New Member
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31 Messages
Not allowed to swap out my own receiver
I chatted with someone 3 days ago asking to buy an HR24 to replace one of my C41 boxes. She said someone from a "dedicated department" would call me within 20 minutes. Nobody ever called!
I called DTV today and asked if I could buy an HDDVR (HR24) and have them ship it to me. I said I'd pay for it and even commit to another 24 months of service. The C41 receiver I’d be replacing is already wired with coax, so it’s a simple swap. She said they do not let customers perform their own install unless it’s wireless equipment.
I also explained that the website won’t let me see the page that shows my equipment (no error message, it just flashes forever), but she had no idea what I was talking about.
She transferred me to another department where I was told that DTV doesn’t sell HR24 boxes anymore.
I had 2 tech visits scheduled to replace the entire system and they never showed up. I thought maybe I would replace this one box with an HDDVR that I could install myself. But they don’t want to do that. I’ve been trying to stay with DTV, but they’re making it really difficult for me to get anything done. I could call Solid Signal and see if I could get the HR24 from them, but I'm about fed up with DTV at this point. Comcast is starting to look better with each passing day. I never thought I’d see the day when the customer service at Comcast was better than DirecTV, but it seems that could be the case now.
Accepted Solution
Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
3 years ago
HR54 is the 3rd generation of the regular Genie line, so other receivers (other than another Genie of course) are allowed.
You have four C41s? Then an HDDVR is needed as you can only use up to 3 Clients max at one time. This is because the Genie keeps two of its five tuners to itself for Picture in Picture (PiP).
Sorry, was just wanting to be sure you knew the difference between lease and purchase as many still think owned is still an option.
This situation existed before the spin-off with the new co-owner. So far they are keeping the status quo of the existing setup, but I hope that is only while they do all the internal work before they can announce any new equipment or other direction changes.
The new co-owner certainly will not make any new HR24s as those were made for the old multiswitch (but can also work on SWM) and run on the legacy software, even though they are still good models. If a new HDDVR is made it would have to be SWM-only like the Genies and run on the new software.
Before the new co-owner, AT&T had pushed very hard on the Genie-2 (HS17) which forbids HDDVRs and runs only Clients. They wanted a one size fits all whether you like it or not setup. Nothing new has come out since.
(edited)
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
3 years ago
What is your main Genie? If it is the Genie-2 (HS17) than you cannot have anything but Clients.
You cannot "purchase" an HR24 as DirecTV did away with purchase to own options several years ago. All boxes are lease-only, meaning they come with a 24-month service agreement. If you don't have a free upgrade, or go through an authorized retailer who don't have free options, the one-time lease cost is $199.
Unfortunately, anything pre-Genie hasn't been made in years. So stock of HR24s has dwindled to where many are told they don't have anymore. Going forward a Genie-only setup has been the option. Hopefully this will change direction with the new co-owner.
It depends what all your boxes are if a tech is required or not. If your tuners increases beyond the capability of your current setup, then a tech has to install more equipment (such as going from a SWM-8 to a SWM-16). Only if it is just a simple box swap if it can be drop shipped.
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John5
New Member
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31 Messages
3 years ago
Thanks. I have four C41 boxes and one HR54. I wanted to replace a C41 with an HR24.
I understand that even the $199 cost from Solid Signal is just a fee and not an actual purchase of the box. I'm willing to pay the price and even commit to another 24 months. Well, I was willing to do that, but they've been making everything difficult the last couple weeks, now I'm not so sure I want to stay with this sinking ship.
I thought DTV would be getting better with the spin-off, but it looks like it's worse. Such a shame. DTV used to be a great company years ago.
Their hardware/software is riddled with bugs and now their customer service is terrible. It's getting worse by the year.
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