DIRECTV’s H24 receiver is the last of its breed. Originally built in 2009 and 2010, it’s a standalone receiver that doesn’t need to be hooked up to a Genie DVR. It’s the last DIRECTV product to work with non-SWM systems. As a result, it’s still in demand even though it’s been out of manufacture for 12 years and counting.
H24s are workhorses, to be sure. Barely a day goes by that we don’t activate one at Solid Signal. They work for years and years with no problems whatsoever. A lot of their long life is due to superior cooling. Heat is the enemy of electronics and DIRECTV’s product team understood that when they built the H24.
When we do hear of an H24 that’s having problems, it’s usually something unexpected. Perhaps the front panel, which is rarely used, fails in some area. Sometimes someone runs over the power cord and destroys it. It’s not easy to fix a front panel, but then again they aren’t used that often. On the other hand, replacing a power cord is easy.
Say hello to the polarized C7.
The DIRECTV H24 power cord is called a “polarized C7 to NEMA 5-15P.” NEMA 5-15P is just a fancy term for a two prong plug, same as any other two prong plug found in the US. It’s the other side of the cable that’s a bit special.
The C7 style cord is very common in consumer electronics. It’s used for streaming boxes, appliances, amplifiers, pretty much anything. We call this one a “polarized C7” because one side is flat and one side is round. This lets you connect it so that the larger prong on the plug connects to the right part of the receiver. A non-polarized plug will actually work in the DIRECTV H24, but it’s not recommended.
Where to get one of these cords
Here’s the good news. There’s nothing terribly special about a polarized C7 power cord. Every single one of them works exactly the same. So, get one wherever you like. They’re available at many different retailers. We sometimes offer them at Solid Signal but it’s just so rare that customers need them, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep a large stock.
Personally, if you have time, you might want to check your local thrift store or second hand store. As I said this is a very common plug and you might just find something for a buck or two that uses it. Sometimes you’ll find them at home stores or even drug stores. There’s absolutely no difference between them so find the least expensive one that you can.
The end of an era
Starting with the H25 (the H24’s successor) most DIRECTV products started using the EPS10 power adapter. Making the power supply external meant even more reliability and even easier repairs. We offer the EPS10 at Solid Signal if you need one.
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