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DTV's Mini Genie is a POS

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junk?
3K views 25 replies 10 participants last post by  trh 
#1 ·
Several months ago I switched from Xfinity to DTV because of cost. I have the base receiver in the living room and a Mini Genie in the bedroom. Since the beginning of service the MG suffers from the following, pixelation, freezing, loss of audio, picture and audio out of sync, switching channels by itself, shutting down by itself, digital audio splat, and it happens all the time. I would estimate one form or another of it happens every 5-10 minutes if not more often requiring me to turn it back on or change channels then back, etc.. In looking at this website and doing a Google search, this has been going on for several years and the responses seem to always be "their engineers are working on it". So it is taking five or six years and still no resolution. I work in television and what looks to be happening to me is the signal loses sync and drifts.

I've talked with tech support, managers, you name it and the best I got was a one month credit on my bill for $45.00. More than anything, I hate it that they are selling this crap system to people and just keep telling them when they find out their system doesn't work as advertised, their engineers are working on it. I left Xfinity because the cost was getting out of hand but the Xfinity system is light years ahead better than this crappy POS system DTV has. I can only assume DISH is no better because they use essentially the same methods of signal transmission. I wonder if I have any legal recourse to bail out of the contract because they are not holding up their end of the deal. I would love to get out of this POS system.

Xfinity could OWN DTV and DISH if they would sell their product at a more reasonable price. Their system is just so much better.
 
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#5 ·
JonPK said:
Several months ago I switched from Xfinity to DTV because of cost. I have the base receiver in the living room and a Mini Genie in the bedroom. Since the beginning of service the MG suffers from the following, pixelation, freezing, loss of audio, picture and audio out of sync, switching channels by itself, shutting down by itself, digital audio splat, and it happens all the time. I would estimate one form or another of it happens every 5-10 minutes if not more often requiring me to turn it back on or change channels then back, etc.. In looking at this website and doing a Google search, this has been going on for several years and the responses seem to always be "their engineers are working on it". So it is taking five or six years and still no resolution. I work in television and what looks to be happening to me is the signal loses sync and drifts.

I've talked with tech support, managers, you name it and the best I got was a one month credit on my bill for $45.00. More than anything, I hate it that they are selling this crap system to people and just keep telling them when they find out their system doesn't work as advertised, their engineers are working on it. I left Xfinity because the cost was getting out of hand but the Xfinity system is light years ahead better than this crappy POS system DTV has. I can only assume DISH is no better because they use essentially the same methods of signal transmission. I wonder if I have any legal recourse to bail out of the contract because they are not holding up their end of the deal. I would love to get out of this POS system.

Xfinity could OWN DTV and DISH if they would sell their product at a more reasonable price. Their system is just so much better.
What do you mean "MG" ? MAIN GENIE or mini genie ? If it is mini, Does it do it on ALL mini's ?
 
#6 ·
I agree, bad installation. Been installing DirecTV for 27 years. Never had a bad client yet. Incorrect splitter, bad connectors,or bad wiring. Does the green network light stay on? If you have multiple clients, try swapping locations. If the problem follows the receiver, it may indeed be bad. Weasel
 
#10 ·
CTJon said:
I have both wireless and wired mini and have no problems with them.
Depends where they are located.
If they are CLOSE to the MAIN GENIE, with NO OBSTRUCTIONS: Walls, Ceilings, Electrical interference, Insulation in walls, Furniture, Neighbors Close by with Electronics, DISTANCE, people walking between the MAIN GENIE and the mini, ETC. They will work FINE.
BUTTTT if there is NOT a CLEAR, NON Blocking path you may have Problems.
Try HARD WIRING the mini and see what happens.
For the test, you can just run a wire across the floor and around the house.
BEST to Use RG-6 Copper-clad, SHIELDED Cable.
 
#11 ·
I will never go 4K until it comes from the box. Wired or wireless - the Directv clients/mini genies are junk. I have had one twice. Nearly daily it lost connection to the main Genie. I only got the client system so my AM21 channels would go into the bedroom. Both times, it worked well for a couple weeks, and I became a big supporter of the client - but then everything the OP posted about started happening. I am more than happy now with my HDMI splitter and sharing the receiver. I will never activate another client on my system.

To the OP, try to get them to upgrade your client/mini to a HR24 DVR. Same monthly price, but you might have to pay for the receiver if you don't get a nice CSR. Those are real receivers.

Down with clients or mini genies or C41 or C61K or whatever you want to call them. A terrible system! I have referred 4 friends to Directv. 3 of the 4 have gone back to cable because of the clients and I look like a fool. No more referrals either.
 
