The HR44 and HR54 are very similar. Only minor tweaks to the design. It was not the huge jump like from the HR34 which had major improvements and new features added (though still same line of equipment). You have two options.
1. Call DirecTV and get a warranty replacement. As normal this is same model or newer so could end up with HR44 or HR54 (or revised HR54R1). Boxes are not flying off an assembly line so refurbished is normal. But it is supposed to be in like-new condition. A lot of them probably only needed a new hard drive, as those do wear out over time. Delivery is $19.95, or covered if you pay for the optional Equipment Protection Plan.
2. Order HR54 from Solid Signal. You would pay $299 lease cost as warranty replacements (and even free upgrades) are only through DirecTV itself and not 3rd parties. This is an upgrade so comes with a 24 month agreement. But that is only if DirecTV may activate the new box. There has been an issue activating from authorized retailers, an issue with their new billing account system.
The HR54's only real selling point is the 4K Client support, which you would upgrade through DirecTV anyway. So I suggest just doing the warranty replacement. No reason to throw away almost $300 just because you want to see a slightly higher model number.
The WVB is just a wireless antenna to connect your wireless models of Mini Genie Clients (C41W or C61W) to the coax and main Genie. It is compatible with all generations of the Genie. Personally I prefer to have an HDDVR over a Client. Though it is wired only, you get 2 tuners, 500GB recording space, and don't have to worry about it going out if the Genie has an issue. Clients cannot work without the Genie since they are extensions of it. Plus wired is more reliable than wireless in general just per the nature of the technology.
(edited for auto correct errors)
(edited)
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(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
The HR44 was made non-returnable earlier this year. Supposedly this is because it doesn't support the 4K Client and is the last box with the discontinued phone jack. Yes normally with a warranty replacement you send back the old box (return label under the shipping label).
If no return label, just hold onto the box for a couple months to be sure (21 day return did have an extension to 60 days because of Covid). So no non-return fee (NRF) means you are good to recycle. Just remove access card and dispose of securely like a credit card before doing so.
For reference, they did change the return process a couple years ago (but a lot of agents still quote outdated info).
How To Return The Equipment
Go to a FedEx or UPS location with your account #. No need to bring a box or label, the equipment will be boxed it up & shipped out at no charge. The process takes less than 5 minutes.
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(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
Solid signal and all online dealers leases refurbished receivers also.
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
My receiver sometimes pauses the picture for a few seconds then will resume often missing the dialogue that was spoken when paused. I was wondering if my H44 DVR is the newest model currently. Don't know if I will need to buy a new one. I don't want an upgrade option that would more than likely changed my programming package and costs.
I also would like to know if the new single lnb I have seen on solid signal website would be a good option to replace the one I currently have which has 3. The information on setup up the receiver/dish shows a SWM 5LNB for my equipment.
The HR44 is not the newest model. There is an HR54, the newest genie and an HS17 also known as the genie 2. The HS17 is a server, so it does not connect to a TV, only the satellite. It supports genie clients for each TV. A single LNB is not what you want. There is an LNB for each satellite signal being received and programming comes from multiple satellites. A single LNB would only receive signal from one satellite.
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
The HR44 is the 2nd generation Genie, which is a fine model. It is also the highest level of equipment, so there is not an "upgrade" option for it.
If you do a warranty replacement you will get either an HR44 or HR54 (or revised HR54R1) depending on stock. They are all Genie so are not an "upgrade" to each other. Though they have vast improvements over the original HR34.
The Genie-2 (HS17) is technically the newest, but is nowhere near greatest. It is a restrictive design forbidding other HDDVRs, only allowing Clients. So a regular Genie with HDDVRs provides more capability and reliability.
A warranty replacement or even an upgrade of equipment doesn't change your programming package at all. That only changes if you change your programming package. All the equipment does is determine what your receiver services are and how many TVs you are paying for. Since you have a Genie, you have all the receiver services already.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Included after every post) I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum. For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023 www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
The single horn SWM 3LNB gets all three sats the 101 for SD and the 99 and 103 for HD but you will need a reverse band LNB(RBLNB)to get future 4K programming.
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
Thanks for all the information. My wife and I are full time in a Airstream travel trailer so I set up my own tripod and dish. I am getting pretty good now at getting a strong signal after setting it up every time we change locations. It is just the picture stopping and pixelization at times that is bothering me. I don't know if the receiver is the problem or LNB.
And I wouldn't worry about future proofing for 4K. There is only a couple channels (plus a few PPVs), and only works on a Client connection. Until there is more content, and a HDDVR that outputs 4K directly, it is not worth it right now (in my opinion).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Included after every post) I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum. For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023 www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
It is more likely an HDCP handshaking problem, does the TV have the latest software?
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
After having a lot of frozen pictures this evening, I reset the receiver again. This time a message came up saying there is an issue with the hard drive and to call the ATT phone number listed on screen. Guess I am going to have to inquire about getting a replacement receiver. SolidSignal.com has discontinued the HR44 and recommends the HR54.
