So I am converting my front TV in the motorhome to an HD set. Have an HD set outside and usually set up a Slimline to watch that and/or to inside SD sat box when the rooftop doesn't get a signal which is often.I have a HD DVR for the outside TV and was thinking of adding an HD sat box inside for the new HD tv. So I call Directv to get a simple HD sat box for the new front tv(free with a two year recommit) and they offer me all new Genie system with 2-3 new Genie compatible boxes for the house, which I don't really need. We only watch tv in the living room, leaving the other two activated boxes in the RV as we use it 1-2 x a month, more during football season. Kind of a pain to keep moving boxes in and out. God forbid you forget to take them. Which has happened.The Genie is tempting as its one cable going in instead of three wires now, plus with two Genie slave boxes, no cables to the outside AND rear tv, which I usually ignore. Plus 1TB HDD, record five shows at once, etc/.But it means carrying the Genie HD DVR, power inserter, extra boxes in and out when we leave. Which is often. Ain't paying $5/mo for five boxes.Plus I have to buy a new SWM dish for the RV.Or I could just keep the existing set up and get a new, non Genie, non SWM, HD sat box. Free with a two year.Plus I have the extra service plan.Decisions, decisions.What am I missing??What would you do?

I have SWM, Genie and client but I watch TV in living room and bedroom and love the 5 tuners.It's your choice. If you only watch TV in one room and you never need to record more than 2 programs at the same time (I struggle to find stuff to record!) then you don't need to "upgrade". Just get a HR24 dual tuner DVR, use all of your existing equipment and have a great nights sleep.If you are looking at up dating home AND RV things might be a bit more complicated as you likely do watch TV in more than one room and the Genie is very cool.

I am approaching the fulfillment of my Direct TV contract and am considering upgrading to the genie. I now take 2 receivers with me in the RV. I have it wired for SWM and use a slimline dish. What would I have to do in my RV to utilize the genie? I now have one cable input to the convenience center where the power inserter and splitter is located. There is 2 dedicated cable runs from the splitter to the two interior TVs. I use separate SWM receivers (HR 24 dvr and HR 25) now.Will I have to install a LAN with wireless router?

You won't have to do anything! You just need a coax connection via SWM to each receiver location and nothing else.

wiring is the same for the genie vs the traditional receivers.personally though, i think genie is a risk, since the clients are not cheaper then regular receivers,if the dvr breaks your pretty much screwed, the clients don't work,and i believe you can only have 3 clients running at 1 timeyes the live tv pause on any client is nice, but eh not sure how i feel, makes me nervous

I guess I am not seeing the upside either. I have a box die about once a year, so losing the Genie would suck. I think I'll upgrade to SWM and stick with separate boxes. More redundancy. Now if the remote boxes were wireless it would be worth the gamble.

Directv/ Genie-switching to new system-impact on RVing.

13 Replies

LittleBill
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
mikestock wrote:
Plus I have to buy a new SWM dish for the RV.

You won't need a new dish, just SWM LNB, power inserter and splitter. You need to know that dish alignment, if you use a signal meter, is a little different.

as long as its a slimline dish...
mikestock
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Plus I have to buy a new SWM dish for the RV.

You won't need a new dish, just SWM LNB, power inserter and splitter. You need to know that dish alignment, if you use a signal meter, is a little different.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2013
There is an optional RF remote available for the Genie so just be sure that you have the installer provide one at the time you have the system setup in your home.
kab449
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Bill.Winegard wrote:
I have a Genie and an H25 which solves the "tits up" issue. Should the Genie go bad, I wait for a new one while I use the H25 to watch TV without a DVR. If you were really spoiled you could install a Genie plus an HR24 and we watching/recording up to 7 channels simultaneously as well as watching anything recorded on either device on either TV. Then, add a client outside so you don't miss anything on any TV and you are officially a spoiled rotten brat! (I am going to get a client for my outside TV if it looks like I might ever be somewhere I could use it!

Sounds like a plan. I have 2 HR24's now and 2 HR25's in my home. I'll keep one of the HR24's to use with the genie and will need two clients for my home. When I travel I'll move the genie and one client into the fifth wheel. I have a HDMI splitter that feeds the programming from the living room to the outside tv. Yes you have to watch the same thing but it works for me.
The question I have is "Does the genie have the RF capability for the remote as when I'm outside I need that to control the box inside.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2013
I have the service plan too. But if you lose your Genie Friday, you probably won't get a box until the next Wed. At the earliest.

Not good if you are traveling. Where are they going to send it?
If I have 2-3 stand alone boxes, I'm watching the game.

I'm upgrading to SWM and keeping individual sat boxes.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2013
I have a Genie and an H25 which solves the "tits up" issue. Should the Genie go bad, I wait for a new one while I use the H25 to watch TV without a DVR. If you were really spoiled you could install a Genie plus an HR24 and we watching/recording up to 7 channels simultaneously as well as watching anything recorded on either device on either TV. Then, add a client outside so you don't miss anything on any TV and you are officially a spoiled rotten brat! (I am going to get a client for my outside TV if it looks like I might ever be somewhere I could use it!
kab449
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Bill.Winegard wrote:
You won't have to do anything! You just need a coax connection via SWM to each receiver location and nothing else.

Thanks Bill, I'll be making the change.
kab449
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
I pay the fee for the equipment protection plan so I don't have any risk. If you have the protection plan Direct TV will supply you with the latest and best equipment available at the time when your contract renews. They also will replace any defective equipment you may have. I think its $6 a month, Worth it in my book.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2013
I guess I am not seeing the upside either. I have a box die about once a year, so losing the Genie would suck. I think I'll upgrade to SWM and stick with separate boxes.
More redundancy. Now if the remote boxes were wireless it would be worth the gamble.
LittleBill
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
wiring is the same for the genie vs the traditional receivers.

personally though, i think genie is a risk,

since the clients are not cheaper then regular receivers,

if the dvr breaks your pretty much screwed, the clients don't work,

and i believe you can only have 3 clients running at 1 time

yes the live tv pause on any client is nice, but eh not sure how i feel, makes me nervous

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Directv/ Genie-switching to new system-impact on RVing.

13 Replies

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