Considering Switch Back to DTV - Worth the Change?

[jaelae]

I left DirecTV to go with my local cable provider due to severe differences in pricing. However, after being with my local provider for a few weeks (Cablevision) I had to go out and buy Tivo Roamio receivers (with mini's) due to the terrible DVR functions of their cloud DVRs. The reason I bring this up is due to the fact that there are additional costs involved with the Tivo receivers since I am using them on a monthly basis instead of buying lifetime primarily due to the fact that I would eventually consider going back to DTV.

I've never really had a problem with DTV except for the price but honestly I found that there were more quality channels versus what I have now. I did not have a Genie when I had DTV so my big concern now is whether or not the performance issues on the Genie Mini devices will be a real issue or will the quality of service far outweigh any delay.

For myself I look to purchase the largest package to make sure I have all movie channels (for that variety) and to have Sunday Ticket. I have sacrificed the Sunday ticket recently since I was able to use Cablevision's RedZone variation which was great to have. My decision now comes down to whether the features of having DirecTV far outweigh my local cable company with Tivo. The Tivo interface is fast but lack of on demand hurts a bit. I recall DirecTV on demand being functional but was not the easiest to navigate because they threw in all the paid Cinema videos in with the free ones you get for having other channels.

Unfortunately, most comments and reviews I find on focus more on customer service and price and I am trying to take those out of the equation and focus on two things. Quality the Genie/Wireless Genie Mini devices and the bells and whistles with their interface and features. Are there any DirecTV specific channels that really are worth having? Has the on-demand improved significantly? Anyone out there that could never leave their DTV service due to some specific feature that nobody else offers?

Thanks for the feedback!!

 

[ejb1980]

I left DirecTV to go with my local cable provider due to severe differences in pricing. However, after being with my local provider for a few weeks (Cablevision) I had to go out and buy Tivo Roamio receivers (with mini's) due to the terrible DVR functions of their cloud DVRs. The reason I bring this up is due to the fact that there are additional costs involved with the Tivo receivers since I am using them on a monthly basis instead of buying lifetime primarily due to the fact that I would eventually consider going back to DTV.

I've never really had a problem with DTV except for the price but honestly I found that there were more quality channels versus what I have now. I did not have a Genie when I had DTV so my big concern now is whether or not the performance issues on the Genie Mini devices will be a real issue or will the quality of service far outweigh any delay.

For myself I look to purchase the largest package to make sure I have all movie channels (for that variety) and to have Sunday Ticket. I have sacrificed the Sunday ticket recently since I was able to use Cablevision's RedZone variation which was great to have. My decision now comes down to whether the features of having DirecTV far outweigh my local cable company with Tivo. The Tivo interface is fast but lack of on demand hurts a bit. I recall DirecTV on demand being functional but was not the easiest to navigate because they threw in all the paid Cinema videos in with the free ones you get for having other channels.

Unfortunately, most comments and reviews I find on focus more on customer service and price and I am trying to take those out of the equation and focus on two things. Quality the Genie/Wireless Genie Mini devices and the bells and whistles with their interface and features. Are there any DirecTV specific channels that really are worth having? Has the on-demand improved significantly? Anyone out there that could never leave their DTV service due to some specific feature that nobody else offers?

Thanks for the feedback!!

I have never had a wireless client, but the wired one was fine. The clients (mini) are exactly the same as the Genie, interface-wise, but they do take a tuner when in use. You can get another DVR instead of a mini. The DVR charge is per-account on Directv, not per-receiver like on some providers, so it doesn't cost anything more to have a second or third DVR in another room vs. a client.
The major advantage to a client vs a second DVR is if you use the AM21 to integrate OTA channels onto your guide. If you don't, a second DVR is just as good. They can "see" each other and share stuff - or not, your choice.
I like Audience, there are some good shows on there and The Dan Patrick Show doesn't have the annoying ticker that's on NBCSN.
The On-Demand hasn't changed much. There is more HD than there used to be and more channels have it available, but it is still painfully slow for me.
I would never leave because I live in Patriots home territory and I can't stand having them shoved down my throat, so Sunday Ticket is a must for me. I just don't let them know that so they'll give me discounts.

