Switching a C71KW from DBS to DIRECTV Stream

Short answer: You cannot.

Though the same box, the firmware is proprietary between DirecTV (satellite) and DIRECTV STREAM/DirecTV via Internet (streaming-only). Currently there is not a way to swap boxes from one to the other.

Being told not to return the Genie-2 (HS17) or the Geminis (C71KW)??? I wouldn't trust that. Those are the most recent boxes from DirecTV and are lease-only, which means they are required to be returned upon disconnecting the service.

I would verify your account is actually canceled. Be prepared to take boxes to a participating FedEx/The UPS Store location for the free return. This way you don't get any Non-Return Fees (NRF).

Hopefully agent simply gave bad info. However, if they suspended the account (up to 6 months within a 12 month period) this naturally wouldn't trigger the return expectation as account resumes at the end of that time. Or if agent disconnected individual equipment, but leaving the account open, then that could cause its own headache. So verify account actually canceled and get those boxes back so you don't get the NRF fee later (by DirecTV or collection agency if an agent really messed it up).

There is a way. There is a post on reddit in the Directv Stream forum. Correct Directv Version software number is 34.5.5.20. It's further down on the "about" screen.

Here are the instruction. Looks difficult

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c_idev0P86YPjuWOCVjXVht86NNTNCBB5ZKDDkZWyYE/edit?tab=t.0

Juniper, I got a letter from DIRECTV saying to not return the hardware and I also used the new facility on my iPhone to record a phone call which has the rep saying I don't need to return the hardware. 

I was able to switch the boxes from being used with DBS to Streaming and they're working. The issue I have is that the software level/release that those two boxes are showing are release numbers that you normally see on DBS clients vs the release number that I see on the three refurb units I got which show streaming release numbers. I guess I just need to hope that the next time DIRECTV pushes out updates that those two boxes pick up that code.

@RAD99 

I would hold onto the boxes for a couple months to verify you get your cancellation bill and no NRF after that. The letter might have gone in error (we saw a lot of incorrect return/don't return notices when AT&T acquired DirecTV, so wonder with them leaving if a similar issue is starting again). So I would just be cautious, as even with a recording it doesn't always protect you against an employee making a mistake.

If in the end they truly don't want them back, that is worrisome. Boxes are lease-only, cannot be transferred customer to customer. So making the absolute newest boxes non-returnable doesn't seem like a good sign for the service, especially when there is not even the announcement of a new generation of boxes. They aren't mass producing new ones right now.

@Ludwick577 

Interesting. I would like to get verification that works. Would be nice to do so at the user level. Still have the concern that Satellite and Via Internet are lease-only, but STREAM (BYOD model) you can get owned status. Just worried that option would result in charges for people not well informed.

@Juniper Several users on the reddit Dtv forum have verified it works. 

Great to hear. Wish it were a bit easier, but just having the option is excellent.