New Member
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2 Messages
What should I replace my old equipment with?
I’ve been with Directv forever. Tried to update my equipments couple of years ago, after receiving emails asking me to do so. I never resolved the questions I had about a DVR to Genie transition and so I just left it alone. But now I‘ve received an email from Directv telling me that I need to replace my equipment now.
I have two (super old) basic DVRs (Model R15-300) and two HD-DVRs (Model HR20-700 and Model HR22-100).
I’ve been reading the forum and saw advice from about five years ago about what equipment to get. It seems to me that about the only option now is the Genie system? Still not sure about Genie v. Genie 2 and all that.
So what’s your advice as to what I should ask for? Just trying to get my bearings before I call. There’s some good advice on here and I’d like help - looking at you Juniper and litzdog911!
Thanks!
Accepted Solution
detuch254
ACE - New Member
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5.2K Messages
3 years ago
DIRECTV wants you to replace those two R15 receivers. The other two receivers you have (HR20 and one HR22) do not need replacing. Though, those HR20s are pretty old now and people hang onto them because of their integrated OTA tuners. At this point, you wouldn’t need to replace the HR20.
As far as the two R15s, I recommend you request an HR54 receiver and a Genie client/HD receiver. If you want to try to get a Genie and an HDDVR, ask for the HR54 and HR24 as a swap replacement for your two R15s. If they don’t have an HR24 in stock and you want a standalone HD receiver, ask for the H25. Otherwise, a regular Genie client should automatically be applied to the order. Don’t mention the word ‘upgrade’ because sometimes phone representatives trigger a two year contract when they hear that word. The swap should be absolutely FREE with no cost or contract.
Now, you are likely on a non-SWM system. This will need to be replaced in order to get an HR54 and Genie client/H25 going. To check, press the (-) DASH button on the HR22 or HR20 and see if it says SWiM connected. If not, a technician is REQUIRED to come and upgrade the LNB, splitters, multiswitches, etc.
(edited)
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Accepted Solution
Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
3 years ago
@Paintthesky
DirecTV is shutting down their MPEG-2/SD-only feeds. This will require both your R15s to be replaced.
Call DirecTV and request a MPEG swap as it is required for you to continue using the service on those two TVs. Do not say "upgrade" or you get a 24-month service agreement. Check the order confirmation as soon as you receive it.
With the age of your boxes, you are most likely on a pre-SWM setup. So I would expect this order should schedule an appointment for a tech install. This is no charge with the required swap. Update cabling, multiswitch, LNB on the receiving dish etc. as needed.
You should get a Genie (most likely the 3rd generation HR54) and a Mini Genie Client. The Genie simply put is a 5 tuner HDDVR. The Mini Genie as a Client is an extension of it, so takes one of those tuners. Think of it as both TVs sharing one box. Whole Home DVR (required service of the Genie) is only $3 a month and allows each box to view the recordings of the others.
Avoid the Genie-2 (HS17). This is a Headless Server tower that doesn't go on a TV itself as runs all the Clients. It does not allow other receivers, meaning it would require replacement of every box you have which would be an overall downgrade.
Since recordings do not transfer from replaced boxes, I would suggest being comfortably caught up before you place the order.
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Accepted Solution
shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
3 years ago
DTV currently is only installing their HS17 Genie2 client only system so refurbished HR54s may not be in stock.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
3 years ago
DTV is shutting down the MPEG2 SD channels so the R15s will be bricks when they finish.
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Paintthesky
New Member
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2 Messages
3 years ago
Thank you very much everyone. This will help me a ton when I call to ask for the equipment replacements!
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Good4u
Contributor
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189 Messages
3 years ago
@shannon02 HR54s are being installed every day around here. Maybe only a certain market only getting Genie 2s? First I have heard of that.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
3 years ago
If they go to only the Genie-2 (HS17) that will be a huge start of the end.
I have more capability and flexibility with my Genie and two HR24s. My household makes use of the 9 tuners and individual settings. That Genie-2 is not allowed in my home.
Please let the new co-owner come back out with regular HDDVRs.
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jdenevan
New Member
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2 Messages
3 years ago
DirectTV scheduled a service call to swap out old equipment to meet their new HD requirements.
After waiting 3 hours for a scheduled swap of my R22 box, the tech said the dish needed to be replaced as well. Since he was not permitted to walk on a pitched roof to change out the dish, he said he could not complete the upgrade.
Customer service said nothing about upgrading the dish during the appointment call. But they did already bill the $49 service charge!
The tech said I had no choice but to cancel my service. I would have preferred to keep my 17 year relationship with the company.
Anyone else have this experience?
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
3 years ago
The R22 is MPEG-4 capable and does not need replacing, unless it is the only box on the account. It needs a H or HR model to enable full MPEG-4 capability. Even legacy DirecTV agents were not familiar with this model.
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jdenevan
New Member
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2 Messages
3 years ago
It is, in fact, the only box on my account.
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Good4u
Contributor
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189 Messages
3 years ago
There are a couple of other options that may be possible. One is to have another dish installed where it is accessible. This would depend on line of sight being available. Another would be to have a local technician who is not subject to AT&T rules service the dish. I would at least schedule another appointment to get a 2nd opinion.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
3 years ago
Drat, sorry about that. Always irritated when R22s are replaced plus they cannot be transferred to someone else. But with that being your only one, then it has to be done. The R22 being a special model cannot have full MPEG-4 by itself. The origional intention was areas that had MPEG-4 locals, but still SD-only service, so they needed a hybrid box. But now that all MPEG-2 is shutting down, not simply locals, the R22 cannot cut it anymore by itself by how the system was programmed to authorize it.
beleive a lot of people would be happier customers with DirecTV if they allowed this model to go on other accounts that have D12s, R16s or earlier as more capable than a Client, no worry about a downgrade to a Genie-only setup if less overall tuners, and in some cases wouldn't need a tech if they have a mix of equipment.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
3 years ago
OSHA rules no longer allows anyone on the roof without proper safety equipment so unless DTV can mount a dish in an area that can be serviced from a ladder or on the ground then yes DTV can no longer provide you service.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
3 years ago
Wait what??? That is absolutely wrong.
Yes a new dish must be installed since it is the old MPEG-2 one as well. To comply with updated OSHA regulations, DirecTV does not allow techs to step off the ladder. The tech should have gone over an alternate placement for the new dish. If a pole mount was needed, then sure that is custom work discussed on site. But you aren't forced to cancel, and the tech has no access to shut off your account.
Call DirecTV, someone placed the order wrong. A MPEG swap is free of charge because it is requried to continue the service. There is no 24-month service agreement. And since a service call is $99, not $49, I suspect they placed a receiver relocate order instead which meant the tech had the wrong order details.
When you call and get the voice prompt say "cancel" so it routes you to their cancellation/retention department. They should be able to make this right by sheculing the right kind of appointment at no charge to retain your buisness. Though as mentioned, if you go the pole mount route that is custom work beyond the order ($75 as I recall), but hopefully that is not needed.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.1K Messages
3 years ago
AFAIK a pole mount for LOS is free.
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