A Genie regardless of model is $299 one-time lease cost through Solid Signal and still comes with a 24 month service agreement (no Genie is purchase to own since that is when they went to lease only).
Warranty replacement is $19.95 delivery from DirecTV. You might get an HR54 (or HR54R1), but depends on stock. There are no front panel controls, gets rid of the phone jack (was for outdated features that are discontinued so no loss there), and if the revised version (R1) there is no eSATA port (so doesn't support external hard drive).
The HR44 just became non-returnable earlier this year. It is not a bad model. But because it doesn't support the 4K Client, is the last box with a phone jack, and is not Client only (supporting dedicated HDDVRs instead) it is assumed they are just pushing ahead with their new equipment direction even if not better (Genie-2 HS17 which is a very restrictive setup).
(edited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Included after every post) I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum. For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023 www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
Award for Community Excellence Achiever* *I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
Don't know if you can tell me, but do you work for solid signal? I have purchased from them several years ago a dish, receivers, LNB, and an expensive meter($200+)to try and find the signal and fine tune dish to satellites. The meter I did not have good luck with at all, but using the signal meters viewed on TV works well.
If you can tell me on this forum do you think it would be easier to deal with Solid Signal or call ATT's number displayed on screen when it said there was an issue with the hard drive. I don't like to talk with the ATT reps. I think I would want to go with the newest model HR54 since if I was lucky enough to get a replacement HR44 and not an older model, it would probably be a refurbished one. I am not interested in trying to get 4K either. I do have a video bridge:
Model: WVBR0-25
Serial #: H36EG5RQ004705
Mac Address: 8C579B0956A2
I was wondering how that is connected to the HR54 if it doesn't use the external power source like the HR44? Okay, never mind I just looked at my connections and now remember it has a splitter that goes to the wireless video bridge.
I just got done talking with a Directv customer service from the Philippines. She is supposed to have a replacement receiver sent to me, hopefully a HR54 that doesn't need the extra wires for the power inserter. Being in an older RV less jumble of wiring is good. Not sure if I will have to pay the$19.95 shipping or not. Will have to see if there is a charge on my ATT account. She said a prepaid return label will be provided for my old receiver.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.9K Messages
5 years ago
The HR44 and HR54 are very similar. Only minor tweaks to the design. It was not the huge jump like from the HR34 which had major improvements and new features added (though still same line of equipment). You have two options.
1. Call DirecTV and get a warranty replacement. As normal this is same model or newer so could end up with HR44 or HR54 (or revised HR54R1). Boxes are not flying off an assembly line so refurbished is normal. But it is supposed to be in like-new condition. A lot of them probably only needed a new hard drive, as those do wear out over time. Delivery is $19.95, or covered if you pay for the optional Equipment Protection Plan.
2. Order HR54 from Solid Signal. You would pay $299 lease cost as warranty replacements (and even free upgrades) are only through DirecTV itself and not 3rd parties. This is an upgrade so comes with a 24 month agreement. But that is only if DirecTV may activate the new box. There has been an issue activating from authorized retailers, an issue with their new billing account system.
The HR54's only real selling point is the 4K Client support, which you would upgrade through DirecTV anyway. So I suggest just doing the warranty replacement. No reason to throw away almost $300 just because you want to see a slightly higher model number.
The WVB is just a wireless antenna to connect your wireless models of Mini Genie Clients (C41W or C61W) to the coax and main Genie. It is compatible with all generations of the Genie. Personally I prefer to have an HDDVR over a Client. Though it is wired only, you get 2 tuners, 500GB recording space, and don't have to worry about it going out if the Genie has an issue. Clients cannot work without the Genie since they are extensions of it. Plus wired is more reliable than wireless in general just per the nature of the technology.
(edited for auto correct errors)
(edited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Included after every post)
I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum.
For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023
www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
0
Accepted Solution
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.9K Messages
5 years ago
The HR44 was made non-returnable earlier this year. Supposedly this is because it doesn't support the 4K Client and is the last box with the discontinued phone jack. Yes normally with a warranty replacement you send back the old box (return label under the shipping label).
If no return label, just hold onto the box for a couple months to be sure (21 day return did have an extension to 60 days because of Covid). So no non-return fee (NRF) means you are good to recycle. Just remove access card and dispose of securely like a credit card before doing so.
For reference, they did change the return process a couple years ago (but a lot of agents still quote outdated info).
(edited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Included after every post)
I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum.
For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023
www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
5 years ago
Solid signal and all online dealers leases refurbished receivers also.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
My receiver sometimes pauses the picture for a few seconds then will resume often missing the dialogue that was spoken when paused. I was wondering if my H44 DVR is the newest model currently. Don't know if I will need to buy a new one. I don't want an upgrade option that would more than likely changed my programming package and costs.
