New to satellite - Genie / install questions

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kilcher

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Jan 31, 2014
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Having DirecTV installed tomorrow and just have a few questions. This is the first time I've ever had anything but Comcast (I'm 40 so that's been a while).

We're getting the Genie, one main unit and two mini units. I was reading a thread where the Genie was slow to respond to commands from the remote. From what I could gather there are two models of the main Genie unit, the HR34 and the HR44. A few people said the HR44 seemed to help. Is that a newer model? Is it in fact better? If so, can I specify to the installer that I want that model? If he doesn't have it with him can I ask him to come back with one or to have one shipped?

I'm probably more nervous than I should be about the switch. Two years just seems like a long time to commit to something I use so much without being able to try it first. Especially since I've never had any trouble with Comcast's product. Their customer service and the fact that I can no longer decipher what I'm paying for on my bill were the main reasons for the switch. With DirecTV I'll be saving $1,000 over two years and I'm also getting a $200 Costco GC for signing up through them.

I guess I have one more question about the install. I already have coax outlets where my TV's will be located.  I assume that means the installer won't have to drill any holes inside the house, except for maybe one from the dish into the house, is that correct? A couple of people I asked said their installers drilled a bunch of extra holes for some reason. Any other tips you can give me for installation would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
You'll get whatever the installer has on his truck. No worries about slowness, the HR34 problems are pretty few and far-between, there's just a few bad ones out there. The installer will use preexisting cable for the most part, might have to add or change some stuff, but he shouldn't be too destructive. You are going to get a lot more than what you had with Comcast.

Oh, and welcome to the forums!
 
Don't forget to ask the installer for the HR44, chances are if he has one he'll put it in.

I've had my HR44 for a bit now and it is very fast, as fast as the Hopper IMO.
 
:welcome to Satelliteguys kilcher!
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As long as there are no splitters in the cabling, the installer should be able to reuse what you have if it's RG6.
 
forget the minis
ask for at least h24 or h25, maybe even hr24's in the other rooms
remember the minis use a tuner from the genie, limiting its ability to record
and if it goes down, everything is down
 
If I have the Genie DVR and an HR24/HR25 can I watch anything recorded on any DVR from any TV? Or can I only watch things recorded on that DVR on that TV? Accessing everything from any TV is one of the features we're most looking forward to so that's important.

Isn't the tech going to just install what I ordered? Guess I can ask and see what he has with him and what he's willing to do.
 
If I have the Genie DVR and an HR24/HR25 can I watch anything recorded on any DVR from any TV? Or can I only watch things recorded on that DVR on that TV? Accessing everything from any TV is one of the features we're most looking forward to so that's important.

Isn't the tech going to just install what I ordered? Guess I can ask and see what he has with him and what he's willing to do.

they will all talk to one another
I watch my hr24 stuff on the genie and vice versa
 
As a new customer, you will get the minis free. If you try to change the order to get a different type of receiver, it will cost you, I think the current charge for a receiver for a new customer is $50, not sure about the DVR.
Get an HR44 if the installer has one on the truck. You'll read a few horror stories about the HR34 although most HR34 owners don't have any problems.
The installer will probably want to make sure the run from the dish to the SWM power inserter is RG6 solid copper, although in reality regular CCS RG6 works fine. Inside the house, on the runs to the genie minis, even RG59 will work OK unless the runs are very long. DirecTV "rules" say all the cable should be RG6 but it really isn't necessary.
 
You'll get whatever the installer has on his truck. No worries about slowness, the HR34 problems are pretty few and far-between, there's just a few bad ones out there. The installer will use preexisting cable for the most part, might have to add or change some stuff, but he shouldn't be too destructive. You are going to get a lot more than what you had with Comcast.

Oh, and welcome to the forums!

As someone with a worthless HR34, I would STRONGLY advise cancelling the install if you don't get an HR44. Very serious.
 
The installer will probably want to make sure the run from the dish to the SWM power inserter is RG6 solid copper, although in reality regular CCS RG6 works fine. Inside the house, on the runs to the genie minis, even RG59 will work OK unless the runs are very long. DirecTV "rules" say all the cable should be RG6 but it really isn't necessary.

No idea what any of that means! Our house was built 2 1/2 years ago so hopefully it'll have what you say is best. The TV's are on 3 different floors but they're basically in the same spot on each floor so distance shouldn't be much of an issue.

From what I've been reading it sounds like the HR44 has been out for at least 6 months so hopefully that won't be an issue. Since I'm stuck with the equipment and service for 2 years I'm all for minimizing the likelihood of any potential headaches from the get go.

As for the mini's, the main reason I switched was to get the bill down so those will be fine. Like I said earlier, 5 tuners is more than enough for us.

Anyway, thanks for all the input! Install is supposed to be sometime between 12 and 4 tomorrow, we're getting a fair bit of snow tonight so hopefully they won't have to reschedule. I'll let you know how it goes...
 
As someone with a worthless HR34, I would STRONGLY advise cancelling the install if you don't get an HR44. Very serious.
Since you seem to have completely ignored all the suggestions about what might be wrong with your install I am not sure how relevant is your advice...
 
The fact that I need all these tricks etc is proof that the device is defective. I attempted to check the rf mode but the instructions given do not match my screen.

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The fact that I need all these tricks etc is proof that the device is defective. I attempted to check the rf mode but the instructions given do not match my screen.

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There are no tricks. Two main sources of the problems you are reporting are (1) IR interference from backlights on LCD TVs and (2) overload of the ethernet into the HR34 because of incorrect setup. If you have an RF remote (NOT the C41, which will not work in RF with the HR34), going to RF is easy. Also you can check for ethernet overload by disconnecting the HR34 (or the CCK) from the router.
 
How do I know if my remote is rf? I am guessing my client (C31) remote is rf because there is an "r" in the item number... RC65RX

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The RC65RX is indeed a RF capable remote. Should work with HR34 and C31 in RF mode with no problem. Easy setup also. HR44 and C41 use RC71 genie remotes.

Have fun!
 
As to Kilchers question about his existing cable, sometimes the cable has its info printed on it and should specify RG6 or RG59. If its RG59, installer will most likely tell you that he needs to install new cables. If RG6, then no need for new cable run. If new cable run is needed, your installer should show you where he will run cable, just to make sure you can ask him to let you know if need be. Mainly the installer will look for:
1. Ground source
2. Dish location
3. Junction box if any
4. Existing cable if any
5. Cable route if needed


Good luck with install.
 
One more thing, as far as the HR34/44 goes, you can ask him for 44 when he pre calls, not sure where you are but in our DMA, we mainly install 44's for new customer and upgrades wanting genie system. Very rare we get 34's.
 
My other remote (with HR34) does not have the second R in it. I still don't see anything about rf/ir in any menu. Will this keep me from having to rbr daily so the client finds the server?

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My other remote (with HR34) does not have the second R in it. I still don't see anything about rf/ir in any menu. Will this keep me from having to rbr daily so the client finds the server?

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You won't know until you try with the remote in RF mode. Look for remote in the menus.
 
If the remote inly says RC6xX, then its not RF remote. RF remotes are RC65RX, RC66RX, RC65BRX models that will work with HR34 and C31. To switch to RF mode you have to follow the on-screen menu. Settings->remote control->program remote->advance->RF. I think those are the right ones. I havent seen a HR34 for a while so i cant confirm the menu but it should be pretty close.
 
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