[mythtv-users] Disj Network or Direct TV?

[George Mari]

On 07/18/2010 04:33 PM, Brian Wood wrote:
> On Sunday, July 18, 2010 02:46:32 pm stan wrote:
>> I have stuck with Comcast, despite the terrible customer service for
>> a long time, as here they have been MythTV friendly. That is they
>> have continued to provide analog service that I can tune with my
>> analog tuner cards.
>>
>> Well, the end of that has come. They have moved ,u 2nd most watched chancel
>> (History) to "Digital Starter", and apparently I need some sort of
>> converter box (1 per set!) to receive that chancel. I am certain this is
>> the beginning of completely dropping analog. So I seem to be forced with
>> the choice of going to either Dish TV or Direct TV.
>>
>> So, I am seeking the wisdom of the list. Which of these is more
>> "Myth TV friendly"? I would like to be able to continue to have the
>> computer tune the chancels for the recordings. I have no HD capable
>> equipment, and don't see myself affording any in the foreseeable
>> future, so which have people had more success with?
>
> Just a personal opinion. I have used both DISH and DirectTV:
>
> They are both very much alike. At one time you could control at least some DTV receivers with a serial port, I'm not sure
> if this is still true, I know it's not so with DISH, you need an IR blaster.
>
[deleted]

Confirmed that their receivers still are controllable with a serial 
port.  I'm using an H21 high-def-capable receiver and controlling it 
with the serial port.  Actually, from the computer, I have USB->Serial 
converter, and then a serial->USB cable to the H21 settop box, because 
physically, the H21's serial port is a USB port, but otherwise, it's 
really serial.  No need to mess with Lirc, at least not to communicate 
to the settop box.

I've been using DirecTV since 1990-something, and in conjunction with 
MythTV since 2005.  I capture the output of the S-video port with an old 
PVR-350.  It works great.

I was using an older, H20 settop box with MythTV, but it started to get 
flaky.  DirecTV came out and replaced it with their latest settop box, 
model number H24, I believe.  Much smaller than the H20s and H21s, and a 
major difference for me is that they have no S-video output - only 
composite for standard def, along with HDMI and component for the HD 
outputs.  Because I was really wanting to capture 480i over the S-video, 
I ended up swapping that H24 settop box with an H21 I had in another 
room.  (The H21 has S-video output.)

Anyway, bottom line - I like DirecTV, and it works great with MythTV.  I 
haven't ever used DishTV, but I agree with what Brian said - check out 
the sports packages available on each, and see if that influences your 
decision.

If you're just looking for a "basic" package, DishTV may be a little 
cheaper.