 

[jaelae]

Thanks. I didn't realize that you could see content on the other DVR from the first DVR. So does that mean I could have the Genie in Room 1, HD DVR in Room 2 ($199 fee to buy it) and then a Genie Mini in Room 3? And the DVR's can see each other's recordings? And since the mini is like a mirror it could also see the HD DVR recordings since the Genie can? The only other consideration is that this would make the 2nd room a $15 charge rather than $6.50 but due to the performance increase that could be worth it.

On-Demand HD is one thing I forgot about it. It was very slow so I didn't use it for the most part since most on demand shows were in standard definition. At least in HD for most channels would be valuable. My wife normally used that if she was not sure what to watch and enjoyed going through the list of what is on demand on HBO/Showtime/ etc.. but now I do recall sitting there slowly watching the pages scroll through due to poor performance of the on demand.

 

[maestro7]

Wireless Genie minis are the bomb -- they are awesome. DirecTV has a wireless bridge that sets up their own network. We have one such client and have never had a single issue in over 7 months' usage.

Regarding VoD, it's also very good and is wholly dependent on the high-speed Internet service you already have.

Also, yes, the beauty of whole-home DVR is that *all* clients can see the Playlist of recorded shows throughout the network. That is, remember that the Genie/WHDVR system is based on a SWiM system, where one physical coax cable can carry a number of tuner channels (hence 5 Genie tuners over one physical cable). You can look up SWiM here if you need more details, or just ask.

I hope this helps!

 

[Zashel]

The wireless clients are a little bit slower than the wired ones in my experience. not a lot, maybe .25 to .5 a second, but when you start hitting a lot of buttons (like channel numbers) it can trip up sometimes. the wired ones are better if you already have the cable run, just make sure the fittings and wall plates are D* approved stuff, otherwise you may end up with a service call. if there isn't cable, the wireless ones are handy for their flexibility of placement. as far as the interface goes, it looks 99% the same, the only thing you'll see different is the genie does PIP, for those who care. as far as the whole home service, you can actually get that authorized on your account even without a genie, just need to make sure any HR20 - HR23 have receiver DECAs.

 

[ejb1980]

The wireless clients are a little bit slower than the wired ones in my experience. not a lot, maybe .25 to .5 a second, but when you start hitting a lot of buttons (like channel numbers) it can trip up sometimes. the wired ones are better if you already have the cable run, just make sure the fittings and wall plates are D* approved stuff, otherwise you may end up with a service call. if there isn't cable, the wireless ones are handy for their flexibility of placement. as far as the interface goes, it looks 99% the same, the only thing you'll see different is the genie does PIP, for those who care. as far as the whole home service, you can actually get that authorized on your account even without a genie, just need to make sure any HR20 - HR23 have receiver DECAs.

I forgot about PIP. Another minor difference is the non-Genie DVR will have the red and green buttons below the guide instead of << and >>. Personally, I despise the Genie remote, RC71, and use the RC65 since it will actually control my TV, other than power on/pff... and I lost the TV remote.

 

[jaelae]

Great thanks for the feedback. I have a pretty solid internet connection at home (100MB down 30MB up business cable line) but do have 1 room that in the future will have to utilize wireless genie due to it's location from where I cabled the house with cat6 cabling (I would have to run the cable through the siding to get there). Aside from that it seems that the Genie + 2 Genie Mini's will be fine for me.

Thanks!

 

[Zashel]

as far as remotes go, it just depends what you have. I'm using a BOSE lifestyle remote which is already RF and does CEC. if you have LOS and an audio receiver the RC66 is probably better, but for just a TV and D* box, the RC72 (in RF) is faster on the clients.

as for the room with the cat6, you could potentially utilize an RVU setup, but i've herd mixed results about the responsiveness of the UI when that's done.

 

[mdavej]

I assume you realize the monthly fees for Genie are far more than Tivo and that you'd save a lot by getting lifetime instead of subscription. I would stick with Tivo.

