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It's funny, even though people love to forecast "doom and gloom" for the pay-TV industry in general, there are plenty of folks putting in new service and expanding the service that they already have. I get this question all the time, and although the answer isn't completely straightforward, it's pretty easy once you understand a few things.

What is DIRECTV Genie?

This was the original intro graphic for Genie back in 2011.

Genie is DIRECTV's name for its DVR server and client system. The idea is that all the hard work of decoding and recording signals takes place in one box and then all the other boxes can be small, simple, and quiet. DISH does something similar with their Hopper and Joey system.

By doing it this way, the boxes themselves cost less to make, the installation is easier, and people are happier. They don't have to hear a hard drive grinding all night in their bedrooms. That was never a good look for satellite TV.

The rules about Genie clients

You can't have an unlimited number of client boxes attached to a Genie box. There are two things that stop you. First of all, the amount of signal that can fit on the coaxial cable limits you somewhat. But really it comes down to the way the DVR box is built and how many different programs it can work with at the same time.

Generation 1 Genies

The first Genie, the HR34, is the one in that old graphic from 2011. Chances are you don't have one of those anymore. Chances are you have something that looks vaguely wide and flat like the image above.

Genie 2

If you've signed up for DIRECTV in the last five years then you probably have a box that looks something like this. It's a tall wedge shape and it's probably located in a room where you don't watch TV. This is the Genie 2, and it's the top of the line as I write this article.

Keeping it simple

Here's the simplest answer I can give you. If your Genie DVR is wide and flat, it only lets you stream to 3 HD boxes at a time. If it's tall and triangular, it lets you stream to 7 boxes at a time. Only 2 of those can watch 4K programs at the same time.

It doesn't matter if they are C61s, C51s, C41s, C31s, wireless Genie Mini Clients, other DIRECTV receivers or DVRs, Geminis, whatever. Three is the magic number for the older Genies. For the Genie 2, it's seven.

The other thing they'll tell you

Our customer service staff, as well as DIRECTV's own call centers, will tell you that you can have up to 8 client boxes attached to your account. That's true, with a big "asterisk" after it. While you can have 8 boxes attached, and you will be charged a monthly fee for all of them, you can't have all of them active at the same time. As I said, you'll only be able to use three at a time for older Genies, seven at a time for newer ones.

If you have spare rooms or something where you want to keep client boxes, that's fine, but personally I think in a case like that it's better to save your money and just move the little boxes where you want them to go.

What happens if you try to use all the boxes at the same time? They just don't work, not at all. You'll pay for them, and DIRECTV will let you do that, and you won't be able to use them while other clients are in use.

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