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My Genie Upgrade. Not!

6K views 114 replies 17 participants last post by  PDXDirecTVFan 
#1 ·
Been with directv for 10 years and each time I've had to deal with installers it turns out a frustrating experience. A few years back when we upgraded to hd the installer never could figure out how to run a 2nd line to our bedroom So we were left with a dvr that could only watch/record on one channel

Today I was scheduled to upgrade to a genie/mini. Wanted the hr44. No can do. Maybe in 4-5 months. Then I was told I would need a new dish and it would have to be installed on the roof (no). Or on a pole. But I would have to get ms utility to mark the area. Bottom line. No install.


At this rate ill be on rabbit ears before the end of the year. They make it too hard.
 
#79 ·
Bill Broderick said:
Yes. The HR21 would be part of the Whole Home network (it's not a Genie network). Any SWM capable receiver, DVR, client (or RVU capable TV) will be able to see and play programs recorded on the Genie or any other DVR.
dang it....another brain pop.....so if the hr21-100 will allow me to see/share programs across the genie and the mini, is there an advantage to keeping the hr21-100 rather than getting a mini instead...?
 
#80 ·
You would have two independent tuners at the HR21 location, instead of tying up the Genie tuners when that location is being used
 
#81 ·
We got a Genie upgrade and this is what I was thinking for our new setup. Any input or things we should do differently is welcome!

We currently have a HR22 downstairs which will get replaced by the Genie. That HR22 will go upstairs to replace a HR21. That will give us two HR22's upstairs. This would also give us a total of 9 tuners. Does this sound like a good system to you?

I assume you can't pause Live TV when going from the Genie to a receiver or vice versa, but just wanted to make sure. Will I lose anything on the HR22 DVR when I move it?

Thanks for your help!
 
#82 ·
peds48 said:
Because "Slimline" refers to the reflector not LNB!
Slimlines only take Slimline LNbs, so whats your point.

If someone has a slimline dish , they are not going to have a Phase III LNB on it

ALL SLIMLINES ARE HD READY!

Again, including myself I've never saw a Swm LNB installed on any of my friends or family Upgraded MRV system. They all have Swm 8's or 16's!
 
#83 ·
Slimlines only take Slimline LNbs, so whats your point.

If someone has a slimline dish , they are not going to have a Phase III LNB on it

ALL SLIMLINES ARE HD READY!

Again, including myself I've never saw a Swm LNB installed on any of my friends or family Upgraded MRV system. They all have Swm 8's or 16's!


Because you reference "slimline" as the whole thing and that only covers the reflector
 
#84 ·
PDXDirecTVFan said:
We got a Genie upgrade and this is what I was thinking for our new setup. Any input or things we should do differently is welcome!

We currently have a HR22 downstairs which will get replaced by the Genie. That HR22 will go upstairs to replace a HR21. That will give us two HR22's upstairs. This would also give us a total of 9 tuners. Does this sound like a good system to you?

I assume you can't pause Live TV when going from the Genie to a receiver or vice versa, but just wanted to make sure. Will I lose anything on the HR22 DVR when I move it?

Thanks for your help!
Sounds great to me. No you won't lose any recordings by moving the unit upstairs. You will lose only stuff on the unit you are deactivate.
 
#85 ·
inkahauts said:
Sounds great to me. No you won't lose any recordings by moving the unit upstairs. You will lose only stuff on the unit you are deactivate.
Thanks for your response! Was my assumption correct about the Live TV? Do you think the installer might be willing to switch out the existing HR22 upstairs with a HR24 if he has one? I would like something hopefully a little bit faster!
 
#86 ·
Thanks for your response! Was my assumption correct about the Live TV? Do you think the installer might be willing to switch out the existing HR22 upstairs with a HR24 if he has one? I would like something hopefully a little bit faster!


If you have a "Grant" or maybe a less desirable "Jackson" along side the request, I do not see why not.
 
#87 ·
PDXDirecTVFan said:
Thanks for your response! Was my assumption correct about the Live TV? Do you think the installer might be willing to switch out the existing HR22 upstairs with a HR24 if he has one? I would like something hopefully a little bit faster!
He might since it would mean all deca built in. Or peds idea.. :)

Live tv, I don't really get what your asking.
 
#88 ·
inkahauts said:
He might since it would mean all deca built in. Or peds idea.. :)

Live tv, I don't really get what your asking.
My question about the live tv is if you can pause something live, and pick it up in another room when moving from the Genie to the DVR? What do you mean by having all deca built in? Would it be easier for him to connect it to the SWM? Thanks for your help!
 
