HR54 - 4K Genie FIRST LOOK

[Scott Greczkowski]

Today I am excited to present an exciting FIRST LOOK at the upcoming DIRECTV 4K Genie called the HR54. We were going to hold off on posting this but since other pictures of it are being posted by others we figured we would post our first look now.

It should be noted that since compiling this information, we have received additional word from our contacts at DIRECTV of a few things...

First I am told that the HR54 DOES INDEED support Transponder bonding for when DIRECTV launches live channels broadcast in 4K. However I am told that the HR54 will need a software update in order to activate Transponder bonding support. When live 4K is available you will need a new LNB in order to receive those channels. I am sure you will hear here when those LNB's go into testing and when they are available.

I was also told that there will be some kind of "media gateway" available later on that will let you not only expand your storage on your HR54, but also add additional tuners as well.

Before anyone asks we don't know when these will be available for DIRECTV customers. The beta on these has barely started. It would not surprise me at all to see this product released late in the year if not in early 2016.

When we have more information to pass along on the HR54 we will pass it along to you.

The 4K Wave is coming and DIRECTV is poised to be riding it! I am really excited about this receiver and 4K on DIRECTV!

 

[Drucifer]

Interesting, but I'm still not going to jump on the 4K bandwagon. As it looks like it will still be a few years before all the manufactures get together on specs for 4K.

In the mean time, is the HR54 HDD the same as the HR44?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

In the mean time, is the HR54 HDD the same as the HR44?

I am told YES.

 

[jcrandall]

That's a good summary Scott. I'm still a bit confused on the tuners as we've had pictures posted for both 5 and 7 after the SWM on the unit, could be a change they decided on after some initial run units or something.

Can see the evolution as the user experience changes - dropping the modem, the front user interface buttons, lower manufacturing costs on features that aren't used much anymore.

 

[whitewolf8214]

Great Summary Scott!!

 

[bobvick]

Interesting, but I'm still not going to jump on the 4K bandwagon. As it looks like it will still be a few years before all the manufactures get together on specs for 4K.

In the mean time, is the HR54 HDD the same as the HR44?

That's what concerns me about 4K as well. I was seriously looking at some sets, and then got to reading some articles, saying that right now, 4K is only into the second "stage" out of four as this article put it. Can't recall where I read it or who wrote the article. I have decided to wait it out for a little bit, do some more research and reading, and wait for more satellite and physically available content (like a Blu-Ray equivalent) since I can't get super fast broadband here.

 

[Troch77]

I wonder how they will determine whether a customer should get the HR54, or HR44?

Are you going to have to specify you plan on doing 4K?
Are they going to stop installing HR44?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The answer is to 4k or not 4k.

 

[Troch77]

And my guess very few will say 4K.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

In the beginning I would say you would definately be correct. However in a few years I would say the opposite would be true.

 

[Zashel]

with the (eventual) introduction of the HR54 i hope they drop the 34 like the anchor it is. as for 54 vs 44, since it is systemically different than a 44 they wont use the 54's to fill the advanced whole home role for a while im sure.

 

[Blackloz]

Soon customers will have 3 choices in the Genie crap shoot. Customers could get a 34,44 or 54 now I guess.

 

[jcrandall]

with the (eventual) introduction of the HR54 i hope they drop the 34 like the anchor it is. as for 54 vs 44, since it is systemically different than a 44 they wont use the 54's to fill the advanced whole home role for a while im sure.

My hope would be that by the time the HR54 is in full production and in use nationwide, they may retire the HR34 from refurb process and start to eliminate it from the distribution chain.

They have shown willingness to do this recently with the HR21/22 retirement, which was around 5 years from the time they became the norm.

The HR34 isn't going to be 5 years, but they may be willing to write down those assets a little sooner with such a physical difference.

That said, they may just keep it status quo and have 3 genies in the distribution channel until they reach that five year depreciation write off type stage.

 

[satgirl51]

Scott you list 5 swm tuners in your first look document.... Are you sure that is 100% correct? I just want to get the facts straight, as I was under the impression it had 7 usable swm tuners.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

From what I am told (and also on the FCC documents) it actually has 6 tuners... but only 5 are usable.

 

[satgirl51]

From what I am told (and also on the FCC documents) it actually has 6 tuners... but only 5 are usable.

Interesting, ok. So basically exactly the same as h44, hr44 and Hr34.

Does your unit say swm-5 on the back?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Yes it does.

 

[Hideftv]

Soon customers will have 3 choices in the Genie crap shoot. Customers could get a 34,44 or 54 now I guess.

But, Are the 34 and 44 going to support 4K?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

No.

 

[goaliebob99]

By the way the FCC documents read and the specs that have came out it almost looks identical to what's already on the market. I wonder if in the future the older models could support 4k with a software upgrade. If the specs are nearly identical I wouldn't see why that wouldn't happen. I wouldn't say never on that as it could be something that comes down the line later as a surprise. I dont get why DirecTV would release the HR54 only to have it do what is already on the market. Something is missing here on why Directv would do that. IF this is the case then I dont see why they couldn't modify the software to run on the older models.