New home install and changing order to 1 Genie DVR, 1 Genie Client and 1 HD receiver?

[Mike Anderson]

I am trying to strategize how to sign-up for DirecTV using one of the major retailers incentive GC offers and not needlessly spend money later on. I have a home and an RV that is regularly used and will be needing a 3-TV install package. If I were to go through the website, order service, the installer would come to my home and install 1 Genie DVR and 2 wired Genie C31 mini clients. However, the issue as we all know is that if I take the C31 Mini-Genie client on the road with me, it will not work as the genie clients do not have their own tuner. I also don't particularly want to take my Genie DVR everywhere with me as my RV is not one of the monster ones and the cabinet above the TV is small.

Hence, I have an ordering dilemma that I would like to get worked out prior to ordering. Ideally, I would like to order a three TV setup with 1 Genie DVR, 1 Genie Mini Client C31 (which I believe is the wired, non-wireless unit), and 1 HD Receiver (like the H25). However, the website of course wants to give me 1 DVR and 2 Genie Clients.

1. Is it possible to order a 3-TV install online and then call in immediately after to change one of the clients to an HD-Receiver (like the H25)? I just do not want to be badgered, but mostly surprised by the phone reps in case they work on commission. (also, in searching the forum prior to posting, I found a thread where the call rep insisted that the Mini-Genie clients could operate independently from the Genie DVR! )

2. Or, should I order a 2-TV install and then order the $99 HD Receiver unit after the installer leaves? I'm trying to save that $99 receiver fee if possible. I also fully understand that I'll still have to pay the $6 per month receiver lease fee regardless if the $99 fee is paid (Note: it's really not a big deal at all if the H25 does not work with the Genie DVR --- to be honest, my third room is a spare bedroom I never use, so I'd likely leave the H25 unit in my RV for ease)


Also, I know that I would have to buy another satellite dish and SWM power adapter to operate the H25. I regularly crime RJ45 and have done RG6 coaxial cuts in the past. The technical aspect does not really phase me, rather it's the strategy and DirecTV's rules that I am unfamiliar with.

I appreciate your help!

 

[Jimbo]

Personally, your already paying for the dvr fee, so theres no reason to not have dvrs as all of them.
I would get a Genie and 1 or 2 HR24s in place of the clients, however that may not be part of what they are pushing.
I would call D and order OR, you could always get a 2 TV set up and order a HR24 from like SS, activate it to your account as the third recvr and take it with you.

 

[Mike Anderson]

Thanks, Jimbo. That is honestly something I had considered. So, 1 DVR fee of whatever the going rate is will cover the entire account? (of course still responsible for the $6 per receiver monthly lease). I always thought that people that had multiple DVRs were paying $15-20 per unit per month. I had the whole home D* DVR years ago, but went to Time Warner new customer promo which is why I'm now coming back to D* so I'm somewhat familiar with D* equipment, aligning the satellite, and their billing practices.

EDIT: Looks like I answered my own question per: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/support/agreements_overview It would appear one Advanced receiver service covers the whole account.

 

[harshness]

You could get a Genie, a Genie Mini and an H25 and only have to pay the $99 lease entry on the H25 and get all locations installed. Maybe they could find you an H24 (doesn't require SWiM and comes with a built-in remote antenna)

The less intrusive approach might be to go with two Genie Minis and, almost immediately, procure an H24 from a third party and replace one of the Genie Minis to avoid the confusion/clutter of power adapters, an inserter and a revised dish setup for the RV.

The price of upgrading the RV dish would be in the neighborhood of $58 so that cuts the cost of the H24 by more than a half.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

The monthly wouldn't change but you would need to pay 199 per hd dvr for install if that is what you wanted. Plus the 20 bucks for delivery and handeling.

 

[Mike Anderson]

Just chatted with D* and it appears I would be billed an equipment fee of $99 for the receiver and $199 for the DVR even if within minutes of placing the order online. If anyone has ever successfully done what I describe above, please post up.

I'm going to be calling later to confirm the details, but I always feel badly talking to sales reps working on commission when I won't be buying from them --- I'd rather them take calls that will help their paycheck.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

Check your pm

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys Mike Anderson!

 

[maestro7]

If you're also ordering for your RV (as the OP seems to indicate), that means you'll likely have to have a secondary satellite dish and receiver setup. Practically-speaking, this wouldn't work for a whole-home DVR setup with a total of three receivers.

Also, if you're new to DirecTV, I'd be very surprised if DirecTV did NOT have a deal for you regarding what would be your stationary Genie DVR (anything beyond this part of the setup would cost you). Then the only question becomes how you want to have the other two receivers.

