV — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:09:05 GMT

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re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:07:58 GMT

It's not coming in March, the tuner depends on the next Media Center update which isn't even in private beta yet.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

John — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:04:21 GMT

When I called DirecTV they told me March, since that is only a few days away I am waiting to call back.

They did have info on it, but like a moron I forgot to ask for pricing. I asked for it by HDPC-20, it took them a few minutes, but confirmed it hooked up to the computer via usb and was dual tuner, etc. So I knew they had the right product. On my first call (weekend) the guy kept trying to sell me the HD20 I think it was. At any rate, my new rig is waiting for this solution, can't wait.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:51:53 GMT

It will not be released until we get a Media Center update. Search Fiji on my blog for more, but most likely time is around years end.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Aaron — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:15:20 GMT

Any update on this? I have been excited for quite some time, and I keep on putting off a bigger media center project just hoping that this will materialize.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:45:39 GMT

Oh yeah, assuming it works like CableCARD in Media Center then you can record everything. You can watch everything on either your PC or a Media Center Extender. It will still be protected, but for a whole home solution it shouldn't get in the way.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

JG — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:11:45 GMT

Let's say hypothetically that it will be an add-on device (as I hope). Does anyone foresee any restrictions with recording HD content, especially with premium channels (HBO, Showtime, premium sports packages, etc...)? Is that something that DirecTV and/or Microsoft will implement while still preserving the timeshifting features of MCE?

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Matt — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:15:11 GMT

The Brochure (back) states that it will requires Vista.

» DirecTV Coming To Media Center » InsideMicrosoft-part of the Blog News Channel

» DirecTV Coming To Media Center » InsideMicrosoft-part of the Blog News Channel — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:52:06 GMT

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re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

FirstSalvo — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:20:17 GMT

Chris, wouldn't we want support of SIX tuners total so we have complete coverage? 5 tuners for extenders + 1 tuner for the VMC machine itself. But then again, what about recording while we're watching? I guess we're pushing our luck there. :)

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Greg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:57:03 GMT

Chris I agree that it would be nice for the MCE to have native support for more than 2 tuners. But it would be nice to know if DTV will even allow you to have more than one. I don't mind doing the reg hack manually.

It is killing me. I was at a point of giving up again, but the announcement of streaming dvd and especially DTV put me back on the straight and narrow.

Now hopefully we don't have to wait 6 months to a year to get any more details.

re: Update: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:40:41 GMT

That's another one of the big questions. I have no doubt that the registry hack will keep working, but hopefully Microsoft finally gets that for Media Center to be all it could it needs to support ~5 tuners, one for each Extender to use.

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Greg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:30:36 GMT

As per usual the question of can we get more than 2 tuners. In most houshold 2 is not enough. Has there been talk about being able to use 4?

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

sportsunit — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:22:33 GMT

This tuner will help me realize my dream for the perfect entertainment setup. This along with the Fiji update will be the highlight of 08 for me if it really does see the light of day.

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

EZRyder — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:09:22 GMT

Engadget has a leaked spec / photo of this device. I wonder if this will come to the UK with Sky, in competition to BT's IPTV....

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:01:27 GMT

Yes, all DIRECTV HD channels will come in without any issues and there is no SDV-type problem with the tuner (at least with the known details).

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Geoff — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:43:27 GMT

Does DirecTV have the same Switched Digital Video issues that cable has? So, in other words, if I switch to DirecTV and use this card, would I be able to see all of the DirecTV HD channels with no problem or do I still have to worry about that?

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Jeffrey — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:57:13 GMT

In the immortal words of Skull the Troll: GLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

Roy J. Salisbury — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:17:46 GMT

I agree.. The best one could hope for would be a non-OEM device, but a DirecTV installer would have to come to your house and set it up (after meeting certain specs).

I'll tell you this. The way the industry works, if it is OEM only (new PC required), it will be next year before it sees the light of day. If it goes past July/August then they will hold it for the holiday season, which means Jan/Feb availibility.

re: DIRECTV Tuner Confirmed Again

chrisl — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:59:27 GMT

That's another thing where the wording might have confused someone who doesn't understand how it is currently done so we will have to see. I'm expecting the DIRECTV tuner to have similar restrictions to CableCARD. Even if Earl "confirms" standalone sales, I still wouldn't get too excited until you can actually buy a working one.