[mythtv-users] Voom integration

[Kyle Rose]

I sent VOOM (the high-def satellite network) an email requesting
information about integrating their receivers with MythTV.  As
expected, they gave the usual stock response about their own (no doubt
proprietary and DRM'ed-up) DVR to be available sometime later this
year, something I am of course not interested in at all.  Perhaps some
of you can hammer them with similar requests so we can get at least
one reasonable high-def feed from a US satellite provider.

Cheers,
Kyle


Here's what I sent (approximately):

As the new owner of an HDTV with little in the way of local
programming, I am interested in your service: however, I would
consider this only if I can integrate your receiver with my
Linux-based MythTV (www.mythtv.org) DVR/media center setup.  I am a
developer who is interested in contributing time to getting your
receivers to work with MythTV, but only if the receiver can give me
access to unencrypted high-def ATSC/QAM/other streams through a
firewire or USB port.  Even better would be if your receiver could
accept an ATSC/QAM stream in the other direction and decode it to
DVI/component video, so the MythTV box would not need to spend CPU
cycles decoding compressed video.  Please let me know if you are
interested in helping me pursue this.


And here's their response:

Thank you for contacting VOOM.
While our current receiver will not be compatible with your DVR/Media center setup, we do have a new feature of VOOM coming out this Summer. The latest advancement from Rainbow DBS will be the rollout of our VOOM HD Home Media Network, expected this year. Built specifically for VOOM this groundbreaking service will feature an HD digital video recorder [DVR] that can record and playback HD video programming in its intended format. For VOOM customers, a whole house solution will be achieved when this HDTV-capable DVR is combined with the VOOM HD Home Media Network's networking capabilities, which will allow customers to link televisions, computers and other entertainment devices so that programming, music and photos can be enjoyed throughout the house. Additional key features of the VOOM
HD Home Media Network will include: 
- Standard DVR functionality: stop, start, rewind and fast-forward at the touch of a button. 
- Separate television control: pause and rewind a program on one television, while continuing to watch the same program on another television. 
- Record and play - whenever: record a program in one room and play it in another, at any time. 
- "Follow Me": pause a television program in one room and then continue watching the same program in another room. 
- Content organization: organize recorded content in folders and set parental controls that download automatically to each television in the house. 
- Music and photos: upload both music and photos from a computer, which can then be managed through on-screen television menus and enjoyed anywhere in the house. If you have any further questions please give us a call at 1-800-GET-VOOM and once again thank you for contacting VOOM - HDTV Delivered!