 

[satgirl51]

I assume you realize the monthly fees for Genie are far more than Tivo and that you'd save a lot by getting lifetime instead of subscription. I would stick with Tivo.

He seems more displeased with cable service itself than the TiVo. TiVo's are generally good DVRs but they are only has good as the service they are connected to.

 

[dishrich]

I had to go out and buy Tivo Roamio receivers (with mini's) due to the terrible DVR functions of their cloud DVRs. The reason I bring this up is due to the fact that there are additional costs involved with the Tivo receivers since I am using them on a monthly basis instead of buying lifetime primarily due to the fact that I would eventually consider going back to DTV.

There should be NO added (monthly) costs on (any) Tivo Mini's, as lifetime service on those units is already included in the purchase price.
As post 9 pointed out, it would have saved you $$$ in the long run buying lifetime Tivo service, then you would not have ANY monthly fees for your DVR service.

 

[devman44]

I can tell you that the Genie and Mini's so far (less than day using them) perform well from a stability standpoint... channels change quick, inputs happen quick, etc. I am terribly unimpressed with the software of the Genie though. I just created a new thread looking for guidance and hoping I am missing something. You can read that and maybe wait some replies to see if my experiences are valid or I am using it wrong. But if you value your experience interacting with the receiver and my impressions are valid you may want to try using one hands on first like you would at home to see if you will be happy with it.

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys devman44!

 

[JUCJ85]

Been a DirecTV customer since 2006(Except for 2009 when we went to Dish, switched back in early 2010) and it's the best choice I have ever made.

If you have a good ISP speed, you will be fine with OnDemand, not sure my exact speed, but I am able to download programming fast on my Genie.

I've never had a Wireless Mini Client, so I don't know well they are. And yes you can watch recording off the Genie on other DVRs, I have 2 HR24s, and they view everything recorded on my HR44.

What's awesome is if you're a college sports fan, they've added WatchESPN, so now you can go to the website and log in with your DTV account. Which is awesome, haven't done it yet, will tomorrow.

 

[Claude Greiner]

The TIVO ROMARIO and the minis are not bad considering that once you purchase them, there is no more fees besides the $9.99 for tivo service unless you bought lifetime.

I never cared for any client, as I would rather have an HR24. Why get a ford escort, when you can get a Cadillac for the same monthly price

 

[Jimbo]

The TIVO ROMARIO and the minis are not bad considering that once you purchase them, there is no more fees besides the $9.99 for tivo service unless you bought lifetime.

I never cared for any client, as I would rather have an HR24. Why get a ford escort, when you can get a Cadillac for the same monthly price

While I agree with you, I think some may do it because D hands them out free usually and the HRS are for a fee .... $100 in most cases.

 

[jaelae]

So I took everyone's thoughts into this and ended up jumping back to DTV. Although overall Tivo would be cheaper if I bought lifetime - I didn't do that since if I didn't want to keep the Tivo boxes I didn't want to be stuck already have paid for a lifetime sub. Cablevision also charges monthly for the CableCard used for the main Roamio but that is besides the point.

So I got the DirecTV Ultimate package with 1 Genie and 2 Genie Mini receivers. I am sure there will be grumbles once my free 3 months of movie channels is up but from what I read it can't hurt to bug them for additional bonus months of service. I did receive the main Genie receiver as the newest model HR44. And 1 Genie Mini is wired and 1 is Wireless. With that I found out the following:
- Although the Genie Mini receivers are a bit slower, it is very minimal and not quite what I expected. I anticipated a noticable slowdown but it is very acceptable.
- The wireless Mini receiver I am using is just as fast as the wired one. My first concern was a performance problem since I wanted to have a wireless one for a bedroom that is not fully wired and this will be great. The only way to wire it would have been to run coax outside of the house - through siding and into newly installed installation. Not having to do that is quite nice.
- On Demand works great! I recall in the past downloading movies and after 30 minutes checking and only the first 5 minutes have downloaded. It made wanting to instantly watch something impossible. Now it is always downloading the movie/show where there is no buffering to watch it. This is on the same internet connection I had originally which is a 100mb download speed.
- Genie HR44 is truly fast. I used the HR34 in the past and noticed some performance issues where the Tivo Roamio was superior to it. I recall instances where the Roamio was much quicker going through different screens. Now the HR44 beats that in terms of performance. Somethings are still delayed but those are mostly things I am not doing constantly like searching through On Demand and utilizing TV Apps (which I will do more of during Baseball and Football season).

