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I am new to all the Directv and now At&t jargon Genie vs HR54 what should have they installed?
Being a newbie to Directv I am not sure I should have joined the community of D.
My issues :
Jargon : They h54 reciever, is it a genie or a has been and is genie actually better type available?
I didnt know that there was a wireless system. ( I have 2 wired recievers & a wired DVR receiver )
Another issue:
When I was with Xfinity/Comcast I split the HDMI signal wirelessly to display on a 2nd TV in my patio area (primary viewing area) . Well using IOGEAR GW3DHDkit with xfinity was great but some HDCP compliant crap with Directtv is causing it to fail only on certain channels (CNN was one example my wife wants in the sunroom). This creates a $200 brick of equipment that worked fine with Comcast/Xfinity.
So then I figure out / hear about this wireless genie thing and it might work for me. Looks to me there is a wireless bridge that has to be installed, effectively creating an additional wireless network in my home. Interference questions arise??in my now Directv convoluted mind.... Then a wireless genie needs to be installed @each TV. I already know the IOGEAR equipment will fail (their tech support said it was a Directv issue). So do I buy this wireless bridge thingy and a wireless genie? I just got installed on Sept 7 2019 so another concern is I am hearing that every time you make a change or add equipment to Directv they make you consign to another 2 year agreement. If thats true I will run a 50ft high quality HDMI cable through my attic out to the patio.
There is a question as to cost as well. If I buy or rent these bridge/wireless devices. Looks like they are available to buy, on amazon / craigslist but is there an additional monthly charge just bridging the signal. Of course using the IOGEAR with Xfinity there was no additional cost because I was using third party components to just duplicate the living room tv to our sunroom.
Your thoughts matter to me Thanx in advance for takin time to read through this Todd Littleton, co
I already have a century link 2.4ghz and 5 ghz wireless network in my home... So is this wireless bridge going to create an additional wireless network in my home? My neighbors are already flooding most channels I see. Can't imagine good performance by adding an addtional broadcasting network hidden or not.
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nabukl
ACE - Professor
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2.3K Messages
6 years ago
@Juniper , $99.00 is the cost of a service call which doesn't get any install done. $49.00 is a receiver install, but it's also the cost of a new customer fee. A new customer fee is different than a receiver install fee, so in this case he would have 2 $49.00 fees, a new customer fee and a receiver install fee plus the equipment charges 😊
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
6 years ago
The HR54 is the 3rd generation Genie. Before that the models are HR34 and HR44. Genie is just the name of their flagship Advance Whole Home HDDVR.
There are wireless versions of Mini Genie Clients, but that has to be requested on the order. Otherwise there are one-time lease cost of $99 each. Either way there is a one-time $99 wireless setup fee that covers install and purchase of the owned accessory Wireless Video Bridge (WVB). The WVB is the antenna to the wireless Minis. This is a proprietary wireless network that connects the Minis to the main Genie. Has the same weakness of any other wireless connection.
Be aware that those Mini Genies (wired or wireless) are Clients, not receivers. This means they each take a tuner from the main Genie as they cannot work by themselves. It is suggested to have HDDVRs instead of Clients as you get 2 tuners each, plus they have 500GB recording space to compliment the Genie's 1TB. There is no monthly cost difference between Clients and HDDVRs.
Upgrade of equipment comes with a 24 month agreement. It is from day of install so you would only be pushing back your agreement date approximately a month or two. However you would not get a free upgrade so $99 for each wireless Client (remember Genie can only use up to 3 total regardless if wired or wireless), $99 for the purchase of the WVB, and $99 for the service call (unless you have their optional equipment protection plan).
There is no rental fee. It is $7 monthly for each authorized TV. Doesn't matter if wired or wireless Client, HDDVR, or even HD non-DVR. The monthly cost is the same.
As you mention you have both wireless bands for Centurylink, (combo router/modem by Technicolor perhaps?), the Genie's built-in WiFi to connect to internet uses both the 2.4Ghz and the 5Ghz, though wired is still preferred. If your electrical wiring is in good condition a powerline adapter, though may not reach max speed like direct Ethernet, is usually better than wireless. Something to consider for your On Demand features.
So for Clients (preferably HDDVRs), and the connection from the Genie (HR54) to your home internet, it is preferred to have wired on both. If you are already have interference from your neighbor's wireless, then additional wireless devices will not help.
Unfortunately HDCP is required by the networks and is a flakey security protocol to begin with. The intention is to prevent unauthorized recording in HD as it cuts into the channels and individual shows physical and digital media sales. At the very least make sure any devices are HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 compliant as that is becoming the minimum standard.
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nabukl
ACE - Professor
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2.3K Messages
6 years ago
Pretty much what @Juniper said, however some additional info, the install would be free or $49.00 not $99.00 also since you're a new customer that is within 6 months of initial install you'll have to pay a $49.00 new customer fee on top of any other equipment/install fees and because of new customer status everything has to be paid UPFRONT at the time of order. The ordering system will NOT allow anything to be "billed" to the account. So you're looking at approximately a $300.00 >+ tax cost for one wireless mini 😉
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
6 years ago
@nabukl
Would that be the "upgrade" fee in place of the service call in the first 6 months then? Never understood that fee, but if it makes it cheaper than a full service call cost then ok in the end I guess.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
6 years ago
It may be easier to run a coax to the patio and use one of the existing mini instead of HDMI cable.
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densvxer
Contributor
6 years ago
@nabukl
Thank you for the great breakdown and educational post.
Yesterday on Craigslist I picked up a 30ft hdmi cable for $20. Like previously the RF remote can control my living room access genie from the patio/sunroom. Having both display the same content at the same time is cool with us. I ran the genie hdmi out through a splitter connected the 30ft cable to the sunroom TV and it works great. Of course now I will have run that cable up the wall/through the attic out to the patio. But no additional cost monthly or install and no contract extension. It is a ranch style home so it's a belly crawl in the attic and snaking the hdmi cable down the outside wall will be the hardest since roof shingle nails are sharp on the skull. Thx again
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nabukl
ACE - Professor
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2.3K Messages
6 years ago
You're welcome, I'm glad your solution is working well, much better than spending a lot of money
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mdram4x4
ACE - Master
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6.5K Messages
6 years ago
all tvs may need to be on at the same time also, its another hdcp thing
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densvxer
Contributor
6 years ago
The living room genie has to be on bot not the tv. Anybody looking for a used IOGEAR gw3dhdkit that will not work for CNN on directv? Purchased in April 2019
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