I clearly explained why the Genie is not built for a single home and the different billing models, especially since the OP doesn't have an HDDVR to begin with.
Your refusing to read is why you are uniformed about how all of this works. Not everyone activated on an All Included plan.
If they have an HD non-DVR, then the bill WILL go up with a regular HDDVR or Genie as they would not have a setup with DVR service included. An All Included would have been an HDDVR or Genie to begin with, not a non-DVR.
@Juniper that's my whole point on why he should speak with them and not you. If he's wanting to upgrade from an HD receiver... please tell me what his choices are? Genie, genie 2, HD dvr (according to you) and a genie lite. Only options. Those are literally the only options.
You were also talking about "All Included" being the only billing model. Having a couple HD non-DVRs suggest he is not only on a itemized billing model, but very likely the older one.
Others have been able to order an HDDVR over the phone, but it has been like pulling teeth as AT&T was trying to force everyone into a client based system. I hope that with the new co-owner they switch tracks on this one and focus on customer flexible options again.
If you don't have any DVRs currently, there should only be a single $10 charge on the bill, not two. This is because receiver services cover the entire account, not charged per TV. You should have $0 for the primary TV and $7 for the additional TV.
You could consider an upgrade to a Genie and 2 Mini Genie Clients. Instead of a single tuner on each of your current TVs, you would have 5 to share between them. Your bill would add $10 DVR, $3 Whole Home DVR, and $7 for another TV (so $20 total increase). This would also come with a 24 month service agreement.
As a note, DVRs do not have Autotune. If preferred you could keep one or both of your non-DVRs. That way you still have Autotune on the chosen TVs, have the dedicated tuner, and can watch what the Genie itself has recorded.
@Juniper please CC me on where I said all included was the only billing method. I shall wait...all I ever said was he should speak with them since apparently a genie isn't built for a single TV when it's literally made for a single TV. Why on earth would you get a genie 2 for one TV? Now you have a tower and a client as opposed to having just a genie. Especially if you ever recommend that to a new customer. If you recommend that to a new customer they end up paying 99 for a genie 2 that they don't need based on your assumptions that a genie isn't built for one TV. Amd if he's upgrading guess what???? Other than a genie 2 or a genie there is a charge. The only deals for upgrades are the genies so again, why would he need a genie 2? It makes no sense at all for one TV.
The Genie requires Whole Home DVR which is a service to share recordings over your multiple TVs. Yes the box can work on a single TV, but it was not built for a single TV home as you pay for a service you cannot use in that scenario.
The way you talked up "All Included" implied you were saying it was the only option. If that is not what you meant, I am sorry for the misunderstanding.
I am against the Genie-2 design. Being a server tower that doesn't go on a TV itself, means you have one more box than TVs. You still require Whole Home DVR, even if a single TV. And it forbids everything but clients, making the 7 tuners a hard cap. And they revised it to remove the eSATA port so have hard capped the storage space as well. Plus if it has an issue, or accidently loses power, then you lose all your TVs, not just one.
A Genie-2 is not $99. That would be the one-time lease cost of a Mini Genie Client, HD non-DVR, or purchase cost for the owned accessory of the Wireless Video Bridge (WVB). The one-time lease cost of a Genie is $299.
The best and most powerful setup for a 3 TV home is a Genie and 2 HDDVRs. But some might choose to mix in Mini Genie Clients or HD non-DVRs depending on exact preferences, plus up front cost. Your first upgrade to a Genie setup usually includes up to 3 Mini Genies as part of the offer. But other boxes are at their one-time lease cost on top of the order. Otherwise the order without Genie would be a single receiver (HDDVR or non-DVR) for free with any additional at the one-time lease cost.
The OP has 2 choices (free equipment options) going to a Genie setup.
1. Genie and 2 Mini Genie Clients. All boxes replaced. Clients dependent on main box to function. DVR replaces Autotune.
2. Genie and keeping both HD non-DVRs (or just replacing one). Keeps Autotune on any TV with a non-DVR box plus the dedicated tuner.
Since OP is on the earlier billing model ($10 HD service), both options add $10 DVR, $3 Whole Home DVR, and $7 Additional TV (if still adding the 3rd TV) to the monthly bill. And of course the 24 month service agreement with any upgrade.
Okay...... ( deep breathes) my point was if you ever recommend a genie two for new customers based on your statement that a genie isn't built for a single TV, yes there is a 99 dollar charge. The genie 2 is 399 you get an instant credit of 300.leaving you 99 as a one time charge.
