Hello all.
Please skip to the questions if you don't wish to read the backqround. I would appreciate the advice.
Just some background ... I was a CATV installer, supervisor and Maintenance Tech for 15+ years. That was also some 15 years ago. I've had DirecTV service for 20 years. Regardless, I'm not very savvy with the newer tech and I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to computer type stuff. As should be clear, I'm not claiming to be a pro or expert, in the least. That said, I have some questions about a new Genie install and some of the equipment.
I had a Genie installed with 3 clients, one is a Genie mini 4K. This was an "upgrade" from an HD DVR and 2 HD receivers connected to a 4 output LNB. So first time SWM was installed in my system. It was an easy install as everything is on one side of the home. The installers (older gent, 15 years with Directv and younger trainee) were pretty good, work wise, but were wrong on a couple of points. I had the 4K mini installed with the HR54 Genie at the same location at the 4K big screen. That location is hard wired. I did not want to go wireless and I also wanted the Genie at the main TV location so I opted to pay for the additional mini. Here is the weirdness. The Installer told me that the 4K mini would only receive 4K programming, not the rest of the channels so I would have to switch between both the Genie and the 4K mini. Made no sense and I pretty much ignored him after inquiring once and hearing him fumble for an explanation. Also told me that my external drive would not be recognized nor work with the HR54 and only a DirecTV external would work. I quickly tested that theory last night and pleased to find out he was wrong. Maybe it was a sales pitch?
Here are my questions, if anyone is still with me.
First ... I had two cable runs behind the set from previous set up. I requested not to have a splitter behind the set so they accommodated ... sort of. No power inserter needed, the HR54 supplies the power, which was nice. So cable from HR54 to SWM outside, and cable back from SWM to 4K client. But, they installed a DECA with splitter to inject Ethernet into cable, then hooked up to 4K mini. My understanding, from some reading online, is that the DECA is not needed because Ethernet can be plugged directly into the Genie HR54. I removed the DECA and plugged directly into the HR54 and all seems to be working fine.
Is there any reason why I really need the DECA?
Second ... is there any setting to prevent recording to the DVR from the Genie Clients. I think I saw an option to prevent deletion and viewing, but not to prevent recording.
Third ... the install is all through outside walls and buried. They used flooded RG6, which is good. But continued flooded all the way to the equipment. The wall plates behind the main TV are feed-thru, no F81 barrels. I don't have any on hand but I will remedy that and transition to non-flooded. There was one on the back bedroom wall plate but I think the installer removed that. The cable to the far room was not replaced.
At any rate, installing flooded cable inside the home was a no-go (for potentially messy reasons) back in my CATV days and I cant see this as having changed over the past 15 years. Dumb question but is this a common practice for DirecTV? Or just lazy/poor installers? Honestly, I would not have found it if I hadn't had to replace fittings because I forgot to feed the cable through the wall plates (I lent a hand behind the TV, it's already a mess back there)
I'm sure I'll have more questions. I appreciate any input.
Thanks
Please skip to the questions if you don't wish to read the backqround. I would appreciate the advice.
Just some background ... I was a CATV installer, supervisor and Maintenance Tech for 15+ years. That was also some 15 years ago. I've had DirecTV service for 20 years. Regardless, I'm not very savvy with the newer tech and I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to computer type stuff. As should be clear, I'm not claiming to be a pro or expert, in the least. That said, I have some questions about a new Genie install and some of the equipment.
I had a Genie installed with 3 clients, one is a Genie mini 4K. This was an "upgrade" from an HD DVR and 2 HD receivers connected to a 4 output LNB. So first time SWM was installed in my system. It was an easy install as everything is on one side of the home. The installers (older gent, 15 years with Directv and younger trainee) were pretty good, work wise, but were wrong on a couple of points. I had the 4K mini installed with the HR54 Genie at the same location at the 4K big screen. That location is hard wired. I did not want to go wireless and I also wanted the Genie at the main TV location so I opted to pay for the additional mini. Here is the weirdness. The Installer told me that the 4K mini would only receive 4K programming, not the rest of the channels so I would have to switch between both the Genie and the 4K mini. Made no sense and I pretty much ignored him after inquiring once and hearing him fumble for an explanation. Also told me that my external drive would not be recognized nor work with the HR54 and only a DirecTV external would work. I quickly tested that theory last night and pleased to find out he was wrong. Maybe it was a sales pitch?
Here are my questions, if anyone is still with me.
First ... I had two cable runs behind the set from previous set up. I requested not to have a splitter behind the set so they accommodated ... sort of. No power inserter needed, the HR54 supplies the power, which was nice. So cable from HR54 to SWM outside, and cable back from SWM to 4K client. But, they installed a DECA with splitter to inject Ethernet into cable, then hooked up to 4K mini. My understanding, from some reading online, is that the DECA is not needed because Ethernet can be plugged directly into the Genie HR54. I removed the DECA and plugged directly into the HR54 and all seems to be working fine.
Is there any reason why I really need the DECA?
Second ... is there any setting to prevent recording to the DVR from the Genie Clients. I think I saw an option to prevent deletion and viewing, but not to prevent recording.
Third ... the install is all through outside walls and buried. They used flooded RG6, which is good. But continued flooded all the way to the equipment. The wall plates behind the main TV are feed-thru, no F81 barrels. I don't have any on hand but I will remedy that and transition to non-flooded. There was one on the back bedroom wall plate but I think the installer removed that. The cable to the far room was not replaced.
At any rate, installing flooded cable inside the home was a no-go (for potentially messy reasons) back in my CATV days and I cant see this as having changed over the past 15 years. Dumb question but is this a common practice for DirecTV? Or just lazy/poor installers? Honestly, I would not have found it if I hadn't had to replace fittings because I forgot to feed the cable through the wall plates (I lent a hand behind the TV, it's already a mess back there)
I'm sure I'll have more questions. I appreciate any input.
Thanks
