New Member
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3 Messages
upgrade equipment
Hello,
I'm looking to upgrade my satellite equipment but I'm not sure what to choose.
Current equipment:
HR22/100
HR24/100
I'm a little concerned that directv would force me to give up my current programming plan if I upgraded, which would be a deal breaker (regional sports channels that I've had over 20 years, SNY and YES, as examples).
I'd want to be able to watch directv in 3 rooms.
Would appreciate any advice on what to choose.
Thank you,
Joel
Accepted Solution
Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
27 days ago
Check that the HR22 is not near capacity (say 10% or less remaining) as sometimes it can slow at that point. Otherwise, sounds like perhaps the HDD is wearing out. You could call DirecTV and let them know it is no longer responsive. A warranty replacement ($19.95 delivery) would normally net an HR24 (as models before it were discontinued long ago). Just like an upgrade, recordings from it do not copy over. Provided they have any regular HDDVRs in stock of course.
If you plan to just stream on the 3rd TV (will not have full programming like your boxes) with the DirecTV app (Roku, Firestick, etc.), then upgrading the HR22 to a Genie would be a good option to consider. Change to the monthly bill would just be the $3 for Whole Home DVR to go along with your $10 HD and $10 DVR service.
Genie and regular HDDVRs were not designed for mounting. They need good ventilation and to stay right side up. Also pre-Genie is mainly IR for the remotes which means line of sight is needed, though all Genies (except for original HR34) work with RF.
The reason I say Clients are downgrades is because they have no tuners or recording space of their own. So dedicated boxes have more capability with no difference in monthly cost. Think of getting rid of all your receivers but one, but having all TVs share it at the same time. That gives the risk of fighting over who is watching/recording what at the same time, as well as not enough space to go around. Plus Clients always see everything on the main box. They cannot be separated by parental controls as they are extensions of it. Also means you can delete each other's recordings from either TV, on purpose or by accident, as you cannot lock to "from this room only".
The other concern with Clients is they are not receivers. So if your Genie had any technical issues, or came unplugged from power, then the other TVs go down with it. For a while my Genie kept rebooting until I figured out there was enough room for my cat to lay on the power cord so it was loose at the box side. Fortunately the other TVs were unaffected as they had dedicated HDDVRs so it didn't interrupt what they were watching.
Unfortunately, during AT&T's reign, they pushed for a Genie/Client-only setup as they wanted all-in-one that restricted customer options and put more control on the service provider side. Hopefully regular Genie upgrades will remain and the new owner will return to customer flexible options on equipment in the future.
Sorry, I know that is a lot. If you only want to keep 2 TVs on the full service, while keeping the 3rd with a bit less with using the app, upgrading HR22 to Genie and keeping your HR24 would be the simple option and give you the best all around service for your setup in my opinion. Otherwise warranty replace the HR22 (ideally getting HR24), keep existing HR24, and upgrade to Genie for 3 TVs total.
(edited)
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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255.8K Messages
28 days ago
Hi @Joels. Looking to upgrade? We're here to help you find the best options for your account. Sending you a DM now. John, DIRECTV Community Team
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
28 days ago
@Joels
First of all why are you looking to "upgrade"? Are you having issues or feel you are missing a feature? Newer or "higher level" equipment is not always better. Depends on your exact wants and needs.
Upgrading equipment does not change what programming package you have. They are not tied together.
You have two boxes, but want to watch on 3 TVs. That makes it easy.
The ideal upgrade would be to a Genie (last model HR54). Keep both of your existing HDDVRs. This is a 5 tuner, 1TB hard drive, HDDVR compared to the 2 tuners and 500GB space of each of your current ones. It has the additional feature of Picture in Picture (PiP). Upgrade would come with a 24 month service agreement. You would be adding $7 for one more TV total to your monthly bill along with $3 for Whole Home DVR (assuming you aren't already setup with that service) that allows you to watch the recordings of each HDDVR on any of your 3 TVs.
Do NOT replace either of your existing HDDVRs with a Mini Genie (or Gemini) Client. That would be a downgrade with a regular Genie upgrade.
Now if the regular Genie is no longer available for upgrades (would be a travesty if so, but not impossible after AT&T's change in direction before they left), then you have a secondary option.
Genie-2 (HS17). This is a Headless Server, does not go on a TV itself. It is 7 tuners and 2TB space. Though at base capability it has more than a regular Genie, it forbids regular receivers/HDDVRs so is hard capped. This would require both HDDVRs replaced with Clients, including adding one for your 3rd TV. No PiP feature as Clients can only use one tuner from the main box for watching. The 24 month service agreement, $7 additional TV/Client fee, and Whole Home DVR $3 would apply the same as a regular Genie upgrade. Recordings from existing boxes do not transfer when replaced so be comfortably caught up first.
My opinion is the regular Genie upgrade along side your two HDDVRs would be the most capability (9 tuners instead of 7) and the most reliable (if one has an issue it doesn't force all TVs to go down where the Genie-2 is an all-in-one setup).
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Joels
New Member
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3 Messages
27 days ago
Juniper,
Thank you so much for responding and with so much information and insight!
To answer the question of why upgrade, a couple things:
- the HR22 responds super slowly to remote inputs, which has become frustrating. I've had that box for many years.
- secondly, we don't have a good space to set these receivers up near the TVs without them being in the way.
After thinking more about it, a dvr isn't something I have to have in the third room. I could just stream directv in it on a chromecast.
If we could just get rid of the super slow HR22, we might could tolerate the other issue.
Maybe replace the HR22 with the HR54 genie and maybe mount them (HR24 and HR54) behind their respective tvs, out of sight?
We were going to go with mini genies until I read your response. Just curious why that would be a downgrade? Sorry for the dumb question. Is that because of losing additional dvr space?
I agree with you on the reliability of individual receivers and that makes me lean strongly toward that option.
Thanks,
Joel
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Joels
New Member
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3 Messages
26 days ago
Juniper, you are awesome!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for offering up your knowledge, experience and advice!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Joel
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