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Windows MC HTPC to DirectTV HD Options?

post #1 of 5
6/29/09 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
I currently have a Vista Media Center PC with a Hauppage 1600 connected to my SD DirctTV settop box with an IR Blaster from the PC to the settop box for channel changing. I am considering upgrading to HD (either through DirectTV or maybe switching to dish). What is unclear is whether i can get this working through the MC PC. I thought it would work similar to the current setup. The Satellite would go into the DirectTV HD settop box and the cabling from the STB that would normally go to the tv would go into the capture card in the PC but reading through some posts it appears this is not true. So if i want to use my MC PC as a dvr for Direct TV what are my options?

TIA
Kevin
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post #2 of 5
6/29/09 at 10:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmcphail View Post

I currently have a Vista Media Center PC with a Hauppage 1600 connected to my SD DirctTV settop box with an IR Blaster from the PC to the settop box for channel changing. I am considering upgrading to HD (either through DirectTV or maybe switching to dish). What is unclear is whether i can get this working through the MC PC. I thought it would work similar to the current setup. The Satellite would go into the DirectTV HD settop box and the cabling from the STB that would normally go to the tv would go into the capture card in the PC but reading through some posts it appears this is not true. So if i want to use my MC PC as a dvr for Direct TV what are my options?

TIA
Kevin

Basically the Hauppauge HD-PVR is your option. It is an external box that accepts component input from your satellite box, and outputs to your PC via USB cable. There are no "tuner cards" that will accept HD signals, except for over the air, or via cable QAM.
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post #3 of 5
6/29/09 at 10:18am
I am afraid things get a bit more complicated when dealing with HD. While your concept is correct (satellite to Directv HD settop box to capture card) the options on the capture side are very limited. There really is only one consumer grade capture card that will allow you to capture HD signals coming from your STB. It is the Hauppauge HD PVR. It is a USB device that captures component output from you box. The problem is that it is currently not supported by media center. Things will improve with Windows7. It is my understanding that Hauppauge plans on supporting it. Do a seach on the HD PVR, there is a huge thread in this forum.
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post #4 of 5
6/29/09 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, i had seen some mention of the HD-PVR but it was not clear if that was really the only option. I will look through the hd-pvr thread.
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post #5 of 5
6/29/09 at 11:36am
Here is a link to a thread here at AVS on this subject

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1139010&page=3


It looks like this is possible with the software from www.dvblogic.com

I ordered a HDPVR and also have directv so i plan on working on it this weekend. I'm going to try with Vista with TV pack and Windows7.

I also thought it might be possible to convert the files the HDPVR records to DVR-MS and set it up so all my PC's could see my recorded shows through Mediabrowser.

I will update this thead if I get it working.

If anyone has this working I would love to here if anyone has a solution working with the DVBlogic software working in MCE.
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