My only concern is that I should have waited until MLB season started to see if I could snag a free or discounted Extra Innings package. Also, I really wish they focused on offering an on demand listing that had the option of not listing paid movies. Tivo offers a recommendation of movies coming up or on demand where you can see the list of featured movies and one button record. The genie screens have something similar but you have to sort out which are paid on demand and which are free. It's not a game breaker and I find the App to help find movies to watch - but too bad this isn't the ideal setup for me.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments.

 

[JUCJ85]

So I took everyone's thoughts into this and ended up jumping back to DTV. Although overall Tivo would be cheaper if I bought lifetime - I didn't do that since if I didn't want to keep the Tivo boxes I didn't want to be stuck already have paid for a lifetime sub. Cablevision also charges monthly for the CableCard used for the main Roamio but that is besides the point.

So I got the DirecTV Ultimate package with 1 Genie and 2 Genie Mini receivers. I am sure there will be grumbles once my free 3 months of movie channels is up but from what I read it can't hurt to bug them for additional bonus months of service. I did receive the main Genie receiver as the newest model HR44. And 1 Genie Mini is wired and 1 is Wireless. With that I found out the following:
- Although the Genie Mini receivers are a bit slower, it is very minimal and not quite what I expected. I anticipated a noticable slowdown but it is very acceptable.
- The wireless Mini receiver I am using is just as fast as the wired one. My first concern was a performance problem since I wanted to have a wireless one for a bedroom that is not fully wired and this will be great. The only way to wire it would have been to run coax outside of the house - through siding and into newly installed installation. Not having to do that is quite nice.
- On Demand works great! I recall in the past downloading movies and after 30 minutes checking and only the first 5 minutes have downloaded. It made wanting to instantly watch something impossible. Now it is always downloading the movie/show where there is no buffering to watch it. This is on the same internet connection I had originally which is a 100mb download speed.
- Genie HR44 is truly fast. I used the HR34 in the past and noticed some performance issues where the Tivo Roamio was superior to it. I recall instances where the Roamio was much quicker going through different screens. Now the HR44 beats that in terms of performance. Somethings are still delayed but those are mostly things I am not doing constantly like searching through On Demand and utilizing TV Apps (which I will do more of during Baseball and Football season).

My only concern is that I should have waited until MLB season started to see if I could snag a free or discounted Extra Innings package. Also, I really wish they focused on offering an on demand listing that had the option of not listing paid movies. Tivo offers a recommendation of movies coming up or on demand where you can see the list of featured movies and one button record. The genie screens have something similar but you have to sort out which are paid on demand and which are free. It's not a game breaker and I find the App to help find movies to watch - but too bad this isn't the ideal setup for me.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments.

Very cool. I have the 44, and Love it.

Any reason you went with 2 Mini Genie's? In my experience whenever the Genie goes out, the Mini's go out too, which can be a pain, but If they wanted 199 for extra HD DVRs I see it then.

Anyway have fun, and enjoy it.

 

[strick1]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I'm probably in the wrong place. Still trying to navigate through the site. I have a hr44 genie dvr and 3 h23 hd recievers. My setup is SWiM and I am authorized for whole home dvr. I had 3 genie mini's but do not like them for several reasons. My question is, " do i need a deca for each h23 hd reciever, so that they can watch recorded shows from the hr44 genie? "

 

[satgirl51]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I'm probably in the wrong place. Still trying to navigate through the site. I have a hr44 genie dvr and 3 h23 hd recievers. My setup is SWiM and I am authorized for whole home dvr. I had 3 genie mini's but do not like them for several reasons. My question is, " do i need a deca for each h23 hd reciever, so that they can watch recorded shows from the hr44 genie? "

H23 yes, you will need deca adapters, they are very cheap on amazon.

H24 and H25 have deca built in.