Please Explain Latest Wiring and Requirements for Whole Home DTV

Your old system used non-SWM. This required that each tuner need a coaxial cable. Hence, there were two coaxial wires running to each DVR. Those times are over. Now, with SWM systems, only ONE coaxial cable is required to be run to each receiver. It doesn’t matter the tuner number of the receiver, all tuners will be accounted for. Your 2 TV system will likely be an HS17 along with two Genie mini clients because the HS17 itself doesn’t work as a TV. Although, if you asked for an HR54, it would be only one Genie mini client since the HR54 hooks up to a TV. Also, if you plan to add more than one DVR in the future, it’s best to ask for the HR54 upon ordering because the HS17 restricts your entire system to just one hard drive and all Genie clients.

Now, to your concerns. They will not dispatch two DVRs, most likely the HS17 and Genie clients. Unless, of course, you ask for the HR54 and a Genie client. Whole Home DVR with a SWM system is through coax, NO Ethernet required at all. The only time you would want an Ethernet cable or wireless WiFi connection would be for on-demand, PPV, TV apps, play from beginning, etc. If you get the HS17, three cables enter the house. There’s one to the HS17 and two to the 2 TVs being used. Unless, both TVs are wireless Genie clients. Then, there would only be ONE cable going directly to the HS17 and the other two Genie wireless clients use the HS17’s built in Wireless Video Bridge (WVB). Therefore, they don’t need a wired coax connection or internet at all. However, with the HR54, you’ll need one coax cable going to it and one cable to the Genie client (unless the client is wireless.) There will be no separate coax going from the dish because the LNB itself only has ONE coaxial output. There are no special adapters needed.

As far as splitters go, they are usually outside and the one cable from the LNB goes to it. Depending on whether you order wireless Genie clients or not, you may not need a splitter. However, if you stick to wired Genie clients and an HS17, a 4-way splitter outside will be in use. One cable with the POWER PASS red output goes to the HS17 and the other two outputs go to the locations of the 2 TVs. As far as an HR54 and wired Genie client go, you only need a 2-way splitter since, as stated before, the HR54 hooks up to a TV as opposed to the HS17

 It required two identical DVRs

The DVRs did not have to be identical. They could have been different models. Even one or both being non-DVRs would have been fine. All that was required was a box on each TV.

This required two coax cables per DVR

That means you are on the old multiswitch. Getting DirecTV at this time would require the tech to update your setup (cabling, dish, etc.).

I assume I'd be getting one Genie main unit and one Mini?

Most likely. The 2nd/3rd generation Genie (HR44/HR54) would be the main box (5 tuners and 1TB recording space). The Mini Genie is a Client, an extension of the main box (cannot work without it as no capability of its own). Because of the increased tuners and communication between the boxes, is where everyone now needs SWM (Single-Wire Multiswitch) which is one cable per box instead of tuner.

Is that correct if I only have two TVs or might they still dispatch two full function DVRs like in the past?

The intro offer would most likely be Genie and Mini Genie Client. In the past you could choose to instead of the Mini go for an HDDVR (2 tuners, 500GB) at the one-time lease cost ($199) as works with the Genie. However, HDDVRs haven't been made in years and the last model (HR24) could use either SWM or the older one. There has not been a SWM-only regular HDDVR made.

There is also the possibility of getting the Genie-2 (HS17). This is a Headless Server tower. Doesn't go on a TV. Has 7 tuners and 2TB recording space. Forbids anything but Clients. More capability for a 2 TV setup than a Genie and HDDVR, but personally I find it too restrictive and putting your eggs all in one basket. A Genie and 2 HDDVRs for a 3 TV setup is already more capable and flexible.

The ordering process would have me believe I'd be getting the Whole Home setup but I didn't follow through completely, it was just to glean some info before pulling the trigger.

Yes, Whole Home DVR is now the standard setup. It is built into the billing model now so goes with DVR service. Only on the grandfathered model was it a single feature that was optional. But with the Genie it is required anyway as is DirecTV's Advanced Whole Home HDDVR.

I want to have the proper wiring ready before the installation is ordered.

Don't waste your money. The tech is required to install the needed cabling as part of their standard installation. Only if there is custom/additional work where there could be any charges (which are to be discussed with you before work is done).

Are they networked together via coax or ethernet run between the units?

DirecTV uses coax (RG6 solid copper core), not Ethernet as they are a satellite TV provider, not internet service. They can connect your setup to your home internet by Ethernet (or WiFi) for optional On Demand service. That would be just a single connection to your router for the setup, not one per box like in the days before SWM.

@qlopp I personally would rather choose the HR54 and Genie mini because it’s one less Genie mini to worry about and you always have the future option of adding standalone HD and HDDVR receivers, whether this be to further expand storage or have a receiver to take with you when camping or RV-ing

The technician, if after inspecting the current dish and installation, finds it satisfactory, will likely just swap the LNB from SWM to non-SWM and add an in-line SWM splitter. Although, if the mount on your roof is NOT a stub mount and does not have monopoles, the tech will probably advise toward them because they strengthen the pole. Two monopoles means four screws. Also, a regular pole does not have four screws as you state, it has SIX. 

They CAN put a new dish assembly on the old pole since the 2 inch OD size has not changed for several years now. Unless the pole is weak and the tech has a reason to not use it, it should be completely reusable for the new dish and LNB. 

I find the HR54 and HS17 in terms of speed to be very similar. I myself never owned either. However, from reports and testing them at friend’s houses etc. I find both to be not very different at all except while the HS17 restricts your account to just Genie clients the HR54 allows all receivers to be activated. Additionally, while the HS17 itself doesn’t hook up to a TV, the HR54 does.

And, yes, Genie minis have complete DVR-capabilities for both the HR54 and HS17. 

Also, it is worth mentioning that the HR54 has 1TB of storage while the HS17 has 2TB. Though, once you get a few HR24s activated on the account with the HR54, the amount of storage is increased by a lot.

Wall fishing is custom work so is not part of the standard install with is a house wrap coax from the dish is run outside to the SWM splitter that maybe put inside then coax is run to the other clients/receivers on the outside.