Does the directv remote work when box isn’t in sight?

It might -if the Receiver and remote are set to RF --(check your receiver remote setup) --then when set --Test it to see if it works --if not then you could find and IR extender and run that wire --from the receiver (eye) along with your current HDMI cable --and then place the IR (receiver) next to the TV in the remote room.

Genies and the RC7X remotes are already in RF mode while the remote also sends IR codes to control any IR TVs/soundbars and the Genie.