1. Should I have the tech install the Genie in the living room considering that I maybe upgrading this to a 4k tv next year & I hear the Genie is not capable of doing 4k?
2. Should I just get a regular mini & upgrade it later when I get the 4k TV?
3. Can 4k minis be used on 1080p tvs?
4. Should I insist on getting an HR54 installed? The last time I had D* I had an HR44 & had no problems, but I have alot of interest in the new TV Anywhere feature so I'm not sure if that works better on the HR54?
5. Are there better lighted remotes that I can request for the installation? Didn't particular like the regular small remotes.
6. Are there wireless 4k or wireless regular minis? And if so, how are there performance compared to the wired ones?
7. Probably the most important one.....can a Genie be moved to another room after it is installed?
1. you can certainly plan on that. but without a 4k TV you wont get a 4k client
2. if you upgrade before the end of you 2 year contract they will charge you for the client, ~$100, plus if you need to upgrade to the 54, another $300
3. can the client display 1080, yes, but if the TV cant display 4k, again the tech wont install it
4 the 54 and 44 use the same internals, for this particular question its a draw. so long as its not a 34 you're good to go
5. you can still use the old remotes, they just wont be RF, and you have to know how to program them yourself
6. yes, there are wireless clients, no wireless 4k clients. the performance is fine, but its not as fast as the genie. probably more of an issue for your than your father i would gather lol. if your not flying around on the remote you'll be fine
7. if you have the installer run another line and cap it, then yes it should easily be able to be moved. however the installer may charge you for doing this. 2 ways around that: run the line yourself, or sign up for 3 TV's (put 3rd one where genie will be moved to) and just cancel it a week later. shouldn't be any penalty for that.
NOW, one way to get around this whole 4k thing is if you have an RVU capable TV (not necessarily a 4k RVU), and ask if the installer can put in a HR54. if you can get both of those things, then you can simply install a 4k RVU capable TV when the time comes, call D*, and you should be on your merry 4K way.
...or simply borrow a 4k TV from someone for a day lol.