Yes, the keyboard and mouse will work just as if you're using a remote.
However, note that MCE 2005 will not play HDTV from a cable/satellite
source. Your set top box may get the channels, but MCE 2005 cannot display
them. At this time the only option for HD over cable is the ATI Digital
Cable Tuner which only ships with new pre-built PC's and is not DirecTV
compatible.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Bobo The Clown" <BoboTheClown@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:12247342-1082-458E-97B6-9480C452F45E@microsoft.com...

Yes, the keyboard and mouse will work just as if you're using a remote.
However, note that MCE 2005 will not play HDTV from a cable/satellite
source. Your set top box may get the channels, but MCE 2005 cannot display
them. At this time the only option for HD over cable is the ATI Digital
Cable Tuner which only ships with new pre-built PC's and is not DirecTV
compatible.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Bobo The Clown" <BoboTheClown@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:12247342-1082-458E-97B6-9480C452F45E@microsoft.com...

Hello,

I'm currently set up with Comcast standard cable/Dell XPS 410/Samsung DLP
and everything is working fine. My only complaint is some sports are blurry
when the camera is at a distance or there is a lot of action.

I am thinking of switching to a DirecTV HD receiver and have looked at some
of the writeups on this and other discussion groups. I understand that I
need to attach the IR bug to the IR receiver to have my remote talk to both
the PC and the receiver at the same time.

My questions is that when I use MCE 2005 I usually pull up the guide or
search using my mouse. If I select a channel using clicking my mouse (rather
than the remote) will that still work? Will the PC communcate with the
DirecTV receiver? I assume I would need the IR bug installed if this was
true, since I imagine the coax going from the DirecTV receiver to the TV
Tuner card on the PC to be one way (receiver sends signal to PC).

I am using and Nvidia video card (7900GT, I think) and an analog TV tuner (I
would upgrade the tuner to a Hauppage 1800 if I go HD).

Thanks for any advice!
-Bob

Thanks for the information, Doug. I did not know about the MCE 2005 and HD
issue. Guess I will hold off for a while until there are more options.

Thanks again,
-Bob

"Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]" wrote:

Thanks for the information, Doug. I did not know about the MCE 2005 and HD
issue. Guess I will hold off for a while until there are more options.

Thanks again,
-Bob

"Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]" wrote: