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RJL's avatar
RJL
Explorer
Oct 14, 2018

Direct TV upgrade to Genie 2 knocks RV'rs out

We were due an upgrade for our Directv at home. The old system would freeze up, reboot on it's own, turned into a nightmare. We went from the Genie 1 system to the Genie 2. Awful idea.

The new system has the same exact issues as the old one The system is wireless and comes with a router looking tower.

We've had an old Directv box in our Motor homes since 2007. Well here we are, 600 miles from home, with no direct because they can't refresh the box in here since our recent "upgrade". The genie 2 system, from what I can understand only communicates to the mini boxes, wireless in the home. Not a happy camper, literally.

Just an FYI for my fellow Direct customers.

I'm gonna have to go back to the Genie 1 when we get home next month.
  • Merrykalia wrote:
    So, we are DISH customer for at least a two year period. We have all the stuff to go back to Direct should our bill head higher in two years. Direct never asked for their stuff back and I have no intention of sending it to them and paying postage.
    My understanding is that they don't want obsolete equipment. They sent us a prepaid box for our last receiver.

    They may also not activate the DTV receiver in the future. After all unless it's very old it's leased equipment that they own. And very old equipment may no longer be supported.

    Something to consider if you switch back to DTV.
  • RJL wrote:
    The genie 2 system, from what I can understand only communicates to the mini boxes, wireless in the home.
    The Genie 2 is a server with NO TV connection. Each TV requires a Genie Client either wired or wireless.

    I would insist that all of your new home Genie 1 and Genie Clients be connected with coax. And ditto for the RV.
  • OP,

    My HR44 has never frozen up or rebooted on it's own. OK I lied it froze twice - read on.

    As a test I rounded up all of my old coax with it's crimped connectors and added it my dish for 304' of coax that is NOT the quality coax that one should have for the Genies and SWM. The HR44 froze twice in 1 month.

    Did I mention that the DTV limit for the coax is 125'? So, since 2014 the HR44 froze twice with 304' of poor coax.

    Something is wrong with your home setup. My suggestion: Insist that DTV replace the dish and ALL coax and connectors with SWM rated equipment. Insist that they send out a DTV fully trained employee tech and not a vendor.

    Why my test? I need 150' of coax with a portable dish at my daughters house and several CG's we like. I'm reasonably confident that with good coax all will be good at those locations.
  • Years ago the Genie wireless equipment distance restrictions were IMHO VERY limiting for a RV. Maybe that has changed, don't know.

    On the other hand I've never had any problems with my HR44 (Genie 1) which has quality dish's, coax and all 3MHZ connectors. I use it both at home and in the RV.

    OP, From your post you have a home problem that wasn't fixed with the upgrade. Still the same problems. Why do you think going back to the Genie 1 at home is going to fix anything?
  • Yeah, we had been Direct customers since 2008. Our bill just kept going higher and higher each month with no additional services. We called to lower our bill with no real success, it would be lower for a month or two, then right back up. We called and got Dish and had it installed and then called Direct to cancel. That's when they told us they could lower it to $58 per month and guarantee it for a 2 year period. Really ticked me off badly.

    So, we are DISH customer for at least a two year period. We have all the stuff to go back to Direct should our bill head higher in two years. Direct never asked for their stuff back and I have no intention of sending it to them and paying postage.
  • There has been a bunch of posts about GenieII needing to be connected to wifi to work. Direct is having major MAJOR problems with crappy software design for several years now. Complaints fall on deaf ears.
    My suggestion is to email office of the president Directv and let them know how displeased you are. If you want, send me a PM and I have a phone number to call.

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