DVRs rock, no argument there. So how great would it be to have access to a portable DVR that you can take with you? Well folks, it looks like we will soon be able to find out first hand!

Satellite TV broadcaster EchoStar is about to find out whether portable video players will strike consumers’ fancy as much as Apple Computer’s iPod.

EchoStar Communications (NasdaqNM:DISH - News), the No. 2 satellite broadcaster behind DirecTV (NYSE:DTV - News), plans this summer to unveil the first portable DVR in the U.S. To be called the PocketDish, the gadget would store TV programs as well as audio, photos and Internet content.

EchoStar already offers several set-top boxes with built-in DVRs, digital video recorders.

The PocketDish will link to its set-top boxes/DVRs via USB 2.0 wiring, the computer wiring that allows for fast downloading. [Read the rest]