@JW,

Would you be willing to share your *unsupported* method?  I consider myself to be pretty knowlegeable with networking, but not really up to snuff on sattelite tech.  I have network connections to both receivers (HR21 DVR and standard HD receiver) so I’m curious if I can just set something up with what I already have.

I have had this capability in my house with SD and DISH since 1995 using modulators and UHF Remotes. The Remotes is what has kept me tethered to DISH. All my gear is in the Media Room and distributed throughout the house and grounds from there with a separate antenna line for the UHF Remotes. I would liked to have used DISH’s UHF piggyback method, but I am transmitting Full Spectrum RF and the two can not work on the same line. Then when HD was available, swapping out the DVRs I discovered that the on board RF outs on the DISH gear (3HD & 3SD modulators + my 8) gave us great SD (including security cameras) & HD that can be had at any TV’s in the house, without a dedicated STB at each location, just by putting the set on the appropriate channel. This set up gives us access to all the tuners, triple (Quad on a Dual OTA module box) redundant Locals. Everybody has their own DVR/Channel with a couple leftover.

I’m at odds with DISH and some of their tactics (Such as no longer willing to work on my roof where they put the dish, using OSHA as an excuse, to be worked out as soon as OSHA comes and evals my site.) and am looking for a possible replacement. When I started reading this, especially the detailed posts by those that have this new set up, and I am looking forward to the potential “hands-on article”, my interest was aroused. But see now other than a newer way to send the programming that involves added gear, of which I have been using modulators for years. I still remain very interested but see no advantage here to what I already have other than it not being DISH.

Now if they’ll just figure out away to simultaneously record in H264 and xport to iTunes. I’ll be able to watch programs on my iPad on the subway.

I just had this system installed in my houise last week.  I had to pay the $150.00 for the SWM/Deca install.  To me it was a bargain because I only had one RG-6 line available in two of my rooms.  This saved me from running a second line and Cat-5 to two rooms which would have been difficut and ugly.  (Slap foundation and cathedral ceilings)  Installers nigthmare.  So we were looking at out ouside cable down the walls and over the roof. Glad I held off running those lines.  I have 3 HD DVRs now all connected so I have a lot of recording room and the whole home DVR works exactly as advertised.  I love it!

Just to add a little more, if you already have HD service and your STB’s are H21 or higher for non-DVR’s and HR20 or higher for DVR’s it’s likely you don’t need add anything if you just want to run MRV over your existing home network.  While Directv’s “officially supported” networking method for MRV is DECA there is a path available to activate MRV without upgrading to a SWiM (single wire)/DECA setup.  The trick is that if you go the unsupported home network route, don’t expect Directv to help you troubleshoot network problems.  If you’re not a networking do it yourself type person I highly recommend going the DECA upgrade route.  Also, I believe they will also swap out any non-MRV capable receivers as part of the upgrade fee. 

I have been very happy with the service since they worked the trick play issues out just after the beta started.  I began with it running on my home network with very good results but have since switched to a DECA network that I installed myself.  The performance of both setups is very similar (at least in my experience).