Need help with HR54 and connecting to three tv's in an RV

DirecTV only allows a single Genie/Genie Lite/Genie-2 on the account. They had trouble getting multiple to work together in testing so leave it at one per account. Since you have a regular Genie, you can use HDDVRs, HD non-DVRs, or Mini Genie Clients for the additional TVs.

You cannot purchase to own any receiver or clients as all are 'leased'. So comes with 24 month agreement and you return to DirecTV upon disconnecting them (while they remain returnable models).

Wireless Mini Genie Clients (C41W and C61W) require a Wireless Video Bridge (WVB) on the coax as that is what they connect to wirelessly which bridges the connection to the main Genie. The WVB is an owned accessory of $99 with a range off up to 80 feet under ideal conditions.

HDMI is from the receiver/client to the TV, just like a DVD player, game console, etc. It is coax that you would need to run in the RV, at least to the Genie itself. The C41W and C61W are the only wireless boxes DirecTV has, but still require HDMI to the TV.

Thank you so much for this answer, it helps a lot. So I would have to run the satellite to the Wireless video Bridge by coax, and then that sends signal to the HR54 or how is the WVB connected to the HR54 and then to the remaining wireless genies? Also can you give me what the difference is between C41W and C61W? And I assume these can be put next to the TVs and simply connected via HDMI? Thank you!

Coax would be from receiving dish to your Genie (HR54) as this is wired only.

If you go wireless, then another coax would be run to the WVB. Then it is wireless to the wireless Clients(s). Personally I wouldn't do it for a single Client as the WVB is still wired in the first place so would negate the benefit.

All I am aware of is some better performance out of the C61W, but I haven't looked that much into it.

Wireless clients go next to TV and connect by HDMI.

The dish is an RV dish for directv. I believe it only provides one coax cable from the dish. What would be needed to connect the Dish to both HR54 and to the WVB. We would need three wireless clients, the HR54 technically wouldn't be connected to anything since the media center is in the middle of the RV and 3 tv's are all far away. So ideally, we would need 3 wireless clients and the HR54 would just kind of sit there and not connect to a tv but provide the capability for the wireless clients to work. Unless the WVB can replace the HR54 entirely but I assume that's not possible

The dish coax is connected to a SWM splitter everything else is connected to it. The HR54 has to be connected to the red power pass through port on the SWM splitter to supply the dish power.

The C41W is the first wireless client made the C61W has newer components and a faster processor.

The HR54 is the receiver so has the tuners and is required for service to work. Will need to be on a TV to properly setup. Only the Genie-2 (HS17) is a Server Tower only that is not designed to go on a TV.

Mini Genies are Clients, no tuners of their own so cannot work by themselves. Each of them steal a tuner from the main box.

The WVB is just a bridge, not a receiver or a Client. Think of it as just the antenna for wireless, nothing more.

You would have a SWM splitter. So receiving dish to splitter and then to the HR54, WVB, and any wired Clients or other receivers/HDDVRs.

Another note, once you travel outside your home spot beam you lose locals provided by DirecTV. You would need to use a regular antenna on your TVs for any locals within range.

Ok so essentially it would be best to get the Genie 2 rather than an HR54. The Genie 2 would be connected to the dish itself and then send signal to the genie minis (3 total) throughout the RV. I assume this is the best direction to take for this situation? 

The Genie-2 might be considered, but it is cautioned against. Better than when first launched, but still not the smoothest running piece of equipment.

It has the added perk of the WVB built-in. Though you can have an external one installed for more coverage (naturally that would be more for home as one should be enough for RV if properly placed).

It FORBIDS everything but Clients on the account. So any receivers you have are lost. As mentioned you cannot have multiple main Genies so your HR54 would be replaced. That gets sent back to DirecTV as you do not own it (Genies have never had an owned option as that is when they went to lease-only). Existing recordings do not transfer as they are encrypted/locked to their exact DVR.

With the direction of the Genie-2, it was not intended as a mobile (i.e. RV) option. I really hope with the new co-owner that DirecTV's equipment options get an uplift.

So if I dont have an HR54 connected to a TV, am I screwed? I can't really drag an HDMI through the walls of an RV and that is the biggest problem right now is to try and find a fully wireless solution. What is my best bet then if I can't drag an HR54 to a physical display anywhere?

The HR54 has to be paired with the Clients and is what runs the system. If you can't have it at any of the TVs at all, then that is a problem.

There is no fully wireless option. It just doesn't exist. The receiving dish has to be wired by coax down to at least one receiver (be that simple receiver, regular HDDVR, Genie, or Genie-2).

The closest would be if you "upgraded" your Genie to the Genie-2 and replace any other boxes with wireless Clients. Then coax would be down to the Genie-2 itself, but wireless to the Clients. The Clients would just have their HDMI to the TV (plus power cord of course as any other electronic). The Genie-2 is not a traditional receiver so cannot go on a TV, functions as a Server Tower/shared receiver for all the Clients. With the WVB built-in that also reduces coax needed to be run (assuming you don't have need for a 2nd WVB).

Sorry but some things stay wired. Wireless may be convenient at times, but often it just cannot replace wired completely.

The HR54 will work fine without a TV but if it has never been used before then you will need a TV to set it up.

Hello @Juniper thanks for your information about this equipment process.

@ebaydan777 effectively with DIRECTV you can have only one main receiver which would be the GENIE or GENIE 2. 

The receivers always include a monthly charge of leasing.

In case that you want to get wireless genie minis it would be necessary a video bridge indeed.

The GENIE 2 just works to provide the signal to the genie minis or wireless genie minis, if the main receiver is a GENIE 2 will not be connected directly to the TV.

We suggest to use RV for motorhomes that would be a good option and you can get more info about it here. 

The receivers are programmed to receive signal in the address where the service was installed and in case that you move from there, local channels will not work and it would be necessary to update the address to receive local channels, but it will depend on the ZIP code.

Jhon, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@DIRECTVhelp 

Jhon, please excuse this but I need to clarify a couple points you mentioned that could mislead customers.

You can have multiple receivers, but only one main Genie (HR34, HR44, HR54 / HR54R1). The Genie-2 (HS17) is the exception in that it only allows Clients.

You don't pay monthly to lease the receivers. You pay $7 for each authorized TV on the service regardless if receiver, Mini Genie Client, or even a TV with a built-in Client that doesn't have a box at all. The only lease cost for equipment is one-time up front, if you don't qualify for a free upgrade.