Ati Shows Groundbreaking High Definition Digital Cable Pc Receiver

[Gregg Lengling]

DirecTV's new HD receiver lineup does not include the "Gateway" feature touted at last year's CES. But according to a DirecTV booth rep, the ability to view content stored on its DV-R on more than one set has not yet been killed, but will show up in the second half of this year, after the company actually starts shipping the new HD products.

However, if you don't want to wait, you might want to check out two of the new Dish Network HD receivers. The VIP222 Receiver and VIP622 HD DV-R can handle both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 signals in two tuners, and support viewing on two sets simultaneously. What's the catch? The second set gets only an SD (480i) RF modulated signal. While this might be disappointing to households with pockets deep enough to have more than one HDTV, it should be fine for the majority of multi-set households.
Although the second-set connection uses a plain old analog signal, it completely avoids the DRM issues related to digital copying, since it doesn't provide recording devices such as DVD-Rs and even VCRs with those dangerous and potentially promiscuous bits that escape the confines of the HD receiver.

Dish's new HD duo also sports a few other niceties not found on the DirecTV boxes, such as the "DISH Comm Technology" that sends phone and audio (from optional Sirius radio channels) signals between multiple DISH receivers via a built-in HomePlug powerline connection. This gives buyers the flexibility of having to site only one of the receivers within reach of a phone jack. Both boxes also sport both USB 2.0 and 10/100 Ethernet connectors, although the Ethernet is disabled, awaiting a "future software upgrade" to make it come alive. The USB port can be used for speedy transfer of content to PocketDISH PMPs.

The new line also includes a VIP211 MPEG-2/MPEG-4 receiver that handles only one TV. The dual mode receivers are required to receive seven recently-added HD channels, plus the local HD channels that are being added in 2006. All the new receivers should be available by the end of the first quarter.