Next point.... if he has a HD receiver and upgrades to genie 2 or genie... both... both will come with a 10 dollar a month Dvr charge. Both... so to my point. If he has a HD receiver what are his upgrade options.... a genie, a genie 2, a HD dvr (as you say but that's not the case) or a genie lite.
If he wants whole home then the genie lite is out. That leaves, genie, genie 2, HD DVR.
He can not get a HD dvr. I promise you. That leaves a genie 2 or genie. If he has one TV that he needs to have a box on and doesn't need to move the box to other tvs to avoid having another TV access fee added, doesn't need wireless due to location the the best option, is a GENIE!!! AND with that. Im going to bed.
I respect that a new customer offer has an additional special of $300 off a Genie-2 (HS17). However, new customer offers do not apply to the OP and (in my opinion) only proceed to muddy the waters for what they need.
You cannot upgrade to both a Genie and Genie-2. DirecTV only allows a single main "Genie" on the account. It is one or the other. Initially they wanted to do multiple, but they didn't play well with testing and they never fixed the issues. So they left it as one per account.
I've known people to get an HDDVR from DirecTV in recent months, but it has been rather difficult. And yes this is from DirecTV itself, not a 3rd party dealer. If as of today they finally are out of them, then fair enough. That would really be unfortunate as a Client only system is very restrictive.
If he wants Whole Home DVR from the start, then yes the Genie Lite would be out. You only get that model if you might get DVR service later with the Genie Lite DVR upgrade kit which makes the H44 function like an HR44. Personally, I would avoid the Genie Lite just to avoid confusion.
Getting the Genie adds $10 DVR and $3 Whole Home DVR since he only has the $10 HD service. This is the grandfathered billing model that was discontinued before AT&T acquired DirecTV. If he adds in the 3rd TV, then naturally that is another $7 additional TV fee as well.
Getting just an HDDVR instead of a Genie would only save the $3 Whole Home DVR. Wouldn't be worth the savings for me, but there are people I have discussed with (in the forum and in person) whom don't want that feature at all or just don't want to pay for it so would go the regular HDDVR route. I agree they are a much smaller group, but they exist.
@Gtanks, thanks for bringing this into our attention.
We can help you get brand new equipment, so you can enjoy the service at its best. Our best options to upgrade your equipment, would be getting a Genie (HR54-500) or a Genie 2 (HS17-700). Please keep in mind that the Genie 2 works as a receiver and it takes charge of sending the signal over the Genie Minis (Genie Mini, 4K Genie mini and Wireless Genie Mini).
The Genie 2 can store over 450 hours of HD programming. You can also connect up to 7 receivers to it.
In case you would like to upgrade to our newest equipment (Genie 2), it would be necessary to add an extra receiver. Which can be any of the previous Genie Minis mentioned. Also the current recordings saved on your HR24-700 will be lost due the change for the new receiver.
Once you have made up your mind, don't hesitate to reach over a DM to get started with your order. We're here to help. Thank you!
To clarify with a few points that @DIRECTVhelp (Santiago) mentioned.
The Genie 2 can store over 450 hours of HD programming.
The Genie-2 (HS17) has a 2TB hard drive. The regular Genie line up thru HR54 (or revised HR54R1 without eSATA port), has 1TB. Regular Genie line can increase space with other HDDVRs or external eSATA hard drive (except HR54R1 as port removed).
You can also connect up to 7 receivers to it.
Misleading. You can connect up to 7 CLIENTS. Receivers are boxes with dedicated tuners that receive the signal themselves from the dish. Clients are extensions of the Genie/Genie Lite/Genie-2, not receivers themselves.
Also the current recordings saved on your HR24-700 will be lost due the change for the new receiver.
You DO NOT replace an HDDVR with a Mini Genie Client as that would be a downgrade. If you have any HDDVRs, then the regular Genie line is the way to go as the Genie-2 would force you to get rid of them.
However, the OP's boxes are H24, not HR24 so they are not HDDVRs to begin with.
Please, please, please, let the new co-owner for DirecTV start making HDDVRs again and move away from the Genie-2. Being forced to only take one road sounds like old world Russia/Soviet Union/USSR.
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Tired_of_technology
I clearly explained why the Genie is not built for a single home and the different billing models, especially since the OP doesn't have an HDDVR to begin with.
Your refusing to read is why you are uniformed about how all of this works. Not everyone activated on an All Included plan.
If they have an HD non-DVR, then the bill WILL go up with a regular HDDVR or Genie as they would not have a setup with DVR service included. An All Included would have been an HDDVR or Genie to begin with, not a non-DVR.