If you don't see yourself recording shows on your RV, then you could go after a non-DVR HD receiver there. Then, the real issue is whether you don't mind having one true DVR (the Genie) in house alongside either a wireless or wired Genie mini client. The advantage of having a Genie DVR and a non-Genie DVR is that if one of the devices go out, you still have a way to watch TV in the house. Obviously this is an issue of preference.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

If you don't see yourself recording shows on your RV, then you could go after a non-DVR HD receiver there. Then, the real issue is whether you don't mind having one true DVR (the Genie) in house alongside either a wireless or wired Genie mini client. The advantage of having a Genie DVR and a non-Genie DVR is that if one of the devices go out, you still have a way to watch TV in the house. Obviously this is an issue of preference.

He can order 1 genie 1 hd dvr combo and 1 hd (non client) for his initial install if he wants... but... only the genie is going to be included free. The combo will cost 199 up front and the hd will cost another 99.

The fees are as follows not including promo.

Genie 299
Hd dvr 199
Hd 99
Wireless client 99
Client 49

Granted there are many promos and discount applied to orders. But only a genie and 3 clients are comped during initial install. if you qualify under 2nd class credit then it is converted to 1 combo and 3 hds. Or you can pay 99 to upgrade from that to the genie and minis.

 

[harshness]

RV installation is up to the RV owner. DIRECTV doesn't install RVs.

 

[Mike Anderson]

He can order 1 genie 1 hd dvr combo and 1 hd (non client) for his initial install if he wants... but... only the genie is going to be included free. The combo will cost 199 up front and the hd will cost another 99.

Exactly what he and D* customer service says. When they do the new customer promos for "FOUR ROOMS FREE!!", basically, it's one genie plus three mini-genies in the home. You cannot swap out a genie say for an H25 HD Receiver (since it has an independent tuner), and get the $99 credit for the genie mini applied towards the HD receiver.

Thanks for the replies though! A lot of it has been food for thought that I will consider.

 

[Mike Anderson]

RV installation is up to the RV owner. DIRECTV doesn't install RVs.

Yeah, that's completely fine. I have a decent understanding of the parts needed to get the SWM satellites working. I have priced out an extra dish, SWM LNB, and the need for a tuner. I'll be the guy with the tripod and not a fancy wineguard auto-positioning unit since those are much more than I want to spend.

 

[Mike Anderson]

If you don't see yourself recording shows on your RV, then you could go after a non-DVR HD receiver there. Then, the real issue is whether you don't mind having one true DVR (the Genie) in house alongside either a wireless or wired Genie mini client. The advantage of having a Genie DVR and a non-Genie DVR is that if one of the devices go out, you still have a way to watch TV in the house. Obviously this is an issue of preference.

Good point on if the primary genie dvr goes out. The genie sounds like a great system and obviously many of you probably have it, though kind of disappointed that each mini client does not have an independent tuner. That being said, since they do not have tuners and use the main unit, that's how they're able to pause/rewind/ff/etc. in every room.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

Yeah, that's completely fine. I have a decent understanding of the parts needed to get the SWM satellites working. I have priced out an extra dish, SWM LNB, and the need for a tuner. I'll be the guy with the tripod and not a fancy wineguard auto-positioning unit since those are much more than I want to spend.

Before you buy anything make sure to ask the tech that does the install what he would charge you to make a dish and matching lnb disappear from his van and to just accidentally leave it in your yard fully assembled. When about 50 bucks just magically appears on my drivers seat you'd be amazed what I "forget" at customers houses.

 

[harshness]

Yeah, that's completely fine. I have a decent understanding of the parts needed to get the SWM satellites working. I have priced out an extra dish, SWM LNB, and the need for a tuner. I'll be the guy with the tripod and not a fancy wineguard auto-positioning unit since those are much more than I want to spend.

As I was noodling on post #4, it would probably be cheaper and cleaner to go legacy in the RV unless you anticipate needing a DVR in there some day.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

As I was noodling on post #4, it would probably be cheaper and cleaner to go legacy in the RV unless you anticipate needing a DVR in there some day.

Or he can do what i said and be cheaper yet.

 

[Jimbo]

Yeah, that's completely fine. I have a decent understanding of the parts needed to get the SWM satellites working. I have priced out an extra dish, SWM LNB, and the need for a tuner. I'll be the guy with the tripod and not a fancy wineguard auto-positioning unit since those are much more than I want to spend.

Your NOT alone ...

I would love to have one of the auto ones, but I want a version that is portable, not one mounted to the roof .
This way if your under trees, you can move it out of the obstructed view.