Adding a legacy HD DVR receiver to a SWM with a Genie on it?

DTV will ship a replacement receiver for $20 shipping, no tech needed.  If you can find one and DTV will activate it then those will work.  A lighting strike will probably fry the TVs also.

If you have a regular Genie (HR34, HR44, HR54) than you can have regular HDDVRs HR20 thru HR24 (and special R22) and HD non-DVRs H21 thru H25 on the other TVs.

Unfortunately, DirecTV has moved away from non-Genie setups so is difficult to impossible to order a regular HDDVR (last model HR24) from them. Others have had difficulty activating boxes from Authorized Retailers.

Furthermore, DirecTV no longer reactivates boxes. So if you have an old R22 or box from someone else, they will not activate it. They discontinued purchase to own options and so when boxes are deactivated they either get returned or if not a model they want back anymore are recycled instead.

DirecTV does not need to send an installer to replace a failed Genie. They only need an installer when you upgrade to the Genie, or to the Genie-2, in the first place. As a reminder, the Genie-2 (HS17) does not permit anything but Clients so is very restrictive for a multi-TV home.

Thanks.  I understand. 

Can I have a second Genie server on the same dish (SWM)?  ...that would provide suitable backup.   I currently have a HR44NC-500.

Seems like the Genie config introduces a sigle point of failure for an entire home.

What is new about the Genie-2(HS-17)? 

Thanks for your time!

You can only have one Genie/Genie Lite/Genie-2 on the account. It is built like a server so they will not allow multiple. They did try that in the testing days of the original Genie, but the server design caused them to fight each other. That is why only one on the account is allowed.

If all you have is a Genie and Clients, then that makes it a single point of failure. That is one of the biggest reasons I am against the Genie-2 as it only permits Clients. The regular Genie line allows other HDDVR and HD non-DVRs making it a more reliable and capable setup that does not have a single point of failure.

If you only have a single TV on the account, there is no backup option. If you have at least two TVs, say your HR44 (2nd gen Genie) on one and a HR24 on another, if the Genie goes down the other still works. You still lose the recordings on the one that went out of course, but the other can still watch TV.

I have the HR44NC-500 - I assume that is a base Genie.  

Hi there. Thanks for sharing. We'd like to check on your request to add a receiver, let's meet in DM for further assistance. Alameen, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@GCsTelevision 

The HR44 is the 2nd generation of the regular Genie line as mentioned (HR34, HR44, HR54). The -500 is simply manufacture code (what company made that exact box though all are to same specs).

Do you only have a single TV on the service? If not, what are the other boxes that are already active on the account?

You cannot keep a spare box not active as a backup anymore. Such an option was removed a few years ago. Once deactivated you get rid of the box either by returning it to DirecTV or recycling it if it is one they don't want back anymore.