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3 Messages

Friday, February 4th, 2022

TV to Basic DVR Receiver

Can I use a smart TV with a Basic DVR Receiver, Model R16-500?

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ACE - Sage

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46.7K Messages

4 years ago

It depends on what sort of video inputs your "Smart TV" has. The R16 does not have a modern HDMI Output because it's not a HiDef DVR. In fact, it's obsolete.  DirecTV is phasing out its standard definition channels. So why would you want to use an old R16 SD DVR?

ACE - Professor

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2K Messages

4 years ago

DEPENDS on your smart TV --does it have a Yellow + White + Red Output connectors on the rear?  If it does connect them to your R-16 --I doubt if your NEW tv does have those out puts.

New Member

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3 Messages

4 years ago

My new smart tv DOES have Yellow + White + Red Output connectors on the rear.  But the picture and sound was so bad using that connection (also I had to go through at least 5 different screens/choices starting with changing the Input to Composite to even get to tv channels every time I turned on the tv set) that it was totally unsatisfactory.  I decided to get an upgraded Genie receiver.  Arriving on Monday--hopefully that will solve the problem.

ACE - Expert

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21.3K Messages

4 years ago

SD output always looks bad on an HD TV.

A Genie requires a SWM HD dish and a power inserter.

ACE - Expert

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23.4K Messages

4 years ago

R16 can connect to newer TVs by A/V (Red/white/Yellow) cord.

The larger and higher resolution an HD TV is, the worse it will look for SD.

The R16 is outdated legacy equipment. DirecTV is shutting down their MPEG-2/SD-only feeds so must be replaced.

The Genie upgrade should come with $10 HD service (assuming you didn't have any HD boxes already) and $3 Whole Home DVR.

You say Genie is "arriving" Monday. Hopefully you mean tech installed, not just shipped to you, as it is not self-install. Requires new dish and update on the cabling. If that is not tech install you will need to call DirecTV back to get that corrected. Happens once in a while do a flaw in their order system not defaulting to tech when required and getting an agent who doesn't know any better.

If you have more than 1 TV and have any R22s, do NOT replace them with Mini Genie Clients. This is because that one "SD" DVR model, is actually MPEG-4/HD capable. Think of it as an HR22 in hiding.

New Member

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3 Messages

4 years ago

My husband recently upgraded his receiver to a Genie Gen 3.  I kept my Basic DVR model R-16 at the time.  After a lot of back and forth with the

agent about my NOT installing it myself, NOT paying them extra for the installation (replacing an obsolete receiver), she agreed that a tech would come out and install a Genie Mini--and that our monthly rate would not change.  She insisted that I agree to keep the receiver for 24 months or pay a penalty of $10 per month for early cancellation.  We have had DirecTV for

many years so I guess I can live with that.  I am assuming a tech will show up

pn Monday--this agent went back and forth and changed her mind about charges, etc. so many times I thought I should ask for her supervisor to make sure someone was actually coming out.  She assured me I would get an email ahead of time and a text the day of the installation.  In the past I have found that the scheduled work order does not appear on my account for several days.  I must say, however, that all of the techs we have had in the past were wonderful.


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