Over at [url=http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2008/01/07/1444904.aspx]Chris L’s WHS/VMC blog[/url] is the most in depth info on the DirecTV/Vista marriage yet. I’ve been holding out for info on the rumor of Microsoft’s 4pm press conference today. As luck would have it, it was just a rumor.
So here’s the lowdown on the new DirecTV tuner for Windows. This is all to the best of my knowledge based on what I’ve read and some anonymous info from engineers at MS; no warranty as to its validity on the final product. The device is called the HDPC-20. From the product code and FCC filing, it looks like an HR20-xxx tuner platform adapted for external/PC use. It’s dual sat tuner, with no provision for OTA signal which is consistent with DirecTV’s strategy of HD Mpeg4 local channels nationwide. The display shows a USB port and an ethernet port, neither of which are mentioned in the literature. The USB-A port is clearly labeled “PC Link”. There are a lot of questions swirling, but I have a feeling it will work fairly seamlessly with Vista Media Center, possibly with a minor driver/sw update. I’m not convinced we’ll need to wait for “codename figi”, the next VMC update. I also think it will work with media center extenders (2.0) the same as any other VMC source.
Questions that still remain?
* Availability – When will it be released?
* Price – How much? Initial cost and monthly fee
* OEM only or add-on to any VMC-capable PC?
* How many can be connected to each PC? Logic tells me one with the possibility of the VMC reg hack for more.
Here are some pictures taken by the [url=http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1378137]DBSTalk crew[/url].
The front of the HDPC-20
[url=http://www.spikethis.net/pictures/hdpc20_front.jpg][img=600×480]http://www.spikethis.net/pictures/hdpc20_front.jpg[/img][/url]
The rear of the HDPC-20
[url=http://www.spikethis.net/pictures/hdpc20back.jpg][img=600×480]http://www.spikethis.net/pictures/hdpc20back.jpg[/img][/url]
