Voyager
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4 Messages
DirecTv Genie2 screensaver, how to disable it
We have a DirecTv Genie2 system. We've not been happy about the new screensaver/ads but have put up with it until now. I've read all the "how to disable" remedies with no success. I've restarted the main system and tv boxes. No luck. I've changed the Power Saving settings. No luck. I've disconnected from the internet. No luck. I've held down the Exit button. No luck. Well actually that one caused a host of other issues that took me a little while to fix the mess it caused. I'm just wanting to TURN THE SCREENSAVER OFF PERMANENTLY! The reason is this. The screensaver activates too quickly after pausing the program. Tonight because the tv program was moving faster than we could read the text on the screen, I had to pause it. I'd get part of the screen read when the screen saver would activate. I'd press a key to go back to the tv but nothing would happen so I'd press it again. It would begin the tv program again unpaused so I'd have to reverse the tv program to find where I had been so I could try again. After a number of failed tries, we just gave up. Why can't I watch a tv program like I want to instead of how AT&T wants me to? How can I get rid of this screensaver for good?
shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21.3K Messages
5 years ago
There is no way to disable the screensaver but you can disconnect the internet to remove the ads but losing On Demand,Start from the beginning and paying for PPV with the remote.
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ImissOldDirecTv
Voyager
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4 Messages
5 years ago
Unfortunately this won't work for us as I've already tried numerous times. We keep getting a message pop up about no internet connectivity. We either set it up with internet again or the whole system goes to he-ll and won't work at all.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
5 years ago
The only way to disable the add-based screen saver is to disconnect from internet.
Menu > Settings > Internet > Advanced and reset network defaults. This will cause it to forget the settings, like router name and password.
If you use a wired connection to the router you will need to unplug that from the router and Genie-2 as well so it doesn't try to reconnect.
After that if it is still trying to connect, I would unplug power from the Genie-2 for a minute to clear anything it is holding onto in memory and then when back up resetting those network defaults again.
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montysimmons
New Member
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6 Messages
5 years ago
I know exactly what you mean. What idiot at AT&T came up with the idea that we must want to watch a commercial when we put the movie/show on pause. As if we are thinking: "Would it not be great if there was a commercial at this spot in the show? Hey, let us pause the show and watch a commercial."
I called AT&T and told them I wanted them to disable commercials when I pause a program. I believe they stopped the "commercials" but now play advertisements for movies that will be available.
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ImissOldDirecTv
Voyager
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4 Messages
5 years ago
I think the problem resolved itself as the hard drive on our GENIE-2 has now bitten the dust. Instead of dealing with AT&T's god complex, I think we'll avail ourselves of the opportunity and switch to a competitor who has lower rates. Boy how I miss the old DirecTv. We never had to deal with crap like this and we've been with them since 2003. SAD!!!
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Uranov
New Member
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7 Messages
3 years ago
Been down this same road. It's infuriating, the fact that this is obviously a move to force the ads in your face when you pause to read or study the screen, or call someone to take a look at something. When you do pause the screen, frequently it happens where pushing the play button on the remote to get rid of the nasty forced ad displays a frame different from the one you paused on, which makes you have to find the one you want again.
Then when you pause the screen and the nasty ad pops up during the time you are pointing something out to a family member on the screen, you can't simply tap PLAY twice and be back to where you were. You have to tap, then WAIT. . . . for some seconds to elapse, then tap PLAY again, sometimes only to find that you have to rewind or fast forward to get to the place you originally paused on.
I have managed to get rid of most of the ads but still have the photos and screensaver popping on when I want to disable it entirely. I added a list of DirecTV internet hostnames to my router, sending their DNS lookups to a bogus IP address. It works like a hosts file in Windows or Linux, but you have your router do it if it can.
This ugly, greedy behavior by Directv is enough to dump them for a better choice if there was something better available.
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