#12 ·
ejbvt said:
I will never go 4K until it comes from the box. Wired or wireless - the Directv clients/mini genies are junk. I have had one twice. Nearly daily it lost connection to the main Genie. I only got the client system so my AM21 channels would go into the bedroom. Both times, it worked well for a couple weeks, and I became a big supporter of the client - but then everything the OP posted about started happening. I am more than happy now with my HDMI splitter and sharing the receiver. I will never activate another client on my system.

To the OP, try to get them to upgrade your client/mini to a HR24 DVR. Same monthly price, but you might have to pay for the receiver if you don't get a nice CSR. Those are real receivers.

Down with clients or mini genies or C41 or C61K or whatever you want to call them. A terrible system! I have referred 4 friends to Directv. 3 of the 4 have gone back to cable because of the clients and I look like a fool. No more referrals either.
This Guy know what he is talking about.
Couldn't agree MORE.
Everything he says is TRUE,
Including the Referrals, GOOD way toooo loose Friends. Refer them to clients/mini's
The HR24 DVR is Excellent. Have (3) plus a REAL GENIE. ALL HARD-WIRED, and WHOLE HOME Works PERFECT
 
#14 ·
CTJon said:
My hr44 is at one end of the house and one of my wireless is at the far end of the house - probably couldn't get further - goes through walls, and all other stuff and works fine.
Trying it wired is just troubleshooting (if it even is currently connected via WiFi).

Plus, maybe your house is 1,200 sq ft and the TS's house is 4,000 sq ft. You have wood framing? Maybe the TS has metal studs?

Just because your WiFi works fine at your house doesn't mean it will somewhere else. Too many variables.
 
#15 ·
I agree that if available go wired - true for DirecTV and all other forms of wired/ wireless communications. I was just saying that it works fine for me so it isn't the POS that the OP stated. There are all sorts of variables and just because it doesn't work for one person doesn't mean it doesn't work at all and is a POS.
 
#16 ·
CTJon said:
I agree that if available go wired - true for DirecTV and all other forms of wired/ wireless communications. I was just saying that it works fine for me so it isn't the POS that the OP stated. There are all sorts of variables and just because it doesn't work for one person doesn't mean it doesn't work at all and is a POS.
Read these forums are you'll see how widespread it is.
 
#18 ·
CTJon said:
Gee I thought these forums existed to share information but I guess if that information disagrees with some it shouldn't be shared.
Exactly, hence why saying "mine works fine" is pointless in helping. Many people have this issue.
 
#19 ·
I had the Genie system installed in June of this year. By October it was out of my house. I had one Main Genie and 3 Genie Mini Clients and they constantly lost sound and suffered from frozen screens. Had the Tech reinstall me 4 H25-500’s. I will never EVER want a Genie System back. I experienced alot of what the original poster has. Constant Loss of Audio (on numerous channels) and had picture freezing on many channels. It was the absolute worst system I ever had Satellite or Cable. I am back with just the regular HD Receivers and am happy because these H25-500 Receivers do not lose sound.
 
#21 ·
Rob37 said:
I had the Genie system installed in June of this year. By October it was out of my house. I had one Main Genie and 3 Genie Mini Clients and they constantly lost sound and suffered from frozen screens. Had the Tech reinstall me 4 H25-500's. I will never EVER want a Genie System back. I experienced alot of what the original poster has. Constant Loss of Audio (on numerous channels) and had picture freezing on many channels. It was the absolute worst system I ever had Satellite or Cable. I am back with just the regular HD Receivers and am happy because these H25-500 Receivers do not lose sound.
Were the mini's wire-LESS ?
 
#23 ·
Not only were they wired. The Exact Same Tech that installed my system in June came back in October. I showed him all of my TV's that were hooked up to Minis. 2 of them had picture with no sound, the 3rd TV had the picture frozen and they ALL had a "GREEN" light. Even the Tech agreed that wasn’t supposed to be acting like that. I will NEVER want a Genie system back in my home after the problems we had with them.
 
#25 ·
Rob37 said:
Not only were they wired. The Exact Same Tech that installed my system in June came back in October. I showed him all of my TV's that were hooked up to Minis. 2 of them had picture with no sound, the 3rd TV had the picture frozen and they ALL had a "GREEN" light. Even the Tech agreed that wasn't supposed to be acting like that. I will NEVER want a Genie system back in my home after the problems we had with them.
Don't blame you.
I have had a MAIN GEINIE HR-44-500 (5) Receivers, // Plus (2) HR-24's (2) Receivers each. (3 + Years)
All Hard Wired, and Programmed for Whole Home.
System has (9) Receivers, can Record and watch (9) channels ALL at the same time. Any configuration
Works Perfect.
I have heard nothing but complaints about mini's. Just skip the mini's
Had the HR-25's before, they were fine, but NO DVR service.
 
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