Good but could be better.

 On Demand comes from the channel servers and have had commercials just like the broadcast version and it is them that doesn't allow FF.

DTV has never allowed transferring programs to another receiver been this way for 30 years same with the screensaver.

First off, this is a public forum and we are customers just like you, now to your concerns.

1. DIRECTV has not made a way to transfer recordings from one receiver to the other, especially for hard drive failures or other failures that cause the current DVR to be nonfunctional. This has been a firing question for several years, only time will tell when DIRECTV actually decides that they want to integrate recordings with an account and allow all receivers activated on that account to access those recordings over the cloud or whatever.

2. The screensaver cannot be changed, I agree that it can be annoying at times, especially when the receiver is inactive for a certain amount of time. Your suggestion that in 30 SECONDS, it appears, is hard to believe. I cannot recall anyone having a screensaver turn on that quickly. My only suggestion for you is to change the Power Saving setting to OFF. Although this will not have an impact on the screensaver time, it will definitely keep the receiver from automatically turning off after four hours of idle use.

3. As far as recordings go for the hockey time, you have to manually record them or change the series setting for that specific recording to be sure there are no duplicates in recordings etc. 

4. DIRECTV by satellite is a technology since 1994, so there is a lot that needs to be changed to make it COMPLETELY 21st century, like the disappearing of the receiver, cloud DVR as a backup, transferable recordings, etc. 

Changing the box does not require an appointment. They ship warranty replacements. Only if your setup is so outdated that it needs to be overhauled to use a replacement box would a tech need to be sent out.

Recordings are encrypted to their exact DVR. To my understanding this is not that they couldn't find a way to do it but originally their network agreements do not allow it so it doesn't cut into physical/digital sales of their programs. Would be nice if that changed to allow transferring to an authorized replacement as same account.

There is no "Genie One". As you say "outdated", I assume you mean the 1st generation of the regular Genie line which would be the HR34. If that is not what you meant, then it is not outdated as there are small differences between the later 2 models and the Genie-2 line (only model is HS17) may be newer but it is less capable because it was built restrictive.

DirecTV boxes have never had Bluetooth. Starting with the 2nd generation Genie (HR44) they have WiFi built-in only for connecting to your home internet router wirelessly. All HDDVRs before had to use an external Cinema Connection Kit (CCK) which only supports 2.4GHz, but the built-in one also supports 5GHz. The Genie-2 (HS17) is the only model with the wireless video bridge (WVB) built-in that is a proprietary wireless network to connect with wireless Mini Genie Clients and nothing else. Again, be it CCK or WVB (built-in or external) they are not Bluetooth.

The screen saver is not optional. I do wish the boxes had the option to customize the delay before it came on. Some have experienced that it kicks on sooner than it should. It is an inconsistent issue that they haven't pinned down.

The advertisement screen saver is only if you are connected to internet. If you disconnect and reset network defaults to clear that info, it should return to the traditional logo screen saver. They had a free spot for advertising other programming so are using it. As long as the screen saver delay is working correctly, then it is not an issue as there are better things to do than sit there watching your paused show.

On Demand not allowing FF/REW is another matter. This is required by the networks. They get away with it since the programming is downloaded from the internet, not satellite, which gives a loophole. So they lock out that capability just like if you were streaming on the network's website. And just like on the website, a lot of those commercials will be the same ones. My theory is they started doing this to combat the TV providers fighting back during the constant cost increases by securing more advertisement revenue. I am completely against them doing this, but so far the agreements and Federal regulations allow it.

You talk about their IT needing a refresher course and all they do is play on their iPhones. If you are such the expert on satellite service and already can see what they are doing, how about you seeking a job with them to turn it around? Show them up with your own qualifications if you can.

Many of us agree that there are definitely software improvements to make. I also want them to return to dedicated HDDVRs, instead of the Genie-2 (HS17) fiasco. If you are unaware, DirecTV has a new co-owner. With that transition, as well as multiple factors (resources, personnel, etc.) recovering from the pandemic, it will probably bee some time before we might see any significant changes.

This is a public forum that is customer to customer. If you want official support you call DirecTV. Though with the extent of your complaints, most of that cannot be handled by customer support as they don't make those decisions or do the programming themselves. You might consider a BBB complaint as that goes to corporate. Not a guarantee they will change anything for you, but at least you would be heard by higher up.

And this may be the 21st century where people will rant on in a wall of text, but even today's technology allows for line breaks so that it is not one giant paragraph. Tech of the 21st century doesn't matter unless you make proper use of it.

4. DIRECTV by satellite is a technology since 1994, so there is a lot that needs to be changed to make it COMPLETELY 21st century, like the disappearing of the receiver, cloud DVR as a backup, transferable recordings, etc. 

I wouldn't want the receiver to disappear. That would require everything be built into all the different TV models. Instead of paying an extremely high amount for a TV that covers everything possible whether I want it or not, I prefer just getting the receiver for the provider I use. Not a fan of all-in-one systems, which extends to my distaste for the Genie-2 (HS17).

@DIRECTVhelp Camila, there are already several responses to this inquiry and there is no need to take it private anyway. This is a public question that everyone wants answered, and it applies to everyone as well. 

@sarahninaburgess this is a public forum and we are customers just like you, so we have no clue what the finance deal is with the DIRECTV and AT&T company. However, if you are referring to pricing and bill management, here are the newest details on that:

1. There are 4 different packages to choose from (Entertainment for $74.99, Choice for $79.99, Ultimate for $99.99, and Premier for $149.99). A two-year contract is required, and the second year shows an increase in pricing. This causes Entertainment to become $107, Choice to $129, Ultimate to $159, and Premier to $214.

2. There is a fee for TV access. This costs $7/mo for each TV, and the first TV fee is waived. Ordering online is preferred, and the activation fee for the first 4 TVs will be subtracted if you order online. 

3. There are added fees, such as an HD access fee and DVR access fee along with Whole Home DVR for $3/month, which unleashes the power of watching recordings among all capable HD and HD DVR receivers. For Choice package and up, there is also a monthly RSN fee of $11/month regularly, but this can vary depending on the customer's location. 

4. If the customer ever decides to cancel before their contract is up, they must pay the rest of their contract. This costs $20/month per each month left on the contract. So, if one were to cancel after one year, they owe DIRECTV $240 (12 months times $20 per month). There is also a non-return equipment fee for each receiver. This depends on the receiver model. 

5. If the customer fails to pay their monthly bill, they may fall into collections or limited service. Give it a bit more, and their account will automatically be disconnected. I hope I answered your question as best as possible.