Ugh.  I hate being sick but it gives me a few minutes here and there to catch up on posting. Here's a nice little utility just updated last week that reportedly allows Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 or 2005 to use the serial port on DirecTV Set-top boxes rather than an IR blaster for control.  Disclaimer: I don't know how well this works- I ditched DirecTV begrudgingly for Digital Cable in order to get local HD channels in my area a few months back when we moved. Let me know how it works for you.