DIRECTV’s Gemini is the latest and greatest from the largest satellite TV company in the world. It combines a Genie client with the ability to run streaming apps. It has a voice remote powered by Google, and a sleek, minimal appearance that’s very contemporary.
As this is DIRECTV’s first new residential client box since 2015, there’s still a lot of confusion about it, and things are changing on a daily basis. I’m here to try to make sense of it all, but please realize that I’m writing this article in April, 2023 and by the time you read it, some of the answers may have changed.
Basic installation
There are two ways to install the Gemini: wired and wireless. The wireless setup is fairly straightforward. The box will walk you through it. You connect to the dedicated wireless network used by the Genie DVRs and the Wireless Video Bridge if you have one.
The wired setup should be straightforward, but isn’t. The Gemini box itself was originally designed to be streaming-only, so it doesn’t have a coaxial cable connection. That means you need to use a DECA to convert the coaxial cable connection to wired Ethernet. This isn’t the most elegant or neat install, and that’s led people to ask if they can just use plain wired Ethernet if they have it at the receiver site.
The answer — today
At this moment, it is possible to connect your Gemini device with wired Ethernet. It’s not recommended unless you have a high-quality network with extremely low latency. In most home networks, there’s enough random traffic that you could run into issues. I still recommend using the coax connection and then converting it to Ethernet at the latest possible point.
It is possible that DIRECTV will strip this capability away. In the 2010s, they had a similar setup to the Gemini, where an app was built directly into smart TVs. They were able to set the system so that only a coaxial connection would work, not a wired Ethernet connection. Honestly, I do expect this capability to be taken away from Gemini at some point. It’s possible it only existed for testing purposes.
Get your Gemini from Solid Signal
Solid Signal is the one place that enthusiasts count on for the latest and greatest DIRECTV hardware. When you shop at Solid Signal, you get the exact same equipment that you’d find on an installer truck. That’s because Solid Signal is a DIRECTV Dealer, of course. As one of the country’s largest, we sometimes even supply installers and other dealers with their inventory.
If you’re ready to upgrade to Gemini, call the experts at 888-233-7563. We’re here during East Coast business hours and we’re ready to help you get what you need! If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
