The STOP button seems to be a casualty of the modern world. Fewer and fewer remotes actually have one. It’s true, in many cases the same function can be found with a button marked “EXIT” or “BACK” or “RETURN” but for those of us who grew up with cassette tapes, there’s something not-quite-right about the lack of a STOP button on DIRECTV remotes. At least that’s my opinion.
Don’t take it lying down
Good news is, you can do something about it. Solid Signal still has a huge inventory of the old-school DIRECTV white remote and it still has the STOP button right where you remember it. This remote works right out of the box with any current DIRECTV receiver even Genies and clients that ship with the new Genie remote. In fact, you can use both remotes at the same time, the receivers will work great.
There’s another bonus with using the old-school remote: The PLAY button works like it used to, as well. Many longtime DIRECTV customers remember pressing the PLAY button to see where you are in a recording without pausing it. Since the Genie remote has a combined PLAY/PAUSE button, that’s no longer possible. But get yourself the classic style remote and that capability is back, big time.
The older remote can control 4 devices including separate audio receivers as well. The new remote lost that ability for the most part — you can control the audio from an A/V receiver but you can’t turn it on or off unless it supports HDMI control.
Using an IP control system
If you have a more complex system that controls your devices using IR blasters or IP control, you can still get back the STOP button. Generally these systems will ask you what model receiver you have. All you have to do is lie. Since DIRECTV’s remote codes haven’t changed in about 20 years, all you need to do is pick an older model and tell your system that’s what you have. I generally tell the systems that I have a DIRECTV HR20 or HR21 DVR. Those older DVRs originally shipped with the white remote and so you’ll get a full complement of buttons, including STOP. You’ll also get several other buttons like ACTIVE that don’t do much of anything, but you can ignore them.
Older remotes with newer boxes
Now, I have to tell you that the older remotes can’t be programmed for RF mode while using Genies or Genie clients, meaning that you can’t aim through walls and doors. You’ll still need the newer remote for that. The older remote will control some DIRECTV boxes in RF mode, but these are the older generation ones. If you have an H20-H25, or an HR20-HR24, it works great. The H25 does require an external antenna but the rest of them “just work.”
As for using this remote with a Genie: if you can see the box you can point the older remote at it and it will work. If that works for you, there’s no problem!
As I said, we have a great stock of these remotes, all brand new and at a price you won’t find anywhere else. I recommend getting four or five of them, using one in each room, and maybe sharing the cost with a friend who is just as frustrated with the lack of a STOP button. So shop at Solid Signal now. If you have questions, call us! We’re here during East Coast business hours at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, just fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
