How hot should a Genie Mini Client get?

Advanced users with Genie Mini Clients can’t help looking around the menus to see what’s up. While you’re there, you can actually run a system test that will check the basic function of your client. It won’t hurt anything. You can even look at “More Info” and see a lot of information that most folks never need to know, like the network addresses and software versions. If you’re curious, press and hold the INFO button on any DIRECTV-branded remote and you will be able to run these tests yourself.

We got some hot stuff, baby this evening

Several people have called us at Solid Signal saying that their client is reporting that its temperature is over 140 degrees. These advanced users know that for a DVR, that’s way too hot. DVRs like to be safely under 125. Despite the fact the client feels cool to the touch, they worry it will fry itself. They also worried that there’s a fire hazard there. I certainly understand that no one wants their house to burn down as a result of watching TV.

There’s no reason to be worried. First, because the client does not have a hard drive, the temperature sensor is placed near one of the larger chips. It’s normal for this chip to run hot. The sensor isn’t broken, it’s just reporting what it sees.

Genie Mini clients, along with other DIRECTV boxes, have very complex temperature control mechanisms. Because the client doesn’t have a fan, it will simply shut down if it gets too hot. How hot is too hot? We’ve seen temperature readings as high as 155 and it hasn’t been a problem.

Still, you have to be smart.

That doesn’t mean you should feel comfortable putting your client in your sock drawer. Proper ventilation is critical for these little boxes and they will shut themselves down if they get hot enough. Unlike DVRs which can simply ramp the fan up to full speed until things cool off, the clients (which have no fan) will sit there until they cool off and simply refuse to work. You don’t want that.

Besides, the client boxes are small, they use an RF remote, so it’s pretty easy to put some industrial-strength Velcro on them and stick them to the back of the TV if you really don’t want to see them. They’re small enough that they’ll hide in all but the most low-profile of low-profile mounts.

The bottom line here, folks, is that if your Genie mini client has good airflow, it’s going to be fine. If you are concerned about fire danger, there’s an easy way to check. Is the client overly warm to the touch anywhere? If you touch it, do you feel pain? If so, it’s too warm. But realistically, folks, that isn’t going to happen. The outside of a Genie mini client generally feels like room temperature. If you happen to have an infrared thermometer, either for your kids or just because it’s a cool toy, you’ll see that the outside really doesn’t pose a hazard. Chances are that other devices, like your laptop, run a lot hotter than a Genie mini client.

Oh, by the way, if you want to change or upgrade your DIRECTV equipment, or need anything else to help you live your best digital life, shop the great selection at Solid Signal.

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.