Caller ID with HR44-500

Caller ID on TV is an outdated feature. Was only left to run as-is in the old software.

The 2nd generation Genie (HR44) is the last box to get a phone jack, but first to get the new software. As such once Caller ID no longer works, no way to get it back on that box and the Clients should eventually stop having it as well.

Regular HDDVRs (last one made HR24) can be used instead of Mini Genie Clients. They remain on the old software so Caller ID feature is still there, though does not receive updates for any changes in phone lines that may occur. With the tuners, recording space, and independent processing a Genie and HDDVRs would give you more reliability and keeping Caller ID on most of your TVs as needed.

The feature was to encourage people to be connected by a phone line. This was because it was the only way to order PPVs by remote, send anonymous viewing data, and receive updates on very old models. Now updates are exclusively through the satellite. Internet connected allows PPV orders and On Demand, as well as anonymous viewing data. The feature only supports plain old telephone systems (POTS), and more people now use VOIP or cell phones as their primary/sole phone.

As such, DirecTV has no incentive to spend money and resources supporting an outdated feature that doesn't support their service. You will need to use Caller ID on the phone, or get a dedicated Caller ID box if you want something more specialized.

Hey @st8542,

We are here to help with your Caller ID feature. There are a few things you can do to resolve this trouble.

• On your remote click Menu ->Extras -> Caller ID -> Notifications -> Confirm your ID is on.
  • If already on. Try turning it off, and exiting the menu. Then turn it back on.
• You can also unplug the phone jack cord. Press the red reset button on your receiver, and plugging the phone jack back in.

Let us know if this helps.

Max, AT&T Community Specialist

Do not turn caller id off as the icon will be permanently removed.

Do NOT turn it off once you do it will be gone forever 

From menu I don't have the extra option I did unplug phone jack pushed reset, unpluged power cord tried it all nothing works. I can't understand why the id works on both the mini

receivers and they aren't connected to a phone jack.

The Minis are extensions of the main Genie. So though the menu option is removed with no way to enable it, the Clients may have the feature until the software fully updates to drop it completely.

Just got to say.  Losing caller id (Edited per community guidelines) along with losing my 2 year introductory phone service pricing.

@MrJonMac 

Well Caller ID on TV was discontinued years ago. Was just left running in the old software with no support. DirecTV had no incentive to continue investing in a feature that didn't support TV watching. It was only to get people to be connected as that is how PPVs were ordered in the past by remote, send the anonomous viewing data, and on really old models get their software updats.

Now with internet connected covering most of that, software fully through the satellite, and most people primarily (if not exclusively) using cell phones or VOIP types instead of a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS/landline), it is a wasted feature for them. So the menu option is removed in the new software and boxes are no longer built with a phone jack. The HR44 unfortunately was the odd one out as though last to have phone jack it was the earliest model to get the major software update to the new interface.

So landlines have their place, but no longer for DirecTV as phased out over the last several years. They have to move forward with tech, even if not all their customers want to.

As for intro pricing, that is how it works. Not a permanent benefit. If no longer comfortable for your budget then call and see what options you have to reduce service/cost.

We have a similar problem.  Our living room TV is connected to a Genie 44, and up until a couple of weeks ago, it still provided caller ID on the screen.  Based on the previous comments, I assume we lost caller ID display with the last receiver update. Our kitchen TV is connected to a Genie Mini, and, oddly, caller ID still pops up on my screen.  My husband is feeling picked on, and wants his caller ID back!  Can anyone explain why it works on one TV and not the other?

Hi @Idahogail! Thanks for bringing that to our attention, we are here to help you!

Please create a new forum with more details about this situation by clicking here , and we will get it from there.

Thank you.

Alison, DIRECTV Community Specialist.

so why are you guys at directv help doing this? There is NOTHING  about this situation which even deserves an answer from you. 

@idahogail 

You are lucky it lasted this long. Should have stopped working months ago. As discussed in this thread, apparently the software updates didn't clear the option completely as they should have so it was possible that Clients still had the feature after the main box dropped it.

Well you can let your husband know that he is not special in this situation. Caller ID on TV was dropped long ago and not supported going forward. So he is not being picked on but treated like everyone else. This is a TV service, not a phone service so they stopped investing in it when all other features stopped using the phone lines. Perhaps he should look into a Caller ID box or have his phone with him if he wants quick access. Just the reality of the situation.

@DIRECTVhelp 

To Alison and any others in your role.

Read a post and carefully consider if you should post or not. Idahogail's post has been answered in the old posts in this thread so there is no reason to start a new thread just to have the same information repeated.