Streaming app with Satellite

Not all channels are available on the streaming app. AFAIK DTV is only installing the HS17Genie2 that is not connected to any TV so you need a mini client connected to the TV.

I guess the way I was seeing it was maybe I only had 1 TV and then streamed on my other devices (think iPads, etc.) does the streaming service equal that of the DirecTV Stream app? Back in the day when I had just Satellite, the app didn’t give too many channels, but I was hearing that the DirecTV Stream app and the DirecTV Satellite app are one and the same now. Thanks again for answer and entertaining my use case here. 

DirecTV and DIRECTV STREAM are two separate providers (satellite vs streaming-only).

What has happened is instead of having a separate app dedicated to each service is that they combined them into one that you log in with whichever of the two services you have. Because of that, it has some limitations and a lot of bugs at the moment.

DirecTV was built around a home service with each TV having a receiver or client. It was not intended to stream to a TV as that would get around the TV fee and risk account sharing. However, it was pointed out that DirecTV satellite listed Roku as one of the app locations which is a TV stremaing device. So it appears that restriction is being lifted (permanently or as a test I don't know).

However, as the app is still not what the service is built around, then yes programming will be somewhat limited. For full access you must have the TV authorized on the service with a receiver or client.

Both services use the same app but Directv Stream is a separate service. When you login with your satellite account, you should get most channels in your programming package but not all. However, as of a few days ago, the app on my Apple TV will no longer accept my satellite account credentials. It just comes back and tells me the credentials I am entering are not a recognized stream account. The app still works with my satellite credentials on my iPad and iPhone, though.

Thanks everyone, the gist of it all seems to be too flaky with this kind of setup. Reality is I didn’t want to pay to have a bunch of Genie’s around the house, but really did want the Dish on my projector room. Streaming would have been enough for the other devices.

You can only have one Genie on the account. The other TVs would have HDDVRs (HR24), HD non-DVRs (H25), Mini Genie Clients (C61), or a TV with a built-in RVU Client (so no box itself, but not suggested per limitations).

As a note, the Genie-2 (HS17) is the only box that only allows Clients (Mini Genie or RVU). It forbids all other kind of boxes.

Unless you using a TV's built in app option for streaming-only, or have satellite service using DirecTV Ready RVU Client TVs, then all your other TVs will have a box of some kind or another (be it DirecTV, Roku, Apple TV, etc.).

They all have either an Apple TV or Roku. I just didn’t want to have to pay the $7 per month per TV for the wired or wireless boxes (I called them “Genies” my bad) if I went straight up Satellite since the other TV’s only watch about 10 channels max. That and it would have been great to be able to rely on the app when Satellite goes out. Which unfortunately I got hit with a lot the last time I had the service 3 years back.

Yes with DirecTV you pay $7 for each of those additional TVs. Though they may have opened up the app to allow streaming to TV, it will still be limited as that was not how the service was built.

If satellite goes out, then recordings on your Genie/HDDVRs as well as On Demand content (if your setup is connected to your home internet) is a decent backup. As long as dish is optimally aligned, and properly secured, then only extreme weather should interfere. With areas that deal with large accumilation of snow/ice on the dish it is suggested to be installed in an area that can be easily reached to clean or there are aftermarket dish heaters to assist.

Every delivery method has their issues. Having both satellite and streaming options is a great way to ensure you always have something, so you are making some excellent considerations. If both are unavailable, you normally would have bigger things to worry about.

One thing, with the few channels watched on the other TVs do they typically stay on the same channel as each other? One custom option would be after the fact by doing an HDMI split so one box could feed another TV. You don't pay for the additional because it cannot tune to its own channels and will always be on the same as the first.

@NothingShocking - as others have said, the summary is that the app is pretty buggy now and you won't get all the same channels that the sat box gets.  Also note that DTV says on their website that the app lets you view the shows you have recorded on the DVR, but it is not supported yet (neither in or outside the house).  I have tinkered with the app on Fire Stick and Roku and it works a bit differently on each device - meaning for example something that doesn't work (because of a software bug) on the Roku will work on the Fire Stick and vice versa.

This app has a lot of maturing to do.  :-)  I totally understand you wanting to save $7/mo per room.  I just removed 2 remote boxes/rooms from my account to save me $14/mo.  The rooms are rarely used and really don't need a TV.  But they have Fire Sticks with the DTV app, so we will see how well it works in coming months (if they ever get used).