DirecTV's new H24 HD receiver is one step closer to reality
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted February 26th 2010 9:34AM
posted February 26th 2010 9:34AM
We got a taste of DirecTV's new multi-room nirvana at CES but while we wait there is a new HD receiver. The H24 can act as both an HD satellite receiver but although it looks the same it isn't the same as HD DVR thin client via MoCA and RVU we saw at CES. Our friend Doug at DBSTalk.com had a chance to play with it and shared a first look with the world. The little guy is considerably smaller than its predecessors, is faster, and has DirecTV's flavor of MoCA called DECA (DirecTV Ethernet Coaxial Adapter) baked in -- regular MoCA isn't compatible with satellite. With coax networking built in one wire is all you need to use it as an HD receiver or to access internet enabled feature without running a CAT5 or depending on WiFi. One other item of note is that the new version of the ugly, cheesy, DirecTV remote now programs itself, useful for your mom, but not for you Harmony loving types.
**UPDATE** The H24 will not be an RVU thin client, just a new HD reciever, so we updated the post for accuracy.
No new DVR's and no new GUI = FAIL
I agree. However, a DirecTv employee told me everything above the HR21 will have the ability to have the GUI (via software download) of the company they bought (Aka TiVo). Expect it this year.
1 Directv didn't buy Tivo
2. HR24 not the H24 is the New DVR coming out soon
Tivo didn't get purchased buy Directv but they are making a new dvr together
There will be a HR24 out soon after the H24 I'm sure
Hey the directv remote might not be sexy but it is a very capable remote for being a pack in. I use one to control 3 receivers in my rec room plus turn on the tvs.
It can also control a receiver or two plus a tv plus an av receiver. At least as far asturning then on and allows punch through volume control.
its funny that you mock the directv remote because out of all the systems, i really feel like its the best remote.
way better then cable and fios.
its the easiest to figure out for most people.
it has discrete on and off buttons on the top of the remote
that work not only for the directv boxes, but for tv's as well.
it handles more devices then most stock remotes,
and the buttons are super soft and well laid out.
i love the directv remote.
you are crazy.
@motech
You are right, it is way better than the cable or FiOS remote, but that doesn't change the fact that it is chessy or ugly.
Clam down guys. Ben didn't say the remote didn't work that well. He just said that it was ugly and cheesy looking. Funny thing is that I'd say the same thing about there GUI.
To be precise, the H24 does not contain RVU. It uses the DIRECTV MRV technology to share content from another DVR. Also the DECA generally refers to the external DIRECTV Ethernet Coax Adapter, when it's built in, I would simply refer to it as Mid-RF MoCA built in.
@dbla
I hear what you are saying, but that picture of the H24 above is from the RVU demo at CES. So that actual H24 is acting as an RVU thin client. On top of that if you follow the link in the first sentence you can watch a video with the H24 being used as a RVU thin client.
@BenD
I see the confusion. What you see pictured above is the prototype DIRECTV C30 client box, not the H24. They are both in a very similar chassis, but the H24 has Sat tuners inside and MoCA and supports an MRV connection to an HRxx DVR, but does not use RVU. The C30 client box only has RVU (no tuners). A future HD DVR called HMC30 used for the RVU demo will have MoCA inside when it ships.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i2utytnYYs
@dbla
Thanks but I watched the video and didn't hear him say the thin client model number. What makes you so sure the H24 won't work as an RVU thin client? If it has MoCA then it should be just a matter of software. Why would DirecTV make two seperate but similarly featured boxes?
@BenD
"Just" a matter of software, I agree.
Cost is the driver. A client box needs no sat tuners.