With DIRECTV’s H44 now rolling out, will there be an H25 shortage?

It’s been a long time coming, but commercial customers now have a choice of receivers. The H44 Commercial Receiver now joins the H25 Commercial Receiver as part of DIRECTV’s renewed push to support businesses. You now have a choice, at least if you go through Solid Signal for your activation. Other dealers may force you into one or the other but we give you the option.

Which receiver should you choose?

For many customers, the H44 is the easy choice. The H25 was last manufactured in 2011, meaning that many receivers have been though rounds of refurbishment already. If you ask for an H44, you’re either getting a very recent refurb, “new old stock” meaning something that’s been in a warehouse for a bit but was never used, or a brand new receiver. In most cases this is going to be a better bet for you.

The H44 has more advanced menus, is a touch faster in operation, and will allow you to put 30 receivers on a single DSWM-30 multiswitch. H25s only allow for 26 on a single switch. Those four extra receivers may not mean much, but they could save you from having to buy another multiswitch.

On the other hand, the H25 is smaller, uses less power, and is a better choice if you’re replacing an H25 or upgrading a system that already has H25s in it. There’s also a very specific benefit for H25 receivers: they can be used with single-satellite systems. Most businesses use the same satellite dishes as home systems. However, RVs and boats owned by businesses often still use single-satellite dishes. Simple as this: if you have a boat or RV on a business account, you still want an H25. The H25 is also the receiver of choice for customers in the hospitality industry.

Does this mean there will be a shortage of H25s?

Simply, NO. If you’ve been with DIRECTV for a while, you know there was a time when the H25 was in short supply, as refurbishments went more slowly than expect. However, now with the H44 rolling out, that shouldn’t happen again. Most business customers will get the H44, which is as it should be. That means if you truly need an H25, you should be able to get one… but there’s only one more thing to know.

You’ll want to contact Signal Connect

Not every DIRECTV for Business dealer is going to have H25s in inventory. Most won’t. There’s only one way to make sure you get what you want. Signal Connect does more mobile and marine activations than anyone else on the planet. We know what you need and we’re here for you. If you think you need an H25 for any reason, call us. We have a good stock on hand and we are ready to take care of you. The number is 888-233-7563 and we’re here during East Coast business hours.

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.