DISH Network's Draco project brings programming to Windows Media Center
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 16th 2009 11:39AM
posted Jan 16th 2009 11:39AM
posted Jan 16th 2009 11:39AM
The percentage of sales people that recommend Samsung HDTVs.
Salespeople are also becoming less likely to recommend LCD sets over plasma sets, which goes against the industry trend.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
is that HD capable?
Improve your skimming comprehension. "DISH Network is apparently gearing up to unveil some sort of HD-capable DISH-to-Windows Media Center liaison"
interesting.... but it does sound like its nowhere near anything we would be getting our hands on.
Um, is there an actual article that this refers to? There's no link.
Ahh project Stargate lives. :)
Actually I got to see some of this at CES.
But I feel unless you really like WIndows Media Center (and lots of folks do) I myself will wait for the 922 comes out (which is supposed to be DLNA compliant) :)
I don't understand the point of this tuner. The people who will use this probably have monitors that will take component and HDMI inputs. If I was going to get this, I would have a 24"+ monitor so I could sit a reasonable distance away. The idea is good, but I think the demand will be pretty low. I think that Directv understood this and decided to cancel the project because they figured out that turning a profit would be hard.
gamefreak32,
This is not for your typical desktop PC (though it could be) it is designed for a home theater computer (HTPC) connected directly to the TV or for the various media center extenders hooked to the TV and connected back to the PC through the network.
They really need each VIP 211 to offer two tuners.
?? your comment is confusing, do you know what your talking about? I was a directv subscriber, my media center machine is connected to 40in 1080p samsung lcd and is used as my primary tv, did you think others used media center as a pretty app on their computers?
I am one person that really wanted the DirecTV solution.
With that tuner connected to my MCE PC I could stream live feeds and DVR to any extender in the house. It would have given a DirecTV signal to all the televisions without having to pay the monthly per TV fee.
Plus a central DVR. Start watching a long show in the living room, stop it and resume it from another room if you want.
I have a home network. I want all my media accessible from anywhere.
What I was really saying is that it cost money to develop this right? I don't think that they will sell enough of these to make back the R&D money. I understand there are HTPCs, but it is a niche market within a niche market. Within the range of people with HTPCs, most people have other inputs on their monitors or TVs for a HD DVR. They are probably selling an easier solution to people who already have a HD DVR.
This news pleases me. I shall now delay my switch to a HD receiver a bit longer.
The main point is that this will allow DISH subscribers to record shows directly on a PC - which is a much more open platform than their current recievers. Shows can then be transferred to an iPod or other PMP.
Do you know of way to convert wtv files to any other file format?
New to all this. Bit confused. I currently have my PC hooked to my HDTV and my dish family programming with a basic receiver. I use the all the media center DVR functions and use the guide. I get my networks in HD off-air. What is this new service going to do? Will it allow me to get DishTV through the internet without a sat dish?
This is just a way to get premium HD television content and use your media center computer as your primary DVR. Then the content can be streamed via extenders throughout the house to other TVs and you can connect the media center computer directly to your TV. This allows centralized tuning and storage using the windows media center interface. Currently, to get premium HD television in Windows Media Center, you need a cablecard equipped OEM PC with digital cable tuners.
The beauty of Dish's setup is that they are already making the tuner and don't need to create a separate tuner (see failed HDPC20). I suppose you need only connect the VIP211k via ethernet to your router/switch. Time will tell.
I will dump Directv for DISH if this does come out.
I hope Directv is paying attention.
Ditto. If DirecTV doesn't come out with something comparable, they'll be losing a 13 year customer.
And here I just posted comments on two other blogs asking where the progress was on this thing. Open mouth insert foot...and I'm happy to do it.
DIRECTV's HR2x receivers are already DLNA compliant. Any DLNA client that handles copy protection can view DIRECTV content.
And there are ways to use DIRECTV2PC within Media Center, tho I confess I'm not sure how smooth that interface is.
Cheers,
Tom
Tom, if that was the case then how come you can't watch DirecTV on a Playstation 3 yet?
Like DirecTV's HR series the just announced 922 is also supposed to be fully DLNA compliant.
I think Dish should stop working on this project and instead have the folks at Sling come up with a SlingPlayer Plugin for Windows Media Center, this way any cable or satellite receiver could become available and controllable in Windows Media Center.
anyone notice that this computer is running WIndows 7?
Sweet! As long as there is no need to have STBs with IR blasters plastered all over the place... Is this a setup where you plug the receiver into your network (like an HDHR) or where you have the STB simply plugged into your internal tuner card? What would be really nice is if they made the actual PCI cards thet you installed in place of the existing ones, installed the drivers, and you're ready to go. I'm curious about using 4 tuners. Will that require 4 STBs? Also, I've got Hauppage 2250's, where one RF cable connects to each cardand is split internally.
The second this is actually confirmed as something that is real, our custom A/V company will be installing Dish on every single job we do. (We've all been hearing uncomfirmed rumors like this for years now, I'll belive it when I see it). We specialize in Media Center Integration and carble card just isn't cutting it. This would be one of the best MCE related announcements I've heard in a while.
By Ethernet? Seriously that is um odd. But ok cool, Dish network, get this going and make it happen with user built boxes and I will fire Direct TV and give my premium ass money to you instead.
Can it play Voom?
Hahahahaha. I vote for this as the funniest comment on engadgethd today.
I would definately switch. The HD is great, but if it can actually connect through the LAN and not just a direct cat5 cable, that is even better. I would love to be able to put the STBs in the closet with the switch.
Does Dish require subscribers to purchase equipment, or would these boxes be supplied?
Draco? I thought it was Stargate. Too many codenames! Although, it's possible there are two initiatives. Relaying ViP 211 content to a Media Center and some sort of Internet streaming. Then again, with the whole SlingGuide they may shift gears and this project could suffer the same fate of DirecTV's MCE tuner.