Get Networked!
If you’re a fan of television there is one thing that you might want next to your television… an Internet connection.
The world of television is quickly merging with the world of the internet, and with the correct hardware it could meld so well together that you might not know where your programming is coming from.
For both Dish Network and DirecTV they offer their customers Internet based video on demand services. DirecTV’s Video on Demand service by far is easier to use and find what you want to watch, however Dish Network’s VOD offers 1080p content which is not available anywhere else, plus Dish also offers adult “after hours” content which DirecTV does not offer.
But networking your DVR’s can let you do more then just watch VOD. Both Dish Network and DirecTV allow you to program your DVR via remote. Dish Network goes above and beyond setting DVR timers, under their current public beta (found at http://dish.sling.com) Dish users can access their DVR and do things such as organize your timers, delete recordings and even watch recordings from your DVR if your DVR is hooked up to a Slingbox!
But as time marches forward your networked receiver will be able to do things of what many people have wished for. On the Dish Network side their upcoming Slingloaded DVR will really blend the Internet with the receiver. Viewers will be able to watch content not available from Dish Network directly such as Major League Baseball on their HDTV’s. Plus additionally viewers will be able to watch their Dish Network service anywhere they are on their laptops or cell phones.
DirecTV on the other hand is planning on using the network in your house for other uses then just setting timers and downloading VOD. DirecTV will soon be updating their software so that DirecTV customers can view recordings in any room in your house where you have a networked DirecTV receiver. This technology known as Multi Room Viewing (or MRV for short) will let you start watching a movie in your living room and finish watching it in your bedroom.
It was reported to me by a number of readers that DirecTV CTO Romulo Pontual was seen in an Internet chat room on Friday night and Mr. Pontual announced that the next cycle of public beta testing (known as CE testing) will offer customers MRV between HR to HR series DVR’s. In addition DirecTV customers will soon be able to access Internet Widgets on their DVR’s which will allow a customer to do things such as check sports scores, the weather or even their favorite RSS feeds (such at The Satellite Dish) on their receiver all while watching their favorite shows.
In upcoming editions of The Satellite Dish we will talk more about DirecTV’s Cutting Edge (CE) Beta Program. If you are a DirecTV customer that links to tinker and try new things and you don’t mind running beta software on your receiver (and posting bug reports for issues found) then the CE program might be something for you.
Additionally on a networked DirecTV system you can watch shows from your DVR on your computer in your house. A beta software called DirecTV2PC allows your PC to talk to your DVR and access shows from your DVR. Unfortunately however is the fact that you cant watch shows on your DirecTV DVR via the internet using this technology. You can find out more about the DirecTV2PC software by visiting http://www.directv.com/directv2pc
So if your looking for something to do this weekend, why not network your satellite receivers, as soon you might be surprised what you can do!
Have a great weekend everyone!
TomCat commented:
no you idiot, MLB Network is a 24 hour channel. DirecTV has it, Dish Network doesn\’t. I dont give a crap about MLB.TV.
RAD commented:
Yea, typical Dish subscriber, talking out of their a** and not knowing facts. Check the DirecTV web site for the DVR scheduler, which lists the R15 and R16 DVR's which don't even have an ethernet port.
rjk1977 commented:
you can also watch netflix movies on your directv dvr if you download playon media server in your computer. it shows up under your pictures and music section in your menu on your dvr. it cost $40 for the software, comes with a 14 day trial.
woodstrock commented:
MLB.TV is a pay service that streams baseball games. Why would they care if you display it on your computer or tv if one pays for it.
TomCat4680 commented:
DirecTV sucks huh? hey \”yea\” how are you enjoying MLB Network? (points and laughs)
fool commented:
Actually, yea, they do NOT need an internet connection to use remote scheduling... Maybe you should learn how things work before you proclaim someone to be wrong?
yea commented:
rad is an idiot, directv recievers do need an internet to set recordings remotely. on the other hand the sling loaded 922 that dish has will blow away anything directv will ever have. there are so many things you can do with dish networks recievers, external hard drives will turn any vip reciever into a dvr, sling box, dual recievers, etc. come on directv, time to catch up. directv sucks, switch to dish.
MLB commented:
I wonder if MLB is aware of this feature. I doubt they'll want people accessing games on Dish Network recievers since Dish Network has refused to agree to the terms for MLB Network and thus no Extra Innings.
me commented:
Very interesting that Scott would post this information. Just another nail in his coffin.
RAD commented:
Just an FYI, DirecTV receivers don't need an internet connection for their remote scheduling feature, the scheduling requests are pushed out via the satellite stream.