Question: Can two different programs be played off a single DVR in different rooms?

You can watch one program on the DVR and one on either of the HD receivers. DVRs can only stream to one distant location at a time.

As joed states, a DVR can only playback one program at a time to networked receivers.  The DVR can play an additional program on it's own connected TV.

I have 3 HD DVR's that apparently can't share programming without the addition of multiroom feature.  This after I successfully was using the multiroom beta!  Why should anyone pay for a feature that should have been there all along (or certainly should be now)

Your question is totally unrelated to the original posters question.  In those cases courtesy would suggest starting your own thread would be the thing to do.  Anyway, you can activate your own do it yourself network if you like, but it isn't supported by Directv so you're on your own.  However, the Whole Home DVR upgrade in many cases involves updating the dish and some of the receivers/DVR';s and the installation of DECA modules and power supplies.  So, it isn't reasonable that the technology "should have been there all along".

thanks for the response (and correction to my mispost)  I'll start on new thread to ask for more info on this subject

It's only $3. If you feel it isn't worth it then you don't need to pay anything. I like the feature a lot so I pay for it.