Replacing HR21 with HR44

HR21 is a regular HDDVR. Has 2 tuners and last model to have 320GB recording space (starting with HR22 they have 500GB).

HR44 is the 2nd generation Genie which is their Advanced Whole Home HDDVR. Has 5 tuners and 1TB space.

C41 is a Mini Genie Client. No tuners or recording space of its own as steals all that with a Genie.

You may only have 1 Genie on the account, but can have multiple regular HDDVRs with it. Since you ask about working with a C41 it sounds like you might already have a Genie setup. With a bit more info, we can provide guidance.

What are the models of every box you have?

Are any of these boxes not on your account but from somewhere else?

Are you looking for something specific out of an upgrade, or just how to optimize?

Is this setup only in the home or do you have an RV, detached garage, or any other setup where you use a 2nd receiving dish?

I've only the HR21, and a NON DVR that I use for a SageTV box.

I bought the C41 at a garage sale for a buck or two - didn't know what it was at the time.

So the HR44 sounds good, the only thing is my dish setup - if there are any problems there.

I do have an RV, but that's not part of all this. When we go I'd possibly take the HR44 with us.

All Genies are lease only and cannot be transferred from one customer to another. They are to be returned or recycled. The C41 cannot be used.

What model is the non-DVR? If that is your only other box, then usually you replace that with a Genie and put the HR21 in the non-DVR's place.

A Genie upgrade would most likely result in an HR54 (or revised model HR54R1) as the HR44 though still a good model may be out of stock as they focus on newer setups.

You bought a brick as that C41 was suppose to be returned to DTV plus it will not work without a Genie, Genies need a SWM system to work and need a power inserter.

It is possible the C41 was deactivated after it became non-returnable (they are on the C61 now after all). But in that event recycling would be the remaining option.

Could have been worse and been at a higher price. But the OP only paid a "buck or two" so not a huge loss.

The C41 is trashed - no big.

I can't move the HR21 into the non-dvr spot as this whole this whole thing is that it's dying. The blue circle/triangle and another HD and still freezing then rebooting ... soooo the HR44 will have to take the place of the HR21.

Now the MAIN BIG POINT, is if my dish and SWM8 will work with it.

Genie has 5 tuners, regular HDDVR has 2, HD non-DVR has 1. So max possible of 2 TVs is 7 tuners, within your existing SWM-8's capability.

Warranty replace the HR21 which should net a HR24 (last regular HDDVR in stock). You can then upgrade the non-DVR to the Genie if you still want it. The Genie will add $3 Whole Home DVR to your service. Naturally the Genie should end up on the TV that was using the HR21.

If you are set about keeping a non-DVR on the 2nd TV it must be H21 thru H25 to not require replacing.

Replacing the non-DVR or not has no affect on the bill. All that affects the bill would be upgrading to the Genie because of Whole Home DVR (assuming you don't already have that on the account).

Unlikely you would get an HR44 as they have moved to HR54 and newer. You cannot request a specific model as is next one available.

As a note, a Genie upgrade requires a tech as is not a drop ship setup. This ensures all cabling is compatible, any dish updates needed, as well as Whole Home DVR is working correctly.

The HR21 would normally be replaced with an HR24 under the warranty without a new 2 yr contract but there are posts here saying DTV is no longer activating them.

You say you have a SWM8 module which is what they used before they had the SWM LNB if so then it will work with the Genies.

Hopefully the non-DVR is an H model no older than H21 if they don't want a DVR on that TV. But if an older D model (say D11 or D12) then that will need replacing. Concerning since the HR21 is fairly old itself and they haven't clarified the model of the other one.

That dish and SWM-8 should be fine, but only the tech on site can make absolutely sure there are no issues.

I still stand by warranty replacing the HR21 and using upgrade on the non-DVR to the Genie. That way they get the most out of their new 24 month agreement and $3 Whole Home DVR.

But the posts with the HR24 activation issue, I suspect the agents either do not understand how to warranty replace in the system (vs upgrade activation) or worse are trying to scheme a unjust upgrade on their stats.

First, I own the equipment.

What I have as a secondary is an H21-100, which I will keep. Just would like to know IF I can "pop" an H44 in place of the HR21-700, or put another HR-700 with a 1tb drive in it back in it.

Your last post has incomplete model numbers. I believe you mean HR44 instead of H44 per your earlier posts

When you say another "HR-700", did you mean HR21-700? The -700 is just the manufacture code, which company built that exact one.

An HR44 would not be owned. All Genies starting with the HR34 are lease-only, never having a owned option. And new boxes you get even if not a Genie would be in a lease status as owned options of other boxes were discontinued a while back. So if you got a used one all you could do would be to recycle it as they do not transfer customer to customer.

Only a single main Genie of any type (HR34, HR44, etc.) may be on the account since it works as a server.

Since HR44s have been passed by, the tech would most likely provide an HR54 (or revised HR54R1). This is tech install as Genies are not plug and play.

Just a followup, DirecTV will not activate any used boxes at all. Those options were stopped as all owned options have been dealt away with.