signal testing tuner 5

If a red button reset on the HR44 doesn't fix it then it has to be replaced, the problem is DTV is not making HR44/54s anymore so they maybe running out of them so they will push you to upgrade to the HS17 Genie2 with a new 2yr contract.

You really need to reach that HR44 and try a red button reset before any further troubleshooting.

The Genie-2 (HS17) is the newest. As I recall it launched in 2017.

Doesn't go on a TV, meaning you have more box than you have TVs.

Boasts 7 tuners and a 2TB hard drive, compared to the regular Genie line which is 5 tuners and 1TB drive. Don't let those specs fool you.

Genie-2 only allows Clients, forbidding other receivers. So those specs are a hard cap, plus doesn't have Picture in Picture (PiP). A regular Genie with 2 HDDVRs is 9 tuners, more than the Genie-2 allows. Though the HS17 seems more powerful up front, it is a restrictive setup. AT&T was pushing it for a while since they were removing flexibility and going for an all-in-one type of setup, especially since regular HDDVRs haven't been made in a few years (just refurbishing for warranty replacements).

I do hope the new co-owner will focus again on equipment that is flexible for the customer. A new generation of regular HDDVR would be needed to better complement the Genie setups as the last one (HDDVR) was built for the old multi-switch and adapted for SWM.

If you can just unplug it for a minute or so.

Juniper,

 Does that mean I would lose my LCC?

If you upgrade to the HS17  Genie2 than yes will loose the LCC.

"F" that--not to put too fine a point on my channel priorities.  I guess repeated resets until someone fixes the software, forces me off the HR44 and/or off of sat altogether.  We'll see what the support team that reached out to me can do.

Thanks for all of the feedback and keeping me distracted from my personal stressors.  Fingers crossed.

The two OTA tuners are not in addition to the five regular tuners. So when you are using two OTA tuners you only have three others.  My guess is that your system is trying to use more than the tuners that are available. I have never set up a test for this but my guess is that the HR44 is not handling this correctly. 

TexasBrit: no, uses first 3 tuners as requested, recording a non-ordered ppv movie on tuner 4 and signal testing on tuner 5.  Usually between changing channels.  System doesn't allow more assignments than tuners.  Until it "poltergeists" a couple of tuners, that is.

otoh, yes: not handling it correctly.

remember if you have clients that are "on" they  will each be taking a tuner even if no-one is actually watching them.

There is nothing anyone can do until you determine if a red button reset or removing power fixes it.

Yes, that was a contributing factor in the case of the first 3 tuners.  My observation is that for the second or so that the assignment screen is up, it is consistently, "tuner 4:  [some unordered, unsaved, and uncharged PPV], tuner 5: 'Signal Test'".  Regardless of the combination of recording or live viewing the other three are engaged in.

Shannon, the red reset button has "fixed" it in the past.  In the process destroying a desired recording--often of the only showing for the foreseeable (to the DTV server, at least) future for that particular program.

Un-"eff"-ing the machine is nice.  It not constantly getting "eff"-ed in the first place would be even better.  It also frustrates me that I can't see a logical process that would lead the system to record unordered PPVs--I get signal testing.  It's de rigueur for a satellite service.  Especially with a beta-ish Local Channel Controller in the mix.

The red button reset doesn't delete programs so it sounds like replacement is the only option.

Red button reset doesn't delete your saved recordings or anything else in your settings.

However, nothing can record on the HDDVR (and in the case of the Genie, Clients do not work) while the reset is happening.

Unplugging power for at least a minute also dumps residual memory, including guide data. Once finished, programs should record as normal, but cannot schedule new recordings until the guide data has rebuilt (usually within 24-48hrs).