0
0
Tired_of_technology
New Member
•
38 Messages
4 years ago
@Juniper that's my whole point on why he should speak with them and not you. If he's wanting to upgrade from an HD receiver... please tell me what his choices are? Genie, genie 2, HD dvr (according to you) and a genie lite. Only options. Those are literally the only options.
(edited)
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Gtanks
You have 2 TVs total currently. Both models are H24. And you want to add a 3rd TV along with the upgrade. Is this correct?
Also, on your bill do you pay $10 for HD service?
0
0
Gtanks
New Member
•
4 Messages
4 years ago
Juniper that correct.
and yes we pay 10.00 per month on each box.
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Tired_of_technology
You were also talking about "All Included" being the only billing model. Having a couple HD non-DVRs suggest he is not only on a itemized billing model, but very likely the older one.
Others have been able to order an HDDVR over the phone, but it has been like pulling teeth as AT&T was trying to force everyone into a client based system. I hope that with the new co-owner they switch tracks on this one and focus on customer flexible options again.
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Gtanks
If you don't have any DVRs currently, there should only be a single $10 charge on the bill, not two. This is because receiver services cover the entire account, not charged per TV. You should have $0 for the primary TV and $7 for the additional TV.
You could consider an upgrade to a Genie and 2 Mini Genie Clients. Instead of a single tuner on each of your current TVs, you would have 5 to share between them. Your bill would add $10 DVR, $3 Whole Home DVR, and $7 for another TV (so $20 total increase). This would also come with a 24 month service agreement.
As a note, DVRs do not have Autotune. If preferred you could keep one or both of your non-DVRs. That way you still have Autotune on the chosen TVs, have the dedicated tuner, and can watch what the Genie itself has recorded.
@Tired_of_technology
The fact they have the $10 HD service is proof they are on a setup before the "All Included" model existed.
0
0
Tired_of_technology
New Member
•
38 Messages
4 years ago
@Juniper please CC me on where I said all included was the only billing method. I shall wait...all I ever said was he should speak with them since apparently a genie isn't built for a single TV when it's literally made for a single TV. Why on earth would you get a genie 2 for one TV? Now you have a tower and a client as opposed to having just a genie. Especially if you ever recommend that to a new customer. If you recommend that to a new customer they end up paying 99 for a genie 2 that they don't need based on your assumptions that a genie isn't built for one TV. Amd if he's upgrading guess what???? Other than a genie 2 or a genie there is a charge. The only deals for upgrades are the genies so again, why would he need a genie 2? It makes no sense at all for one TV.
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
The Genie requires Whole Home DVR which is a service to share recordings over your multiple TVs. Yes the box can work on a single TV, but it was not built for a single TV home as you pay for a service you cannot use in that scenario.
The way you talked up "All Included" implied you were saying it was the only option. If that is not what you meant, I am sorry for the misunderstanding.
I am against the Genie-2 design. Being a server tower that doesn't go on a TV itself, means you have one more box than TVs. You still require Whole Home DVR, even if a single TV. And it forbids everything but clients, making the 7 tuners a hard cap. And they revised it to remove the eSATA port so have hard capped the storage space as well. Plus if it has an issue, or accidently loses power, then you lose all your TVs, not just one.
A Genie-2 is not $99. That would be the one-time lease cost of a Mini Genie Client, HD non-DVR, or purchase cost for the owned accessory of the Wireless Video Bridge (WVB). The one-time lease cost of a Genie is $299.
The best and most powerful setup for a 3 TV home is a Genie and 2 HDDVRs. But some might choose to mix in Mini Genie Clients or HD non-DVRs depending on exact preferences, plus up front cost. Your first upgrade to a Genie setup usually includes up to 3 Mini Genies as part of the offer. But other boxes are at their one-time lease cost on top of the order. Otherwise the order without Genie would be a single receiver (HDDVR or non-DVR) for free with any additional at the one-time lease cost.
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
The OP has 2 choices (free equipment options) going to a Genie setup.
1. Genie and 2 Mini Genie Clients. All boxes replaced. Clients dependent on main box to function. DVR replaces Autotune.
2. Genie and keeping both HD non-DVRs (or just replacing one). Keeps Autotune on any TV with a non-DVR box plus the dedicated tuner.
Since OP is on the earlier billing model ($10 HD service), both options add $10 DVR, $3 Whole Home DVR, and $7 Additional TV (if still adding the 3rd TV) to the monthly bill. And of course the 24 month service agreement with any upgrade.
