How Does Genie 2 Connect to WIFI technically?

Most likely he used WPS setup. This involves pressing the WPS button on the router and going through the wifi setup on the genie 2. This method does not require the wifi password to join the network.

Thanks for the comment.  My router is in a locked closet, and the technician never asked me to go in the closet, nor asked to touch our router.  He only worked in those rooms where he installed the Genie 2 and the slave WIFI C41W-500 receivers.   Any other thoughts?

The C41Ws are not using your home WiFi network, they use a separate WiFi network setup by the WVB that no other devices can connect to.  Are you sure that the Genie is connected to your home network for internet access?

Thanks for the comment.  I'm not sure what WVB stands for, but I do know that the technician couldn't have connected to my WIFI network without knowing the ID/Password or physically touching my WIFI router.  The Genie 2 is not connected via Ethernet cable, so it must be WIFI.  I just don't understand how he could connect without knowing my ID and Password.  Confused :(

WVB= Wireless Video Bridge is a separate box(built in with the HS17 Genie2)used to connect the C41W/C61W minis to the Genie.

It is possible that the tech used a DECA BB connected to the router or net switch to hard wire the internet as you are right there is no way that I know of to connect to WiFi without entering a password or using WPS.  Maybe the tech used a guest connection?

Thanks again for the comment and information.  It makes sense that the slave mini receivers would connect to the Genie 2 via a proprietary interface.

But, the Genie 2 connection to my ISP via my router is the mystery.  I don't have a Guest WIFI enabled, so the question still pertains to how he could have connected to my main WIFI without the ID/Password.  

DirecTV used a contractor firm for the installation.  So, I've sent an email to them asking for information that will help solve the mystery.  Hopefully, they will respond tomorrow.  

I appreciate your help.

I just ran my WIFI Analyzer and discovered 2 "hidden" networks that have the same Db signal strength as my own WIFI network.  Could those "hidden" networks be the ones set up by the technician?  But he would still need to connect to my ISP through my router via WIF or ethernet, so the mystery still lives. :(

They had to connect to an unsecured WiFi network.

The Genie-2 (HS17), like the 2nd and 3rd generation Genie (HR44, HR54) have the wireless CCK (what connects to your home internet) built-in.

Wireless Video Bridge (WVB) provides a proprietary wireless network that is only for the wireless models of Mini Genie Clients (C41W and C61W). It "bridges" them to the coax so they can communicate with the main Genie. The Genie-2 (HS17) is the only model with it built-in, all other Genies use an external WVB box (which the HS17 can use if you need better coverage at home for your Clients).

To connect by wireless requires either the WPS method (press button on one device to make discoverable for say 2 minutes and then on the other to search for a discoverable device), or to know the name and password of your router to connect through the menu. This is of course assuming your router doesn't have a completely open (non-password protected) connection available.

Otherwise the only way it should connect is by direct Ethernet, powerline adapater, BB Deca from coax to router, essentially anyway it is physically connected. So just uses existing physical connection and run network setup. However a wireless connection cannot be transferred from a prior setup to a new one as there is no migrating of information when replacing a box.

Can you access On Demand on your TV? Such as SyFy On Demand 1244? If so then you are connected. If On Demand doesn't show, then your router may be recognizing the other WiFi signals (reading them), even if it is not using them. There is no guaranteed way to disable the WiFi signal of the DirecTV box. So in that case your router would "hear" the Genie-2, but wouldn't talk with it.

Great information, thanks!  Yes, I can access 1244 and other On Demand features.  

Since the Genie 2 doesn't have the Ethernet cable connection, he must have pressed the WPS connect button on my WIFI mesh router.  He didn't ask for the WIFI network ID nor password, so this must be the only way he was able to connect the Genie 2 to my ISP/WIFI network.  My WIFI is WPA and password protected.

It seems he would have told me what he was doing.  The reason I ask is that one day I may swap out my router for a newer system, and will probably change my network WIFI/password at that time.  Will I have problems with the Genie 2 since it is was connected via the WPS method he used?

Thanks

Ok a WiFi mesh system in a accessible area with WPS option. That should be exactly how he connected then.

Personally I wouldn't use WPS. I have experienced the connection occasionally dropping, plus then you (temporarily) open a non-protected option. I would go the route of through the menu so you can put in password for security.

Changing the router just means you go into the Genie-2's internet settings in the menu and reset network defaults. Then you connect by WPS or manually putting in password like you would any other device.

Be aware the Genie-2 (HS17) still has concerns in software, plus the restrictive design of forbidding anything but Clients. A regular Genie (preferably 2nd/3rd generation HR44/HR54, not original HR34), with 2 HDDVRs gives you 9 tuners (vs your hard cap of 7), without worrying about a single point of failure (Genie goes down so do all Clients, plus all your recordings per single hard drive). So whenever (nothing on the radar that I know of) there is a new release of equipment, I would do some research to see if it would help your setup or not.

This is very helpful, thank you very much!