Compatibility of 4K boxes with hybrid fiber optic hdmi cable

Hybrid Fiber Optic HDMI Cables may not work properly with DIRECTV 4K only because they cannot transmit higher format sound. You should continue to use the copper HDMI cable for now until you replace that hybrid fiber optic cable with a traditional HDMI cable. 

As a note, the HR54 itself doesn’t do 4K. You’ll need to have a 4K Genie wired client model C61K to enjoy 4K content.

I understand what you are saying. I have the big ll hard drive main receiver. It is the mini Genie that is connected by coax to that  and that is connected to my TV by HDMI. Regardless, I wanted people to know that if they use an active fiber optic cable, that they should use the USB power inserter to get full capabilities of the 4K mini Genie. I know that there is not much 4K content unless you do streaming of such content. I don't see much difference and HDR at this point really makes things darker and I don't want to constantly reset my brightness control. DirecTV did not seen to have any idea what these active fiber optic HDMI cables are.

 I have the big ll hard drive main receiver.

The what? Sharing the model number would be better.

Since you talk about the 4K Mini Genie, the model for that is C61K correct?

It is not streaming that gives DirecTV more 4K. There is only a few channels that are 4K and some PPVs. And if by chance you meant other streaming content that is not DirecTV, most of that isn't true 4K to begin with. A lot of that outside content is non-4K programming that is upscalled to not look bad on a 4K TV. As for true 4K programming, that DirecTV does get, there is not a lot out there yet. Still the early days. So right now, 4K is more for those that want to be in the rough beta testing status.

If it is not the HDMI cable that DirecTV techs install, then they will have no knowledge of it unless they look into it on their own time. They are trained to install equipment that is DirecTV's and to their standard.

99% of DTV receivers are within the 6' of the TV so a 6' HDMI cable is all that DTV supplies.

I realize that the length of HDMI cable that I used is not usual. I hide all my cables and run them a longer distance for that reason. I posted my experience for those individuals who may have a long HDMI cable run like me. Regardless, I would highly recommend investing in a new cable, especially if it is older, anytime you change to a new TV.

For Juniper above, my main satellite receiver is a 4K receiver with 11 (eleven) hard drives for enormous capacity for recordings. It is supplied by DirecTV. I have two 4K mini Genies and one wireless mini Genie (Yes, they are all C61K-700). Everything works just great. I do not use fiber optic HDMI cables for my other TVs since the runs are shorter but I did replace the cables when I bought the new TVs. I have found that some older cables will not work to transmit the signal from my UHD disc player through the AVR receiver to the TV so I definitely use new fresh cables and that solves the issue. All I can say is that my system is working well for me and I am very happy with my viewing experience with DirecTV.

Thanks for all your input!

@johnsonsh7680 

my main satellite receiver is a 4K receiver

There is only one box that outputs 4K over that HDMI and that is a Mini Genie Client (C61K). Clients are an extension of the Genie receiver so have no tuners of their own, each stealing one from the main box. The receiver has the tuners to receive the service from the satellite.  Clients and recievers are not the same thing.

 I have two 4K mini Genies and one wireless mini Genie (Yes, they are all C61K-700).

Actually the 4K Mini and Wireless Mini are different model numbers from each other, so they are not 'all' C61K. The wireless Mini Genie would be C41W or C61W. The 'K' for the 4K Client and 'W' for the wireless one. Yes both 4K Clients would be C61K, but not all three Clients as the third one is wireless instead of 4K.

Just some clarification as those differences of Client vs Receiver and correct model numbers can matter.

With 11 hard drives, even if they are small, doesn't seem like there would be enough time for anyone to catch up on what is not watched. As a caution, DirecTV no longer supports external hard drives. Both the revised 3rd generation Genie (HR54R1) and the Genie-2 (HS17) since the first run (they didn't add R1 for this) removed the eSATA port. Unless the new co-owner changes it, boxes going forward may only use the internal drive.

Thank you for this post! We just finished construction on a new home. As part of the build, I had 2 active fiber optic 8K HDMI cables run from each TV location to a central AV rack in our utility room. All 8 C61Ks and our Genie 2/HS17 are located in the rack and controlled using our home automation app. Cleans things up nicely behind all the TVs.

Most of the clients worked just fine, passing 1080p and 4K. A few did not, and acted as you described. I'm pretty sure these also had issues at our old house using similar (but shorter) cables. I ended up solving it with a couple of spare HDMI switches I had used previously. I'm going to try a USB power inserter I found on Amazon to see if that solves the problem. I hope it does. (Seems it would, as the switch likely provided sufficient power.)

Our clients range in age. One was manufactured in 2014 and has the old DTV logo. The rest have the AT&T/DTV combined logo and were built in 2016-2019. Most have a refurbished sticker and were purchased through Solid Signal. I'm wondering if there was a production change in some of the newer clients that work properly. Perhaps a different HDMI chipset?

The TV in my home office is a brand new C2 LG OLED. 100' HDMI cable. Works fine. C61K passes 1080p and 4K. No HDCP errors. The Apple TV connected to the second HDMI input passes Dolby Vision/HDR10 using the same model cable.

But in my partner's home office with the same exact model TV and 100' HDMI cable, the C61K won't pass 1080p or 4K. I tried the second cable, and it has the same issue. I haven't pulled the boxes to check dates, but that's all I can think of.

I don't really have the space for the power inserters on my rack shelves (there are 2 C61Ks side by side, along with 2 Apple TVs mounted behind) but at least the C61Ks have USB ports to power them. I switched to PoE-powered IR blasters with this build. I'm glad I did.

I ordered a few off Amazon and will try. Also debating purchasing a few new clients from Solid Signal and replacing the oldest ones in our installation.

DTV will replace them for $20.00 shipping each unless you replace more than one, then the $20 covers shipping of all replacements but there maybe a limit on how many.  90% of DTV receiver are refurbished.