0
0
coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
I also would like to know if the new single lnb I have seen on solid signal website would be a good option to replace the one I currently have which has 3. The information on setup up the receiver/dish shows a SWM 5LNB for my equipment.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
•
2K Messages
5 years ago
The HR44 is not the newest model. There is an HR54, the newest genie and an HS17 also known as the genie 2. The HS17 is a server, so it does not connect to a TV, only the satellite. It supports genie clients for each TV. A single LNB is not what you want. There is an LNB for each satellite signal being received and programming comes from multiple satellites. A single LNB would only receive signal from one satellite.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
5 years ago
@coolbikeman
Remember newest is not always greatest.
The HR44 is the 2nd generation Genie, which is a fine model. It is also the highest level of equipment, so there is not an "upgrade" option for it.
If you do a warranty replacement you will get either an HR44 or HR54 (or revised HR54R1) depending on stock. They are all Genie so are not an "upgrade" to each other. Though they have vast improvements over the original HR34.
The Genie-2 (HS17) is technically the newest, but is nowhere near greatest. It is a restrictive design forbidding other HDDVRs, only allowing Clients. So a regular Genie with HDDVRs provides more capability and reliability.
A warranty replacement or even an upgrade of equipment doesn't change your programming package at all. That only changes if you change your programming package. All the equipment does is determine what your receiver services are and how many TVs you are paying for. Since you have a Genie, you have all the receiver services already.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Included after every post)
I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum.
For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023
www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
•
21.1K Messages
5 years ago
The single horn SWM 3LNB gets all three sats the 101 for SD and the 99 and 103 for HD but you will need a reverse band LNB(RBLNB)to get future 4K programming.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
Thanks for all the information. My wife and I are full time in a Airstream travel trailer so I set up my own tripod and dish. I am getting pretty good now at getting a strong signal after setting it up every time we change locations. It is just the picture stopping and pixelization at times that is bothering me. I don't know if the receiver is the problem or LNB.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
5 years ago
And I wouldn't worry about future proofing for 4K. There is only a couple channels (plus a few PPVs), and only works on a Client connection. Until there is more content, and a HDDVR that outputs 4K directly, it is not worth it right now (in my opinion).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Included after every post)
I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum.
For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023
www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
•
21.1K Messages
5 years ago
It is more likely an HDCP handshaking problem, does the TV have the latest software?
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
After having a lot of frozen pictures this evening, I reset the receiver again. This time a message came up saying there is an issue with the hard drive and to call the ATT phone number listed on screen. Guess I am going to have to inquire about getting a replacement receiver. SolidSignal.com has discontinued the HR44 and recommends the HR54.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.9K Messages
5 years ago
A Genie regardless of model is $299 one-time lease cost through Solid Signal and still comes with a 24 month service agreement (no Genie is purchase to own since that is when they went to lease only).
Warranty replacement is $19.95 delivery from DirecTV. You might get an HR54 (or HR54R1), but depends on stock. There are no front panel controls, gets rid of the phone jack (was for outdated features that are discontinued so no loss there), and if the revised version (R1) there is no eSATA port (so doesn't support external hard drive).
The HR44 just became non-returnable earlier this year. It is not a bad model. But because it doesn't support the 4K Client, is the last box with a phone jack, and is not Client only (supporting dedicated HDDVRs instead) it is assumed they are just pushing ahead with their new equipment direction even if not better (Genie-2 HS17 which is a very restrictive setup).
(edited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Included after every post)
I am a customer, not an employee. This is a public forum.
For official support call DirecTV 1-800-531-5000, DIRECTV STREAM 1-888-429-4023
www.directv.com
(AT&T has sold off their share in DirecTV)
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
0
0
coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
Don't know if you can tell me, but do you work for solid signal? I have purchased from them several years ago a dish, receivers, LNB, and an expensive meter($200+)to try and find the signal and fine tune dish to satellites. The meter I did not have good luck with at all, but using the signal meters viewed on TV works well.
If you can tell me on this forum do you think it would be easier to deal with Solid Signal or call ATT's number displayed on screen when it said there was an issue with the hard drive. I don't like to talk with the ATT reps. I think I would want to go with the newest model HR54 since if I was lucky enough to get a replacement HR44 and not an older model, it would probably be a refurbished one. I am not interested in trying to get 4K either. I do have a video bridge:
Thanks for any advice.
(edited)
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0
coolbikeman
Tutor
•
9 Messages
5 years ago
I just got done talking with a Directv customer service from the Philippines. She is supposed to have a replacement receiver sent to me, hopefully a HR54 that doesn't need the extra wires for the power inserter. Being in an older RV less jumble of wiring is good. Not sure if I will have to pay the$19.95 shipping or not. Will have to see if there is a charge on my ATT account. She said a prepaid return label will be provided for my old receiver.
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0