Coming back to DT after two years of Dish

Hi, @Bamahooty. We apologize for not being able to watch multiple shows with fast-forward feature. With DIRECTV via Satellite, you can have our Gemini receiver or the Standard DIRECTV receiver. To learn more about our Satellite service, please visit: https://www.directv.com/satellite/ Let us know if you have any other questions about migrating your account to our Satellite service. Kenneth, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Kenneth, thank you for your reply, but I still dont know what the capabilities of the current receivers are.  When we cancelled two years ago, we had the Gemini 2, but after spending an hour on the phone with tech support the other day, they dont seem to know what the boxes (dongles) do or dont do.  She didn't understand what I meant by wanting to watch live TV on more than one channel (tuner).  Bless their hearts.  I just want a receiver/box that will allow to watch atleast two channels, while maintaining features to go back and keep the program active.

In addition, Kenneth, I was told that I had to cancel, so there was no way to "transfer"/migrate to satellite, but start over with a phone number that didnt work.

We offer 3 categories of Receivers 1. Genie: Records up to 200 hours of high definition (HD) or 800 hours of standard definition (SD) programming, 2. HD DVR Receiver: Records up to 100 hours of HD or 400 hours of SD programming and 3. HD Receiver: Access SD and HD programming and requires HD access.

All DIRECTV receivers have the following features:

• Advanced program guide.

• Identical user interface.

• Interactive TV enabled.

• Parental controls.

• Personal channel guides with favorites.

• Search function.

For more information on how to watch two channels at once, please visit: https://www.directv.com/support/article/000088532

Yes, you're right. There's a need to cancel the existing DIRECTV via Internet service before we can create a DIRECTV via Satellite account. Kenneth, DIRECTV Community Specialist

And just a clarification from @DIRECTVhelp 

Starting with the 2nd generation Genie (HR44), they have a new user interface. So if you have HR44/HR54 with HR24s, the interface WILL be different as the earlier boxes stay on the old version.

Juniper, thank you.  Well, it's unfortunate that things have changed and you cant get what you want.  We had Tivo not long after it came out and I still miss it.  That being said, Dish has been OK, but their DVR's are not as functional, nor seem to have features that seemed common sense when we had our Genie 2.  Direct TV just kept raising their prices and two years ago we were up to $130 for the Choice plan.

DirecTV tried one last attempt with TiVO years ago with the THR22. Unfortunately it could not use Whole Home DVR as that is only DirecTV's in-house boxes, has had issues over time with On Demand (more recently), and you had to pay TiVO service on top of your normal DVR service. Even if the new co-owner goes back to customer supporting setups, it is doubtful TiVO would return.

All TV providers have been raising their prices over the years. Networks costs go up to them then our bills follow suit. Major local network affiliate owners (Nexstar, Mission, etc.) are some of the biggest problems in recent years.

Road ahead doesn't look good. But unless something major changes in the entire industry, this is how it will remain.

Juniper, good morning.  Yesterday you said,

"At the moment it appears the Genie-2 (HS17) and Mini Genie Clients, or optional Gemini Client (different from the dongle version which is the Gemini Air), is all they are installing. DirecTV was forced away from a customer supporting setup of individual receivers/HDDVRs to a Client-only setup. That is why the Genie-2 forbids everything but Clients."

What is a Client-only setup ????

thanks for your help.

Genie-2 (HS17) is a Headless Server tower. Sits by itself not connected to a TV. It handles the tuners and DVR. The main box feeds a Client, such as a Mini Genie (i.e. C61) to each TV. The Client is what you are using your remote control with. It has no tuners or capability of its own. Think of it as all TVs connected to one box. This means one recording list that everyone has access to and if main box goes down then all TVs go with it.

Genie-2 has hard cap of 7 tuners and 2TB recording space. No Picture in Picture (PiP) as each Client may only use a single tuner. Does not support an external hard drive as after the first run of the HS17 they removed the eSATA port (no revised model number to differentiate them so cannot pick and choose on this).

Regular Genie line (HR34, HR44, HR54) supports using receivers/HDDVRs (such as HR24). This means each TV has their own dedicated tuners, separate recording lists that being able to watch or delete from other rooms is setup the way you want.

Genie has 5 tuners and 1TB recording space, supports external eSATA hard drive if you need more (unless revised HR54R1 that removed eSATA port) and PiP (only on the Genie itself). Each HDDVR has 2 tuners and 500GB (since HR22), supports external hard drive as well (max 2TB). You can mix in Clients if you have use for a wireless one or have a 4K TV (limited 4K content at this time).

(edited as fixed many typos)

Well, I want Picture in Picture capability, if I can get it. Thanks for the clarification.

Notwithstanding the other comments, the Gemini has Android TV, that makes a large world of apps available to you, and more importantly, you are not controlled by the apps only supported by your tv internally.

I replaced a TV this year because one important app was no longer supported on it, but since now the Gemini has the apps things are much better.

First, Android TV parallels Android on cell phones, so it's much more current than the other proprietary operating systems on other TV's.

Next the integration between apps and DTV is much much smoother. Before when I switched from DTV, I also had to switch the video feed on my receiver and the audio feed changed.

Now everything is always from the Gemini, much much simpler, one remote 99% of the time.

Lastly, as much as some people might complain, this is the way DTV is going, so going down fighting, trying to use older equipment is just a path to less and less support, fewer firmware updates to fix problems, etc.

So I'm content to reboot my Gemini several times a week in exchange for the greater convenience.

Greg

If PiP is a key factor, then regular Genie (HR44 or HR54) is what you want. The Genie-2 (HS17) does not have PiP as Clients only use a single tuner each.

Just to be clear, only one TV will have PiP as only the Genie provides that function and you can only have one on the account (because of the server-type capability).

Note: Do not confuse Genie for Gemini (happens too often with similar looking names). The Gemini is a Client, similar to a Mini Genie (but with streaming app capability), and follows the same model numbering for Clients (C71KW).

Juniper, understood.  We only have one TV.

One TV, then getting a Genie for the PiP. No difference in monthly cost (for customers who started since late 2015 on the new billing model) from a regular HDDVR.

Does anyone know whether it is practical to buy my own receiver?? I saw a few companies offering the hardware to purchase, but will DT "bless" it or will it save on my bill??

thanks