Look folks, I’m a real fan of DIRECTV’s Gemini boxes. They are the smallest, most powerful, and most energy-efficient boxes that DIRECTV has ever offered. They do the things that customers today demand. But even though I’m a fan, I’m also willing to admit that the folks at DIRECTV haven’t made it easy for you to know what you need.
Most of the folks who get Geminis will be new customers. As they sign up, they’ll be guided through a process that will make sure that they get what they need. But, that’s not a lot of help for our Solid Signal customers. I know that you shop at SolidSignal.com because you want to do it yourself. And, because you’re among the most devoted DIRECTV customers, you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest.
As simple as I can make it
If you have a satellite dish and DIRECTV service, you need this Gemini.
If you don’t have a satellite dish, and you have DIRECTV service (what used to be called DIRECTV Stream), you need this Gemini.
Why is this so hard?
Yeah, I get it. There are two boxes called Gemini. They look identical. In fact, from a hardware point of view they are identical. The difference is the app that they run. One runs an app that works with satellite only. The other runs an app that works with streaming only. Both run apps like Netflix and Hulu from the Google Play Store.
As I said, this whole process was designed for new customers, who would have someone who knows what they want. You also have to understand that the Gemini for Satellite was developed very quickly. DIRECTV was a subsidiary of AT&T until 2022. AT&T had no interest in making new satellite hardware, and they didn’t. When DIRECTV became independent again, they knew they had to act fast. It generally takes about 3 years for new hardware to be designed, tested, approved, and manufactured. So, they used the streaming box they already had, and adapted it for satellite. It was a smart move that allowed them to save 2 years in the development process.
A note about pricing
We offer both Gemini boxes at the same price, which is set by DIRECTV. If you are a new subscriber, either to DIRECTV Satellite or DIRECTV Internet, you may qualify to get one Gemini for free. You may also qualify for per-month lease payments instead of one upfront fee. If you’re not sure if you qualify, call us at 888-233-7563.
No, you cannot convert one box to another
Unfortunately, if you pick the wrong box, you can’t convert it to do what you want it to do. While the DIRECTV app for Internet works on the Gemini satellite box, it doesn’t work very well. You also need a satellite connection for the Gemini satellite box to work at all.
Perhaps at some point DIRECTV will come up with some way to convert one app into another, or create one box that can switch from satellite+internet to internet only. But, until that happens, you’ll want to be very careful in choosing your Gemini.
Here’s what you need to do. Get the right Gemini from Solid Signal. If you’re not sure which to get, call us at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below. Either way, after you check out you’ll get a contact from Solid Signal to make sure we can help you through the process. If you activate your Gemini through DIRECTV and it’s the wrong one, it can be very hard to change to the right one without being charged extra.
