network directtv boxes

[monkey333]

ok so i got 2 new boxes and they both have ethernet ports. got the dvr setup for on demand, but i read somewhere else the 2nd could be hooked up to view the dvr potion of the first box.

anyone got this working?

 

[Muadib]

Where in sam hill did you see that? I know that's on a lot of peoples wish list, but I don't think it's working yet.

 

[kalrith]

It's definitely not working yet. With DirecTV boxes there are currently two options for multi-room viewing (MRV). One is pretty simple. Download software from DirecTV to watch shows from a DVR on your computer assuming both are on the same network.

The second is not quite as simple. Connect both DVRs to both of your displays. Then buy a couple DirecTV remotes online for cheap. Set them all to RF, so that you can control the DVRs from another room, and label them for each DVR. This will allow you to watch either DVR from either room, but each DVR will only display one thing at a time. In other words you can't watch one show from DVR1 in one room while someone else watches a different show from DVR1 in another room.

Neither is true MRV. True MRV would effectively treat both DVRs as one, allowing you to set four shows to tape at a time from one DVR, being able to watch any of those shows from either DVR, and automatically recording to the other DVR when one's hard drive gets full. That's been on the wish list for years and may never come to fruition.

I used to care about it, but I'm downsizing to OTA HD channels through either an HTPC or Dish's new TR-50 and saving over $1000/year.