Direct TV and Windows XP MCE

[Paisan]

I have Windows XP Media Center Edition with a Cable hook-up to the built in TV tuner. Using the Guide feature, which downloads up to 2 weeks of TV listings, I can select any program to record to my hard drive and view it at my convenience, or record it to a DVD. Works great.Love it...

I just got Direct TV. Excellent picture. A few more channels. Now however, after about 4 days with it, I discover to my horror that I no longer have the previous features of Windows MCE. There is no downloaded Guide for Direct TV so I can no longer review up to 2 weeks of listings to record. There are numerous other issues with this service too. Friday night there was a rainstorm of moderate intensity and duration and as a result, there was no signal from the satelite for about 10 minutes. Also, according to the on-screen displays on my various TV's, I'm not getting a stereo audio signal. I never had any of these problems with cable.

I like the digital signal quality and the price is competitive with cable, given the extra channels. Further, I read that Microsoft and Direct TV have signed some sort of agreement regarding future cooperation, but I have yet to find anything which addresses the missing Guide feature. It's not actually missing, but there is nothing similar to it available from Direct TV.

Can anyone out there comment on this or have similar experiences regarding Direct TV?

[elli1]

Friday night there was a rainstorm of moderate intensity and duration and as a result, there was no signal from the satelite for about 10 minutes.

I think rain-out is the main reason the hubbie went back to cable (from DTV). Wasn't much of a problem when we lived out in western Oklahoma...much more so when we moved to Wisconsin. Real bummer when it happens during Stanley Cup playoff OT's.

[Cedar]

Sounds like it would be more relaxing to just sit on the porch swing.

:)