DBSTalk Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

DirecTV will sell HR 44s to Solid Signal and Weaknees - but not me

19K views 262 replies 52 participants last post by  Stuart Sweet 
#1 ·
Short story - I'd like a Genie but I can't use an HR34 because my installation is on an inside wall so I can't get a hardwired internet connection to my rcvr. As it stands, I had to run the coaxes up through the floor to feed my HR 22. Yes, I know about the Cinema Bridge but that's not what I want. I'm the customer, I want an HR 44.

A few weeks ago, a CSR told me that right after Memorial Day, I could call in and specifically order an HR 44 and I could get one. I called today. A very nice CSR told me, no, there was no guarantee I'd get an HR 44. Place an order and I might get a 44 but it might be a 34. We chatted for a bit and he told me that thanks to my account status, there'd be no upcharge to go to a Genie but, again, no guarantees. Well, I said, I can wait until the 34s run out and then order a 44. He pointed out that it might be a while - they sent out 22s for a long time after the 24s became available and I know for a fact that's true. In fact, I got a replacement 22 two days before the Super Bowl this year. 34s will be coming back to DTV and getting refurbed and then shipped out for years. Then the CSR very politely pointed out that Solid Signal have the 44s in stock. I thanked him and hung up and an hour later I got an email from Weaknees; they have 44s, too. Ready to ship.

DirecTV will sell HR44s to Solid Signal and to Weaknees but not to me. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but I do know this sucks out loud.
 
See less See more
#252 ·
rmmccann said:
I'm joining this conversation way-late so I'll apologize if this has been covered already in one of the other pages.

I'm coming due for a contract renewal, and I plan on trying to renegotiate my equipment. I've been quite happy with my H25s - they are small and generally speedy. My HR34 has been OK, however the remote lag and the form factor leave much to be desired.

I was thinking about trying to swing an upgrade to the HR44. After reading through some of the pages, I realize "a genie is a genie" in DirecTV's eyes, so my question is this:
If I pay for the unit through Solid Signal or one of the other retailers (assuming I can get DirecTV to agree to cover it) and the unit dies within a couple months, am I going to get stuck with an HR34, or should I be able to expect an HR44 to replace the one that died? It was mentioned that the protection plan covers this sort of thing, but I'm not interested in adding another monthly charge for a trouble-free installation if it's not going to help "secure" certain equipment replacement policies.
You would be back in the same boat.
 
#254 ·
dpeters11 said:
It's been stated that the policy on HR44, H25 is that like is replaced with like. Recently someone had an HR21 replaced, and either by policy or pure luck (or unluck) was shipped an HR21. However I have never seen anything official from DirecTV stating this.
I had an HR44 replaced by an HR34. The tech that came out said all Genie's are the same. I couldn't take the slowness of the HR34 so I purchased an HR44-500 to replace the HR34. Good thing DirecTV gave me credit for it.
 
#255 ·
fudpucker said:
Well, as someone who will be a new DirecTV customer (actually, returning - I had DTV from 1995 until 2009, when I switched to Dish when we moved and DTV did not carry the local networks in HD and Dish did) - and someone who is pretty analytical (my wife would say leave off the "ytical" and just call me anal! LOL!) about my electronics, and as someone turning down an offer of an upgrade of Hopper/w Sling + Hopper + Joey from Dish to move to Directv, I do NOT want an older generation product for the core of our whole house system. I.e. I don't want to give up Dish (which I have been very happy with, overall, I just need ST to watch my out of market team and can't get it this year for the first time in the last 3 years without DTV) and be given a first gen receiver, especially as it is the core of my whole house system (3 TVs) when a second gen is better and out there.

So for me, the 34 is not a viable option - so I'm looking for strategies, short of paying $300 for the privilege of becoming a new DTV customer when they are bombarding me with calls and mail to "Come back to Directv!" to get a 44.

:)
And what is going to happen when the "HR54" comes out? Dont know what is so special about the 44
 
#256 ·
samthegam said:
I had an HR44 replaced by an HR34. The tech that came out said all Genie's are the same. I couldn't take the slowness of the HR34 so I purchased an HR44-500 to replace the HR34. Good thing DirecTV gave me credit for it.
I should have specified that the supposed policy is shipped receivers only, not when there's a truck roll

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#257 ·
dpeters11 said:
I should have specified that the supposed policy is shipped receivers only, not when there's a truck roll

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I am not sure if it is because I have the "Protection Plan" DirecTV always does a truck roll instead of shipping me receiver. I had an H25 replaced with another H25. The truck rolls are surprisingly fast - I can get appointments the following day. Since, I have H25-100, HR24-500, HR44-500 I would prefer they ship me receivers so I can get the same model. So far the only issues I had with HR34 & HR44 was hard drive failure!!!
 
#258 ·
peds48 said:
And what is going to happen when the "HR54" comes out? Dont know what is so special about the 44
For me it's not the "latest and greatest" but more so the smaller form factor. The HR34 is an absolute beast of a receiver and takes up a lot of room on my entertainment stand. I could clean things up a bit with a smaller receiver.
 
#259 ·
rmmccann said:
For me it's not the "latest and greatest" but more so the smaller form factor. The HR34 is an absolute beast of a receiver and takes up a lot of room on my entertainment stand. I could clean things up a bit with a smaller receiver.
so if the HR54 were to come out with say, 8 tuners and some other features perhaps snappier then the 44 but was the size of the 34, you would not get it even tho, let's assume you get it for free?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#260 ·
peds48 said:
so if the HR54 were to come out with say, 8 tuners and some other features perhaps snappier then the 44 but was the size of the 34, you would not get it even tho, let's assume you get it for free?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
That would be worth an upgrade, over the HR34.
 
#261 ·
damondlt said:
That would be worth an upgrade, over the HR34.
You cut the line too quickly....

Read my quoted post
 
#262 ·
I read your post just fine.
If Directv came out with an 8 tuner Genie, I would then upgrade my HR34 to it , I don't care if it's bigger.
That would be worth a Free or even $200 upgrade with a commitment.

The HR44 is not worth that over a 34.
Only the Die hard, can't be told anything directv fans think it's worth paying $200 and signing a 24 month addtional commitment on something that's only a little faster to respond, and is smaller.
Most people are not going to do an upgrade like that.
Myself included.
If you have to start paying addtional money for better equipment during your current contract , than that's a big minus for directv cost wise and operation wise as a company.
So figure that into your bottom line.

Right now, when my contact expires if Directv wants me to stay and sign again, then yes I will demand the HR44, and my HR23 upgraded to HR24.

But I'm not dropping a dime on it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top