Currently have an HR24-100 DVR and would like to upgrade to current technology.

The Genie is DirecTV's Advanced Whole Home HDDVR. It requires Whole Home DVR service. It is not optional. That has been the way since the launch of the original Genie. Just like HD and DVR service are mandatory when you have at least one box built to use the service.

Newer accounts just don't see the charge because it was hidden in other charges to make it seem like an included service. But those of us with grandfathered accounts have a bit more transparency.

If you need more tuners on a single TV, that is fair. Though that would be gaining 3 Tuners, not 2. Regular HDDVR has 2, Genie has 5. If you are willing to spend $3 a month for that, I respect that choice. But if you just wanted more space, then an external hard drive would be cheaper in the long run as that is a one-time purchase, not an ongoing service charge.

For the D12 situation if you got a client, yes you would overall have 2 more tuners. However, whenever the Genie has an issue there goes the Client as well. You cannot have separate recordings lists. It is an all-in-one setup not individual friendly. Some countries may be very happy with only one road as an option, but I am fan of individual options and choice.

A Mini Genie Client is a downgrade to an HDDVR. The exception to this is only Mini Genies at this time have a wireless or 4K (wired-only) option. But as wired is still more reliable and 4K content is limited, you must have great desire for those to have them.

I get that HR24s aren't being made anymore. And certainly, respect there may come a time that replacing one is what must be done. I stand by that in the case of the OP and other poster, that with information presented as is, there is no good reason to replace their dedicated HDDVRs.

Also, as the HR24 is non-returnable, you could consider 3rd party options to put in a larger hard drive instead of using an external.

One of my big hopes is that the new co-owner of DirecTV will focus again on dedicated boxes and come out with a newer model (say HR25 to follow the pattern) to be from the ground up to be SWM-only.

@Good4u a genie automatically comes with the $3.00 whole home dvr fee even if the customer only has 1 tv as @Juniper has stated it has ALWAYS been this way also as juniper said customers on the newer "all included" billing model DO indeed pay the $3.00 whole home dvr fee actually they pay $5.00 for the whole home dvr fee it's part of the $15.00 advanced receiver fee which includes the dvr fee (10.00) + whole home dvr &5.00 what they  don't pay is the $10.00 hd fee

@Good4u 

A comparison of the new and old billing models which changed in late 2015 when SD options were grandfathered:

Old: Primary TV $0, HD $10, DVR $10, Whole Home DVR $3 = $23

New: Primary TV $7, Advanced Receiver (DVR and Whole Home DVR) $15 = $22

So even new customers pay for those services. But as people expected HD to be "standard" the new model rearranges the cost to make it look included. And for new customers Whole Home DVR is not optional as is bundled together with DVR.

The opening post had service since 2008 and our other poster has SD-only box (D12), confirming they are both on the old billing model. As soon as either gets a Genie, they add $3 to their monthly bill.

But as people expected HD to be "standard" the new model rearranges the cost to make it look included. 

@Juniper   so are you saying that on Genie billing the HD is not included in the $22?  

@Juniper   we will be dreaming a long time about the new co-owners it seems......

@merlin88merlin  the hd service is not billed in the new "all included" billing method (in others words it's free) but the cost is made up by charging for the primary receiver and instead of the whole home dvr fee being $3.00 it's actually $5.00 (advanced receiver services $15.00) 10.00 for dvr +5.00 for whlhmdvr 

@nabukl   so HD is covered in the $15?  

@merlin88merlin no hd service is free 

@merlin88merlin 

In the new billing model, they don't list HD at all. But as I pointed out they rearranged the fees so that the overall cost remains essentially the same.

For a while there were a lot of discussions, and I understand people who called in, who were upset being charged for HD when they felt it was the standard of the world. So, the updated billing model gives them the perception that it is free, even though they updated other costs to compensate.

They removed the HD fee and raised costs on other fees making it pretty much a wash. It just looks better to the current generation of customers (in my opinion).

Hello,

I have six DVRs on my system, and I have one that is not working properly.  This is an HR24-500, and it has a bad hard drive.  

The Directv rep says that I have to replace the unit with a genie system.   I dont want to replace all six units, so I think I may just go to FIOS if I have to mave the change anyway.   Cant they get me one of the older HR models?

Riteway

@Ritewing 

The issue is that DirecTV hasn't made pre-Genie boxes in years. So they are very low in stock or could be completely out. That said, some agents are too heavily pushing replacing with Genie-only setups. Ideally you have a couple options.

1. Warranty replace the problem HR24 for $19.95 delivery.

2. Upgrade that HR24 to the Genie (likely 3rd generation HR54). This only replaces a single box as works with other HDDVRs HR20 thru HR24 (and special R22). Comes with 24 month service agreement as well as $3 monthly for Whole Home DVR (if you don't already have it).

Replacing all the boxes would be the Genie-2 (HS17). It only allows Clients which is a huge downgrade to your setup. Avoid this model with a passion.

I am hoping that as supply and manufacturing options pickup, and everything smooths out with the new co-owner of DirecTV that has joined AT&T, that they will focus again on indvidiual receivers. Tired of this all-in-one setup idea like a some country that doesn't support indivual freedoms. The HR24 is the last regular HDDVR they made, but was still able to work on the legacy system in addition to SWM that Genies require. A SWM-only HDDVR (say HR25, not a real number just would be the next logical one to me) would be ideal. Time will tell which way they go.

Or you can simply get an external doc for that HR24 so it won’t run off the internal drive. These are for sale on WeaKness.

Juniper,

They didn't have any for warranty,  so the $19.95 option was not available. 

I don't think I have a SWM installed, so I am not sure if the HR54 would work.

@Ritewing 

you can confirm you have SWM by seeing if there is one cable plugged into the HR24. If there are two (one for SAT1 and one for SAT2) then you have a non-SWM system which requires that each tuner has a coaxial connection.

I personally recommend you purchase an external hard drive dock for the HR24 so that way you don’t have to deal with replacing it or anything like that. 

@Ritewing 

HR24 being out of stock leaves upgrade to Genie the option. At least you don't have to replace all your boxes, as long as your DVRs are all HR models (or the R22).

An upgrade to the Genie would include updating your setup to SWM if you're not already on it. So the tech would be needed.

An external hard drive setup for the HR24 could be a way to salvage it. At the very least it could be a placeholder until you choose to upgrade. Just make sure if you upgrade, it is the regular Genie (still HR; HR34, HR44, HR54) and not the Genie-2 (HS17) so you only replace one box instead of all. But the later it goes, the higher the risk is they will stop doing the HR54 leaving the all-in-one that is the HS17 as the only option. I really hope the new co-owner will change the direction on this.