DIRECTV’s Genie 2 DVR is the answer to the hopes and dreams of a lot of people, but if you’re a true power user, it may not be the best thing for you. It’s the standard bearer for DIRECTV, but you may choose to go in another direction. Here’s why.
It’s perfect for most people but…
That’s right, most people will love the idea that you can record 400 hours of HD, that one box can service 7 rooms including two 4K TVs, that it eliminates cable clutter and is the easiest installation that DIRECTV’s ever done. Its built-in networking and high-end features will make it perfect for people who want a “set it and forget it” product.
Yet, for people who are used to having 15-20 receivers in their homes, it won’t be enough, and unlike other DIRECTV equipment, once you go with that big black tower, you’ll never go back. What I mean is that you can’t have any older-style receivers or any other Genie DVRs on your account at the same time you have the Genie 2. This is more of an administrative decision than a technical one. Yes, there are technical issues involved, but instead of addressing them with expensive fixes, DIRECTV’s management chose simply not to allow any configurations that caused problems. After all, 99.9% of people will be perfectly served by a configuration like this.
Receiver in your RV? Here’s what you MUST know
If you have a DIRECTV receiver in your RV and it’s on the same account as your home, Do not upgrade to the Genie 2. If you do, you won’t be able to use that receiver. It will be taken off your account. You’ll need an expert in order to get things set to rights. You can call the experts at Signal Connect and we’ll get it straightened out. It does take time though and not everyone can do it. It’s better to avoid the problem altogether. There’s a better option.
The solution for power users and RVers
If you’re one of the roughly 40,000 people who need more from a residential setup, however, the best choice for you at this time is to stay with an HR54 Genie DVR, which will let you add as many standalone receivers as you like. The only downside to this option is that you can only have one 4K program going in the home at any given time. However, it’s worth pointing out that the standalone receivers aren’t 4K capable anyway. So it’s not a big deal.
The only other option would be to have two completely separate DIRECTV accounts in the home, completely isolated from each other and using separate dishes. Obviously this isn’t the best possible option but it would give you the option for an HS17 Genie 2 on one dish and an HR54 Genie DVR on the other, with a total of three 4K programs at the same time and as many HD programs as you might want as well. However, that’s an incredibly expensive way to get about things.
Is this going to ever change?
The Genie 2 has been around for five years. I don’t see them allowing multiple ones on the account like DISH does with their Hopper 3. It’s a policy decision designed to make it easier to support the over 95% of customers who are just fine with one Genie. I’ll let you in on a little secret– it does work. I’ve had multiple Genies on the same wire for testing purposes, and I’ve had regular receivers out there on the same line as Genie 2s. It works. That is, it works most of the time. And when it doesn’t work, boy are there problems. I wouldn’t want to be a regular user trying to figure out the system when it stops working in that particular way.
Meantime, if you’re ready to upgrade your DIRECTV system, don’t make a misstep. Call the experts at Signal Connect. We’re here for you during East Coast business hours. We don’t have big phone trees or anything like that. We have experts in our Novi, Michigan offices who are dedicated to helping you get what you want.
Try us out! Even the call is free. Call 888-233-7563. We’re here for you. If it’s after hours, no problem. Just fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you. It usually takes less than one business day.
