H26K

Thanks for letting us know your feedback about the H26K receiver, we’ll keep it in mind so that we can keep improving our services! We would be happy to discuss your price and package concerns further in a direct message to see if any other options are available options that may meet your needs. Natalia, DIRECTV Community Specialist

The H25 receiver is just as good as the H26K, if not better for home users. The H26K does not have whole home DVR functionality built-in given that it does not have an internal DECA like the H25. I'm not sure why an HR24+H25 combination of Receivers does not work for you. And why do you consider the Genie Receivers trash? Don't forget, the H26K runs the Genie software so that may be a Deal-breaker for you.

At the end of the day, the H26K was initially launched for commercial customers only. As we are customers like you on a public forum, there isn't much we can do to help regardless. I recommend your setup to be a few HR24s for DVR storage and the rest H25s. This setup avoids a Genje receiver and still provides a good enough dvr amount for the average customer

That is what I have 2 HR24's and 3 H25.  I do not want whole home DVR functionality.  I really just use one of the HR24 for dvr stuff.  The other receiver is glitchy it has to be restarted about once every two weeks or so.  The picture flickers if you don't.  Also, the H25's do not have ethernet or 4k standalone, the H26k does.  As I said, I have been a customer since 1992.  I have seen it all come and go, and what I see is a lot fewer choices the customer has, and prices just keep going up.  And, customer support is just about totally out the door.  You can not even get an email address for the CEO, or head of programming to make a suggestion.  Example:  What happened to channel 100 with news and information on what is happening at DTV. Gone!  Where is the monthly paper flyer we use to get with our bill with news and information? (Could be an email now.)  Where are all the REAL American English speaking operators that were friendly and they understood you and you could understand them.  Want more?

The H25 does have an Ethernet port, so not sure what you mean there.

DIRECTV wasn't a company in 1992, they launched in June 1994.

If you want an American-based agent, the highest possibility of getting this is by calling DIRECTV (number in my greeting below) and saying 'cancel' to the robot.

Again, why don't you like the Genie, what is holding you back?

Also, what receiver model is glitching and flickering? Have you tried a different HDMI port and HDMI cable? 

Thank you for contacting us regarding your DIRECTV receivers, and we appreciate your loyalty as a customer since 1992. We understand your concerns, and we're here to assist you in the best way possible, That's why we have already contacted you through DM, please meet us there to further assist you with your services. Natalia, DIRECTV Community Specialist

They were PrimeStar in 1992.  If you do not know about Genie's short comings, you need to read more.  A main receiver with slaves that only connect via wireless.  If the main receiver goes down.  You have no TV!  How stupid!  And, a replacement is 2-3-4 or more days before you can get a replacement.  You can not go the store and purchase one and put it in.  They want to install it, for a fee!  And, you can not own a receiver any more!  What (Edited per community guidelines)!  And, smart person the H25 does NOT have ethernet or standalone 4k!!!!

I will politely disagree. Not all Genies are "trash". The 2nd/3rd generation (HR44/HR54) are good models.

The 1st generation (HR34) couldn't keep up with later updates so that one does have issues with system slowness and overheating.

Genie Lite (H44) wasn't bad equipment, just not intuitive for the average consumer.

Genie-2 (HS17) though not trash is a concern regarding DirecTV's equipment direction. This is where AT&T tried to force DirecTV into a one-size-fits-all setup being Client only.

So the regular Genie line is fine (after the HR34). But I do hope for something like an HR25 (not a real model, just next logical step) to work with them so will have full capability.

4K is still in their infancy. This is more problematic for those bragging about being in beta testing days.

I was doublechecking on the H25 and everything I find shows a phone jack instead of Ethernet which makes no sense as it was made long after phone jack options were discontinued.

@OneBigJedi 

My bad. I remember the H25 having an Ethernet port like the other HD Receivers (H24, H23, etc). I stand corrected.

DirecTV was not Primestar in '92. It wasn't a name change.

DirecTV launched in '94 and then bought Primestar in '99. You were originally a Primestar customer until they were acquired by DirecTV years later.

No we switched to Directv in 94

Hi, @OneBigJedi. We sent you a PM to further assist you about your account. Kiarha, DIRECTV Community Specialist

You said, "They were PrimeStar in 1992." In reality, they were separate companies until DirecTV bought them in 1999.

It sounded like you were a carryover from Primestar, but you actually canceled Primestar and started DirecTV in 1994 (the year they launched).

On another note, I understand you don't want Whole Home DVR but be aware that any upgrades in the future it may be required as that is what the service is built for. Fortunately, it is only $3 and being able to access your recordings from any TV, even if not a DVR itself, can be very convenient.

First receivers were Sony and the dish also.  Purchased it at Walmart.

The whole point of this is to show that "Customer Service" has gone from very helpful, to very bad.  Operators use to help you so much!  It was a down right pleasure to talk to them.  You could hookup and disconnect, replace receivers, un-marry your access card and put it in new receiver.  The goal was help the customer get help for their needs.  Now customers have to bend-N-knee to wishes of Corp.  Iike i said earlier, you use to be to able to make suggestions direct to the CEO.  Not any more!  Information about what was going on, new satellites going up, launch dates,  what new channels were coming, new packages, etc.  Now nothing.  They use to send an type of email message to the receiver also.  No More!  You have no way of knowing they are going to have a Free Movie Preview Weekend.  They have sucked the excitement out of their service. I have HBO and Cinemax by the way.

Remember my old Panasonic receivers. Was nice when they finally unified the design instead of manufacture specific designs.

Customer support has no say in you getting the H26K. Currently they are only for commercial accounts. I hope this means that dedicated receivers are being worked on again for DirecTV Residential as there was too much focus for client-only setups. So the Genie itself isn't trash, but there was (still is?) an issue with the equipment direction AT&T was taking DirecTV.

Fortunately, a new co-owner has taken over managing DirecTV. So, I am cautiously optimistic about future options.

The on-screen messages are still there, but I have noticed a drop in consistency of those announcements. Unsure if that is because of change of ownership or programming issues (and of course it probably took a backseat during the pandemic slowdowns).