#90 ·
longrider said:
No, you cannot pause something live and pick it up at that point in another room, Genie, client, or DVR. Only recordings have that functionality. That said you can record something and watch it while it is recording and use the stop/resume functionality.
Thank you for the clarification! So I would just record the program from that point, and then resume it from the list in the other room?
 
#92 ·
damondlt said:
Slimlines only take Slimline LNbs, so whats your point.

If someone has a slimline dish , they are not going to have a Phase III LNB on it

ALL SLIMLINES ARE HD READY!

Again, including myself I've never saw a Swm LNB installed on any of my friends or family Upgraded MRV system. They all have Swm 8's or 16's!
I've never seen a SWM-8 retrofitted :D

They'll always almost go for the SWM LNB because it is MUCH cheaper and does the same thing.
 
#94 ·
PDXDirecTVFan said:
Thank you for the clarification! So I would just record the program from that point, and then resume it from the list in the other room?
Yes!

As far as the deca thing, it doesn't make it easier to hook up per se. Just see what happens. It cant hurt to ask for an hr24 when hes there, but don't expect it.
 
#96 ·
VaJim said:
dang it....another brain pop.....so if the hr21-100 will allow me to see/share programs across the genie and the mini, is there an advantage to keeping the hr21-100 rather than getting a mini instead...?
Absolutely. 7 recordable tuners vs 5 recordable tuners. There is no way that I would replace an existing DVR with a client. I'm currently waiting on the HR44 to be available in my area (I really want the external power supply). I currently have 3 DVR's. When I get the Genie I will have a Genie and 2 DVR's.
 
#97 ·
Bill Broderick said:
Absolutely. 7 recordable tuners vs 5 recordable tuners. There is no way that I would replace an existing DVR with a client. I'm currently waiting on the HR44 to be available in my area (I really want the external power supply). I currently have 3 DVR's. When I get the Genie I will have a Genie and 2 DVR's.
Bill. You've got me thinking. Maybe what I should do is keep both hr21-100's. I would move the one in the living room to upstairs room. It would replace the old standard receiver. The genie would go in the living room. I would also keep the hr21-100 in the bedroom.

This would leave me with a genie and 2 hr21-100's

My install right now calls for a genie and a mini. Can I change it once the installer arrives that way I would have time to discuss all this with him.
 
#98 ·
VaJim said:
Bill. You've got me thinking. Maybe what I should do is keep both hr21-100's. I would move the one in the living room to upstairs room. It would replace the old standard receiver. The genie would go in the living room. I would also keep the hr21-100 in the bedroom.

This would leave me with a genie and 2 hr21-100's

My install right now calls for a genie and a mini. Can I change it once the installer arrives that way I would have time to discuss all this with him.
You can cancel the mini with him, but he might not have a SWiM16 on his truck. Better to cancel the mini now, so that he'll be properly prepared for 9-turner upgrade.
 
#99 ·
VaJim said:
My install right now calls for a genie and a mini. Can I change it once the installer arrives that way I would have time to discuss all this with him.
I agree with Drucifer. Since you're talking about going from 5 tuners to 9 tuners, you will likely need to have your LNB replaced and a SWM-16 installed (you'll definitely need a SWM-16 installed, the LNB replacement will be determine by whether you currently have a SMW LNB (one coax coming from the dish) or a standard LNB (4 coax coming from the dish and a SWM-8). The former is far more likely.

The only way that you can be sure that the tech will have all of the parts that you need is to change your order ahead of time.

Also, you'd likely be better off asking opinions on your situation here than you would by asking the installers. While there are a lot of good installers (many of whom post here), there are also quite a few who really don't know all that much at all. What you're thinking about doing will create more work for the installer. Do you really want to ask an installer a question that he may just hear as "Am I better off if I do something that will require you to do more work or should I do the thing that's easier for you to install?"

You may get a good installer who will give you a well-informed opinion, regardless of the amount of work that it takes. On the other hand, you may have an installer who is already late to his next appointment and just wants to get out of your house as soon as he can.
 
#100 ·
Thanks. Sounds like a call to directv is in order. Maybe they can put on the order that IF the swm 16 does not work here, we'll go back to square one. This house was pre-wired for cable tv. When directv came they used the same wiring. When we did get hd a few years back the installer brought in a 2nd line under the house to the living room

We do have what the installers call a smart panel. But to me it looks like a nightmare. So when I hear about extra tuner capability I become concerned. Maybe all for not. But we'll see.
 
#101 ·
You can cancel the mini with him, but he might not have a SWiM16 on his truck. Better to cancel the mini now, so that he'll be properly prepared for 9-turner upgrade.


For most in-house techs, this is a moot point as they will likely see your WO when they are on the road since they are only dispatched one job at a time, unless your job happens to be his first appointment. Most techs should (are required) carry these switches on their truck
 
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