DVR Functionality with DishNetwork Satellite TV? (1 Viewer)

[kenp2600]

I want to add DVR functionality to my HTPC project, but since I have DISH, what do I need for DVR to work right? Channels have to be changed on the receiver so I guess I can't control that with a tuner card. Am I stuck recording whatever channel I'm watching, or is there a way for the PC to change channels for me via IR or something else? I'm not sure what is available.

Thanks

 

[milhouse]

Most tuner cards come with an IR Blaster that can be used to change the channel on the settop box. That in combination with IR Server Suite (search the forum) works pretty well. Occassionally it'll misfire and you'll record the wrong channel, but generally pretty good. I used this myself in the past with a Dish Network 311 receiver.

Some boxes (DirectTV, not sure about Dish) have a serial port that can be used to change channels more reliably.

 

[kenp2600]

That's great news, thanks for the Reply Milhouse.

If anyone can recommend a good TV card with IR channel changing capabilities that would be great.

Also, if anyone knows if any of the Dish Network receivers support serial channel changing, or something similar, I'd be willing to upgrade a receiver. I might even consider switching to DirecTV if that's a much better option, although I'd rather not.