BEWARE: H25 receivers and SWM-30 multiswitch

Pretty much everyone agrees that the SWM-30 multiswitch is a big upgrade from the older versions. With it, you can use up to 30 tuners, where the older SWM-16 only allowed you 16. Using a single SWM-30 instead of multiple SWM-16s will help you get stronger signals to all receivers and DVRs and also help you clean up your equipment rack by getting rid of unused cables and splitters.

There’s only one thing you need to know first.

Although it’s called a SWM-30, it’s possible you could only have access to 26 tuners if you use older equipment. The SWM-30 was designed to provide six apartments with Genie DVRs and clients, but if it’s used for a single installation it may only be able to support 26 receivers.

Why is this?

There is a limitation in older DIRECTV DVRs that causes them to see only 13 tuners out of the 15 in each bank of the SWM-30. Officially, this limitation applies to all DIRECTV receivers except Genies, but some people have reported success using HR24 DVRs instead of H24 or H25 receivers.

Other people have reported that by making sure that the Genie DVR is the last thing powered up, this forces the older receivers to use “lower numbered” SWM channels and Genie DVR uses channels 11-15 which it can see.

As I said, DIRECTV’s only official word is that no more than 13 tuners can exist on the line if anything other than Genie DVRs are used. Also, it’s worth noting that the HS17 Genie 2 can pull up to 13 tuners even though it only uses 7 to record.

It’s something to consider if you have older hardware

This is definitely something to consider when you’re planning your installation. Personally I would not be inclined to play at powering them up in specific order. Unless everyone in the household is as careful as you would be, it can be a mess.. Are you looking at a large installation in your home or workplace? I would count on being able to use the SWM-30 for only 26 tuners. That is, 26 receivers or a combination of receivers, DVRs, and a Genie DVR If you’re at home, you can put up to 8 clients on an HR54 Genie DVR.

You can use 3 at the same time. Combine those 3 with, for example, 6 other DVRs and 9 other receivers. That’ss going to give you 19 rooms of DIRECTV service. If you feel you need more than that, I salute you. (The Genie 2 DVR lets you have 7 rooms going at the same time. But, it doesn’t allow older receivers on the same account.)

Are you in a commercial environment like a sports bar? If so, the SWM-30 should definitely only be used to support 26 tuners at once if you have H25 receivers. That’s 26 TVs from one multiswitch that costs less than the old SWM devices. If you need a second one, add a second one and get 26 more TVs. That ought to keep your customers happy.

The solution: DIRECTV H44

This unassuming little device is DIRECTV’s H44 receiver. It’s not new — it was originally pitched as a way for people to get Genie features without having to get a DVR. However, it turns out most residential customers want a DVR anyway. The H44 has been repurposes as a replacement for the H25 in a commercial setting. Remember, the H25 was last manufactured in 2011 and supplies have been dwindling. It’s possible now to get a new H44 from DIRECTV and use it instead.

In an installation with H44s, you can use 30 receivers on one SWM-30 multiswitch. That’s a potential big savings. However, you’ll need to make sure they are set into commercial mode first. If you’re not sure that they are, check out this tutorial. This will let you set the H44s into the correct mode so that they will use only one tuner.

Getting what you need, when you need it

No matter what you need, let Signal Connect help! We’re DIRECTV’s commercial dealer of the year and we can make sure you get the service you deserve. If you have a commercial account, you probably already know that you can’t call DIRECTV for help. You need a qualified commercial dealer. That’s where we come in. We can take care of getting new receivers activated. We can also help you with older receivers that need support.

Email us at [email protected] during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.