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How to fix Genie Mini's that lose connection.
I have a new upgrade to one Genie HR54-500 and two Genie Mini's, C61R2-500. Both minis lose connection to the receiver all the time and receiver loses connection to the internet. The new system worked for a few hours after installation and then the client TVs started freezing the picture a couple of times and then the connection was lost to the Genie. The tech came back the next day and checked the cables, replaced a splitter, did a software update on the Genie and the problem still occurs after a few hours. Direct TV doesn't have solution yet.
I'm only in this situation because my Whole Home was going out and the first Direct TV tech said I needed to upgarde to the newer Genie system. I'd go back to my old HD DVR boxes with ethernet but DirectTV says I have to pay for a downgrade because of a problem they can't fix. Been a DirectTV customer for 10 years, some service!
Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.6K Messages
5 years ago
Upgrade was not ordered correctly. The Mini Genie Clients are downgrades to regular HDDVRs because you lose tuners and recording space, plus independent processing.
The regular Genie line (HR34, HR44, HR54) works with regular HDDVRs (HR20 thru HR24, and special R22). With 2 tuners, and 500GB recording space (as of most recent models), HDDVRs have more capability than Clients for no difference in monthly cost.
The Clients are C61R2 and not C61? That is new. The 3rd generation Genie has a revised model (HR54R1), but this is the first hearing of a revised Client. This is different from same generation wireless (C61W) and the only 4K model (C61K).
Genie mixed with HDDVRs is a good setup, but with Clients only puts one point of failure. Per both the internet connection and Clients keep loosing connection, that suggests an issue with the HR54 itself. You would need to call DirecTV to get a warranty replacement. If within 90 days of install it should be free, otherwise $19.95 delivery (covered if you have their equipment protection plan).
The HR54 can connect to internet by the built-in WiFi (2.4Ghz or 5Ghz), direct Ethernet, or having a Deca installed that connects your coax to an Ethernet port of your router.
Based on this situation, call DirecTV and when you get the voice system say "cancel" so you can speak to a retention specialist who usually is more experienced. Ideally if you still have them, you need your HDDVRs reactivated in place of the Clients (though reactivation is mostly not allowed except in special circumstances) and either getting a tech back out to fully check the system or sending a replacement HR54 (since that is the shared point between both internet and Clients losing connection).
Hopefully they can fix the issue and get the Clients swapped back to the HDDVRs that should never have been replaced. Personally I see this as fixing an incorrect order, but as some people have reasons going to Clients (such as the smaller form factor for placement making up capability in the main Genie itself), it is not a guarantee they will do the ideal correction to this situation. Some people have succeeded, so hope you can as well.
Just make sure to avoid any "upgrade" to the Genie-2 (HS17) server tower. By design it forbids HDDVRs from being on the account (at least any models made to date that can use the both the old and new cabling system). So questionable setup for 1 to 2 TVs and definitely a downgrade at 3 or more because of the hard cap on tuners (7 vs having 9 between a regular Genie and 2 HDDVRs).
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