DIRECTV’s Gemini is the latest new hardware and it’s taking the satellite world by storm. There’s no better way to combine the world of satellite TV with the world of streaming apps. With one remote, you get access to both, plus voice search powered by Google. Let’s be honest – that’s a “must-have” today. But what if you don’t want voice search?
How secure is DIRECTV’s voice search?
I’d say, it’s about as secure as anything is going to be today. You can opt out of it completely by pressing the HOME button on the remote, going to Settings, and going to Google Settings. It’s powered by Google, which has committed to security when it comes to voice search. Your searches are anonymized, in other words Google’s servers don’t store anything about you or your location after the search is done. Most of all, the remote does not listen to your voice until you press the microphone button on the remote. You can’t just start talking and have the receiver listen to you.
At least that’s what they tell me. I’ll be honest, and you know this too, I have no way of proving anything. They could say all this stuff and still be listening to you. Samsung was accused of this about a decade ago and a lot of people, myself included, called them out for it. I have no idea how you would go about confirming this stuff. I just have to take it on faith.
What if you don’t want to take it on faith?
As far as I can tell, the only microphone on the Gemini system is on the remote. So, if you want to make sure it’s not spying on you, then all you have to do is deal with the remote. There are two good options.
Option 1: Don’t use the voice remote, use something else instead.
You can use virtually any universal remote with Gemini. If a remote control supports DIRECTV receivers, it will support Gemini. The only hitch is that you’ll be in “infrared mode,” meaning that you’ll have to point the remote more carefully.
If you have either of these remotes, they will work for Gemini as well. You may need to go through the reset process with them, which is easy and you can learn more about that here. If you want a new remote, Solid Signal has a great selection at great prices.
Option 2: Elmer’s Glue
The little hole that you see above highlighted in blue is the microphone. Really all you have to do to disable it is cover it up with some glue. I recommend Elmer’s Glue. Put a little drop in that hole and let it dry. There’s no way the microphone would be able to get good sound through a drop of dry glue.
Of course, I generally don’t tell people to go ahead and “vandalize” DIRECTV equipment. But the fact is, when you get a remote from DIRECTV, they aren’t going to ask for it back if you leave the service. You can also choose to buy a replacement one if there’s really a problem. So in that sense, you can do whatever you want with the remote and there won’t really be any consequence.
Ready for your Gemini?
If you have been on the fence about DIRECTV’s Gemini because you were worried about voice control, I hope that I’ve set your mind at ease. You have two choices: you can trust what Google tells you, or you can do something about it. It’s up to you.
Either way, the Gemini box really is a great addition to your DIRECTV system. If you’re ready for yours, call Solid Signal at 888-233-7563. We will help you get exactly what you need and we’ll make the activation process easy. Call during East Coast business hours or fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
