Autoplay feature for DVR recorded episodes.

Thank you @shannon02 . I was on DM with a specialist for a while and they never offered this as a solution.

Thank you @Juniper . They never offered me any options for the type of system. So they certainly didn't fully inform me if any other equipment options were available. I don't want a streaming only unit, since even though I have high speed fiber, I'm already using a lot of the bandwidth for other devices.

And I'm not surprised that no upgrade was ever offered if I didn't seek it out. Just said that none was. My cell service offers me upgrades though, just sayin". 

Cell phones people upgrade often, even when they don't need to because they must have the latest and greatest to not be judged by those around them.

Satellite tech doesn't advance often. So boxes can last years, even over a decade, and do just fine. A key difference from AT&T in-house services and DirecTV (which was another company they acquired and then spun off when they realized they bit off more than they could chew).

I would suggest for anyone wondering about equipment options to check in the forum first. This way you can get info from experienced customers as opposed to agents who may not be familiar with earlier setups or just encouraged to offer the "latest and greatest" (even if not greatest for one's exact setup).

DirecTV doesn't have streaming-only units as they are still service by satellite. The Gemini is like a Mini Genie Client with the added feature it is a streaming box (similar to Roku, Firestick, etc.). So some people like having that all in one box instead of having two separate boxes (one for satellite and the other for streaming apps).

The other provider DIRECTV STREAM, formally AT&T TV and new version called DirecTV by Internet (don't get me started on this naming confusion), is streaming-only. So don't ever switch from DirecTV to DIRECTV STREAM (or any new name they call it) if bandwidth is a concern.

Those "chat" agents tend to provide a lot of bad info. Unsure if poorly trained and/or outsourced.

Gemini has two different sets. One loaded with firmware/software for DirecTV (satellite) and another for DIRECTV STREAM (streaming-only). Though hardware is identical they are loaded differently and so cannot be interchanged (don't know why it is like that). So for satellite it is not streaming-only as long as you get the one loaded for that service. That is where you order through your DirecTV account. Though since your free upgrade was used, a Gemini would be at the one-time lease cost of $99 if you chose to do that.

Remember when the Genie-2 (HS17) was installed you got a 24 month service agreement. It is valued at $20 for each month remaining, resulting in an ECF up to $480 at most. Also if/when you ever cancel DirecTV, you still receive service and are responsible for billing through the end of the cycle. So before starting a new service verify your cycle dates so you don't end up with overlapping service that you are paying for.

Thanks @Juniper . There is no way I would pay to have the equipment switched out when they didn't tell me that there was any other option in the first place. If I had known the autoplay feature wasn't available with these Genie Mini's, then I would've asked about other gear. I just assumed the new equip would at least have the same functions as the old and be even better. I won't make that mistake again. I would stay with them if they offered to switch my gear for free, or better yet, just patch the damn software and be done with it. But I'll never pay for getting a different unit at this point. I'll drop them first.

Sometimes old features go the wayside when new equipment comes out. Examples are Autotune (only non-DVR models), Caller ID on TV (removal of phone jack, and even HR44 got the new software that removed the menu option even though it was the last model with the jack), or the new style remote that is for DirecTV and TV only (old white was a universal remote to control other devices, like sound system or possibly VCR/DVD player).

So if there are any features important to you then certainly ask about them before changing equipment, no matter the provider. On that same note, check with experienced customers before support as agents of any company tend to be geared to push the newest. Ideally they ask the right questions and get you your best personal fit, but too often that isn't what happens.

At best you could try speaking to the retention department, since you are legitimately consider cancelling. Just say "cancel" at the voice prompt when you call support. You could ask if they would swap out a Mini Genie for a Gemini because of the different capability. If they can credit it as a one-time courtesy to save a customer that would be great. Be aware if this is done, the 24 month agreement simply moves the start date to the day the new box is installed (which they have no work around on, but should only be a matter of a couple weeks or so depending when you had the Genie-2 installed).

Thanks @Juniper . I have found that I can get the best premium channel package the cable company offers here, with boxes for 3 rooms and a whole home DVR that does have autoplay, for less than I'm paying now for DirecTV with less channels. So this may be my first and only forum thread  here. This includes HBO Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ w/ Showtime, MGM+ and Starz, none of which I'm getting now with DirecTV for 6 dollars a month more. So I think I would be stupid to pay more for less channels and not all the features I want. And I'm paying for 3 of those on my Amazon Prime Fire TV, so I could also save money by dropping those 3 on Amazon. And no outages due to weather.

It's funny that when I first posted my issue here, a customer specialist jumped right in to solve my problem and then just basically told me I'm stuck. No options or solutions offered. And nothing more from them here now. Funny. Just writing me off. But I'm not stuck with them and they don't seem to realize it or care for my business, when I've been with them for over 12 years.

It's a really poor way to do business. Plus I'll tell everybody about this experience. Something they also don't seem to take into consideration.