DirectTV and Home made DVR

[wuzupfoo]

Hey everyone I posed this question on AVS forums and most people thought it wasnt possible. The question is can I hook up a tuner card to make a PC based DVR system with DirectTV's HD Receiver??

Most claimed I needed to get the HD-DVR unit from DirectTV because of the way their system works.

Can anyone hear chime in for a possible solution or should I just forget the idea??

 

[nsafreak]

The only way I'm aware of that might work is to get the HD-PVR from Hauppauge that accepts HD video via component and record that way. Keep in mind you'll need an IR blaster to change the channels on the DirecTV receiver and you may not get full HD resolution if they start requiring HDCP to get the HD signal.

 

[kalrith]

AFAIK HDCP is only through HDMI and not component. HDCP shouldn't be an issue, because they'd have to discontinue the HD signal through component, and I seriously doubt they'd do that.

I'm not sure when it'll be out, but DirecTV is making a receiver that is specifically made to connect to your PC and use the PC's hard drives to store the video.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: kalrith
AFAIK HDCP is only through HDMI and not component. HDCP shouldn't be an issue, because they'd have to discontinue the HD signal through component, and I seriously doubt they'd do that.

There are provisions to do just that, in fact. It'll be a few years in the offing, too.

I'm not sure when it'll be out, but DirecTV is making a receiver that is specifically made to connect to your PC and use the PC's hard drives to store the video.

It'll only work with Windows Media Center, and it's not due for release any time soon. You may also need a specially certified PC, ala CableCard.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: kalrith
AFAIK HDCP is only through HDMI and not component. HDCP shouldn't be an issue, because they'd have to discontinue the HD signal through component, and I seriously doubt they'd do that.

There are provisions to do just that, in fact. It'll be a few years in the offing, too.

Do you mean they're going to discontinue the component out of existing DVRs, or just remove the connection from future DVRs? BTW I have an HR21 connected via HDMI-to-DVI to my non-HDCP computer monitor, and it's working just fine, so I assume those DVRs do not require HDCP.

I'm not sure when it'll be out, but DirecTV is making a receiver that is specifically made to connect to your PC and use the PC's hard drives to store the video.

It'll only work with Windows Media Center, and it's not due for release any time soon. You may also need a specially certified PC, ala CableCard.

I haven't heard about that. When they displayed it at CE, I believe it utilized a firewire (could've been USB) connection.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: kalrith
Do you mean they're going to discontinue the component out of existing DVRs, or just remove the connection from future DVRs? BTW I have an HR21 connected via HDMI-to-DVI to my non-HDCP computer monitor, and it's working just fine, so I assume those DVRs do not require HDCP.

Your guess is as good as mine. My assumption is that it'll happen when the content providers start enforcing HDCP across the board.

I haven't heard about that. When they displayed it at CE, I believe it utilized a firewire (could've been USB) connection.

It was USB. No one's heard anything about it, it's just industry conjecture. Still, ask yourself: why would content providers demand that the cable companies take intrusive protections and not the satellite providers?

 

[wuzupfoo]

so, im SOL, o well, here another question then, do you know if aftermarket Cablecard capable graphics cards coming out soon? All I have heard about is one available on a premade PC.

 

[Muadib]

For Directv, the only option right now, is the one nsafreak mentioned, the Hauppauge HD-PVR.

What you want is the HDPC-20. The last I heard, it was in beta.

I think you want a pc tuner that will take a cablecard. They talk about a few here.

 

[wuzupfoo]

hmm thanks for the link, wonder when this is going to be available to everyone.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: wuzupfoo
so, im SOL, o well, here another question then, do you know if aftermarket Cablecard capable graphics cards coming out soon? All I have heard about is one available on a premade PC.

They aren't coming out until CableLabs changes their stance on the need for certification. That will happen in the time between "the end of the world" and "hell freezing over".