(edited)
0
0
Tired_of_technology
New Member
•
38 Messages
4 years ago
Okay...... ( deep breathes) my point was if you ever recommend a genie two for new customers based on your statement that a genie isn't built for a single TV, yes there is a 99 dollar charge. The genie 2 is 399 you get an instant credit of 300.leaving you 99 as a one time charge.
Next point.... if he has a HD receiver and upgrades to genie 2 or genie... both... both will come with a 10 dollar a month Dvr charge. Both... so to my point. If he has a HD receiver what are his upgrade options.... a genie, a genie 2, a HD dvr (as you say but that's not the case) or a genie lite.
If he wants whole home then the genie lite is out. That leaves, genie, genie 2, HD DVR.
He can not get a HD dvr. I promise you. That leaves a genie 2 or genie. If he has one TV that he needs to have a box on and doesn't need to move the box to other tvs to avoid having another TV access fee added, doesn't need wireless due to location the the best option, is a GENIE!!! AND with that. Im going to bed.
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Tired_of_technology
I respect that a new customer offer has an additional special of $300 off a Genie-2 (HS17). However, new customer offers do not apply to the OP and (in my opinion) only proceed to muddy the waters for what they need.
You cannot upgrade to both a Genie and Genie-2. DirecTV only allows a single main "Genie" on the account. It is one or the other. Initially they wanted to do multiple, but they didn't play well with testing and they never fixed the issues. So they left it as one per account.
I've known people to get an HDDVR from DirecTV in recent months, but it has been rather difficult. And yes this is from DirecTV itself, not a 3rd party dealer. If as of today they finally are out of them, then fair enough. That would really be unfortunate as a Client only system is very restrictive.
If he wants Whole Home DVR from the start, then yes the Genie Lite would be out. You only get that model if you might get DVR service later with the Genie Lite DVR upgrade kit which makes the H44 function like an HR44. Personally, I would avoid the Genie Lite just to avoid confusion.
Getting the Genie adds $10 DVR and $3 Whole Home DVR since he only has the $10 HD service. This is the grandfathered billing model that was discontinued before AT&T acquired DirecTV. If he adds in the 3rd TV, then naturally that is another $7 additional TV fee as well.
Getting just an HDDVR instead of a Genie would only save the $3 Whole Home DVR. Wouldn't be worth the savings for me, but there are people I have discussed with (in the forum and in person) whom don't want that feature at all or just don't want to pay for it so would go the regular HDDVR route. I agree they are a much smaller group, but they exist.
0
0
DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
•
255.7K Messages
4 years ago
We can help you get brand new equipment, so you can enjoy the service at its best. Our best options to upgrade your equipment, would be getting a Genie (HR54-500) or a Genie 2 (HS17-700). Please keep in mind that the Genie 2 works as a receiver and it takes charge of sending the signal over the Genie Minis (Genie Mini, 4K Genie mini and Wireless Genie Mini).
The Genie 2 can store over 450 hours of HD programming. You can also connect up to 7 receivers to it.
In case you would like to upgrade to our newest equipment (Genie 2), it would be necessary to add an extra receiver. Which can be any of the previous Genie Minis mentioned. Also the current recordings saved on your HR24-700 will be lost due the change for the new receiver.
Once you have made up your mind, don't hesitate to reach over a DM to get started with your order. We're here to help. Thank you!
Santiago, DIRECTV Community Specialist
0
0
Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
23.4K Messages
4 years ago
To clarify with a few points that @DIRECTVhelp (Santiago) mentioned.
The Genie-2 (HS17) has a 2TB hard drive. The regular Genie line up thru HR54 (or revised HR54R1 without eSATA port), has 1TB. Regular Genie line can increase space with other HDDVRs or external eSATA hard drive (except HR54R1 as port removed).
Misleading. You can connect up to 7 CLIENTS. Receivers are boxes with dedicated tuners that receive the signal themselves from the dish. Clients are extensions of the Genie/Genie Lite/Genie-2, not receivers themselves.
You DO NOT replace an HDDVR with a Mini Genie Client as that would be a downgrade. If you have any HDDVRs, then the regular Genie line is the way to go as the Genie-2 would force you to get rid of them.
However, the OP's boxes are H24, not HR24 so they are not HDDVRs to begin with.
Please, please, please, let the new co-owner for DirecTV start making HDDVRs again and move away from the Genie-2. Being forced to only take one road sounds like old world Russia/Soviet Union/USSR.
0